Draft:Happiness Letter

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. It was delivered by Willard Richards, who was serving as personal secretary to Joseph Smith at the time.

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.

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.

Full Text of the Letter

Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know, unless we comply with or keep those we have already received. That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said thou shalt not kill,—at another time he said thou shalt utterly destroy. This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted—by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon—first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every desire of his heart,4 even things which might be considered abominable to all who do not understand the order of heaven only in part, but which, in reality, were right, because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation. A parent may whip a child, and justly too, because he stole an apple; whereas, if the child had asked for the apple, and the parent had given it, the child would have eaten it with a better appetite, there would have been no stripes—all the pleasures of the apple would have been received, all the misery of stealing lost. This principle will justly apply to all of God’s dealings with his children. Every thing that God gives us is lawful and right, and ’tis proper that we should enjoy his gifts and blessings whenever and wherever he is disposed to bestow; but if we should seize upon these same blessings and enjoyments without law, without revelation, without commandment, those blessings and enjoyments would prove cursings and vexations in the end, and we should have to lie down in sorrow and wailings of everlasting regret. But in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed, and as God has designed our happiness, the happiness of all his creatures, he never has, he never will, institute an ordinance, or give a commandment to his people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which he has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his laws and ordinances. Blessings offered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, but become like the talent hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant—the proffered good returns to the giver, the blessing is bestowed on those who will receive, and occupy; for unto him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly; but unto him that hath not, or will not receive, shall be taken away that which he hath, or might have had.

“Be wise to-day, ’tis madness to defer.
Next day the fatal precedent may plead:
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time”

Into eternity.

Our heavenly father is more liberal in his views, and boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive, and at the same time is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of his punishments, and more ready to detect every false way than we are apt to suppose him to be. He will be enquired of by his children—he says ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, but if ye will take that which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be rewarded according to your deeds, but no good thing will I withhold from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all things, who will listen to my voice, and to to the voice of my servant whom I have sent, for I delight in those who seek diligently to know my precepts, and abide by the laws of my kingdom, for all things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in the end they shall have joy.

Controversy

Joseph Smith secretly proposed to 19-year-old Nancy Rigdon (daughter of church leader Sidney Rigdon) in April 1842. Joseph was 36-years-old at the time. Nancy refused and in response, Joseph sent her this letter. Willard Richards delivered the letter with instructions to burn the letter immediately after reading it.

The Mormon Discussions Podcast described this letter as an example of "Joseph Smith’s manipulation of vulnerable women in order to pressure them into a polygamous relationships."

In an episode of the Mormon Stories Podcast, psychologist Dr. John Dehlin points out how the letter alternates between promises for complying with polygamy and threats for refusing, following a clear pattern of emotional manipulation.

Authorship Debate

Scholars and commentators have debated the authorship of the letter. However, no plausible candidate has been suggested other than Joseph Smith.

The Joseph Smith Papers has featured the letter as an appendix, citing that Joseph Smith's authorship is uncertain.

Leaders of both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship have affirmed their belief that it was written by Joseph Smith. General Authorities of the LDS Church have quoted the letter repeatedly, attributing it to Joseph Smith both in General Conference and official church publications.