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Travel Account and Questions, November 1837

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Travel Account and Questions, November 1837

Source Note

JS, Travel Account and Questions, , Geauga Co., OH, Nov. 1837. Featured version published in Elders’ Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints, Nov. 1837, 27–29. For more complete source information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.

Historical Introduction

In late September 1837, JS and several other leaders traveled to , Missouri, to reorganize church leadership and to establish “places of for the Saints.” After returning to on 10 December, JS published an account of his travels from , through , and to , as well as a summary of various meetings held in Far West, in the church’s recently inaugurated periodical, Elders’ Journal. In addition, JS included a list of twenty questions concerning his history and the church’s beliefs and practices. The questions and travel account were published in the November issue of the Elders’ Journal, which was likely printed shortly after JS’s return to Kirtland.
JS, , , and set out for on 27 September 1837. Traveling southwest from to , Ohio, the men proceeded west along the National Road through central and before arriving at , Indiana, on 12 October; the party later proceeded west through and Carrollton, Missouri, reaching sometime before 6 November. Shortly after his arrival in Far West, JS participated in a series of meetings at which those assembled sustained—or in the case of , did not sustain—church leaders and discussed the gathering of church members to that place. At the meetings, it was determined that there were sufficient resources in the area to support additional members of the church, and they appointed , , , and to find locations for other of in the surrounding region. In the article featured here, JS encouraged church members to “make all possible exertions to gather themselves together” in Missouri; he also informed readers that he and other church leaders would be relocating their families there “as soon as our circumstances will admit.”
In addition to summarizing his journey to and the administrative decisions made there, JS enumerated a series of questions that he said were “daily and hourly asked by all classes of people whilst we are traveling.” Though the specific circumstances that prompted such questions are unclear, many of the queries were related to longstanding misconceptions about church doctrine and JS’s past. Avowedly anti-Mormon publications had long influenced how the public viewed JS and the church. ’s Mormonism Unvailed, which had been published three years prior in , Ohio, had shaped some of the public discourse surrounding JS and the church. Although JS stated his intention to answer the questions in the next issue of the Elders’ Journal, JS’s departure from and the seizure and burning of the in January 1838 delayed the publication of these answers until the paper resumed printing in Far West, Missouri, in July 1838.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Historical Introduction to Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.

  2. [2]

    Vilate Murray Kimball, Kirtland, OH, to Heber C. Kimball, Preston, England, 19–24 Jan. 1838, Heber C. Kimball, Collection, CHL; Thomas B. Marsh, Far West, MO, to Wilford Woodruff, [ca. Apr. 1838], in Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 36–38.

    Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.

  3. [3]

    Minutes, Elders’ Journal, Nov. 1837, 17; Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–A; Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–B.

  4. [4]

    Sidney Rigdon, Terre Haute, IN, to Don Carlos Smith, [Kirtland, OH], 13 Oct. 1837, in Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837, 7–8; Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837.

  5. [5]

    JS’s editorial in the November Elders’ Journal may have included information from more than one meeting in Far West, but it certainly incorporated information from Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837.

  6. [6]

    Though JS’s report names the members of the committee and indicates when they began their work, the composition of the committee subsequently changed. In minutes of a 7 December 1837 meeting held in Far West, Cowdery, Wight, and David W. Patten are noted as being members of the committee, while Whitmer and Corrill are not mentioned. Frederick G. Williams was added to the committee on that day. (Minute Book 2, 7 Dec. 1837.)

  7. [7]

    Written to convince the public that JS was an imposter and to warn “those who are yet liable . . . to be enclosed within its [Mormonism’s] fetters,” Howe’s book featured a series of affidavits collected by Doctor Philastus Hurlbut from individuals who claimed to have been acquainted with JS and his family when they lived in New York. Following its publication, JS defended his and his family’s reputations, stating that he had never “been guilty of wronging or injuring any man or society of men” and that he was only guilty of having, in his youth, “a light, and too often, vain mind.” Howe’s book received a favorable review in Alexander Campbell’s Millennial Harbinger and was available for purchase throughout Ohio, western New York, and Pennsylvania. (Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, ix; JS to Oliver Cowdery, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1834, 1:40; “Mormonism Unveiled,” Millennial Harbinger, Jan. 1835, 44–45; “Mormonism Unveiled,” Fredonia [NY] Censor, 25 Mar. 1835, [3]; News Item, Naked Truths about Mormonism [Oakland, CA], Apr. 1888, 4.)

    Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

    Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.

    Fredonia Censor. Fredonia, NY. 1824–1932.

    Naked Truths about Mormonism: Also a Journal for Important, Newly Apprehended Truths, and Miscellany. Oakland, CA. Jan. and Apr. 1888.

  8. [8]

    See Questions and Answers, Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 42–44. In late December 1837 or early January 1838, the Geauga County sheriff seized the printing office, along with its contents, in response to a legal judgment rendered against JS. The office was destroyed by fire on 16 January 1838. (“Sheriff Sale,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 5 Jan. 1838, [3]; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Bedford, England, 18–19 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL; John Smith, Kirtland, OH, to George A. Smith, Shinnston, VA, 15–17 Jan. 1838, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.)

