The First Presidency then issued a statement on August 22, 1992, defending the committee based on an 1839 letter from Joseph Smith. The letter came while Smith was in prison after a period of intense persecution (see 1838 Mormon War), now canonized by the church (D&C 123), that directed church leaders to establish a committee for "gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put on" church members, and the "names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions".
The First Presidency subsequently issued a declaration on August 22, 1992, supporting the committee based on a 1839 letter from Joseph Smith. The letter was written while Smith was in jail after facing severe persecution (see 1838 Mormon War), which is now recognized by the church (D&C 123) as directing church leaders to establish a committee for gathering information about church members' experiences, including their suffering and mistreatment, and collecting the names of those responsible.