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The letter was written in response to Wentworth's inquiry on behalf of one of his friends who was writing a history of New Hampshire . The letter was first published on March 1 , 1842 in the '' Times And Seasons '' in Nauvoo, Illinois .


SIGNIFICANCE


The Wentworth Letter is significant for several reasons.

First, it connects the message of the Restoration with the history of the restoration: By these things we know . . . “( Doctrine And Covenants 20:1-17)

Second, it emphasizes the First Vision as an essential part of Latter-day Saint message. Some have asserted that the First Vision was ignored, and was added to the proselyting message only recently. However, this assertion ignored the 1832 account of the First Vision, the second attempt at writing an official history of the church. Also, it ignores the fact that early on, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no formal and systemized format for preaching the Gospel. (See the Preface to ''A Marvelous Work and A Wonder''.)

Third, it contains the Standard of Truth, the mission statement for missionaries:

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540)

Fourth, it ends with the statements which later became the Articles of Faith. B. H. Roberts said of these,


“These Articles of Faith were not produced by the labored efforts and harmonized contentions of scholastics, but were struck off by one inspired mind at a single effort to make a declaration of that which is most assuredly believed by the church, for one making earnest inquiry shout the truth."



"The combined directness, perspicuity, simplicity and comprehensiveness of this statement of the principles of our religion may be relied upon as strong evidence of a divine inspiration resting upon the Prophet, Joseph Smith.” (HC 4:535n)



CHANGES


The wording of some of the articles was modified in 1851 and 1902:

1. The fourth article of faith originally read, “We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
  • It now reads: “We believe that ''the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel'' are: 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (emphasis added)


2. The tenth article originally read, “that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon this continent . . .”
  • It now reads: “that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon ''the American'' continent . . .”


3. The eleventh article originally read, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience,..."
  • It now reads: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our ''own'' conscience,..."



Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:


“The reason for the adding of the word "principles," and that is the only change, was because the brethren considered when they were preparing the 1921 edition for publication of the D&C, that the term ordinances did not fully cover the article completely. For instance, "faith" is not an ordinance, neither is "repentance," but they are principles. Therefore we felt fully justified in making the article so that it would convey clearly just what the Prophet intended. So now it reads: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances are," and in doing this we were perfectly within the bounds of propriety. Were the Prophet here, he would fully justify our action.”



"We have no apology to make for this addition. We have in no sense destroyed the original meaning.” (''Answers to Gospel Questions'' 2:92)


In his explanation, Smith overlooked the addition of the word "first", which is extraneous to his clarification of adding the word "principles". The addition opens a formerly restrictive clause, making it permissive.


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