St. George, Utah Mrs. Eliza R. Snow Smith, Beloved Sister, Honored Lady, and Inspired Poetess— While musing upon my exiled lonely bed last night, my thoughts turned on thee, and as I cannot visit you in person, I feel disposed to use my pen. I have been informed that you are in a low state of health and perhaps not likely to recover and a prospect of your closing your labors here in the flesh, and passing on to your labors upon the other side of the Veil, I thought if that was the case, I would like to communi- cate with you before you left. I felt that if there is an immortal spirit dwelling in a morta mortal body that can lie down in death in sweet repose, it is Sister Eliza. When I contemplate your life and labors of love to all classes of Latter-day Saints, the inspira- tion of your pen, which has cheered and encouraged Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles and Saints in the deepest hours of their afflictions, sorrows, persecutions and death, and the army of innocent children, the seed of Joseph, whose minds you have guided into paths of virtue, truth, and holiness, in the organizations of the Primaries and labor in the Sabbath Schools, Mutual Improvement Assoc., also your labors in the Relief Societies and in the Assemblies of the Saints, and your ominous labor in Holy Places for the dead. And that you have passed through all the afflictions, tribulations, and persecution with the Saints and have dwelt in the flesh almost three generations, as man counts time, I say when I reflect upon these things, I feel that you, sister Eliza, an elect Lady of the Lord, can lay down your mortal body when the time comes without a sting, a pang or a regret and pass on to your work on the other side of the Veil to a far higher state of glory where you will find a host of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and Saints, as well as a large army of children who await your coming and will greet you with joy and rejoicing. I can say of a truth that your eye hath not seen, your ear heard, neither hath it entered into your heart to conceive the honor and glory that awaiteth you on the other side of the Veil. Through the blessing of God you have been enabled to create a name and fame that will never be forgotten through all time and eternity. Truly you will go down to the grave like a shock of corn fully ripe. When your spirit leaves your body you will find a host of friends to greet you who await your coming. I hope when I have finisehed my work I may be found worthy to meet with the same company that will greet you with joy. I feel that you can contemplate your change from mortality to immortality with rejoicing. Should you meet with that company o[f] lo[y]al friends, that Heavenly throng before I do, I have ab a boon to ask of you, that you will give my kind love to Joseph, Hyrum, Brigham, Heber, Willard, George and the hosts of brethren you will meet as well as those loyal sisters Mary Ann, Vilate, Phoebe, Margaret and t to the army of those faithful daughters of the Lord with whom we have both associated here on earth. As to myself, I have just passed my fourscore years, I am still in very good health, and as circumstances still deprive me of speaking in public to the living, I am trying to labor what I can for the dead. I met on the 2nd of March 125 friends in the Temple of the Lord, 73 of which got endowments for my dead. I addressed them for a short time. I was sealed while there for 73 couple[s] of dead which makes about 3000 of my dead which I have done endowments and sealings for and which leaves me about 265 more to work for before I finish my record which I am in hopes to live to accomplish. I have had a great anxiety for the redemption of my dead while I dwell in the flesh. I met you in the Social Hall at the reception on your 80th birthday but I do not recall your present age. I do not wish to weary you with a lengthy communication, neither do I wish to trouble you with writing to me not knowing the state of you[r] health, but should your brother Lorenzo be with you or any friend who could send me a few lines to let me know your state of health, it would be a consolation to me. I pray God to bless you with joy and peace during your remaining days and hours and when your hour of departure comes that you may die in the Lord and sleep in peace which is my earnest prayer. Your Brother in the New and Everlasting Covenant. (Signed, Wilford Woodruff Any communication from any of my friends to me give to John Jaques at the Historians' Office, it will r[e]ach me. W. W.