Letter to Asahel Hart Woodruff, 2 May 1838
Scarborough Maine
Dear Brother
While the Sun is shedding its beams to gladden
earth I sit down beneath a fathers roof in company with my
companion to address a few lines to you. My last was dated
March Vinalhaven Maine that sheet was principally occupied with the
feelings of my mind upon things future. I would here remark that
a person situated as I am in life & calling knows not whare the morrow
will find him at all times. I have of late held two conferences in
Vinalhaven one upon each Island & organized a Church in each place
both containing about fifty members & so they are now in a situation
to attend to their meetings without me I have concluded to leave
them for a season & in consequence of recieving some intelligence
of interest from the City of New York from Elder P. P. Pratt & others
I have concluded to take a mission that way for two or three months I
shall probably visit Lynn, Boston, Holliston, & N Y City as we have [Members]
in these places. The work of the Lord is progressing with great rapidity & power
in the City of N Y. under the preaching of Elder Pratt he is now Baptizing
in the city by day & night he has the use of two meeting houses & also
Tammany's Hall the most noted Hall in the City which is freely furnished and
advertized at the expens of the Infidels as the Priests are disposed to call them
the work is spreading in the county as well as City some come 20 or 30 miles
to hear and obey the gospel & the calls are more numerous than they can possibly
attend to. As to opposition the City is in a general uproar in many parts[,] the
Priests many of them rage and foam & go to such lengths that every honest
man is under the necessity of coming out from them. The Saints are firm
in the City & are ready to suffer death for Christs sake & the truths. I do not
know the number Baptized in the City Elder Pratt writes in his last that 75 have been
added & that the work has but just begun & sayes we are crouded beyond conception
- two pamphlets & many papers are filled against us but all tends to give us
the attention of the people The Editor of the Zions Watchman is vary busy against
us & his paper is teeming with falshood & misrepresentation. I have answered him
