Ezra Booth Letters (7)

Mormon History 1830-1844

Ezra Booth Letters (7)

Edward Partridge an honest man—but serving at Joseph's pleasure, he cannot last long. He was commanded to obtain 1,000 acres for the church in Thompson, without going into debt, which was impossible §. September 20, 1831 letter to Edward, imploring him to leave the church §. Recounts their trip to Missouri—Joseph's false prophecy of a large church built up there by Oliver Cowdery §, his hot temper §, arrogance, use of revelations to silence critics §, Sidney's exaggerations §.

		Letter 7	Mormonism unvailed, 200–210. Ohio Star (differs only slightly from [SHOWREF=mu). Source Undated. Published in the Ohio Star, Ravenna, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1831. Calling. ¶ D&C 41:9.
Bishop [Partridge] over secular affairs Gives deeds to members	¶	The following, with but a little variation, is the copy of a letter to the Bishop of the Mormonite church, who by commandment, has received his station, and now resides in Missouri. His business is to superintend the secular concerns of the church. He holds a deed to the lands, and the members receive a writing from him, signifying, that they are to possess the land as their own, so long as they are obedient to Smith's commandments.
Serves at Joseph's pleasure Honest		The Bishop is, in reality, the Vicegerant of Smith, and those in coalition with him; and holds his office during their will and pleasure. I think him to be an honest man as yet, but there is a point beyond which he cannot go, unless he prostrates his honor in the dust, and prostitutes his conscience to the vilest of purposes.
Frequently staggered, ready to fall Church law says no debt But he was commanded to buy 1,000 acres		He has frequently staggered [201] and been ready to fall. The conference last year, gave him a tremendous shock, from which with difficulty he recovered. The law of the church enjoins, that no debt with the world shall be contracted. But a thousand acres of land in the town of Thompson could be purchased for one half its value, and he was commanded to secure it; and in order to do it, he was under the necessity to contract a debt to the world. He hesitated, but the command was repeated, "you must secure the land."	The land was Leman Copley's 759-acre farm 26 miles northeast of Kirtland. PWJS, 666. Joseph Knight and Ezra Thayer refer to it as a thousand acres. Joseph Knight recollection, 38–39. no debt with the world: ¶ D&C 42:1–72. This passage was omitted for the 1835 D&C.
Ordained to gift of discerning spirits External discovery pattern shook faith		He was one of the number who was ordained to the gift of discerning spirits; and in a commandment, a pattern was given by which the good spirit might be distinguished from the bad, which rendered the gift of supernatural discernment useless: for the division was to be made from external appearances, and not from any thing discovered internally. He saw the impropriety, and it shook his faith.
Will have to be replaced by New Yorker		I am suspicious the time is not far distant, when by commandment, this office will be bestowed upon a more trusty and confidential person; perhaps Smith's brother or father, or some one who has been disciplined in the State of New York. Then it will become his business to make over the whole property, by deed of conveyance, to the person appointed by the commandment to supercede him.
"Voice of the church" Rebellious hung		The Mormonites will tell you, that business of this nature is done by the voice of the church. It is like this: a sovereign issues his decrees, and then says to his subjects, hold up your right hands, in favor of my decrees being carried into effect. Should any refuse, they are sure to be hung for rebellion.
Ezra's letter to Edward Partridge	¶	SEPTEMBER 20, 1831.
Introduction Kirtland September 1	¶	Mr. Partridge: Sir—From a sense of duty, I take up my pen, to communicate to you the present impressions of my mind, which originated from facts, which occurred during my stay there, and while returning home. I arrived safely at my home, [203] on the 1st instant, after having passed through a variety of scenes, some of which, I design to disclose to you in this letter.	Ezra did not attendthe conference held on the day he reached in Kirtland. Minutes of September 1, 1831 Edward Partridge
Surprise—excommunicated System grossly inconsistent with best human interests		You will probably be surprised, when you learn, that I am no longer a member of the Mormonite church.—The circumstances which led to this are numerous, and of such a character, that I should have been compelled to sacrifice every principle of honesty, or cease to support a system, which I conceive to be grossly inconsistent, and in opposition to the best interests of human society.
