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Letter to George James, 10 November 1834

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1834.

Dear brother,—

There having been serious complaints presen ted to us against you, we sincerely request you to come to Kirtland

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, immediately, as it will require you to come <be necessary that a> proper notice be taken of the same.

We do not write the above with the view to accuse, ourselves; but you know the great responsibility resting up on us, and the propriety of noticing charges, especially when they are preferred against men in important <and interesting> stations in the Church of the Saints

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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We have truly written the above with feelings of deep interest for your own welfare and standing in the church; and we do hope you will not fail to come down imme diately as the representations made to us will require im mediate notice.

It is necessary for us to inform you, that until you appear and make the satisfaction requisite, you are suspended from acting in the authority of the office to which you have been previously ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

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With feelings of respect, we Subscribe ourselves your breth[r]en in the new Covenant

Generally referred to the “fullness of [the] gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

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Joseph Smith Jr

Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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Oliver Cowde[r]y

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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Clerk of High Council

Although JS utilized councils of elders and high priests earlier in church government, the first standing high council of the church was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834. The second high council was organized a few months later in Clay County...

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. }

	{To George James 28 Oct. 1796–30 Oct. 1864. Farmer. Born in Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Stephen James and Hannah Schofield. Moved to Brownhelm, Huron Co., Ohio, July 1817. Married Caroline Weed, 28 June 1822, in Huron Co. Baptized into LDS church, June... View Full Bio ,
	{	Brownhelm, Ohio, [p. 89]

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Facts

Editorial Title: Letter to George James, 10 November 1834
ID #: 237