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490.

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Travel Account and Questions, November 1837 Elders’ Journal, November 1837
found the in that place in as prosperous a condition as we could have expected, and as we believe enjoying a goodly portion of the Spirit of God, to the joy and satisfaction of our hearts.
The was immediately called and many difficulties adjusted, and the object of our mission was laid before them, after which the subject of the propriety of the Saints, to the city of , was taken into consider[a]tion, after a lengthy discussion upon the subject, it was voted, that the work of the gathering to that place be continued, and that there is a plenty of provisions in the upper counties for the support of that place, and also the emigration of the Saints; also voted that other be appointed in the regions round about, therefore a committee was appointed to locate the same; consisting of , , , and ; who started on their mission before we left.
It was also voted that the Saints be directed to those men for instruction concerning those places; and it may be expected that all the information necessary will be had from them concerning the location of those places, roads &c. Now we would recommend to the Saints scattered abroad, that they make all possible exertions to gather themselves together unto those places; as peace, verily thus saith the Lord, peace shall soon be taken from the earth, and it has already began to be taken; for a lying spirit has gone out upon all the face of the earth and shall perplex the nations, and shall stur them up to anger against one another: for behold saith the Lord, very fierce and very terrible war is near at hand, even at your doors, therefore make haste saith the Lord O ye my people, and gather yourselres together and be at peace among yourselves, or there shall be no saf[e]ty for you.
We furthermore say to those who wish to stop short of the city of , to call on us and get information concerning those places of gathering: We would say to the Saints it is now a day of warning and not of many words; therefore, a word to the wise is sufficent. We exhort you to remember the words of the prophet Malichi which says, bring ye all the tithes into the store house that there may be meet in mine house, and prove me herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it, and I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts, and all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delightsome land satth [saith] the Lord of hosts. We would also say to the Saints, that we were much pleased with the location of the , and also the society of that place; and we purpose of locating our families in that place as soon as our circumstances will admit.
We shall be under the necessity of observing brevity in this our communication for want of room to publish it, and we shall close after naming a few questions which are daily and hourly asked by all classes of people whilst we are traveling, and will answer them in our next.
Firstly, Do you believe the bible?
2nd, Wherein do you differ from other denominations?
3rd, Will every body be damned but Mormons?
4th, How and where did you obtain the book of Mormon?
5th, Do you believe Jo Smith to be a prophet?
6th, Do the Mormons believe in having all things common?
7th, Do the Momons believe in having more wives than one?
8th, Can they riase the dead? [p. 28]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Travel Account and Questions, November 1837
ID #
9647
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:478–484
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. [3]

    This statement likely refers to a number of difficulties discussed in meetings held on 6 November 1837. (Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837.)

  2. [4]

    See Revelation 6:4; and Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 1:35].

  3. [5]

    See Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:58].

  4. [6]

    See Malachi 3:10–12.

  5. [7]

    It is unknown precisely when JS intended to relocate his family to Missouri. On 12 January 1838, JS dictated a revelation that instructed the presidency to “take their families as soon as it is practicable . . . and move on to the west”; the revelation also encouraged faithful members to “arise with their families also and get out of this place [Kirtland, Ohio] and gather themselves together unto Zion.” (Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.)

  6. [8]

    Some of the questions posed to JS appear to be rhetorical (“Does not Jo Smith pretend to be Jesus Christ?”), while others are broader doctrinal questions (“Wherein do you differ from other denominations?”). Where a question is sufficiently narrow, annotation provides specific historical sources or contexts that likely informed the question. JS answered the questions in the July 1838 issue of the Elders’ Journal. (Questions and Answers, Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 42–44.)

  7. [9]

    This question likely arose from the church’s early practice of “consecration.” In February 1831, a JS revelation outlined the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” which included the principle of consecration, or donation, of personal and real property to the church. Latter-day Saints who consecrated their property were to receive in turn a “stewardship” over property that was deeded to them by the church to meet their needs. This program was practiced irregularly among church members in the 1830s. Although Latter-day Saints maintained that this system did not constitute a “common stock” arrangement, where property was owned jointly, allegations persisted in the 1830s that the church members held “all things ‘in common.’” While there were common properties held in the name of the church, “stewardships” or inheritances were deeded to individuals and held in their private names. (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]; Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:4–5]; JS, Journal, 30 Oct. 1835; JS History, vol. A-1, 93; Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, 120–121, 125–126.)

    Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

  8. [10]

    According to a circa August 1835 “Statement on Marriage,” the church had been accused of “the crime of fornication, and polygamy,” though the specific source of the allegations is unknown. (Statement on Marriage, ca. Aug. 1835.)

  9. [11]

    In an 1893 reminiscent account, prominent Missouri resident Alexander Majors wrote that church members in Jackson County “claimed they could raise the dead.” (Ingraham, Seventy Years on the Frontier, 44.)

    Ingraham, Prentiss, ed. Seventy Years on the Frontier: Alexander Majors’ Memoirs of a Lifetime on the Border. Denver: Western Miner and Financier Publishers, 1893.

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