31101

Letters to John Burk, Sally Phelps, and Almira Scobey, 1–2 June 1835

 
strive to have the children brought up in  the way they should go, and they come <go> back to Zion  they will thank you and honor you for your  motherly admonition”, Waterman is well—  one accident befel him. He went in to the  millpond to swim, and like to have drowned, but  was brought out by Br. Bump’s boy: He will never  be caught in that folly again, I trust. Br Joseph  told me of it and talked to him like an angel—
I know you will like to hear some news  from Kirtland

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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as well as advice, so I  shall give you some. The Elders

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...

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are constant ly coming in and going. Last week Elders Simeon Carter

7 June 1794–3 Feb. 1869. Farmer. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Kenyon, 2 Dec. 1818, at Benson. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, by ...

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and Solomon Hancock

15 Aug. 1793/1794–2 Dec. 1847. Born at Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. Moved to Wolcott, Seneca Co., New York, by 1810. Joined Methodist church, 1814. Married first Alta Adams, 12 Mar. 1815. Moved to Columbia...

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,  started for the east last week. Bishop

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, he functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

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[Edward] Partridge

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

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, and counsellor

Used to designate a bishop and his assistants or counselors as they carried out ecclesiastical or administrative responsibilities. The term “bishop’s council” also denoted the officers who served in a bishop’s court.

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[Isaac] Morley

11 Mar. 1786–24 June 1865. Farmer, cooper, merchant, postmaster. Born at Montague, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Morley and Editha (Edith) Marsh. Family affiliated with Presbyterian church. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, before 1812. Married...

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will  start soon: Elder Amasa Lyman

30 Mar. 1813–4 Feb. 1877. Boatman, gunsmith, farmer. Born at Lyman, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Son of Boswell Lyman and Martha Mason. Baptized into LDS church by Lyman E. Johnson, 27 Apr. 1832. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, May–June 1832. Ordained an...

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came in last week; Elders Peter Dusten [Dustin]

19 Apr. 1781–after 1860. Farmer, laborer. Born at Goffstown, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Dustin and Sarah (Sally) Webster. Moved to Alstead, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, by 1803. Married first Aruba (Azubah) Tubbs, 11 Sept. 1803, at Marlow...

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 and James Emett [Emmett]

22 Feb. 1803–28 Dec. 1852. Farmer, policeman, explorer, miner. Born at Boone Co., Kentucky. Son of Silas Emmett and Elizabeth Trowbridge. Married Phebe Jane Simpson, 13 Apr. 1823. Baptized into LDS church, 1831, in Boone Co. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri...

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arrived lat week, and Elder Oziel Stevens this week.  Elder Simeon

7 June 1794–3 Feb. 1869. Farmer. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Kenyon, 2 Dec. 1818, at Benson. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, by ...

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says he preached to Jerusha , and she believed and will  eventually come into the church

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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. I beseech of you to pray God that she  may come in, so that you can have one natural heir in the Kingdom  with you, for consolation I shall try to send some of the elders to preach  to Flavius and Mary , so thus they may come in too, if they will  I have sent Simeon

7 June 1794–3 Feb. 1869. Farmer. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Kenyon, 2 Dec. 1818, at Benson. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, by ...

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and Soloman

15 Aug. 1793/1794–2 Dec. 1847. Born at Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. Moved to Wolcott, Seneca Co., New York, by 1810. Joined Methodist church, 1814. Married first Alta Adams, 12 Mar. 1815. Moved to Columbia...

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to my fathers , and to Lydia =  Now is the Harvest and you must pray, and the children must pray  thus they may be brought into the kingdom. President Smith

The presiding body of the church. From the day of the church’s organization on 6 April 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders. An 11 November 1831 revelation directed that “the duty of the president of the office of the high...

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preached  last Sabbath, and I gave him the text: “This is my beloved Son; hear  ye him!” He preached one of the greatest sermons I ever heard—  it was about 3½ hours long— and unfolded more mysteries than  I can write at this time. The Congregations of saints at Kirt[land]

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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 is larger than any one we used to have at Cananda[i]gua

Located in central part of county in west-central part of state. Area settled, by 1790. Population in 1830 about 5,200. Joseph Smith Sr. imprisoned for debt for thirty days at county seat of Canandaigua village, Oct.–Nov. 1830. W. W. Phelps and Brigham Young...

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, and when  any of the world come in, we have what may well be called <a> Large Congregation.
Elder Bent wanted I should say to Mary , that he is well— He left here  for Michigan

Organized as territory, 1805, with Detroit as capital. De facto state government organized within territory, 1836, although not formally recognized as state by federal government until 1837. Lansing became new state capital, 1847. Population in 1810 about...

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and may be expect[ed] in the west in the course of  the summer. President Smith, as I before said, told me he had written  to Sister [Elizabeth Van Benthusen] Gilbert, who I sincerly hope lives humble enough to have the spirit  of God continally to console her in her widowhood, and cheer <herself> up to look  with Joy for the hour of redemption. When I left you, Sally, I said:—  The blessings of God, and my peace with you, till I return”, Live so  that you may inherit these things: for the Lord will surely grant them  if you are worthy. Be careful of my Letters for I have not time to copy  them. Give respects to the saints I remain yours forever
W[illiam] W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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Sally Phelps and children
[Note written down the left margin of page 3]
NB If I was able to bear the expense I would write weekly but as it would cost $12,50, both ways, I can not afford it. If the inhabitant[s] of  of Zion will raise you six dollars, I will write for their good
[A small map is drawn in the upper-right corner of page 4 with notations]
[Written at the top in four lines]
Be careful  and let no one  copy this plan least you  bring persecutions on your selves.
[Written up the right side in two lines]
Plan of the city— you will have <keep>  such things to yourself for wisdom
[Return to letter]

William W. Phelps handwriting ends.  

 
Cousin Almyra, Scoby [Almira Scobey]

28 Apr. 1805–10 Mar. 1886. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Daughter of Stephen Mack and Temperance Bond. Moved to Detroit, 1822. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan Territory, 1823. Baptized into LDS church by David Whitmer and confirmed by JS...

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Brother W. W phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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has left a little space  for me to occupy and I gladly improve it, I would be glad  to see the children of Zion and del[i]ver the <word> of Eternal  <life> to them from my own mouth but cannot this year  nevertheless the day will come that I shall enjoy this  privilege I trust. and we all shall receive an inheritance

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

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 in the land of refuge which is so much to be desired  seeing it is under the direction of the Allmighty therefore  let us live faithful before the Lord and it shall be well  with us I feel for all the Chilldren of Zion and pray  for them in all my prayrs peace be multiplyed unto their  redeemtion and favor from God Amen
Joseph Smith Jr [p. [4]]

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