F.G. Williams Statement of Facts

[_Runtu]

I posted this "you know where" and figured maybe someone here knows something about it.

I came across this last night and wondered if anyone knew anything about this alleged statement of facts from Frederick G. Williams. The citation is this: Statement of facts relative to J. Smith & myself. Microfilm of holograph. Frederick G. Williams collection, MS 782, fd. 2. Church Archives. Does anyone know the circumstances around this statement? When it was made and why?

Statement of facts relative to J. Smith & myself

From the time I first became acquainted with Jos Smith I frequently assisted him let him have the run of my farm in Kirtland two year for which I recd no compensation though he frequently promised me he had given me Several notes for oxon farming utinstials waggon <& ox - [-]>, for the run of the farm I never took any note ne[i]ther reced any thing for it frequently Let him have money of which I mad[e] no account recollect letting him have 10 dollars at one time when making the road up the hill, also 31 dollars to redeem Kirtland currency with about the time we received the revelation [-] Page 240 if I recollect right a revelation was received regarding every one of of [sic] what was then called the firm to give up all notes & demands that they had against each other Should be given up and all be equal which we the [Cause?] that I never got any thing for my farm

I commenced writing for Joseph Smith Jr. July 20th 1832 as may be seen by S. Rigdons permission dated as above from which time up to the [-] of the Hebrew School in Kirtland I was constantly in Said Smiths employ and boarded myself <from which he agreed to give me 60 dollar in a year>

I also Let him have 27 dollars when he went to Missouri with the camp I also bought a patent [-] Silver watch for which [-] agreed to pay $50. …
Use of farm for two years, ox, wagon, etc.

From the time I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith Jr. Which was in the mo of August 1831, I frequently assisted him by letting him have money & other things, among which was the use of my Farm in Kirtland for two years for which I never took any note or Security I also furnished him with oxon chair Sled waggon and other things, not now recollected for which he gave me his note to the amount [of] several Hundred Dollars but about the time we received the Revelation under page 240 in the doctrine and covenants a revelation was received (but not writen) requiring a certain number amoung us (among which I was one) to [-] accounts & give up all notes & demands that they had against each other & all be equal which was done this included all that he was to give me for my farm & the obligation which I held against him &c. but he never gave me any obligation for my farm whatever

[_harmony]

Sounds like he gave Joseph money, quite a lot of it for the time, and then a "revelation" was received (but conveniently not written down) wherein he was to forgive Joseph of the debts he owed him.

[_Runtu]

Sounds like he gave Joseph money, quite a lot of it for the time, and then a "revelation" was received (but conveniently not written down) wherein he was to forgive Joseph of the debts he owed him.

That's how I read it, too, but I'm wondering if it's legit and why/when my ancestor wrote this. If it is legitimate, it kind of gives the lie to the claim that Joseph never gained materially from his position as prophet. But then I don't have any idea if it's real or not.

[_harmony]

Sounds like he gave Joseph money, quite a lot of it for the time, and then a "revelation" was received (but conveniently not written down) wherein he was to forgive Joseph of the debts he owed him.

That's how I read it, too, but I'm wondering if it's legit and why/when my ancestor wrote this. If it is legitimate, it kind of gives the lie to the claim that Joseph never gained materially from his position as prophet. But then I don't have any idea if it's real or not.

Well, it must be real, if it's in the church archives. Why would they keep something under lock and key that isn't real?

How did you come by it?

[_Runtu]

Well, it must be real, if it's in the church archives. Why would they keep something under lock and key that isn't real?

How did you come by it?

It was in this bio of FG Williams.

Yes, if it really is in the church archives, it's legit. Not having access to the archives, I can't verify that.

[_Blixa]

If you remind me, I can try to see it when (and if) I get access to the archives later this summer.


You'll have to really remind me, though.

[_Runtu]

If you remind me, I can try to see it when (and if) I get access to the archives later this summer.


You'll have to really remind me, though.

I may just do that. You're probably going to spend quite a bit of time over there. I don't know if JoAnn Bitton still works there, but she's a very nice person.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

I came across this last night and wondered if anyone knew anything about this alleged statement of facts from Frederick G. Williams. The citation is this: Statement of facts relative to J. Smith & myself. Microfilm of holograph. Frederick G. Williams collection, MS 782, fd. 2. Church Archives. Does anyone know the circumstances around this statement? When it was made and why?

The historical context for some of the facts in the statement appear on Scott Kenney's website "Saints Without Halos." Here's a link on that site to the FG Williams bio:

http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/b/williams_fg.phtml

EDITED TO ADD: Sorry, I just noticed above that you already found this site and provided a link -- my apologies for the duplication.

Statement of facts relative to J. Smith & myself

... but about the time we received the Revelation under page 240 in the doctrine and covenants a revelation was received (but not writen) requiring a certain number amoung us (among which I was one) to [-] accounts & give up all notes & demands that they had against each other & all be equal which was done this included all that he was to give me for my farm & the obligation which I held against him &c. but he never gave me any obligation for my farm whatever

According to Kenney, this refers to Williams's involvement in the United Order -- in D&C 92, Williams was chosen to be part of the United Order, and in D&C 104 (the major United Order revelation), in verses 27 and 29, Williams was given the house he lived in and, along with Oliver Cowdery, the printing office, respectively.

Hope this helps.

AGAIN EDITED, THIS TIME TO ADD: Joseph Smith thought so highly of Williams (at least in 1836), that he named his second son "Frederick Granger Williams Smith."

[_Runtu]

The historical context for some of the facts in the statement appear on Scott Kenney's website "Saints Without Halos." Here's a link on that site to the FG Williams bio:

http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/b/williams_fg.phtml

EDITED TO ADD: Sorry, I just noticed above that you already found this site and provided a link -- my apologies for the duplication.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Rollo. I'm just wondering whether he was speaking out of "sour grapes" or if he was giving an accounting of what actually happened. I think the context of when and why it was written might help answer that question.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

Thanks, Rollo. I'm just wondering whether he was speaking out of "sour grapes" or if he was giving an accounting of what actually happened. I think the context of when and why it was written might help answer that question.

I wish I knew. After being ex'ed he did return to the Church in 1840 and died in full fellowship (in 1842 in Nauvoo), but I don't know when the above statement was written.