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Letter from S. J. Wild, circa 30 April 1843

Source Note

S. J. Wild, Letter, , Adams Co., IL, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, [ca. 30] Apr. 1843; handwriting and signature presumably of S. J. Wild; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notations, postal stamps, redactions, and docket.
Bifolium measuring 12½ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm). Embossed in the upper left corner of the bifolium is an illegible circular insignia of a paper manufacturer. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with a red adhesive wafer, and postmarked. The right edge of the recto of the second leaf was torn when the letter was opened, removing some of the page containing text. The letter was later refolded, used for miscellaneous notes by and , and refolded again for filing.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865; Bullock’s docket includes the date “April 30. 1843”. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    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.

  2. [2]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  3. [3]

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

Historical Introduction

In April 1843, S. J. Wild wrote a letter from , Illinois, to JS in , Illinois, asking for his opinion on ritual cleansing, or baptism, for purification of both body and spirit. Wild was interested in reviving the biblical practice and apparently believed that “the durability of republicanism,” or the American system of governance, was dependent upon the physical and spiritual renewal achieved through repetitive baptism and prayer. Wild wrote to JS asking if he had received “any revelation on the subject” or if he would “consult the Oracles of God on it.”
Wild regarded JS as a “great Reformer” who established “many excellent moral precepts,” though Wild’s reference to the as “your society” and other contextual clues suggest that he was not a member of the church. In his letter to JS, Wild questioned whether observing religious washing practices dictated by Levitical law would help maintain health and cleanliness, especially for people living in the marshy, wet areas near the that were subject to disease. Wild understood correctly that JS had instituted symbolic washing rituals based on biblical precedent. In 1833, JS washed the feet of the present at a meeting of the and proclaimed them “clean from the blood of this generation.” Three years later, in 1836, he introduced to the church and other men a new ritual in which they washed and perfumed their bodies and anointed each other with pure oil. The completion and dedication of the in , Ohio, provided an appropriate space for these . On occasion, some early Latter-day Saint missionaries promised potential converts that would heal their ailments. Baptism for health was commonly practiced after JS dedicated a font in the basement of the unfinished in November 1841. Latter-day Saints performed proxy baptisms for the dead as well as baptisms for healing in that font.
The precise date of Wild’s letter is uncertain since Wild only noted the date as April 1843. It was postmarked in on 4 May 1843. Quincy was approximately fifty miles from , likely requiring about two days for mail to travel. docketed the letter with the date 30 April 1843, the last day of April, which may indicate it arrived in Nauvoo in early May. There is no known response from JS.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 22–23 Jan. 1833.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 21 Jan. 1836; see also Historical Introduction to Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137].

  3. [3]

    At the dedication of the Kirtland temple, participants sang “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning” by William W. Phelps. The fourth verse specifically pointed to ritual washings: “We’ll wash, and be wash’d, and with oil be anointed / Withal not omitting the washing of feet: / For he that receiveth his penny appointed, / Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.” (Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836; Hymn 90, Collection of Sacred Hymns [1835], 121, emphasis in original.)

  4. [4]

    See Stapley and Wright, “History of Baptism for Health,” 72–73.

    Stapley, Jonathan A., and Kristine Wright. “‘They Shall Be Made Whole’: A History of Baptism for Health.” Journal of Mormon History 34, no. 4 (Fall 2008): 69–112.

  5. [5]

    In a January 1842 letter from Joseph Fielding to Parley P. Pratt, Fielding compared the Nauvoo temple to Solomon’s temple and described how Latter-day Saints had already made use of the new font: “Many have been baptized therein for their deceased relatives, and also for the healing of their own afflicted bodies.” Even some outside the faith knew of the dual purposes of this font—one visitor to Nauvoo in 1842 came to see the temple construction site and learned that at this font “baptisms for the dead are to be celebrated, as well as baptisms for the healing of diseases.” (Joseph Fielding, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, Jan. 1842, in Millennial Star, Aug. 1842, 3:78; Caswall, City of the Mormons, 16; see also “Part 4: 1 October–30 November 1841.”)

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

    Caswall, Henry. The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842. London: J. G. F. and J. Rivington, 1842.

  6. [6]

    Thomas Bullock did not arrive in Nauvoo until 31 May 1843 and began doing scribal work for JS and the Nauvoo City Council in summer 1843. (Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458.)

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

Page [1]

April [blank] 1843
Dear Sir/
Knowing you to be a great Reformer & having observed that you have established in your society many excellent moral precepts— I have for a long time wished to see you to converese with you on a subject which has for several years exercised my mind & seems to be increasing in interest to me— to ask your opinion & advice thereon, as I do not see any chance of seeing you soon & talking personally with you in <​I​> have taken the liberty of Writing to you, & I hope you will not be offended thereat but will deign to write me a candid answer to my inquiries as the subject seems to me to be of vast importance & on which I believe the durability of republicanism depends. Jesus christ says Unless a man is born of Water & the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven This is called regeneration— or a birth unto Righteousness— the means by Which men are to be fitted for Virtue & Glory— Which fitting is commenced as soon as the person is operated upon by the joint influences of the Water & the Spirit— or vice versa— & as Christ the great pattern for us— receved the Holy spirit through the medium of his Baptismal washing & prayer as a means the question is weather we do not need Continually to receive fresh supplies of the Holy spirit <​by Physical energies of body​> by repeatedly washing & praying by which means holy Inclinations & energy of Body is procured— a much better stimulant than spirits Coffee tobacco &c &c & by which means Temperance & the other virtues are all promoted It appears to me that the repetition of Baptismal washings in your society is leading to this practice of often purifying the Body by Water, & another question is is either men ought not to be taught to pray & [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from S. J. Wild, circa 30 April 1843
ID #
1024
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:258–263
Handwriting on This Page
  • S.J. Wild

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See John 3:5.

  2. [2]

    See 2 Peter 1:3.

  3. [3]

    See Luke 3:21–22.

  4. [4]

    JS dictated a revelation in 1833 pronouncing the wisdom of avoiding wine and “Strong drinks” (understood as distilled liquors), tobacco, and “hot drinks” (understood as tea and coffee). (Revelation, 27 Feb. 1833 [D&C 89:5–9].)

  5. [5]

    JS’s journal notes that during a period of ill health in October 1842, Emma Smith “was baptised twice in the river which evidently did her much good.” (JS, Journal, 5 Oct. 1842.)

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