At the Mississippi River, Joseph reports on Zion's Camp. Health of Camp members. Young Addison Wren in Joseph's care §. Enemies believe the Camp is much larger than the actual 170 §. More men and means are needed §. Roaming Nephite plains, discover artifacts §. Pleasant journey §. Expect
to meet up with Hyrum and Lyman Wight's company from Michigan at Salt River §. |
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On the banks of the Mississippi,
June 4th 1834 |
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Letterbook-2, 56–59. Copyist James Mulholland (1839). |
| Dear Companion |
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My Dear Companion, I now embrace
a few moments to dictate a few words that you may know how it is with us
up to this date. |
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| At
Mississippi river |
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We arrived this morning
on the banks of the Mississippi and were detained from crossing the river,
as there was no boat that we could cross in, but expect a new one to be
put into the river this evening, so that we are in hopes, to be able to cross to morrow, and proceed on our journey. |
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| 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 who is sick with the Mumps attended with
[57] Considerable fever in consequence of taking Cold—and bro Foster who Came from Genseeo who was taken last evening with the Typhus Fever, but are both better to day, and we are in hopes will be able to proceed on their journey to morrow, |
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| Joseph
a little lame |
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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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| Harpin Riggs |
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Bro Harper [Harpin] Riggs is now able to
travel all day & his health is improving very fast, as is the case
with all the weakly ones. |
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| Addison Wren |
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Addison Wren has been an exceeding
good boy and has been very obedient to me in all things, as much as so
tho I was his own father, and is healthy and able to travel all day. |
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Addison Wren:
Jessee adds [Greene]. PWJS, 345, 673. Neither he nor FamilySearch
genealogical records give a middle name for Addison Greene. |
| William |
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William has been some unwell, but
is now enjoying good health |
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William: not the Prophet's brother |
| George |
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George [A. Smith] has been afflicted with
his eyes, but they are getting better, 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, 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[y]
make of our 170 men from five to Seven hundred And the reports of the
people are not a little Calculated [to] 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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| Pray for more men and means |
¶ |
It is our prayer day and night
that God will open the heart of the Churches to pour in men and means
to assist us, for the redemption of Zion And upbuilding of Zion. |
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| Kirtland elders should come |
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We want
the Elders in Kirtland to use every exertion to influence the Church to
come speedily to our relief. Let them Come pitching their tents by the
way, remembering to keep the Sabbath day according to the articles And
Covenants the same as at home, buying flour and cooking their own provision
which they can do, with little trouble, and the expence will be trifling. |
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| Food |
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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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| Food prices |
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After we left the eastern part of the State of Ohio we could get provision on an average as follows; flour by the hundred $1.50, bacon from 4 ½ to 6 dollar per Hundred butter from 6 to 8 cents president pound, honey from 3 to 4 shilling the gallon, new milk from 4 to 6 ct for gallon. |
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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 [58] accasionaly 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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| Beautiful countryside |
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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 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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We learn this journey how to travel,
And we look with pleasing Anticipation for the time to come, when we shall
retrace our steps, and take this journey again in the enjoyment and embrace
of that society we so much love, which Society can only cause us to have
any desire or lingering thoughts of that which is below. |
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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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Lyman Wight |
| Regards,
hope in future life |
¶ |
Tell Father Smith
And all the family, And broth.. 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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Double periods original. |
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From your's in the bonds
of affliction. |
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Joseph Smith Jr |
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| Returning note that couldn't be
cashed |
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N. B. The enclosed bill we could
not get changed and is of no use to us now, and we send [it] to you & sister
Williams to be divided between you, that you may be able to procure such
necessaries as you need &c. |
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Frederick G. Williams Note |
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| Writes Oliver weekly |
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I embrace this opportunity to fill
up this sheet to you, my beloved companion, not that I have anything important
to Communicate, but remembering your request to write to you while on the
road, but as I write every week to brother Oliver, you will know all the
particulars of our journey.
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| Away from camp last Sunday |
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In Consequence of my being away
from the encampment last sunday (the cause you will see in my next to Oliver)
[I] did not write to him as usual but Shall now embrace the first opportunity
to bring up my journal which you will find some what more interesting,
than Any previous to it— |
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Use money wisely
Family circle |
¶ |
I want you to make use of the money
I send you in wisdom, for such things as you need, And make yourselves
comfortable And Contented as you can And continue to pray to the Lord to
hasten the day when we shall be permitted to behold each other’s
face again And enjoy the blessing of the family Circle in peace and in
righteousness, And be prepared to meet every event that awaits us in life.
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| Children obey parents |
¶ |
Tell the Children to remember that
passage of scripture which says, “Children obey your parents in all
things,” for this is right, and God will bless them.
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| Treated well on the road |
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I [59] Can truly say, we have been
treated with respect by the people while on the road, have met with no
insult except now And then an instance when the spies have Seen our brethren
away from the camp. |
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| Pray for each other |
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For want of room I must stop writing,
but in due time after I arrive to my place of destination will take An
opportunity to write more fully. Be assured that I always remember you
to my Heavenly Father and hope you will do the same for your |
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F. G. Williams |
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Emma Smith
Kirtland, Geauga County Ohio |
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Zion's Camp: Illinois (June 2–15, 1834)
Heber's Zion's Camp
Zion's Camp
Joseph Smith Correspondence
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