Joseph's failed vision of large church in Missouri		The first thing that materially affected my mind, so as to weaken my confidence, was the falsehood of Joseph's vision. You know perfectly well, that Joseph had, or said he had, a vision, or revelation, in which it was made known to him by the spirit, that Oliver had raised up a large church in Missouri. This was so confidently believed, previous to our leaving Ohio, that while calculating the number of the church, several hundred were added, supposed to be in Missouri. The great church was found to consist of three or four families.	Sidney acknowledged that the vision was "a bad thing." ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (1–3)
The night in the school house		The night we took lodgings in the school house, and the morning which succeeded it, presented circumstances which I had not anticipated.
Edward intimates Joseph's choice of land inferior Joseph furious		When you intimated to Joseph that the land which he and Oliver had selected, was inferior in point of quality to other lands adjoining, had you seen the same spirit manifested in me, which you saw in him, would you not have concluded me to be under the influence of violent passions, bordering on madness, rather than the meek and gentle spirit which the Gospel inculcates?
Edward points out revelation failed		When you complained that he had abused you, you observed to him, "I wish you not to tell us any more, that you know these by the spirit when you do not; you told us, that Oliver had raised up a large church here, and there is no such thing;" he replied, "I see it, and it wsuited to an impostor, than to a true Prophet of the Lord. [203] And from that time I resolved to weigh every circumstance; and I can assure you thatill be so."	Oliver Cowdery
Joseph an impostor?		This appeared to me, to be a shift, better no one that has a bearing on the subject, escaped my notice.
Joseph reprimands Edward		But the spirit considered your insolence to Joseph too intolerable to be passed over unnoticed. Hence the commandment: "If he repent not of his sins, which is unbelief and blindness of heart, let him take heed lest he fall. Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again." —	¶ D&C 58:15–16
Must submit to Joseph's abuse		You are to be careful, to submit to all the abuse which Joseph sees fit to pour upon you; and to swallow, passively, all the spurious visions, and false prophecies, that he in his clemency thinks proper to bestow upon you, lest you fall from your Bishoprick, never to regain it.
Joseph: too jovial, quick to anger		These men under whose influence you act, were entire strangers to you until you embraced this new system of faith. Now, permit me to inquire, have you not frequently observed in Joseph, a want of that sobriety, prudence and stability, which are some of the most prominent traits in the christian character? Have you not often discovered in him, a spirit of lightness and levity, a temper easily irritated, and an habitual proneness to jesting and joking?
Glib prophecies		Have you not often proven to your satisfaction that he says he knows things to be so by the spirit, when they are not so? You most certainly have.
Revelations his own product		Have you not reason to believe, or at least to suspect, that the revelations which come from him, are something short of infallible, and instead of being the production of divine wisdom, emanate from his own weak mind?
Sidney, others say he is the prophet no matter		Some suppose his weakness, nay, his wickedness, can form no reasonable objection to his revelations; and "were he to get another man's wife, and seek to kill her husband, it could be no reason why we should not believe revelations through him, for David did the same." So Sidney asserted, and many others concurred with him in sentiment.	David Whitmer Sidney Rigdon
Revelation could not be followed		The commandment we received to purchase, or make a water [204] craft, directed us to proceed down the river in it as far as St. Louis, and from thence, with the exception of Joseph and his two scribes, we were to proceed on our journey home two by two.	¶ D&C 60:5–6. Members of the party that left for Kirtland on August 9: Joseph Smith Jr. Samuel H. Smith Sidney Rigdon Frederick G. Williams Oliver Cowdery Reynolds Cahoon Sidney Gilbert W. W. Phelps Joseph Coe Ezra Booth Peter Whitmer Jr. Papers, 361n5.
