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Letter from John D. Lee and Others, 18 May 1842

Source Note

John D. Lee

6 Sept. 1812–23 Mar. 1877. Farmer, courier, riverboat ferryman, policeman, merchant, colonizer. Born in Kaskaskia, Randolph Co., Illinois Territory. Son of Ralph Lee and Elizabeth Doyle. Served in Black Hawk War, 1831. Married Agatha Ann Woolsey, 23 July ...

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,
Alphonso Young

23 Sept. 1805–ca. 30 Jan. 1864. Born in Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of John Young and Abey Bibb Witcher. Married Nancy Robinson, 21 Feb. 1829, in Sumner Co., Tennessee. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Moved to Nauvoo...

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, and
Samuel Frost

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, Letter, Putnam Co., TN, to Editor of the Times and Seasons [JS], [
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], 18 May 1842. Version published in “Letter from Tennessee,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842, 3:820–821. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

See Editorial Note preceding “Letter from Tennessee,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from John D. Lee and Others, 18 May 1842 Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842

Page 821

displays of the spirit, was exhibited in raising one of the above named ministers who died while on his mission to this place, and in performing this operation as well as many other strange manoeuvers, they would act as the spir◊i [spirit] dictated, and when satan would approach them they would wind up his bands—this they did to prevent his influence over them—by a motion of the hands and accompanied with words uttered in a harsh heavy tone, this was the second revolution performed. They have some tremendous combats with the devil in order to prepare for the contest, they would take off their coats and hats and roll up their sleeves, as though they had a Golia[t]h to encounter, and after an engagement of several hours, they would finally succeed in divesting the room of these demons; but frequently after the doors were closed great exertion was made to prevent their returning again. These were some of the effects of that spirit which animated the bosom of these counterfeit Mormons. They taught their converts to contend for the same spirit which they possessed, and when they obtained it and were impelled by it, it produced a change of countenance depicted with horror; a trembling, twitching, falling down and wallowing in the mud; others would snort like wild beasts, bark as dogs, run through the creek, pretending to sing and speak in tongues, crying prophecy, prophecy; others would lie in a swoon for several hours, and springing to their feet again, state that the spirit had commanded them to chastise certain characters who were present, and would then fall upon them with all their strength as though they were to be exterminated in reality; one of these young ladies fell on her knees before me, and said, although I was a stranger yet she loved me because I was a preacher, and attempted to put her arms around my neck; I put forth my hand and rebuked the evil spirit by which she was actuated, and she immediately fell to the earth and wept with shame. Those gentlemen I have not seen who introduced these principles into this neighborhood, they left here some time in the month of March, and directed their course for the western district of Tennessee. But this was the deplorable situation of these miserable and unfortunate proselytes when
Dr. Young

23 Sept. 1805–ca. 30 Jan. 1864. Born in Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of John Young and Abey Bibb Witcher. Married Nancy Robinson, 21 Feb. 1829, in Sumner Co., Tennessee. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Moved to Nauvoo...

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and myself came to their relief. This course of conduct, you are well aware, produced great opposition to the faith of the Latter Day Saints, particularly by those who were watching for iniquity, in so much that we were threatened with mobs if we did not leave the neighborhood immediately, stating that Mormonism had already destroyed the peace of some of their citizens; however, we did not regard threats, and knowing most asuredly if we should shrink from our duty and not proclaim against such proceedings, and discard all such conduct and folly as was exhibited in this place by these impostors, that we would not stand acquitted before that God to whom we must, as well as all men, render an impartial account of our stewardship.— Under these considerations I determined to try to remove the veil of obscurity, that sin should be reproved, and truth vindicated; so I frankly told them that the spirit by which they were actuated, emenated from Lucifer, the prince of darkness, and that its delusive influence would ultimately prove destructive to all the souls that were influenced by it if they did not resist it immediately. Elder
Samuel Frost

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came to my assistance a few days after I arrived here, and has been laboring diligently with me ever since to remove the prejudice and erroneous notions that were imbibed by many in consequence of false teachings; and truly the Lord has blessed us, and confirmed the word by signs following; for the sick have been restored immediately by the prayer of faith through the atoning blood of the covenant, in the name of Jesus. Unclean spirits, also, have been subject to the priesthood through our administration in a number of instances, the most of those that were possessed of the evil spirit have been restored to their proper mind, indeed I never realized so sensibly the worth of the power of the priesthood since I have been called to the mintstry, as I did on this occasion. I have baptized 28 persons in Rutherford, Smith, and Putnam counties. Brothers
Frost

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and Linzey have baptized 22 in Knox county. We have many calls to preach, as prejudice has given way to a great extent, and I think there is not only a possibility, but a probability, of effecting a considerable work in this place.
We remain, as ever yours,
In the everlasting gospel of peace,
JOHN D. LEE

6 Sept. 1812–23 Mar. 1877. Farmer, courier, riverboat ferryman, policeman, merchant, colonizer. Born in Kaskaskia, Randolph Co., Illinois Territory. Son of Ralph Lee and Elizabeth Doyle. Served in Black Hawk War, 1831. Married Agatha Ann Woolsey, 23 July ...

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,
A. YOUNG

23 Sept. 1805–ca. 30 Jan. 1864. Born in Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of John Young and Abey Bibb Witcher. Married Nancy Robinson, 21 Feb. 1829, in Sumner Co., Tennessee. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Moved to Nauvoo...

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,
SAMUEL B. FROST

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. [p. 821]
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Editorial Title
Letter from John D. Lee and Others, 18 May 1842
ID #
837
Total Pages
2
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