Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 10 December 1833
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Source Note
JS, Letter, , Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to , , , , , , and others, , Clay Co., MO, 10 Dec. 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 10 Dec. 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 70–75; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.
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Historical Introduction
On 5 December 1833, JS responded to two letters: one written by on 6–7 November and one penned by to the editors of the Missouri Republican on 9 November. In his 5 December letter, JS sought clarification on the conflicting reports written by the two men concerning events in and requested more information. In mid-November, just after being expelled from , , Phelps, and wrote letters to JS that provided more details about the violence against church members in Missouri. JS received these letters on 10 December 1833 and on the same day wrote a letter, featured here, that responded to the more in-depth information his colleagues had sent him.In this response, JS extensively referred the church leaders to the and to his revelations. He agonized over the catastrophe in , the reasons for which, he noted in this letter, “I am ignorant and the Lord will not show me.” Though “ would suffer sore affliction,” JS reminded church members that “after much tribulation cometh the blessing.” He invoked both the Old Testament and the New Testament to provide support and spiritual guidance to church members in Missouri as they began to settle new lands with few provisions. Regarding their property in Jackson County, JS also urged them to “retain [their] lands even unto the uttermost.” In addition, JS encouraged the Missouri church members to vigorously pursue protection and seek redress of grievances through appeals to the local courts, the governor of Missouri, the president of the , and, as always, the Lord. A revelation dictated six days after JS wrote this letter reaffirmed this guidance. This instruction to seek redress and protection through legal and political means reflected the approach that JS and the church would take regarding their losses in Missouri through the end of JS’s life. JS ended his letter with a long prayer in behalf of the careworn Saints in Missouri.It is unknown how, or if, church members in received JS’s 10 December 1833 letter. copied the letter into JS’s letterbook, which is the only known extant version.
Footnotes
other place should be appointed like unto this therefore I ask thee in the name of Jesus Christ, to return thy people unto their homes, & there , to enjoy the fruit of their Labors; that all the waste places may be built up; that all the enemies of thy people, who will not repent and turn unto thee be distroyed from off the face of that Land; and let an be built and established unto thy name, and let all the losses that thy people have sustained be rewarded unto them, even more than fourfold; that the borders of be enlarged forever, and let her be established no more to be thrown down; and let all thy saints when they are scattered as sheep, and are persecuted, flee unto Zion, and be established in the midst of her, and let her be organized according to thy law and let this prayer even be recorded before thy face; give thy holy spirit unto my brethren: unto whom I write: send thy angels to guard them and to deliver them from all evil; and when they turn there faces towards Zion and bow down before thee and pray may their sins never come up before thy face neither have place in the book of thy remembrance and may they depart from all their eniquities. provide food for them as thou doest for the ravens, provide clothing to cover there nakedness, and houses that they may dwell therein give unto them friends in abundance, and let their names be recorded in the Lambs book of Life eternally before thy face Amen finely [finally], brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all unto his coming and Kingdom, Amen
Joseph Smith J [p. 75]
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