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Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Geauga Co., OH, to “the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” [30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835]. Featured version published in “To the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:225–230. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Oliver Cowdery, Dec. 1834.

Historical Introduction

This letter to the of the church was the last in a three-part series of open letters published in the September, November, and December 1835 issues of the church’s newspaper, the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. In this installment, written on 30 November and 1 December 1835, JS focused on biblical parables found in Matthew 13, on and the Holy Ghost, and on the establishment of the kingdom of heaven. He also wrote on the of Israel, a subject he discussed in the two previous letters in the series.
JS’s remarks included a strident response to the recent and ongoing opposition from , , , and others. Campbell, Howe, and Hurlbut had repeatedly employed the power of print media to assail JS and the . Campbell led a sizable religious following known formally as the Disciples of Christ and informally as Campbellites. Soon after and many other former Campbellites in northeastern converted to the Mormon faith in late 1830, Campbell used his newspaper, the Millennial Harbinger, and a printed pamphlet titled Delusions: An Analysis of the Book of Mormon to disparage JS. In his writings, Campbell attacked the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and labeled JS an impostor. In September 1834, after “perusing Mr. A. Campbell’s ‘Millennial Harbinger,’” JS wrote a letter to that emphasized the difference in approach between himself and the combative Disciple of Christ leader; he further stated his expectation to see “truth triumph over error” when such men cry “delusion, deception, and false prophets.”
JS’s letter featured here also dismissed the claims of and . The Painesville Telegraph, previously edited and published by Howe, had earlier reprinted some of ’s anti-Mormon polemics and included other articles and editorials belittling the church. But Howe’s book—Mormonism Unvailed, published in late 1834—attacked the reputation of JS and his role in founding the church more personally, partly through negative affidavits about JS and his family gathered by Hurlbut in . In 1833, Orris Clapp and other citizens of , Ohio, employed Hurlbut to collect information about the Smith family and the origin of the Book of Mormon. While doing so, Hurlbut developed a new theory about the Book of Mormon: , not JS, had produced it, and he had done so by plagiarizing an earlier manuscript written by Solomon Spalding. Hearing rumors of a lost “romance,” or novel, Hurlbut collected statements from Spalding’s acquaintances that described the contents of the manuscript. He also claimed that he found the manuscript in Otsego County, New York, and that it contained a story that paralleled the Book of Mormon narrative. Hurlbut supposedly delivered the manuscript to Howe, who chose not to publish the manuscript but instead used Mormonism Unvailed to introduce the Spalding theory and publish many of the affidavits Hurlbut collected about the Smith family and the Book of Mormon.
JS may also have been reacting to attacks published even more recently. In a review of Mormonism Unvailed printed in the January 1835 issue of the Millennial Harbinger, wrote, “No man, not already duped, who has the half of five grains of common sense, can read this narrative of Mormonism without being converted to the belief that Joseph Smith and his colleagues in the plot are a band of the most unprincipled deceivers that ever disgraced any age or nation, and that his followers are a set of superlative fanatics.”
JS’s letter was printed in the December issue of the Messenger and Advocate, which is the only known surviving version. With no original version extant, it is not clear whether JS or his scribe penned this letter. JS’s journal notes that he “spent the day in writing” for the Messenger and Advocate on both 30 November and 1 December. If JS followed the procedure that produced his extensive diary entries during this period, he would have dictated to or otherwise worked with Parrish to compose the letter before submitting it to the editor, , for publication.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835; and Letter to the Elders of the Church, 16 Nov. 1835.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 30 Nov. and 1 Dec. 1835.

  3. [3]

    “Delusions,” Millennial Harbinger, 7 Feb. 1831, 85–95; Alexander Campbell, Delusions (Boston: Benjamin H. Greene, 1832). The Millennial Harbinger, a publication of the Disciples of Christ, was printed from 1830 to 1870 in Bethany, Virginia. Campbell first attacked JS personally by calling him ignorant, stupid, illiterate, and a false messiah. Campbell also analyzed the Book of Mormon, emphasizing that he considered it internally inconsistent. For more on Campbell, see Hughes, “From Primitive Church to Civil Religion,” 87–103.

    Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

    Campbell, Alexander. Delusions. An Analysis of the Book of Mormon; with an Examination of Its Internal and External Evidences, and a Refutation of Its Pretences to Divine Authority. Boston: Benjamin H. Greene, 1832.

    Hughes, Richard T. “From Primitive Church to Civil Religion: The Millennial Odyssey of Alexander Campbell.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 44, no. 1 (Mar. 1976): 87–103.

  4. [4]

    See “Christendom in Its Dotage,” Millennial Harbinger, Aug. 1834, 374.

    Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

  5. [5]

    Letter to Oliver Cowdery, 24 Sept. 1834.

  6. [6]

    For instance, Campbell’s Delusions was reprinted in the 8 and 15 March 1831 issues of the Telegraph. Oliver Cowdery responded to Campbell in his own article printed in the Messenger and Advocate. (“Delusions,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 8 Mar. 1831, [1]–[2]; “Internal Evidences,” Painesville Telegraph, 15 Mar. 1831, [1]–[2]; see also Letter to Oliver Cowdery, 24 Sept. 1834; Oliver Cowdery, “Delusion,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1835, 1:90–93.)

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  7. [7]

    Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834); see also “Mormonism Unvailed,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 28 Nov. 1834, [3]. Hurlbut’s theory would have required collusion between JS and Sidney Rigdon in the 1820s, but the two did not meet until Rigdon traveled to New York to meet JS in December 1830. Rigdon encountered the Book of Mormon and was baptized just prior to meeting JS. (See Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 12 Nov. 1830; Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35]; and Pratt, Autobiography, 31–32, 49–50.)

    Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

    Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

  8. [8]

    When the Spalding manuscript was later rediscovered and published, it bore little resemblance to the Book of Mormon. (See Jackson, Manuscript Found, vii–xxviii.)

    Jackson, Kent P., ed. Manuscript Found: The Complete Original “Spaulding Manuscript.” Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1996.

  9. [9]

    Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, 278–290; Winchester, Plain Facts, 8–9; Eber D. Howe, Statement, 8 Apr. 1885, Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954, Chicago History Museum; for more information on Hurlbut, see “Joseph Smith Documents from February 1833 through March 1834.”

    Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

    Winchester, Benjamin. Plain Facts, Shewing the Origin of the Spaulding Story, concerning the Manuscript Found, and Its Being Transformed into the Book of Mormon; with a Short History of Dr. P. Hulbert, the Author of the Said Story . . . Re-published by George J. Adams, Minister of the Gospel, Bedford, England. To Which Is Added, a Letter from Elder S. Rigdon, Also, One from Elder O. Hyde, on the Above Subject. Bedford, England: C. B. Merry, 1841.

    Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954. Chicago History Museum.

  10. [10]

    “Mormonism Unveiled,” Millennial Harbinger, Jan. 1835, 44–45, italics in original.

    Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

  11. [11]

    JS, Journal, 30 Nov. and 1 Dec. 1835.

