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Whiny Letter Exchange Between Brigham And My Ancestor

USU78

By USU78
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USU78 Grand Master

USU78

Posted
Posted

Here is the text of my G-G-Grandfather's letter to BY:

 

CR 1234 1 /reel 37/ Box 27/ Folder 11/ begins image 1414
Front Page: Brigham City June 10, 1860
Simeon A. Dunn to B. Young
Wishes to know if he has or has not forfeited the privileges of being counseled as a son.
Recd. June 18, 1860/ Answered June 18, 1860
Brigham City June 10th 1860
Pres. Brigham Young Dear Sir
I avale my self of this opertunity to communicate to you some of my feelings. Having for a long time had a desire to talk
with you, but having but few opertunities to even take you by the hand much less to talk with you. You will pleas(e) to
pardon me for my thus interrupting you.
I still remember of coventing with you before the Lord in his house at Nauvoo to receive your council as a Father and
you to Council me as a son. Now this is what I wish to know if I have or have not forfeited that Covnent in your estimation.
I have never disobeyed your Council directly to me but once to my recollection and I have repented of that with sorrowing
ever since. That was in relation to accompanying you to these vallies with the pioneers, if any other time I am not aware
of it. Now Bro Brigham for this offense I conceive that you are intitled to my humble acknowledgement which I tender you
sincerely—and if there is anything else that I have done to injure your feelings, I pray you to forgive me. I will say if there
is anything that I have said or done it has been threw ignorance not feeling the responsibility that I was under.
Now I will tell you my reasons why I address you this letter. Ever since we have been in the vallies I never had four to
approach you with that freedom that I did in times before. The reasons which I have never been able to solve which has
given me a great many unpleasant feelings. Sometimes I try to attribute it to a spirit of jealousy. I think when I approach
you and Bro Kimble there is a spirit of repulsion, If I am correct in my feelings I wish to know the cause of this affect. If I
have commited any sin that I have not repented of or any that cannot be repented of is a fact that I have not ascertained
as yet. Therefore, if I have not entirely forfeited my right to your council if you will inform me on this point, and do feel
free to give me a few words of comfort with your council what correct a person. It will be received with thankfulness and
as a preshus jewel.
When I imbraced this gospel it was for the truth sake. I have never altered my mind, but I desire a full and compleat
Salvation, and I am just as willing to comply with any requisition of the gospel pertaining to my everlasting Salvation as I
was to enter into baptism for the remission of my sins. My determination is by the help of the Lord and my good brethren
to strive (not withstanding my many weaknesses) to be worthy to stand the test and gain a selestial glory, not withstanding
I may come far short.
At the time of the reformation I made all things strait on my part as far as I was able with my brethren and have strove
since to live my religion notwithstanding I find I have come far short of my privilege and come short of the blessings
where(?)
No more at this time. I am your friend and brother in the everlasting gospel.
signed: Simeon A Dunn
Pres. Brigham Young

 

To this BY responded as follows:

 

GSL City June 18, 1860
Elder Simeon A. Dunn,
Brigham City, Box Elder Co, U.T.
Dear Brother,
I was not in the least aware of the state of your feelings as expressed in your letter of the 10th inst., neither do I know
why they are so. There neither is nor has been any feeling on my part toward you to cause the feelings you describe, for I
have ever deemed that you have striven and are striving to do the best you can, and know of nothing prejudicial to your
course and conduct in well doing.
No counsel occurs to me at present, further than for you to continue to strive to live your religion as you have hitherto
done; and when temptations assail redouble, if possible, your vigilance, and, so far as I know, no evil power can
overcome you or cause you to come short of the glory you have in view.
Hear (here) harbor no suspicions nor jealous feelings, for there is no ground for them on my part and be so kind as to
ever meet me, and communicate with the friendship of old which is felt and will be cordially reciprocated by
Your Brother in the Gospel
(signed) Brigham Young

 

Okay . . . BY . . . not so whiny . . . Simeon . . . way whiny.

 

Given the late thread in which the principle of man-to-man sealings in the late Nauvoo period, I thought I would share what one such sealing relationship looked like.  Yes, it's a bit junior-highish, but isn't this a great bit of historical fun?
 

1
ERMD Mentor

ERMD

Posted
Posted (edited)

It strikes me as more poignant than whiny.

My last name, too.

Edited by ERMD
2
oats Enthusiast

oats

Posted
Posted (edited)

JS and BY were married to dozens, even hundreds, of men! Wouldn't that be a headline.

 

*By headline I mean a line on my head from banging it against a sharp wall.

Edited by oats
1
Kenngo1969 Grand Master

Kenngo1969

Posted
Posted

It strikes me as more poignant than whiny. ...

 

 

Ditto that. ;)

EllenMaksoud Grand Master

EllenMaksoud

Posted
Posted

Here is the text of my G-G-Grandfather's letter to BY:

 

 

 

 

To this BY responded as follows:

 

 

 

 

Okay . . . BY . . . not so whiny . . . Simeon . . . way whiny.

 

Given the late thread in which the principle of man-to-man sealings in the late Nauvoo period, I thought I would share what one such sealing relationship looked like.  Yes, it's a bit junior-highish, but isn't this a great bit of historical fun?

 

Not so whiny, just sincere and perhaps contrite.  In modern terms perhaps a bit paranoid. :)   The saints were going through so much at the time. I feel so much compassion for them.

USU78 Grand Master

USU78

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It strikes me as more poignant than whiny.

My last name, too.

 

Cuz!

why me Grand Master

why me

Posted
Posted

A kind and loving response from BY to a man who wanted to be right with God, the prophet, and the Church. I admire both men.

I agree. This short letter shows BY to be a kind and gentle man. It was also a time when he had much responsibility guiding the church. And the letter also shows him to be sensitive to the needs of the other. Good letters

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