Brother O[liver] Cowdery:

Having learned  from the first No. of the Messenger and Ad vocate, that you were, not only about to  “give a history of the rise and progress of  the church of the Latter Day Saints;” but,  that said “history would necessarily embrace  my life and character,” I have been induced  to give you the time and place of my birth;  as I have learned that many of the opposers  of those principles which I have held forth  to the world, profess a personal acquaintance  with me, though when in my presence, rep resent me to be another person in age, edu cation, and stature, from what I am.

I was born, (according to the record of the  same, kept by my parents,) in the town of  Sharon, Windsor Co. Vt. on the 23rd of  December, 1805.

At the age of ten my father’s family remo ved to Palmyra, N.Y. where, and in the vi cinity of which, I lived, or, made it my place  of residence, until I was twenty one—the lat ter part, in the town of Manchester.

During this time, as is common to most,  or all youths, I fell into many vices and fol lies; but as my accusers are, and have been  forward to accuse me of being guilty of gross  and outragious violations of the peace and  good order of the community, I take the oc casion to remark, that, though, as I have  said above, “as is common to most, or all  youths, I fell into many vices and follies,” I  have not, neither can it be sustained, in truth,  been guilty of wronging or injuring any man  or society of men; and those imperfections  to which I alude, and for which I have often  had occasion to lament, were a light, and too  often, vain mind, exhibiting a foolish and tri fling conversation.

This being all, and the worst, that my ac cusers can substantiate against my moral  character, I wish to add, that it is not with out a deep feeling of regret that I am thus  called upon in answer to my own conscience,  to fulfill a duty I owe to myself, as well as  to the cause of truth, in making this public  confession of my former uncircumspect walk,  and unchaste conversation: and more partic ularly, as I often acted in violation of those  holy precepts which I knew came from God.  But as the “Articles and Covenants” of this  church are plain upon this particular point,  I do not deem it important to proceed fur ther. I only add, that I do not, nor never  have, pretended to be any other than a man  “subject to passion,” and liable, without the  assisting grace of the Savior, to deviate from  that perfect path in which all men are com manded to walk!

By giving the above a place in your valuable  paper, you will confer a lasting favor up on myself, as an individual, and, as I humbly  hope, subserve the cause of righteousness.

I am, with feelings of esteem, your fellow  laborer in the gospel of our Lord.

JOSEPH SMITH jr. [p. 40]