The following are letters written by Apostle Wilford Woodruff to Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve. These letters were originally typed from the original and handwritten corrections made. Below is a copy incorporating the latest revision to the letters. A better typescript could be made from the original letters. The following typescript comes from a the Journal History of the Church (LDS archives) and an independent typed copy of the letters. The original letters of Woodruff should be compared with this typescript.
9 October 1844
Boston, Oct. 9, 1844.
Pres. Young, Dear Sir; After so long a time I am among the saints in Boston and found them all well. I attended a church meeting the first evening. Elder Wm. Smith, George J. Adams and Brannan were present. Elder Hardy resigned his seat as president and Joseph Hall appointed in his stead. There seemed nothing the matter with Hardy but I have not been here long enough herdly to know what is going on. Last evening I attended the opening of a debate between George J. Adams and Orange Backillon, it will last several nights. After I have had time to visit the churches, I will write you again. But as I had an opportunity of sending by Elder Wingate, I thought I would improve it. I am going to Salem tomorrow night to hold a meeting and will not finish this letter until I have been there.
Salem, Saturday, 12th, October, 1844. I have held two meetings in Salem, all is well here. I gave Vilate her letter. I am staying with her at Bro. Felts, she is going to school, she seems to desire to go home. I asked her to be contented as she could and get what learning she could until you sent for her. They are all well and doing well here, I had the perusal of the “Times and Seasons” containing the trial of Elder Rigdon ______are through this country. I felt it my duty to write a piece to the “Prophet” N Y. upon that subject and I have done so as I had a chance to give my testimony upon the same. There has been some money donated for the Temple and put into the hands of Bro. Wm. Smith which I understand he will send up by Elder Adams who is going to Nauvoo soon. I shall urge upon the saints to do what they can for the Temple this fall. I hear rumors every day about the Governor calling out the malitia [militia?] to take the murders, etc. But we cannot depend upon anything. I have one request I wish to make of you. I shall send with this letter a package of letters which I wish you to put into the hands of my brother in-law, Dwight Webster, yourself and see them opened as you might assist him in distributing them as they contain some matter on my temporal affairs, taxes, etc. There is one to send to Bro. Benton about my little boy Wilford. I feel anxious to hear from you and the saints in Nauvoo during the sickly season. I saw in some paper that John P. Greene was dead. I was sorry to hear it for he was a useful man. Father Nickerson is with me in Salem, is visiting the eastern Churches, he is a good man and doing good. I had a good respectable congregation last evening in Salem. Bro. Smith preaches this evening and Adams tomorrow. I hold a meeting this evening and in Boston tomorrow.
Monday, Oct. 15th. I had a good time yesterday, through the day preached twice. The saints seemed glad to see me in Boston. Millerism is now at its highest pitch in Boston. The last time is now set, I think, the 22nd of this month. They have made such a fuss that there has been talk of tearing down their tabernacle, but I hope the people will let them alone. I address the church in this place in plainness upon the subject of politics. I advised them to let it alone and not vote or mingle with it, for I suppose that will be the course taken in Nauvoo. As ever I remain yours with respect and esteem,
Wilford Woodruff.
