Letter from Harvey Whitlock, 28 September 1835

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Letter from Harvey Whitlock, 28 September 1835
Source Note

Harvey Whitlock
1809–after 1880. Physician. Born in Massachusetts. Married Minerva Abbott, 21 Nov. 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1831. Ordained an elder, by June 1831. Ordained a high priest, 4 June 1831. Served mission to Jackson Co., ...
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, Letter, unidentified place, to JS, [
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH], 28 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 16 Nov. and Dec. 1835] in JS, Journal, 1835–1836, pp. 38–41; handwriting of
Frederick G. Williams
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
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and
Warren Parrish
10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1835–1836.

Historical Introduction
On 28 September 1835,
1
Although the letter itself has no date, JS’s reply to it states that the letter was written on 28 September 1835. (JS, Journal, 16 Nov. 1835.)

Harvey Whitlock
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wrote this letter to JS from an unspecified location. In the letter, he indicated his sorrow for falling away from the church and asked for a revelation indicating God’s will for him. Whitlock had been
baptized
An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...
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sometime prior to June 1831, when he was
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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to the
high priesthood
The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...
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in
Ohio
French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...
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.
2
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
He moved to
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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sometime before 23 January 1832.
3
Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 Jan. 1832.
When non-Mormon residents of
Jackson County
Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...
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, Missouri, demanded in July 1833 that the Saints depart the county, Whitlock was one of several church leaders who pledged to vacate by 1 January 1834.
4
Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833.
In September 1833, he participated in a council held in Jackson County,
5
Minute Book 2, 11 Sept. 1833.
but he then disappears from extant records. He likely experienced the fall 1833 violence that drove church members from Jackson County,
6
For an overview of the expulsion, see “A History, of the Persecution,” Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:19–20; Jan. 1840, 1:33–36.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
but it is not clear where he went thereafter. According to a later account, Whitlock was apparently still in Missouri when the
Camp of Israel
A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...
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came to
Clay County
Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...
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in summer 1834 and perhaps was still in good standing with the church at that time.
7
Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 27 June 1858, 7:54.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.
However, at some point before September 1835, he was cut off from the church; extant records are silent as to why. Whitlock’s letter indicates that he had long wanted to reconcile with JS and the church but had been prevented from doing so by his “many vices.”

After receiving
Whitlock
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’s letter, JS read it twice and “could not refrain from weeping” because of Whitlock’s repentant spirit.
8
JS, Journal, 16 Nov. 1835.
On 16 November 1835, JS replied to the letter, including in his reply a revelation declaring that God would forgive Whitlock for his sins and directing Whitlock to come to
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio.
9
Whitlock apparently did so, and in January 1836, a
conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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of the church presidency in Kirtland resolved to allow Whitlock to be rebaptized, to accept him “in full fellowship,” and to ordain him again to the office of high priest.
10
Minute Book 1, 30 Jan. 1836.

Whitlock
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’s original letter is not extant.
Frederick G. Williams
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio
and
Warren Parrish
10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...
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copied the letter into JS’s journal, probably sometime around 16 November 1835.
11
Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836.
Footnotes
[1]
Although the letter itself has no date, JS’s reply to it states that the letter was written on 28 September 1835. (JS, Journal, 16 Nov. 1835.)
[2]
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
[3]
Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 Jan. 1832.
[4]
Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833.
[5]
Minute Book 2, 11 Sept. 1833.
[6]
For an overview of the expulsion, see “A History, of the Persecution,” Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:19–20; Jan. 1840, 1:33–36.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
[7]
Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 27 June 1858, 7:54.
Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.
[8]
[9]
[10]
Minute Book 1, 30 Jan. 1836.
[11]
Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Harvey Whitlock, 28 September 1835 Journal, 1835–1836 History, 1834–1836 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 38
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Frederick G. Williams handwriting begins.
Copy of a Letter from
Harvey Whitloc[k]
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Dear sir having a few leisure moment I have at last concluded to do what my own Judgment has long dictated would be right but the allurements of many vices has long retarded the hand, that would wield the pen to make intelligent the communication that I wish to send to you: And even now that ambition which is a prevaling and predominent principles among the great mass of natural men even now forbids that plainness of sentiment with which I wish to unbosom my feelings write. For know assuredly sir to you I wish to unbosom my feelings, and unravil the secrets of my heart: as before the omnicient Judge of all the earth.
Be not surprised when I declare unto you, as the spirit will bear record that my faith is firm and unshaken in the things of the everlasting gospel as it is proclaimed by the servants of the latter-day saint.
Dear brother Joseph (If I may be allowed the expression)
1
In December 1834, the presidency of the high priesthood decided that it was not proper for members to refer to church leaders in familiar terms such as “brother Joseph.” Instead, leaders were to be referred to by “the office or ordinance to which they had been called,” such as “President Smith.” (Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834.)
when I considder the happy times and peaseful moments, and pleasant seasons I have enjoyed with you, and and this people; contrasted with my now degraded state; together with the high, and important station I have held before [p. 38]
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Page 38
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Footnotes
Frederick G. Williams handwriting begins.
[1]
In December 1834, the presidency of the high priesthood decided that it was not proper for members to refer to church leaders in familiar terms such as “brother Joseph.” Instead, leaders were to be referred to by “the office or ordinance to which they had been called,” such as “President Smith.” (Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834.)