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Letter from Hyrum Smith, 2 January 1840

Source Note

, Letter, [], Hancock Co., IL, to JS and , , 2 Jan. 1840. Featured version copied [between Apr. and June 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 91–94; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 2 January 1840, wrote a letter to JS and , who were in , in response to a number of letters he had received from the two men. With and JS out of town, Smith was the only member of the in , Illinois, which made him responsible for managing affairs there and responding to inquiries from church spread throughout the country.
In his letter, updated JS and on his efforts to gather duplicates of land records that JS and Higbee apparently planned to submit to Congress as support for the church’s petition for redress. He also reported on his work to secure more financing for their trip, as JS had directed, especially since the delegation was already running short on funds. Smith apprised JS and Higbee of ’s request to publish editions of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the church’s hymnbook in . In addition, Smith informed them of ’s delay in traveling to to help settle some of the church’s debts. Finally, Smith asked JS for advice on several other matters, including whether their parents should accompany Granger to , Ohio.
likely sent the letter by post, the primary method by which the church’s delegation to the federal government communicated with church leaders in . No response from JS has been located. The original letter from Smith is apparently not extant, but copied it into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between April and June 1840.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Two prior letters JS and Higbee wrote to church leaders in Commerce were recorded in JS Letterbook 2. It is likely that these are the letters to which Smith referred in this letter, though there may have been other letters that did not survive. (See Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839; and Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.)

  2. [2]

    See Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839.

  3. [3]

    Pratt’s publication request and Hyrum Smith’s rationale for denying it are recorded in several pieces of correspondence between Smith, Pratt, and Lucian R. Foster. A certificate created in May 1839 documents Granger’s role as an agent for the church. As agent he was responsible for arranging the discharge of the church’s debts to New York merchants. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839; Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, New York City, NY, 22 Dec. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 80–81; Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Lucian R. Foster, New York City, NY, Jan. 1840, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 82–84; Authorization for Oliver Granger, 13 May 1839.)

  4. [4]

    See Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839.

  5. [5]

    Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.

    Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter from Hyrum Smith, 2 January 1840
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 91

Handcock Co. Illinois Jany 2, 1840
To Joseph Smith Junr. and
Dear Bretheren
It is with feelings of no ordinary Kind that I write to you at this time in answer to the letters with which we were favoured. Your letters were truly interesting, and were read with great interest by the Bretheren here, as well as by myself— We were truly glad to hear of your safe arrival in the City of — Your interview with his Excellency the , and the steps you have since taken for the furtherance of the object you have undertaken to accomplish, and for which you have left the— endearments of home, and the society of your friends.
The mission on which you are engaged is certainly an important one, and which every saint of God, as well as every one whose breast beats high with those patriotick feelings which purchased our national freedom must take a deep interest in—
And although there may be many who do not value your labors— their sectarian prejudices being greater than their love for truth and the constitution of our : yet there are a many who will undoubtedly appreciate your services, and will feel it a pleasure to assist you all that they possibly can.
Conscious of the righteousness of your cause— having having the prayer of the (amongst whom are many who have shared with you the trials persecutions & imprisonment, which have been heaped upon the saints of ) and [p. 91]
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Source Note

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Page 91

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Hyrum Smith, 2 January 1840
ID #
505
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:96–100
Handwriting on This Page
  • Howard Coray

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839; Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.

  2. [2]

    JS and Higbee arrived in the nation’s capital on 28 November 1839 and met with President Martin Van Buren the next day. (Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839.)

  3. [3]

    After meeting with Martin Van Buren, JS and Higbee combined efforts with the Illinois congressional delegation to continue preparing a memorial that petitioned the federal government for redress and reparations. (Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839; Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.)

  4. [4]

    In an earlier letter, JS and Higbee lamented the religious prejudice they anticipated from members of Congress. (Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839; see also Letter from James Adams, 4 Jan. 1840.)

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