The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Letter from George J. Adams, 23 February 1843

Source Note

George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
, Letter,
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
, Suffolk Co., MA, to JS and
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 23 Feb. 1843; handwriting of
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal stamps, postal notation, endorsement, docket, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 9⅞ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm) when folded. The letter is inscribed in blue ink. It was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed to
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. The second leaf tore when the letter was opened, resulting in a loss of text. The letter was later refolded and docketed for filing.
The document was endorsed by
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
, who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844.
1

JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

It was also docketed by
Leo Hawkins

19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...

View Full Bio
, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859.
4

“Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The notation “copied by A.J” was added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
5

Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
6

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
7

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


The document’s early endorsement, early dockets, and notation as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

  2. [4]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

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

  3. [5]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  4. [6]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  5. [7]

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

Historical Introduction

On 23 February 1843,
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
to JS in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Illinois, refuting additional rumors of his marital infidelity, reporting on his successes as a missionary, and reaffirming his loyalty to JS. In September or October 1842, JS confronted Adams with charges of adultery while Adams was visiting Nauvoo. He confessed to the charges in an 11 October 1842 letter to JS, claiming to be guilty only of a one-time indiscretion.
1

Letter from George J. Adams and David Rogers, 11 Oct. 1842.


After preaching for some time in the Nauvoo area, he returned to his home in
New York City

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
to continue his missionary work in the eastern
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
.
Around the beginning of January 1843, Mary Connor gave birth to a son and subsequently arrived at
Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
’s home with the child, claiming Adams was the father. Adams’s wife,
Caroline Youngs Adams

28 Jan. 1808–24 Aug. 1850. Born in Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Daughter of Grover Youngs and Mary Burnette. Moved to Morristown, Morris Co., by Apr. 1832. Married George J. Adams, 7 May 1832. Moved to New York City, by 1838. Likely baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
, wrote to JS informing him of the situation and asking him to recall her husband to
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
.
2

Letter from Caroline Youngs Adams, ca. 15 Jan. 1843.


Unaware of his wife’s letter, George Adams resumed his missionary work in
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
, where he had enjoyed considerable success a year earlier.
3

“Review of the Mormon Lectures,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1843, 4:126. For sources reporting Adams’s earlier success, see, for example, “The Mormons in Salem,” Salem (MA) Register, 2 June 1842, [2]; “From Our Boston Correspondent,” Norfolk Democrat (Dedham, MA), 17 June 1842, [2]; “The Mormon Controversy at Marlboro’ Chapel,” Christian Freeman and Family Visiter, 1 July 1842, 34; “Mormonism,” New-London (CT) Gazette and Advertiser, 6 July 1842, [2]; and “Latter Day Saints, or Mormons,” Times and Seasons, 1 July 1842, 3:835–836.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Salem Register. Salem, MA. 1841–1903.

Norfolk Democrat. Dedham, MA. 1839–1854.

Christian Freeman and Family Visiter. Boston. 1841–1843.

New-London Gazette and Advertiser. New London, CT. 1840–1844.

Between January and March 1843, he held numerous public lectures in Boston and surrounding towns expounding Latter-day Saint doctrines and refuting the claims of other religious denominations.
4

See, for example, “Millerism,” Daily Bee (Boston), 20 Jan. 1843, [2]; Notice, Daily Bee, 26 Jan. 1843, [2]; and Notice, Daily Bee, 25 Feb. 1843, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Boston Daily Bee. Boston. 1842–1857.

By late February,
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
apparently began to fear that rumors of his child that were circulating among Latter-day Saints in
New York City

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
would reach JS. On 23 February 1843, he wrote this letter asking JS to ignore any charges made against him and to publish a statement in the Times and Seasons in support of his character.
5

In June 1843, after meeting with Adams, JS published a notice in the Times and Seasons stating that Adams had been appointed to serve a mission to Russia and had been “found worthy of the confidence of the saints.” After the Nauvoo high council tried Adams in September, William Marks also published a notice, stating that Adams had been “honorably acquitted by the High Council in Nauvoo, from all charges heretofore preferred against him from any and all sources.” (“Recommendatory,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1843, 4:218; “To Whom It May Concern,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1843, 4:303.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Adams also described the interest in and growth of the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
in
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
, inviting JS to come east and join in his missionary efforts. Because of the private nature of his letter, he addressed the letter to
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
, just as his wife had done a month earlier,
6

