TO EDWARD PARTRIDGE AND OTHERS
1833 DECEMBER 10

FC. Joseph Smith, Kirtland, Ohio, to Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Algernon Sidney Gilbert, John Corrill, Isaac Morley and all Saints, Independence, Missouri, 10 December1833, in Joseph Smith Letterbook 1, pp. 70-75, in hand of Frederick G. Williams, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

On 23 July 1833, three days after mob violence had destroyed the Mormon press and other property in Independence, Missouri, Church leaders there were forced to sign an agreement that they would leave Jackson County by the end of the year and that the remainder of their people would be out by the following April. When Oliver Cowdery arrived with this news in Kirtland, Joseph Smith sent Orson Hyde and John Gould to Missouri to advise the Saints in their situation. On 28 September, Hyde and W. W. Phelps outlined Mormon grievances in a petition to Missouri Governor Daniel Dunklin. The governor responded that the laws of the land were sufficient for any redress, whereupon the Mormon leaders initiated procedures to bring the matter before the courts. As news of this development spread, the anti-Mormon reaction in Jackson County was predictable. By 7 November the entire Mormon population had been driven from the county. Although conflicting reports had reached Joseph Smith a few days earlier, on 25 November the Prophet received "the melancholy intelligence" that the Missouri Saints had been driven from the "land of their inheritance."484 That same day he responded in a letter to Church members in Missouri.

Kirtland Mills Ohio December 10th, 1833

Beloved brethren; E[dward]. Partridge, W[illiam]. W. Phelps J[ohn] Whitmer A[lgernon] S Gilbert J[ohn] Carrel [Corrill] I[saac] Morley, and all the saints whom it may concern.

This morning the mail brought bros. Partridge & Carrels letters & also bro Williams, all mailed at Liberty Nov. 19th which gave us the melancholy inteligence of your flight from the land of your inheritance having been driven before the face of your enemies in that place

