Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 May 1839

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Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 May 1839
Source Note

JS, Letter,
Commerce
Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...
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, Hancock Co., IL, to
William W. Phelps
17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
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, [
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Caldwell Co., MO], 22 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 22 May and 30 Oct. 1839], in JS Letterbook 2, p. 7; handwriting of
James Mulholland
1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction
On 22 May 1839, JS wrote
William W. Phelps
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a letter that reflects the distance that had developed between the men during the previous two years. In September 1837, JS sent
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 in
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 ...
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a revelation declaring that Phelps and
John Whitmer
27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...
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had “done those things which are not pleasing in my sight” and that unless they repented “they shall be removed out of their places.”
1
Revelation, 4 Sept. 1837.
In early February 1838, Phelps and the other members of the Missouri church
presidency
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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were removed from office following accusations that they misused funds and acted contrary to JS’s revelations.
2
See Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838.
Phelps refused to repent and was excommunicated on 10 March 1838.
3
Minute Book 2, 10 Mar. 1838.
When he and other dissenters were ordered to leave
Far West
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, Missouri, Phelps desired to stay, so he agreed to provide restitution to any he had wronged and “to conform to the rules of the church in all things, knowing [he] had a good deal of property in the
county
Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...
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.”
4
William W. Phelps, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [85], [87], State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes (Mo. 5th Jud. Cir. 1838), in State of Missouri, “Evidence.” Those who left in response to threats included Oliver Cowdery, David and John Whitmer, and Lyman Johnson. (See Letter to Oliver Cowdery et al., ca. 17 June 1838; and JS, Journal, 4 July 1838.)
Soon thereafter, Phelps was
rebaptized
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...
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, and on 8 July JS dictated a revelation signaling that Phelps should be
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...
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an
elder
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...
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.
5
Edward Partridge, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 24 July 1838, in Reynolds Cahoon, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 23 July 1838, CHL; Revelation, 8 July 1838–B.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Cahoon, Reynolds, and Edward Partridge. Letter, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland Mills, OH, 23 and 24 July 1838. CHL.

On 31 October 1838,
Phelps
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and others negotiated the surrender of
Far West
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.
6
See Corrill, Brief History, 40–41; and Samuel D. Lucas, “near Far West,” MO, to Lilburn W. Boggs, 2 Nov. 1838, copy, Mormon War Papers, MSA.
Mormon War Papers, 1838–1841. MSA.
As with others who dissented, Phelps did not approve of church members’ raids in
Daviess County
Area in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Latter-day Saint settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest...
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, which he considered illegal, and threats against nonconformists. At a court of inquiry in November 1838, he testified against JS and sixty-three other Mormon defendants.
7
William W. Phelps, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [84]–[96]; Trial Proceedings, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [1]–[2], [34], [61], [70], [100], in State of Missouri, “Evidence.”
He was excommunicated again on 17 March 1839 during a church
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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in
Quincy
Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...
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, Illinois.
8
“Extracts of the Minutes of Conferences,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:15.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

It is unclear how much communication
Phelps
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had with church leaders after this excommunication. In addition to a letter he wrote to JS on 14 April 1839, which is no longer extant,
9
Mulholland copied the 14 April 1839 letter from Phelps on a loose leaf of paper and attached the page in JS Letterbook 2 using adhesive wafers. Mulholland included the added leaf in his pagination of the letterbook, numbering the pages “8” and “9.” At some point, the loose leaf was removed from the letterbook and is apparently no longer extant. (See JS Letterbook 2, p. 384.)
Phelps also wrote to
John P. Greene
3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...
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in
Quincy
Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...
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on 23 April 1839. In that letter, Phelps expressed interest in helping
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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sell his lands in
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 ...
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—something Phelps had apparently promised
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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he would assist with.
10
William W. Phelps, Far West, MO, to John P. Greene, Quincy, IL, 23 Apr. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, p. 7.
In JS’s reply to the 23 April letter, he asked that Phelps not conduct any business on behalf of JS or his family; he also stated that he wished to cut off all further contact with Phelps. The original letter is apparently not extant; the featured version is a copy that
James Mulholland
1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....
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inscribed into JS Letterbook 2 between 22 May and 30 October 1839.
11
Mulholland began to “write for the Church” on 22 April 1839, and the letter to Phelps was one of the first documents Mulholland inscribed in Letterbook 2.
Footnotes
[1]
Revelation, 4 Sept. 1837.
[2]
See Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838.
[3]
Minute Book 2, 10 Mar. 1838.
[4]
William W. Phelps, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [85], [87], State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes (Mo. 5th Jud. Cir. 1838), in State of Missouri, “Evidence.” Those who left in response to threats included Oliver Cowdery, David and John Whitmer, and Lyman Johnson. (See Letter to Oliver Cowdery et al., ca. 17 June 1838; and JS, Journal, 4 July 1838.)
[5]
Edward Partridge, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 24 July 1838, in Reynolds Cahoon, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 23 July 1838, CHL; Revelation, 8 July 1838–B.
Cahoon, Reynolds, and Edward Partridge. Letter, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland Mills, OH, 23 and 24 July 1838. CHL.
[6]
See Corrill, Brief History, 40–41; and Samuel D. Lucas, “near Far West,” MO, to Lilburn W. Boggs, 2 Nov. 1838, copy, Mormon War Papers, MSA.
Mormon War Papers, 1838–1841. MSA.
[7]
William W. Phelps, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [84]–[96]; Trial Proceedings, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, pp. [1]–[2], [34], [61], [70], [100], in State of Missouri, “Evidence.”
[8]
“Extracts of the Minutes of Conferences,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:15.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
[9]
Mulholland copied the 14 April 1839 letter from Phelps on a loose leaf of paper and attached the page in JS Letterbook 2 using adhesive wafers. Mulholland included the added leaf in his pagination of the letterbook, numbering the pages “8” and “9.” At some point, the loose leaf was removed from the letterbook and is apparently no longer extant. (See JS Letterbook 2, p. 384.)
[10]
William W. Phelps, Far West, MO, to John P. Greene, Quincy, IL, 23 Apr. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, p. 7.
[11]
Mulholland began to “write for the Church” on 22 April 1839, and the letter to Phelps was one of the first documents Mulholland inscribed in Letterbook 2.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 May 1839 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
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Commerce
Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...
More Info
Illinois May 22nd 1839

Sir

In answer to yours of 23rd April to
John P Green[e]
3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...
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we have to say that we shall feel obliged by your not making yourself officious concerning any part of our business in future. We shall be glad if you can make off a living by minding your own affairs, and we desire (so far as you are concerned) to be left to manage yours as well as you we can. We would much rather loose our properties,
1
Phelps’s letter to Greene explained that a recent flood damaged a dam and that further flooding would decrease the value of land owned by Joseph Smith Sr. and others. Therefore, Phelps requested power of attorney in order to sell the property “before it is all lost.” (William W. Phelps, Far West, MO, to John P. Greene, Quincy, IL, 23 Apr. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, p. 7.)
than be molested by such interference, and as we consider that we have already experienced much over officiousness at your hand, Concerning men and things pertaining to our concerns, we now request once for all, that you will avoid all interference in our business or affairs, from this time henceforth And for ever. Amen.

Joseph Smith Jr.

W[illiam] W. Phelps.
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[p. 7]
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