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Prayer, 23 October 1835

Source Note

JS, , , , , , , , and , Prayer, [, Geauga Co., OH], 23 Oct. 1835. Featured version copied [between 27 and 28 Nov. 1835] in JS, Journal, 1835–1836, pp. 50–51; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1835–1836.

Historical Introduction

On 23 October 1835, the general church presidency and the presidency gathered in , Ohio, and offered this prayer for deliverance from the difficulties associated with financial debt, as well as for the redemption of , protection from mobs, and the means to purchase land in Missouri on which church members could settle. Also in attendance was JS’s brother , likely substituting for , an assistant church president, who was recovering from illness.
Church leaders were saddled with debts they had incurred on behalf of the church since at least early 1833. At the date of this prayer, still owed money for the purchase of land, including the (the land purchased in Kirtland for the ), and for goods purchased on credit to stock his . Efforts to raise funds to pay these debts, to publish the Doctrine and Covenants, and to construct the temple did not relieve the financial difficulties. In a June 1835 letter to his wife, , commented that church leaders in Kirtland “are considerably in debt, and are poor.”
Aside from finances, another concern weighed on church leaders at this time: the fate of Zion in , Missouri. In fall 1835, JS and other church leaders renewed discussions regarding the gathering to and redemption of Zion, likely in preparation for restoring the Saints to their lands in 1836. Accordingly, concern for the fate of the church in takes a prominent place in the 23 October prayer.
The prayer was copied onto pages 50–51 of JS’s 1835–1836 journal. The page has the residue of two red wafers that apparently held a loose sheet with the original draft of the prayer. Warren Parrish presumably attached the sheet to the page as he recorded the prayer into the journal on 27 November 1835.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 10–13 and 23 Oct. 1835.

  2. [2]

    In his role as bishop and in accordance with an early June 1833 revelation, Whitney managed the French farm property and was responsible for the outstanding payments on that mortgage. A $1,500 payment on the property mortgage was due in April 1834 but apparently remained delinquent at the time of this meeting, meaning that the second installment was likely not met in April 1835. In fall 1834, Whitney also owed over $2,000 to New York merchants for purchases made for the Kirtland store in October 1833. (Frederick G. Williams, Kirtland, OH, to “Dear Brethren,” Independence, MO, 10 Oct. 1833, in JS Letterbook 1, p. 58; Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A; Revelation, 4 June 1833; Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, pp. 360–361, 17 June 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; “New York Account Book, Sept. 1834,” Oct. 1833, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU; see also Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834; and Letter to Church Brethren, 15 June 1835.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.

  3. [3]

    Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835.

  4. [4]

    See Revelation, 18 Oct. 1835; see also JS, Journal, 24 Sept. 1835; Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 23 Oct. and 27 Nov. 1835.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Prayer, 23 October 1835 Journal, 1835–1836 History, 1834–1836 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 51

ointed time and that without the shedding of blood; that he will hold our lives precious, and grant that we may live to the common age of man, and never fall into the hands nor power of the mob in nor in any other place; that he will also preserve our posterity, that none of them fall even to the end of time; that he will give us the blessings of the earth sufficient to carry us to Zion, and that we may purchase in that land, even enough to carry on <​and accomplish​> the work unto which he has appointed us; and also that he will assist all others who desire, accordingly to his , to go up and purchase inheritances; and all this easily and without perplexity, and trouble; and finally, that in the end he will save us in his . Amen.
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Prayer, 23 October 1835
ID #
3135
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:23–25
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren Parrish

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    In August 1834, JS declared that 11 September 1836 was the “appointed time for the redemption of Zion.” (Letter to Lyman Wight and Others, 16 Aug. 1834.)

  2. [3]

    See 2 Kings 1:13–14.

  3. [4]

    For more on lands of inheritance, see Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:5–7]; Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:44]; and Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:11].

  4. [5]

    See Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:70–77, 87].

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