Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833

Footnotes

1. 

   JS handwriting begins.  

2. 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.  

3. 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.)  

   Comprehensive Works Cited

   Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

4. 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].)  

5. 4

   See Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:2–5].  

6. 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].)  

7. 6

   See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:29].  

8. 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].)  

9. 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].)  

10. 

    JS handwriting ends; Frederick G. Williams begins.  

11. 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.)  

    Comprehensive Works Cited

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

12. 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].)  

    Comprehensive Works Cited

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

13. 11

    See Matthew 5:5; Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:35]; and Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:17].  

14. 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.)  

15. 13

    See Zechariah 9:13–14; Psalms 18:14; 144:6; and 2 Samuel 22:15.  

16. 14

    TEXT: Possibly “this Zion”.  

17. 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.)  

    Comprehensive Works Cited

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

18. 16

    See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 324 [Alma 36:14].  

19. 17

    See James 5:15.  

20. 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].  

21. 19

    JS had never met John S. Carter, though he was familiar with John’s three brothers, Jared, Simeon, and Gideon Carter.  

22. 20

    See Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–C [D&C 72:25].  

23. 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.)  

    Comprehensive Works Cited

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

    Carter, John S. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1440.

24. 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.)  

    Comprehensive Works Cited

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.