Letter from Samuel Bent and George W. Harris, 23 September 1840
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Source Note
and , Letter, , Hamilton Co., OH, to First Presidency (including JS) and Nauvoo high council, [, Hancock Co., IL], 23 Sept. 1840. Featured version copied [ca. Oct. 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 179–180; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
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Historical Introduction
and wrote to the and the on 23 September 1840 regarding the progress of their fund-raising mission. Both members of the high council, Bent and Harris were appointed by the council on 17 July 1840 to procure funds for printing a new edition of the Book of Mormon, a new hymnal, and JS’s revision of the Bible. In this letter, they gave an account of their journey to , where printer was already securing contracts to have the Book of Mormon stereotyped and printed. Bent and Harris reported to church leaders in Nauvoo, Illinois, that although members of the church in and were enthusiastic about the publication efforts, they were generally poor and unable to contribute significantly to the project. Despite the Saints’ poverty, Bent and Harris were able to raise some money. They also agreed to make a future payment to the stereotyper and printer. These efforts, together with the advance subscriptions Robinson sold, were evidently enough to print the Book of Mormon. By October, Robinson had two thousand printed copies of the Book of Mormon, all paid for by the contracted deadlines.The original letter is not extant but was likely carried to by , who apparently also delivered a 23 September letter that wrote to the First Presidency from and that contained content similar to and ’s letter. The two letters were read by clerk at the general in Nauvoo on 3 October. copied the letter from Bent and Harris into JS Letterbook 2, probably shortly after the conference.
Footnotes
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1
Minutes, 17 July 1840; “Books!!!,” Times and Seasons, July 1840, 1:140.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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2
Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 260–262; see also Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:129–132.
The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.
Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.
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Document Transcript
Footnotes
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1
Robinson arrived in Nauvoo by 4 October. (Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840.)
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2
Robinson later recalled contracting with Edwin Shepard for $550 for stereotyping, with a paper manufacturer for $250, and with a bookbinder for $250 for leather and the binding of two thousand copies of the Book of Mormon. (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 260.)
The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.
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3
In a detailed account of his interactions and agreements with Shepard, Robinson later noted Shepard’s enthusiastic support in enlisting binders and paper suppliers in addition to his own stereotyping and printing services. Robinson also reported that all debts owed Shepard and others were paid in full and on time. (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 260–262.)
The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.
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4
“Bro. Brown” is probably a reference to the Mr. Brown who was a neighbor to Andrew Lamoreaux in Dayton, Ohio. JS left a few horses in Dayton during his trip to Washington DC in 1839 and, according to testimony sworn by Lamoreaux years later, stayed there again on his return trip in early 1840. (Robert D. Foster, “A Testimony of the Past,” True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, 15 Apr. 1875, 225; Andrew Lamoreaux, Statement, 10 June 1844, JS Office Papers, CHL.)
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
JS Office Papers / Joseph Smith Office Papers, ca. 1835–1845. CHL. MS 21600.
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5
Page similarly praised Robinson’s efforts in his letter of the same date: “He merits the esteem and confidence of the saints and all good men for his diligence and economy while getting the Book of Mormon stereotyped &c.” (Letter from John E. Page, 23 Sept. 1840.)
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6
Decades later, Robinson recounted that when he returned to Nauvoo he brought with him “several fonts of type, and material for a stereotype foundary and book-bindery, and a winter’s supply of news and book paper” that he had purchased from various suppliers in Ohio. Robinson bought some materials with cash and some on credit, which he reported paying in full within the allotted time. (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 261–262.)
The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.
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7
Page had been in Cincinnati since at least the “latter part of August,” when he and Orson Hyde parted ways while in the city. Page wrote on 23 September that he had baptized thirteen people since his arrival and that “many are believing.” (Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 Sept. 1840; Letter from John E. Page, 23 Sept. 1840.)
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8
In his 23 September letter, Page wrote to JS and the church members in Nauvoo that he intended to depart for Philadelphia “as soon as possible.” (Letter from John E. Page, 23 Sept. 1840.)