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Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833

Source Note

JS and
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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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...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, to
John S. Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
, [
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
, Rutland Co., VT], 13 Apr. 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 13 Apr. 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 29–32; handwriting of JS and
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.

Historical Introduction

In this document, JS and
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
responded to a letter, no longer extant, from
John S. Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
of
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
, Vermont. Written on 5 April 1833, Carter’s letter sought guidance from “the
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
in
Kirtland

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...

More Info
” on a number of questions.
1

John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

In addition to what can be inferred from the response featured here, the probable content of Carter’s letter and the questions it may have asked can be deduced from the history of the
Church of Christ

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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in Benson, as well as from Carter’s journal and personal history.
In 1797, several members of
Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

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’s family established the Baptist Church of
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
. John was elected to be a pastor for that church in 1822, and he served in that role until a group of Baptist ministers from the area decided that his teachings were not in harmony with Baptist orthodoxy. Carter left his post and led a congregation of Free Will Baptists in Benson. In late October 1831, John’s younger brother
Jared

14 June 1801–6 July 1849. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Ames, 20 Sept. 1823, at Benson. Moved to Chenango, Broome Co., New York, by Jan...

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, who had been
baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
into the Church of Christ earlier that year, arrived in Benson while serving a proselytizing mission. While John was preaching in another town, Jared baptized twenty-seven people in Benson, including virtually all of his brother’s Free Will Baptist congregation.
2

Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 138–142.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.

In November 1831, Jared introduced John to JS’s teachings. John was baptized into the Church of Christ sometime before 15 January 1832, when Jared left to return to
Kirtland

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...

More Info
, Ohio.
3

John S. Carter, Journal, [1]–[2]; Jared Carter, Journal, 39, 48. After leaving to return to Kirtland, Jared wrote, “I had great reason to thank and praise the Lord for what he had done for me and my Brothers and sisters of my fathers family for the whole family had now come into the Glorious work of God with their companions, except one sister and my three Brothers were preachers In this gl[o]rious gospel.” (Jared Carter, Journal, 49.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

On 25 April 1832,
Jared Carter

14 June 1801–6 July 1849. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Ames, 20 Sept. 1823, at Benson. Moved to Chenango, Broome Co., New York, by Jan...

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, along with
Calvin Stoddard

7 Sept. 1801–19 Nov. 1836. Farmer. Born at Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Silas Stoddard and Bathsheba Sheffield. Lived at Ontario Co., 1810. Married Sophronia Smith, 30 Dec. 1827, at Palmyra. Resident of Macedon, Wayne Co., New York, June 1830. Proselytized...

View Full Bio
and
Aaron Lyon

Ca. 1781–30 Sept. 1839. Born in Holland, Hampton Co., Massachusetts. Married Roxana (Rocksey) Palmer, 15 July 1804, at Orwell, Rutland Co., Vermont. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Acquired land at Caldwell Co., Missouri...

View Full Bio
, commenced another mission to the New England states.
4

Jared Carter, Journal, 59; Revelation, 12 Mar. 1832 [D&C 79].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

Jared arrived in
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
in late May 1832, and
John

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
was soon after
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
to the
high priesthood

The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...

View Glossary
. John then joined Jared in proselytizing in
Vermont

Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...

More Info
in June and July 1832.
5

John S. Carter, Journal, [5]–[6]. According to his journal, Jared arrived in Benson on 20 May 1832. John was ordained to the high priesthood on Thursday, 24 May 1832. (Jared Carter, Journal, 69, 72.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

On this mission, Jared expressed his confidence in John as a church leader, writing that he “bids fair for extensive usefulness because of his exceding sincerity & acquiered abilities and also because of his constant devotedness” to God.
6

Jared Carter, Journal, 95.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

Following Jared’s departure in summer 1832, John became a key leader of the Church of Christ in Benson.
With little communication from church leaders outside of the infrequent visits of missionaries, and having known of JS’s teachings for only approximately one year,
John

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
experienced both success and challenges in retaining church members and upholding their faith. His journal entries reveal concern about growing unbelief and discord among the Mormons in
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
and the surrounding area beginning in late February 1833, when he found church members “not well united.”
7

John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833; see also 19 Feb. 1833; and 3, 9, and 14 Mar. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

