,! ,w5twor? ,lett] by ,joseph ,smi?1    
,jun4  z publi%$ 9 ! ,times & ,seasons  
,vol4 #c ,no4 #i1 #a ,m>* #ahdb         
available 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,libr>y ,(  
,congress ,,bx#hfje4a4,t#dh ,vol4 #c pp 
#gjf-gaj     ,,*ur* ,,hi/ory  ,at !     
reque/ ( ,mr4 ,john ,w5twor?1 ,editor1 &
 ,proprietor ( ! ,*icago ,democrat1 ,i h
 writt5 ! foll[+ sket* ( ! rise1        
progress1 p]secution1 & fai? ( !        
,latt]-,day ,sa9ts1 ( :i* ,i h ! honor1 
"u ,god1 ( be+ ! f\nd]4 ,mr4 ,w5twor?   
says1 t he wi%es to furni% ,mr4 ,ba/[1 a
 fri5d ( 81 :o is writ+ ! hi/ory ( ,new 
,hamp%ire1 ) ?is docum5t4 ,z ,mr4 ,ba/[ 
has tak5 ! prop] /eps to obta9 correct  
in=mation1 all t ,i %all ask at 8 h&s is
 t he publi% ! acc\nt entire1 ung>ni%$1 
& )\t misrepres5tation4  ,i 0 born 9 !  
t[n ( ,%>on1 ,w9dsor co41 ,v]mont1 on ! 
#bc;d ( ,decemb]1 ,a4,d4 #ahje4 ,:5 t5  
ye>s old my p>5ts remov$ to ,palmyra1   
,new ,york1 :]e we resid$ ab\t f\r ye>s1
 & f !nce we remov$ to ! t[n ( ,man*e/]4
  ,my fa!r 0 a f>m] & taught me ! art ( 

husb&ry4 ,:5 ab\t f\rte5 ye>s ( age ,i  
began to reflect ^u ! importance ( be+  
prep>$ = a future /ate1 & ^u enquir+ ( !
 plan ( salvation ,i f\nd t !re 0 a     
great cla% 9 religi\s s5tim5t2 if ,i w5t
 to "o society !y ref]r$ me to "o plan1 
& ano!r to ano!r1 ea* "o po9t+ to 8 own 
p>ticul> cre$ z ! summum bonum (        
p]fection3 consid]+ t all c\ld n be "r1 
& t ,god c\ld n be ! au?or ( s mu*      
confusion ,i det]m9$ to inve/igate !    
subject m fully1 believ+ t if ,god _h a 
*ur* x w\ld n be split up into factions1
 & t if he taught "o society to wor%ip  
"o way1 & adm9i/] 9 "o set ( ord9ances1 
,he w\ld n tea* ano!r1 pr9ciples :i* 7  
diametrically oppos$4 ,believ+ ! ^w (   
,god ,i _h confid5ce 9 ! decl>ation (   
,james2 ,if any man lack wisdom let him 
ask ( ,god :o give? to all m5 lib]ally &
 upbraide? n & x %all be giv5 him1 ,i   
retir$ to a secret place 9 a grove &    
began to call ^u ! ,"l1 :ile f]v5tly    
engag$ 9 supplication my m9d 0 tak5 away
 f ! objects ) :i* ,i 0 surr\nd$1 & ,i 0

 enwrapp$ 9 a heav5ly vision & saw two  
glori\s p]sonages :o exactly resembl$   
ea* o!r 9 features & lik5ess1 surr\nd$ )
 a brilliant light :i* eclips$ ! sun at 
noon-day4 ,!y told me t all religi\s    
d5om9ations 7 believ+ 9 incorrect       
doctr9es & t none ( !m 0 ackn[l$g$ (    
,god z ,8 ,*ur* & k+dom4 ,& ,i 0        
expressly comm&$ to g n aft] !m1 at !   
same "t receiv+ a promise t ! fullness (
 ! gospel %\ld at "s future "t be made  
kn[n unto me4  ,on ! ev5+ ( ! #ba/ (    
,septemb]1 ,a4,d4 #ahbc1 :ile ,i 0 pray+
 unto ,god1 & endeavor+ to ex]cise fai? 
9 ! preci\s promises ( scripture on a   
sudd5 a light l t ( day1 only ( a f>    
pur] & m glori\s appe>ance1 & brightness
 bur/ into ! room1 inde$ ! fir/ sight 0 
z ?\gh ! h\se 0 fill$ ) consum+ fire2 ! 
appe>ance produc$ a %ock t affect$ !    
:ole body2 9 a mom5t a p]sonage /ood    
be=e me surr\nd$ ) a glory yet great]   
?an t ) :i* ,i 0 already surr\nd$4 ,?is 
mess5g] proclaim$ himself to be an angel
 ( ,god s5t to br+ ! joyful tid+s1 t !  

