Letter from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 28 March 1836

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Letter from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 28 March 1836
Source Note

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Letter,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, to JS,
Kirtland Township
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, Geauga Co., OH, 28 Mar. 1836. Featured version copied [between ca. 4 Apr. and ca. 16 May 1836] in Minute Book 1, p. 198; handwriting of
Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction
One day after the dedication of the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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, the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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met together for a “time of general confession” and drafted a letter to JS. In the letter, penned by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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and
William E. McLellin
18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
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, the
quorum
An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...
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acknowledged their shortcomings, sought the forgiveness of the
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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presidency
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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, and asked JS for a written revelation to carry with them as they departed
Kirtland
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, Ohio, to preach during spring 1836.

The circumstances that prompted the
apostles
A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...
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’ confession and letter to JS are unclear. Quorum members likely felt compelled to acknowledge their faults and express their humility in preparation for receiving the long-promised
endowment
Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...
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of power associated with the completion of the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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. Since 1831, JS had urged church leaders to sanctify themselves in preparation for the endowment, and his efforts to prepare them continued through fall and winter 1835–1836.
1
Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:32]; Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832; Revelation, 3 Jan. 1833 [D&C 88:1–137]. A 3 November 1835 revelation, for example, admonished the Twelve to humble themselves before God before they would “be accounted worthy to receive an endowment to go forth in my name unto all nations”; on 12 November JS promised the quorum, “All who are prepared and are sufficiently pure to abide the presence of the Saviour will see him in the solem assembly.” (Revelation, 3 Nov. 1835; Discourse, 12 Nov. 1835.)
The spiritual outpouring many experienced during and after the dedication of the House of the Lord on 27 March may have also contributed to the apostles’ show of humility.
2
Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836 [D&C 109]; Minutes, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1836, 2:281.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Another factor may have been the opposition of some of the Twelve to a resolution regarding
priesthood
Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...
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ordinations
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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that JS drafted in February 1836; a few members of the quorum did not formally withdraw their objections until 19 March.
3
Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 22 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 19 Mar. 1836. This was not the first instance of tension between the presidency and the Twelve. During the fall and winter of 1835–1836, for example, a series of misunderstandings strained their relationship. Most of these issues were apparently resolved during a face-to-face discussion on 16 January 1836. (Minutes, 16 Jan. 1836.)

The original letter is no longer extant. The version featured here was copied into Minute Book 1 by
Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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around the time it was created. Though the letter is dated 28 March 1836, scribes later inserted a copy of the text into JS’s history under the date 28 March 1835 and directly connected it to JS’s spring 1835 instruction on priesthood.
4
Willard Richards copied the letter into JS’s manuscript history sometime between 1 October 1843 and 24 February 1845. (JS History, vol. B-1, 581–582; see also Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].)
However, JS and five members of the Twelve—including
William E. McLellin
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, who was identified as one of the meeting’s clerks—were preaching and baptizing in Huntsburgh, Ohio, on 28 March 1835 and did not return to
Kirtland
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until 30 March.
5
McLellin, Journal, 30 Mar. 1835; Historical Introduction to Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].
McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).
This evidence supports the 1836 date found in the minute book.
Footnotes
[1]
Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:32]; Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832; Revelation, 3 Jan. 1833 [D&C 88:1–137]. A 3 November 1835 revelation, for example, admonished the Twelve to humble themselves before God before they would “be accounted worthy to receive an endowment to go forth in my name unto all nations”; on 12 November JS promised the quorum, “All who are prepared and are sufficiently pure to abide the presence of the Saviour will see him in the solem assembly.” (Revelation, 3 Nov. 1835; Discourse, 12 Nov. 1835.)
[2]
Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836 [D&C 109]; Minutes, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1836, 2:281.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
[3]
Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 22 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 19 Mar. 1836. This was not the first instance of tension between the presidency and the Twelve. During the fall and winter of 1835–1836, for example, a series of misunderstandings strained their relationship. Most of these issues were apparently resolved during a face-to-face discussion on 16 January 1836. (Minutes, 16 Jan. 1836.)
[4]
Willard Richards copied the letter into JS’s manuscript history sometime between 1 October 1843 and 24 February 1845. (JS History, vol. B-1, 581–582; see also Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].)
[5]
McLellin, Journal, 30 Mar. 1835; Historical Introduction to Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].
McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 28 March 1836 Minute Book 1
Page 198
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Kirtland
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March 28th 1836

This afternoon the
Twelve
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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met in
council
A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...
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and had a time of general confession.

On reviewing our past course we are satisfied and feel to confess also that we have not realized the importance of our calling to that degree that we ought; we have been light minded and vain and in many things done wrong, wrong. For all these things we have asked the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, and wherein we have grieved or wounded the feelings of the
Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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we ask their forgiveness.

The time has come when we are about to seperate, and when we shall meet again, God only knows,
1
During the solemn assembly, convened in the House of the Lord two days later, JS told those assembled, “The time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth and each must stand for himself, that it was not necessary for them to be sent out two by two as in former times. . . . The 12 are at liberty to go wheresoever they will.” The Twelve began to separate several weeks later. Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten returned to Missouri, while other members of the quorum, including Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, and Parley P. Pratt, left Kirtland to preach. (Minutes, 30 Mar. 1836; Esplin, “Emergence of Brigham Young,” 203–204.)
Esplin, Ronald K. “The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership, 1830–1841.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1981. Also available as The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership, 1830–1841, Dissertations in Latter-day Saint History (Provo, UT: Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History; BYU Studies, 2006).
We therefore feel to ask of him whom we have acknowledged to be our Prophet and
Seer
The Book of Mormon identified a seer as a “revelator, and a prophet also,” specifying, however, that a seer was “greater than a prophet.” A seer could “know of things which has past, and also of things which is to come.” The work of a seer included translation...
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that he enquire of God for us and obtain a written revelation,
2
It is unclear whether a written revelation resulted from this request.
(if consistent) that we may look upon it when we are seperated. that our hearts may be comforted. Our worthiness has not inspired us to make this request but our unworthiness.

We have unitedly asked God, our Heavenly Father to grant unto us through his Seer, a revelation of his mind and will concerning our duty the coming season even a great revelation that will enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of Darkness.

Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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) Clerks
3
The members of the Twelve had been selected in a church conference held in Kirtland on 14 February 1835. Two weeks later, William E. McLellin and Orson Hyde were nominated and appointed to act as clerks for the Twelve. (Record of the Twelve, 14 and 27 Feb. 1835.)

Wm E. McLel[l]in
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)

To President J. Smith Junr.)

Kirtland
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Ohio) [p. 198]
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Footnotes
[1]
During the solemn assembly, convened in the House of the Lord two days later, JS told those assembled, “The time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth and each must stand for himself, that it was not necessary for them to be sent out two by two as in former times. . . . The 12 are at liberty to go wheresoever they will.” The Twelve began to separate several weeks later. Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten returned to Missouri, while other members of the quorum, including Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, and Parley P. Pratt, left Kirtland to preach. (Minutes, 30 Mar. 1836; Esplin, “Emergence of Brigham Young,” 203–204.)
Esplin, Ronald K. “The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership, 1830–1841.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1981. Also available as The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership, 1830–1841, Dissertations in Latter-day Saint History (Provo, UT: Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History; BYU Studies, 2006).
[2]
It is unclear whether a written revelation resulted from this request.
[3]
The members of the Twelve had been selected in a church conference held in Kirtland on 14 February 1835. Two weeks later, William E. McLellin and Orson Hyde were nominated and appointed to act as clerks for the Twelve. (Record of the Twelve, 14 and 27 Feb. 1835.)