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The Wentworth letter was a letter written in 1842 by Latter Day Saint founder Joseph Smith, Jr. to "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. It outlined the history of the Latter Day Saint movement up to that point, and included Mormonism's Articles of Faith. Jump to: navigation, search 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
A Latter Day Saint is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement, and is a follower of Mormonism. ...
Jump to: navigation, search Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: John Wentworth (mayor) Long John Wentworth. ...
The Chicago Democrat was the first newspaper in Chicago, Illinois. ...
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call themselves Latter...
Jump to: navigation, search Mormonism (also called Latter Day Saint theology or Mormon theology and Latter Day Saint culture or Mormon culture) is a religion, ethnic group, movement, ideology and subculture originating in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...
Articles of faith are sets of doctrines or precepts, the belief in which is fundamental to the followers of a given religion and/or church. ...
The letter was written in response to Wentworth's inquiry on behalf of one of his friends who was writing a history of New Hampshire. The letter was first published on March 1, 1842 in the Times and Seasons in Nauvoo, Illinois. Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Granite State Other U.S. States Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Governor John Lynch (D) Senators Judd Gregg (R) John Sununu (R) Official languages English Area 24,239 km² (46th) - Land 23,249 km² - Water 814 km² (3. ...
Jump to: navigation, search March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ...
Jump to: navigation, search 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
The Times and Seasons was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly or twice-monthly in Nauvoo, Illinois from November 1839 to February 15, 1846. ...
The references in this article must be cleaned up to use the correct style of citation and footnoting. ...
Significance The Wentworth Letter is significant for several reasons.
First, it connects the message of the Restoration with the history of the restoration: By these things we know . . . “(Doctrine and Covenants 20:1-17) The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism, written by Joseph Smith, who reportedly had a severe alcohol problem and was an avowed homosexual, despite having several wives. ...
Second, it emphasizes the First Vision as an essential part of Latter-day Saint message. Some have asserted that the First Vision was ignored, and was added to the proselyting message only recently. However, this assertion ignored the 1832 account of the First Vision, the second attempt at writing an official history of the church. Also, it ignores the fact that early on, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no formal and systemized format for preaching the Gospel. (See the Preface to A Marvelous Work and A Wonder.) The First Vision of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Third, it contains the Standard of Truth, the mission statement for missionaries:
“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540)
Fourth, it ends with the statements which later became the Articles of Faith. B. H. Roberts said of these,
“These Articles of Faith were not produced by the labored efforts and harmonized contentions of scholastics, but were struck off by one inspired mind at a single effort to make a declaration of that which is most assuredly believed by the church, for one making earnest inquiry shout the truth." "The combined directness, perspicuity, simplicity and comprehensiveness of this statement of the principles of our religion may be relied upon as strong evidence of a divine inspiration resting upon the Prophet, Joseph Smith.” (HC 4:535n)
Changes The wording of some of the articles was modified in 1851 and 1902:
1. The fourth article of faith originally read, “We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
- It now reads: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (emphasis added)
2. The tenth article originally read, “that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon this continent . . .” - It now reads: “that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent . . .”
3. The eleventh article originally read, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience,..." - It now reads: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience,..."
Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: Joseph Fielding Smith (July 19, 1876 – July 2, 1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 to 1972. ...
“The reason for the adding of the word "principles," and that is the only change, was because the brethren considered when they were preparing the 1921 edition for publication of the D&C, that the term ordinances did not fully cover the article completely. For instance, "faith" is not an ordinance, neither is "repentance," but they are principles. Therefore we felt fully justified in making the article so that it would convey clearly just what the Prophet intended. So now it reads: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances are," and in doing this we were perfectly within the bounds of propriety. Were the Prophet here, he would fully justify our action.” "We have no apology to make for this addition. We have in no sense destroyed the original meaning.” (Answers to Gospel Questions 2:92) In his explanation, Smith overlooked the addition of the word "first", which is extraneous to his clarification of adding the word "principles". The addition opens a formerly restrictive clause, making it permissive. Smith seemed to ignore the other changes.
Related article Articles of faith are sets of doctrines or precepts, the belief in which is fundamental to the followers of a given religion and/or church. ...
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