cov5ant :i* ,god made ) anci5t ,israel 0
 at h& to be fulfill$1 t ! prep>atory "w
 = ! second com+ ( ! ,messiah 0 spe$ily 
to comm5ce2 t ! "t 0 at h& = ! gospel1 9
 all its fulness to be prea*$ 9 p[]1    
unto all nations t a p might be prep>$ =
 ! mill5nial reign4  ,i 0 in=m$ t ,i 0  
*os5 to be an in/rum5t 9 ! h&s ( ,god to
 br+ ab\t "s ( ,8 purposes 9 ?is glori\s
 disp5sation4  ,i 0 also in=m$ conc]n+ !
 aborig9al inhabitants ( ?is c\ntry     
,am]ica1 & %[n :o !y 71 & f :5ce !y     
came2 a brief sket* ( _! orig91         
progress1 civilization1 laws1 gov]nm5ts1
 ( _! righte\sness & iniquity1 & !      
bless+s ( ,god be+ f9ally )drawn f !m z 
a p 0 made kn[n unto me3 ,i 0 also told 
:]e !re 0 deposit$ "s plates on :i* 7   
engrav5 an abridgm5t ( ! records ( !    
anci5t prophets t _h exi/$ on ?is       
cont95t4 ,! angel appe>$ to me ?ree     
times ! same night & unfold$ ! same ?+s4
 ,aft] hav+ receiv$ _m visits f ! angels
 ( ,god unfold+ ! maje/y & glory ( !    
ev5ts t %\ld transpire 9 ! la/ days1 on 

! morn+ ( ! #bb;d ( ,septemb]1 ,a4,d4   
#ahbg1 ! angel ( ! ,"l deliv]$ ! records
 into my h&s4  ,^! records 7 engrav5 on 
plates :i* _h ! appe>ance ( gold1 ea*   
plate 0 six in*es wide & eight in*es    
long & n q s ?ick z common t94 ,!y 7    
fill$ ) engrav+s1 9 ,egyptian *>act]s & 
b\nd toge!r 9 a volume1 z ! leaves ( a  
book ) ?ree r+s runn+ ?r\gh ! :ole4 ,!  
volume 0 some?+ ne> six in*es 9         
?ickness1 a "p ( :i* 0 seal$4 ,! *>act]s
 on ! unseal$ "p 7 small1 & beautifully 
engrav$4 ,! :ole book exhibit$ _m m>ks (
 antiquity 9 its con/ruction & mu* skill
 9 ! art ( engrav+4 ,) ! records 0 f\nd 
a curi\s in/rum5t :i* ! anci5ts call$   
,urim & ,?ummim1 :i* consi/$ ( two      
transp>5t /ones set 9 ! rim ( a b[ fa/5$
 to a brea/plate4  ,?r\gh ! m$ium ( !   
,urim & ,?ummim ,i translat$ ! record by
 ! gift1 & p[] ( ,god4  ,9 ?is important
 & int]e/+ book ! hi/ory ( anci5t       
,am]ica is unfold$1 f its fir/ settlem5t
 by a colony t came f ! ,t[] ( ,babel1  
at ! confusion ( languages to ! beg9n+ (

 ! fif? c5tury ( ! ,*ri/ian era4 ,we are
 in=m$ by ^! records t ,am]ica 9 anci5t 
times has be5 inhabit$ by two di/9ct    
races ( p4 ,! fir/ 7 call$ ,j>$ites &   
came directly f ! ,t[] ( ,babel4 ,!     
second race came directly f ! city (    
,j]usalem1 ab\t six hundr$ ye>s be=e    
,*ri/4 ,!y 7 pr9cipally ,israelites1 ( !
 desc5dants ( ,joseph4 ,! ,j>$ites 7    
de/roy$ ab\t ! "t t ! ,israelites came f
 ,j]usalem1 :o succe$$ !m 9 ! inh]itance
 ( ! c\ntry4 ,! pr9cipal nation ( !     
second race fell 9 battle t[>ds ! close 
( ! f\r? c5tury4 ,! remnant are !       
,indians t n[ inhabit ?is c\ntry4 ,?is  
book also tells u t our ,savior made 8  
appe>ance ^u ?is cont95t aft] 8         
resurrection1 t he plant$ ! gospel "h 9 
all its fulness1 & ri*ness1 & p[]1 &    
bless+2 t !y _h apo/les1 prophets1      
pa/ors1 tea*]s1 & evangeli/s2 ! same    
ord]1 ! same prie/hood1 ! same          
ord9ances1 gifts1 p[]s1 & bless+s1 z 0  
enjoy$ on ! ea/]n cont95t1 t ! p 7 cut  
(f 9 consequ5ce ( _! transgressions1 t !

