Letter to John Whitmer, 9 April 1838

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

More Info

April 9th 1838

Mr J[ohn] Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

View Full Bio

Sir. We were desireous of honouring you by giving publicity to your notes on the history of the Church of Latter day 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...

View Glossary

, after such corrections as we thaught would be necessary; knowing your incom petency as a historian, and that your writ ings coming from your pen, could not be put to the press, without our correcting them, or elce the Church must suffer rep roach; Indeed Sir, we never supposed you capable of writing a history; but were willing to let it come out under your name notwith standing it would realy not be yours but ours. We are still willing to honour you, if you can be made to know your own interest and give up your notes, so that they can be corr ected, and made fit for the press. But if not, we have all the materials for another, which we shall commence this week to write

	your humble Servents
Attest	Joseph Smith Jr
E[benezer] Robinson 25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co.... View Full Bio	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... View Full Bio
Clerk	Presidents Organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and various groups of Latter-day Saints. A November 1831 revelation underscored the importance of a president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ... View Glossary of the whole
	Church of Latterday Saints

[p. 28]

Source Note

Facts

Editorial Title: Letter to John Whitmer, 9 April 1838
ID #: 387