Joseph Smith to Leaders in Clay County, August 16, 1834

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph Smith to Leaders in Clay County, August 16, 1834

Joseph Smith writes to Lyman Wight, the bishop's council, and members of the high council. He has been distracted by false charges against him, but now can offer some counsel. High council governs. Finish selection of first elders. They must receive endowment in Kirtland before Zion can be redeemed. Send them to gain sympathy, petition signatures. Gather churches. Be ready to redeem Zion on September 11, 1836. Left consecrated horn in Illinois. William E. McLellin very humble now. Cholera raging. Churches cold.

Three texts are compared: Letterbook: Words in turquoise are present in the letterbook copy, but not the other versions. Manuscript History of the Church, in the hand of Willard Richards, 1843: Words in pink were added in the Manuscript History. History of the Church. edited by B. H. Roberts: Words in blue were dropped for the History; words in red were added. Genererally, I have not noted changes to spelling, capitalization, or punctuation.
Note the text on page 535 of the Manuscript History of the Church, "for the church, even that they shall be driven from city to city, and but few shall remain to receive an inheritance, if those things are not kept." This text does not appear in the letterbook and was probably added in 1843 (¶ History of Joseph Smith: Introduction), referring to the 1838 expulsion from Missouri.

Adressees		I wrote to Lyman Wight, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, Isaac Morley. and others of the High Council of Zion. from Kirtland August 16th 1834. as follows:	MH-B, 533–537. Blue: dropped in HC 2:144–146 Red: added in HC 2:144–146
Devil took advantage of Sylvester Smith and others to undermine Joseph		Dear Brethren, After so long a time, I dictate a few lines to you to let you know that I am in Kirtland, and that I found all well when I arrived, as pertaining to health &c, but our common Adversary had taken the advantage of our brother Sylvester Smith and others who gave a false coloring to almost every transaction from the time we left Kirtland until we returned. and thereby stirred up a great difficulty in the church against me.
Sylvester Smith and others traduced Joseph's character Unable to regulate his mind to give counsel		Accordingly I was met in the face and eyes as soon as I had got home, with a catalogue of charges as black as the author of lies himself, and the cry was Tyrant! Pope!! King!!! Usurper!!!! Abuser of men man!!!!! Angel!!!!!! False prophet!!!!!!! Prophecying Lies in the name of the Lord!!!!!!!! and Taking consecrated monies!!!!!!!!! and every other lie to fill up and complete the catalogue that was necessary to [534] perfect the church to be meet for the devourer, the shaft of the destroying angel! and Such experiences may be necessary to perfect the Church, and render our traducers mete for the devourer, and the shaft of the destroying angel. in consequence of ~~all~~ having to combat all these. I have not been able to regulate my mind so as to write to give you counsel. and the information that you needed,	Minutes of August 11, 1834 Minutes of August 21, 1834 Minutes of August 28, 1834 Minutes of August 29, 1834 Turquoise: dropped from letterbook copy. JS personal, 2nd ed. 348. Exclamation points are identical in letterbook and Manuscript History.
Gainsayers put to flight		but that God who rules on high, and thunders judgments upon Israel when they transgress, has given me power from the time that I was born (into this the kingdom) to stand, and I have succeeded in putting all gainsayers, and enemies to flight, unto the present time, and notwithstanding the adversary laid a plan, which was more suttle than all others, as you will see by the next Star, I now swim in good Clean water, with my head out. as you will [see?] by the next "Star,"	Pink: added in MH-B [see?]: obscured by ink blot. Sylvester Smith's Published Confession
Counsel	¶	I shall now proceed to give you such counsel as the spirit of the Lord ~~shall~~ <may> dictate.
High council rules		You will recollect that your business must be done by your high council;
First elders to get endowment in Kirtland		You will recollect that the first elders are to receive their endowment in Kirtland, before the redemption of Zion.
High council chooses additional first elders		You will recollect that your high Council will have power to say who of the first Elders. among the children of Zion are accounted worthy;
Joseph chose some		and you will also recollect that you have my testimony in behalf of certain ones, previously previous to my departure.
Send them out to bear testimony asap		You will recollect that the sooner that these ambassadors of the Most High are dispatched to bear testimony, to lift up a warning voice, and to proclaim the everlasting gospel, and to use every convincing proof and faculty with this generation, while on their Journey to Kirtland, the better it shall will be for them, and for Zion	italic: insert in the hand of Frederick G. Williams in letterbook copy
