Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833
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Source Note
JS and , Letter, , Geauga Co., OH, to , [, Rutland Co., VT], 13 Apr. 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 13 Apr. 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 29–32; handwriting of JS and ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.
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Historical Introduction
In this document, JS and responded to a letter, no longer extant, from of , Vermont. Written on 5 April 1833, Carter’s letter sought guidance from “the in ” on a number of questions. In addition to what can be inferred from the response featured here, the probable content of Carter’s letter and the questions it may have asked can be deduced from the history of the in Benson, as well as from Carter’s journal and personal history.In 1797, several members of ’s family established the Baptist Church of . John was elected to be a pastor for that church in 1822, and he served in that role until a group of Baptist ministers from the area decided that his teachings were not in harmony with Baptist orthodoxy. Carter left his post and led a congregation of Free Will Baptists in Benson. In late October 1831, John’s younger brother , who had been into the Church of Christ earlier that year, arrived in Benson while serving a proselytizing mission. While John was preaching in another town, Jared baptized twenty-seven people in Benson, including virtually all of his brother’s Free Will Baptist congregation. In November 1831, Jared introduced John to JS’s teachings. John was baptized into the Church of Christ sometime before 15 January 1832, when Jared left to return to , Ohio.On 25 April 1832, , along with and , commenced another mission to the New England states. Jared arrived in in late May 1832, and was soon after to the . John then joined Jared in proselytizing in in June and July 1832. On this mission, Jared expressed his confidence in John as a church leader, writing that he “bids fair for extensive usefulness because of his exceding sincerity & acquiered abilities and also because of his constant devotedness” to God. Following Jared’s departure in summer 1832, John became a key leader of the Church of Christ in Benson.With little communication from church leaders outside of the infrequent visits of missionaries, and having known of JS’s teachings for only approximately one year, experienced both success and challenges in retaining church members and upholding their faith. His journal entries reveal concern about growing unbelief and discord among the Mormons in and the surrounding area beginning in late February 1833, when he found church members “not well united.” In early March 1833, he described the Benson congregation as being “under some trials” and stated that a “division in feeling has taken place.” John attempted to “settle the . . . difficulty,” but hard feelings among the members of his congregation continued. One difficulty he encountered was the claim from Jane McManagal (McMangle) Sherwood, a convert in Benson, that she had received “visions of the Lord.” Carter was curious about the phenomena of receiving revelation and experiencing visions, and in his letter to JS he probably sought information about the nature of these reported heavenly encounters and instruction on how to respond to them.In his letter also apparently sought further knowledge about the gathering to , a topic he had heard discussed at a church conference in held on 10 August 1832. On 6 March 1833, Carter wrote in his journal that some church members in came to him “to enquire the way to Zion.” Later in the month, he described the desire of Benson converts to travel to and thence to , but he was unsure how to properly offer them assistance. He stated that some had already “made their calculation to go up to Zion,” though “their way appears hegged [hedged] up.”Delivered by his brother , ’s 5 April 1833 letter was addressed to “the Elders in requesting by them council from God under some peculiar trials.” JS and , two of the three , responded to Carter’s inquiries in the letter featured here. Though signed by both JS and Williams, the letter contains first-person singular pronouns, presumably made by JS as lead author, and statements in first-person plural, as if both JS and Williams were speaking. The letter offers counsel concerning revelation and visions, levels of authority, the responsibilities of church leaders in local ministry, the readmittance of apostates, and how the church members should prepare to go to Zion. JS and Williams also encouraged Carter to seek further instruction from and , who were appointed to preach and build up the church in the New England states that summer.In late April, mentioned receiving this letter in his journal, writing, “Of this I was glad.” Carter’s journal indicates that he received a second letter from JS on 7 May 1833, which gave “answers to important questions.” This second letter may have been written in response to another missive from Carter, or JS may have simply written a second, follow-up letter to the one featured here. Regardless, no second letter from either Carter or JS is extant.After receiving this letter—and apparently the second letter mentioned above—from JS, made the immigration of New England Mormons to and a priority. On 16 May 1833, in a letter published in The Evening and the Morning Star, wrote, “I have received a letter from brother informing me, that the church in , Vermont, was going up to Zion, this summer.” In late August 1833, Carter organized the departure of church members from Benson to Ohio and Missouri. He began his journey to on 5 September and effectively closed the branch of the church in Benson with his departure. He arrived in Kirtland sometime after 27 September and was among the twelve men chosen to serve in the church’s first standing high council, organized by JS in Kirtland on 17 February 1834. Carter later traveled in the (later known as Zion’s Camp) and died of cholera in , Missouri, on 24 June 1834.
