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Letter from Joseph Bosworth, 17 February 1834

Source Note

, Letter, , Summit Co., OH, to “Breathren in Christ” (including JS), , Geauga Co., OH, 17 Feb. 1834; sent copy; handwriting presumably of ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal markings, and docket.
Bifolium measuring 12⅞ × 8 inches (33 × 20 cm). The letter was trifolded twice, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. A docket in the handwriting of reads: “Feby 17th 1834 | | Vission”. The document was refolded, apparently at a later time, probably for filing purposes.
The letter has presumably remained in the possession of the LDS church since its reception.

Historical Introduction

In this letter, recounted two visions he experienced the night of 16 February 1834, one week after meeting with JS and others at a conference in , Medina County, Ohio. As the letter indicated, Bosworth was a former associate of and , two men who before joining the had been associated with ’s religious movement. Bosworth’s association with Rigdon and Scott suggests that he too had been involved with Campbell and the Disciples of Christ. Bosworth’s belief in the reality of visions—as opposed to Campbell’s disregard for such experiences in modern times—may have influenced his decision to join the Church of Christ. Bosworth’s probable familiarity with at least some of JS’s visionary experiences—including his and Rigdon’s “Vision” of 16 February 1832, published in the July 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star—may have contributed to his desire to share his own visions with church leaders in , Ohio. No response to Bosworth’s letter has been located.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 9 Feb. 1834.

  2. [2]

    Alexander Campbell, “A Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things, No. I,” Christian Baptist, 7 Feb. 1825, 50; Alexander Campbell, “The Creed Question,” Christian Baptist, 2 Apr. 1827, 197.

    Christian Baptist. Bethany, VA. 1823–1830.

  3. [3]

    Vision, 16 Feb. 1832, in “A Vision,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [2]–[3] [D&C 76].

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

Page [1]

My Dear Breathren in Christ, at
The Visions which I have had from God for some month past Stand Conspicuous before <​my​> mind with<​out​> which Every thing from my youth to this Day would Vanish out of my Sight or to nothing Compared to the two Visions most remarkable which I had Last night Surpassing all thing heretofore Known by me—
May I first then give thanks to God through Jesus christ to whom be glory power honor and Dignity for ever
you Know Breathren how Difficult it is to communicate the things which God Gives us by writeing I Shall therefor not attempt nor expect to give you but a verry Slight Sketch of the out Lines of my revalations or Visions
on the 16th Feb 10 Oclock in the Evening 1834 commenced the things a part of which I write to you
first Vision
I Saw a Strange appearance in the Sky in the East Next a boddy of Light raiseing up in the Same place. while this Lumenary was raising which was not brighter then the Sun— I Saw another most grand fountain of Light more magestick then any thing thing that Eever <​I​> Saw of Great magnitude and the Light that flowed from <​it​> is indecrible [indescribable] So bright that it would Shine bright on the Sun or as much br[i]ghter— then the Sun th◊n <​as​> the Sun is brighter then the moon this greater then all Light,— was far in the South So Low Down that it appered to be allmost Levil with the Surface of the Earth but not on the Earth tho it give its Light to the Earth which Light was not a flaming Light Like the Sun but the most pure Light to Look upon with great pleasure, the purity of this Light, I can not tell you any thing about neather can I tell you any thing of its great Splender I Looked at this great Sight in the South <​with​> great Earnestness. as I Supposed it would Soon Disappear and the other one in the East I ◊h◊ <​I could See​> after this had Disappeared if I Should Sit here and write respecting this most beautifull appearing Lumenary three Days I Should not be able to <​give​> you any Idea of the Exelence of its glorious appearan[c]e when or whether at all these Lights Disapeared in my Vision I am not able to tell as my Eyes were [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Joseph Bosworth, 17 February 1834
ID #
203
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:431–435
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joseph Bosworth

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Bosworth may have here been referencing JS and Rigdon’s own statement about what they saw in their 16 February 1832 vision: “Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Vision, 16 Feb. 1832, in “A Vision,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [3] [D&C 76:116].)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

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