TO EMMA SMITH
1832 JUNE 6

ALS Joseph Smith, Greenville, Floyd County, Indiana, to Emma Smith, Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, 6 June 1832, 3 pp., Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, Illinois.

With the designation of Kirtland, Ohio, as one gathering place and Jackson County, Missouri, as another, two centers of Mormon activity developed in 1831.422 The foundation of Church membership in Missouri consisted mainly of early converts from the Fayette-Colesville area of New York, while the Ohio membership was made up largely of Sidney Rigdon's followers in Kirtland. In consequence of this dual concentration, a certain spirit of jealousy arose between the members in the two places. This derived from the fact that the Prophet resided in Ohio, that most of those in high Church positions came from there, and that the Missouri Saints had not participated in rapid developments in Church organization. To allay these feelings, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders were directed by revelation to sit in council with the Saints in Missouri, "otherwise Satan seeketh to turn away their hearts." Hence, the Prophet, Newel K. Whitney, Sidney Rigdon, and Jesse Gause traveled to Missouri in April 1832. On 26 April meetings commenced at Independence, in which personal grievances were settled and important Church business transacted.423

Ten days later Joseph, Newel, and Sidney left Independence to return to Ohio by stagecoach. Between Vincennes and New Albany, Indiana, the horses became frightened and a runaway occurred. While going full speed, Newel attempted to jump out of the coach but caught his leg in the wheel. The result was a badly broken leg, preventing further travel.424 Consequently, Rigdon proceeded to Kirtland, and Joseph remained with his disabled companion at the Porter tavern in Greenville, Indiana,425 until the leg was healed sufficiently to continue the journey. While detained at Greenville in the month of June, the Prophet wrote this letter to his wife Emma.

June 6th Greenville Floid Co426 1823 1832

Dear Wife

I would inform you that Brother Martin has arrived here and braught the pleasing news that our Familys were well when he left there which Greately Cheared our hearts and revived our Spirits we thank our hevenly Father for his Goodness uto unto us and <all of you> you Martin arrived on Satterday the Same week he left Chagrin427 haveing a prosperous time we are all in good health Brother Whitneys leg is gaining and he thin<ks> he Shall be able to to perform his Journy so as to get home <about> as Soon as the 20th my Situation is a very unpleasent one428 although I will endeaver to be Contented the Lord asisting me I have visited a grove which is Just back of the town almost every day where I can be Secluded from the eyes of any mortal and there give vent to all the feelings of my heart in meaditation and prayr I have Called to mind all the past moments of my life and am left to morn w <and> Shed tears of sorrow for my folly in Sufering the adversary of my Soul to have so much power over me as he has <had in times past> but God is mercif<ul> [p.1] and has fo[r]given my Sins and I r[e]joice that he Sendeth forth the Comferter unto as many as believe and humbleeth themselves before him I was grieved to hear that Hiram had <lost> his little Child429 I think we Can in Some degree Simpathise with him but we all must be reconciled to our lots and say the will <of the Lord> be done ["] Sister [Elizabeth Ann] Whitney wrote a letter to h|..| <her husband> which which was very chearing but and being unwell at that time and filled with much anxiety it would have been very Cons<o>ling to me to have received a few lines from you but as you did not take the trouble I will try to be contented with my lot knowing that God is my friend in him I shall find comfort I have given myf life into his hands I am prepared to go at his Call I desire to be with Christ I Count not my life dear to me only to do his will I am not pleased to hear that William Mclelin has come back and disobayed the voice of him who is altogether Lovely for a woman I am astonished at Sister Emaline yet I cannot belive she is not a worthy sister430 I hope She he will <find> him true and kind to her but have no reason to |.| expect it his Conduct merits the disapprobation of every true follower of Christ [p. 2] but this is a painful subject I hope you will excuse my warmth of feeling in mentioning this sub subject and also my inability in convaying my ideas in writing I am happy to find that you are still in the faith of Christ and at Father Smiths I hope you will Comfort Father and Mother in their trials and Hiram and Jerutia Jerusha and the rest of the Family tell Sophronia I remember her and Kalvin in my prayrs my respects to the rest I Should Like [to] See little Julia and once more take her on my knee and converse with you on the all the subjects which concerns us things I cannot is not prudent for me to write I omit all the important things which could I See you I could make you acquainted with tell Brother Williams that I and Brother Whitney will arrange the business of that farm when we Come give my respects to all the Brotheren Br Whitney['s] Family tell them he is Chearfull and patient and a true Brother to me I subscribe myself your Husband the Lord bless you peace be with [you] so Farewell untill I return

Joseph Smith Jr [p. 3]

(martin will come with us)

Greenville Ind

June 7th 183/4

Mrs Emma Smith
Kirtland Geauga Co Ohio