From previous letters we had learned that a number of our brethren have been slain, but we could not learn from those refered to above as there had been but one, that was bro Barber and bro Dibble wounded in the bowels,485 we were thankful to learn that no more were slain, and our daily prayers are, that the Lord will not suffer his saints who have gone up to his land to keep his commandments, to stain his holy mountain [p. 70] with their blood. I cannot learn from any communication by the spirit to me that Zion has forfeited her claim to a celestial crown notwithstanding the Lord has caused her to be thus afflicted; except it may it may be some individuals who have walked in disobedience and forsaken the new covenants; all such will be made manifest by their works in due time. I have always expected that Zion would suffer sore affliction from what I could learn from the commandments which have been given.486 but I would remind you of a certain clause in one which says that after much tribulation cometh the blessing.487 by this and also others, and also one received of late,488 I know that Zion, in the own due time of the Lord will be redeemed, but how many will be the days of her purification, tribulation and affliction, the Lord has kept hid from my eyes; and when I enquire concerning this subject the voice of the Lord is, Be still, and know that I am God! all those who suffer for my name shall reign with me, and he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again. Now there are two things of which I am ignorant and the Lord will not show me perhaps for a wise purpose in himself. I mean in some respects, and they are these, Why God hath suffered so great calamity to come upon Zion; or what the great moving cause of this great affliction is. These two things and again by what means he will return her back to her inheritance with songs of everlasting Joy upon her head. These two things brethren, are in part kept back that they are not plainly <shewn unto me, but there are some things that are plainly> manifest, that has incured <th[e]> displeasure of displeasure the Almighty. when I contemplate upon all things that have been [p. 71] manifested, I am sensable that I aught not to murmer and do not murmer only in this, that those who are innocent are compelled to suffer for the iniquities of the guilty; and I cannot account for this, only on this wise, that the saying of the savior has not been strictly observed: If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out. and cast it from thee <or if thy right arm offend thee pluck it of[f] and cast it from thee.> Now the fact is, if any of the members of our body are disordered, the rest of our body will be effected with them and then all is brought into bondage together. And yet notwithstanding all this, it is with difficulty that I can restrain my feelings; when I know that you my brethren with whom I have had so many happy hours, sitting as it were in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and also haveing the witness which I feel, and even have felt, of the purity of your motives are cast out, and are as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, exposed to hunger, cold, nakedness peril, sword &c I say when I contemplate this, it is with difficulty that I can keep from complaining and murmering against this dispensation; but I am sensible that this is not right and may God grant that notwithstanding your great afflictions and sufferings there may not any thing sepperate us from the Love of Christ. Brethren, when we learn your sufferings it awakens evry sympathy of our hearts; it weighs us us down; we cannot refrain from tears yet we are not able to realize only in part your sufferings. And I often hear the brethren saying they wish they were with you that they might beart a part of your sufferings; and I myself should have been with you had not God prevented it in the order of his providence, that the yoke of affliction might be less grievous upon you; God having forewarned me concerning these things for your sakes; and also bro Oliver, could not lighten your afflictions by tarrying longer with you, for his presence would have so much the more enraged your enemies; therefore, God hath dealt mercifully with us. O brethren, let us be thankful [p. 72] that it is as well with us as it is, and we are yet alive that peradventure, God hath Laid up in store great good for us in this generation, and grant that we may yet glorify his name, I feel thankful that there have no more denied the faith; I pray God, in the name of Jesus that you all may be kept in the faith, unto the end, let your suffering, be what they may, it is better that you should die in the ey[e]s of God, then that you should give up the Land of Zion, the inhabitant inheritances which you have purchased with your monies; for evry man that giveth not up his inheritances, though he should die yet when the Lord shall come, he shall stand upon it, and with Job in his flesh he shall see God. Therefore this is my council that you retain your lands even unto the uttermost, and seeking <evry> lawful means to obtain redress of your enemies &c &c and pray to God day and night to return you in peace and in safety to the Lands of your inheritance and, when the Judge fails you, appeal unto the Executive, and when the Executive fails you, appeal unto the President, and when the President fails you, and all laws fail you and the humanity of the people fails you, and all things else fails you but God alone, and you continue to weary him with your importunings, as the poor woman the unjust Judge, he will not fail to exicute Judgment upon your enemies and to avenge his own elect that cry unto him day and night Behold he will not fail you he will come with ten thousands of his saints and all his advisaries shall be distroyed by the breath of his lips! all those that keep their inheritances notwithstanding they should be pealed and driven [p. 73] shall be likened unto the wise virgins who took oil in their lamps, But all those who are unbelieving and fearful, will be likened unto the foolish virgins, who took no oil in their lamps; and when they shall return, and say unto the saints, give us of your lands, behold there will be no room found for them. As respects giving deeds I would advise to give deeds as far as the brethren have legal and Just claims for them and then let evry man answer to God for the disposal of them. I would suggest some Ideas to bro William P[helps]. not knowing as they will be of any real benefit, but suggest them for consideration I would be glad that he were here, but dare not advise, were it possable for him to come, not knowing what shall befall us, as we are under very heavy and serious threatening from a great many people in this place. But purhaps, the people in Liberty may feel willing, God having power to soften the hearts of all men, to have a press established there; and if not, in some other place; any place where it can be the most convenient and it is possable to get to it: God will be willing to have it in any place where it can be practiculer and safe. we must be wise as serpe<n>ts and harmless as doves. Again I desire that bro William would collect all the information, and give us a true history of the begining and rise of Zion, and her calamities &c Now hear the prayer of your unworthy Brothe[r] in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant: O my God! thou who hast called and chosen a few through thy weak instrument by commandment and sent them to Missouri a place which thou didst call Zion and commanded thy servants to consecrate unto thyself for a place of a refuge, and of safety for the gathering of thy saints, to be built up a holy city unto thyself and as thou hast said that none [p. 74] other place should be appointed like unto this therefore I ask thee in the name of Jesus Christ, to return thy people unto their homes, & there inheritances, to enjoy the fruit of their Labors; that all the waste places may be built up; that all the enemies of thy people, who will not return repent and re turn unto thee be distroyed from off the face of that Land; and let an house be built and established unto thy name, and let all the losses that thy people have sustained be rewarded unto them, even more than four fold; that the borders of Zion be enlarged forever, and let her be established no more to be thrown down; and let all thy saints when they are scattered as sheep, and are persecuted, and flee unto Zion, and be established in the midst of her, and let her be organized according to thy law and let this prayer even before be recorded before thy face; give thy holy spirit unto my brethren: unto whom I write: send thy angels to guard them and to deliver them from all evil; and when they turn there faces towards Zion and bow down before thee and pray may their sins never com up before thy face neithe[r] have place in the book of thy remembrance and may they depart from all their eniquities, provide bread <food> for them as thou doest for the ravens, provide clothing to cover there nakedness, and <houses that they may> cause that they dwell therein give unto them friends in abundance, and let their names be recorded in the Lambs book of life eternally before thy face Amen finely, brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all unto his coming and Kingdom, Amen

Joseph Smith J[r]