Letter from Joseph Bosworth, 17 February 1834
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Source Note
, Letter, , Summit Co., OH, to “Breathren in Christ” (including JS), , Geauga Co., OH, 17 Feb. 1834; sent copy; handwriting presumably of ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal markings, and docket.Bifolium measuring 12⅞ × 8 inches (33 × 20 cm). The letter was trifolded twice, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. A docket in the handwriting of reads: “Feby 17th 1834 | | Vission”. The document was refolded, apparently at a later time, probably for filing purposes.The letter has presumably remained in the possession of the LDS church since its reception.
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Historical Introduction
In this letter, recounted two visions he experienced the night of 16 February 1834, one week after meeting with JS and others at a conference in , Medina County, Ohio. As the letter indicated, Bosworth was a former associate of and , two men who before joining the had been associated with ’s religious movement. Bosworth’s association with Rigdon and Scott suggests that he too had been involved with Campbell and the Disciples of Christ. Bosworth’s belief in the reality of visions—as opposed to Campbell’s disregard for such experiences in modern times—may have influenced his decision to join the Church of Christ. Bosworth’s probable familiarity with at least some of JS’s visionary experiences—including his and Rigdon’s “Vision” of 16 February 1832, published in the July 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star—may have contributed to his desire to share his own visions with church leaders in , Ohio. No response to Bosworth’s letter has been located.
Footnotes
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2
Alexander Campbell, “A Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things, No. I,” Christian Baptist, 7 Feb. 1825, 50; Alexander Campbell, “The Creed Question,” Christian Baptist, 2 Apr. 1827, 197.
Christian Baptist. Bethany, VA. 1823–1830.
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3
Vision, 16 Feb. 1832, in “A Vision,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [2]–[3] [D&C 76].
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
and in my travils I Came to a house Some where East of this place. where many of our Breathren were, and the house was Closed and the Breathren were fasting and praying— I Saw a man out Side of the house who told me that he was to watch till morning. Just at Day break while it was yet hardly Light enough to See the Doors of the house wrere opened the Breathren who had ben in the house and were then in the house and out at this Door were Leeping Shouting and praising God beyond any thing that I ever Saw or heard— I thought they had received Something in the house Like a powerfull Shock of Elecrisity [electricity] in which Great Misteries of God had ben unfolded. they understood all the Defects of a pretended religion or religions among men and Some of them talked So Ernist and Said thing which I remember now and Ever Shall, while a white Spittle flew out of many of there Mouths the misteries of the Gospel the misteries of Godliness and the misteries of Eternity Seemed to be understood Instantaneously and many of our Breathren were there who now Live in many of whom I have Seen and Know them
Glory be to God on high and here at this great Scene my Breathren the full interpitations was understood of all that God had Shown me in my Vision and even I felt my Self clothed with the Knowledge of God. -[My Dear Breathren my heart Doth throb my Soul now Leaps for Joy. and my tears hide my paper and Shall have to lay Down my pen. O the goodness of God— My Dear Breathren and Sisters Do offer up our prayer to God in my behalf]- I now proceede again with my Last Vision— immediately following after I Left this place where the Breathren were gethered for this Sollom Scene. I Saw my Self five or Six hundred Miles East in the State of in a Large Village— -[the Scene that I went through there I Shall have entirely to Omit and many other things as my paper will not hold out—]- Dear Br in my travels I Came where I found our old Br and in Conversation with him he yealded to me and we Clasped Each other in our arms and it Seem to me that we farely Melted together on which he wilted all Down in my arms and fell back on the ground I on Top of him [p. [3]]
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