TO JOHN CORRILL AND OTHERS
1837 SEPTEMBER 4

FC. Joseph Smith, Kirtland, Ohio to John Corrill, Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, 4 September 1837, in Joseph Smith, "Scriptory Book," MS, pp. 18-22, in hand of George W. Robinson, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

One of the darkest hours of Joseph Smith's life occurred at Kirtland, Ohio, in 1837. With economic conditions forgrounded in the minds of the Saints following the collapse of the Kirtland bank, a spirit of discord threatened dissolution of the Church. According to Brigham Young, "Disaffection and apostacy . . . prevailed so extensively that it was difficult for any to see clearly the path to pursue. . . . The knees of many of the strongest men in the church faltered." George A. Smith wrote that "the hearts of many of the strong trembled, and a severe attempt" was made to overthrow Joseph Smith and replace him as prophet. During this time, dissenters were "very violent in their opposition" to Joseph Smith and all who supported him.526

While Joseph was absent on Church business in Canada during the summer, dissenters led by Warren Parrish interrupted a meeting presided over by Joseph Smith Sr., and tried to seize control of the temple. Only alert action by police prevented bloodshed. Upon the Prophet's return, a conference convened to deal with matters and to restore stability. During the conference, three members of the Quorum of Twelve and four members of the Kirtland High Council were rejected. The day after the conference, on 4 September 1837, Joseph appended a copy of the conference minutes with this letter to John Corrill and the Saints in Missouri.

Sept 4th A.D. 1837
Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio

Joseph Smith Jr Prest of the Church <of Christ> of Latter Day Saints in all the world To John Corroll & the whole Church in Zion [p. 18] Sendeth greeting,

Blessed be the God of and father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed you with many blessings in Christ. And who has delivered you many times from the hands of your Enimies And planted you many times in an heavenly or holy place, My respects & love to you all, and my blessings upon all the faithfull & true harted in the new & everlasting covenant & for as much as I have desired for a long time to see your faces, & converse with you & instruct you in those things which have been revealed to me portaining to the Kingdom of God in the last days, I now write unto you offering an appolegy, My being bound with bonds of affliction by the workers of iniquity and by the labours of the Church endeaveroung in all things to do the will of God, for the Salvation of the Church both in temporal as well as spiritual things. Bretheren we have waided through a Scene of affliction and sorrow thus far for the will of God, that language is inadequate to describe pray ye therefore with more earnestness for our redemption. You hav[e] und[o]ubtedly been informed by letter & otherwise of our difficulties in Kirtland which are now about being Settled and that you may have a knowledge of the same I subscribe to you the following minutes of the comittee of the whole Church of Kirtland the authorities &c. refering you to my brother Hyrum & br. T. B. Marsh for further particulars also that you [p. 19] may know how to proceed to set in order & regulate the affairs of the Church in Zion whenever they become disorganized

[Minutes for September 3, 1837, follow.]

Joseph Smith Jr.