[Joseph Smith Diary] April 9th Letter Sent to John Whitmer in consequence of [his] with[h]olding the records of the Church in the City of Far West when called for by the Clerk &c.
Far West, April 9th 1838
Mr. J[ohn] Whitmer,
Sir, We were desireous of hononoring you by giving publicity to your notes on the history of the Church of Latter-day Saints After Such corrections as we thought would be necessary. Knowing your incompetency as a historian and that your writings coming from your pen could not be put to the press without our correcting them, or elce [else] the Church must Suffer reproach.
Indeed Sir, we never Supposed you capable of writing a history, but were willing to let it come out under your name notwithstanding it would real[l]y not be yours but ours. We are still willing to honour you if you can be made to know your own interest and give up your notes, so that they can be corrected, and made fit for the press. But if not, we have all the materials for another, which we Shall commence this week to write.
Your humble Servents,
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Sidney Rigdon
Presidents of the whole
Church of Latter-day Saints
Attest[ed by]
E[benezer] Robinson, Clerk
N.B.* over {page 28)
* The preceding letter to John Whitmer was entered through a mistake occupying a space not belonging to it notwithstanding in its place.
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1838, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
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