In early March 1833, he described the Benson congregation as being “under some trials” and stated that a “division in feeling has taken place.”
8

John S. Carter, Journal, 3 Mar. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

John attempted to “settle the . . . difficulty,” but hard feelings among the members of his congregation continued.
9

John S. Carter, Journal, 14 Mar. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

One difficulty he encountered was the claim from Jane McManagal (McMangle) Sherwood, a convert in Benson, that she had received “visions of the Lord.”
10

John S. Carter, Journal, 10 Mar. 1833. On the day he wrote to Kirtland, John noted in his journal that he “heard Sister Sherwood relate her vision of seeing an Angel.” (John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Carter was curious about the phenomena of receiving revelation and experiencing visions, and in his letter to JS he probably sought information about the nature of these reported heavenly encounters and instruction on how to respond to them.
In his letter
Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
also apparently sought further knowledge about the gathering to
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

View Glossary
, a topic he had heard discussed at a church conference in
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
held on 10 August 1832.
11

Ira Ames, a Vermont man who had married Charity Carter—a cousin of John and Jared—and who had recently joined the Church of Christ, was also at the 10 August conference and wrote that after the conference, he “commenced at once gathering up my means, disposing of my property preparing to gather with the Saints.” (Ames, Autobiography, [7], [9]; see also “The Gathering,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Nov. 1832, [5]–[6].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ames, Ira. Autobiography and Journal, 1858. CHL. MS 6055.

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

On 6 March 1833, Carter wrote in his journal that some church members in
Vermont

Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...

More Info
came to him “to enquire the way to Zion.”
12

John S. Carter, Journal, 6 Mar. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Later in the month, he described the desire of Benson converts to travel to
Kirtland

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...

More Info
and thence to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
, but he was unsure how to properly offer them assistance. He stated that some had already “made their calculation to go up to Zion,” though “their way appears hegged [hedged] up.”
13

John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Delivered by his brother
Jared

14 June 1801–6 July 1849. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Ames, 20 Sept. 1823, at Benson. Moved to Chenango, Broome Co., New York, by Jan...

View Full Bio
,
John S. Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
’s 5 April 1833 letter was addressed to “the Elders in
Kirtland

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...

More Info
requesting by them council from God under some peculiar trials.”
14

John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833. JS’s later history states, “Brother Jared Carter presented a letter, which he had received from his brother, to me, and requested me to answer it, which I did.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 285.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

JS and
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
, two of the three
presidents of the high priesthood

Both the office of the president of the high priesthood and the body comprising the president and his counselors; the presiding body of the church. In November 1831, a revelation directed the appointment of a president of the high priesthood. The individual...

View Glossary
, responded to Carter’s inquiries in the letter featured here. Though signed by both JS and Williams, the letter contains first-person singular pronouns, presumably made by JS as lead author, and statements in first-person plural, as if both JS and Williams were speaking. The letter offers counsel concerning revelation and
angelic

Being who acts as a minister and messenger between heaven and earth. JS taught that angels were individuals who “belonged to this earth”; those who had already lived on earth were often resurrected beings. In addition to giving instruction, direction, and...

View Glossary
visions, levels of authority, the responsibilities of church leaders in local ministry, the readmittance of apostates, and how the
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
church members should prepare to go to Zion. JS and Williams also encouraged Carter to seek further instruction from
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
and
Lyman Johnson

24 Oct. 1811–20 Dec. 1859. Merchant, lawyer, hotelier. Born at Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, Mar. 1818. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Sidney Rigdon...

View Full Bio
, who were appointed to preach and build up the church in the New England states that summer.
In late April,
Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
mentioned receiving this letter in his journal, writing, “Of this I was glad.”
15

John S. Carter, Journal, 23–24 Apr. 1833.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Carter’s journal indicates that he received a second letter from JS on 7 May 1833, which gave “answers to important questions.” This second letter may have been written in response to another missive from Carter, or JS may have simply written a second, follow-up letter to the one featured here. Regardless, no second letter from either Carter or JS is extant.
After receiving this letter—and apparently the second letter mentioned above—from JS,
Carter

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
made the immigration of New England Mormons to
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

More Info
and
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
a priority. On 16 May 1833, in a letter published in The Evening and the Morning Star,
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...