[October 9, 1844, Boston] the following are extracts:
Boston Oct 9th 1844
President Brigham Young
Beloved Brother
While the Sables shades of night has drawn its dark curtains over the Earth, I seat myself by the side of Brother Phelps table in the City of Boston to spread some of the cogitations of my mind before you . . . On my arrival at the Westfield branch of the Church, An Elder informed me that he attended the New York conference, & their [there] appeared much difficulty arising in that quarter upon a variety of subjects, but Kissing Women [and the] spiritual wife business being the most prominent one, one was turned out of the Church for calling Adams or Wm Smith a raskall; much difficulty appeared to be brewing in New York & Philadelphia; I visited a sick woman in the Westfield Branch. For some reason the subject of marriage for eternity rested with wait [weight] upon my mind. I did not know the cause, as it was the most foreign from my mind to introduce the subject. I enquired of Br. Sparks if their [there] had been any thing said upon the subject; he informed me she had been sealed to her husband. I asked who by, He said Elder Brannan, Editor of the prophet. I was a little surprised at this. He one informed me that Elder Brannan had been through the churches, calling collections for the prophet [and] he got considerable in that small branch. Wm Smith was with him getting funds at the same time for the Temple. This Brother paid him $20 or $25 for the Temple as he was one of the Twelve, the tale to me is that Elders Smith Adams & Brannan are leagued together in all things they visit the Churches constantly & beg together for the prophet, one for the Temple & Adams to pay a debt that he had borrowed in Nauvoo or he had lent so much to the Saints. And preaching the spiritual wife doctrine (as they call it) to perfection. After getting through with this Branch I took cars for Boston, and last night at 8 o’clock stopped at Bro. Phelps, Phelps told me there was a meeting of the church, I immediately repared to the place and in the midst of business went to the stand and took a seat. Some men seemed to be somewhat embarressed at my presence. Elder Adams asked if I came by way of New York and Philadelphia, Elder Smith asked what the feelings of the Twelve was towards him in Nauvoo, spoke of the office of patriarch said it was his right, should contend for it through death & the grave &c. the first business I saw was John Hardy resign his Office as president, and another appointed in his stead, which was Joseph Ball who was contended for strenuously by Brannan & Wm Smith I will confess some feelings came across me that made me squirm all over, I saw their [there] was wrong spirits, conflicting spirits. Elder Phelps was the ownly [only] man that openly opposed Elder Balls appointment, and he was instantly called down, but I knew others felt opposed to the move. I saw trouble in the hearts of men. I had just come in, and knew not what was going on. During the movement I sat by the side of Wm Smith, who said to me: There is an influence using against Br. Adams. But all is right with him. He is a good man. He upholds the Twelve. I will stand by him until death. Winchester has come out against us, and I have cut him off. I asked how Br Brannan came to be marrying people for Eternity. He Says I appointed him to do it. [Woodruff:] His administrations are not legal [Smith:] “Yes they are any Elder can do it that has power to marry at all” [Woodruff:] “It is a right Exclusively belonging to the quorum of the Twelve or the president of the quorum not legal with those who are not Endowed. [Smith:] “That has reference to exclusive privileges, and not reference to sealing a man to his wife for Eternity for any Elder can do that.’
Here the conference ended; the meeting closed and I went home with Bro. Phelps. I, however, gave out an appointment for a church meeting on Saturday night, the whole week is to be taken up with another long discussion between Adams and Bachellor. I soon discovered from various sources that the conduct of Wm Smith Adams Brannan Ball &c had been such in [crowding?] their spiritual wife claims, visiting the Churches, Uniting together in Begging money, running all over all rights of preaching Elders, on the Claim that Wm. Smith was one of the Twelve, the prophets Brother, & Adams was the great Apostle to the gentiles as Paul even was the 13th Apostle (which claim Wm Held up to me) until some of the strongest pillars were shaking, and if any opposed then in their deeds, they would trample them down until presiding Elders were loosing their posts and some ready to come out in battle array openly against the Church. G. T. Leach of New York about to leave. John Hardy resigned and about to wield the pen against the church. Phelps, Dam, Bickford, McAllister, Wal[l]ace, and other good men feeling that they could bear such things no longer with a belief that Adams Smith [and] Brannan was combining with the press to do any thing to carry out their designs, preach polaticks [politics] & voting for Polk for a little gold, and was using an influence to remove all presiding Elders that would not favor their designs and put in such as would. It looks like it in Boston, for Elder Ball has taught as well as Wm Smith [to] the Lowell girls that [it] is not wrong to have intercourse with the men what they please & Elder Ball tries to sleep with them when he can they have tried to remove a good presiding Elder in Lowell to put Br Robins [?] who is in their company, but they would not have this as the Lowell church is shaking . . . If I had not come . . . all the Eastern churches would quickly go to the devil I can
