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Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Missouri, 16 December 1838, as Recorded in “General” Record Book

Source Note

JS, Letter,
Liberty

Located in western Missouri, thirteen miles north of Independence. Settled 1820. Clay Co. seat, 1822. Incorporated as town, May 1829. Following expulsion from Jackson Co., 1833, many Latter-day Saints found refuge in Clay Co., with church leaders and other...

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, Clay Co., MO, to the church in
Caldwell County

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

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, MO, 16 Dec. 1838. Version copied [between 16 Dec. 1838 and ca. 30 Oct. 1839] in “General” Record Book, 1838, pp. 101–108; handwriting of
James Mulholland

1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....

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; CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Missouri, 16 Dec. 1838.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Missouri, 16 December 1838

Page 107

iniquities the Devil gained great advantage, would bring great sorrow and trouble on our heads, and in fine we have waded through an ocean of tribulation and mean abuse, practised upon us by the illbred and the ignorant, such as
Hinkle

13 Nov. 1801–Nov. 1861. Merchant, physician, publisher, minister, farmer. Born in Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Son of Michael Hinkle and Nancy Higgins. Married first Sarah Ann Starkey. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832. Moved to ...

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,
Corrill

17 Sept. 1794–26 Sept. 1842. Surveyor, politician, author. Born at Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Married Margaret Lyndiff, ca. 1830. Lived at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10 Jan. 1831,...

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,
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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,
Avard

23 Oct. 1800–15 Apr. 1869. Physician. Born at St. Peter, Isle of Guernsey, Channel Islands, Great Britain. Migrated to U.S., by 1830. Married Eliza, a native of Virginia. Located at Washington DC, 1830. Moved to Virginia, by 1831. Moved to Freedom, Beaver...

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,
Reed Peck

1814–23 Aug. 1894. Millwright, farmer. Born in Bainbridge Township, Chenango Co., New York. Son of Hezekiah Peck and Martha Long. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1830. Moved from New York to Ohio and then to Kaw Township, Jackson...

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[John] Cleminson

28 Dec. 1798–28 Nov. 1879. Farmer, teacher, cabinet maker, carpenter, clerk. Born at Lancaster, Lancashire, England. Migrated to St. John’s, New Brunswick (later in Canada), 1812. Moved to Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Moved to Lexington, Lillard Co...

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and various others who are so very ignorant that they cannot appear respectable in any decent and civilized society, and whose eyes are full of adultery and cannot cease from sin. Such characters as
[William E.] M‘Lellin

18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

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,
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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,
D, Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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,
O[liver] 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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&
Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...

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who are too mean to mention and we had like to have forgotten.
[Thomas B.] Marsh

1 Nov. 1800–Jan. 1866. Farmer, hotel worker, waiter, horse groom, grocer, type foundry worker, teacher. Born at Acton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Marsh and Molly Law. Married first Elizabeth Godkin, 1 Nov. 1820, at New York City. Moved to ...

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and
[Orson] Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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whose hearts are full of corruption, whose cloak of hypocracy was not sufficient to shield them or to bear them up in the hour of trouble, who after having escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ became again entangled and overcome, their latter end is worse than the beginning. But it has happened <​unto them​> according to the words of the Saviour, “The dog has returned to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.[”] Again if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but rather a certain fearful looking of judgement and fiery indignation to come which shall devour these adversaries. For he who despied Moses’ Law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses, of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall we he be thought worthy who hath sold his brother and denied the
new and everlasting covenant

Generally referred to the “fulness of the gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

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by which he was sanctified calling it an unholy thing, and doing despite the unto the spirit of grace.
And again we say unto you, inasmuch as there be virtue in us, and the holy
priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

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hath been conferred upon us, and the
keys

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

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of the kingdom have not been taken from us. For verily thus saith the Lord! “Fear not, but be of good cheer. For the keys of which I gave unto you are yet with you”! Therefore we say unto you, Dear Brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we deliver these Characters unto the buffetings of Satan, untill the day of redemption, that they may be dealt with according to their works, and from henceforth their works shall be made manifest.
And now Dear and Wellbeloved Brethren And when we say Brethren, we mean those who have continued faithful in Christ; Men, Women and Children, we feel to exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus, to be strong in the faith of the
new and

Generally referred to the “fulness of the gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

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[p. 107]
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Page 107

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Missouri, 16 December 1838, as Recorded in “General” Record Book
ID #
421
Total Pages
8
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

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