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Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 7 February 1844

Source Note

, Letter, , Adams Co., IL, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 7 Feb. 1844; handwriting and signature of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notations, postal stamp, dockets, notations, and redactions.
Bifolium measuring 9⅝ × 7¾ inches (24 × 20 cm). The pages are ruled with twenty-seven printed horizontal lines, now faded. The letter was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer, remnants of which are present on the recto and verso of the second leaf. There is a hole in the second leaf, presumably made when the letter was opened. The document was later refolded for filing.
The document was docketed by , who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844. It was also docketed by , who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859. The letter was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 it had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early dockets, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection 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. [2]

    “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. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  4. [4]

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

Historical Introduction

On 7 February 1844, member wrote a letter from , Illinois, to JS in , Illinois, inviting him and his family to visit. Heywood first met JS in Nauvoo on 17 December 1842. That same day, after listening to JS preach for the first time, Heywood was by in the after JS helped cut through the ice covering the water. Hyde, JS, and then Heywood a member of the church. Later, when JS traveled to Quincy in June 1843, Heywood accompanied him through the city. That same year, Heywood introduced JS to surveyor Colonel , a resident of Quincy who was willing to use his influence in to help the Latter-day Saints petition the federal government for redress for the losses they had sustained in in the 1830s.
In his 7 February 1844 letter, encouraged JS to visit . While acknowledging the dangers that JS faced while outside of , Heywood assured him of the goodwill Quincy’s citizens felt toward him. Moreover, the local was prospering, and Heywood suggested that the Saints in Quincy would benefit from JS visiting on a Sunday. He concluded by rejoicing in the church’s progress and in his own involvement with the Saints.
sent this letter through the postal service. It is unclear when Heywood sent the letter, but JS received it by 13 February, when he wrote a reply.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Joseph L. Heywood, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, [Salt Lake City, Utah Territory], 26 Jan. 1855, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL; “Heywood, Joseph Leland,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:646.

    Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

    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. [2]

    JS, Journal, 3 June 1843; Clayton, Journal, 3 June 1843; Joseph L. Heywood, to George A. Smith, ca. 1854, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL.

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

    Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 23 Oct. 1843; Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 2 Nov. 1843.

  4. [4]

    See Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 13 Feb. 1844.

Page [2]

and spiritual.
There are quite a number believing, some of whom are to be on Sunday next.
It would be very encouraging to us if you could plan a visit so as to stop with us over Sabbath when you come.
Bro [Joseph] Pine formerly from Ohio Presides over our and a most excellent man he is too.
I am happy to learn from various sources that a most excellent spirit prevails at & that the order of the Kingdom is Rapidly rolling forth through the instrumentality of Him whom God hath raised up to be both a “Prophet & a Seer” to this Generation.—
I feel greatly to rejoice that has been my lot to be numbered with the & my constant Prayer is that I may be found faithful— & that I may be also useful in rooling forth Gods work in these last days. On receipt of this I should be extremely happy to hear from you & hope you can consistently comply with my request in visiting— My Bro & Sister Kimball often express a desire to become acquaintd [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 7 February 1844
ID #
1264
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joseph L. Heywood

Footnotes

  1. [3]

    The Quincy branch was originally organized in June 1840. Conference minutes from February 1843 reported that the branch had seventy-seven members. By May 1844, its membership had increased to almost one hundred. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840, 1; 5 May 1844, 29; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1843, 4:124.)

    Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.

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

  2. [4]

    The 21 June 1840 entry in the Quincy branch’s record book lists Pine as a member holding the office of high priest. Pine became president of the congregation during a December 1843 branch conference. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840, 6; 10 Dec. 1843, 23–24.)

    Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.

  3. [5]

    See Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21:1]; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:91–92]; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:125]; and Letter to “All the Saints in Nauvoo,” 1 Sept. 1842 [D&C 127:12].

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