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Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843

Source Note

, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to JS, [, Hancock Co., IL], 27 Mar. 1843; handwriting and signature of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, dockets, use marks, and redaction.
Bifolium measuring 11 × 9 inches (30 × 23 cm) and ruled with thirty-three horizontal gray lines, now faded. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. The letter was later refolded for filing.
The letter was 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. After the letter was refolded for filing, another docket was added by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The letter was copied into the manuscript history of the church by , who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859. Hawkins may have added use marks at this time. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The letter’s early dockets, its inclusion in the manuscript history, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

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].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    JS History, vol. D-1, 1504–1505; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441; “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  4. [4]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  5. [5]

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

Historical Introduction

On 27 March 1843 in , Illinois, wrote a letter to JS, responding to concerns JS had expressed in a letter earlier in the day. The two men had become somewhat alienated during the previous year, and JS’s letter recounted his belief that Rigdon had aided in his attacks on JS. The letter expressed JS’s intent to withdraw fellowship from Rigdon, JS’s first counselor in the , at the April 1843 unless a reconciliation could be negotiated. JS sent , his personal secretary, to deliver the letter to Rigdon. The letter was apparently sent before 11:00 a.m. It was delivered to Rigdon in the Nauvoo post office, which was located in his home.
Within “a few minutes” of receiving JS’s letter, began writing a letter of reply. He denied any connection with , described the circumstances that led to his appointment as the postmaster of —the appointment had become a major point of contention between the two men—and related details regarding his recent trip to , Illinois. Rigdon concluded by expressing his desire to be at peace with JS. Portions of the letter do not correspond directly to items in JS’s 27 March 1843 letter, suggesting that Rigdon was also responding to verbal remarks made by JS when the two men met on 26 March. JS’s presence in Nauvoo and the simple addressing on Rigdon’s letter suggest that it was hand delivered to JS. There is no known response from JS.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1843.

  3. [3]

    Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.

  4. [4]

    JS did not withdraw fellowship from Rigdon at the conference. He did, however, present the First Presidency “for trial,” inviting church members to either sustain or raise objections to church leaders continuing in their callings. After discussing Rigdon’s past dealings with Bennett, the conference sustained Rigdon as a member of the presidency. (JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1843; Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843 History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [3]

been said by me has been said to your face all of which you know as well as I. As to your rights in the Post office you have just the same as any other man In the new case which occured yesterday I have examined all the laws and rules in this office and find but one section in relation to it and that indirectly. but gives the Post Master no right to abate the postage nor make any disposition of the letter or letters, but address the Department, and they will give such instruction in the case as they may deem correct I have written, on the subject to the Department
I can conclude by only saying that <​I​> had hoped that all former difficulties had ceased forever on my part they were never mentioned to any person nor a subject of discourse at any time nor in any place I was tired hearing of them, and was in hopes that they slumbered forever, while at the subject was never once mentioned. The only thing was the inquiry I made myself to find out as far as could whether the report made to me by was correct or no and this in relation to myself only. If being intirely silent on the subject at all times and in all places is an error then I am guilty. If evading the subject at all times when ever introduced by others be a crime then I am guilty for such is my uniform custom. If this letter is not satisfactory let me know wherein for it is peace I want. I have been interrupted a great many times since I began to write by people calling at the office
Respectfully
P. S.
I do consider it a matter of just offence to me to hear about ’s assisting me to office I shall have a lower opinion of myself than I now have when I think I need his assistance
[p. [3]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843
ID #
1022
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:116–120
Handwriting on This Page
  • Sidney Rigdon

Footnotes

  1. [10]

    JS and Rigdon met on several occasions in 1842 and early 1843 in hopes of reconciling their differences. (See Historical Introduction to Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.)

  2. [11]

    For more information on JS and Rigdon’s “former difficulties,” see Historical Introduction to Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.

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