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Letter to Editor, 8 April 1843

Source Note

[
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, (Viator, pseud.)], Letter,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Boston Daily Bee,
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

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, Suffolk Co., MA, 8 Apr. 1843. Version published in Boston Daily Bee, 11 May 1843, p. [2]; edited by C. J. Howland. Transcription from a digital image obtained from Newspaper Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, in 2024. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Letter to Editor, 8 April 1843, Initial Draft Letter to Editor, 8 April 1843, Second Draft
Letter to Editor, 8 April 1843

Page [2]

-[correspondence of the “boston bee.”]-
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Ill., April 8th, 1843.
Mr. Editor—Sir—The Millenium has commenced. Not
[William] Miller

15 Feb. 1782–20 Dec. 1849. Farmer, author, military officer, preacher. Born in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Miller and Paulina Phelps. Moved to Hampton, Washington Co., New York, 1786. Married Lucy Phelps Smith, 29 June 1803. Moved...

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’s, he is too late, the third of April has gone by, and the world remains as it was, and the Millerites remain as they were I suppose. We dont have any of them in this region—but the Mormon Millenium commenced on the 6th inst. Thus you see that
Miller

15 Feb. 1782–20 Dec. 1849. Farmer, author, military officer, preacher. Born in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Miller and Paulina Phelps. Moved to Hampton, Washington Co., New York, 1786. Married Lucy Phelps Smith, 29 June 1803. Moved...

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guessed better for “Jo” than he did for himself this time.
It was thirteen years, last Thursday, since 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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of “Latter-Day-Saints,” or of “Jesus Christ,” or, of the “Mormons,” was organized in
Manchester

Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...

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, N. Y., with only six members; but on the first day of the fourteenth year of the church, and sixth day of the fourth month, commonly called April, in the year A. D. ’43, four or five thousand of these Mormons assembled on the floor of the
Temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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, (is to be, for the walls are only from 6 to 12 feet high, above the floor) and covered the whole establishment, so that nothing could be seen but the persons of the Saints; and this, said the prophet, is “a Millenium,” “all is peace here;” so I concluded by this that the Mormon Millenium consists of peace as one of its principle ingredients, or, as some one has said, “there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy.”
There seemed to have been a little mistake by some one, in this Millenium, for while
Elder [Reynolds] Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

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was making a defence for his proceedings as
Temple Committee

A committee assigned to raise funds and direct the building of the Nauvoo temple; also called the building committee or temple building committee. On 3 October 1840, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon, and Elias Higbee were appointed as a committee responsible...

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, the
Marshal

20 Apr. 1785–24 Nov. 1867. Surveyor. Born at Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Son of Newcomb Sherwood and a woman whose maiden name was Tolman (first name unidentified). Married first Jane J. McManagal (McMangle) of Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, ca. 1824...

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of the
city

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, who had charge of the meeting, (for you must know these Mormons don’t allow any disturbance in meeting, Millenium or no Millenium) brought up a gentleman (? nothing more than a passenger, I presume,) for disturbing the meeting. Said “he had not disturbed the meeting.”
Marshall

20 Apr. 1785–24 Nov. 1867. Surveyor. Born at Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Son of Newcomb Sherwood and a woman whose maiden name was Tolman (first name unidentified). Married first Jane J. McManagal (McMangle) of Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, ca. 1824...

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said “he had.” “I fine you five dollars,” said the Mayor. “I have not got $5,” said the culprit. “Then take him way out of the crowd,” was the sentence of his honor.
Thus while the speaker stopped about 30 seconds, Mayor’s Court was opened; prisoner arraigned; testimony for and against presented; pleas of plaintiff and defendant heard, sentence pronounced and executed; Millenium restored; speaker resumed; and all satisfied just as though nothing had happened. This is the way the Mormons do business; suddenly, but not in haste.
In the Millenium were all sizes, from the prophet to the infant—the sisters on one hand and the brethren on the other, (the prophet did not tell us whether this seperation was to continue through the Great Millenium, or thousand years) and when their heads were uncovered, it would have appeared like a sea of wool, if all their hair had been as white as
father [Pelatiah] Brown

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’s who took such a drubbing from the prophet, and then was sent off by the
Conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

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to
[New] York State

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

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to preach to the sinners around Cummorah, the hill where the
Golden Bible

A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates were...

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was found.— When the prophet wants to whip a thousand men, he takes a post and whips that, and it answers every purpose of whipping a thousand. “Old white head,
father Brown

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,” was the whipping post on this occasion.
Something has had a wonderful effect upon the weather since the Millenium commenced. It had not been in operation two days, before the ice began to move, and although the
river

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

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is full of ice, yet it is in a high state of derangement; and if this is the effect of the Mormon Jubilee, may it continue forever, for there is hope that Spring is not far off.
A word more about the Temple Committee. They have the sole direction of erecting the great
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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, under the prophet, who is “sole trustee in trust,” for all public funds of the church, according to the statutes of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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; and this committee are under bonds to the trustee, for a faithful application of all funds; but it appeared that somebody had thought, that somebody had surmised that some of the committee had taken a little better pay to themselves than they had given to others, and had used a partiality. Thus complaint was presented, and the Committee,
[Alpheus] Cutler

29 Feb. 1784–10 June 1864. Stonemason. Born in Plainfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Knight Cutler and Elizabeth Boyd. Married Lois Lathrop, 17 Nov. 1808, in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Moved to Upper Lisle, Broome Co., New York, ca. 1808...

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,
Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

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and
[Elias] Higbee

23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...

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, came up on trial, and all pled perfect innocence—some more innocent than others; but the
Patriarch

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office with the authority to give inspired blessings, similar to the practice of Old Testament patriarchs. JS occasionally referred to patriarchs as “evangelical ministers” or “evangelists.” Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained as...

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Hyram [Hyrum Smith]

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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, brother to the prophet, and who is prophet too, as well as patriarch, said the committee could not talk much, but he could, and he would defend them, for he had been a temple committee himself, and knew all about the mill, and it was a perfect mill, and ground close, and he knew it, and would tell the whole of it; it reminded him of the boy who saw something on a tree, and he went and told his father he had seen an elephant on a tree; his father did not believe it, but on going to look found an owl on the tree; now (said the
patriarch

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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) the complaints against this committee are “not an elephant, but an owl,” I see, “it is an owl I see.” The
patriarch

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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saw more than I could, for I looked close and could see no owl, but I discovered a scare-crow, which, I supposed, had been stuck up on the tree, by the thieves, to keep off the owls, while they pocketed the chickens that perched on the boughs.
V[iator]

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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Editorial Title
Letter to Editor, 8 April 1843
ID #
12527
Total Pages
1
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