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In the book The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, pg 84, By Stephen C. Lesueur, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wrote a letter and signed an affidavit saying " We hereby certify that we have learned that a Mr. Nathan Marsh has certified that the people some time called Mormons have ingratiated themsleves with the Indians, for the purpose of getting the Indians to commit depredations upon the people of this state, which certificate of Marsh (as represented to us) is utterly false. We have never had any communication with the Indians on any subject; and we, and all the Mormon chruch, as we believe, entertain the same feelings and fears towards the Indians that are entertained by other citizens of this state. We are friendly to the constitution and laws of this state and of the United States and wish to see them enforced."

This was published in the Columbia Patriot.

The thing that leaped out a me was ''We have never had any communication with the Indians on any subject"

I would appreciate any thoughts and really would like to hear from TBM's on this article that appeared in the newspaper.

How does this compare to the incidents of the early Saints going to preach to the Indians, and Joseph Smith pre-mentioning polygamy with his cryptic explanation to a guy that married LDS men would take Indian women to be their wives, etc.

I believe that missionaries were sent to preach to Indians in Missouri in 1930. The revelation you refer to Seth was given in 1831.

So these wouldn't be the same Indians, right?

Can't tell if you're joking or not Seth. Its not a period I'm as familiar with as others, but Missouri natives are Missouri natives---except when they're Lamanites. Maybe that's what Joseph Smith meant.