Forced to separate		The means of conveyance being procured, we embarked for St. Louis, but unpropitious events rolled on, superceded the commandment, frustrated our plans, and we had separated before we had accomplished one half of the voyage.
Discord		The cause which produced this disastrous result, was a spirit of animosity and discord, which made its appearance on board, the morning after we left Independence.
Oliver threatens "accident"		The conduct of the Elders became very displeasing to Oliver, who, in the greatness of his power, uttered this malediction: "as the Lord God liveth, if you do not behave better, some accident will befall you." The manner in which this was handed out, evinced it to be the ebullition of a spirit, similar to that which influenced Joseph in the school-house.
Joseph takes charge of canoe, irritating crew Nearly upset		No accident, however, befel them, until Joseph, in the afternoon of the third day, assumed the direction of affairs on board that canoe, which, with other matters of difference, together with Oliver's curse, increased the irritation of the crew, who, in time of danger, refused to exert their physical powers, in consequence of which they ran foul of a sawyer, and were in danger of upsetting.	sawyer: uprooted tree held fast by one end in a river.
Decide to land		This was sufficient to flutter the timid spirit of the Prophet and his scribe, who had accompanied him on board of that canoe, and like the sea-tossed mariner, when threatened with a watery grave, they unanimously desired to set their feet once more upon something more firm than a liquid surface; therefore, by the persuasion of Joseph, we landed before sunset, to pass the night upon the bank of the river.
Reconciliation attempt Joseph and Oliver imperious Others reprimand Joseph and Sidney for cowardice		Preparations were made to spend the night as comfortably as existing circumstances would admit, and then an attempt was made, to effect a reconciliation between the contending parties. The business [205] of settlement elicited much conversation, and excited considerable feeling on both sides. Oliver's denunciation was brought into view; his conduct and equipage were compared to "a fop of a sportsman;" he and Joseph were represented as highly imperious and quite dictatorial; and Joseph and Sidney were reprimanded for their excessive cowardice.
Joseph's threats not taken seriously		Joseph seemed inclined to arm himself, according to his usual custom, in case of opposition, with the judgments of God, for the purpose of pouring them, like a thunder bolt upon the rebellious elders; but one or two retorted, "none of your threats:" which completely disarmed him, and he reserved his judgment for a more suitable occasion.
Discord		Finding myself but little interested in the settlement, believing the principles of discord too deeply rooted to be easily eradicated, I laid myself down upon the ground, and in silence contemplated awhile the events of the evening, as they passed before me.
These are the Lord's men?		These are the men to whom the Lord has intrusted the mysteries, and the keys of his kingdom; whom he has authorized to bind or loose on earth, and their decision shall be ratified in Heaven.
		These are the men sent forth, to promulgate a new revelation, and to usher in a new dispensation — at whose presence the "Heavens are to shake, the hills tremble, the mountains quake, and the earth open and swallow up their enemies." —
Only approved church?		These are the leaders of the church, and the only church on earth the Lord beholds with approbation.
Confusion and discord		Surely, I never witnessed so much confusion and discord, among the Elders of any other church; nevertheless they are all doomed to be a perpetual curse; except they receive the doctrines and precepts which Mormonism inculcates, and place themselves under the tuition of men, more ignorant and unholy than themselves.
Reconciliation late night		In the midst of meditations like these, I sunk into the arms of sleep, but was awakened at a late hour, to witness and consent to a reconciliation [206] between the parties.