Footnotes
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1
John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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2
Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 138–142.
Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.
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3
John S. Carter, Journal, [1]–[2]; Jared Carter, Journal, 39, 48. After leaving to return to Kirtland, Jared wrote, “I had great reason to thank and praise the Lord for what he had done for me and my Brothers and sisters of my fathers family for the whole family had now come into the Glorious work of God with their companions, except one sister and my three Brothers were preachers In this gl[o]rious gospel.” (Jared Carter, Journal, 49.)
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4
Jared Carter, Journal, 59; Revelation, 12 Mar. 1832 [D&C 79].
Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.
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5
John S. Carter, Journal, [5]–[6]. According to his journal, Jared arrived in Benson on 20 May 1832. John was ordained to the high priesthood on Thursday, 24 May 1832. (Jared Carter, Journal, 69, 72.)
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6
Jared Carter, Journal, 95.
Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.
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7
John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833; see also 19 Feb. 1833; and 3, 9, and 14 Mar. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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8
John S. Carter, Journal, 3 Mar. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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9
John S. Carter, Journal, 14 Mar. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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10
John S. Carter, Journal, 10 Mar. 1833. On the day he wrote to Kirtland, John noted in his journal that he “heard Sister Sherwood relate her vision of seeing an Angel.” (John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833.)
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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11
Ira Ames, a Vermont man who had married Charity Carter—a cousin of John and Jared—and who had recently joined the Church of Christ, was also at the 10 August conference and wrote that after the conference, he “commenced at once gathering up my means, disposing of my property preparing to gather with the Saints.” (Ames, Autobiography, [7], [9]; see also “The Gathering,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Nov. 1832, [5]–[6].)
Ames, Ira. Autobiography and Journal, 1858. CHL. MS 6055.
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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12
John S. Carter, Journal, 6 Mar. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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13
John S. Carter, Journal, 24 Mar. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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14
John S. Carter, Journal, 5 Apr. 1833. JS’s later history states, “Brother Jared Carter presented a letter, which he had received from his brother, to me, and requested me to answer it, which I did.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 285.)
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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15
John S. Carter, Journal, 23–24 Apr. 1833.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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16
“Progress of the Church of Christ,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 108.
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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17
John S. Carter, Journal, 21–22 Aug. and 5 Sept. 1833; Barnouw, “Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement,” 147.
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
Barnouw, Erik. “The Benson Exodus of 1833: Mormon Converts and the Westward Movement.” Vermont History 54, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 133–148.
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18
John S. Carter’s journal ends on 27 September 1833, at which time he had not yet arrived in Kirtland. For more on the Kirtland high council, see Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834.
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1
Document Transcript
Footnotes
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JS handwriting begins.
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1
TEXT: Almost every comma in the portion of this document inscribed by JS is upside down. Though these pieces of punctuation resemble open parentheses, in the context of the letter, they seem to function as commas.
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2
This vision likely refers to one Jane Sherwood said she had experienced. John S. Carter wrote in his journal that Sherwood claimed to have visions of angels and “visions of God concerning that which must come hereafter perporting indeed that the powr of God’s Judgment has come, & astonishing things soon are to take place.” Carter’s journal entry for 10 March 1833 further reads, “Sister Sherwood appears to have visions of the Lord. Oh. God, let us not be deceived! She has seen greate things, but does not as yet tell all.” In the postscript to this letter, JS mentioned that he had also received two letters from Jane’s husband, Henry G. Sherwood, concerning this vision. (John S. Carter, Journal, 10 Mar. and 5 Apr. 1833.)
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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3
A September 1830 revelation implied what JS makes explicit here—that God would not give instructions to someone through another of lesser authority and with lesser responsibility. After JS denounced Oliver Cowdery for supporting Hiram Page’s claim of receiving revelations through a seer stone, this revelation instructed Cowdery, the church’s second elder, “Thou shalt not command him which is at thy head.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:6]; for more information on the requirement for proof of authority, see Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:11].)
