Letter to Oliver

2009-6-25 03:57:00

I did some digging on that letter written by Joseph [Smith] inviting Oliver Cowdery back into the church. Apparently it was not in Donna Hill's book. I must have read it somewhere else. There's no record of his responding to Joseph, but he did respond to the letter from the Twelve [Apostles of the Mormon Church].

Here are two references to it:

Scott H. Faulring, "The Return of Oliver Cowdery," pages 4-5

"Background: During a six year period (1842-1848) Phineas Young, brother of Brigham Young, and brother in law of Cowdery (Phineas being married to Oliver's half sister Lucy) continually wrote and paid visits to Oliver. At the same time, Church leaders were feeling after Oliver. For example, Willard Richards, who kept the Prophet Joseph Smith's journal was directed by Joseph in the spring of 1843 to "Write to Oliver Cowdery and ask him if he has not eaten husks long enough, if he is not most ready to return." The Twelve sent a letter to Oliver with an invitation to return to the fold which among other things stated, "your brethren are ready to receive you. . . . Your dwelling place you know ought to be in Zion." Cowdery received the letter December 20, 1843.Just five days later (Christmas day) Oliver responded in a friendly manner, but was not quite ready to re-claim his Church membership as he felt the circumstances surrounding his excommunication had not been examined in their true light."

From "The History of the Church," Vol. 5, Chapt. 19, pg. 368:

"Write to Oliver Cowdery and ask him if he has not eaten husks long enough? If he is not almost ready to return, be clothed with robes of righteousness, and go up to Jerusalem? Orson Hyde hath need of him. (A letter was written accordingly.)"