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Letter to Israel Daniel Rupp, 5 June 1844

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Letter to Israel Daniel Rupp, 5 June 1844

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Lancaster Co., PA, 5 June 1844. Featured version inscribed [ca. 5 June 1844]; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets, use marks, notation, and archival marking.
Single leaf measuring 9⅝ × 7¾ inches (24 × 20 cm) and ruled with an uncertain number of horizontal lines on the recto (now faded). The verso may have been similarly ruled. The recto’s top, right, and bottom edges have the square cut of manufactured paper, whereas its left edge is uneven, which suggests the leaf was torn or hand cut from a book or larger sheet. The document was folded to pocket size and was later trifolded, both times for storage. The document has undergone conservation.
The letter was docketed by , who served as a scribe to JS in 1843 and 1844. It was docketed a second time by Jonathan Grimshaw, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1856. The graphite notation “A. J” was apparently added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 it had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The letter’s early dockets, its notation, its listing in the circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. JS, Journal, 30 Aug. 1843 and 5 Jan. 1844.

  2. Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

  3. Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  4. “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

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

Historical Introduction

On 5 June 1844, JS wrote a letter from , Illinois, to in , Pennsylvania, thanking him for a copy of his recently published collection of histories of American religious denominations. A native of , Rupp was a teacher, editor, and prolific scholar who in 1842 began work on a historical compilation of denominations in to be written by prominent members of each group. By providing insider histories, Rupp intended his volume to offset other publications, which had misrepresented various religions.
’s publishers—the , Pennsylvania, firm Clyde, Williams & Co.—sent an inquiry to JS in July 1843 inviting him to submit an article describing “the Rise and Progress, Faith and Practice” of the . In August, responded on JS’s behalf, agreeing to submit an article. Phelps, who apparently prepared the submission, revised JS’s “Church History,” an earlier article from the church newspaper in that summarized the history and beliefs of the Saints. The revised article briefly recounted JS’s early life, his first vision of Deity, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. It then traced the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from its origins in in 1830 to the establishment of Nauvoo in 1840. It closed with a list of beliefs that later became known as “The Articles of Faith.” Phelps mailed the article to the publisher on 15 September. Rupp’s compilation, titled He Pasa Ekklesia (The whole church). An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the . Containing Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines, was published sometime around April 1844. It contained forty-three articles including Phelps’s article, which was entitled “Latter Day Saints” and was attributed to JS. Sometime following the publication of the book, a copy was sent to JS, presumably by Rupp.
In his 5 June 1844 letter to , JS acknowledged receipt of and expressed gratitude for the book, which he considered “a treasure.” JS applauded Rupp for the wisdom of giving a voice to religious groups in . Although he expressed suspicion of man-made religious creeds, JS opined that a study of other religions would help individuals better understand how ancient believers communed with God. He closed the letter by offering to send more information on the church and promising to publicize the book in .
It is not known if JS dictated this letter to or assigned Phelps to write it on his behalf. Phelps inscribed what is presumably a rough draft of the letter, given his edits to the text. A fair copy was then made and sent to . After it was sent, the letter may have taken two weeks or more to reach . Rupp or a member of the publishing firm received JS’s letter, and a portion of it was reproduced in the second edition of He Pasa Ekklesia, published in 1848.
The letter sent to is apparently not extant. The draft is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. Seidensticker, “Memoir of Israel Daniel Rupp,” 405–407. The book’s preface informed readers that publications on religious history had triggered “numerous complaints by ministers and lay members of different denominations, that such books had unjustly represented their religion.” (Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, v.)

    Seidensticker, Oswald. “Memoir of Israel Daniel Rupp, the Historian.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 14 (1890): 403–413.

    Rupp, Israel Daniel, ed. He Pasa Ekklesia [The Whole Church]: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States, Contains Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines. Written Expressly for the Work by Eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay-Members, of the Respective Denominations. Projected, Compiled and Arranged by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia: J. Y. Humphreys; Harrisburg: Clyde and Williams, 1844.

  2. Letter from Clyde, Williams & Co., between ca. 1 and 15 July 1843; Letter to Clyde, Williams & Co., 1 Aug. 1843.

  3. Historical Introduction to “Latter Day Saints,” 1844; “Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842; see also Phelps, “Additions to an Article in the Times and Seasons,” Sept. 1843, draft, CHL.

  4. JS, “Latter Day Saints,” in Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, 404–410; Historical Introduction to “Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842; JS, Journal, 15 Sept. 1843.

  5. Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, vii–viii. Rupp’s book features mostly Protestant denominations but also has entries for Roman Catholics and Jews.

