| At
Mississippi river |
¶ |
… We arrived this
morning on the banks of the MIssissippi … |
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Personal
Writings,
323–325 |
| Camp
health good |
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A tolerable degree of
union has prevailed among the brethren or camp up to the present moment
and we are all in better circumstances of health apparently than when we
started from Kirtland with the exception of Alden Childs [mumps] …
and bro Foster [typhus fever] … |
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| Joseph
a little lame, side complaint |
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I have been able to
endur the fatigue of the journey far beyond my most sanguine expectations,
except have been troubled some with lameness, have had my feet blistered,
but are now well, and have also had a touch of my side complaint ... |
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And in fine, all the
Camp is in as good a situation as could be expected; |
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| Not
enough men, more arriving |
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but our numbers and
means are altogether too small for the accomplishment of such a great enterprise,
but they are falling daily and our only hope is that whilst we deter the
enemy, and terrify them for a little season (for we learn by the means of
some spies we send out for that purpose that they are greatly terrified)
notwithstanding they are endeavoring to make a formidable stand, [324] and
their numbers amount to several hundred, |
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| Enemies
overestimate our numbers |
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and the Lord shows us
to good advantage in the eyes of their spies, for in counting us the make
of our 170 men from five to seven hundred and the reports of the people
are not a little calculated frighten and strike terror through their ranks |
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for the general report
is that four or five hundred Mormons are traveling through the country well
armed, and disciplined; and that five hundred more has gone a south west
and expect to meet us, and also another company are on a rout North of us,
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| Hand
of the Lord |
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all these things serve
to help us, and we believe the hand of the Lord is in it, |
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| Need
more men |
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Now is the time for
the Church abroad to come to Zion. ... |
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| Company
organized, well supplied |
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We have our company
divided into messes of 12 or 13—each having a cook and cooking utensils,
all that is necessary; so that we are not obliged to trouble any mans house,
and we buy necessaries such as butter, sugar and honey, so that we live
as well as heart can wish. ... |
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| Nephite
plains, bones |
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The whole of our journey,
in the midst of so large a company of social honest and sincere men, wandering
over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionaly the history of the
Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the
Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine
authenticity, |
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| Scenery |
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and gazing upon a country
the fertility, the splendour and the goodness so indescribable, all serves
to pass away time unnoticed, |
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| Miss
family and friends, but happy time |
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and in short were it
not at every now and then our thoughts linger with inexpressible anxiety
for our wives and our [325] children our kindred according to the flesh
who are entwined around our hearts; and also our brethren and friends; our
whole journey would be as a dream, and this would be the happiest period
of all our lives. ... |
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| Lyman
Wight, Hyrum Smith |
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We have not as yet heard
any thing from Lyman and Hyrum and do not expect to till we get to salt
river Church, which is only fifty miles from this place. |
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| Regards,
hope in future life |
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Tell Father Smith and
all the family, and brother Oliver to be comforted and look forward to the
day when the trials and tribulations of this life will be at an end, and
we all enjoy the fruits of our labour if we hold out faithful to the end
which I pray may be the happy lot of us all. |
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¶ |
From your's in the bonds
of affliction. |
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¶ |
Joseph Smith Jr ... |
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