Letter from Caroline Youngs Adams, ca. 15 Jan. 1843.


believing that a letter sent to Emma was less likely to be seized or read by others.
By the time
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
sent this letter, JS had already received
Caroline Youngs Adams

28 Jan. 1808–24 Aug. 1850. Born in Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Daughter of Grover Youngs and Mary Burnette. Moved to Morristown, Morris Co., by Apr. 1832. Married George J. Adams, 7 May 1832. Moved to New York City, by 1838. Likely baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
’s letter and had instructed the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
to call George and his family to
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
. Adams received a letter from
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
and
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
conveying this message on 10 March 1843.
7

George J. Adams, New York City, NY, to Brigham Young and Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Mar. 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

JS received this 23 February letter by 15 March 1843. On that date, he dictated a response, no longer extant, with
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
likely serving as scribe.
8

Clayton spent at least part of the day on 15 March 1843 working in JS’s mayoral office. (JS, Journal, 15 Mar. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 15 Mar. 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

Clayton then endorsed this 23 February letter, noting that it had been answered.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from George J. Adams and David Rogers, 11 Oct. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Letter from Caroline Youngs Adams, ca. 15 Jan. 1843.

  3. [3]

    “Review of the Mormon Lectures,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1843, 4:126. For sources reporting Adams’s earlier success, see, for example, “The Mormons in Salem,” Salem (MA) Register, 2 June 1842, [2]; “From Our Boston Correspondent,” Norfolk Democrat (Dedham, MA), 17 June 1842, [2]; “The Mormon Controversy at Marlboro’ Chapel,” Christian Freeman and Family Visiter, 1 July 1842, 34; “Mormonism,” New-London (CT) Gazette and Advertiser, 6 July 1842, [2]; and “Latter Day Saints, or Mormons,” Times and Seasons, 1 July 1842, 3:835–836.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

    Salem Register. Salem, MA. 1841–1903.

    Norfolk Democrat. Dedham, MA. 1839–1854.

    Christian Freeman and Family Visiter. Boston. 1841–1843.

    New-London Gazette and Advertiser. New London, CT. 1840–1844.

  4. [4]

    See, for example, “Millerism,” Daily Bee (Boston), 20 Jan. 1843, [2]; Notice, Daily Bee, 26 Jan. 1843, [2]; and Notice, Daily Bee, 25 Feb. 1843, [2].

    Boston Daily Bee. Boston. 1842–1857.

  5. [5]

    In June 1843, after meeting with Adams, JS published a notice in the Times and Seasons stating that Adams had been appointed to serve a mission to Russia and had been “found worthy of the confidence of the saints.” After the Nauvoo high council tried Adams in September, William Marks also published a notice, stating that Adams had been “honorably acquitted by the High Council in Nauvoo, from all charges heretofore preferred against him from any and all sources.” (“Recommendatory,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1843, 4:218; “To Whom It May Concern,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1843, 4:303.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [6]

    Letter from Caroline Youngs Adams, ca. 15 Jan. 1843.

  7. [7]

    George J. Adams, New York City, NY, to Brigham Young and Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Mar. 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.

    Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

  8. [8]

    Clayton spent at least part of the day on 15 March 1843 working in JS’s mayoral office. (JS, Journal, 15 Mar. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 15 Mar. 1843.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

Page [3]

I have preached and Boren testomony to more than ten thousand people in the east since My return, they are now about getting up a petition for me to have fanneull [Faneuil] Hall, to preach in
13

Faneuil Hall had been one of the primary public buildings in Boston since the late eighteenth century and was already a part of the city’s revolutionary heritage. The hall had been enlarged several times since its construction and by the 1840s contained five large meeting halls in the upper stories of the market. The minutes of Boston’s board of aldermen, which granted use of the halls based on submitted petitions, do not contain any record of a petition from the Saints to use Faneuil Hall in early 1843. (Brown, Faneuil Hall and Faneuil Hall Market, 183–184, 215; Boston, MA, Board of Aldermen, Summary Minutes, 1822–1909, vol. 21, in Boston, MA, City Council Proceedings, 1822–2015, City of Boston Archives, West Roxbury, MA.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Brown, Abram English. Faneuil Hall and Faneuil Hall Market; or, Peter Faneuil and His Gift. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1901.

