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Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 10 December 1833

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to , , , , , , and others, , Clay Co., MO, 10 Dec. 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 10 Dec. 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 70–75; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.

Historical Introduction

On 5 December 1833, JS responded to two letters: one written by on 6–7 November and one penned by to the editors of the Missouri Republican on 9 November. In his 5 December letter, JS sought clarification on the conflicting reports written by the two men concerning events in and requested more information. In mid-November, just after being expelled from , , Phelps, and wrote letters to JS that provided more details about the violence against church members in Missouri. JS received these letters on 10 December 1833 and on the same day wrote a letter, featured here, that responded to the more in-depth information his colleagues had sent him.
In this response, JS extensively referred the church leaders to the and to his revelations. He agonized over the catastrophe in , the reasons for which, he noted in this letter, “I am ignorant and the Lord will not show me.” Though “ would suffer sore affliction,” JS reminded church members that “after much tribulation cometh the blessing.” He invoked both the Old Testament and the New Testament to provide support and spiritual guidance to church members in Missouri as they began to settle new lands with few provisions. Regarding their property in Jackson County, JS also urged them to “retain [their] lands even unto the uttermost.” In addition, JS encouraged the Missouri church members to vigorously pursue protection and seek redress of grievances through appeals to the local courts, the governor of Missouri, the president of the , and, as always, the Lord. A revelation dictated six days after JS wrote this letter reaffirmed this guidance. This instruction to seek redress and protection through legal and political means reflected the approach that JS and the church would take regarding their losses in Missouri through the end of JS’s life. JS ended his letter with a long prayer in behalf of the careworn Saints in Missouri.
It is unknown how, or if, church members in received JS’s 10 December 1833 letter. copied the letter into JS’s letterbook, which is the only known extant version.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter from William W. Phelps, 14 Nov. 1833; Letter from Edward Partridge, between 14 and 19 Nov. 1833; and Letter from John Corrill, 17 Nov. 1833.

  2. [2]

    See Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101].

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 10 December 1833 Letterbook 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 72

manifested, I am sensable that I aught not to murmer and do not murmer only in this, but that those who are innocent are compelled to suffer for the iniquities of the guilty; and I cannot account for this, only on this wise, that the saying of the savior has not been strictly observed: If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out. and cast it from thee <​or if thy right arm offend thee pluck it of[f] and cast it from thee​>. Now the fact is, if any of the members of our body are disordered, the rest of our body will be effected with them and then all is brought into bondage together. And yet notwithstanding all this, it is with difficulty that I can restrain my feelings; when I know that you my brethren with whom I have had so many happy hours, sitting as it were in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. and also haveing the witness which I feel, and even have felt, of the purity of your motives— are cast out, and are as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, exposed to hunger, cold, nakedness peril, sword &c I say when I contemplate this, it is with difficulty that I can keep from complaining and murmerings against this dispensation; but I am sensible that this is not right and may God grant that notwithstanding your great afflictions and sufferings there may not any thing sepperate us from the Love of Christ. Brethren, when we learn your sufferings it awakens evry sympathy of our hearts; it weighs us us down; we cannot refrain from tears [illegible] yet we are not able to realize only in part your sufferings. And I often hear the brethren saying they wish they were with you that they might bear a part of your sufferings; and I myself should have been with you had not God prevented it in the order of his providence, that the yoke of affliction might be less grievous upon you; God having forewarned me concerning these things for your sakes; and also , could not lighten your afflictions by tarrying longer with you, for his presence would have so much the more enraged your enemies; therefore, God hath deals dealt mercifully with us. O brethren, let us be thankful [p. 72]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 10 December 1833
ID #
192
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:375–381
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [13]

    In a letter to church leaders in Missouri written five days earlier, JS said, “In this your great calamity . . . remember not to murmur at the dealings of God with his creature.” (Letter to Edward Partridge, 5 Dec. 1833.)

  2. [14]

    See Matthew 5:29–30. Oliver Cowdery expressed similar views in an August 1833 letter. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 10 Aug. 1833.)

  3. [15]

    See Ephesians 2:6.

  4. [16]

    See Hebrews 11:13.

  5. [17]

    The second definition of dispensation in Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary is “the dealing of God to his creatures; the distribution of good and evil, natural or moral, in the divine government.” (“Dispensation,” in American Dictionary.)

    An American Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibit, I. the Origin, Affinities and Primary Signification of English Words, as far as They Have Been Ascertained. . . . Edited by Noah Webster. New York: S. Converse, 1828.

  6. [18]

    See Romans 8:35.

  7. [19]

    JS shared a similar sentiment in a letter to church leaders in Missouri written four months earlier: “I do know that I have been keept from going up as yet for your sa[k]es.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 18 Aug. 1833.)

  8. [20]

    In August 1833, JS wrote, “Oliver will or aught rather to stay with me or in this land [Kirtland, Ohio] until I am permitted to Come with him . . . Oliver can stay here to good advantage and have his wife come to him and he can be instrumental of doing great good in this pla[ce].” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 18 Aug. 1833.)

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