 la/ ( _! prophets :o exi/$ among !m 0  
comm&$ to write an abridgm5t ( _!       
prophecies1 hi/ory1 c41 & to hide x up 9
 ! e>?1 & t x %\ld come =? & be unit$ ) 
! bible = ! accompli%m5t ( ! purposes ( 
,god 9 ! la/ days4 ,= a m p>ticul>      
acc\nt ,i w\ld ref] to ! ,book (        
,mormon1 :i* c be pur*as$ at ,nauvoo1 or
 f any ( our travell+ eld]s4  ,z soon z 
! news ( ?is discov]y 0 made kn[n1 false
 reports1 misrepres5tation1 & sl&] flew 
z on ! w+s ( ! w9d 9 e direction1 ! h\se
 0 frequ5tly beset by mobs1 & evil      
design+ p1 sev]al times ,i 0 %ot at1 & v
 n>r[ly escap$1 & e device 0 made use ( 
to get ! plates away f me1 b ! p[] &    
bless+ ( ,god att5d$ me1 & sev]al began 
to believe my te/imony4  ,on ! #f? (    
,april1 #ahcj1 ! ,*ur* ( ,jesus ,*ri/ ( 
,latt]-,day ,sa9ts1 0 fir/ organiz$ 9 ! 
t[n ( ,man*e/]1 ,ont>io co41 /ate ( ,new
 ,york4 ,"s few 7 call$ & orda9$ by ! _s
 ( revelation1 & prophecy1 & began to   
prea* z ! _s gave !m utt]ance1 & ?\gh   
weak1 yet 7 !y /r5g!n$ by ! p[] ( ,god1 

& _m 7 br\ght to rep5tance1 7 imm]s$ 9 !
 wat]1 & 7 fill$ ) ! ,holy ,gho/ by !   
lay+ on ( h&s4 ,!y saw visions &        
prophesi$1 devils 7 ca/ out & ! sick    
heal$ by ! lay+ on ( h&s4 ,f t "t ! "w  
roll$ =? ) a/oni%+ rapidity1 & *ur*es 7 
=m$ 9 ! /ates ( ,new ,york1             
,p5nsylvania1 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,ill9ois1
 & ,miss\ri2 9 ! la/ nam$ /ate a        
consid]able settlem5t 0 =m$ 9 ,jackson  
co42 numb]s jo9$ ! ,*ur* & we 7 increas+
 rapidly2 we made l>ge pur*ases ( l&1   
our f>ms teem$ ) pl5ty1 & peace &       
happ9ess 7 enjoy$ 9 our dome/ic circle &
 ?r\gh\t our neighborhood2 b z we c\ld n
 associate ) our neighbors :o 71 _m ( !m
 ( ! base/ ( m51 & _h fl$ f ! face (    
civiliz$ society1 to ! fronti] c\ntry to
 escape ! h& ( ju/ice 9 _! midnight     
revels1 _! ,sabba? break+1 horse rac+1 &
 gambl+1 !y comm5c$ at fir/ to ridicule1
 !n to p]secute1 & f9ally an organiz$   
mob assembl$ & burn$ our h\ses1 t>r$ &  
fea!r$1 & :ipp$ _m ( our bre?r5 & f9ally
 drove !m f _! habitations2 :o1         

h\seless1 & homeless1  contr>y to law1  
ju/ice1 & humanity1 _h to w&] on ! bleak
 prairies till ! *ildr5 left ! tracks ( 
_! blood on ! prairie1 ?is took place 9 
! mon? ( ,novemb]1 & !y _h no o!r cov]+ 
b ! canopy ( heav51 9 ?is inclem5t      
season ( ! ye>2 ?is proce$+ 0 w9k$ at by
 ! gov]nm5t & al?\gh we _h w>rantee de$s
 = our l&1 & _h violat$ no law we c\ld  
obta9 no r$ress4  ,!re 7 _m sick1 :o 7  
?us inhumanly driv5 f _! h\ses1 & _h to 
endure all ?is abuse & to seek homes :]e
 !y c\ld be f\nd4 ,! result 01 t a great
 _m ( !m be+ depriv$ ( ! com=ts ( life1 
& ! necess>y att5dances1 di$2 _m *ildr5 
7 left orphans1 wives wid[s1 & husb&s   
wid[]s4--,our f>ms 7 tak5 possession (  
by ! mob1 _m ?\s&s ( cattle1 %eep1      
horses1 & hogs 7 tak5 & our h\sehold    
goods1 /ore goods1 & pr9t+ press1 & type
 7 brok51 tak51 or o!rwise de/roy$4  ,_m
 ( our bre?r5 remov$ to ,clay :]e !y    
cont9u$ until #ahcf1 ?ree ye>s2 !re 0 no
 viol5ce (f]$ b !re 7 ?reatn+s (        
viol5ce4 ,b 9 ! summ] ( #ahcf1 ^!       