Page 227

have plucked up, or cleansed the church of, if their views had been favored by the Savior; but he, knowing all things, says not so; as much as to say, your views are not correct, the church is in its infancy, and if you take this rash step, you will destroy the wheat or the church with the tares: therefore it is better to let them grow together until the harvest, or the end of the world, which means the destruction of the wicked; which is not yet fulfilled; as we shall show hereafter, in the Savior’s explanation of the parable, which is so plain, that there is no room left for dubiety upon the mind, notwithstanding the cry of the priests, parables, parables! figures, figures! mystery, mystery! all is mystery! but we find no room for doubt here, as the parables were all plainly elucidated.
And again, another parable put he forth unto them, having an allusion to the kingdom which should be set up, just previous or at the time of harvest, which reads as follows:—The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Now we can discover plainly, that this figure is given to represent the church as it shall come forth in the last days. Behold the kingdom of heaven is likened unto it. Now what is like unto it?
Let us take the book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field; securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time: let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth; yea, even towering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it becomes the greatest of all herbs: and it is truth, and it has sprouted and come forth out of the earth; and righteousness begins to look down from heaven; and God is sending down his powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a mustard seed. Behold, then, is not this the kingdom of heaven that is raising its head in the last days, in the majesty of its God; even the ,—like an impenetrable, immovable rock in the midst of the mighty deep, exposed to storms and tempests of satan, but has, thus far, remained steadfast and is still braving the mountain waves of opposition, which are driven by the tempestuous winds of sinking crafts, have and are still dashing with tremendous foam, across its triumphing brow, urged onward with redoubled fury by the enemy of righteousness, with his pitchfork of lies, as you will see fairly represented in a cut, contained in ’s “Mormonism Unveiled?”
And we hope that this adversary of truth will continue to stir up the sink of iniquity, that people may the more readily discern between the righteous and wicked. We also would notice one of the modern sons of Sceva, who would fain have made people believe that he could cast out devils, by a certain pamphlet (viz. the “Millenial Harbinger,”) that went the rounds through our country, who felt so fully authorized to brand Jo Smith, with the appellation of Elymus the sorcerer, and to say with Paul, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord! We would reply to this gentleman—Paul we know, and Christ we know, but who are ye? And with the best of feelings, we would say to him, in the language of Paul to those who said they were John’s disciples, but had not so much as heard there was a Holy Ghost, to repent and be for the remission of sins by those who have legal authority, and under their hands you shall receive the , according to the scriptures.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.—Acts: ch. 8, v. 17.
And, when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.—Acts: ch. 19, v. 6.
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of , and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.—Heb. ch. 6, v.2.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!—Rom. ch. 10, v. 14–15.
But if this man will not take our admonition, but will persist in his wicked course, we hope that he will continue trying to cast out devils, that we may [p. 227]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835
ID #
287
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:89–100
Handwriting on This Page

    Footnotes

    1. [15]

      See Matthew 13:31–32.

    2. [16]

      On 28 November 1834, Eber D. Howe issued Mormonism Unvailed from his press in Painesville, Ohio. The book’s frontispiece included a woodcut image of Satan holding a pitchfork and kicking JS on the backside through the air after JS had obtained the “gold bible.” JS’s comments here appear to reference that image and Howe’s book generally as a “pitchfork of lies.” (See “To the Public,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 31 Jan. 1834, [3]; and Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, 275–276.)

      Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

      Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

    3. [17]

      See Acts 19:11–20.

    4. [18]

      See Acts 13:4–12.

    5. [19]

      See Acts 13:10; see also “Practical Thoughts and Reflections,” Millennial Harbinger, May 1848, 288.

      Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

    6. [20]

      See Acts 19:15. In the book of Acts, chapter 19, seven sons of a Jewish priest try unsuccessfully to cast out an evil spirit by invoking Jesus’s name.

    7. [21]

      See Acts 2:38. In the February 1831 issue of the Millennial Harbinger, Campbell’s article “Delusions” includes this line: “I have never felt myself so fully authorized to address mortal man in the style in which Paul addressed Elymas the sorcerer as I feel towards this Atheist [Joseph] Smith.” Campbell referred to Acts 13:6–12. JS responded with his own references to the book of Acts, including Acts 19:2–15. Campbell and JS shared the belief in the doctrine of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, but a December 1830 revelation to JS further instructed that following baptism came the conferral of the gift of the Holy Ghost through authority, “by the laying on of hands even as the Apostles of old.” (“Delusions,” Millennial Harbinger, 7 Feb. 1831, 96; Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:3–6].)

      Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

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