14 October 1844
[same sheet]
Boston, Monday morning, Oct 14,
Elder Young: I am passing along with the times and events. I had my meeting on Saturday night with the saints, had the spirit of God with me, and spoke pla___ to all present, the saints seemed to be ______case of the Temple, among other things, there is some or considerable amount put into the hands of Wm. Smith for the Temple, how much I do not know. Elder Wingate starts tomorrow or as soon __ I have told the saints to put money into his hands for the temple and for him to take their names and await. He has got some, you will enquire into when he come, When I closed my meeting Elder Brannan preferred a charge against Elder John Hardy for Slander for saying they had been engaged in the Spiritual wife business & I immediately achieved Br. Adams & Brannan to let it alone at present & not stir it up as Hardy had withdrawn from the presidency & stood as a private member on purpose to let it alone, But Br Brannan said he was asked by Br Adams & Smith to go ahead & rip it up & he should do so. the trial comes on to morrow night before the whole Church & not a council of Elders. The object on one side is [to] crush Hardy, & on the other to make all Hell over for certainly a stinking mess it will be, you may look out for a storm in Boston. I feel a little sorry that men are so very tenatious. At this time to lay to crush every body that says a word. I would rather they would let things rest a little here, everything that can be ____ up in Boston will go to the work. But I have tried to clear my skirts by giving the best counsel I could. I preached twice yesterday to a full congregation in Boston, had a good time, the spirit of God was with me. In the evening I attended the religious discussion in the Marlborough Chapel, between Adams and Baddleton, there was a large attendence. They took about $80.00 at 18 [cents] each, Adams ___ gained the day, I think in the public mind. Adams was with me yesterday, manifested a good spirit and I think had a disposition to maintain the Twelve, as far as there is any wrong, I think it ______more with Bro. William Smith than with him what he does he does to sustain Bros. Smith, he says as he is one of the quorum of the Twelve, I don’t wish to injure Bro. Adams or anybody else, but this feeling has been expressed to me by some good men that they thought it was a great injury for several Elders to go together in such a way where it did not seem necessary though among all the churches, ______the night and authority _____ the presiding Elders, crushing and _____ them, many feel ______in this eastern country . . .
Elder Adams informs me that you have sent for him. I wish to say that if he is sent out on any administration. I think it would be well to advise him to take act a little more reserved, relative to female society and not to boast of power and authority that he does not possess, but for him to understand what quorum he does belong to. Father Wickelson [Nickerson] feels bad about things here, he is among the ______in the eastern county and I think is doing much good, in the cause of ______takes a rightious [righteous] cause.
W. Woodruff
3 December 1844
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 3, 1844.
Pres. Brigham Young,
Beloved Brother: Impressed with a deep sense of duty toward God, toward you and the quorum of the Twelve and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I cannot leave the shores of America without unbosoming my feelings to you more fully than I have hitherto done; there has been a fire in my bosom that I have tried to smother in my communications to you concerning the affairs in the eastern churches, I have done it, believing that you might think me an accuser of my brethren, and that I should bring difficulty upon myself, but when I see an influence carrying death in all its march instead of life, yea death like the upas tree, knawing [knowing] the very vitals of the Twelve and the Church, sapping the foundation of our cause, shall I hold my peace? No, God forbid. It is true, I spoke plain in my former letters, but I feel to speak plainer still. There has bee[n] a time since the death of Joseph and Hyrum, and still is, when we want men in the vineyard that are men of God, that will act wisely, build the kingdom, strenthen the weak, deal with the wicked, act in concert with the council in Nauvoo and acknowledge the lead to be what it is; but I must say that I do not believe Elders Wm. Smith and Geo. J. Adams to be such men. I believe their whole influence has gone throughout the eastern churches to gratify their own propensities, ron the churches for themselves, set themselves up as great men, to gain an influence unto themselves, ____ every man that would not assist them to accomplish their end, ordain High Priest and exalt men that would go with them and tried to the fullest extreet to do the power of the eastern churches in the hands of men who would give them the influence. I have some reason to believe they have spent hundreds of dollars of Temple money for their own use, and I believe the “Prophet” in New York has been an engine in their hands to accomplish the same end. The chur[c]hes they have visited are the worst off and the Rigdon party have got more out of such churches than any where else. A principle that they call the spiritual wife doctrine is so instilled into the minds of most of the Elders where they have been, that if