?reatn+s began to assume a m s]i\s =m2 f
 ?reats1 public meet+s 7 call$1         
resolutions 7 pass$1 v5geance &         
de/ruction 7 ?reat5$1 & affairs aga9    
assum$ a fe>ful attitude1 ,jackson c\nty
 0 a suffici5t prec$5t1 & z ! au?orities
 9 t c\nty did n int]f]e1 !y boa/$ t !y 
w\ld n 9 ?is1 :i* on application to !   
au?orities we f\nd to be too true1 &    
aft] mu* viol5ce1 privation & loss (    
prop]ty we 7 aga9 driv5 f our homes4    
,we next settl$ 9 ,caldwell1 & ,davies  
c\nties1 :]e we made l>ge & ext5sive    
settlem5ts1 ?9k+ to free ourselves f !  
p[] ( oppression1 by settl+ 9 new       
c\nties ) v few inhabitants 9 !m2 b "h  
we 7 n all[$ to live 9 peace1 b 9 #ahch 
we 7 aga9 attack$ by mobs1 an ext]m9at+ 
ord] 0 issu$ by ,gov4 ,boggs1 & "u !    
sanction ( law an organiz$ b&itti rang$ 
?r\gh ! c\ntry1 robb$ u ( our cattle1   
%eep1 horses1 hogs1 c41 _m ( our p 7    
murd]$ 9 cold blood1 ! *a/ity ( our wom5
 0 violat$1 & we 7 =c$ to sign away our 
prop]ty at ! po9t ( ! sword1 & aft]     

endur+ e indignity t c\ld be heap$ ^u u 
by an inhuman1 ungodly b& ( m>aud]s1 f  
twelve to fifte5 ?\s& s\ls m51 wom51 &  
*ildr5 7 driv5 f _! own fire sides1 & f 
l&s t !y _h w>rantee de$s (1 h\seless1  
fri5dless1 & homeless 79 ! dep? ( w9t]17
 to w&] z exiles on ! e>? or to seek an 
asylum 9 a m g5ial clime1 & among a less
 b>b>\s p4  ,_m sick5$ & di$1 9         
consequ5ce ( ! cold1 & h>d%ips !y _h to 
endure2 _m wives 7 left wid[s1 & *ildr5 
orphans1 & de/itute4 ,x w\ld take m "t  
?an is allott$ me "h to describe !      
inju/ice1 ! wrongs1 ! murd]s1 ! blood%$1
 ! !ft1 mis]y1 & woe t h be5 caus$ by ! 
b>b>\s1 inhuman1 & lawless1 proce$+s ( !
 /ate ( ,miss\ri4  ,9 ! situation be=e  
allud$ to we arriv$ 9 ! /ate ( ,ill9ois 
9 #ahci1 :]e we f\nd a hospitable p & a 
fri5dly home2 a p :o 7 will+ to be      
gov]n$ by ! pr9ciples ( law & humanity4 
,we h comm5c$ to build a city call$     
,nauvoo 9 ,hancock co41 we numb] f six  
to eight ?\s& "h besides va/ numb]s 9 ! 
c\nty ar\nd & 9 almo/ e c\nty ( ! /ate4 

