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Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 12 February 1833

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Geauga Co., OH, to , , Monroe Co., NY, 12 Feb. 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 12 Feb. 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 27–28; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.

Historical Introduction

JS wrote this missive to , editor of the American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer, in response to Saxton’s decision to publish in his paper only a portion of a letter JS had written to him on 4 January 1833. The extract of the 4 January letter, which Saxton published in the 2 February 1833 issue of the American Revivalist, bemoaned the wickedness of nations, warned of future calamities, and called people to repentance and in accordance with the revelations and doctrines of the .
Less than six months earlier, in September 1832, became editor of an evangelical weekly newspaper titled the Rochester Observer. He changed its name to the American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer and stated in its nameplate that the paper was “Dedicated to the Interests of Zion Generally, and Especially to Revivals of Religion.” Saxton urged “his brethren in the ministry and other correspondents to contribute liberally” to his paper and proclaimed, “We cheerfully open our columns to the free discussion and critical investigation of the doctrines and duties of Christianity.” Saxton devoted most of his paper to reports and discussions of revivals and activities of various evangelical reform movements. Pieces concerning religious doctrine, like JS’s 4 January letter, rarely appeared, and Saxton published few columns that positively described the beliefs of a religious group outside of mainstream Protestantism.
’s paper first mentioned the Church of Christ in the 19 January 1833 issue, which commented on an earlier column from the Cincinnati Journal that depicted the growth of the religion in the area. The Journal labeled the Church of Christ as a religion “of mysteries and lying wonders” and offered to combat its “dark and marvellous” teachings as a service to its readers. Using that article as an entry point for his own comments, Saxton noted that Mormon converts were “almost without exception, from among the ignorant and fanatical.” JS’s 4 January letter, one of his first intended for the broader public, outlined the beliefs of the Church of Christ. He wrote that he considered the contents of his letter so important that he was willing to expose his own weaknesses as a writer to “step forth into the field to tell you what the Lord is doing and what you must do to enjoy the smiles of your saviour in these last day[s].” Obeying a charge given in an earlier revelation to warn all nations of forthcoming calamities, JS decried the wickedness that he observed. He proceeded to explain the core principles of the Church of Christ so that Saxton and his readers might know and “enjoy the holy spirit of God to a fulness, and escape the Judgments of God which are almost ready to burst upon the nations of the earth.” JS admonished the readers of his letter to “repent of all your sins and be baptized in water for the remission of them,” in accordance with the doctrine of the Church of Christ.
Perhaps to demonstrate the peculiarities of the Church of Christ and its founder, however, published only the two concluding paragraphs of the letter, which described the Book of Mormon as “a reccord of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians” and mentioned “that the Land of America is a promised land unto them.” The final paragraph of JS’s letter also briefly reiterated the contents of a revelation dated 25 December 1832, which foretold of war in America: “not many years shall pass away before the shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the hystory of our nation,” and “pestalence hail famine and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of this Land.” JS’s letter closed by encouraging all to repent and “imbrace the everlasting Covenant.” Saxton noted that he did not find all the content of JS’s letter beneficial for his readers, though he desired them to learn “something of the author’s views.” Saxton further suggested that he did not publish the entirety of JS’s letter, though it was written with “much good feeling and urbanity,” because of a lack of space and its inconsistencies with “our own views of truth.”
After JS received the 2 February issue of the American Revivalist, he saw that some of what he considered to be the letter’s most important doctrinal material, related to God’s plan to break through the “dark atmosphere of sectarian wickedness,” had been omitted. The 12 February letter featured here reveals JS’s frustration with ’s decision not to publish his entire message. JS’s stern warning to the editor, however, did not elicit a response, nor did it prompt Saxton to print the entire 4 January letter. The American Revivalist made no further mention of JS or his faith in any other edition through the end of its publication run in July 1833.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Mormonism,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2]; Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  2. [2]

    “American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 29 Sept. 1832, [1].

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  3. [3]

    “Mormonism in Cincinnati, Ohio,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 19 Jan. 1833, [1]. The original article from the Cincinnati Journal, which Saxton indicated was published on 28 December 1832, has not been located.

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  4. [4]

    Other letters or messages from JS may have appeared in newspapers prior to the 2 February 1833 issue of the American Revivalist, but none are extant or known of with the exception of an extract from a November 1832 letter from JS to William W. Phelps that appeared in the January 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star. That letter, however, was not attributed to JS. (Letter to William W. Phelps, 27 Nov. 1832; “Let Every Man Learn His Duty,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [5].)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  5. [5]

    Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833; see also Letter to Emma Smith, 6 June 1832.