Arouse sympathy of the people		inasmuch as the indignation of the people sleepeth for a while our time should be employed to the best advantage, although it is not the will of God that any one of their these ambassadors should hold their peace after they have started upon their journey. They should awaken arouse the sumpathy of the people.	Turquoise: dropped from letterbook copy. Pink: added in MH-B
Have W. W. Phelps write petition to circulate	¶	I would recommend to brother Phelps, (if he is be yet there,) to write a petition, such as will be [535] approved of by the high council. and let there be every signer be obtained that can be in the state of missouri, and by them while they are on their journey to this country place [Kirtland], that peradventure we may learn whether we have friends or not in these United States.
Send it to governor		This petition is to be sent to the governor of missouri to solicit him to call on the president of the United States for a guard to protect our brethren in Jackson county upon their own lands, from the insu[l]ts and abuses of the mob.
Lyman Wight liason to governor	¶	And I would recommend to brother Wight to enter complaint to the governor as often as he receives any insults or injury and in case that they proce[e]d to endeavor to take life or tear down homes houses; and if the citizens of Clay county do not befriend us to gather up the little army and be set over immediately into Jackson County, and trust in God, and do the best he can in maintaining the ground.
Gather churches September 11, 1836 date to redeem Zion		But in case the excitement continues to be allayed, and peace prevails, use every effort to prevail on the churches to gather to those regions, and locate themselves to be in readiness to move into Jackson county. in two years from the eleventh of September next. which is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion.
If churches perform properly		If, verily I say unto you, If the Church with one united effort perform their duties, If they do this, the work shall be complete; If they do not this in all humility, making preperation from this time forth, like Joseph in Egypt laying up store against the time of famine, every man having his tent, his horses, his chariots, his armory, his cattle, his family. and his whole substance in readiness against the time when it shall be said To your tents, O Israel!! And let t not this be noised abroad, let every heart beat in silence, and every mouth be shut.	If: only the first two instances are underlined in MH-B.
Great work to do quickly	¶	Now, my beloved brethren, you will learn by this we have a great work to do. and but little time to do it in. and if we dont do not exert ourselves to the utmost [535] in gathering up the strength of the Lord's house, that this thing may be accomplished. behold there remaineth a scourge for the church, even that they shall be driven from city to city, and but few shall remain to receive an inheritance, if those things are not kept, there remaineth a Scourge{,} also; therefore, be wise this once, O ye children of Zion! and give heed to my counsel saith the Lord.
Bishop's bill good	¶	I would inform Edward Bishop Partridge that the bill I received of from him was good, and when I can get our money changed for another, I will mail it to him.	Edward Partridge
Brethren arrived healthy		The brethren as yet up to now, have generally arrived from Clay county in health notwithstanding the warm season.
Hulet not righteous, situation must be corrected		I would also inform bro Edward Bishop Partridge that I am not Satisfied with brother Hulett concerning the colt, and so long as unrighteous acts are suffered in the church, it cannot be sanctified, neither can Zion be redeemed;
Left consecrated horn in Illinois		and also, that I was obliged to leave the consecrated horn in Illinois, also brother William E. McLellin, who was sick.
William E. McLellin sick, humble, retains standing		We expect ~~that~~ when he recovers, that he will come to Kirtland. He was very humble, and I entertain no doubt as to his standing while he continues so.
Inform us of cholera, deaths		We have a desire to hear concerning the Cholera, and whether Sister Bunnel is yet alive. Inform us as well as to all deaths, or and give the names and Standing of all those who are called away, &c.	or: not in letterbook
Cholera raging in Michigan, Ohio, New York	¶	The cholera is raging in Detroit Cleaveland, Fairport, Buffalo, and other places; We found it in Chariton, as we came through, and almost every other place. It is an awful and solemn ~~place~~. day, but this is only the forebodings foreshadowing of what is to come.
Churches seem cold, disconsolate Rouse church		The churches seems to be in a cold, languid and disconsolate state, and as the revolution of the earth is once in twenty four hours, so we may look for frequent revolutions, among this wicked and perverse generation, [537] and also in the church of Christ! When the head is sick the whole body is faint, for and when the church lifts up the head the angel will bring us good tidings. even so amen. Joseph Smith. Jun.
		Zion's Camp Clay County Kirtland 1834 Ohio Home