Family - Written on the death of Calvin Foss, 1837
[FIGURE] Written on the Death of Calvin Foss a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints who DIED Aged 37
Solemn was the call. Sudden came the voice from
that God in whose hands are found the destinies of men
& at whose command goes forth the issues of life &
death. What was the call, for Calvin to depart from ^exchange^ the
scenes of life for the realms of bliss {[now] is he gone has Calvin fled away far since the origins of the year have gone by [illegible shorthand] Calvin he}
Had health or virtue wife or children pass on to same
He now might be mingling with his friends
And not sleeping in the silent grave
Is this mysterious to mortal man Why mysterious it
is done by that unseen hand that mooves in wisdom
who shall complain. Let even Sarah be resigned
and know that it is God let her heart rejoice & soul
be glad that her bosom friend from eternal death is
safe from temptation & danger delivered. With
Christ he dwells, his crown is ^sure^ safe He'll wait the
arrival of his wife & children Heaven will protect
them while he is gone Had Calvin tarried snares
might enroped his feet & his fall secured but now
in peace he dw[e]les. O eternal rest how blessed
are those that dwell with thee. We cannot we will
wish the return of him who inhabits thy abode. But O
ye living men, does Calvins abscence merly proove a trifle
No methinks it speacks in language lord that thy lost
hour will mount the wheels of time ^{for swifter speed}^ to give you thee so sure
a summons if not so sudden. Are we prepared if not
are we secure judgment must deside our honest doing ^just reward^
while in the presence of him who is eternal. O time how swift
thou art, much counted & desired yet how fleeting how
fading & transitory these scenes that upon thy wings
are borne. O death how soon is thy stroke. Where
is he for whom we are called to mourn No longer
by him is the fireside ocupied, his family circled by his voice
not deemed his seat at the frugal ^meal^ is vacant. earthly friends
no more his face beholds. Whare is he often low in
the grave guarded ownly by the fragrant flower the drifted snow
& chilling blast ages entombed whare all mortality
must find a bed Calvin whare are these hours that
idely smiled on thee that cheered the partner of
thy heart that cherished the esprings of thy care
They are gone some fled forever engulf in eternity
& borne their report to heaven. But first, me thinks
the spirit whispers they have borne most wellcome
news aye having friends morne not for him as
those that mourne without hope All is well with
him fo[r] hes gone to dwell with christ in glory he'll
appear this friends to greet who have prooved themselves
the friends of God. This providence portrays before the
living that man cannot protect himself or work
from the destroying hand of time or the powerful arm
of Death arest then wisdom ergo prepare time to
God, each moment as in "Shes gone to him; the Son of
man cometh in an hour me think not. [Matthew 24:44] Death
may overtake us as sudden as him of whom we speak
But welcome to him is death whose need from
crime, & by the stroke delivered from eternal death
& secures an immortal inheritance with him
who dwells in peace. Sarah be comforted be
resigned to him who spoke who called & who has delivered
while dangers sound the call look upward first in a
friend Divine save thy crown all will be well with
thee as with thy companion with him again ther
will meet & enjoy superior blessings to the prime-
val scenes of felicity or to repose beneath the blisful
shades of the trees of paradise to repose [FIGURE]
To live is Christ to die is gain is the faith of an Apostle, to
whom is it gain to the saint the promise stands some. O Saint
what glories crown thy head what knowledge fills thy mind what
celestial joys rebrates thy soul while with Judahs Lion [Genesis 49:9] then
doth desend on earth to reign. Is this a tedious No one God
himself shall not to the slaughter lead not to his enemies
submitting but with clouds of fire consuming in a
tempestous forum says Daniel in strains of realif, he com-
es, at his presence blind Ambitions flees earthly knows terrestrial crow
n's annihilate monarchs & kingdoms tremble while Devel
morns for loss WILLFOR[D]. [Daniel 7:9-10]
