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Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843

Source Note

JS, 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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, to
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...

View Full Bio
,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 27 Mar. 1843; handwriting of
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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; signature of JS by
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...

View Full Bio
; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, dockets, and use marks.
Bifolium measuring 13 × 8½ inches (33 × 22 cm). After the letter was inscribed, it was trifolded twice in letter style and addressed. The letter was later refolded for filing. It has undergone conservation.
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...

View Full Bio
apparently returned this letter to JS’s office, likely soon after he received it. The letter was docketed twice by
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...

View Full Bio
, who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854.
1

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

After the letter was refolded for filing, a new docket was added by
Leo Hawkins

19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...

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, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859.
2

“Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

About the same time, Hawkins copied the missive into the manuscript history of the church, and he presumably added use marks at this time.
3

JS History, vol. D-1, 1503; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

The letter was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
4

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


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
5

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


The letter’s early dockets, its inclusion in the manuscript history, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  3. [3]

    JS History, vol. D-1, 1503; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

  4. [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. [5]

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

Historical Introduction

On 27 March 1843 in
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....

More Info
, Illinois, JS dictated a letter for
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...

View Full Bio
articulating past grievances between the two men and stating his intention, barring some kind of reconciliation, to have Rigdon disfellowshipped from 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...

View Glossary
at its upcoming April
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...

View Glossary
. Rigdon joined the church in 1830, the year it was founded, and he was one of JS’s closest advisers and a counselor in the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
for the next decade. In the early 1840s, however, Rigdon’s health declined, limiting his ability to function as JS’s counselor.
1

Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.


Moreover, in summer 1842, JS’s relationship with Rigdon was substantially damaged by a dispute between JS and the Rigdon family, stemming from allegations that JS had asked Rigdon’s nineteen-year-old daughter,
Nancy

8 Dec. 1822–1 Nov. 1887. Born in Pittsburgh. Daughter of Sidney Rigdon and Phebe Brooks. Moved to Bainbridge, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1826. Moved to Mentor, Geauga Co., 1827. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, likely ca. Nov. 1830, in Ohio...

View Full Bio
, to be
sealed

To confirm or solemnize. In the early 1830s, revelations often adopted biblical usage of the term seal; for example, “sealed up the testimony” referred to proselytizing and testifying of the gospel as a warning of the approaching end time. JS explained in...

View Glossary
to him as a plural wife. If such a proposal took place, she evidently refused it.
2

JS, Journal, 12–13 May and 28–29 June 1842; John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 2 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 15 July 1842, [2]. Orson Hyde later claimed that Nancy invented the proposal to discredit JS after he reproved her for immoral behavior. (Speech of Elder Orson Hyde, 27–28.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

Speech of Elder Orson Hyde, Delivered before the High Priest’s Quorum in Nauvoo, April 27th, 1845, upon the Course and Conduct of Mr. Sidney Rigdon, and upon the Merits of His Claims to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1845. Copy at CHL.

The friction between the two men was exacerbated when
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

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, who had been excommunicated a few months earlier, publicized the alleged proposal and published a letter that JS purportedly sent to Nancy, which seemed to contain a justification for plural marriage.
3

Appendix: Letter to Nancy Rigdon, ca. Mid-Apr. 1842.


In August 1842, in a gesture of reconciliation, Sidney Rigdon publicly reaffirmed his belief in JS’s prophetic calling.
4

JS, Journal, 21 Aug. 1842; see also Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 1 July 1842.


However, through summer and fall 1842, rumors persisted that
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...

View Full Bio
was secretly collaborating with
Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
to undermine JS and the church.
5

See Sidney Rigdon, Notice, Wasp, 23 July 1842, [3]; and Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 21 Sept. 1842, Letter to the Editor, Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

JS accused Rigdon, who was
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....

More Info
postmaster, of tampering with JS’s mail at Bennett’s behest.
6

Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 Sept. 1842; Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 12 Sept. 1842, Emma Smith, Correspondence, CHL; Historical Introduction to Letter to George W. Robinson, 6 Nov. 1842; Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 26 Nov. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, Emma. Correspondence, 1842 and 1844. CHL.

In November 1842, JS and other Nauvoo citizens sent a petition—supported by affidavits that described irregularities in the post office—requesting that the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
postmaster general remove Rigdon and install JS in the position.
7

JS, Journal, 8 Nov. 1842; Letter to Richard M. Young, 9 Feb. 1843.


Rigdon denied any connection with Bennett and dismissed the mail-tampering allegations as unfounded.
8

Sidney Rigdon, Notice, Wasp, 23 July 1842, [3]; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 21 Sept. 1842, Letter to the Editor, Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2]; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, to Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 12 Sept. 1842, Emma Smith, Correspondence, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

Smith, Emma. Correspondence, 1842 and 1844. CHL.

JS’s suspicions regarding
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...

View Full Bio
seemed to have been confirmed in mid-January 1843, when
Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
sent a letter to Rigdon outlining a plan to have JS extradited to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
to stand trial for crimes allegedly committed during the 1838 conflict. Bennett instructed Rigdon to share the letter with former
apostle

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
, who had become disaffected and was excommunicated in summer 1842 amid allegations that JS had asked Pratt’s wife,
Sarah Marinda Bates Pratt

5 Feb. 1817–25 Dec. 1888. Seamstress. Born in Henderson, Jefferson Co., New York. Daughter of Cyrus Bates and Lydia Harrington. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Orson Pratt, 18 June 1835, near Sackets Harbor, Jefferson Co. Married...

