I have sent to the Office a number of times since you left here
hopeing and almost fearing that I should receive a line from you. I say fearing
lest it would say that you was not about returning as I have been pleaseing
myselfe with the I idea that I should soon see you again although I have felt
anxious even to hear from. If you reco^l^lect you mentioned not writing if your
stay was short–but let me say that your epistle came to hand last eve and
met with a pleasing reception. I perused its contents and was truly rejoiced
to hear of your good health and spirits likewise of your prosperity in the cause
of Christ and that the Spirit of God attended you and brother Hale and opened
the way before you booth temporally and spiritually as I felt verry anxious about
you knowing your circumstances and that your temporal meanes were verry
limited. Well we will acknowedge this to be another proof that the Lord is
not unmindful of his servants and all that put their trust in him. He is
able and will give us that which is best for us, although the way seames verry dark
before us sometimes, yet he sees fa^r^ther than we do.
After reading your letter I
[fe]lt encouraged and satisfied to have you about your masters business although
I have felt some lonely and would like much to see you and enjoy your company,
yet I think that it will be much better for us both to be in the place appointed to
us by God, if it is to be separated a while than to be elsewhere.
Willford I per-
cieve that the day is at hand when the salvation of souls and a seat in the celestial
kingdom of God will be of more value than the shining ore which many spend their
whole time and talents in persuite of in this life– therefore I hope that you will
ever be diligent in keeping the commands of God and in dischargeing your duty fai-
thfully to this gene[r]ation that you may be the sooner discharged from your warfare
and be permited to dwell (with one in whose affections you share largely) in peace
and with the approbation of heaven saying “I have fought the good fight I have finised
my course I have kept the faith” &c&. If we seek first the kingdon of heaven we have the
promis of all things being added to us–yet my heart will sometime distrust providence
I then take a review of the dealings of God towards me and the promises left on reco-
rd for those who keep the commands of God. this stimulates me to diligence and
persevereance and to try to endure to the end and then obtain a crown which
I trust is laid up for me if faithful. I find it to be rather hard liveing here spir-
itually as there is much darkness and opposition in these regions but my faith is as
strong in the gospel of Christ as ever and I think if I keep close to the rod of iron
I have sent to the Office a number of times since you left here
hopeing and almost fearing that I should receive a line from you. I say fearing
lest it would say that you was not about returning as I have been pleaseing
myselfe with the idea that I should soon see you again although I have felt
anxious even to hear from. If you recollect you mentioned not writing if your
stay was short–but let me say that your epistle came to hand last eve and
met with a pleasing reception. I perused its contents and was truly rejoiced
to hear of your good health and spirits likewise of your prosperity in the cause
of Christ and that the Spirit of God attended you and brother Hale and opened
the way before you both temporally and spiritually as I felt verry anxious about
you knowing your circumstances and that your temporal meanes were verry
limited. Well we will acknowedge this to be another proof that the Lord is
not unmindful of his servants and all that put their trust in him. He is
able and will give us that which is best for us, although the way seames verry dark
before us sometimes, yet he sees farther than we do.
After reading your letter I
felt encouraged and satisfied to have you about your masters business although
I have felt some lonely and would like much to see you and enjoy your company,
yet I think that it will be much better for us both to be in the place appointed to
us by God, if it is to be separated a while than to be elsewhere.
Willford I percieve that the day is at hand when the salvation of souls and a seat in the celestial
kingdom of God will be of more value than the shining ore which many spend their
whole time and talents in persuite of in this life– therefore I hope that you will
ever be diligent in keeping the commands of God and in dischargeing your duty faithfully to this generation that you may be the sooner discharged from your warfare
and be permited to dwell (with one in whose affections you share largely) in peace
and with the approbation of heaven saying “I have fought the good fight I have finised
my course I have kept the faith” &c&. If we seek first the kingdon of heaven we have the
promis of all things being aded to us–yet my heart will sometime distrust providence
I then take a review of the dealings of God towards me and the promises left on record for those who keep the commands of God. this stimulates me to diligence and
persevereance and to try to endure to the end and then obtain a crown which
I trust is laid up for me if faithful. I find it to be rather hard liveing here spiritually as there is much darkness and opposition in these regions but my faith is as
strong in the gospel of Christ as ever and I think if I keep close to the rod of iron
"Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 5 August 1837," p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 20, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/wpJw