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Prayer, 23 October 1835

Source Note

JS,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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,
David Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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,
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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,
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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,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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,
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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,
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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, and
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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, Prayer, [
Kirtland Township

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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, 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
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1835–1836.

Historical Introduction

On 23 October 1835, the general church presidency and the
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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presidency gathered 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, and offered this prayer for deliverance from the difficulties associated with financial debt, as well as for the redemption 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 ...

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, protection from mobs, and the means to purchase land in Missouri on which church members could settle. Also in attendance was JS’s brother
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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, likely substituting for
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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, an assistant church president, who was recovering from illness.
1

JS, Journal, 10–13 and 23 Oct. 1835.


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,
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...

More Info
bishop

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

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Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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still owed money for the purchase of land, including the
Peter French

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

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farm

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents...

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(the land purchased in Kirtland for the
House of the Lord

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

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), and for goods purchased on credit to stock his
store

In Apr. 1826, Whitney purchased quarter-acre lot on northeast corner of Chardon and Chillicothe roads and built two-story, 1500-square-foot, white store. Mercantile store also functioned as Kirtland Mills post office. Whitney met JS at store, 4 Feb. 1831....

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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.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.

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,
Sally Waterman Phelps

24 July 1797–2 Jan. 1874. Schoolteacher. Born in Franklin, Delaware Co., New York. Daughter of David Bassett Waterman and Jerusha Case. Married William Wines Phelps, 28 Apr. 1815, in Smyrna, Chenango Co., New York. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York; ...

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,
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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commented that church leaders in Kirtland “are considerably in debt, and are poor.”
3

Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835.


Aside from finances, another concern weighed on church leaders at this time: the fate of Zion in
Jackson County

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

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, 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.
4

See Revelation, 18 Oct. 1835; see also JS, Journal, 24 Sept. 1835; Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.


Accordingly, concern for the fate of the church 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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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.
5

JS, Journal, 23 Oct. and 27 Nov. 1835.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 10–13 and 23 Oct. 1835.

  2. [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.

  3. [3]

    Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835.

  4. [4]

    See Revelation, 18 Oct. 1835; see also JS, Journal, 24 Sept. 1835; Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 23 Oct. and 27 Nov. 1835.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Prayer, 23 October 1835 Journal, 1835–1836 History, 1834–1836 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 51

ointed time
2

In August 1834, JS declared that 11 September 1836 was the “appointed time for the redemption of Zion.” (Letter to Lyman Wight and Others, 16 Aug. 1834.)


and that without the shedding of blood; that he will hold our lives precious,
3

See 2 Kings 1:13–14.


and grant that we may live to the common age of man, and never fall into the hands nor power of the mob in
Missourie

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 ...

More Info
nor in any other place; that he will also preserve our posterity, that none of them fall even to the end of time; that he will give us the blessings of the earth sufficient to carry us to Zion, and that we may purchase
inheritances

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

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in that land, even enough to carry on <​and accomplish​> the work unto which he has appointed us; and also that he will assist all others who desire, accordingly to his
commandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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, to go up and purchase inheritances;
4

For more on lands of inheritance, see Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:5–7]; Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:44]; and Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:11].


and all this easily and without perplexity, and trouble; and finally, that in the end he will save us in his
Celestial Kingdom

Highest kingdom of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the sun. According to a vision dated 16 February 1832, inheritors of the celestial kingdom “are they who received the testimony of Jesus, & believed on his name, & were baptized,” “receive...

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.
5

See Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:70–77, 87].


Amen.
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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Clerk [p. 51]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 51

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Prayer, 23 October 1835
ID #
3135
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:23–25
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren Parrish

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    In August 1834, JS declared that 11 September 1836 was the “appointed time for the redemption of Zion.” (Letter to Lyman Wight and Others, 16 Aug. 1834.)

  2. [3]

    See 2 Kings 1:13–14.

  3. [4]

    For more on lands of inheritance, see Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:5–7]; Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:44]; and Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:11].

  4. [5]

    See Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:70–77, 87].

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