,we h a city *>t] grant$ u & a *>t] = a 
legion ! troops ( :i* n[ numb] #aejj4   
,we h also a *>t] = a univ]sity1 = an   
agricultural & manufactur+ society1 h   
our own laws & adm9i/rators1 & possess  
all ! privileges t o!r free & enlight5$ 
citiz5s enjoy4  ,p]secution has n /opp$ 
! progress ( tru?1 b has only add$ fuel 
to ! flame1 x has spread ) increas+     
rapidity1 pr\d ( ! cause :i* !y h esp\s$
 & consci\s ( our' innoc5ce & ( ! tru? (
 _! sy/em amid/ calumny & reproa* h !   
eld]s ( ?is ,*ur* gone =?1 & plant$ !   
gospel 9 almo/ e /ate 9 ! ,union2 x has 
p5etrat$ our cities1 x has spread ov]   
our villages & has caus$ ?\s&s ( our    
intellig5t1 noble1 & patriotic citiz5s  
to obey its div9e m&ates1 & be gov]n$ by
 its sacr$ tru?s4 ,x has also spread    
into ,engl&1 ,irel&1 ,scotl&1 & ,wales3 
9 ! ye> #ahci :]e a few ( our           
mission>ies 7 s5t ov] five ?\s& jo9$ !  
/&>d ( tru?1 !re are numb]s n[ jo9+ 9 e 
l&4  ,our mission>ies are go+ =? to     
diff]5t nations1 & 9 ,g]many1 ,pale/9e1 

,new ,holl&1 ! ,ea/ ,indies1 & o!r      
places1 ! /&>d ( tru? has be5 erect$3 no
 unhall[$ h& c /op ! "w f progress+1    
p]secutions may rage1 mobs may comb9e1  
armies may assemble1 calumny may defame1
 b ! tru? ( ,god w g =? boldly1 nobly1 &
 indep5d5t till x has p5etrat$ e        
cont95t1 visit$ e clime1 swept e c\ntry1
 & s\nd$ 9 e e>1 till ! purposes ( ,god 
%all be accompli%$ & ! ,great ,jehovah  
%all say ! "w is done4  ,we believe 9   
,god ! ,et]nal ,fa!r1 & 9 8 son ,jesus  
,*ri/1 & 9 ! ,holy ,gho/4  ,we believe t
 m5 w be puni%$ = _! own s9s & n =      
,adam's transgression4  ,we believe t   
?r\gh ! atonem5t ( ,*ri/ all mank9d may 
be sav$ by ob$i5ce to ! laws & ord9ances
 ( ! ,gospel4  ,we believe t ^!         
ord9ances are #a/1 ,fai? 9 ! ,"l ,jesus 
,*ri/2 #b;d1 ,rep5tance2 #c;d1 ,baptism 
by imm]sion = ! remission ( s9s2 #d?1   
,lay+ on ( h&s = ! gift ( ! ,holy ,gho/4
  ,we believe t a man mu/ be call$ (    
,god by prophesy1 & by lay+ on ( h&s by 
^? :o are 9 au?ority to prea* ! gospel &

 adm9i/] 9 ! ord9ances !re(4  ,we       
believe 9 ! same organization t exi/$ 9 
! primitive *ur*1 viz1 apo/les1         
prophets1 pa/ors1 tea*]s1 evangeli/s c4 
,we believe 9 ! gift ( tongues1         
prophesy1 revelation1 visions1 heal+1   
int]pretation ( tongues c4  ,we believe 
! bible to be ! ^w ( ,god z f> z x is   
translat$ correctly2 we also believe !  
,book ( ,mormon to be ! ^w ( ,god4  ,we 
believe all t ,god has reveal$1 all t   
,he does n[ reveal1 & we believe t he w 
yet reveal _m great & important ?+s     
p]ta9+ to ! ,k+dom ( ,god4  ,we believe 
9 ! lit]al ga!r+ ( ,israel & 9 !        
re/oration ( ! ,t5 ,tribes4 ,t ,zion w  
be built ^u ?is ! ,am]ican cont95t4 ,t  
,*ri/ w reign p]sonally ^u ! e>?1 & t ! 
e>? w be r5ew$ & receive its p>adisiac  
glory4  ,we claim ! privilege ( wor%ipp+
 ,almighty ,god accord+ to ! dictates ( 
our consci5ce1 & all[ all m5 ! same     
privilege let !m wor%ip h[1 :]e1 or :at 
!y may4  ,we believe 9 be+ subject to   
k+s1 presid5ts1 rul]s1 & magi/rates1 9  

obey+1 honor+1 & su/a9+ ! law4  ,we     
believe 9 be+ hone/1 true1 *a/e1        
b5evol5t1 virtu\s1 & 9 do+ good to all  
m52 inde$ we may say t we foll[ !       
admonition ( ,paul we believe all ?+s we
 hope all ?+s1 we h endur$ _m ?+s & hope
 to be able to endure all ?+s4 ,if !re  
is any?+ virtu\s1 lovely1 or ( good     
report or praise wor?y we seek aft] ^!  
?+s4     ,respectfully c41              
,,joseph ,,smi?