I cannot hear a word from one of then from any source whatever. I was sorry
that I was not privileged with a few words in your letter upon the subject as I
was so long on the way myself I expected to have found then all in New york
if they had not left for England. but I have waited & delayed the time untill
it is begining to be cold weather & as I am some out of health I feel it my
duty to cross as soon as possible & I am in hopes to see the Twelve in England
if I do not see them before give my respect to any of them that you may see or
any of the Sanits [Saints] that enquire after me esspecially Brother & Sister Smoot, Jemina,
Brother Hawley & family (tell them I called upon their Brother in Rochester Mr Satley &
found him vary believing) & all Saints in Lovely Street or els whare I cannot
name them. With regard to the putting on of flamnel a Sister has this day given
me a nice cotten shirt & is preparing flannel underbodies & drawers for me out
of her store. but I must stop speaking of those small things & say a few words
concerning the great work of God. I Baptized cousin Betsey Cossett in Farmington,
the work of God is spreading wider & wider in this City & in the countrys around
about Elder Ball & perhaps some others have done injury in this City & cou-
ntry by running from church to church & doing those things that are not according
to the order of God but yet the work of God rolls om this Nation begins to feel the
chastning hand of God fire & pestilence has almost desolated some places [Mobele]
for instance: such fires [are] so numerous was Never known in these last days as
now, this City has suffered much lately by fires. & in addition to this the Bank [page torn]
charts are like troubled waters, & the Jews are rapidly flowing into Jerrusale[m] [page torn]
letter has just arived in this City to a Jew from a Jew in palestine stating among
many other interesting things that their is now Standing in Palestine & Jerrusa-
lem 1,44000 Jews & they are constantly gathering. HARK!!! & I will tell you
some news which will counteract a part of this letter. P.P. Pratt has just arived in this
city with his family. I have just had am interview with him. We now expet Orson Pratt & Br Taylor & some others every Day, & we now expect to tarry in this
city untill they come & perhaps others of the Twelve & we shall hold others of the a
conference here before we take our departure for England which will of course
delay our passage for a while. I am glad Br pratt arived before I mailed this letter
I may write you again just before I leave New york. Phebe if you do not
recieve letters from me often enough or in their Season do not think it my
fault but attribute it to the Mails which are uncertain, for you may rest assured I
shall not forget you but will write often & I hope you will be able to do so by me
I have had no opportunity as yet to send with any safety those things to you that we spoke
of prarley has brought a package from you to Ilus. parley & family are well I must did [bid]
to a close & leave out many things I would like to say. But be of good cheer trust
in God I feel that he will bring us all through May the Lord bless & heal you & Sarah
& all the afflicted Saints for christ Sake Amen
phebe
your friend Willford
I cannot hear a word from one of then from any source whatever. I was sorry
that I was not privileged with a few words in your letter upon the subject as I
was so long on the way myself I expected to have found then all in New york
if they had not left for England. but I have waited & delayed the time untill
it is begining to be cold weather & as I am some out of health I feel it my
duty to cross as soon as possible & I am in hopes to see the Twelve in England
if I do not see them before give my respect to any of them that you may see or
any of the Saints that enquire after me esspecially Brother & Sister Smoot, Jemina,
Brother Hawley & family (tell them I called upon their Brother in Rochester Mr Satley &
found him vary believing) & all Saints in Lovely Street or els whare I cannot
name them. With regard to the putting on of flamnel a Sister has this day given
me a nice cotten shirt & is preparing flannel underbodies & drawers for me out
of her store. but I must stop speaking of those small things & say a few words
concerning the great work of God. I Baptized cousin Betsey Cossett in Farmington,
the work of God is spreading wider & wider in this City & in the countrys around
about Elder Ball & perhaps some others have done injury in this City & country by running from church to church & doing those things that are not according
to the order of God but yet the work of God rolls om this Nation begins to feel the
chastning hand of God fire & pestilence has almost desolated some places Mobele
for instance: such fires are so numerous was Never known in these last days as
now, this City has suffered much lately by fires. & in addition to this the Bank page torn
charts are like troubled waters, & the Jews are rapidly flowing into Jerrusalem page torn
letter has just arived in this City to a Jew from a Jew in palestine stating among
many other interesting things that their is now Standing in Palestine & Jerrusalem 1,44000 Jews & they are constantly gathering. HARK!!! & I will tell you
some news which will counteract a part of this letter. P.P. Pratt has just arived in this
city with his family. I have just had am interview with him. We now expet
Orson Pratt & Br Taylor & some others every Day, & we now expect to tarry in this
city untill they come & perhaps others of the Twelve & we shall hold a
conference here before we take our departure for England which will of course
delay our passage for a while. I am glad Br pratt arived before I mailed this letter
I may write you again just before I leave New york. Phebe if you do not
recieve letters from me often enough or in their Season do not think it my
fault but attribute it to the Mails which are uncertain, for you may rest assured I
shall not forget you but will write often & I hope you will be able to do so by me
I have had no opportunity as yet to send with any safety those things to you that we spoke
of prarley has brought a package from you to Ilus. parley & family are well I must did bid
to a close & leave out many things I would like to say. But be of good cheer trust
in God I feel that he will bring us all through May the Lord bless & heal you & Sarah
& all the afflicted Saints for christ Sake Amen
"Letter to Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 23 October 1839," p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed May 14, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/rkAw