Authorization for Almon Babbitt and Others, circa 4 May 1839
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Source Note
JS, Authorization, for , , and , , Adams Co., IL, [ca. 4 May 1839]. Featured version copied [between 29 May and 30 Oct. 1839], in JS Letterbook 2, p. 47; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
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Historical Introduction
At a general held in , Illinois, on 4–5 May 1839, , , and were appointed to collect anti-Mormon publications and then publish a history that detailed the church’s difficulties in , in part to refute anti-Mormon claims. This appointment corresponded with a letter JS wrote while incarcerated in , Missouri, proposing that a committee be formed “to gether up the libilous publications that are afloat” in order to “publish to all the world” the suffering of the Saints. At the general conference in which Babbitt, Snow, and Thompson were appointed to this task, JS directed Babbitt and Snow to collect anti-Mormon publications while traveling and preaching. They were to send collected materials to Thompson, who would write the history of the church members’ experiences.Following the conference, JS signed the featured authorization for , , and to use while they fulfilled their duties. Presumably, each man received a copy, but personal copies of the authorization have not been found. copied the authorization into JS Letterbook 2 between 29 May and 30 October 1839; that version is featured here.
Footnotes
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2
Letter to Edward Partridge and the Church, ca. 22 Mar. 1839.
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3
Although the authorization designated Thompson as a member of the “traveling committee,” he was apparently not expected to travel but rather to compose the history based on what Babbitt and Snow compiled. (Snow, Journal, 1838–1841, 50–54.)
Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.
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4
Mulholland copied his own 29 May 1839 letter to Edward Partridge on page 15 of JS Letterbook 2, making that the earliest likely copying date for documents he subsequently copied but that had dates preceding 29 May.
Page 47
This is to certify—that at a general held at Adam’s County Illinois, by the , on Saturday the 4th of May 1839.
President Joseph Smith Jr Presiding
It was Resolved
That , and be appointed a traveling committee to gather up and obtain all the libelous reports and publications which have been circulated against our Church— as well as other historical matter connected with said church which they can possibly obtain.
Joseph Smith Jr Chairman
Clerk
3 Copies, one for each of the Committee. [p. 47]
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Page 47
