Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841

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Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841
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....
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, Hancock Co., IL, to “the Saints Abroad,” 24 May 1841. Featured version published in Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, vol. 2, no. 15, 434. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction
On 24 May 1841, JS wrote an open letter addressed to all
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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members residing outside
Hancock County
Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...
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, Illinois, and
Lee County
First permanent settlement established, 1820. Organized 1837. Population in 1838 about 2,800; in 1840 about 6,100; in 1844 about 9,800; and in 1846 about 13,000. Following expulsion from Missouri, 1838–1839, many Saints found refuge in eastern Iowa Territory...
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, Iowa Territory, encouraging them to relocate and gather primarily in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois. The concept of church members
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...
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together to build temples and unified
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 ...
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societies can be found in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Revelations as early as 1830 called church members to gather to one place.
1
See, for example, Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:7–8]; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:4]; and Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:13].
At the October 1839 general
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...
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, the church unanimously agreed that Nauvoo “should be appointed a
stake
Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...
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and a place of gathering for the saints.”
2
Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839. In addition to creating a stake in Nauvoo, JS continued to authorize the creation of other new stakes in Illinois. (See, for example, Letter to Crooked Creek, IL, Branch, ca. 7 or 8 July 1840.)
Though JS affirmed in 1840 that the Saints from 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 ...
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could still congregate 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...
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, Ohio, by early 1841 he and his counselors in the
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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began to encourage Latter-day Saints everywhere to move to the Nauvoo area.
3
Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.
At the April 1841 general conference of the church in Nauvoo, church leaders again spoke strongly about the need for the Saints to assemble there.
4
Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; Report of the First Presidency to the Church, ca. 7 Apr. 1841. Hyrum Smith also gave “some beneficial instructions relative to the saints gathering at Nauvoo, at present, instead of any other stake of Zion” during a conference held in Philadelphia in April. (Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. 1841.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

This 24 May letter appears to have been written in accordance with a March 1841 revelation that called for the Saints to “gather themselves together unto the places which I shall appoint unto them by my servant Joseph, and build up cities unto my name.”
5
Revelation, ca. Early Mar. 1841 [D&C 125:2].
That revelation specifically named
Nauvoo
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and locations in
Lee County
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, Iowa Territory, as places for the Saints to settle. The Times and Seasons and other sources indicate that, at the time JS wrote the letter featured here, there were at least eleven church organizations called
stakes
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in
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...
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,
Iowa Territory
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...
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, and
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...
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.
6
The stakes of the church at this time included the Lee County, Iowa Territory, stake, which was also called a branch until this 24 May 1841 letter was circulated, and the following stakes in Illinois: Nauvoo, Springfield, Lima, Quincy (sometimes called Adams County stake), Ramus (sometimes called Crooked Creek stake), Bear Creek (located in Knowlton), Freedom (located in Payson), Pleasant Vale (located in New Canton), and Mount Hope. The Kirtland stake in Ohio remained a functioning church unit at this time as well. One Vermont newspaper placed the number of stakes at twelve, “corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel,” though the newspaper did not name the locations of the stakes. (Iowa Stake, Record, CHL; Letter to Crooked Creek, IL, Branch, ca. 7 or 8 July 1840; Certificate for Foutz Family, 10 Jan. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:309; “Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1841, 2:358; Minutes, Freedom, IL, 20 Feb. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:372; Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 22–23 May 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:458–460; “Mormonism,” Vermont Chronicle [Windsor], 14 July 1841, 109.)
Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Vermont Chronicle. Bellows Falls, VT. 1826–1828; Windsor, VT. 1828–1862.
JS’s letter disbanded all stake organizations except for those in
Hancock County
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and Lee County, though not all stakes immediately ceased their activities.
7
Almon Babbitt, the president of the Kirtland stake, considered the instruction to disband the stakes to be contradictory to other instructions JS had given to him. Consequently, Babbitt did not immediately instruct the Kirtland Saints to gather to the Nauvoo area. The number of church members in the Kirtland stake continued to grow by at least one hundred between late May and mid-October 1841. (Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 22–23 May 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:458–460; Letter from Almon Babbitt, 19 Oct. 1841.)

