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Editorial, circa 1 March 1842, Draft

Source Note

[JS], Editorial, [
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL], for Times and Seasons, [ca. 1 Mar. 1842]; draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes notation and dockets.
Single leaf measuring 11⅜ × 7½ inches (29 × 19 cm). The leaf was folded twice for filing.
A graphite notation on the recto of the leaf was inscribed by
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854.
1

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

The document was docketed by
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
2

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

The docket reads “Joseph Smith to the Times & Seasons”. Another docket—“about, 1842”—was inscribed by
Leo Hawkins

19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...

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, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859.
3

“Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

The document was likely listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
4

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
5

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s early dockets and notation as well as its likely inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and its inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  4. [4]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  5. [5]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

In late February or early March 1842, JS produced a rough draft of an editorial regarding the forthcoming publication of the Book of Abraham. Though the editorial is undated, its statements concerning the Book of Abraham and JS’s role in editing material for the paper suggest that JS expected to publish the editorial in the 1 March 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons.
JS had recently become the newspaper’s editor. On 28 January he dictated a revelation instructing the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

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to assume editorial control over the Times and Seasons.
1

Revelation, 28 Jan. 1842.


A week later
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, acting as JS’s
agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

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, purchased the printing establishment, including the newspaper, from proprietor
Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

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.
2

Agreement with Ebenezer Robinson, 4 Feb. 1842.


The 15 February issue listed JS as editor, although he did not begin functioning in that role until the 1 March 1842 issue.
3

In March, JS told subscribers that he was “not responsible for the publication, or arrangement of the former paper.” Robinson confirmed JS’s declaration in the 15 March issue of the newspaper, apprising readers that JS’s role as editor had not been fully decided upon by early February and that the 15 February issue went to press “without his personal inspection.” (JS, “To Subscribers,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:710; Ebenezer Robinson, “To the Public,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:729.)


In the editorial, JS acknowledged his role as editor and then conveyed his intention to provide readers with original content, including excerpts from an inspired revision of the Bible and portions of the Book of Abraham. JS’s work on the Book of Abraham, which began during the latter half of 1835, involved an effort to translate Egyptian papyri that he and others purchased from traveling exhibitor
Michael Chandler

Ca. 1798–21 Oct. 1866. Antiquities exhibitor, farmer. Born in Ireland. Married Frances F. Ludlow. Immigrated to U.S., ca. 1828. Moved to Ohio, by 1829. Moved to Philadelphia, 1833. Acquired eleven mummies, perhaps in association with others, in New York City...

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.
4

See Historical Introduction to Book of Abraham Manuscript, ca. Early July–ca. Nov. 1835–A [Abraham 1:4–2:6].


JS likely halted his translation by late November 1835.
5

JS produced the first portion of the Book of Abraham between circa early July and circa November 1835. JS’s contemporary journal notes seven occasions in October and November when he worked on translating the Egyptian papyri; the final entry was recorded on 26 November. (William W. Phelps to Sally Waterman Phelps, 19 and 20 July 1835, in Phelps, “Letters of Faith from Kirtland,” 529; JS, Journal, 1 and 7 Oct. 1835; 19–20 and 24–26 Nov. 1835.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Phelps, Leah Y. “Letters of Faith from Kirtland.” Improvement Era 45, no. 8 (Aug. 1942): 529.

Though he may have intermittently worked on the Book of Abraham manuscript in the years between 1835 and 1842, his work was hindered by various events, including two relocations, a lack of space and privacy to translate, violence and imprisonment 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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, the establishment of
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, and constant
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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administrative business.
6

Minute Book 1, 5 Nov. 1837; Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 25; Elizabeth Haven, Quincy, IL, to Elizabeth Howe Bullard, Holliston, MA, 21, 28, and 30 Sept. 1839; 6–9 Oct. 1839, Barlow Family Collection, 1816–1969, CHL; Memorial to Nauvoo High Council, 18 June 1840; “A Glance at the Mormons,” Alexandria (VA) Gazette, 11 July 1840, [2]; “At a Special Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:521–522.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

Barlow Family Collection, 1816–1969. CHL.

Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, VA. 1834–1877.

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

After the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles returned from their mission to
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
in July 1841, JS instructed the quorum to relieve him from administrative tasks, in part so that he could “attend to the businesss of translating.”
7

“At a Special Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:522.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

By February 1842 JS had apparently made progress on the Book of Abraham. In a 19 February journal entry, apostle
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

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, who was engaged in church printing endeavors, wrote, “The Lord is Blessing Joseph with Power to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God; to translate through the
Urim & Thummim

A device used to translate and receive revelation. In the Old Testament, the high priest of Israel used a device by this name to discern God’s will for Israel. The Book of Mormon gives an account of an ancient prophet, Mosiah, who translated records into ...

View Glossary
Ancient records & Hyeroglyphics as old as Abraham or Adam.” Commenting further on the Book of Abraham, Woodruff indicated that JS was “about to publish it to the world or part of it by publishing it in the Times & Seasons.”
8

Woodruff, Journal, 19 Feb. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Entries in Woodruff’s and JS’s journals indicate that during the week of 21 February, the
printing office

Located at four different sites from 1839–1846: cellar of warehouse on bank of Mississippi River, June–Aug. 1839; frame building on northeast corner of Water and Bain streets, Nov. 1839–Nov. 1841; newly built printing establishment on northwest corner of ...

