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Letter to Church Leaders in Eugene, Indiana, 2 July 1833

Source Note

JS, , and , Letter with postscript by , , Geauga Co., OH, to “Dear Brethren,” [, IN], 2 July 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 2 July 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 54–56; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.

Historical Introduction

Like the preceding letter of the same date, the 2 July 1833 letter featured here pertains to disciplinary action taken against John Smith and his son in , Indiana. The Eugene of the was established in May 1832 in Vermillion County and consisted of approximately ninety members. In Eugene, a council, typically consisting of four to six , routinely held to instruct one another and, when necessary, to deliver disciplinary measures to those in their congregation. John Smith arrived in Eugene no later than 15 December 1832, joining his son Eden, who had been a member of the branch since at least 3 November 1832. John and Eden Smith took on positions of authority within the branch and soon encountered criticism for making unfounded accusations against church leaders. The letter featured below instructed the elders in Eugene concerning disciplinary measures against the Smiths.
Church leaders in both and , Ohio, apparently felt that John and needed to repent together “in all humility” before they could be held “in fellowship.” In a letter that has not been located, reported to the elders in Vermillion County that he and his counselors in Kirtland had stripped John Smith of his authority. On 3 June 1833, the elders of the Eugene branch wrote to regarding John Smith’s status in the church and apparently reported alleged infractions committed by Eden Smith. Five days later, John Smith wrote to JS regarding his own situation. JS and wrote to John on 2 July, the same day the letter featured here was written, requiring him and Eden to repent or be disciplined. They declared that John had no priesthood authority and that Eden was “confederate” with John in committing the transgressions.
In the 2 July letter featured here, JS and his counselors in the sanctioned the prior disciplinary action of the . They again emphasized that John Smith had transgressed and that he had no priesthood authority, and they also authorized the elders to convene a disciplinary hearing for . In a postscript to the letter, called for the elders to hold disciplinary councils for both Smiths, perhaps reiterating the counsel he had given in his earlier letter to them.
The presidency’s letter featured here, as well as their letter to John Smith, was apparently received before 13 July 1833, when the elders held a council regarding the membership of the Smiths, and it is probable that the council was held in response to this letter. At the meeting, the president of the council read aloud a letter from concerning John and , which may have been either Whitney’s postscript to the letter featured here or his earlier letter to Eugene regarding the Smiths. After the church voted to “cut off” John Smith, Eden appealed “to the Court Conserning his trial.” Branch records suggest, however, there were an insufficient number of high priests to hold a court in Eugene. The Eugene elders apparently forwent the appeal to the “high priest Court” and voted to cut off Eden as well. Eden was rebaptized on 27 August 1834 in Eugene by . It is unknown if John Smith ever reconciled with the church.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The branch of the church in Eugene was also called the “Vermillion Church of Christ.” (Vermillion Branch, Record of Members, [1].)

    Vermillion Branch. Record of Members, 1832. CHL. LR 5552 22.

  2. [2]

    Vermillion Branch, Conference Minutes, 3 Nov. and 15 Dec. 1832; Vermillion Branch, Record of Members, [4].

    Vermillion Branch. Conference Minutes, Nov. 1832–July 1833. CHL. LR 5552 21.

    Vermillion Branch. Record of Members, 1832. CHL. LR 5552 22.

  3. [3]

    Vermillion Branch, Conference Minutes, 13 July 1833.

    Vermillion Branch. Conference Minutes, Nov. 1832–July 1833. CHL. LR 5552 21.

  4. [4]

    Letter to John Smith, 2 July 1833.

  5. [5]

    Vermillion Branch, Conference Minutes, 13 July 1833; see also Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:72, 78–80].

    Vermillion Branch. Conference Minutes, Nov. 1832–July 1833. CHL. LR 5552 21.

  6. [6]

    McLellin, Journal, 10 and 27 Aug. 1834.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, Apr.–June 1836. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 6. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Church Leaders in Eugene, Indiana, 2 July 1833 Letterbook 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 55

you to be watchful on your part and search out enequity and put it down wherever it may be found you will see by this brethren that you have authority to sit in on the Smiths and if found Guilty to deal with them accordingly we have this day directed a letter [to] John Smith thereby making known to him our disaprobation of the course he has persued.—
We commend you [to] God and his grace ever praying he will keep and preserve you blameless till he come.
Joseph Smith Jr
Postscrip by —
2d July 1833
Dear Brethren—
Yours of the 3d of June came safe to hand the last mail and John Smith which was directed to Br Joseph now my brethren on this sheet you have Bro Joseph sanction to my proceedings and the letter I last wrote you and you will govern yourselves accordingly for you have full power and authority to call the two Bro Smiths to an account for their conduct and unless they repent and make satisfaction not only to your of the but also to this branch they must be cut off from the body for under existing circumstances we have no fellowship with them Bro John Smith authority as an officer in the church was taken from him before he left and he ought to have given up his but he went away without doing so and it [p. 55]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 55

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Church Leaders in Eugene, Indiana, 2 July 1833
ID #
171
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:172–175
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [4]

    See Psalm 64:6.

  2. [5]

    See Acts 20:32; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 566 [Ether 12:41].

  3. [6]

    TEXT: “Presdts of HPHd” (presidents of the high priesthood) is written sideways along right margin of page. (See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90].)

  4. [7]

    This letter has not been located.

  5. [8]

    The church unit at Kirtland.

  6. [9]

    When John Smith left Kirtland is uncertain, though it was likely between 22 August and 15 December 1832. (John Smith, Diary, 22 Aug. 1832; Vermillion Branch, Conference Minutes, 15 Dec. 1832; see also entries for 15 May and 5 June 1833.)

    Smith, John (ca. 1775–after 1833). Diary, 1831–1832. CHL. MS 5349.

    Vermillion Branch. Conference Minutes, Nov. 1832–July 1833. CHL. LR 5552 21.

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