Footnotes
“Mormonism,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2]. Saxton was previously the editor of the New York Evangelist, which was consolidated with the Rochester Observer in 1832. The Rochester Observer began in 1827 as a Presbyterian newspaper; by the end of 1832, it had three thousand subscribers. It was known as the American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer from 29 September 1832 to 13 July 1833. (See French, Gazetteer of the State of New York, 396; Norton, “Comparative Images,” 359, 361.)
American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.
French, J. H. Gazetteer of the State of New York: Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the State. . . . 8th ed. Syracuse, NY: R. Pearsall Smith, 1860.
Norton, Walter A. “Comparative Images: Mormonism and Contemporary Religions as Seen by Village Newspapermen in Western New York and Northeastern Ohio, 1820–1833.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1972.
“American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 29 Sept. 1832, [1]; see also Norton, “Comparative Images,” 359–360.
American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.
Norton, Walter A. “Comparative Images: Mormonism and Contemporary Religions as Seen by Village Newspapermen in Western New York and Northeastern Ohio, 1820–1833.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1972.
JS History, vol. A-1, 244.
See, for example, the following articles in the American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer: “Cholera Record,” 29 Sept. 1832, [1]; “Effects of the Cholera,” 29 Dec. 1832, [1]; “Political News: South Carolina Nullification,” 22 Dec. 1832, [3]; and “Persia,” 29 Dec. 1832, [4].
American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.
Revelations in 1831 explained events that would precede Christ’s return, but JS seemed especially concerned with signs of the times in late 1832 and early 1833. (See, for example, Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 1]; Revelation, 3 Nov. 1831 [D&C 133]; Letter to Emma Smith, 13 Oct. 1832; and Letter to William W. Phelps, 31 July 1832.)
Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:49, 96–97].
Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87:6].
Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:81, 84].
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 131–139 [Jacob chap. 5].
“Mormonism,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2].
American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.
Isaiah 24:5.
A March 1831 revelation stated that “when the times of the gentiles is come in a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness & it shall be the fulness of my Gospel.” It also explained that the Lord had “sent mine everlasting covenant unto the World to be a light to the world” (Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:9, 28]; see also Isaiah 58:8.)
See Isaiah 57:20.
Earlier revelations stated that one of the signs of the times of Christ’s coming is that “the whole Earth shall be in commotion.” (Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:26]; see also Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:91].)
See Micah 4:3; and Isaiah 2:4; 17:13. The July 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star used this same phrase when describing tumult among the nations of the earth: “All the Kingdoms of the East seem to be preparing to act the part allotted to them, when the Lord rebukes the nations.” (“Foreign News,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [6].)
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
See Revelation 2:26–27; and Psalm 2:9.
Likely a reference to the declaration in a 30 August 1831 revelation that “I the Lord am angry with the wicked I am holding my spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.” (Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:32].)
The same issue of the American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer that published JS’s letter contained a report from the Cumberland Conference in Maine. Several churches there maintained that they had experienced little growth in 1832. One stated, “No admissions to this church the past year”; another declared, “This church has increased but little in number the last year.” Still another said, “Religion is low.” (“Cumberland Conference, Maine,” American Revivalist, and Rochester [NY] Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2].)
American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.
This statement probably reflected not only the ongoing difficulties between South Carolina and the federal government but also problems outside the United States. The July 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star reported that “the wars and rumors of wars, with many other signs of the distress of nations, from the old world, (as it is called across the Ocean) whispers so loud to the understanding, that he that runs may read the label on the Eastern sky: The end is nigh.” At this time, Russia and Persia were continuing a series of wars that began in the 1820s, while Greece was waging a war for independence against the Ottoman Empire. Belgium had only recently concluded its own battle for independence with the Netherlands. (Historical Introduction to Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87]; “Foreign News,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [6]; Bitis, “1828–1829 Russo-Turkish War,” 506–525; Pappas, United States and the Greek War for Independence, 1–13, 117–126; Rooney, Revolt in the Netherlands, 175–184.)
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
Bitis, Alexander. “The 1828–1829 Russo-Turkish War and the Resettlement of Balkan Peoples into Novorossiia.” Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas, Neue Folge, Bd. 53, H. 4 (2005): 506–525.
Pappas, Paul Constantine. The United States and the Greek War for Independence, 1821–1828. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985.
Rooney, John W. Revolt in the Netherlands: Brussels—1830. Lawrence, KS: Coronado, 1982.