View Full Bio
wrote, “I have received a letter from brother
John

Ca. 1792–25/26 June 1834. Married Elizabeth (Betsey) Kinyon, 28 Feb. 1813, at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. Lived in Benson, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1832. Served mission in Vermont with his brother Jared Carter...

View Full Bio
informing me, that the church in
Benson

Located in western Vermont, near south end of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783; organized ca. 1786. Population in 1830 about 1,500. Scene of many early religious revivals. Location of first branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vermont, 1831...

More Info
, Vermont, was going up to Zion, this summer.”
16

“Progress of the Church of Christ,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 108.


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

In late August 1833, Carter organized the departure of church members from Benson to Ohio and Missouri. He began his journey to
Kirtland

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...

More Info
on 5 September and effectively closed the branch of the church in Benson with his departure.
17

John S. Carter, Journal, 21–22 Aug. and 5 Sept. 1833; Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 147.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.

He arrived in Kirtland sometime after 27 September and was among the twelve men chosen to serve in the church’s first standing high council, organized by JS in Kirtland on 17 February 1834.
18

John S. Carter’s journal ends on 27 September 1833, at which time he had not yet arrived in Kirtland. For more on the Kirtland high council, see Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834.


Carter later traveled in the
Camp of Israel

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

View Glossary
(later known as Zion’s Camp) and died of cholera in
Clay County

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

More Info
, Missouri, on 24 June 1834.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  2. [2]

    Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 138–142.

    Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.

  3. [3]

    John S. Carter, Journal, [1]–[2]; Jared Carter, Journal, 39, 48. After leaving to return to Kirtland, Jared wrote, “I had great reason to thank and praise the Lord for what he had done for me and my Brothers and sisters of my fathers family for the whole family had now come into the Glorious work of God with their companions, except one sister and my three Brothers were preachers In this gl[o]rious gospel.” (Jared Carter, Journal, 49.)

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

  4. [4]

    Jared Carter, Journal, 59; Revelation, 12 Mar. 1832 [D&C 79].

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

  5. [5]

    John S. Carter, Journal, [5]–[6]. According to his journal, Jared arrived in Benson on 20 May 1832. John was ordained to the high priesthood on Thursday, 24 May 1832. (Jared Carter, Journal, 69, 72.)

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

  6. [6]

    Jared Carter, Journal, 95.

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

  7. [7]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833; see also 19 Feb. 1833; and 3, 9, and 14 Mar. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  8. [8]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 3 Mar. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  9. [9]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 14 Mar. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  10. [10]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 10 Mar. 1833. On the day he wrote to Kirtland, John noted in his journal that he “heard Sister Sherwood relate her vision of seeing an Angel.” (John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.)

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  11. [11]

    Ira Ames, a Vermont man who had married Charity Carter—a cousin of John and Jared—and who had recently joined the Church of Christ, was also at the 10 August conference and wrote that after the conference, he “commenced at once gathering up my means, disposing of my property preparing to gather with the Saints.” (Ames, Autobiography, [7], [9]; see also “The Gathering,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Nov. 1832, [5]–[6].)

    Ames, Ira. Autobiography and Journal, 1858. CHL. MS 6055.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  12. [12]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 6 Mar. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  13. [13]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  14. [14]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833. JS’s later history states, “Brother Jared Carter presented a letter, which he had received from his brother, to me, and requested me to answer it, which I did.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 285.)

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  15. [15]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 23–24 Apr. 1833.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

  16. [16]

    “Progress of the Church of Christ,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 108.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  17. [17]

    John S. Carter, Journal, 21–22 Aug. and 5 Sept. 1833; Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 147.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

    Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.

