| Devil tries to overthrow the churches in Ohio,
but after much effort, Joseph has things in control. From Independence,
Oliver reports he has met with Deleware chief, leaders, uncertain about
them; harsh weather. Joseph urges Hyrum to come quickly as the Lord has
commanded. Joseph performs exorcism. Samuel and Orson Pratt arrived a few
days ago. Joseph Sr. is threatened with suit. Enemies lie in wait in Buffalo. |
| Date |
|
March 3–4, 1831 |
|
|
| Addressed to |
|
Hyrum Smith |
|
Selected collections
1:20, Letters Sent, box 2 fd. 3 // JS personal, rev. ed.
255–262. |
| In |
|
Harpersville, Broom county, New
York |
|
| From |
|
your Brother forever
Joseph Smith Jr |
|
| Greeting |
|
Brother Hyram |
|
|
| Joseph's arrival in Kirtland |
|
Arrived safely, all are well. |
|
|
| Devil among the people |
|
I hav[e] been
engageed in regulating the Churches here as the deciples are numerous and
the devil has made many att[e]mpts to over throw them |
|
False
Spirits
devil's work: ¶ D&C 10:5–33 |
| Hard work, but have overcome |
|
it has been a serious Job but the
Lord is with us and we have overcome and have all things regular |
|
|
| Missionary work prospers, need
elders |
|
the work is brakeing forth on the
<right> hand and on the left and there is a great Call for Elders
in this place |
|
|
| Oliver Cowdery letter |
|
Joseph quotes Oliver's January 29
letter from Independence: |
|
|
| |
|
|
… we have not heard any thing from you
since we left you last fall |
|
|
Independence
Indians |
|
|
we arived here at this place
a few days since which is about 25 miles from the Shawney indians on the
south side of the Kansas River at its mouth & delewares on the north. |
|
|
| Deleware chief and council receptive |
|
|
I have had two intervi<e>ws with
the Chief of that that the delewares who is <a> very old
& venerable
looking man after haveing laying before him & eighteen or twenty
of the Council of that nation the
truth he said that <he> and they he and they were very
glad for what I their Brother had told them and they had recived it in
their hearts &c—But
how the matter will go with this tribe to me is uncertain neither Can I at
presen<t> Conclude mutch about it |
|
|
| Deep snow |
|
Weather conditions are severe. Deep
snow makes travel difficult. |
|
|
| Joseph resumes |
|
Joseph resumes, |
|
|
| Dearly beloved brother |
|
My Dearly Beloved Brother Hyrum |
|
|
Prays for Hyrum
|
|
I <have> had much Concirn
about you but I always remember you in {your} <my> prayers Calling
upon god to keep <you> Safe in spite <of> men or devils |
|
Enemies |
| Elders to come quickly |
|
Hyrum should come immediately, "for
the Lord has Commanded us that we should Call the Elders of this Chursh
to gether unto this plase as soon as possable." |
|
|
| |
|
The next day, Joseph continues: |
|
|
| Exorcism |
|
… after
being Colled out of my bed in the night to go a small distance I went and
had {and} an awful strugle with satan <but> being armed with the power
of god he was cast out and the woman is Clothed in hir right mind |
|
Exorcisms |
| Lord working wonders |
|
the Lord worketh wonders in this
land |
|
|
| |
|
I want to see you all may the grace
of God be and abide with you all even so Amen |
|
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| |
|
On the back flap of the letter: |
|
|
| Samuel and Orson Pratt arrived
February 27 |
|
Samuel Harrison
Smith and Orson Pratt reached Kirtland
February 27th. The Smith family was well when they left New York. |
|
Joseph calls his
brother Harrison. |
| Joseph Sr. threatened with suit |
|
David Jackways threatens to sue Joseph Sr. in the spring.
|
|
|
| Come in wagon |
|
Hyrum should come to Kirtland in a one horse wagon if possible. |
|
Original: if if |
| Avoid Buffalo (ambush) |
|
do not Come threw Bufalo for
th[e]y will lie in wait for you |
|
¶
D&C 10:5–6, [May 1829]
¶ D&C 38:28, January 2, 1831 |
| |
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God protect you I am Joseph |
|
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| |
|
Joseph
Smith to Martin Harris, February 22, 1831
Kirtland 1830–1831
|