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Letter to George Boosinger, 24 February 1842

Source Note

JS, 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
George Boosinger

1784–28 Feb. 1862. Farmer. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Conrad Boosinger and Catharine Barbara Yancer. Journeyed to Trumbull Co., Northwest Territory (later Ohio), ca. 1801. Married first Nancy Simcox, ca. 1807. Enlisted in War of 1812. Lived at Tallmadge...

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, Macoupin Co., IL, 24 Feb. 1842. Featured version copied [ca. 24 Feb. 1842] in JS Letterbook 2, p. 227; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 24 February 1842 JS responded to a 24 January letter from
George Boosinger

1784–28 Feb. 1862. Farmer. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Conrad Boosinger and Catharine Barbara Yancer. Journeyed to Trumbull Co., Northwest Territory (later Ohio), ca. 1801. Married first Nancy Simcox, ca. 1807. Enlisted in War of 1812. Lived at Tallmadge...

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, a
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...

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member living in Macoupin County, Illinois, about his
tithing

A free-will offering of one-tenth of a person’s annual interest or income, given to the church for its use. The Book of Mormon and JS’s revision of the Bible explained that “even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of all he possessed.” Additionally...

View Glossary
.
1

Boosinger’s letter, to which JS refers in the opening line of the featured letter, has not been located.


Tithing donations to the church during the early 1840s were attached to the construction of the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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in
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
. In a 13 December 1841 open letter, the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

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defined tithing as “one tenth of all any one possessed at the commencement of the building [of the temple], and one tenth part of all his increase from that time till the completion of the same.”
2

Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Under
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
law JS, as the duly elected trustee-in-trust for the church, was responsible for any property the church owned or received.
3

Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841; An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], pp. 148–149, sec. 3.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.

Beginning in December 1841 JS had his scribe
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, in his capacity as recorder for the temple, keep a record of all donations made to the church or the temple in a large volume titled “The Book of the Law of the Lord.”
4

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 16–17.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

In their open letter, the Twelve described the process by which donations were to be made thereafter—that all tithing must be sent directly to JS as trustee and recorded in the Book of the Law of the Lord. The Twelve also instructed those who had received receipts from the temple building committee for earlier donations to send those receipts to the recorder’s office.
5

Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:627.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

It may have been in response to this instruction that
Boosinger

1784–28 Feb. 1862. Farmer. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Conrad Boosinger and Catharine Barbara Yancer. Journeyed to Trumbull Co., Northwest Territory (later Ohio), ca. 1801. Married first Nancy Simcox, ca. 1807. Enlisted in War of 1812. Lived at Tallmadge...

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wrote to JS on 24 January 1842. Boosinger had loaned at least $935 to JS,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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, and
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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in May 1836.
6

JS et al. to George Boosinger, Promissory Note, Kirtland, OH, 23 May 1836; JS et al. to George Boosinger, Promissory Note, Tallmadge, OH, 26 May 1836, Letters Related to George Boosinger, ca. 1839–1953, in Mormon File, ca. 1805–1995, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA; see also Application for Bankruptcy, ca. 14–16 Apr. 1842.


JS and other church leaders still owed Boosinger at least a portion of this debt in 1842. In his January 1842 letter, Boosinger apparently requested that $150 of this debt be credited to his tithing. He apparently also suggested that another $155 be paid to Boosinger by five people—Joel Ricks, James Olive, William Steele, Moses Bailey, and Matilda Bailey—whose tithing would, in turn, be credited with the amount they had individually paid to Boosinger. In short, $305 of the debt to Boosinger would be considered paid, in exchange for an equal amount of money being credited on tithing to Boosinger and the others. JS explained to Boosinger in his 24 February response that receipts were not issued for donations received but that tithing credit for Boosinger and the others would be recorded in the Book of the Law of the Lord, provided that Boosinger send a schedule listing the payers and amounts paid. Boosinger replied to JS on 9 April, providing the requested information.
7

Letter from George Boosinger, 9 Apr. 1842.


On 16 May,
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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inscribed an entry in the Book of the Law of the Lord noting the receipt of Boosinger’s letter with the names of six church members—including Boosinger—and donation amounts totaling $305.
8

Richards’s entry, recorded on page 121 of the Book of the Law of the Lord, credited $75 to Joel Ricks, $50 to James Olive, $20 to William Steele, $7 to Moses Bailey, $3 to Matilda Bailey, and $150 to George Boosinger.


JS’s original letter to
Boosinger

1784–28 Feb. 1862. Farmer. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Conrad Boosinger and Catharine Barbara Yancer. Journeyed to Trumbull Co., Northwest Territory (later Ohio), ca. 1801. Married first Nancy Simcox, ca. 1807. Enlisted in War of 1812. Lived at Tallmadge...

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is not extant.
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
inscribed the original and copied it into JS Letterbook 2 around the time it was sent. The copy is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Boosinger’s letter, to which JS refers in the opening line of the featured letter, has not been located.

  2. [2]

    Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.

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

  3. [3]

    Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841; An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], pp. 148–149, sec. 3.

    Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 16–17.

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  5. [5]

    Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:627.

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

  6. [6]

    JS et al. to George Boosinger, Promissory Note, Kirtland, OH, 23 May 1836; JS et al. to George Boosinger, Promissory Note, Tallmadge, OH, 26 May 1836, Letters Related to George Boosinger, ca. 1839–1953, in Mormon File, ca. 1805–1995, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA; see also Application for Bankruptcy, ca. 14–16 Apr. 1842.

  7. [7]

    Letter from George Boosinger, 9 Apr. 1842.

  8. [8]

    Richards’s entry, recorded on page 121 of the Book of the Law of the Lord, credited $75 to Joel Ricks, $50 to James Olive, $20 to William Steele, $7 to Moses Bailey, $3 to Matilda Bailey, and $150 to George Boosinger.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to George Boosinger, 24 February 1842
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 227

Copy of a Letter to
George Boosinger

1784–28 Feb. 1862. Farmer. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Conrad Boosinger and Catharine Barbara Yancer. Journeyed to Trumbull Co., Northwest Territory (later Ohio), ca. 1801. Married first Nancy Simcox, ca. 1807. Enlisted in War of 1812. Lived at Tallmadge...

View Full Bio
, Magoupin [Macoupin] Co Illinois
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
Feby 24th. 1842
Beloved Brother
Yours of the 24th. ult is received in relation to certain
tithings

A free-will offering of one-tenth of a person’s annual interest or income, given to the church for its use. The Book of Mormon and JS’s revision of the Bible explained that “even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of all he possessed.” Additionally...

View Glossary
of your neighbourhood being transferred to your account which you hold against the
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
to the amount of $305.00 including $150, of your own.—
There are no receipts issued, for property received on tithing; but an entry is made in the Book of the Law of the Lord.— & parties living at a distance notified of the same.—
If the parties named will pay you the sums specified in your Letter and you will endorse the same, IE $305.00 on the obligation you hold against the church and give me notice accordingly, with a Schedule of individuals names & payments, the same shall be entered to their credit.— on tithing
Yours &c J. Smith
W[illard] Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
Scribe [p. 227]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to George Boosinger, 24 February 1842
ID #
769
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:163–165
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

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