  18. [18]

    John S. Carter’s journal ends on 27 September 1833, at which time he had not yet arrived in Kirtland. For more on the Kirtland high council, see Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833 Letterbook 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 30

to receive any revelation forom [from] any one man or woman without being legally constituted and
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
to that authority and given sufficien[t] proof of it, I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of 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
or any <​one​> any one to receive instruction for those in authority hig[h]er than themselves, therefore you will see the impropriety of giving <​heed​> to them, but if any <​have a vision​> heavenly or a visitation from an hevenaly [heavenly] messenger it must be for their own benefit and instruction,
3

A September 1830 revelation implied what JS makes explicit here—that God would not give instructions to someone through another of lesser authority and with lesser responsibility. After JS denounced Oliver Cowdery for supporting Hiram Page’s claim of receiving revelations through a seer stone, this revelation instructed Cowdery, the church’s second elder, “Thou shalt not command him which is at thy head.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:6]; for more information on the requirement for proof of authority, see Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:11].)


for the fundimental principals, government and doctrine of the church is invested in 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
4

See Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:2–5].


as it respects an apostate or one who has been cut off from the Church and wishes to come in again the law of our church expresly says that such shall repent, and be
babtised

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
and be admited the same as at the first,
5

This sentence possibly refers to an April 1830 revelation that expressed the necessity of rebaptism for converts who had been previously baptized into other faiths. This sentence might also refer to a February 1831 revelation that was known at the time as “the Law.” (Revelation, 16 Apr. 1830 [D&C 22]; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72].)


the duty of a
high priest

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

View Glossary
is to administer spriitual and holy things and to hold Communeion <​with​> God but not to exorcise [exercise] monarchy monarchal government or to appoint meetings for the
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
without their concent and again it is the high priests duty to be bet[t]er qualifide to teach principles and doctrines than the Elder for the office of Elders is an appendege to the
high priesthood

The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...

View Glossary
6

See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:29].


and it <​centers &​> concentrates in one, and again the proper <​process​> way of Labouring with a member we are to deal with them percisely as the scripturs direct if thy brother trespass against the[e] take him betwen him and thee alone and if he maketh the satisfaction thou hast saved thy brother and if not proce[e]d to take another with the[e] & [illegible] when there is no
bishop

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

View Glossary
they are to be tried by the voice of the Church
7

See Matthew 18:15–17. A February 1831 revelation outlined procedures for church discipline, directing that a bishop was to be involved if possible. (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93].)


and if an Elder or an high priest be presant they are to take the lead in managing the business if not by such that have the highest authority,
8

The church’s foundational “Articles and Covenants” delineated the hierarchy of priesthood offices and identified, based on level of authority, which priesthood office should “take the lead of all meetings” as well as which offices should preside in the absence of higher authorities. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:44–56].)


with respect to preparing to go to
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

View Glossary
first it would be pleasing to the lord that that the Church or Churches going to Zion should be organised, and appointed a suitable person who is well acquainted with the Conditions of the Church & and be sent to
Kirtland

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...

More Info
to inform the
Bishop

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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and

JS handwriting ends; Frederick G. Williams begins.


procure
licence

A document certifying an individual’s office in the church and authorizing him “to perform the duty of his calling.” The “Articles and Covenants” of the church implied that only elders could issue licenses; individuals ordained by a priest to an office in...

View Glossary
from him agreeable to the revelation so doing you will prevent confusion and disorder and escape many difficulties that [p. 30]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 30

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833
ID #
150
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:59–64
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joseph Smith Jr.
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [3]

    A September 1830 revelation implied what JS makes explicit here—that God would not give instructions to someone through another of lesser authority and with lesser responsibility. After JS denounced Oliver Cowdery for supporting Hiram Page’s claim of receiving revelations through a seer stone, this revelation instructed Cowdery, the church’s second elder, “Thou shalt not command him which is at thy head.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:6]; for more information on the requirement for proof of authority, see Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:11].)

  2. [4]

    See Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:2–5].

  3. [5]

    This sentence possibly refers to an April 1830 revelation that expressed the necessity of rebaptism for converts who had been previously baptized into other faiths. This sentence might also refer to a February 1831 revelation that was known at the time as “the Law.” (Revelation, 16 Apr. 1830 [D&C 22]; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72].)

  4. [6]

    See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:29].

  5. [7]

    See Matthew 18:15–17. A February 1831 revelation outlined procedures for church discipline, directing that a bishop was to be involved if possible. (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93].)

  6. [8]

    The church’s foundational “Articles and Covenants” delineated the hierarchy of priesthood offices and identified, based on level of authority, which priesthood office should “take the lead of all meetings” as well as which offices should preside in the absence of higher authorities. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:44–56].)

  7. new scribe logo

    JS handwriting ends; Frederick G. Williams begins.

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