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Letter to Parley P. Pratt and Others, 12 June 1842

Source Note

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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and 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
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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and others,
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
, Lancashire, England, 12 June 1842; handwriting of
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
; four pages; CHL. Includes address.
Bifolium measuring 12¼ × 7½ inches (31 × 19 cm). The document was trifolded twice in letter style and sealed with red wax. Remnants of the wafer are visible on the last page of the letter. There is extensive tearing along the folds, and the document has undergone conservation.
The provenance of this document is unknown. The letter bears no dockets or notations and does not appear to have been part of the early Historian’s Office holdings. Around 1912, Joseph F. Smith presented a photomechanical copy of part of the letter’s first postscript on page four to his son Hyrum M. Smith, and other copies were in the possession of the extended Smith family.
1

Extract of Hyrum Smith and JS, Letter, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt et al., Liverpool, England, 12 June 1842, in JS, Notation, 12 June 1842, photomechanical copy, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, Joseph. Notation, 12 June 1842. Photomechanical copy. CHL. MS 6448.

During the late twentieth century, the letter was evidently among some uncataloged JS documents in the Church Historical Department.
2

In 2001, Dean Jessee’s research files contained a photocopy of the letter with Jessee’s notes, presumably inscribed in the 1970s, stating the original letter was in uncataloged JS material at the Church Historical Department.


The document was cataloged in 2003.
3

See the full bibliographic entry for this letter in the CHL catalog.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Extract of Hyrum Smith and JS, Letter, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt et al., Liverpool, England, 12 June 1842, in JS, Notation, 12 June 1842, photomechanical copy, CHL.

    Smith, Joseph. Notation, 12 June 1842. Photomechanical copy. CHL. MS 6448.

  2. [2]

    In 2001, Dean Jessee’s research files contained a photocopy of the letter with Jessee’s notes, presumably inscribed in the 1970s, stating the original letter was in uncataloged JS material at the Church Historical Department.

  3. [3]

    See the full bibliographic entry for this letter in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 12 June 1842,
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...

View Full Bio
, acting on behalf of JS, wrote a letter 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, to
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
and the other Latter-day Saints in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
. While most 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 ...

View Glossary
had completed their missions and returned to the
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
by the summer of 1841, Pratt had remained in England.
1

Unlike most of the other apostles and missionaries, Pratt had relocated his family to England in fall 1840 and thus did not experience years of separation from his family. (See Givens and Grow, Parley P. Pratt, 177, 184–185.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Givens, Terryl L., and Matthew J. Grow. Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

As the senior
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
leader there, he oversaw the church’s proselytizing, publication, and emigration efforts. However, by December 1841 Pratt had wanted to return to Nauvoo and wrote to JS for advice regarding his “wish to come home in the spring and stay till, 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...

More Info
is done.”
2

Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.


This June 1842 letter appears to be a belated reply to
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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’s letter, and it primarily addressed a question Pratt had asked about the
gathering

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
of the British Saints to
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 the letter,
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...

View Full Bio
advised the Saints in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
against separating from their spouses over differences in religious belief. He further counseled Latter-day Saint fathers to remain in England with their families until they could afford passage for their entire family, rather than traveling to the
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
alone with the intent to send for their families after they earned enough money. Hyrum repeatedly referenced the immoral and unchristian behavior that sometimes resulted when British Saints left their spouses behind to emigrate, and he maintained that some Saints who had left their spouses in England had committed adultery by taking a new spouse in Nauvoo. These moral admonitions may also have stemmed from the recent seductions perpetrated by
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
and other men in Nauvoo.
3

See Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842.


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...

View Full Bio
further cautioned the British Saints that
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
was not as prosperous as they may have been led to believe. Many English Saints had apparently immigrated to Nauvoo with hopes of prosperity and financial assistance from the church, only to have those hopes dashed. It was likely this disappointment that led Hyrum to warn the Saints still in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
about Nauvoo’s struggling economy and the church’s inability to financially support everyone who wished to immigrate. He specifically emphasized that fathers immigrating to Nauvoo would not be able to earn the money necessary for their family’s passage to
America

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
.
The version of the letter featured here is the copy that was sent to
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
. It appears to be a copy
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
made of
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...

View Full Bio
’s original draft. The letter includes three postscripts, which may have been added after Clayton copied the letter. The first postscript identified the families of three British immigrants who were working on the
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
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...