Joseph doesn't want any more of river		The next morning Joseph manifested an aversion to risk his person any more upon the rough and angry current of the Missouri, and, in fact, upon any other river; and he again had recourse to his usual method, of freeing himself from the embarrassments of a former commandment, by obtaining another in opposition to it.	former commandment: ¶ D&C 60:5–6
Joseph: curse on waters Missouri the river of Destruction		A new commandment was issued, in which a great curse was pronounced against the waters: navigating them was to be attended with extreme danger; and all the saints, in general, were prohibited in journeying upon them, to the promised land. From this circumstance, the Missouri river was named the river of Destruction.	¶ D&C 61:4–6, 13–19, 23
We walk while Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver must hurry		It was decreed that we should proceed on our journey by land, and preach by the way as we passed along. Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver were to press their way forward with all possible speed, and to preach only in Cincinnati; and there they were to lift up their voices, and proclaim against the whole of that wicked city.	¶ D&C 61:30–31
Cost irrelevant		The method by which Joseph and Co. designed to proceed home, it was discovered, would be very expensive. "The Lord don't care how much money it takes to get us home," said Sidney.
Ask for donations		Not satisfied with the money they received from the bishop, they used their best endeavors to exact money from others, who had but little, compared with what they had; telling them, in substance "You can beg your passage on foot, but as we are to travel in the stage we must have money."	¶ D&C 60:10.
Transportation for Joseph, Sidney, Oliver $300	¶	You will find, sir, that the expense of these three men was one hundred dollars more than three of our company expended, while on our journey home; and, for the sake of truth and honesty, let these men never again open their mouths, to insult the common sense of mankind, by contending for equality, and the community of goods in society, until there is a thorough alteration in their method of proceeding.
At Cincinnati they had to pawn trunk Didn't preach Excuses		It seems, however, they had drained their pockets, when they arrived at Cincinnati, [207] for there they were under the necessity of pawning their trunk, in order to continue their journey home. Here they violated the commandment, by not preaching; and when an inquiry was made respecting the cause of that neglect, at one time they said they could get no house to preach in; at another time they stated that they could have had the court-house, had they stayed a day or two longer, but the Lord made it known to them that they should go on; and other similar excuses, involving like contradictions.
Twist commandments, get another any time needed		Thus they turn and twist the commandments to suit their whims, and they violate them when they please with perfect impunity. They can any time obtain a commandment suited to their desires, and as their desires fluctuate and become reversed, they get a new one to supercede the other, and hence the contradictions which abound in this species of revelation.
Ezra and 3 others travel by canoe uneventfully		The next day after, we were cast upon the shore, and had commenced our journey by land, myself and three others went on board of a canoe, and recommenced our voyage down the river. From this time a constant gale of prosperity wafted us forward, and not an event transpired, but what tended to our advancement, until we arrived at our much desired homes.
Steamboat from St Louis		At St. Louis, we took passage in a steam-boat, and came to Wellsville; and from thence in the stage home. We travelled afloat eight hundred miles farther than the three who took their passage in the stage, and arrived at our homes but a few days later.—
Didn't preach Disdain for revelation		It is true, we violated the commandment by not preaching by the way, and so did they by not preaching at Cincinnati. But it seems that none of us considered the commandment worthy of much notice.
Joseph cowardly		In this voyage upon the waters, we demonstrated that the great dangers existed only in imagination, and the commandment to be the offspring of a pusillanimous spirit. —
No problem on steamboat		The spirit also revealed to Joseph, that "on the steamboats, [208] plots were already laid for our destruction." This too we proved to be false.
Secret about Oliver Ziba lost apostleship		While descending the Missouri river, Peter and Frederick, two of my company, divulged a secret respecting Oliver, which placed his conduct on a parallel with Ziba's; for which Ziba [Peterson] was deprived of his Elder and Apostleship: "Let that which was bestowed upon Ziba be taken from him, and let him stand as a member in the church, and let him labor with his own hands with the brethren." And thus by commandment, poor Ziba, one of the twelve Apostles, is thrust down;	¶ D&C 58:60 Apostles
But Oliver not punished for similar act		while Oliver the scribe, also an Apostle, who had been guilty of similar conduct, is set on high, to prepare work for the press; and no commandment touches him, only to exalt him higher. —	¶ Ezra Booth Letters (8–9) Council investigates Oliver. Minutes of May 26, 1832 Quinn believes Booth's wording "suggests a level of severity that implies sexual transgression." Origins, 44. However, it seems plausible to me that Booth, a former Methodist minister, would have been outraged by engaged men courting young women whether sex were involved or not. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (8–9) In his next letter, Ezra denounces a married man who plans to divorce his wife in New York, then marry an Indian. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (8–9)
Peter and Frederick wouldn't have gone with Oliver		These two persons stated, that had they known previous to their journey to Missouri, what they then knew, they never should have accompanied Oliver thither.
