Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 15 June 1835

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Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 15 June 1835
Source Note
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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, 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 the Kirtland
high council
A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...
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(including JS),
Kirtland Township
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, Geauga Co., OH, 15 June 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 92–93; handwriting of
Warren 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
On 15 June 1835, at the request of the
Kirtland
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, Ohio,
high council
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, which JS was president of,
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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traveled to
Fairport
Situated on southern shore of Lake Erie; area originally called Grandon; settled 1803. Located twelve miles northeast of Kirtland. Harbor established at mouth of Grand River, by 1812. Harbor became significant port. Name officially changed to Fairport, 14...
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, Ohio, to converse with John Hewitt and to give him a letter.
1
For more information on Hewitt and the context of these instructions and the letter, see Historical Introduction to Letter to John Hewitt, 14 June 1835.
Cowdery made the approximately twelve-mile journey to Fairport but did not find Hewitt at home and instead conversed with Hewitt’s wife, giving her the letter. Upon his return to Kirtland that evening, Cowdery reported on his assignment in this letter to the high council.
Warren 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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recorded the letter in Minute Book 1 following a copy of the 14 June 1835 letter from the high council to Hewitt.
Footnotes
[1]
For more information on Hewitt and the context of these instructions and the letter, see Historical Introduction to Letter to John Hewitt, 14 June 1835.
Page 92
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To the
high council
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of the
church of the Latter-Day Saints
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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in
Kirtland
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:

Dear brethren in the Lord,
Agreeably to your instructions to me on the evening of the 14th inst. that I should proceed immediately to
Fairport
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, for the purpose of holding an interview with the Rev. John Hewitt, late of
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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, on the subject of the Religion which he professes, and further present him your letter, I have to say, that he I did proceed with said letter, the preceding of which is a copy.
1
When Warren Cowdery recorded this letter in Minute Book 1, he placed it directly after the 14 June 1835 high council letter to Hewitt. It is possible that Oliver Cowdery had first copied that 14 June letter and then written his report directly thereafter. If so, Warren Cowdery may have made his Minute Book 1 copy from that. It is also possible that Warren inserted “the preceding of which is a copy” when he copied the report into Minute Book 1 and that the phrase was not part of the original report.
On my arrival at
Fairport
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, I learned that [p. 92]
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Source Note
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Page 92
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 15 June 1835
ID #
8486
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:342–344
Handwriting on This Page
Warren A. Cowdery
Footnotes
[1]
When Warren Cowdery recorded this letter in Minute Book 1, he placed it directly after the 14 June 1835 high council letter to Hewitt. It is possible that Oliver Cowdery had first copied that 14 June letter and then written his report directly thereafter. If so, Warren Cowdery may have made his Minute Book 1 copy from that. It is also possible that Warren inserted “the preceding of which is a copy” when he copied the report into Minute Book 1 and that the phrase was not part of the original report.