Letter to Don Carlos Smith, 20 November 1837
Elder DON C. SMITH.
The 11th No.
of the Messenger and Advocate con-
taining the PROSPECTUS for the Elders
Journal has providentially fallen into
my hands. It is cheering to my feel-
ings to learn that such a paper is to be
presented before the world. I believe
it will become a powerful engine in re-
moving a flood of prejudice from the
minds of thousands of this generation,
and encourage the Saints to persevere
in the glorious cause in which they are
engaged even if their path should at
times be intersected with trials, afflic-
tions, and persecutions. And while we
peruse the account of the Elders of Is-
rael, whom God hath called, commis-
sioned and sent forth to establish light
and truth in the earth and to prune his
vineyard for the last time: [Jacob 5:62] we rejoice
at their success. And as we learn of
their prosperity in the ministry, while
faithfully proclaiming the word of God
we feel encouraged to go and do like-
wise.
My object in addressing you at this
time, is to forward you a list of the
names of some of our friends from the
several Islands of the sea, who wish
you to send them your valuable paper,
viz: the Elders Journal of the church
of Latter Day Saints, and knowing
there are thousands of Saints who feel
interested in the progress of the work
of the Lord in these last days, and be-
lieving it to be interesting to them to
learn that the Lord is raising up a peo-
ple upon the Islands of the Sea, who
are engaged in the same cause with
their brethren and sisters, that are scat-
tared abroad through the land. I will
endeavor to give a brief account of its
prospect in this part of the moral vine-
yard. Elder Jonathan H. Hale and
myself addressed a letter to Elder Jo-
seph Smith jr. and the church at Kirt-
land, under date Sept. 18th. We then
gave an account of our visit to the
Islands, the reception we met with a-
mong the people, and the commence-
ment of the work of the Lord. On
the 13th of Oct. following we held a
meeting on North Fox Island Vinal-
