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Letter to John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, between circa November and circa 20 December 1843

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
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

View Full Bio
,
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

View Full Bio
, and “the Saints,” [between ca. Nov. and ca. 20 Dec. 1843]. Featured version published in “To the Saints,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1843, vol. 4, no. 24, 376–377. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

Sometime between November and late December 1843, JS submitted a letter to the publishers of the Times and Seasons,
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 ...

View Glossary
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

View Full Bio
and
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

View Full Bio
, instructing the
Latter-day Saints

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
on the importance of reading the church’s flagship periodical and following the counsel of church leaders.
1

Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:94.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

His letter was likely triggered by apostle
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
’s published rebuke of church members in the eastern
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
who were disregarding the Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor—the newspapers published by the church 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
, Illinois—in favor of the “common newspapers of the day.”
2

Brigham Young, “To the Elders and Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360. Immediately following Young’s statement in the Times and Seasons was an editorial from Woodruff to the elders and church members encouraging readers to assist in “circulating the Times and Seasons and [Nauvoo] Neighbor far and wide, to the extent of your influence.” (Wilford Woodruff, Editorial, Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

First published in November 1839, the Times and Seasons was designated as a devotional periodical.
3

The paper intended to publish articles on Jesus Christ’s gospel, the gathering of Israel, and the Missouri experience. (Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, “Address,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:1.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

JS emphasized that the paper contained “treasures”—revelations, translations, and
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
proceedings—and that it stood apart from other publications because it spread “the words of eternal life.”
In addition to championing the Times and Seasons, JS challenged church members to demonstrate their support of church leaders. He explained that any show of support from church members was ultimately an expression of loyalty to him: “When the brethren . . . sustain the ‘Times and Seasons,’ they sustain me.” JS condemned those who read only other periodicals for patronizing “the splendor of Babylon,” while leaving “the virtue of Zion to linger for want of bread.” To JS, Latter-day Saints who subscribed to the Times and Seasons were sustaining him by extending the influence of the church’s “revelations, faith, works, [and] history.”
JS wrote the nonextant original letter, as he stated, with “my pen,” and submitted it to
Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

View Full Bio
and
Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

View Full Bio
for publication in the Times and Seasons. The letter was published in the 1 November 1843 issue of the periodical; that version, featured here, was undated. If the immediate trigger for the letter was
Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
’s rebuke—which was composed “in council, at
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
, November, 1843” but was published in the 15 October 1843 issue of the Times and Seasons, which was not printed until after 2 December 1843
4

The 15 October issue contained a letter dated 2 December 1843. (Francis Edwards, Nauvoo, IL, to John Taylor, [Nauvoo, IL], 2 Dec. 1843, in Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:354.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

—then JS’s letter may have also been written sometime in November 1843. Alternatively, JS could have written and submitted this letter sometime during the next few weeks. The 1 November 1843 edition of the Times and Seasons contains information regarding the Avery kidnappings, including developments that transpired as late as approximately 20 December, indicating that this issue of the Times and Seasons was completed and issued sometime thereafter. It most likely appeared in late December.
5

The Times and Seasons article on the Avery kidnappings summarized content from articles and affidavits dated 18–20 December 1843. (“Kidnapping,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1843, 4:375–376; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]; Affidavit from Andrew and James Hamilton, 20 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:94.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

  2. [2]

    Brigham Young, “To the Elders and Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360. Immediately following Young’s statement in the Times and Seasons was an editorial from Woodruff to the elders and church members encouraging readers to assist in “circulating the Times and Seasons and [Nauvoo] Neighbor far and wide, to the extent of your influence.” (Wilford Woodruff, Editorial, Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360.)

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

  3. [3]

    The paper intended to publish articles on Jesus Christ’s gospel, the gathering of Israel, and the Missouri experience. (Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, “Address,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:1.)

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

  4. [4]

    The 15 October issue contained a letter dated 2 December 1843. (Francis Edwards, Nauvoo, IL, to John Taylor, [Nauvoo, IL], 2 Dec. 1843, in Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:354.)