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4
See Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:2–5].
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5
This sentence possibly refers to an April 1830 revelation that expressed the necessity of rebaptism for converts who had been previously baptized into other faiths. This sentence might also refer to a February 1831 revelation that was known at the time as “the Law.” (Revelation, 16 Apr. 1830 [D&C 22]; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72].)
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6
See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:29].
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7
See Matthew 18:15–17. A February 1831 revelation outlined procedures for church discipline, directing that a bishop was to be involved if possible. (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93].)
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8
The church’s foundational “Articles and Covenants” delineated the hierarchy of priesthood offices and identified, based on level of authority, which priesthood office should “take the lead of all meetings” as well as which offices should preside in the absence of higher authorities. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:44–56].)
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JS handwriting ends; Frederick G. Williams begins.
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9
A December 1831 revelation instructed that “a certificate from the judge or Bishop in this part of the vinyard [Kirtland] unto the Bishop in Zion rendereth every man acceptable and answereth all things for an inheritence and to be received as a wise steward and as a faithfull labourer otherwise shall not be accepted of the Bishop in Zion.” Nothing in John S. Carter’s journal indicates that anyone from the Benson area was sent to Kirtland to procure the recommended certificate or license. At some point, possibly based on counsel given in an earlier revelation, Carter himself apparently received authority or permission to issue such certificates; in August 1833 he noted in his journal that he wrote “the covenant, and certifficates for the brethren who go to Zion.” (Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–B [D&C 72:17–18]; Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–C [D&C 72:25]; John S. Carter, Journal, 21 Aug. 1833.)
Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.
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10
An editorial in The Evening and the Morning Star in January 1833 made this point clear: “Every soul that comes up to Zion for an inheritance, for the present, must prepare temporally and spiritually. He should settle all his concerns with the world, and owe no man. . . . Let every one that quits the world for the sake of eternal life, act consistent in every thing: by obeying the commandments; by paying his just debts; by taking care of his property.” (“Let Every Man Learn His Duty,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [5].)
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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11
See Matthew 5:5; Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:35]; and Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:17].
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12
Without the original letter written by Carter, it is not possible to be certain which passage in Jeremiah he quoted, but of the few verses in Jeremiah that mention going to Zion, the one most likely referred to here is Jeremiah 3:14: “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (See also Jeremiah 31:6; 50:5.)
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13
See Zechariah 9:13–14; Psalms 18:14; 144:6; and 2 Samuel 22:15.
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14
TEXT: Possibly “this Zion”.
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15
Pratt and Johnson previously served a mission to New England from 3 February 1832 to 17 February 1833. Shortly after returning to Kirtland, the men were again asked to preach in the eastern states and especially to “go to the Churches that they have raised up.” They subsequently left on 26 March 1833. Under the dates of 3–7 June 1833, John S. Carter wrote in his journal that he attended several meetings with Pratt and Johnson in Benson, Vermont, as well as a conference in Bath, New Hampshire. The church members in Benson were “in good degree ingaged,” according to Carter’s journal entry. (“History of Orson Pratt,” 12, 16–17, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL; Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B; John S. Carter, Journal, 3–7 June 1833.)
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16
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 324 [Alma 36:14].
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17
See James 5:15.
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18
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:53–56, 81, 84]; and Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:111].
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19
JS had never met John S. Carter, though he was familiar with John’s three brothers, Jared, Simeon, and Gideon Carter.
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20
See Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–C [D&C 72:25].
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21
Henry G. Sherwood, a resident of Benson, had been ordained an elder by Jared and Simeon Carter the previous August. His letters to JS have not been located. John S. Carter spent much time in early 1833 with Sherwood, proselytizing and holding church meetings at Sherwood’s house. (Jared Carter, Journal, 115; John S. Carter, Journal, 7 and 22 Jan. 1833; 10 Mar. 1833; 5 Apr. 1833.)
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22
Having to pay postage for incoming letters continued to be a problem for JS. Two years later, he felt compelled to publish a similar request in the church’s newspaper: “I wish to inform my friends and all others, abroad, that whenever they wish to address me thro’ the Post Office, they will be kind enough to pay the postage on the same.” (JS, “To the Editor of the Messenger and Advocate,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:240; see also Hyrum Smith, “Notice,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1844, 5:559.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
