Writings

June 1, 1844

Joseph Smith dictated a letter to Joel Hamilton Walker of Boston, Massachusetts. Walker had learned that Joseph had petitioned Congress for authority to raise 100,000 volunteers to protect the southern and western borders of the United States. He wrote to offer his services, but Joseph had not received authority from Congress.

June 12, 1844

Joseph Smith dictated a letter to Washington Tucker of Eldorado, Arkansas, who had written Joseph expressing interest in the Church. Joseph promised to send an elder to him as soon as the Twelve could make the necessary arrangements.

June 16, 1844

Joseph Smith dictated letters to Illinois Governor Thomas Ford and Isaac Morley. Joseph informed Ford of a published account of an organized effort to exterminate the Saints from Illinois by force of arms. Joseph asked the governor for "immediate council and protection." Morley was an officer in the Nauvoo Legion. Joseph advised him to "cause all the troops of said Legion in your vicinity, to be in readiness to act at a moments warning" to defend the Saints against the mob.

June 17, 1844

Joseph Smith dictated a letter to John Smith, his uncle, at Macedonia, Illinois, informing him "that we feel determined in this place not to be dismayed if hell boils over all at once. We feel to hope for the best, and determined to prepare for the worst." Joseph counseled his uncle to retreat to Nauvoo if the mob fell upon them "with a superior force."

June 22, 1844

Joseph Smith sent a letter to Illinois Governor Thomas Ford explaining the difficulties in Nauvoo and asking Ford to visit. Governor Ford addressed his reply to the mayor (Joseph Smith) and the Nauvoo City Council and concluded that the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor was a violation of the laws protecting freedom of the press in the United States.

June 24, 1844

Joseph Smith dictated a letter to Illinois Governor Thomas Ford explaining that his arrival in Carthage would be delayed as he was assisting Captain James A. Dunn with the retrieval of state arms from the Nauvoo Legion.

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