The Wentworth Letter

[Solon]

Here's how I interpret it.

Barstow is writing a history of New Hampshire and hears about this phenomenon which had its origins in New England, including a few New Hampshire roots. He wonders exactly how relevant the story of Mormonism may be to the history of New Hampshire, and since he has a buddy in Illinois, he sends a ping. He hears back from Joseph Smith with a big long letter which he asks to have published in full, but the material isn't really all that useful. For one, there really aren't that many tie ins to the state of New Hampshire; besides, the whole thing is a very recent phenomenon, and he wasn't planning on going past 1820. So he shelves it.

My guess is that Barstow thought that Mormonism had deeper and more extensive roots than Palmyra and 1820. Every historian has picked up a book during the research process which he thought would be useful, but turned out otherwise. So it is with the Wentworth letter, the worth of which has been exclusively esoteric.

This seems quite likely to me, but I still think it's remarkable that the letter doesn't even mention New Hampshire (when it very easily could have). Did Wentworth only inform Joseph Smith later that he'd solicited the information on behalf of a friend back in NH? Is the Times and Seasons version different at all from the actual letter sent to Wentworth? I assume Wentworth's political papers have been archived, but I wonder if his correspondence with Joseph Smith's letter has survived (since it's from Wentworth's newspaper days). Is the original "Wentworth Letter" somewhere in the Illinois state archives? Anyone know?

[SeattleUte]

Fascinating. Tell us more.

Wow, it's published. I wonder why they felt need to put 1825 on the front cover?

http://www.amazon.com/View-Hebrews-1...389962&sr=1-1#

[All-American]

I think you've hit upon something interesting, TD. After a little digging this morning, it seems clear that Barstow (erroneously referred to as "Bastow" in the March 1, 1842 edition of Times and Seasons) really seems to have had no business with the Mormons. His book, The History of New Hampshire ends with the events of 1819, the year before Joseph Smith's First Vision.

While some passing comments [e.g., here) have speculated that Barstow was interested in Smith because his family had briefly lived in New Hampshire, there is no real evidence either way. Certainly, Barstow's account (published in 1842) makes no mention of the Smiths or Mormonism, and Joseph Smith doesn't mention New Hampshire in the letter.

This final point struck me as strange. Why would Joseph Smith, writing a letter for a historian working on New Hampshire history, neglect to mention any connection at all to New Hampshire? The letter mentions Joseph's birth in Vermont and the family's moves to Palmyra and Manchester, NY, but makes no reference to New Hampshire.

Besides these internal questions, the Wentworth letter, as printed in Times and Seasons, represents the first published version of the First Vision (read more details here. Although neither Wentworth nor Barstow ever published it, if Joseph Smith indeed sent them this letter, it must have predated the March 1, 1842 issue of T&S.

There must be more to this story.

By the way, Wentworth seems like he was a pretty interesting guy - New Hampshire native (hence the connection to Barstow), US congress, mayor of Chicago, epicurean.

"At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, Editor, and Proprietor of the "Chicago Democrat," I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-Day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says, that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow, a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. 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."

[Solon]

Wow, it's published. I wonder why they felt need to put 1825 on the front cover?

http://www.amazon.com/View-Hebrews-1...389962&sr=1-1#

1823, actually, in the original version.

Don't buy the book: you can download the entire thing through googlebooks:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_nA...ummary_r&cad=0

I spent a Saturday reading it once and found it painfully dull.

[All-American]

1823, actually, in the original version.

Don't buy the book: you can download the entire thing through googlebooks:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_nA...ummary_r&cad=0

I spent a Saturday reading it once and found it painfully dull.

Chloroform in print? Clearly not the genesis of the BOM, then.

[Solon]

"At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, Editor, and Proprietor of the "Chicago Democrat," I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-Day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says, that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow, a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. 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."

You've gotta help me out. I'm not sure where you're going with this post. I'm dense, I know, but this is the intro. from the T&S entry.

[All-American]

This reminds me, by the way. In the book on James H. Moyle that I read over the weekend, on his way home from law school in Michigan, he visited David Whitmer. He said that neither he nor Martin Harris personally signed the statement of the three witnesses, but that they authorized Oliver Cowdery to sign it for them. He also affirmed the testimony as it appears in the Book of Mormon.

[SeattleUte]

1823, actually, in the original version.

Don't buy the book: you can download the entire thing through googlebooks:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_nA...ummary_r&cad=0

I spent a Saturday reading it once and found it painfully dull.

No worries. I have no intention of reading it. It's mildly interesting that it's published.

[Surfah]

No worries. I have no intention of reading it.

Shocker!

[SeattleUte]

This reminds me, by the way. In the book on James H. Moyle that I read over the weekend, on his way home from law school in Michigan, he visited David Whitmer. He said that neither he nor Martin Harris personally signed the statement of the three witnesses, but that they authorized Oliver Cowdery to sign it for them. He also affirmed the testimony as it appears in the Book of Mormon.

is there a piece of paper with anyone's signature?

[All-American]

You've gotta help me out. I'm not sure where you're going with this post. I'm dense, I know, but this is the intro. from the T&S entry.

It's the intro to the Wentworth Letter, as published in the T&S. From the same edition, by the way, as the Book of Abraham.

http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n09.htm

[All-American]

is there a piece of paper with anyone's signature?

Apparently, there was, at one point in time, a paper which Oliver Cowdery signed with the authorization of Martin Harris and David Whitmer. Whether that piece of paper still exists, I couldn't say, but probably not.

[SeattleUte]

This reminds me, by the way. In the book on James H. Moyle that I read over the weekend, on his way home from law school in Michigan, he visited David Whitmer. He said that neither he nor Martin Harris personally signed the statement of the three witnesses, but that they authorized Oliver Cowdery to sign it for them. He also affirmed the testimony as it appears in the Book of Mormon.

AA, I give you credit for being much more subtle and funny here than I have been in this thread. Well done.

[Solon]

It's the intro to the Wentworth Letter, as published in the T&S. From the same edition, by the way, as the Book of Abraham.

http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n09.htm

I know (I posted this link too), but what were you using the quote to demonstrate? (I think this might read as snarky or snooty - but I'm just trying to follow you here. Use a "nice" interior voice as you read this to yourself.)

[SeattleUte]

Apparently, there was, at one point in time, a paper which Oliver Cowdery signed with the authorization of Martin Harris and David Whitmer. Whether that piece of paper still exists, I couldn't say, but probably not.

lol

I have a piece of paper signed by Herr Hitler.