Prayer, 23 October 1835
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Source Note
JS, , , , , , , , and , Prayer, [, Geauga Co., OH], 23 Oct. 1835. Featured version copied [between 27 and 28 Nov. 1835] in JS, Journal, 1835–1836, pp. 50–51; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1835–1836.
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Historical Introduction
On 23 October 1835, the general church presidency and the presidency gathered in , Ohio, and offered this prayer for deliverance from the difficulties associated with financial debt, as well as for the redemption of , protection from mobs, and the means to purchase land in Missouri on which church members could settle. Also in attendance was JS’s brother , likely substituting for , an assistant church president, who was recovering from illness.Church leaders were saddled with debts they had incurred on behalf of the church since at least early 1833. At the date of this prayer, still owed money for the purchase of land, including the (the land purchased in Kirtland for the ), and for goods purchased on credit to stock his . Efforts to raise funds to pay these debts, to publish the Doctrine and Covenants, and to construct the temple did not relieve the financial difficulties. In a June 1835 letter to his wife, , commented that church leaders in Kirtland “are considerably in debt, and are poor.”Aside from finances, another concern weighed on church leaders at this time: the fate of Zion in , Missouri. In fall 1835, JS and other church leaders renewed discussions regarding the gathering to and redemption of Zion, likely in preparation for restoring the Saints to their lands in 1836. Accordingly, concern for the fate of the church in takes a prominent place in the 23 October prayer.The prayer was copied onto pages 50–51 of JS’s 1835–1836 journal. The page has the residue of two red wafers that apparently held a loose sheet with the original draft of the prayer. Warren Parrish presumably attached the sheet to the page as he recorded the prayer into the journal on 27 November 1835.
Footnotes
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1
JS, Journal, 10–13 and 23 Oct. 1835.
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2
In his role as bishop and in accordance with an early June 1833 revelation, Whitney managed the French farm property and was responsible for the outstanding payments on that mortgage. A $1,500 payment on the property mortgage was due in April 1834 but apparently remained delinquent at the time of this meeting, meaning that the second installment was likely not met in April 1835. In fall 1834, Whitney also owed over $2,000 to New York merchants for purchases made for the Kirtland store in October 1833. (Frederick G. Williams, Kirtland, OH, to “Dear Brethren,” Independence, MO, 10 Oct. 1833, in JS Letterbook 1, p. 58; Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A; Revelation, 4 June 1833; Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, pp. 360–361, 17 June 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; “New York Account Book, Sept. 1834,” Oct. 1833, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU; see also Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834; and Letter to Church Brethren, 15 June 1835.)
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.
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3
Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835.
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4
See Revelation, 18 Oct. 1835; see also JS, Journal, 24 Sept. 1835; Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.
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5
JS, Journal, 23 Oct. and 27 Nov. 1835.
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1
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