| Difficulties between Sylvester Smith and Joseph
Smith arose during Zion's Camp. Sylvester complained to council, which
found Joseph's conduct blameless. Sylvester perfectly satisfied, regrets
trouble he caused with his accusations. Testifies the work is true and
must endure. |
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DEAR BROTHER,— |
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BROTHER: Oliver Cowdery, editor of the Messenger and
Advocate
Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1 no. 1 (October 1834): 11. |
| Critical
reports of Joseph's conduct |
¶ |
Having heard that certain reports are circulating abroad, prejudicial
to the character of bro. JOSEPH SMITH Jr. and that said reports purport
to have come from me, I have thought proper to give the public a plain
statement of the fact concerning this matter. |
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Difficulties arose
on trip
Presented grievances to council
Investigation of several days
Joseph's conduct worthy
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It is true, that some difficulties arose between bro. J. Smith Jr. and
myself, in our travels the past summer to Missouri: and that on our return
to this place I laid my grievances before a general council, where they
were investigated in full, in an examination which lasted several days;
and the result showed to the satisfaction all present, I believe; but especially
to myself, that in all things bro. J. S. jr. had conducted worthily, and
adorned his profession as a man of God, while journeying to and from Missouri. |
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Confess my faults
Accusations unfounded
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And it is no more than just that I should confess my faults by saying
unto all people, so far as your valuable and instructive paper has circulation,
that the things that I accused bro. S. of were without foundation; as was
most clearly proven by the evidence which was called, to my satisfaction. |
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| Thought he had inadvertently
erred |
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And in fact, I
have not at any time withdrawn my confidence, and fellowship from bro.
J. S. jr. but thought that he had inadvertently erred, being but flesh
and blood, like the rest of Adam's family.
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Joseph is flesh and blood like the rest of
us. |
Perfectly satisfied
Suspicions unfounded
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But I am now perfectly satisfied that the errors of which I accused him,
before the council, did not exist, and were never committed by him; and
my contrition has been and still continues to be deep, because I admitted
thoughts into my heart which were not right concerning him, and because
that I have been the means of giving rise to reports which have gone abroad,
censuring the conduct, of bro. J. S. jr. which reports are without foundation. |
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| Wants to stop
evil reports and censurings |
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And I hope, that this disclosure of the truth, written by my own hand,
and sent abroad into the world, through the medium of the Messenger and
Advocate, will put a final end to all evil reports and censurings, which
have sprung out of any thing that I have said or done. |
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Distressed by what
has happened
The work is true |
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I wish still further to state, for the better relief of my own feelings,
which, you must be sensible, are deeply wounded, in consequence of what
has happened, that I know for myself; because I have received testimony
from the heavens, that the work of the Lord, brought forth by means of
the book of Mormon, in our day, through the instrumentality of bro. JOSEPH
SMITH jr. is eternal truth, and must stand, though the heavens and the
earth pass away. |
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The work was brought about by means of the
Book of Mormon. |
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¶ |
Please give publicity to the above, and oblige a lover of righteousness
and truth. |
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Yours in the testimony of Jesus. |
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SYLVESTER SMITH. |
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To O. COWDERY. |
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Kirtland, October, 28, 1834. |
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Minutes
of August 21, 1834
Minutes of August 7, 1834
Zion's Camp
Kirtland 1834
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