The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 February 1844–A

Source Note

, , , , and , Letter, , Crawford Co., Wisconsin Territory, to JS and the , [, Hancock Co., IL], 15 Feb. 1844; handwriting of Otis Hobart; five pages; JS Collection, CHL.
Two leaves measuring 12⅛ × 7¾ inches (31 × 20 cm) and an additional small slip of paper measuring 3¼ × 7⅝ inches (8 × 19 cm) that was cut from a larger leaf. The paper of the first two leaves is ruled (though the lines are now almost completely faded). The letter was written on both sides of both leaves and on the recto of the smaller slip of paper (with the verso left blank). The first two leaves were folded three times horizontally and twice vertically, and the small slip of paper was folded twice vertically. The document has undergone conservation.
The letter was received by JS in folded together and wrapped with another letter of the same date from and others in . The second letter was docketed (likely serving as a docket for both letters). The letter featured here was docketed by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early provenance and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 Feb. 1844–B.

  2. [2]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  3. [3]

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

Historical Introduction

On 15 February 1844, a committee of members in drafted two letters to inform JS, his counselors in the , and the about the progress of the Latter-day Saints in Wisconsin in obtaining lumber for the in , Illinois, and the as well as their efforts to proselytize among the Chippewa and Menominee nations living in Wisconsin. The letters also shared the committee’s recent conclusion that church leaders should consider sending an expedition to scout the as a place for southern Latter-day Saints and converted Native Americans.
Church members had been logging pine in since 1841 to provide lumber for the construction of the and the . According to the letter, church administrators in Wisconsin Territory had concluded that by July 1844 the logging operation could supply more than enough lumber for both buildings. In addition, a delegation from the Menominee had recently visited the Wisconsin Saints to inform them that they would have to pay federally regulated rates for logging on the above the falls, thereby limiting the profits that the lumber operation could generate for the church. Although this development changed the prospects for using the lumber mills to raise money, the meeting helped solidify relations between the Saints and the Indian nation. Noting the poor prospects for making money in Wisconsin Territory and recent proselytizing success in the southern , the Wisconsin Saints wanted to abandon the lumber venture and establish a new gathering center in . The committee expected they would have more success raising money for the church by converting and gathering slaveholders who could be persuaded to consecrate the profits of enslaved labor to the church.
Church leaders in also believed it was possible to convert large numbers of the Menominee and Chippewa and persuade them to sell their lands and move to . Before the committee wrote this letter, contacted JS in January 1844 and asked for permission to preach to the Menominee and Chippewa because of the interest that Native American leaders had expressed in the church. The committee hoped that relocating to Texas or elsewhere in the West would open the doorway to proselytize among many indigenous groups throughout the Americas.
Church members in appointed this committee—consisting of , , , , and —to communicate their views to church leaders in . The committee assigned Wight and Miller, both of whom were trustees, to each draft a letter to send to Nauvoo. After reviewing the two drafts, the committee resolved to send both letters; the first letter, featured here, was authored by Wight and inscribed by Otis Hobart. The second was created by Miller and also penned by Hobart. Some evidence suggests that Wight’s letter was meant to be read first. His letter reported the decision to send both letters, suggesting that he intended his message to be read as an introduction to both; the folds on the letters indicate that they were folded together with Wight’s letter first and Miller’s second. Each of the letters is dated 15 February 1844 and was signed by the five members of the committee, though the first is addressed to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles while the second is addressed to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.
The committee initially chose to carry the letters to , but it was later decided that would bear them. Miller delivered the letters to JS in Nauvoo on the afternoon of Sunday, 10 March 1844. JS perused the letters, and some discussion ensued. At 4:30 p.m., JS met in the with Miller, available members of the Twelve, and the temple committee to further discuss the letters. This discussion led to the provisional organization that night of what would later become the and the formal organization of the council on 11 March 1844. later copied these letters into the Council of Fifty record. The original sent letter is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Rowley, “Mormon Experience in the Wisconsin Pineries,” 119–148; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, Northern Islander, 16 Aug. 1855, [4]; and George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, Northern Islander, 23 Aug. 1855, [1]–[2].

    Rowley, Dennis. “The Mormon Experience in the Wisconsin Pineries, 1841–1845.” BYU Studies 32, nos. 1 and 2 (1992): 119–148.

