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Invitation to Wilson and Elizabeth Sikes Law, 11 January 1843

Source Note

JS and
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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, Invitation, [
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], to
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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and
Elizabeth Sikes Law

16 Nov. 1822–Mar. 1844. Born in Parma, Monroe Co., New York. Daughter of Warner Sikes and Martha. Moved to Smyrna, Chenango Co., New York, by 1830; to Sangerfield, Oneida Co., New York, by 1840; and to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by ca. spring 1842. Married...

View Full Bio
, [
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], 11 Jan. 1843; 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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; one page; JS Office Papers, CHL. Includes docket.
Single leaf, measuring 8⅝ × 7¾ inches (22 × 20 cm). The leaf was unevenly cut and torn along the bottom edge. The other edges of the leaf have the square cut of manufactured paper. The leaf was originally part of a bifolium that
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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used to inscribe a now incomplete draft of an 11 January 1843 proclamation
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

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issued to the traveling
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

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. The bifolium was later separated. Richards subsequently reused the leaf to draft this document. The leaf was folded in half twice for filing.
The document was presumably retained by JS’s office. It was docketed by Jonathan Grimshaw, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) from 1853 to 1856.
1

Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

In 2012 the document was cataloged as part of the JS Office Papers at the CHL.
2

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Office Papers, 1835–1844, in the CHL catalog.


Its early docket and inclusion in the JS Office Papers suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

  2. [2]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Office Papers, 1835–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 11 January 1843,
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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drafted an invitation from JS and
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
to
Wilson

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
and
Elizabeth Sikes Law

16 Nov. 1822–Mar. 1844. Born in Parma, Monroe Co., New York. Daughter of Warner Sikes and Martha. Moved to Smyrna, Chenango Co., New York, by 1830; to Sangerfield, Oneida Co., New York, by 1840; and to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by ca. spring 1842. Married...

View Full Bio
to attend a banquet on 18 January 1843. JS had returned to
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
, Illinois, from
Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
, Illinois, on 10 January following his discharge after
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 ...

More Info
officials attempted to extradite him.
1

JS, Journal, 10 Jan. 1843.


The following day, he directed the drafting of banquet invitations for approximately fifty individuals to celebrate his legal victory and return to Nauvoo as well as his and Emma’s wedding anniversary. According to a list on the same sheet as this invitation draft as well as lists in
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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’s and JS’s journals, invitees included JS’s close friends—particularly those who had accompanied him to Springfield—
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

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leaders, and
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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leaders.
2

JS’s journal entry for 11 January names at least some of those who were invited. (JS, Journal, 11 Jan. 1843; see also JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; and Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

The draft featured here likely served as a template for each of the invitations sent to the Smiths’ guests. The invitees presumably received the invitations between 11 and 17 January. The majority of those invited, including the Laws, attended the banquet at the home of JS and
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
on 18 January.
3

Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

The attendees sang the “jubilee songs” composed by
Eliza R. Snow

21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church...

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,
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
, and
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
; listened to some informal speeches and discussions; and dined at two o’clock in the afternoon.
4

JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Jubilee Songs, between 11 and 18 Jan. 1843.


At about six o’clock in the evening, the party dispersed and JS left to attend a meeting at the Masonic lodge.
5

Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

The formal invitations that JS and
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
sent to the Laws and other guests are apparently not extant.
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
wrote the extant draft on a piece of scratch paper. In addition to containing the draft of the invitation, the page includes an at least partial list of invitees and a partial draft of a proclamation of 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 ...

View Glossary
, the full version of which the Wasp subsequently published in its 14 January 1843 issue, declaring 17 January 1843 a day of “fastings, humiliations, and thanksgivings” in gratitude for JS’s discharge.
6

Brigham Young, “Proclamation to the Saints in Nauvoo,” Wasp, 14 Jan. 1843, [3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

Neither the list of invitees nor the portion of the proclamation is transcribed here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 10 Jan. 1843.

  2. [2]

    JS’s journal entry for 11 January names at least some of those who were invited. (JS, Journal, 11 Jan. 1843; see also JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; and Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Jubilee Songs, between 11 and 18 Jan. 1843.

  5. [5]

    Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  6. [6]

    Brigham Young, “Proclamation to the Saints in Nauvoo,” Wasp, 14 Jan. 1843, [3].

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Invitation to Wilson and Elizabeth Sikes Law, 11 January 1843
ID #
7666
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:317–319
Handwriting on This Page

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