Letter to Aphek Woodruff, 16 May 1843
Nauvoo
Dear Father
I have had it in my heart for a
long time to write a Letter to you & express my
feelings to you upon a few Items but I have
delayed it untill the present time. Brother Wooley
arived at Nauvoo last night. I called upon him
this morning & Enquired concerning you & the family
& he informed me that he stayed with you. I think
one day & knight spoke of the situation & hea[l]th of Mother
Eunice & Br Webster & informed me that he her^a^d^r^d Before
he Left Connecticut that Brother Webster had got
about again & a prospect of getting well & that Eunice
health was better. I Received a Letter from Mother
Making mention of the Misfortune of Brothr Webster
I was sorry to hear it for I have passed through
some such things & know what they are.
Amid the great variety of Business,
Duties & Reflections & meditations that have surrounded
me During the Last few months their is one subject that
at times has rested with wait upon my mind viz. the
Duties we owe towards our Fathers. There was a prin-
cipl in exercise in the days of the par^t^riarch's & prophets & ancients
Saints in Regard to their fathers whether they were Dead or alive
that is not Regarded among the gentiles at the present day
Anciently even the burying place of the fathers was held
most sacred & Esspecially a burial of the Saints was
much Desired & sought for as In the case of Joseph he
made his kindred or children covenant to ta Before he
died to take his bones to Canaan & bury them with his
Fathers their were certain Reasons why Joseph wished his body
to be laid with his fathers & the Righteous; one of which it
may not be improper to mention, that when the trump shall
sound & the graves be opened that they may have the privilege
of first shaking hands with their Fathers & their children amid
the salutations of O my Father & O my Son; a Blessing & privilege which
the Ancients sought for in their day & generation was a Burial with the wrighteous
