Letter from Warren Parrish, 25 January 1836

Source Note

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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, Letter, [
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], 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], 25 Jan. 1836. Featured version copied [ca. 25 Jan. 1836] in JS, Journal, 1835–1836, p. 142; handwriting of
Sylvester Smith
25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1835–1836.
Historical Introduction
JS hired
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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as a scribe on 29 October 1835 for fifteen dollars a month plus a four-dollar monthly allowance for meals.
1
JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1835; see also Historical Introduction to Revelation, 14 Nov. 1835.
On 14 November 1835, JS dictated a revelation that proclaimed Parrish as “the Lords Scribe, for the Lords Seer.”
2
JS, Journal, 14 Nov. 1835.
In his scribal responsibilities, Parrish primarily maintained JS’s journal, though he also wrote in other church records including JS’s 1834–1836 history.
3
Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836; Source Note for JS History, 1834–1836.

In December 1835,
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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’s ill health sometimes interfered with his work.
4
JS, Journal, 22 Dec. 1835.
Parrish’s health returned by 30 December and remained strong enough for him to continue his writing duties for most of January; he even participated in the
anointing
To apply ceremonial oil to the head or body, often in conjunction with priesthood ordinances and the blessing of the sick. The practice of blessing the sick included anointing with oil and laying hands on the sick person. Ritual washings and anointings were...
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ordinance
A religious rite. JS taught that ordinances were covenants between man and God, in which believers could affirm faith, gain spiritual knowledge, and seek blessings. Some ordinances were considered requisite for salvation. The manner in which ordinances were...
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that took place in the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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on 21 January 1836.
5
JS, Journal, 30 Dec. 1835; see also Historical Introduction to Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137].
However, on 25 January 1836, his health worsened, and he wrote JS to request a temporary leave of absence from his scribal duties.

Sylvester Smith
25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...
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copied
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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’s letter into JS’s journal shortly after JS received it. Smith acted as interim scribe for JS from 25 January until 8 February 1836, when Parrish resumed his labors.
6
JS, Journal, 25 Jan. and 8 Feb. 1836.

Footnotes
1. 1
  JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1835; see also Historical Introduction to Revelation, 14 Nov. 1835.
2. 2
  JS, Journal, 14 Nov. 1835.
3. 3
  Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836; Source Note for JS History, 1834–1836.
4. 4
  JS, Journal, 22 Dec. 1835.
5. 5
  JS, Journal, 30 Dec. 1835; see also Historical Introduction to Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137].
6. 6
  JS, Journal, 25 Jan. and 8 Feb. 1836.

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Brother Joseph,

My great desire to be in your company & in the Assembly of the Saints where God opnes [opens] the heavens & exhibits the treasures of eternity is the only thing that has stimulated me for a number of days past to leave my house; for be assured, dear brother, my bodily affliction is severe; I have a violent <cough> more especially nights, which deprives me of my appetite, & my strength fails, & writing has a particular tendency to injure my lungs while I am under the influence of such a cough I therefore, with reluctance send your journal to you untill my health improves

Yours in heart

P.S.

Brother Joseph,

pray for me, & ask the prayers of the class on my account also. [p. 142]

Brother Joseph,

My great desire to be in your company & in the Assembly of the Saints where God opnes [opens] the heavens & exhibits the treasures of eternity is the only thing that has stimulated me for a number of days past to leave my house; for be assured, dear brother, my bodily affliction is severe; I have a violent cough more especially nights, which deprives me of my appetite, & my strength fails, & writing has a particular tendency to injure my lungs while I am under the influence of such a cough I therefore, with reluctance send your journal to you untill my health improves

Yours in heart

P.S.

Brother Joseph,

pray for me, & ask the prayers of the class on my account also. [p. 142]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Letter from Warren Parrish, 25 January 1836
ID #
310
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:160–161
Handwriting on This Page
- Sylvester Smith
Footnotes
1. 1
  JS and Parrish had developed a close relationship. Parrish was included in a covenant JS made with the Twelve on 16 January 1836 and on that day received a blessing that commended him for the “truth and integrity that dwelleth in him.” (Minutes, 16 Jan. 1836; JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836.)
2. 2
  This likely referred to the group of priesthood holders and church leaders present at the anointing that took place a few days earlier, on 21 and 22 January 1836, which Parrish attended despite his illness. JS’s journal records that when Parrish received the ordinance of anointing with holy oil in the House of the Lord on 21 January 1836, he “saw in a vision the armies of heaven protecting the Saints in their return to Zion.” (JS, Journal, 21–22 and 24 Jan. 1836; see also Historical Introduction to Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137].)
3. 3
  This likely refers to the bound volume containing JS’s Ohio journal, covering September 1835–April 1836, much of which was dictated daily by JS to Parrish. Though less likely, this may instead reference JS’s 1834–1836 history, on which Parrish also served contemporaneously as a scribe and which was referred to as JS’s “large journal.” (See Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836; and JS History, 1834–1836.)
4. 4
  On 8 February 1836, JS’s journal records, “Elder Parrish my scribe, received my journal again, his health is so much improved that he thinks he will be able, with the blessing of God to perform this duty.” (JS, Journal, 8 Feb. 1836.)
5. 5
  Parrish here referred to the Hebrew School, which met for the next several days. (JS, Journal, 26 Jan.–1 Feb. 1836.)

Letter from Warren Parrish, 25 January 1836

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