JS’s original letter is apparently not extant. The letter was published in the Times and Seasons.
Footnotes
[1]
See, for example, Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:7–8]; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:4]; and Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:13].
[2]
Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839. In addition to creating a stake in Nauvoo, JS continued to authorize the creation of other new stakes in Illinois. (See, for example, Letter to Crooked Creek, IL, Branch, ca. 7 or 8 July 1840.)
[3]
Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.
[4]
Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; Report of the First Presidency to the Church, ca. 7 Apr. 1841. Hyrum Smith also gave “some beneficial instructions relative to the saints gathering at Nauvoo, at present, instead of any other stake of Zion” during a conference held in Philadelphia in April. (Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. 1841.)
Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.
[5]
Revelation, ca. Early Mar. 1841 [D&C 125:2].
[6]
The stakes of the church at this time included the Lee County, Iowa Territory, stake, which was also called a branch until this 24 May 1841 letter was circulated, and the following stakes in Illinois: Nauvoo, Springfield, Lima, Quincy (sometimes called Adams County stake), Ramus (sometimes called Crooked Creek stake), Bear Creek (located in Knowlton), Freedom (located in Payson), Pleasant Vale (located in New Canton), and Mount Hope. The Kirtland stake in Ohio remained a functioning church unit at this time as well. One Vermont newspaper placed the number of stakes at twelve, “corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel,” though the newspaper did not name the locations of the stakes. (Iowa Stake, Record, CHL; Letter to Crooked Creek, IL, Branch, ca. 7 or 8 July 1840; Certificate for Foutz Family, 10 Jan. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:309; “Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1841, 2:358; Minutes, Freedom, IL, 20 Feb. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:372; Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 22–23 May 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:458–460; “Mormonism,” Vermont Chronicle [Windsor], 14 July 1841, 109.)
Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.
Vermont Chronicle. Bellows Falls, VT. 1826–1828; Windsor, VT. 1828–1862.
[7]
Almon Babbitt, the president of the Kirtland stake, considered the instruction to disband the stakes to be contradictory to other instructions JS had given to him. Consequently, Babbitt did not immediately instruct the Kirtland Saints to gather to the Nauvoo area. The number of church members in the Kirtland stake continued to grow by at least one hundred between late May and mid-October 1841. (Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 22–23 May 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:458–460; Letter from Almon Babbitt, 19 Oct. 1841.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 434
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TO THE SAINTS ABROAD.

The
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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of the
Church of Jesus Christ of 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
, anxious to promote the prosperity of said church, feel it their duty to call upon the saints who reside out of this
county
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, to make preparations to come in, without delay.
1
In their 15 January 1841 proclamation, JS and his counselors in the First Presidency encouraged the Saints to gather to Nauvoo and quoted from Psalm 50, which instructs, “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” The importance of gathering to the Nauvoo area was further emphasized by the First Presidency in a report delivered during the April 1841 general conference. The First Presidency expected that “thousands of Israel” would soon flock to the Nauvoo area. (Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841; Psalm 50:5; Report of the First Presidency to the Church, ca. 7 Apr. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840.)
This is important, and should be attended to by all who feel an interest in the prosperity of this the corner stone of
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
.
2
A revelation JS dictated on 19 January 1841 called Nauvoo the “corner stone of Zion.” (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:2, 23, 60]; see also Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839.)
Here 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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must be raised, the University be built, and other edifices erected which are necessary for the great work of the last days;
3
For more information on the Nauvoo temple, the university of Nauvoo, and other building projects in the city—especially the Nauvoo House—see Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841; Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; and Agreement with William Law, 26 Apr. 1841.
and which can only be done by a concentration of energy, and enterprise. Let it therefore be understood, that all the
stakes
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, excepting those in this
county
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, and in
Lee county
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, Iowa, are discontinued, and the saints instructed to settle in this
county
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as soon as circumstances will permit.

JOSEPH SMITH.

City of
Nauvoo
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, Hancock co., Ill.,

May 24th 1841. [p. 434]
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Footnotes
[1]
In their 15 January 1841 proclamation, JS and his counselors in the First Presidency encouraged the Saints to gather to Nauvoo and quoted from Psalm 50, which instructs, “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” The importance of gathering to the Nauvoo area was further emphasized by the First Presidency in a report delivered during the April 1841 general conference. The First Presidency expected that “thousands of Israel” would soon flock to the Nauvoo area. (Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841; Psalm 50:5; Report of the First Presidency to the Church, ca. 7 Apr. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840.)
[2]
A revelation JS dictated on 19 January 1841 called Nauvoo the “corner stone of Zion.” (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:2, 23, 60]; see also Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839.)
[3]
For more information on the Nauvoo temple, the university of Nauvoo, and other building projects in the city—especially the Nauvoo House—see Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841; Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; and Agreement with William Law, 26 Apr. 1841.