Boston, MA, City Council Proceedings, 1822–2015. City of Boston Archives, West Rox- bury, MA.

if they Succeed it will hold ten thousand and poor
Bro— Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
will then have the privalage to Speak to ten thousand people at once, in behalf of the truth,
Dear Brother pregidice is giveing away on evry side you have more than ten thousand friends, here that would die, for you— if you dont believe it come and See, and if yo[u]
14

TEXT: “yo[page torn]”. Missing character supplied from context.


will <​come​> we will Send you the money for yourselph and
wife

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
to come a cabin pasage all the way,
15

Those with cabin passage on steamboats or packet ships had a private room and paid meals. Had he taken Adams up on his offer, JS would have traveled down the Mississippi River on a steamboat before catching one of the regular packet ships that traveled between New Orleans and Boston. (Hunter, Steamboats on the Western Rivers, 390–418; see also, for example, “New Orleans and Boston Packets,” Daily Atlas [Boston], 1 Feb. 1843, [3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Hunter, Louis C. Steamboats on the Western Rivers: An Economic and Technological History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1949.

Boston Daily Atlas. Boston. 1844–1857.

and may be Brothers
Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
, and
Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
, or one or Both will come with you— do come if you can Spare time— if you will in the name of Jesus, we will revolutionise the East, if you will come and pay uss a visit Send word and we will send you the means to come the quickest way. there are Scores of young men her[e] coming in the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
in the varry prime of live and they stand as firm in the faith as the “everlasting Hills”
16

See Genesis 49:26; and Revelation, 3 Nov. 1831 [D&C 133:31].


in great haste I remain your poor unworthy Brother in the
new covenant

Generally referred to the “fulness of the gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

View Glossary
Pres’t

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
J Smith—
G[eorge] J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
[p. [3]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [3]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from George J. Adams, 23 February 1843
ID #
997
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:468–474
Handwriting on This Page
  • George J. Adams

Footnotes

  1. [13]

    Faneuil Hall had been one of the primary public buildings in Boston since the late eighteenth century and was already a part of the city’s revolutionary heritage. The hall had been enlarged several times since its construction and by the 1840s contained five large meeting halls in the upper stories of the market. The minutes of Boston’s board of aldermen, which granted use of the halls based on submitted petitions, do not contain any record of a petition from the Saints to use Faneuil Hall in early 1843. (Brown, Faneuil Hall and Faneuil Hall Market, 183–184, 215; Boston, MA, Board of Aldermen, Summary Minutes, 1822–1909, vol. 21, in Boston, MA, City Council Proceedings, 1822–2015, City of Boston Archives, West Roxbury, MA.)

    Brown, Abram English. Faneuil Hall and Faneuil Hall Market; or, Peter Faneuil and His Gift. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1901.

    Boston, MA, City Council Proceedings, 1822–2015. City of Boston Archives, West Rox- bury, MA.

  2. [14]

    TEXT: “yo[page torn]”. Missing character supplied from context.

  3. [15]

    Those with cabin passage on steamboats or packet ships had a private room and paid meals. Had he taken Adams up on his offer, JS would have traveled down the Mississippi River on a steamboat before catching one of the regular packet ships that traveled between New Orleans and Boston. (Hunter, Steamboats on the Western Rivers, 390–418; see also, for example, “New Orleans and Boston Packets,” Daily Atlas [Boston], 1 Feb. 1843, [3].)

    Hunter, Louis C. Steamboats on the Western Rivers: An Economic and Technological History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1949.

    Boston Daily Atlas. Boston. 1844–1857.

  4. [16]

    See Genesis 49:26; and Revelation, 3 Nov. 1831 [D&C 133:31].

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06