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Letter from Lyman O. Littlefield, 16 February 1844

Source Note

Lyman O. Littlefield

21 Nov. 1819–1 Sept. 1893. Printer, compositor, newspaper editor, painter. Born in Verona, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Waldo Littlefield and Mercy Higgins. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, between 1830 and 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

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, Letter,
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, to JS, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 16 Feb. 1844; handwriting and signature of
Lyman O. Littlefield

21 Nov. 1819–1 Sept. 1893. Printer, compositor, newspaper editor, painter. Born in Verona, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Waldo Littlefield and Mercy Higgins. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, between 1830 and 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

View Full Bio
; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The document is ruled with twenty-seven horizontal lines, now faded, on the recto of the first leaf and twenty-nine horizontal lines, now faded, on the verso of the first leaf and the recto of the second leaf. The verso of the second leaf is unlined. The letter was inscribed on all four pages. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer, which is still present on the recto of the second leaf. When the letter was opened, the wafer tore a hole in the second leaf on the left side of the recto. The fragment removed from the left side is attached to the wafer on the right side of the same page. There is legible text on one side of the fragment. The letter was later refolded for filing. There is separation along some of the folds.
The document was docketed 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...

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, 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.

and 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...

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, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859.
2

“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 letter was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
3

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], 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).
4

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


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 16 February 1844,
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
member
Lyman O. Littlefield

21 Nov. 1819–1 Sept. 1893. Printer, compositor, newspaper editor, painter. Born in Verona, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Waldo Littlefield and Mercy Higgins. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, between 1830 and 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
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, to JS in Nauvoo asking his forgiveness for past offenses. Although Littlefield never stated in his letter what he had done to wrong JS, the difficulties between the two men likely dated back to 1842. In February of that year, the first issue of the Times and Seasons that was published under JS’s name as editor included a marriage announcement containing sexual innuendo.
1

“Valedictory,” and “Married,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1842, 3:695, 701.


In March 1842, Littlefield wrote a letter to JS—which was published in the Times and Seasons—admitting that he had written the announcement and explaining that JS had not inspected its content beforehand and should not be held responsible for it.
2

Letter from Lyman O. Littlefield, 14 Mar. 1842; see also “To the Public,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:729.


Later that year, Littlefield’s personal conduct again came under scrutiny after a woman accused him of making sexual propositions to her and teaching “that there was no harm in having unlawful intercourse,” a practice that he claimed JS condoned.
3

Catherine Fuller Warren, Testimony, 25 May 1842, Testimonies in Nauvoo High Council Cases, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Testimonies in Nauvoo High Council Cases, May 1842. CHL.

On 27 May 1842, the Nauvoo
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

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charged Littlefield with “improper and unvirtuous conduct and for teaching false doctrine.” That same day he was disfellowshipped.
4

Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 27 May 1842, 3; Woodruff, Journal, 27 May 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, ca. 1839–ca. 1843. Fair copy. In Oliver Cowdery, Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Although
Littlefield

21 Nov. 1819–1 Sept. 1893. Printer, compositor, newspaper editor, painter. Born in Verona, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Waldo Littlefield and Mercy Higgins. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, between 1830 and 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

View Full Bio
apparently regained his standing in the church by April 1843, when he received a call to preach in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he felt that a rift in his relationship with JS remained unresolved.
5

“Elder’s Conference,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1843, 4:157.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

In his 16 February 1844 letter, Littlefield explained that his pride and honor had long discouraged him from seeking JS’s pardon. He, however, was now asking for forgiveness because he believed that JS held the
keys

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

View Glossary
of the kingdom, or, in other words, the authority to direct the kingdom of God on earth. Littlefield also expressed his rededication to God and asked JS to accept what he could offer.
The letter bears no postal mark, suggesting that
Littlefield

21 Nov. 1819–1 Sept. 1893. Printer, compositor, newspaper editor, painter. Born in Verona, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Waldo Littlefield and Mercy Higgins. Moved to Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, between 1830 and 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

View Full Bio
either delivered the letter personally or had a messenger deliver it. It is unclear when JS received this letter, and no response from him has been located.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Valedictory,” and “Married,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1842, 3:695, 701.

  2. [2]

    Letter from Lyman O. Littlefield, 14 Mar. 1842; see also “To the Public,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:729.

  3. [3]

    Catherine Fuller Warren, Testimony, 25 May 1842, Testimonies in Nauvoo High Council Cases, CHL.

    Testimonies in Nauvoo High Council Cases, May 1842. CHL.

  4. [4]

    Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 27 May 1842, 3; Woodruff, Journal, 27 May 1842.

    Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, ca. 1839–ca. 1843. Fair copy. In Oliver Cowdery, Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  5. [5]

    “Elder’s Conference,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1843, 4:157.

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

Page [1]

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
, Ill.,)
Feb. 16, 1844.)
President Joseph Smith:—
Dear Sir: Permit me to address you a few lines. I have not, heretofore, obtruded a communication upon you, or troubled you relative to my cause. It would be supurfluous to enter into preliminaries. It is as well known to yourself as to me that there has a difference existed between us, for sometime. At least, I have had good reasons to believe that your feelings were somewhat insenced at me. My object in penning this letter is to have this matter honorably and amicably adjusted. Am I to be disappointed? On my part, be assured, there shall be nothing lacking. May I hope for the like reciprocal feelings in you? All I shall require is for you to say that you will forgive me <​my​> past foibles. Will you do it? A request of this nature would once have been looked upon by me as the greatest humiliation. I could not have humbled myself so much, in my own estima [p. [1]]
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Editorial Title
Letter from Lyman O. Littlefield, 16 February 1844
ID #
1275
Total Pages
4
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  • Lyman O. Littlefield

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