Matthew C. Godfrey - July 1831 - January 1833

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Art direction: Richard Erickson.
Cover design: Scott Eggers. Interior design: Richard Erickson and Scott M. Mooy.
Typography: Riley M. Lorimer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Documents / Dean C. Jessee, Ronald K. Esplin, Richard Lyman Bushman, Matthew J. Grow, general editors.
volumes cm (The Joseph Smith papers)
Planned publication in 12 volumes.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60907-577-4 (hardbound: alk. paper; v. 1)
ISBN 978-1-60907-598-9 (hardbound: alk. paper; v. 2)
1. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHistory19th centurySources. 2. Mormon Church
HistorySources. I. Jessee, Dean C., editor. II. Esplin, Ronald K., editor. III. Bushman, Richard L., editor. IV.
Grow, Matthew J., editor. V. Smith, Joseph, Jr., 18051844. VI. Series: Smith, Joseph, Jr., 18051844.
Joseph Smith papers.
BX8611.D63 2013 289.309034dc23 2013017521

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

License for Edward Partridge, circa 4 August 1831circa 5 January 1832

Source Note

Bishops license, [Jackson Co., MO], for Edward Partridge, [ca. 4 Aug. 1831ca. 5 Jan. 1832]; handwriting of Sidney Rigdon; signatures of Sidney Rigdon, JS, Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps, Martin Harris, Isaac Morley, Peter Whitmer Jr., Sidney Gilbert, Joseph Coe, Simeon Carter, Hyrum Smith, William E. McLellin, Harvey Whitlock, David Whitmer, John Corrill, Samuel Drollinger, Peter Dustin, Asa Dodds, Orson Pratt, and John Whitmer; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket and archival marking.

One leaf, measuring 9 7 inches (24 20 cm). The main body of the document and the signatures are on the front. The back is blank, except for two inscriptions that were added later. The document was folded for filing and Edward Partridge added a docket: Bishops licence. The back of the document also bears the notation 1831 in unidentified handwriting in graphite. This appears to be a later archival note written on the unfolded document.

This document was in the Partridge familys possession until at least the mid-1880s, sometime after which it came into the possession of the Church Historians Office.

Historical Introduction

The purpose of this documentwhich attests that Edward Partridge was duly appointed and ordained as a bishop of the church in February 1831is uncertain, and neither the date nor the place of its creation is given. The document itself, which was written by Sidney Rigdon and signed by him and JS, states that it is from the church of Jesus christ and that its audience is all to whom these presents may come. At some point, Partridge wrote Bishops licence on the back of the document, indicating that, at least at the time he made the notation, he regarded the document as a license, which was an official record issued to an officer in the church showing that he had the necessary authority to perform the duty of his calling. The format of the signatures on the pagein two distinct columns, with an empty third one betweensuggests that it may have been intended that even more elders would sign the document.

The document may be related to instructions given in a 6 June 1831 revelation requiring JS, Partridge, and others to travel to Missouri. This revelation commanded that my Servent Joseph & Sidney [Rigdon] & Edward [Partridge] take with them a recomend from the Church & let there be one obtained for my Servent Oliver [Cowdery] also. Neither the document itself nor other contemporaneous documents speak of its original purpose.

The circumstances of the documents production are also difficult to ascertain. The document as it was originally written is undated. The date 1831 is inscribed on the back, but that inscription is in unidentified handwriting and appears to have been added later. The only date in the documents body is the notation that Partridge was appointed Bishop of this church on the fourth of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty one. If Rigdon created the document as a license in connection with Partridges ordination as bishop, the document could have been created as early as 4 February 1831. If Rigdon produced the document as a recommend in response to the instructions given in the 6 June 1831 revelation, he could not have written it before 6 Juneand may have done so much later. Since most of the signatures appear to have been affixed in Jackson County, Missouri, in August 1831, the document was created at least by that time.

Rigdon concluded the main body of the document by stating that in order to attest to Partridges church position we have here unto set our handsindicating the original intention for multiple signatories. JS may have signed at the same time as Rigdon. Since Cowdery had been away from Ohio since fall 1830, his first chance to sign the document in 1831 would have been after JS, Rigdon, and Partridge arrived in Missouri in July, assuming that one of the three had the document with him at that time.

Edward Partridge. Partridge was appointed bishop in February 1831 and was directed in a July 1831 revelation to relocate to Jackson County, Missouri, where he would purchase land and provide inheritances to the Saints. Partridge also oversaw the consecration of money and property by the Saints in Missouri. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

License for Bishop Edward Partridge. This enigmatic document attests to the ordination of Edward Partridge as bishop of the Church of Christ. It may have been a license for him to act in his church office, or it may have been intended as a recommendeither to facilitate Partridges business transactions on behalf of the church or possibly in connection with an effort to secure a government-issued permit to travel among American Indians on their reservations. The document was signed by some of the churchs most prominent members. Handwriting of Sidney Rigdon, with signatures of JS, Rigdon, and others. License for Edward Partridge, ca. 4 Aug. 1831ca. 5 Jan. 1832, JS Collection, Church History Library, Salt Lake City. (Photograph by Welden C. Andersen.)

The church of Jesus christ To all to whom these presents may come hereby testifyeth That our beloved brother Edward Partridge has been appointed Bishop of this church on the fourth of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty one with and by the consent of the whole church agreeable to the appointment of God and ordained to this office under the hand of Sidney Rigdon an Elder of this church of christ regularly organized on the sixth of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty in wittness whereof we have here unto set our hands