I think there will be a number ofyet added to that branch of the
Church. I feel thankful that I have the privilege of
gathering a few grapes after the vintage has done, while
in New York on Sunday & Monday last I had an interview
with a gentleman by the Name of Joseph Smith was intro-
duced to him by Br Holister. He is a smart intelligent
business man, is believing our doctrine & wishes to go
to the valley & spend his days with the Saints, for He sees a
storm coming, & knows of no other place of reffuge that
He can get to but Zion, And this feeling is stealing owr
some, & suddenly siezeing others of that part of mankind who reflect
& begin to deeply feel this Eternal truth which is now revealing
it self before their Eyes that their is sumthing awful about
to burst upon the world which the Nations cannot Esscape &
they feel they need some place in the Chambers of the rokcks to
hide up in order to escape some terrible blow, & they can find
No place suitable for the occasions ownly with the Mormons
in the valley of the Mountains. My whole soul is on fire often
when I reflect upon the state of Great Babylonn, & behold the saints which
are appraching the Earth, & view the contrast of the scenes to be
Enacted in Zion & Gog, Jerrusalem & Egypt. The world is like
a drunken man staggering reeling & falling into an abiss while the Saints ^Elders^ who isare faithful before God, begin to feel ligke the
Angels who siezd Lot by his garment to hasten him out
of Sodom; I want the prayers of my brethren that I may
be sustained & have the power of God rest upon me daily
that I may be enabled to cry aloud & spare not while I
am in the midst of Babylon. I do not want the Blood
of any man to be found in my skirts, Notwithstanding
I am in a portion of the vineyard whare I am surrouded with but few
Saints & travelling almost daily in the midst of masses of men
whose bands of wickedness are so strong that no man can break
them & are ripe for the damnation of Hell, yet I have never
felt on any mission before such a wait of Responsibility resting
upon me as of late. when I reflect upon my calling as an Apostle
of Jesus Christ, A shepherd to the flock, A minister of the Gospel
I think there will be a number yet added to that branch of the
Church. I feel thankful that I have the privilege of
gathering a few grapes after the vintage has done, while
in New York on Sunday & Monday last I had an interview
with a gentleman by the Name of Joseph Smith was introduced to him by Br Holister. He is a smart intelligent
bussiness man, is believing our doctrine & wishes to go
to the valley & spend his days with the Saints, for He sees a
storm coming, & knows of no other place of reffuge that
He can get to but Zion, And this feeling is stealing owr
some, & suddenly siezeing others of that part of mankind who reflect
& begin to deeply feel this Eternal truth which is now revealing
it self before their Eyes that their is sumthing awful about
to burst upon the world which the Nations cannot Esscape &
they feel they need some place in the Chambers of the rocks to
hide up in order to escape some terrible blow, & they can find
No place suitable for the occasions ownly with the Mormons
in the valley of the Mountains. My whole soul is on fire often
when I reflect upon the state of Great Babylon, & behold the illegible which
are appraching the Earth, & view the contrast of the scenes to be
enacted in Zion & Gog, Jerrusalem & Egypt. The world is like
a drunken man staggering reeling & falling into an abiss while the
Elders who are faithful before God, begin to feel like the
Angels who siezd Lot by his garment to hasten him out
of Sodom; I want the prayers of my brethren that I may
be sustained & have the power of God rest upon me daily
that I may be enabled to cry aloud & spare not while I
am in the midst of Babylon. I do not want the Blood
of any man to be found in my shirts. Notwithstanding
I am in a portion of the vineyard whae I am surrunded with but few
Saints & travelling almost daily in the midst of masses of men
whose bands of wickedness are so strong that no man can break
them & are ripe for the damnation of Hell, yet I have never
felt on any mission before such a wait of Responsibility resting
upon me as of late. when I reflect upon my calling as an Apostle
of Jesus Christ, A shepherd to the flock, A minister of the Gospel
"Letter to Brigham Young and Council, 5 April 1849," p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 24, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/2v6N