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Letter from Almon Babbitt, 19 October 1841

Source Note

, Letter, , Lake Co., OH, to JS, , and , , Hancock Co., IL, 19 Oct. 1841; handwriting of ; seven pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, endorsement, docket, and notations.
Two bifolia, each measuring 9⅞ × 7⅞ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was trifolded twice in letter style and then sealed with a red adhesive wafer, remnants of which remain on the first page of the second bifolium. The letter was later refolded for filing. There is some significant tearing near the bottom of the first bifolium and along the folds of the second bifolium, which obscures some of the text.
The letter was endorsed and docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854. A graphite notation was later added, apparently by a clerk or secretary for Andrew Jenson, who served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. Another graphite notation by the same unidentified scribe is indicative of manuscript indexing methods occurring in the Church Historian’s Office during the same time frame. The letter is listed in a Church Historian’s Office inventory from circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The docket, notations, inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody of the letter since its receipt.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [2]

    Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–55.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. This inventory omits William Law from the recipients, but the featured letter is the only letter from Babbitt written in 1841.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  4. [4]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 19 October 1841, , the presiding authority in , Ohio, wrote a letter to JS, , and in , Illinois. In his letter, featured here, Babbitt gave the church leaders an update about the church in Kirtland and sought clarification about conflicting instruction he had received. When Babbitt was appointed to preside over the church in Kirtland in October 1840, JS “gave it as his opinion, that the brethren from the east might gather” to Kirtland. JS later amended that statement in January 1841, when he wrote to , his in Kirtland, stating that he preferred that those coming from the East gather to Nauvoo instead of Kirtland. JS further clarified his stance in May 1841, when he advised all the Saints to gather to the Nauvoo area.
Though was appointed to preside over the church in , he had a history of problems with church leaders. In the summer of 1840, for example, reported that Babbitt made disparaging remarks about JS and others, accusing them of misusing funds, and was calculating “to destroy the confidence of the brethren in the or any of the Authorities of the church.” Babbitt also held a “secret Council” in the Kirtland , locking the doors and prohibiting “certain brethren, in good standing” from entering. The church withdrew fellowship from Babbitt until he appeared before a in in early September 1840 to answer the charges. After hearing the evidence on both sides, JS eventually withdrew the charges and reconciled with Babbitt for a time.
Despite JS’s instructions to do otherwise, also encouraged Latter-day Saints to move to or remain in instead of to . Babbitt’s efforts to entice members to relocate to Kirtland were unsurprising because he had made similar efforts in the past. As early as April 1840—before JS’s directive to gather to the Nauvoo area—church members reported that Babbitt was attempting to convince those living in the eastern to gather to Kirtland. In August 1841 several church members from , Illinois, wrote to the church’s high council in Nauvoo that Babbitt was teaching that “Kirtland must be built up and would be and that too immediately, therefore Kirtland was the place for him.” Babbitt did not explicitly encourage the Springfield Saints to move to Kirtland instead of Nauvoo, but he declared his belief that a scourge from “two states against Nauvoo” would occur and that the Saints would be driven from Nauvoo “within one year.” By making such declarations, he sought to dissuade them from gathering to Nauvoo. In a 30 August 1841 letter to , however, JS stated that there should be no confusion on the matter—despite apparently conflicting instruction in 1840 regarding gathering to Kirtland—because the Saints had been directed to gather to Nauvoo in his 24 May proclamation and in other commandments and revelations. Babbitt, however, apparently remained unsure about whether he should maintain the in Kirtland or disband it and follow the instruction to gather to Nauvoo, and he continued to encourage the growth of Kirtland. On 3 October 1841, Babbitt delivered a “discourse on the subject of the gathering” at a regional church in Kirtland.
Because of ’s conduct—particularly his insistence on encouraging the Saints to develop at the expense of gathering to —at the early October 1841 general church conference, “made remarks disapprobatory” about Babbitt’s actions. The conference ultimately voted to disfellowship Babbitt until the time when he would “make satisfaction.” It is possible that Babbitt knew of the general conference vote when he wrote the letter featured here. Nevertheless, Babbitt explained in his letter his misunderstandings and confusion and reiterated his faith in the church and its leaders. In a letter printed in the 1 November 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons, Hyrum Smith again addressed Babbitt’s insistence that Kirtland be further settled and developed, noting that “the designs of the leading members of that . . . are not according to the will of God.”
stated that he wrote the following letter because he had an opportunity to send it to by way of . The letter bears no signs of postal delivery. It is likely that Whitney included Babbitt’s letter in another letter Whitney sent to JS twelve days later. A later JS history indicates that JS received Whitney’s letter on 9 November 1841.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; Letter to Oliver Granger, 26 Jan. 1841; Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841.

