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Source: Church History Vol. 2 Chapter 9 Page: 148 (~1838)

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148 detained on account of the ill health of his wife. They will probably be here soon.

"'Choice seeds of all kinds of fruit, also choice breed of cattle, would be in much demand; and best blood of horses, garden seeds of every description, and hay seeds of all sorts, are much needed in this place.

"'Very respectfully I subscribe myself your servant in Christ, our Lord and Savior,

"'Joseph Smith, Jr.

"'President of the Church of Christ of

Latter Day Saints.'"

-Millennial Star, vol. 16, pp. 130, 131.

Sidney Rigdon arrived at Far West with his family on April 4, 1838.

At the time of John Whitmer's expulsion he was the official historian of the church. He refused to give up the records, and by some it has been claimed that the church never obtained access to them. 1

This, however, does not agree with the statement made by Ebenezer Robinson in 1889, who was the clerk writing the letter above referred to for the Presidency. 2

We have been unable to learn the whereabouts of either the original or the copy.

In June, 1896, we made a special trip to Richmond, Missouri, for the purpose of obtaining a view of the original, but were unsuccessful. We were courteously treated by the Whitmer family and Elder Philander Page; but none of them could locate the present whereabouts of the record. Mr. George Schweich, a grandson of David Whitmer, gave

1 After his excommunication from the church John Whitmer refused to deliver up the church documents in his possession to the proper authorities, which gave occasion for quite a severe letter from Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. The records, however, were never obtained; they are now [1888] in the custody of John C. Whitmer (a nephew of John Whitmer) who resides in Richmond, Clay County, Missouri.-Historical Record, p. 613.

2 No attention was paid to the foregoing letter by John Whitmer, as, perhaps, he thought he would not be justified in thus surrendering the work which had been assigned him by revelation. The record was subsequently obtained however, and brought to our house, where we copied the entire record into another book, assisted a part of the time, by Dr. Levi Richards.-The Return, vol. 1, p. 133.

(page 148)

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