Letter to Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 14 May 1840
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Source Note
JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to [ and , , Hamilton Co., OH], 14 May 1840. Featured version copied [ca. 14 May 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 146–147; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
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Historical Introduction
On 14 May 1840, JS wrote from , Illinois, to and , who were preaching in . The letter responded to one Hyde and Page wrote from , Ohio, two weeks earlier. Hyde and Page had been appointed at a the previous month to serve a mission to the Jews in , Europe, western Asia, and the Holy Land and were proselytizing as they circuitously made their way east.In their 1 May letter to JS, and asked whether they were authorized to publish new editions and foreign language translations of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and a hymnal. They also proposed to write and publish a new volume in that would provide a “history of the coming forth” of the Book of Mormon, summarize its contents, and discuss Mormon theology and the church’s organization. In his response, featured here, JS addressed each of their questions and approved their proposed publication and any other publications they saw fit to write. He also granted them permission to publish translations and new editions of any existing church books except the hymnal, stating that a new hymnal would soon be printed in . JS additionally outlined the leadership responsibilities of and —specifically addressing the question of who was authorized to regulate of the church—and expressed his pleasure in how Hyde and Page were pursuing their mission assignment.The original letter has not been located. copied the letter into JS Letterbook 2 sometime in 1840, likely around the time of composition.
Footnotes
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1
Letter from Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 1 May 1840. Although Hyde and Page wrote from Columbus, they requested that JS direct his response to Cincinnati.
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4
In the letterbook, this letter is followed by items dated June and July 1840. (See JS, Memorial to Nauvoo High Council, 18 June 1840; and Minutes, 2 July 1840, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 148–149, 154.)
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