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

  5. [5]

    The Times and Seasons article on the Avery kidnappings summarized content from articles and affidavits dated 18–20 December 1843. (“Kidnapping,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1843, 4:375–376; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]; Affidavit from Andrew and James Hamilton, 20 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL.)

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, between circa November and circa 20 December 1843 History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 377

of Zion, is such unity—for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever more!
13

See Psalm 133:2–3.


Unity is power, and when the brethren as one man, sustain the ‘Times and Seasons,’ they sustain me, by giving a spread to the revelations, faith, works, history, and progress 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
.—
14

In previous discourses, JS tacitly taught that a unified membership could produce decisions in their conferences that were tantamount to his revelations and translations. (Darowski, “Seeking after the Ancient Order,” 100–104.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Darowski, Joseph F. “Seeking After the Ancient Order: Conferences and Councils in Early Church Governance, 1830–34.” In Brigham Young University Church History Symposium; A Firm Foundation: Church Organization and Administration, edited by David J. Whittaker and Arnold K. Garr, 97–113. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011.

The brethren who conduct the paper have been appointed to that important station because they are worthy and well qualified,
15

William Morgan’s exposé on Freemasonry indicates that the phrase “worthy and well qualified” was employed in Masonic ritual. (Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry, 18, 33, 46.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Morgan, William. Illustrations of Masonry, by One of the Fraternity, Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject. Batavia, NY: By the author, 1826.

and what a blessed sign of a faithful friend to God and man is it, to see the charity of a brother support his brethren as an evidence that he means to pass from death into life?
16

See 1 John 3:14.


Many of the articles which appear in the Times and Seasons, are extracts of revelations, translations, or are the united voice of
conferences

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
, which like ‘apples of gold in baskets of silver,’
17

See Proverbs 25:11.


are treasures more than meet for the called, chosen, and faithful among the saints;
18

See Revelation 17:14.


and should be more than drink to those that hunger and thirst after righteousness.
19

See Matthew 5:6. Brigham Young referenced the same scriptural passage in his letter published in the Times and Seasons the previous month. (Brigham Young, “To the Elders and Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

As
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
is rising in glory and greatness, so shall I expect to see the Times and Seasons increase in circulation by the vigilance of 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
and saints—so as to be a herald of truth, and a standard of pure and undefiled religion.
20

See James 1:27.


Finally, men and brethren, when you support my friends, you support me.
In the bonds of the
new and everlasting covenant

Generally referred to the “fulness of the gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

View Glossary
, I am your humble servant,
JOSEPH SMITH. [p. 377]
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Source Note

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Page 377

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, between circa November and circa 20 December 1843
ID #
1192
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:412–415
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Footnotes

  1. [13]

    See Psalm 133:2–3.

  2. [14]

    In previous discourses, JS tacitly taught that a unified membership could produce decisions in their conferences that were tantamount to his revelations and translations. (Darowski, “Seeking after the Ancient Order,” 100–104.)

    Darowski, Joseph F. “Seeking After the Ancient Order: Conferences and Councils in Early Church Governance, 1830–34.” In Brigham Young University Church History Symposium; A Firm Foundation: Church Organization and Administration, edited by David J. Whittaker and Arnold K. Garr, 97–113. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011.

  3. [15]

    William Morgan’s exposé on Freemasonry indicates that the phrase “worthy and well qualified” was employed in Masonic ritual. (Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry, 18, 33, 46.)

    Morgan, William. Illustrations of Masonry, by One of the Fraternity, Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject. Batavia, NY: By the author, 1826.

  4. [16]

    See 1 John 3:14.

  5. [17]

    See Proverbs 25:11.

  6. [18]

    See Revelation 17:14.

  7. [19]

    See Matthew 5:6. Brigham Young referenced the same scriptural passage in his letter published in the Times and Seasons the previous month. (Brigham Young, “To the Elders and Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360.)

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

  8. [20]

    See James 1:27.

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