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 20 Feb. 1844. In January 1844, Wight and George Miller sent Mitchel Curtis and Stephen Curtis to Nauvoo to inquire if Wight should proselytize among these two tribes. JS told the messengers that Wight should “do what he thinks best. & he shall never be brought into difficulty about it by us.”

  3. [3]

    Wight later published his letter, which matches the letter featured here. (Wight, Address by Way of an Abridged Account and Journal of My Life, 1–3.)

    Wight, Lyman. An Address by Way of an Abridged Account and Journal of My Life from February 1844 up to April 1848, with an Appeal to the Latter Day Saints. [Austin, TX], [ca. 1848].

  4. [4]

    See Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 Feb. 1844–B.

  5. [5]

    JS’s journal entry for 10 March suggests that the letter written by Miller may have been read first. The journal reports that “a Letter was read from Lyman Wight & others Dated Feb 15. 1844. to B. Youg W. Richads &c . . . also a letter to Joseph Smith. &c— from Lyman Wight and others a committee of the branch at th[e] pinery Black River. Falls.— Feb 15. 1844.” Both letters close by listing JS, Brigham Young, and Willard Richards as the addressees. However, the greeting in the letter written by Miller was to the “first Presidency” and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, whereas the greeting in the letter written by Wight was to “Joseph Smith” and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Since the journal entry has the letter “to Joseph Smith. &c” being read second, these greetings suggest that the men read the letter from Miller first and the letter from Wight second—the same order in which William Clayton transcribed the letters into the Council of Fifty record. (JS, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10 Mar. 1844; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 27 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 23 Aug. 1855, [2].)

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

  6. [6]

    Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 Feb. 1844–B.

  7. [7]

    Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 Feb. 1844–B; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 27 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 23 Aug. 1855, [2].

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10–11 Mar. 1844.

  9. [9]

    See Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10 Mar. 1844.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 February 1844–A Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845 History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [4]

its daily revolution. This committee views it as <​a​> matter of investigation, whether would the Southerner with his slaves and abundance of wealth do better to take them to some slaveholding point, keep them in lively exercise according to his former customs and habits, turning over his yearly proceeds into the hands of the trustee in trust for the whole ; or to abolish slavery and settle himself in a climate uncongenial to his nature and entirely derogatory to his former occupations in life.
After having procured the lumber for those two houses the committee is of the opinion that the preaching the Gospel and raising funds in the south would be a far more speedy way of accomplishing the work than any other that could be introduced at the present time
We Your servants, therefore will wait patiently the result of your council and Submit Ourselves to the Same with all cherfulness, Our only object being to advance the cause and Kingdom of God, stand ready to take hold whereever Your wise council may consider it to be of the most advantage— This committee view with deep regret the many different teachings this church has recieved concerning the distribution of their property, such as raising funds for the printing of tracts, evidences of the Book of Mormon, and pamphlets of various discriptions, which we consider has not advanced the cause in the least degree, but has tended directly to sap the foundation of building the houses, We therefore believe that no person embracing the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, should give any part or pa[r]cel of their property without a direct council written or oral from the of the Church.
Whereas the committee having appointed & to write the views of the committee, each wrote Separate & apart having laid the same, before the committee, the committee resolved that both productions be sent without alterations. We the committee conclude by subscribing ourselves your friends and [p. [4]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [4]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Lyman Wight and Others, 15 February 1844–A
ID #
1272
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page

    Footnotes

    1. [20]

      JS was elected sole trustee-in-trust for the church on 30 January 1841, with power “to receive acquire manage or convey property real personal or mixed for the sole use and benefit of said church,” in compliance with Illinois law governing business transactions of trustees on behalf of religious corporations. (Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841; An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], pp. 148–149, sec. 3.)

      General Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eighteenth General Assembly, Convened January 3, 1853. Springfield: Lanphier and Walker, 1853.

    2. [21]

      Latter-day Saints had produced about one hundred such publications between the time of the revelation commanding the construction of the Nauvoo temple and the Nauvoo House and the time that Wight wrote his letter. Apostle John E. Page, for example, printed a tract trying to dispel the rumor that the Book of Mormon was plagiarized from a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding. (See Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:152–244; and John E. Page, The Spaulding Story, concerning the Origin of the Book of Mormon . . . [Pittsburgh: By the author, 1843].)

      Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

      Page, John E. The Spaulding Story, concerning the Origin of the Book of Mormon, Duly Examined, and Exposed to the Righteous Contempt of a Candid Public. Pittsburgh: By the author, 1843.

    © 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06