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Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835, Joseph Holbrook Copy

Source Note

JS,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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,
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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,
William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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, and
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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, Letter,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, Geauga Co., OH, to church officers,
Clay Co.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

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, MO, 31 Aug. 1835. Version copied [not before 31 Aug. 1835]; handwriting of
Joseph Holbrook

16 Jan. 1806–14 Nov. 1885. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, miner, clerk, policeman, probate judge. Born at Florence, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Moses Holbrook and Hannah Lucretia Morton. Moved to Worcester Co., Massachusetts, June 1813. Married first Nancy ...

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with notation in the handwriting of
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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; four pages; JS History, vol. C-1, miscellaneous papers, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 Aug.1835.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835

Page [1]

Dear Brother,
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
Geauga Co. Ohio Sept 1, 1835
Some documents relating to dificulties existing among the
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

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of
Clay Co.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

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Mo. respecting who should be President of the Elders was decided in Counsels as follows at a
high Counsel

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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held the 31 of Aug. 1835. The high counsel of the presidency of
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
and
zion

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of Zion” for gathering of Saints and place where “City of Zion” was to be built, with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland,...

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says that the Lord has manifested unto them by revelation of his spirit that the
High priests

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

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, Elders,
Teachers

Generally, one who instructs, but also an ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The Book of Mormon explained that teachers were to be ordained “to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end...

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, and
Deacons

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The “Articles and Covenants” directed deacons to assist teachers in their duties. Deacons were also to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach and invite all to come unto Christ.” Although deacons did not have the authority...

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or in other words all the officers in the land of
Clay Co.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

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Mo. belonging to the
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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are included more or less in Transgression because they have not enjoyed the Spirit of god sufficently to be able to comprehend there duty respecting themselves and the wellfare of
Zion

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of Zion” for gathering of Saints and place where “City of Zion” was to be built, with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland,...

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thereby having been left to act in a manner that is detremental to the interest and also a hinderment to the redemption of Zion, now if they will be wise they will be wise they will humble themselves in <​a​> peculear manner that God may open <​the​> eyes of their understanding it will be clearly mannifest that the design and purpose of the almighty are without regard to them and the Children of Zion that they should let the high Counsel which apointed of God and
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

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for that purpose make and regulate all the affairs of Zion and that it is the will of God that her Children should stand still and see his salvation in her redemtion And the officers officers should go foarth in as much as they can leve their family, in comfertable circumstances and geather up even the strenght of the Lord house and those who can not go foarth consestently with the will of God and their circumstances preventing them remain in deep humility and in as much as they do any thing confine themselves to teaching the first prencipals of the gospel not endevering to institute regulations or laws for Zion without having been apointed of God Now we say that there is no need of ordaining in Zion or appointing any more office<​rs​> but let those that are ordained magnify themselves before the Lord by going foarth into the vinyard cleaning their garments of the blood of this generation It is one thing to be ordained to preach the gospel and to push the people to gather to Zion and it is another thing to apointed to lay the foundation and build up the
city of Zion

Also referred to as New Jerusalem. JS revelation, dated Sept. 1830, prophesied that “city of Zion” would be built among Lamanites (American Indians). JS directed Oliver Cowdery and other missionaries preaching among American Indians in Missouri to find location...

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and exicute her Laws Therefore it is certain that many of the Elders have come under great condemnation in endevering to stiddy the ark [p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835, Joseph Holbrook Copy
ID #
20922
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joseph Holbrook

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