February 1, 1877 To Asahel, Clara, Owen, Blanche, and Alice, My beloved children: You have again the privilege of enjoying the society of your mother, and I am thankful for this. I want to give you all a word of council considering the signs of the times, the persecutive of our nation against us and at my own age you cannot reasonably expect to enjoy much more of my society as your father in this life, but you have with you ...

of the Twelve Apostles, now as an apostle, and as your father, I have a right to council you and give you advice. There is one particular thing I want to impress upon your minds, and that is study the revelations of God and have faith in them, the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, and I want you all to begin in your youth to make your wants known to the Lord in prayer, ask him for what you want, not as a ceremony, but in faith, and he will hear you and answer ...