Footnotes
JS, Journal, 7 Oct. 1835.
[Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney], “A Leaf from an Autobiography,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Sept. 1878, 7:51.
Woman’s Exponent. Salt Lake City. 1872–1914.
Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:2]; Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:43].
Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A and 4 Dec. 1831–B [D&C 72:1–23]. This instruction was similar to the directions given to Edward Partridge, who had been appointed bishop in Missouri on 4 February 1831. (Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831 [D&C 41:9]; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:31–33].)
Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–B [D&C 72:9–23]; Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:42–45]; Revelation, between ca. 8 and ca. 24 Mar. 1832; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.
Revelation, 1 Mar. 1832 [D&C 78]; Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82]. The publishing arm of the United Firm was called the Literary Firm. The other members of the United Firm (which included members of the Literary Firm) were JS, Oliver Cowdery, Edward Partridge, Sidney Rigdon, John Whitmer, William W. Phelps, and Martin Harris. Frederick G. Williams joined the United Firm on 15 March 1833; John Johnson became a member in June 1833. (Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82]; Minute Book 1, 15 Mar. 1833; Minutes, 4 June 1833.)
The other store was Gilbert, Whitney & Co. in Independence, Missouri. (Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82]; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.)
JS, Journal, 10 Apr. 1834; see also “From Missouri,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1834, 124–125.
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
Frederick G. Williams, Statement, no date, Frederick G. Williams, Papers, CHL.
Williams, Frederick G. Papers, 1834–1842. CHL. MS 782.
Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104].
William L. Perkins, Statement, 23 July 1867, in Franklin D. Richards, Liverpool, England, to Brigham Young, 27 Aug. 1867, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
JS, Journal, 17 Dec. 1835; “Anniversary of the Church of Latter Day Saints,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1837, 3:488; “Cahoon, Carter & Co.” and “Kirtland, Ohio, June 13, 1835,” Northern Times, 2 Oct. 1835, [4].
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Northern Times. Kirtland, OH. 1835–[1836?].
Minutes, 4 May 1833; Revelation, 2 Aug. 1833–B [D&C 94].
JS’s journal indicates that the purpose of the trip was to buy goods for the committee store; a receipt in JS’s office papers seems to confirm this. (JS, Journal, 7 Oct. 1835; Gardner and Patterson, Invoice, 10 Oct. 1835, JS Office Papers, CHL.)
Several historical documents suggest that Whitney introduced church leaders to New York merchants in subsequent years. Entries in Whitney’s account book demonstrate that he began purchasing goods from the New York City firm of Halsted, Haines & Co. as early as October 1833. An 1837 promissory note confirms that Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter purchased goods from the firm as early as 1836. An 1867 statement written by William Perkins suggests that Halsted issued credit to Cahoon, Carter & Co. based on his trust in Whitney. (“New York Account Book, Sept. 1834,” 17 Oct. 1833, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU; Hyrum Smith et al. to Halsted, Haines & Co., Promissory Note, 1 Sept. 1837, private possession, copy at CHL; William L. Perkins, Statement, 23 July 1867, in Franklin D. Richards, Liverpool, England, to Brigham Young, 27 Aug. 1867, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.)
Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.
Smith, Hyrum, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter. Promissory Note to Halsted, Haines and Co., Kirtland, OH, 1 Sept. 1837. Private possession. Copy at CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
JS, Journal, 7 Oct. 1835; compare Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835.
The complete preface reads: “The following blessing was given by president Joseph Smith, Jr. through the Urim and Thummim, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation, on Wednesday, the 7th of October, 1835, and written by president Frederick G. Williams, who acted as clerk.” (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:33–34.)
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
This may have been a reminder of Whitney’s responsibility as a bishop to assist the poor. In September 1832, JS dictated a revelation in which Whitney was exhorted to “travel round about and among all the churches searching after the poor to administer to ther wants by humbling the rich and the proud.” There is evidence that Whitney acted on this admonition. During the second week of January 1836, he and his wife, Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney, hosted a three-day “Feast for the Poor” at his Kirtland residence. Organized to feed the poor, “the lame, the halt, the deaf, the blind, the aged and infirm,” the gathering was also where some of those present received patriarchal blessings. JS joined in the festivities on at least two separate occasions. (Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:112]; JS, Journal, 7 and 9 Jan. 1836; [Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney], “A Leaf from an Autobiography,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Oct. and 1 Nov. 1878, 7:71, 83.)
Woman’s Exponent. Salt Lake City. 1872–1914.