The wentworth letter, march 1, 1842 dhc doctrinal history of the church 4. In 1842 john wentworth, the editor of a chicago newspaper, wrote a letter to joseph smith asking about the basic beliefs and history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church. March 1, 1842 john wentworth, editor of the chicago democrat, wrote joseph smith in 1842 to request information about the church for a friend who was writing a history of new hampshire. Many people dont know that the standard of truth is a small excerpt of joseph smiths wentworth letter that he penned in 1842, and the words that joseph wrote before the standard of truth are incredibly powerful as well. Readers might ask themselves, what are the unhallowed hands that are trying to stop the work from progressing. The last section of the wentworth letter has been canonized in the pearl of great price as the articles of faith. If we listened to the declaration of independence or another solemn writing using the same techniques, they would, likewise, sound ridiculous. The wentworth letter, teachings of presidents of the church. This is not a long letter, but it carries quite a punch. The facts found in the bible are to be believed and the instruction in it must be followed. I knew that the standard of truth was a part of the letter, but had forgotten.
Wentworth, joseph smith explained the history and beliefs of the. It is precious to me as a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In particular, it helps us better understand the message of the standard of. The wentworth letter was a letter written in 1842 by latter day saint movement founder. The letter contains a brief history of the church to 1842, including the first vision and key events in the restoration of the gospel. The wentworth letter wikisource, the free online library. The wentworth letter was written by the prophet joseph smith in response to this inquiry.
John wentworth was published in the march 1, 1842 issue of the times and seasons in nauvoo illinois. Although the whole letter runs about three full pages, the rendition of the first vision events is only onehalf page long. Wentworth letter by joseph smith prophet of the restoration published in the times and seasons march 1, 1842 the letter is one of the choicest documents in our church literature. Joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, writes what he calls a sketch of the rise, pr. I was happy to see that there were some great, strong female characters once again. Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in germany, palestine, new holland, the east indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been. The wentworth letter was a letter written in 1842 by latter day saint movement founder joseph smith to long john wentworth, editor and proprietor of the chicago democrat. The letter referred to by the prophet has come to be known in the church simply as the wentworth letter. A chiastic study of joseph smiths wentworth letter provides a wealth of insights concerning the prophet joseph smith, his work, and the. I really enjoyed this letter and am grateful for it being available on. The wentworth letter is the prophet joseph smiths account of the rise, progress. In response, joseph produced what is arguably the best piece of writing attributed to his name. New holland, the east indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected.
The wentworth letter the wentworth letter is the prophet joseph smith s account of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the latterday saints, including the statements known as the articles of faith. What could be considered the preamble to the articles of faith is an exceptionally stirring paragraph known among missionaries as the standard of truth. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the wentworth letter annotated lds. Its most wellknown passages are the standard of truth, a poetic and expansive prophecy of the churchs missionary efforts, and the articles of faith, a brief summary of church beliefs that was canonized in 1880. Philip maccabe the wentworth letter by joseph smith, jun. Quote by joseph smith jr the standard of truth has been erected. The lesser known portion of joseph smiths standard of truth. The project gutenberg ebook of the wentworth letter, by joseph smith this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. In the mission field at most of our meetings we always repeated the standard of truth. Elliots conduct, except by its effects in one quarter, that it became a matter of course the next morning, still to defer her explanatory visit in rivers street. A chiastic study of joseph smiths wentworth letter provides a wealth of insights concerning the prophet joseph smith, his work, and the foreseen destiny of the church. Published in nauvoo as part of the wentworth letter, the articles of faith provide strong evidence of the divine calling of the prophet joseph smith.
President smith answered the letter, which has come to be known in the mormon church as the wentworth letter. The standard of truth was something i said every day as a missionary. Hales said the theme of deliverance is also reflected in the subtitle of the series no unhallowed hand, a quote from the standard of truth in the wentworth letter written by joseph smith. From the life of joseph smith in addition to being president of the church, joseph smith had many other responsibilities in nauvoo. The last section of the wentworth letter has been canonized in the pearl of great. John wentworth, editor, and proprietor of the chicago democrat, i have. The articles of faith outline basic points of belief of the church of. The wentworth letter was originally published in nauvoo in the times and seasons, 1 mar. It is one of the choicest documents in our church literature. Australia, the east indies, and other places, the standard of truth has. Saints, volume 2 features womens perspectives, native. He almost quotes the standard of truth, just before giving the articles of faith.