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, to be sealed to JS as a plural wife. JS denied those allegations.
9

John C. Bennett, Springfield, IL, to Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Jan. [1843], Sidney Rigdon, Collection, CHL; Letter to Justin Butterfield, 16 Jan. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 10 Aug.–18 Sept. 1842; see also Minutes, 22 July 1842; and Discourse, 29 Aug. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Rigdon, Sidney. Collection, 1831–1858. CHL. MS 713.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Rigdon followed Bennett’s instructions and delivered the letter to Orson Pratt. By mid-January 1843, however, Pratt was seeking rebaptism, and he shared Bennett’s missive with JS.
10

Minutes, 20 Jan. 1843; see also JS, Journal, 20 Jan. 1843.


JS’s journal records that “Mr Rigdon did not want to have it known that he had any hand in shewing the letter”; apparently Rigdon’s reluctance to notify JS about the letter confirmed JS’s suspicion that Rigdon was conspiring with Bennett.
11

JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.


JS and Rigdon, however, met on 11 February 1843 and reconciled.
12

JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843.


By March 1843, JS was again suspicious of
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...

View Full Bio
’s possible cooperation with
Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
’s efforts to have JS extradited. On 17 March, JS heard that Bennett’s efforts had resulted in new indictments in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
against JS and others.
13

JS, Journal, 17 Mar. 1843.


This report may have prompted new questions regarding Rigdon’s involvement. JS and Rigdon evidently met at the Rigdon home on 26 March.
14

Rigdon’s 27 March 1843 response to JS implied that JS was with Rigdon on 26 March. (Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.)


The specific content of their discussion is not known, but JS apparently remained deeply concerned. The following morning, JS dictated a letter for Rigdon, with
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...

View Full Bio
acting as scribe. Expressing his “sensations of deep regret and poignant grief,” JS reviewed his past wariness toward Rigdon in regard to Bennett and the post office. JS also stated his intention to “withdraw fellowship” and “bring him [Rigdon] before conference” on 6 April, “unless satisfa[c]tion was made.”
15

JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1843.


The letter was addressed to
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...

View Full Bio
at the post office, which was in Rigdon’s home. JS sent the letter via
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...

View Full Bio
, apparently before 11:00 a.m.
16

JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1843.


Rigdon responded to JS’s letter the same day, denying any complicity with
Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
.
17

Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 12–13 May and 28–29 June 1842; John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 2 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 15 July 1842, [2]. Orson Hyde later claimed that Nancy invented the proposal to discredit JS after he reproved her for immoral behavior. (Speech of Elder Orson Hyde, 27–28.)

    Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

    Speech of Elder Orson Hyde, Delivered before the High Priest’s Quorum in Nauvoo, April 27th, 1845, upon the Course and Conduct of Mr. Sidney Rigdon, and upon the Merits of His Claims to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1845. Copy at CHL.

  3. [3]

    Appendix: Letter to Nancy Rigdon, ca. Mid-Apr. 1842.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 21 Aug. 1842; see also Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 1 July 1842.

  5. [5]

    See Sidney Rigdon, Notice, Wasp, 23 July 1842, [3]; and Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 21 Sept. 1842, Letter to the Editor, Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2].

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

  6. [6]

    Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 Sept. 1842; Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 12 Sept. 1842, Emma Smith, Correspondence, CHL; Historical Introduction to Letter to George W. Robinson, 6 Nov. 1842; Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 26 Nov. 1842.

    Smith, Emma. Correspondence, 1842 and 1844. CHL.

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, 8 Nov. 1842; Letter to Richard M. Young, 9 Feb. 1843.

  8. [8]

    Sidney Rigdon, Notice, Wasp, 23 July 1842, [3]; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 21 Sept. 1842, Letter to the Editor, Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2]; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, to Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 12 Sept. 1842, Emma Smith, Correspondence, CHL.

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

    Smith, Emma. Correspondence, 1842 and 1844. CHL.

  9. [9]

    John C. Bennett, Springfield, IL, to Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Jan. [1843], Sidney Rigdon, Collection, CHL; Letter to Justin Butterfield, 16 Jan. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 10 Aug.–18 Sept. 1842; see also Minutes, 22 July 1842; and Discourse, 29 Aug. 1842.

    Rigdon, Sidney. Collection, 1831–1858. CHL. MS 713.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  10. [10]

    Minutes, 20 Jan. 1843; see also JS, Journal, 20 Jan. 1843.

  11. [11]

    JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.

  12. [12]

    JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843.

  13. [13]

    JS, Journal, 17 Mar. 1843.

  14. [14]

    Rigdon’s 27 March 1843 response to JS implied that JS was with Rigdon on 26 March. (Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.)

  15. [15]

    JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1843.

  16. [16]

    JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1843.

  17. [17]

    Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

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....

More Info
March 27, 1843
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...

View Full Bio
Esqr.
Dear Sir,
It is with sensations of deep regret and poignant grief that I sit down to dictate a few lines to you, this morning, to let you know what my feelings in are in relation to your-self, as it is against my principles to act the part of a hypocrite, or to dissemble in any wise whatever, with any man. I have tried for a long time to smother my feelings, and not let you know, that I thought, that you were secretly and underhandedly, doing all you could, to take the advantage and injure me: but, whether my feelings are right or wrong, remains for Eternity to reveal. I cannot any longer forbear throwing of[f] the mask, and let you know of the secret wranglings of my heart; that you may not be deceivd, in relation to them, and <​that you may​> be prepared, Sir, to take whatever cou[r]se you see proper in the premises. I am, Sir, honest, when I say that I believe, I <​am​> laboring under the fullest conviction that you are actually practicing deception and wickedness again[s]t me, and the
chu[r]ch of Jesus

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...

View Glossary
Chri[s]t of Latter Day Saints

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...

View Glossary
. and that [p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843
ID #
1021
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:112–116
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

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