Brother, I have repeated to you that I feel interested in the question of Mormonism
I again repeat that I am deeply so. There then no other reason than that I have a
brother who is identified with the leaders of the Society this would be sufficient ground
for any interest which I may feel. But when to there is added the consideration that my
father—my mother and my only sister as well as many other friends are under
its influence and are liable to become members of the society it becomes doubly
my interest and duty to enquire if the doctrine be true. If Mormonism
is the work of God and the peculiarities of Mormonism are founded in
Eternal Truth I desire to know it. If it is true then my highest interest
and the highest interest and the highest interest of my friends is involved
in our embracing it with all its terms. If it is untrue or if in other terms
Mormonism—proper and peculiar is not founded inupon direct revelation
from Heaven God forbid that one of us should be under its influence
another day. That the prominent doctrines of Mormonism are in general
correct and are even more reasonable than perhaps ^those of^ any other sects I am
ready enough to believe but then their doctrines may all be true founded
upon correct principles and yet Joseph Smith Jr may be as arrant
[as known] and as great an impostor as ever lived. if this is the case
we can renounce Mormonism and at the same time retain every
correct principle and doctrine which it embodies. But I must [close]
I will only now add that I am bound to believe Joseph Smith Jr and all
the leaders of your society honest men untill it is disproved. Yet I
have no proof of the truth of their pretensions except the admission
you have made and they are not satisfactory to me not being as
explicit as I could wish. I shall probably trouble you with some questions regarding
this subject before long and shall hold you responsible for the result of the same
by virtue of the interest which we mutually have in an only sister who is inclined
to become a member of the Church of the Latter Days Saints. Hold yourself
ready and peradventure you may make a believer of me and to God shall be
all the glory.

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[sideways text-right]
Please permit me to pay my compliments to Mrs Woodruff and
excuse my impoliteness in doing so in so obscene
a corner as this. Affectionately Yrs
Asahel Woodruff

Wilford Woodruff

Excuse the abrupt termination of this letter as well
as any harsh epithets you may find in it –
Not a word is written in unkindness or under
the influence of any feeling approaching to harshness.

Asahel
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[upside-down text]
Asahel H Woodruff interesting
letter just before his Death
July 22, 1838
The above letter was answered by
Willford Woodruff Aug 25 1838

[stamp]
TERRE-HAUTE
JUL 23
Ia.

Single 25

Mr Wilford Woodruff
Scarborough
Maine
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