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Source: Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 11 Page: 286 (~1833)

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286 it as a strange thing."-Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 752.

On Thursday, March 21, Joseph wrote the following letter to Zion which speaks for itself:-

"KIRTLAND, March 21, 1833.

"Dear Brethren in Zion:-Agreeable to a notice we gave you, in Brother Whitney's last letter to you with respect to answering your letters, we now commence, after giving thanks to our heavenly Father for every expression of his goodness in preserving our unprofitable lives to the present time, and the health and other blessings which we now enjoy through his mercies.

"With joy we received your general epistle, written the twenty-sixth of February, which contained the confession of our brethren concerned, all of which was to our entire satisfaction. It was read by the brethren in Kirtland with feelings of the deepest interest, knowing as we did that the anger of the Lord was kindled against you, and nothing but repentance, of the greatest humility, would turn it away; and I will assure you that expressions of joy burned [beamed] on every countenance when they saw that our epistle and the revelation were received by our brethren in Zion, and it had had its desired effect....

"With respect to Brother Gilbert's letter of the tenth of December, I would say to him; firstly, we believe he wrote it in all sincerity of his heart, and we were pleased in the style, and composition; but, upon mature reflection, and inquiry at the hand of the Lord, we find some things that are unreconcilable, especially to some: I mean with respect to hints given, that are not clearly explained. As every letter that comes from Zion must go the rounds of the brethren for inspection, it is necessary that there should be no disguise in them, but that every subject written from brethren should be plain to the understanding of all, that no jealousy may be raised and when we rebuke, do it in all meekness. The letter written the twenty-fourth of February was not written in that contrition of heart which it should have been, for it appears to have been written in too much of a spirit of justification; but the letter to Brother Whitney of the twentieth of March, was written to our entire satisfaction.

(page 286)

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