any one says anything against practicing or preaching it, they think he is an old granny and weak in the faith; but who don’t know that such an order of things will explode any society to the four winds of heaven. I have been in the midst of a number of fires in this eastern land. I have had to contend against Rigdon and his party on the one hand and stretch out my hand on the other side with great wisdom I could get, to try to save the church and the Elders from that vertex of recklessness into which they seemed to be plunging through the influenc[e] of Wm. And Adams, and all these things the quorum of the Twelve have to hear. I feel bad about the eastern Churches they are not out of danger, the New York Church is in a bad situation, & to cap the climax, Wm wrote a piece accusing Winchester of having a hand in murdering his brothers, & he has got out warrants for him, one about to taken Brannan for printing it & have taken Elder Grant for selling the papers & he has been handed over to appear at Court under $1000 dollars bond, & Adams has taken Winchester for Slander & all these cases will come up & be investigated to the fullest extent the character of Joseph and Hiram & the Twelve will be made as black through falsehoods as the Lawyers can make them & all Hell is raked over to get testimony against the Twelve, & others Especially Wm Smith & Adams, & any imprudence that these men have been guilty of or any one else, the Twelve have to bear it. William and Adams at times talk much about sustaining the Twelve, but I think it is for effect more than any thing else. Wm. Smith told Elder Grant that the Twelve had not sustained him, nor had he risen through their influence, but on his own. Neither should he feel himself bound hereafter to defend the character of the Twelve, or be accountable to that quorum, but he was led by visions and revelations for himself. Bro. Grant thinks he was somewhat excited when he made these remarks, but he was led by visions and revelations for himself, [repeat?] and he said he and Adams were sworn friends and that Adams existence depends upon him. William has tried to again an influnece [influence] by saying that he was the last of the Smith family left that had laid the foundation of the Church and, etc. But by careful observation I can see things creeping out that is leading to apostacy [apostasy] and acting against our interest. God knows I don’t want to injure Bro. Smith, nor Bro. Adams. For the sake of the Smith family I want William Smith, if possible, but I know that you ought to be appr[a]ised of things as they are, and this is the reason why I thus write. I beg of you President Young, if you want to save the eastern churches to delegate some one of the Twelve from Nauvoo that will act with you to come and take charge of them for awhile, or some [one?] Besides William or Adams, Elder Grant tells me that William is about to visit the churches again though [through] the east and New Hampshire, etc. I saw a letter from him stating that He had authorized Elders to collect money for him to assist him in his law suits. I also beg of you not to send Elder Adams into the eastern churches, or anywhere else until he can learn that there is authority in this Church unto whom he is amenable and has got some authority as well as himself, for I believe him to be reckless and do not believe he regards any authority in this Church where he is out of the presence of the quorum of the Twelve. He is such a great Apostle to the Gentiles that he is head and shoulders above all others. In these churches where they have held sway I could get but little or no assistance to help us on our mission. If I could, have borrowed the money I would not have asked for a dollar when I arrived in New York. We had only means enough to secure our passage, but nothing to get provisions with and the New York churchraised us $2.50 to help us, but they could help other men. I only spent the Sabbath with them. I then came to Philadelphia to hold one meeting with Elder Grant. I found him just right; he is with us with all his heart, and notwithstanding the former difficulties the Philadelphia Church is in the best order, as good as any one east of the mountains, which Adams and William has visited, and it is a better state than ever it has been since th[e] Winchester friction. Elder Grant is a man after my own heart. He is true in all things. His spirit is not congenial with Adams and William, but goes with Brigham and the Twelve. Has Elder Smith sent up the $150 for the Temple from the Peterboro church and money collected from al the churches, $20 or $25 from Vincent Shirtliff, of Westfield.[?] Elder Grant asked me if he should leave for Westfield, or anywhere else. I think he has saved the church in Philadelphia. I advised him to remain a little until the difficulties are a little more over. Give him counsel as you see fit; he will go where you say. Beloved brethren, I must close, I have written what Ibelieve, keep an eye upon Bro. William and Adams. When I get to England, if I find men fighting Joseph and Hyrum who are dead, the Twelve who are living, sustain Rigdon and his party, introduce and practice the spiritual wife doctrine, to such of these, if they do not repent, I will cut them off. I will go with you. Give me such counsel as you think best; I will follow it. If I am doing wrong in any thing, tell me of it, I will repent of it and leave it. Please take care of this letter, let it not hurt me. My respects to the quorum and all who inquire. Yours in the love of God Wilford Woodruff