  6. [6]

    See Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:81–82].

  7. [7]

    Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.

  8. [8]

    Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833; see also “Mormonism,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2]. The concept of the United States as the promised land for the American Indians would have seemed strange to other Americans who at this time were removing native peoples from their homelands onto reservations or into unorganized territory. The church-run newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star made note of Indian removal and Indian treaties and described those events as fulfilling in part the prophecy found in the Book of Mormon that “the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded . . . the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto they which are of the house of Israel. Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance.” (“Indian Treaty,” Daily National Intelligencer [Washington DC], 3 Aug. 1831, [3]; “Another Indian Treaty,” Globe [Washington DC], 19 Sept. 1831, [2]; “Indian Treaty,” United States Telegraph [Washington DC], 23 Oct. 1832, [3]; “Indian Treaties,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [6]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 57 [1 Nephi 22:7, 11–12].)

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

    Daily National Intelligencer. Washington DC. 1800–1869.

    Globe. Washington DC. 1831–1845.

    United States Telegraph. Washington DC. 1826–1837.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  9. [9]

    See Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87].

  10. [10]

    Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.

  11. [11]

    “Mormonism,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 2 Feb. 1833, [2].

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  12. [12]

    Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.

  13. [13]

    Under the title American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer, the paper ran from 29 September 1832 through 13 July 1833.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 12 February 1833 Letterbook 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 28

of God, and I am quite anxious to have it all laid before the public for it is of importance to them, But I have no clame upon you, neither do I wish to urge you beyond that which is reasonable to do it. I have only to appeal to your extended geneorsity to all religious societies that claim that Christ has come in the flesh and also tell you what will be the consequen[c]es of a neglect to publish it— some parts of the letter were very severe upon the wickedness of sectarianism— I acknowledge and the truth, remember is hard and severe against all iniquity and wickedness, but this is no reason why it should not be published but the very reason why it should, It lays the axe at the root of the tree and I long to see many of the sturdy oaks which I have long cumbred the ground fall prostrate. I now say unto you that if you wish to clear your garments from the blood of you[r] readers I exhort you to publish that letter entire but if not the sin be upon your head—
Accept sir the good wishes and tender regard of your unworthy servant—
Joseph Smith Jr
12th Feby. 1833 [p. 28]
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Page 28

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 12 February 1833
ID #
142
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:6–10
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    A recent revelation commanded JS to “testify, and to warn the people.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:81].)

  2. [3]

    JS’s 4 January letter suggests that his anxiety and sense of urgency in warning readers of calamities and encouraging them to repent stemmed from the “distruction to the eye of the spiritual beholder” that “seemes to be writen by the finger of an invisable hand in Large capitals upon almost evry thing we behold.” He thus felt emboldened to “step forth into the field” to help others gain eternal salvation. (Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.)

  3. [4]

    See “Our Own Affairs,” American Revivalist, and Rochester (NY) Observer, 27 Oct. 1832, [3].

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  4. [5]

    The unpublished segment of JS’s first letter spoke about apostasy, unbelief, and wickedness that had caused God to “withdraw his holy spirit” from the earth. His letter also stated, however, that with the restoration of the Church of Christ, “the light of the latter day glory begins to break forth through the dark atmosphere of sectarian wickedness.” (Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833.)

  5. [6]

    See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 38–39 [1 Nephi 16:2–3].

  6. [7]

    Saxton may have felt justified in omitting these portions of JS’s letter because of Saxton’s nominal commitment to avoid religious controversy. In the September 1832 prospectus for his newly renamed paper, Saxton wrote: “In seeking however, to promote a pacific spirit and the interchange of christian kindness more generally, it is not our intention to temporize in concerns of eternal moment, or in any way to sacrifice the self-denying independent principles of truth to any of those selfish purposes which might be secured in humouring popular prejudice. We hope to pursue that elevated—unwavering course dictated by the word of God, and the pressing demands of a world lying in wickedness.” This message was also printed as the opening column in each subsequent issue. (“American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer,” American Revivalist, and Rochester [NY] Observer, 29 Sept. 1832, [1].)

    American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer. Rochester, NY. 1827–1833.

  7. [8]

    See Luke 3:9; Matthew 3:10; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 237 [Alma 5:52].

  8. [9]

    The concept of clearing, or cleaning, one’s garments from the blood of others appeared in a recent revelation that partly informed JS’s 4 January 1833 letter and his response here. (See Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:84–85]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 565 [Ether 12:37–38].)

  9. [10]

    See Acts 18:6; Ezekiel 33:4; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 124 [Jacob 1:19].

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