George barstow, the history of new hampshire from its discovery, in 1614, to the passage of the toleration act, in 1819 concord, nh. Church history, 1 march 1842, page 709 the joseph smith papers. So, have any of you actually read the wentworth letter before. The wentworth letter kindle edition by joseph smith, is just that its a letter explaining about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and ending with what is now called the articles of faith. It outlined the history of the latter day saint movement up to that time, and included mormonisms articles of faith. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that i shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation. It is now called the standard of truth and has been very prophetic thus far in predicting the rise and progress of the church of jesus christ of latter.
The standard of truth is a favorite writing of mine from the wentworth letter by joseph smith. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. In the first two paragraphs, joseph smith explains what he was writing and why. The prophet joseph smith once gave the following statement in the wentworth letter, a document about the church and its teaching that he prepared for a newspaper called the chicago democrat. The wentworth letter and millions of other books are available for instant. While miss silver is her retired governess self, brilliant and factoriented with a strong intuition about what lies between the words of people. Our missionaries are going forth to different nations. To read the full text of the wentworth letter, which i highly encourage you to do, you can access it here wentworth letter. The standard of truth for i too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. Persuasion by jane austen volume ii, chapter xi 23. Gods truth reveals facts and instructions about our physical realm in the light of the spiritual. Roberts 18571933, a member of the first council of the seventy and a noted church scholar and historian, has this to say about the wentworth letter. Barstows initial interest in mormonism may have been prompted by recent latterday saint missionary activity and church growth in new hampshire and massachusetts.
The wentworth letter annotated lds kindle edition by. Captain wentworths writing is a means of participating in the conversation he overhears, and austens representation of the text suggests that he begins the letter without any of the usual formalities. Joseph goes on to explain the book of mormon, and rehearses the mob violence in missouri. Joseph introduces for the first time the standard of truth and the articles of faith. Wentworth letter religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. The wentworth letter annotated lds kindle edition by smith jun, joseph, hunt, bryan a. The project gutenberg etext of the wentworth letter, by.
Captain wentworths letter her reputation for accomplishment. The letter was written in response to wentworths inquiry on behalf of one of his friends, george barstow, who was writing a history of new hampshire. He is the prototype of the new gentleman in the 19th century. The wentworth letter ebook by joseph smith rakuten kobo. We studied the wentworth letter in relief society last sunday. Quotes from the wentworth letter if god had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if he taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, he would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed.
This was very insightful about the lds church and i will re read it many timesi am sure. Wentworth letter mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Read the wentworth letter by joseph smith available from rakuten kobo. John wentworth, editor, and proprietor of the chicago democrat, i have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the latterday saints, of which i have the honor, under god, of being the founder. Barstows last name is incorrectly spelled bastow in history of the church and times and seasons. It outlined the history of the latter day saint movement up to that time, and included mormonisms articles of faith the letter was written in response to wentworths inquiry on behalf of one of his friends who was writing a. Actually the wentworth letter is a much larger document, and in my mind, one of the most fascinating items we have in the literature of the church. The standard of truth is the gospel of jesus christ, its the restored truth, its something we join when we follow the savior. Joseph smiths the wentworth letter basic lds church beliefs. One day only had passed since annes conversation with mrs.
Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in germany, palestine, new holland, the east indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected. The wentworth letter was a letter written in 1842 by latter day saint founder joseph smith, jr. The letter is the letter, written by joseph smith jr. Captain frederick wentworth is a fictional character in the novel persuasion written by jane austen. Australia, the east indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected. President smith answered the letter, which has come to be known in the mormon church as the wentworth letter in his letter to mr.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Concerning to progression of the kingdom of god the prophet joseph smith wrote in the wentworth letter. It is a priceless thumbnailsketch of its history, and is an essential source of key doctrines of the churchs faith. And of course the letter itself is a joy to read, with unforgettable phrases like i am half agony, half hope. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of god will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in. The letter was first published on march 1, 1842, in the. The wentworth letter the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. John wentworth, editor and proprietor of the chicago democrat, i have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the latterday saints, of which i have the honor, under god, of being the founder. Bastow, a friend of his, who is writing the history of new hampshire, with this document. The project gutenberg etext of the wentworth letter, by joseph. The prophets response known as the wentworth letter was not.
384 1104 125 604 334 423 222 107 1448 98 539 1237 1191 253 940 653 879 380 662 424 1172 523 411 1531 1383 783 300 468 1276 829 631 1156 104 1067 146 56