  2. [2]

    For more on Almon Babbitt’s appointment in Kirtland, see Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; see also Letter to the Saints in Kirtland, OH, 19 Oct. 1840. In late 1835, Almon Babbitt was charged with publicly slandering JS and was disfellowshipped. He was required to confess in front of the Kirtland high council before being restored to fellowship in early 1836. (See Minutes, 28 Dec. 1835; and Minutes, 2 Jan. 1836.)

  3. [3]

    Letter to Oliver Granger, between ca. 22 and ca. 28 July 1840.

  4. [4]

    Letter to Oliver Granger, between ca. 22 and ca. 28 July 1840; Minutes, 5–6 Sept. 1840.

  5. [5]

    Minutes, 5–6 Sept. 1840.

  6. [6]

    Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 3 Apr. 1840.

  7. [7]

    Edwin Merriam et al., Springfield, IL, to the High Council, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Aug. 1841, CHL.

    Merriam, Edwin, David Elliot, Hiram Palmer, George Stringham, David Dickson, and John Prior. Letter, Springfield, IL, to the High Council, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Aug. 1841. CHL.

  8. [8]

    Letter to Oliver Granger, 30 Aug. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; and Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841.

  9. [9]

    “Kirtland Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1841, 3:588.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  10. [10]

    Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.

  11. [11]

    Hyrum Smith, Letter Extract, Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1841, 3:589.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  12. [12]

    Letter from Newel K. Whitney, 29 Oct. 1841.

  13. [13]

    JS History, vol. C-1, 1244.

Page [6]

we have four meetings a week and well attended there is very neer means rased to start a Press in here I have indeavored to teach the the Laws of the Kingdom and to cultivate the Spirit of union and love but I feel almost descouraged for the[r]e is so mutch writen from your that in it would require more than the influence of an angel to keep down the Excitement
Now as I said before if your Council is to have the Saints leave this place we want you to be plain on the subject if <​so​> what must be done with the and other propety of the Church. Must it be sold Rented left for the good of th publick to goe to ruin or what must be done
I do wish you would apoit [appoint] a man and send him here from your with credentials and with such instru[c]tions as you may think for for our best
as I have before said I Expected when I came here that more able me[n] would foulow me I therfore cannot consent as I now feel to preside over this it a standing [p. [6]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Almon Babbitt, 19 October 1841
ID #
700
Total Pages
8
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:317–324
Handwriting on This Page
  • Almon Babbitt

Footnotes

  1. [11]

    At a church conference in Kirtland on 2 October 1841, the Saints resolved to establish a press for the “benefit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And said company shall publish a religious periodical entitled THE ‘OLIVE LEAF’.” (“Kirtland Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1841, 3:588.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [12]

    For example, according to minutes of a church conference held in Kirtland in May 1841, Babbitt “delivered a discourse on baptism for the dead, from 1 Peter 4:6, to a very large audience, setting forth that doctrine as compatible with the mercy of God, and grand council of heaven.” (Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 22–23 May 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:459.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  3. [13]

    At the October 1841 general conference in Nauvoo, Hyrum Smith spoke about Babbitt’s teachings that were considered “contrary to the revelations of God and detrimental to the interest of the church.” In his discourse, Hyrum Smith specifically addressed Babbitt’s alleged efforts to discourage Saints from gathering to Nauvoo as they had been instructed to do by JS in late May 1841. (Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; see also Letter to Oliver Granger, 30 Aug. 1841; and Edwin Merriam et al., Springfield, IL, to the High Council, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Aug. 1841, CHL.)

    Merriam, Edwin, David Elliot, Hiram Palmer, George Stringham, David Dickson, and John Prior. Letter, Springfield, IL, to the High Council, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Aug. 1841. CHL.

  4. [14]

    The “house” is the House of the Lord in Kirtland. Earlier in 1841, JS wrote to Oliver Granger, saying, “The house and store encumbered by the debts for the ‘Plates’ are now at liberty, that debt having been settled You can therefore let Bro. Babbit t[ake] control over them untill I settle w[ith] him. You will also keep possession of the Keys of the House of the Lord. until you receive further instructions from me.” It appears, however, that church leadership in Kirtland never received any “further instructions” concerning the Kirtland temple. (Letter to Oliver Granger, 4 May 1841.)

  5. [15]

    Babbitt was not yet aware that during the October general conference in Nauvoo, Reuben McBride had been “vested with power of attorney” by Oliver Granger to settle temporal concerns “left in an uncertain condition” in Kirtland. (Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.)

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