    Rupp, Israel Daniel, ed. He Pasa Ekklesia [The Whole Church]: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States, Contains Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines. Written Expressly for the Work by Eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay-Members, of the Respective Denominations. Projected, Compiled and Arranged by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia: J. Y. Humphreys; Harrisburg: Clyde and Williams, 1844.

  6. JS, Journal, 5 June 1844. In the second edition of Rupp’s book, an editorial note reads, “The Editor [Rupp] of the Pasa Ekklesia sent Joseph Smith a copy of his book in the spring of 1844.” (Winebrenner, History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States, 348.)

    Winebrenner, John, comp. History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States: Containing Authentic Accounts of the Rise and Progress, Faith and Practice, Localities and Statistics, of the Different Persuasions: Written Expressly for the Work, by Fifty-Three Eminent Authors, Belonging to the Respective Denominations. 2nd ed. Harrisburg, PA: John Winebrenner, 1848.

  7. On 26 June 1844, the Nauvoo Neighbor endorsed the work, lauding it as a book “worth its weight in gold.” (“He Pasa Ekklesia,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 16 [26] June 1844, [2].)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  8. JS, Journal, 5 June 1844.

  9. The inquiry letter that JS received from Rupp’s publishers was sent from Pennsylvania on 15 July 1843 and reached Nauvoo by 1 August at the latest. (Letter from Clyde, Williams & Co., between ca. 1 and 15 July 1843.)

  10. Winebrenner, History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States, 348.

    Winebrenner, John, comp. History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States: Containing Authentic Accounts of the Rise and Progress, Faith and Practice, Localities and Statistics, of the Different Persuasions: Written Expressly for the Work, by Fifty-Three Eminent Authors, Belonging to the Respective Denominations. 2nd ed. Harrisburg, PA: John Winebrenner, 1848.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Israel Daniel Rupp, 5 June 1844
History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

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, Illinois, June 5, 1844
Dear : “He pasa Ekklesia” &c, together with your note, has safely reached me: and I feel very thankful for so valueable a treasure. The design, is good: the propriety, the wisdom of letting every sect tell its ◊own story; and the elegant manner in which the work appears, have filled my breast with encomiums of upon it, wishing you God’s speed. Although all is not gold that shines, any more than every religions creed is not sanctioned with the so eternally sure word of prophesy, satisfying, all doubt— with “Thus saith the Lord, yet, by p[r]oving contrarreties, truth is made manifest,” and a wise man can search out the “old paths,” wherein righteous men held communion with Jehovah, and were exalted. <​through & obedeanc [obedience], which is better than, easier than by mens made creeds.​>
I shall be pleased to furnish further information, at a proper time, and render you such furthr service as the work, and vast extension of the <​our​> may demand, for the benefit of truth, virtue, and holy holiness.
Your work will be suitably noticed in our paper, <​for you[r] benefit.​>
With great respect I have the honor to be your Obt Sert
Joseph Smith
Esq)
)
Pa) [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Israel Daniel Rupp, 5 June 1844
ID #
1381
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William W. Phelps

Footnotes

  1. This note has not been located.

  2. The preface to the book stated that “the projector [Rupp] has done his part in giving each sect an opportunity of telling its own story.” (Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, vi.)

    Rupp, Israel Daniel, ed. He Pasa Ekklesia [The Whole Church]: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States, Contains Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines. Written Expressly for the Work by Eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay-Members, of the Respective Denominations. Projected, Compiled and Arranged by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia: J. Y. Humphreys; Harrisburg: Clyde and Williams, 1844.

  3. See 2 Peter 1:19.

  4. The preface to He Pasa Ekklesia stated, “Many opinions are presented which cannot be maintained by ‘Thus saith the Lord.’” (Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, vi.)

    Rupp, Israel Daniel, ed. He Pasa Ekklesia [The Whole Church]: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States, Contains Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines. Written Expressly for the Work by Eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay-Members, of the Respective Denominations. Projected, Compiled and Arranged by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia: J. Y. Humphreys; Harrisburg: Clyde and Williams, 1844.

  5. See “Opinion,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842, 3:901; and Works of Aristotle, 77.

    The Works of Aristotle, the Famous Philosopher. In Four Parts. London: Cocker, Harris, and Finn, [1830?].

  6. See Jeremiah 6:16.

  7. JS’s suspicion of creeds apparently began in his youth when the various religions he encountered as a boy left him uncertain about his salvation. In an October 1843 discourse, he declared, “I cannot beleive in any of the creeds of the diffe[re]nt denominatin [denominations]. because they all have some things in th[e]m I cannot subscribe to though all of them have some thuth [truth].” (JS, “Latter Day Saints,” in Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, 404; Discourse, 15 Oct. 1843.)

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