Draft:Happiness Letter

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Instructions · What links here · Happiness Letter (talk: + · bio) · (log) · Copyvios report · reFill · Citation Bot · (Search: Google, Bing, Wikipedia) · Submitted 38 days ago by Skull 36 (talk: D · +) · Last edited 0 seconds ago

The "Happiness Letter" is the name commonly given to an 1842 letter delivered to 19-year-old Nancy Rigdon, an early member of the Latter-day Saint Movement.^[1]^[2] It was delivered by Willard Richards, who was serving as personal secretary to Joseph Smith at the time.^[3]

The letter has been attributed to Joseph Smith by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been quoted by numerous leaders of the Church, including in General Conference. ^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

The letter has been the subject of controversy among Latter-day Saints, because it was delivered shortly after Nancy rejected Joseph Smith's proposal of polygamous marriage, and contains statements that appear to be emotional manipulation.

^ "Appendix: Letter to Nancy Rigdon, circa Mid-April 1842". Joseph Smith Papers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ John C. Bennet (19 August 1842). "JOE SMITH'S LETTER TO MISS RIGDON". Sangamo Journal. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ "Richards, Willard: Biography". Joseph Smith Papers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
^ Faust, James E. "Our Search for Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Holland, Jeffrey R. "The Gospel Path to Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
^ Goaslind, Jack H. "Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Monson, Thomas S. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Benjamín, De Hoyos. "True Happiness: A Conscious Decision". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ de Jager, Jacob. "Service and Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Whitchurch, David M. "Walking in Pathways of Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Monson, Thomas S. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[1] "Appendix: Letter to Nancy Rigdon, circa Mid-April 1842". Joseph Smith Papers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[2] John C. Bennet (19 August 1842). "JOE SMITH'S LETTER TO MISS RIGDON". Sangamo Journal. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[3] "Richards, Willard: Biography". Joseph Smith Papers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[GA1-4] Faust, James E. "Our Search for Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA2-5] Holland, Jeffrey R. "The Gospel Path to Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[6] Goaslind, Jack H. "Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA3-7] Monson, Thomas S. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA4-8] Benjamín, De Hoyos. "True Happiness: A Conscious Decision". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA5-9] Jager, Jacob. "Service and Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA6-10] Whitchurch, David M. "Walking in Pathways of Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[GA7-11] Monson, Thomas S. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

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