Notwithstanding we are at times flung into the deepest suspens in
consequence of not hearing from our dearest friends for a season yet I rejo-
ice that the day comes when we understand the cause of all & our minds are
unloded of its burthen. As it has been with you so it has bean with me
in one respect: I have looked with feelings of the deepest interest for a letter
from my Dear Wife (in whose bosom my heart has a resting place) but I had looked
in vain untill I began to think that I should no more hear from my Phebe & Sarah untill I left the Shores of America But thank the Lord my great suspens
& fears (for great they were) are now removed. yesterday after spending several hours with
Brother Ilus in his Store (who is well & in good spirits) I went to the post Office
as I have done almost every Day or sent. I again called for a letter & to my great
joy I recieved one from you with a few lines from Elder Smoot under
Date of Sept 19th 1839. I wrote you a letter at Springfield Ill 20 of Aug paid
the postage on it & requested you to write to Buffalo Ny. Farmington Ct &
City of New york. I am sorry you did not obtain that letter for I gave a [sheet]
account of my travels the way the Lord put means in our hands. my preaching &
visit among the Island Saints I visited the grave of Brother Brown. the resignation of Sister Brown
was great the whole church sent their respects to you. I also wrote a letter to you on
the 30th of Sept at Farmington ctEunice also wrote I also gave you a brief account
of my travels in that letter & paid the postage on the same I am in hop^e^s you will get
that letter I perceieve that those letters that are post paid are more liable to miscary
than those that are not so I will not pay the postage on this letter & I pray the Lord
that it may fall into your hands. As regards your Situation in Sickness I truly
feel to sympathize with you & Sarah, your situation has been shone me I have had
several interviews with you since I left home & I have been aware that you
was in affliction. but your patience & resignation in your trials as great conso
lation to me & I can still have confidence my Dear companion to invite
you even in your Deepest trials to leam upon the arm of that God who has
upheld you untill the present day we can do no better than to trust in him
whether in life or Death. the Saints all seem to be much afflicted this season
But may the Lord have mercey upon us all I pray & not take our lives from
the Earth but that we may be humble & finally have a victory over the destroyer
but even should we die some of us it would be in one of the best of causes
& we should sleep but a short time before we should be awoke & meet together
in a glory Celestial to part no more whare sickness & sorrow is known no
more But yet I expect to enjoy Blessings with you & Sarah in the family
circle though I thus speak, I truly felt sorry to hear of your & Sarah’s sickness but
I feel thankful that you have any friends that are able & willing to render you
Notwithstanding we are at times flung into the deepest suspens in
consequence of not hearing from our dearest friends for a season yet I rejoice that the day comes when we understand the cause of all & our minds are
unloded of its burthen. As it has been with you so it has bean with me
in one respect: I have looked with feelings of the deepest interest for a letter
from my Dear Wife (in whose bosom my heart has a resting place) but I had looked
in vain untill I began to think that I should no more hear from my Phebe &
Sarah untill I left the Shores of America But thank the Lord my great suspens
& fears (for great they were) are now removed. yesterday after spending several hours with
Brother Ilus in his Store (who is well & in good spirits) I went to the post Office
as I have done almost every Day or sent. I again called for a letter & to my great
joy I recieved one from you with a few lines from Elder Smoot under
Date of Sept 19th 1839. I wrote you a letter at Springfield Ill 20 of Aug paid
the postage on it & requested you to write to Buffalo Ny. Farmington Ct &
City of New york. I am sorry you did not obtain that letter for I gave a sheet
account of my travels the way the Lord put means in our hands. my preaching &
visit among the Island Saints I visited the grave of Brother Brown. the resignation of Sister Brown
was great the whole church sent their respects to you. I also wrote a letter to you on
the 30th of Sept at Farmington ctEunice also wrote I also gave you a brief account
of my travels in that letter & paid the postage on the same I am in hopes you will get
that letter I perceieve that those letters that are post paid are more liable to miscary
than those that are not so I will not pay the postage on this letter & I pray the Lord
that it may fall into your hands. As regards your Situation in Sickness I truly
feel to sympathize with you & Sarah, your situation has been shone me I have had
several interviews with you since I left home & I have been aware that you
was in affliction. but your patience & resignation in your trials as great conso
lation to me & I can still have confidence my Dear companion to invite
you even in your Deepest trials to leam upon the arm of that God who has
upheld you untill the present day we can do no better than to trust in him
whether in life or Death. the Saints all seem to be much afflicted this season
But may the Lord have mercey upon us all I pray & not take our lives from
the Earth but that we may be humble & finally have a victory over the destroyer
but even should we die some of us it would be in one of the best of causes
& we should sleep but a short time before we should be awoke & meet together
in a glory Celestial to part no more whare sickness & sorrow is known no
more But yet I expect to enjoy Blessings with you & Sarah in the family
circle though I thus speak, I truly felt sorry to hear of your & Sarah’s sickness but
I feel thankful that you have any friends that are able & willing to render you
"Letter to Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 23 October 1839," p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 26, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/pYy1