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Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842

Source Note

Times and Seasons (
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Hancock Co., IL), 15 Oct. 1842, vol. 3, no. 24, pp. 943–958; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

JS, assisted by
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

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and
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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, served as editor for the 15 October 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons, the twenty-fourth and final issue in the third volume.
1

See Historical Introduction to Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842.


It is highly unlikely that JS played any significant role in writing editorial content for this particular issue, because he spent much of October in hiding in Henderson County, Illinois.
2

JS, Journal, 7–29 Oct. 1842.


Nevertheless, as the newspaper’s editor, he was ultimately responsible for its content. This was the last issue published under JS’s editorship.
3

Notice, 15 Nov. 1842.


The non-editorial content in the issue, which is not featured here, included an installation of the serialized “History of Joseph Smith” and several articles reprinted from other newspapers on the impact of violence and disease in various places around the world, including the outbreak of cholera in Europe, the slaughter of Chinese forces by British soldiers in China, ongoing labor protests in
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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, and the destruction in Cuba caused by a recent storm.
4

“History of Joseph Smith,” “Passing Events,” “Butchery in China,” “Disturbances in the Provinces,” and “Great Gale at Havana,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:943–948.


Editorial content in this issue included commentary on biblical history, a rebuttal of rumors that JS had fled to
Canada

In late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Canada referred to British colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada, 1791; reunited 10 Feb. 1841. Boundaries corresponded roughly to present-day Ontario (Upper...

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, and criticism of published comparisons of the Bible with the writing of William Shakespeare. Additional editorial content included a defense of JS’s decision to hide from law enforcement officials who were seeking his arrest and his extradition to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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; a passage countering opinions that the Latter-day Saints should flee
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Illinois, in order to avoid future persecution; and an article presenting evidence for Christianity’s general falling away from the primitive church described in the New Testament. Furthermore, the editors included comments on reports of
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

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’s lectures in
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

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, a description of a pamphlet
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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wrote about the church written in German, an introduction to a brief history of Australia, and a request for church members to renew their subscriptions to the newspaper.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
5

See “Editorial Method”.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 7–29 Oct. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Notice, 15 Nov. 1842.

  4. [4]

    “History of Joseph Smith,” “Passing Events,” “Butchery in China,” “Disturbances in the Provinces,” and “Great Gale at Havana,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:943–948.

  5. [5]

    See “Editorial Method”.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
*Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
*Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Notice, 11 October 1842 Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith” Letter from “Old Fifty,” 15 October 1842 Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842

Page 948

Great Gale at Havana.—We learn that a very heavy gale of wind was experienced at Havana on the 4th instant. Several small Spanish vessels were sunk at the wharf, and most of the other vessels in the port received more or less injury. The Catharine, from Charleston for
N[ew] Orleans

Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...

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was lost in the same gale, a short distance from Matanzas—vessel and cargo totally. Capt. Rose has reached Matanzas with nothing but what he stood in. The steamboat Natchez, which left Havana on the 4th for Matanzas, with a great many passengers, was also supposed to have been lost in the same gale, having left on the day of the gale. She had been out four days, when the Colonel T. Shephard sailed, and no intelligence had been received of her. The barque Rapid, Ward, from
New York

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

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, was towed into Havana, after the gale, by a steamer, dismasted and considerably wrecked. The gale was supposed to have been very disastrous along the coast of Cuba. In Matanzas it was equally bad. On Sunday the 4th, an English ship, loaded with sugar, went ashore on the south shore of the Bay, and three-quarters of her cargo lost or badly damaged. A schooner and several launches sunk—sugars wet by the overflowing of the rivers—fences, trees, and small buildings blown down—the barque Velasco driven to sea, but returned in safety. By arrivals at Havana and Matanzas, many wrecks were reported along the coast, and many vessels dismasted trying to gain a port. It is said to be a more severe storm than in 1821.
 
————

Editorial Note
The second editorial selection preceded a reprinted article from the
Columbus

Post village located about 100 miles west of Springfield. Laid out, 1835. Designated as original county seat, which residents of western Adams Co. soon disputed. In Feb. 1843, bill in state legislature proposed that eastern portion of Adams Co., including...

