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Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835, William W. Phelps 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 [ca. 31 Aug. 1835]; three pages; handwriting of
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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; Jameson Family Collection, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Church Officers in Clay Co., MO, 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 [2]

Bishops court

Official church proceedings convened to handle disputes or allegations of misconduct. The officers of the court were a bishop, his assistants or counselors, and additional high priests or elders assembled on an ad hoc basis. Until high councils were established...

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and the
high council

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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have been established to do the business 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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& her children are not bound to acknowledge ay [any]of those who feel disposed to reign and set themselves up to to be their rulers let not the children be diped in this way. But let them prove those who say they are
apostels

A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...

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and are not But fund them liars 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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have no right to regulate the affairs of Zion But they have aright to preach the <​gospel​> they will all do well to repent & humble themselves & all 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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& also we ourselves receive this admonition and do endeavour and pray to this end & when the children of Zion are strangers in a strange land their harps must be hung up on the willows & they cannot sing the song of Zion But should mourn and not dance Therefore Brethren it remaineth for all such to be excercis[ed] with prayer and continual suplication until Zion is redeemed we realize the Situation all the Brethren & Sisters must be in in being deprived of their spiritual privileges which are enjoyed by those who sit in heavenly places in christ Jesus where there are no mobs to rise up and bind their conciencies [consciences] nevertheless it is wisdom that the church should make but little or no stir in that region & cause as little excitement as possible & endure their afflictions patiently until the time appointed & the
governor

14 Jan. 1790–25 July 1844. Farmer, tavern owner, businessman, investor, lawyer, politician. Born near Greenville, Greenville District, South Carolina. Son of Joseph Dunklin Jr. and Sarah Margaret Sullivan. Moved to what became Caldwell Co., Kentucky, 1806...

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of Mo fulfil his promise in setting the church <​over​> up on their own lands we sudgest an idea that it would be wisdom for all members of the church on the return of the
Bishop [Edward Partridge]

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

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to make known to him their names places of residence &c that it may be known where they <​all​> are when the
Governor

14 Jan. 1790–25 July 1844. Farmer, tavern owner, businessman, investor, lawyer, politician. Born near Greenville, Greenville District, South Carolina. Son of Joseph Dunklin Jr. and Sarah Margaret Sullivan. Moved to what became Caldwell Co., Kentucky, 1806...

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shall give directions for you to be set over up on your lands Again it is the will of the Lord that the church— should attend to their
communion

Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord...

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on the Sabbath day & let them remember the
commandment

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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which saith talk not of judgment we are commanded not to give the childrens bread unto dogs neither to cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn turn again and rend you therefore let us be wise in all things & keep all the commandments <​god​> that your salvation may be sure having your armour ready & prepa[re] against the time appointed & having on the whole armour of righteousness we may be able to stand in that trying [p. [2]]
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Editorial Title
Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835, William W. Phelps Copy
ID #
1457
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William W. Phelps

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