More Info
; in exchange for their labor, the church had agreed to help the families immigrate to Nauvoo. Clayton signed both JS’s and Hyrum Smith’s names to this postscript, suggesting that JS was involved in the request. The second postscript was appended to the first and specified that the aforementioned families should be sent to Nauvoo by fall 1842. The final postscript addressed concerns Pratt had raised in his December 1841 letter to JS and offered Pratt reassurance. The last two postscripts include Hyrum’s and JS’s initials.
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
, who was expected to depart soon from
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
, was appointed to carry the letter to
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
; as a result, the letter bears no postal markings. Fielding arrived in
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
by September 1842.
4

See Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, Account and Pay Order, Liverpool, England, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Sept. 1842, JS Collection, CHL.


An extract of this letter was published in the November 1842 issue of the British periodical Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star.
5

See “Address from the First Presidency,” Millennial Star, Nov. 1842, 3:115.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Unlike most of the other apostles and missionaries, Pratt had relocated his family to England in fall 1840 and thus did not experience years of separation from his family. (See Givens and Grow, Parley P. Pratt, 177, 184–185.)

    Givens, Terryl L., and Matthew J. Grow. Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

  2. [2]

    Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.

  3. [3]

    See Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842.

  4. [4]

    See Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, Account and Pay Order, Liverpool, England, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Sept. 1842, JS Collection, CHL.

  5. [5]

    See “Address from the First Presidency,” Millennial Star, Nov. 1842, 3:115.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Page [4]

Messors Bashale & Boardmans Mill. Also Elizabeth Clayton care of Mr
Thomas Beardwood

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, Shopkeeper Messrs Bashale & Boardmans Mill, Farrington, near
Preston

Town located on River Ribble, approximately 216 miles northwest of London. Population in 1831 about 33,000. Population in 1841 about 35,000. First Latter-day Saint mission to England established, 1837–1838, with most efforts concentrated in town and surrounding...

More Info
, Lancashire. Brother
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
will understand the particulars. This is a precedent, that we cannot establish, therefore you will be particular and keep this to yourself.
Joseph Smith
<​Trustee in Trust​>
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...

View Full Bio
<We wish to have these families sent, this fall if possible, or they must, suffer.—
28

Although JS and Hyrum Smith hoped that these families would be able to relocate quickly, the Farrar and Clayton families were still in England in May 1843. That month, in a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it was resolved that Ann Farrar, Elizabeth Clayton, their children, and several other English Saints would be given financial assistance to emigrate from England. It is unknown if John Allaby’s family had emigrated earlier. (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 27 May 1843; JS History, vol. D-1, 1563.)


J. S.
H. S.

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...

View Full Bio
>
We assure you that you have our best feelings, and our prayers, and have no fault to find.
29

This third postscript appears to have been written in response to Pratt’s plea in his December 1841 letter for JS to “not be angry with your old friend for earnestly seeking this knowledge, or some information on the subject of these times.” In his letter, Pratt had posed six questions to JS, asking for general advice about his return to Nauvoo, directions for the church in England, and guidance on spreading the gospel to nations beyond England. He also asked more specifically about the redemption of Jackson County, Missouri, and the opportunity to shift the focus of the church’s proselytizing efforts from the gentiles to the Jews. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.)


Believing every man has done the best he could, that is— 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
, such as have remained in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
. And we desire your prayers, even all the Saints— &c. &c.
H. S.

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...

View Full Bio
J. S.
Mr.
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
England
Care of bro
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Parley P. Pratt and Others, 12 June 1842
ID #
853
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:134–140
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [28]

    Although JS and Hyrum Smith hoped that these families would be able to relocate quickly, the Farrar and Clayton families were still in England in May 1843. That month, in a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it was resolved that Ann Farrar, Elizabeth Clayton, their children, and several other English Saints would be given financial assistance to emigrate from England. It is unknown if John Allaby’s family had emigrated earlier. (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 27 May 1843; JS History, vol. D-1, 1563.)

  2. [29]

    This third postscript appears to have been written in response to Pratt’s plea in his December 1841 letter for JS to “not be angry with your old friend for earnestly seeking this knowledge, or some information on the subject of these times.” In his letter, Pratt had posed six questions to JS, asking for general advice about his return to Nauvoo, directions for the church in England, and guidance on spreading the gospel to nations beyond England. He also asked more specifically about the redemption of Jackson County, Missouri, and the opportunity to shift the focus of the church’s proselytizing efforts from the gentiles to the Jews. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.)

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