Sidney's description of Zion	¶	Sidney, since his return has written a description of Zion. But it differs essentially from that which you wrote; so much so, that either yours or his must be false.	¶ D&C 58. The Lord was not happy with what he wrote. ¶ D&C 63
Edward cautioned Sidney against exaggeration Sidney contemptuous		Knowing him to be constitutionally inclined to exaggerate, and suspecting that this habit would be as likely to preponderate in his written as in his oral communications, you cautioned him against it. "What I write will be written by the most infallible inspiration of the holy spirit," said he with an air of contempt. You must be careful, sir, or it will again sound in your ears, "if he repent not" for giving a false description of the land of Zion, let him take heed lest he fall from his office.
Forbid Edward to return to Ohio		This, Sidney said, was one reason why you was not permitted to return to the State of Ohio.	¶ The Bishop and the Lord
Get out Return lands to those who paid for it Fly for your life!		The want of time and paper warn me to bring this letter to a close. And now permit me to entreat you, to candidly view the whole matter, from the commencement unto the present time. Look at it with your eyes, and no longer suffer these strangers to blind your eyes, and daub you over with [209] their untempared mortar. Think how often you have been stumbled by these discordant revelations, false visions, and lying prophecies. Put into practice the resolutions you expressed to me the morning after the collision in the school house, that you would go home, and attend to your own business. Transfer the lands you hold in your hands, to the persons whose money paid for it. Place yourself from under the influence of the men who have deceived you; burst asunder the bands of delusion; fly for your life, fly from the habitations haunted by impostors; and having done this, you most surely will be glad and rejoice, and prove to your own satisfaction, as I have done, the falsity of Joseph's prophetic declaration, "if you turn against us you will enjoy no more satisfaction in the world."
		E. B.
Oliver's mission to the Indians later		Some things are intimated in the foregoing letter, which more properly belongs to Cowdery's mission to the Indians; and when I come to notice that mission, those things will probably be more fully exhibited.	¶ Ezra Booth Letters (8–9)
Sidney's exaggeration degenerates into fiction		It is also indirectly stated, that Rigdon has acquired the habit of exaggeration. The truth of this statement, I presume, will be doubted but by few, who have been long acquainted with him. Most of his communications carry the appearance of high and false coloring; and I am persuaded, that truth by this embellishing touch, often degenerates into fiction.
Rigdon on Alexander Campbell		I have heard him several different times, give a representation of the interview between himself, and to use his own phraseology, "the far-famed Alexander Campbell." This man's wonted shrewdness and presence of mind forsook him when in the presence of this gigantic Mormonite; so much so, that "he was quite confused and silly."
Rigdon brow-beats Campbell		I will give you a specimen of the language, with which Rigdon said he assailed him: "You have lied, Alexander. Alexander you have lied. If you do not receive the Book of Mormon, you will be damned." With such like arguments [210] he brow-beat his antagonist, until he had silenced and set him down, like the pusillanimous cur, at the feet of his chastising master.
Apostates = liars		"You are a liar, you are a child of the Devil, you are an enemy to all righteousness, and the spirit of the Devil is in you," and the like is dealt out profusely against an obstinate opponent, and especially, one whom they are pleased to nickname apostate. I regret the necessity I am under of making such statements, and could wish there had been no occasion for them. But truth compels me to it, and the good of society demands it. — Yours, &c.
		EZRA BOOTH.
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