Letter to Oliver Cowdery, December 1834, as Published in Letters by Oliver Cowdery to W. W. Phelps
Source Note
JS, Letter, [, Geauga Co., OH], to , [, Geauga Co., OH], Dec. 1834. Version published in Letters by Oliver Cowdery to [William] W. Phelps, 1844, pp. 47–48. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
Having learned from the first number of the Messenger and Advocate, that you were, not only about to “give a history of the rise and progress of the church of the Latter-day Saints;” but, that said “history would necessarily embrace my life and character,” I have been induced to give you the time and place of my birth; as I have learned that many of the opposers of those principles which I have held forth to the world, profess a personal acquaintance with me, though when in my presence, represent me to be another person in age, education, and stature from what I am.
I was born (according to the record of the same, kept by my parents), in the town of , Windsor co., Vt. on the 23rd of December, 1805.
At the age of ten my father’s family removed to , N. Y. where, and in the vicinity of which, I lived or made it my place of residence until I was twenty-one— the latter part in the town of .
During this time, as is common to most or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies; but as my accusers are, and have been forward to accuse me of being guilty of gross and outrageous violations of the peace and good order of the community, I take the occasion to remark, that, though, as I have said above, “as is common to most or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies,” I have not, neither can it be sustained, in truth, been guilty of wronging or injuring any man or society of men; and those imperfections to which I allude, and for which I have often had occasion to lament, where a light, and too often, vain mind, exhibiting a foolish and trifling conversation.
This being all, and the worst that my accusers can substantiate against my moral character, I wish to add that it is not without a deep feeling of regret that I am thus called upon, in answer to my own conscience, to fulfil a duty I owe to myself, as well as to the cause of truth, in making this public confession of my former uncircumspect walk and trifling conversation; [p. 47]