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, Illinois, Advocate titled “The Mormons,” which reported several false rumors about JS and 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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that were circulating in various newspapers in the eastern
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

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. The rumors included a story of an 1841 conflict between the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

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and the
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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state militia in which sixteen church members were killed and a report of the alleged permanent disappearance of JS from
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
following his kidnapping by a group of Missourians and people from surrounding Illinois counties. The editors of the Advocate did not look kindly upon the growth of the church in Illinois, but they nevertheless chastised the eastern newspapers for spreading such false rumors and urged them instead to depend on the Illinois newspapers to circulate accurate details about the church and its members.
4

“The Mormons,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:948. An extant copy of the original issue of the Columbus Advocate in which the article appeared has not been located.


The editorial commentary prefacing the reprinted article celebrated the acknowledgment that other newspaper editors often inaccurately covered news of JS and the church.

We take pleasure in laying before our readers, the following very just remarks, on the common practice among newspaper editors, of abusing vilifying, slandering, belying, and degrading the Saints at
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
. May God reward every person that honors the truth, and speaks evil of no one till proved guilty. A press ought to be a messenger of truth, but many of the presses of the present day, are like the old Jewish whited sepulchres—full of “dead bones:”
5

See Matthew 23:27.


or what is worse, wind, lies, unreasonable tales, and vain speculations upon innocence. But to the article:—
From the
Columbus

Post village located about 100 miles west of Springfield. Laid out, 1835. Designated as original county seat, which residents of western Adams Co. soon disputed. In Feb. 1843, bill in state legislature proposed that eastern portion of Adams Co., including...

More Info
(Ill.) Advocate
The Mormons.—These unfortunate beings—unfortunate in the estimation of the newspaper scibblers—are perhaps the subject of more notoriety than almost any thing else that has for the last year agitated our mundane sphere. All sorts of stories are afloat reflecting on their alleged wickedness and the dangers to which the citizens of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
are constantly exposing themselves by permitting them to hold an asylum on our territory. We saw it stated not long since—in the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser we think—that there had been a skirmish between the militia of the State of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
and the Mormon forces, in which the latter were severely beaten, sixteen lives lost and property confiscated by the ruthless mob who had collected from the neighboring counties, and the opposite side,
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
. Another New York print states that Joe Smith has been kidnapped and taken, no one knew where—that the greatest disorder and excitement pervade the
Holy City

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
. These stories, got up by the scullions of the press, may all do very well in the East, were alone a morbid taste for mystery and a delight for evil seems to be coeval with their existence. But it is passing strange to us how any well informed editor—Col. Stone for instance; can give publicity to these “idle tales, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Here, in our own
State

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
, where Mormonism rears its bold front, these vague rumors and strange disclosures, only excite the ridicule and contempt they so justly deserve. Would it not be as well, if the eastern press would desist from their course, and bestow their sympathies upon the more charitable subjects who are the immediate causes of so much misery in their own vicinities? We think so.
 
————

Editorial Note
An editorial in this issue titled “Turned into Fables” criticized a newspaper article’s recent comparison of the writings of William Shakespeare to the writings that compose the books of the Bible. While the editors of the Times and Seasons expressed appreciation for the writings of men such as Shakespeare, they interpreted such comparisons as disrespectful to religion. The editors recollected with some uncertainty that the article making the comparison had appeared in the New York Tribune, and they excerpted the article in their own newspaper, but the article does not appear in any extant issue of the Tribune. It is unclear what paper originally featured the article.

“TURNED INTO FABLES.”
The last attempt, as a perversion of the bible, to be met with in these last days, is a comparison of the profligate theatrical writer, Wm. Shakspeare, with the inspired writers of the Holy Scriptures, published, if we mistake not, in the N. Y. Tribune. We love to see quotations from the sacred writings, and have no objections to observe gleanings from profane writers, but to set up in a parallel comparison, Shakspeare with the prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Christ, shows a want of veneration for religion, and introduces a practice, in this (so much boasted) enlightened age, at once calculated to place vice before virtue and vanity before sanctity. Such a light minded course, put the Christian behind the [p. 948]
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Page 948

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
ID #
8158
Total Pages
16
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:155–174
Handwriting on This Page
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Footnotes

  1. [4]

    “The Mormons,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:948. An extant copy of the original issue of the Columbus Advocate in which the article appeared has not been located.

  2. [5]

    See Matthew 23:27.

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