More Info
began preparing the lead plates used to print the Book of Abraham facsimile featured in the 1 March issue of the newspaper.
9

JS, Journal, 23 Feb. 1842; Woodruff, Journal, 21–26 Feb. 1842; Facsimile Printing Plates and Published Book of Abraham, ca. 23 Feb.–ca. 16 May 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

JS apparently dictated the editorial to his scribe
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
sometime in late February or early March 1842. Though a later docket on the verso of the leaf confirms that the text was written for the Times and Seasons, the editorial was never published. The document bears no contemporaneous dating, but a second docket, inscribed circa 1850, indicates the editorial was drafted “about, 1842.” The manuscript contains, in addition to the dockets, a faint graphite notation, in the handwriting of Richards, near the top of the recto. The inscription, which is written upside down, reads “Raukeeyagn— signifing— expanse or firmament,— I E what the heathen has called heaven.”
10

The word “heathen” could possibly be “seer has.”


The phrase “Raukeeyang, signifying expanse, or the firmament” appeared in an explanation of Facsimile 1, which was later printed in the 1 March 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons.
11

Book of Abraham Manuscript and Explanation of Facsimile 1, ca. Feb. 1842 [Abraham 1:1–2:18]; “A Fac-simile from the Book of Abraham. No. 1,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:703 [Abraham, facsimile 1]. “Rukeeyang” is a Sephardic transliteration of the Hebrew word for “firmament.” For a history of JS’s usage of this term, see Grey, “Joseph Smith’s Use of Hebrew in the Book of Abraham,” 30–34.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Grey, Matthew J. “Joseph Smith’s Use of Hebrew in the Book of Abraham.” Unpublished paper. Copy in editors’ possession.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 28 Jan. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Agreement with Ebenezer Robinson, 4 Feb. 1842.

  3. [3]

    In March, JS told subscribers that he was “not responsible for the publication, or arrangement of the former paper.” Robinson confirmed JS’s declaration in the 15 March issue of the newspaper, apprising readers that JS’s role as editor had not been fully decided upon by early February and that the 15 February issue went to press “without his personal inspection.” (JS, “To Subscribers,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:710; Ebenezer Robinson, “To the Public,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:729.)

  4. [4]

    See Historical Introduction to Book of Abraham Manuscript, ca. Early July–ca. Nov. 1835–A [Abraham 1:4–2:6].

  5. [5]

    JS produced the first portion of the Book of Abraham between circa early July and circa November 1835. JS’s contemporary journal notes seven occasions in October and November when he worked on translating the Egyptian papyri; the final entry was recorded on 26 November. (William W. Phelps to Sally Waterman Phelps, 19 and 20 July 1835, in Phelps, “Letters of Faith from Kirtland,” 529; JS, Journal, 1 and 7 Oct. 1835; 19–20 and 24–26 Nov. 1835.)

    Phelps, Leah Y. “Letters of Faith from Kirtland.” Improvement Era 45, no. 8 (Aug. 1942): 529.

  6. [6]

    Minute Book 1, 5 Nov. 1837; Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 25; Elizabeth Haven, Quincy, IL, to Elizabeth Howe Bullard, Holliston, MA, 21, 28, and 30 Sept. 1839; 6–9 Oct. 1839, Barlow Family Collection, 1816–1969, CHL; Memorial to Nauvoo High Council, 18 June 1840; “A Glance at the Mormons,” Alexandria (VA) Gazette, 11 July 1840, [2]; “At a Special Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:521–522.

    Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

    Barlow Family Collection, 1816–1969. CHL.

    Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, VA. 1834–1877.

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

  7. [7]

    “At a Special Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:522.

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

  8. [8]

    Woodruff, Journal, 19 Feb. 1842.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  9. [9]

    JS, Journal, 23 Feb. 1842; Woodruff, Journal, 21–26 Feb. 1842; Facsimile Printing Plates and Published Book of Abraham, ca. 23 Feb.–ca. 16 May 1842.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  10. [10]

    The word “heathen” could possibly be “seer has.”

  11. [11]

    Book of Abraham Manuscript and Explanation of Facsimile 1, ca. Feb. 1842 [Abraham 1:1–2:18]; “A Fac-simile from the Book of Abraham. No. 1,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:703 [Abraham, facsimile 1]. “Rukeeyang” is a Sephardic transliteration of the Hebrew word for “firmament.” For a history of JS’s usage of this term, see Grey, “Joseph Smith’s Use of Hebrew in the Book of Abraham,” 30–34.

    Grey, Matthew J. “Joseph Smith’s Use of Hebrew in the Book of Abraham.” Unpublished paper. Copy in editors’ possession.

Page [2]

are now taking this times & Seasons. will confer a sp[e]cial favor on their brethren, who do not take the paper, by infor[m]ing them that. they can now obtain their hearts [3/4 page blank] [p. [2]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Editorial, circa 1 March 1842, Draft
ID #
791
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:202–207
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

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