Communications published as letters

I've heard an objection to Letter VII on the ground that it was merely a letter.

Open letters were commonly used in the early Church to educate all the Latter-day Saints.

Here's an explanation from the Joseph Smith Papers, which provided the Historical Introduction to a "Letter to the Church" in the predecessor to the Messenger and Advocate in which President Cowdery published Letter VII in 1835.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-the-church-not-after-18-december-1833/1

This short letter was published in the first issue of the revived newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star, which was printed in 

Kirtland

, Ohio, in December 1833. The letter was sent “from the 

elders

 in Kirtland,” including JS. Publishing an open letter in the church’s newspaper appears to have been a common way for church leaders in both Kirtland and 

Missouri

 to convey instructions to the entire 

Church of Christ

.

1

 The letter featured here offered advice on preaching, advising missionaries to be tactful and patient and reiterating their duty to “bring about the glorious Millenium” by warning the world to “repent and come to Christ.” This letter also briefly discussed a variety of other topics, including the need to 

ordain

 qualified men to the 

priesthood

 and persecution; the letter’s mention of the “sore trial” of the church may have referred to the recent violence against church members in Missouri.

2

This letter was written sometime before 18 December 1833, when JS dedicated the printing press in 

Kirtland

 and, with 

Sidney Rigdon

 and 

Hyrum Smith

, “proceded to take the first proof sheet” of the first issue of the revived Star.

3

 Two months after publishing this letter, Kirtland leaders published another letter, titled “The Elders of the Church in Kirtland, to Their Brethren Abroad,” which ran serially through two additional issues of the Star before the leadership laid the newspaper aside and left in the spring of 1834 with the 

Camp of Israel

 to aid church members in 

Missouri

.

4

Footnotes

1. [1]

   See, for example, the following letters from Missouri church leaders: “The Elders in the Land of Zion to the Church of Christ Scattered Abroad,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [5]; and [William W. Phelps], “To the Elders of the Church of Christ, Who Preach Good Tidings to the World,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [6].

   The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

2. [2]

   For more information on the recent happenings in Missouri, see Historical Introductions to Letter, 30 Oct. 1833; and to Letter from William W. Phelps, 6–7 Nov. 1833.

3. [3]

   JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.

4. [4]

   See Letter to the Church, ca. Feb. 1834; Letter to the Church, ca. Mar. 1834; and “The Elders of the Church in Kirtland, to Their Brethren Abroad,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Apr. 1834, 152.

   The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

Text of the letter:

The 

Elders

 in 

Kirtland

, to their brethren abroad.

Dear brethren in Christ, and companions in tribulation: It seemeth good unto us, to drop a few lines to you, giving you some instruction relative to conducting the affairs of the kingdom of God, which has been committed unto us in these latter times, by the will and testament of our Mediator, whose intercessions in our behalf, are lodged in the bosom of the Eternal Father, and ere long will burst with blessings upon the heads of all the faithful:

We have all been children, and are too much so at the present time; but we hope in the Lord, that we may grow in grace and be prepared for all things which the bosom of futurity may disclose unto us. Time is rapidly rolling on, and the prophecies must be fulfilled. The days of tribulation are fast approaching, and the time to test the fidelity of the saints, has come. Rumor with her ten thousand tongues is diffusing her uncertain sounds in almost every ear: but in these times of sore trial, let the saints be patient and see the salvation of God. Those who cannot endure persecution and stand in the day of affliction, cannot stand in the day when the Son of God shall burst the veil, and appear in all the glory of his Father with all the holy angels.

On the subject of 

ordination

, a few words are necessary: In many instances there has been too much haste in this thing, and the admonition of Paul has been too slightingly passed over, which says: “Lay hands suddenly upon no man.” Some have been ordained to the ministry, and have never acted in that capacity, or magnified their calling at all: Such may expect to lose their calling, except they awake and magnify their office. Let the elders abroad be exceedingly careful upon this subject, and when they ordain a man to the holy ministry, let it be a faithful man, who is able to teach others also; that the cause of Christ suffer not. It is not the multitude of preachers that is to bring about the glorious Millenium! but it is those who are “called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Let the elders be exceedingly careful about unnecessarily disturbing and harrowing up the feelings of the people. Remember, that your business is, to preach the gospel in all humility and meekness, and warn sinners to repent and come to Christ. Avoid contentions and vain disputes with men of corrupt minds, who do not desire to know the truth. Remember that “it is a day of warning, and not a day of many words.” If they receive not your testimony in one place, flee to another, remembering, to cast no reflections, nor throw out any bitter sayings. If you do your duty, it will be just as well with you, as though all men embraced the gospel.

Be careful about sending boys to preach the gospel to the world; if they go, let them be accompanied by some one who is able to guide them in the proper channel, lest they become puffed up, and fall under condemnation and into the snare of the devil: finally, in these critical times, be careful, call on the Lord day and night. Beware of pride: Beware of false brethren, who will creep in among you to spy out your liberties, &c. Awake to righteousness and sin not; let your light shine, and show yourselves workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Apply yourselves diligently to study, that your minds may be stored with all necessary information.

We remain your brethren in Christ, anxiously praying for the day of redemption to come, when iniquity shall be swept from the earth; and everlasting righteousness brought in:

Farewell.