Incarcerated by the Missouri militia at Independence on 4 November 1838, having escaped execution a few days earlier only because General Alexander Doniphan had refused to carry out the order, Joseph wrote to his wife Emma. The letter concludes with a thoughts of his children and a heartfelt plea to Emma:
Tell them that Father is yet alive, God grant that he may see them again Oh Emma for God sake do not forsake me nor the truth but remember me, if I do not meet you again in this life may God grant that we may meet in heaven, I cannot express my feelings, my heart is full, Farewell Oh my kind and affectionate Emma I am yours forever your Husband and true friend. [1]
A little more than a week later, on 12 November 1838, having been moved to Richmond, in Ray County, Missouri, facing accusations of “treason, murder, arson, burglary, larceny, and stealing,” chained together with his colleagues in an old log house, Joseph was delighted to receive a letter from Emma:
On examination, I think that the authorities, will discover our inocence, and set us free, but if this blessing cannot be obtained, I have this consolation that I am an innocent man, let what will befall me, I recieved your letter which I read over and over again, it was a sweet morsal to me. Oh God grant that I may have the privaliege of seeing once more my lovely Family, in the injoyment, of the sweets of liberty, and sotial life, to press them to my bosam and kiss their lovely cheeks would fill my heart with unspeakable grattitude, tell the chilldren that I am alive and trust I shall come and see them before long, comfort their hearts all you can, and try to be comforted yourself, all you can, there is no possible dainger but what we shall be set at Liberty if Justice can be done. . . . Brother Borbison is chained next to me he has a true heart and a firm mind, Brother Whight [Wight], is next, Br. Rigdon, next, Hyram, next, Parely [Parley], next Amasa, next, and thus we are bound together in chains as well as the cords of everlasting love, we are in good spirits and rejoice that we are counted worthy to be persecuted for christ sake, tell little Joseph, he must be a good boy, Father loves him with a perfect love, he is the Eldest must not hurt those that are small then him, but cumfort them tell little Frederick, Father, loves him, with all his heart, he is a lovely boy. Julia is a lovely little girl, I love hir also She is a promising child, tell her Father wants her to remember him and be a good girl, tell all the rest that I think of them and pray for them all, Br Babbit is waitting to carry our letters for us colonal price is inspecting them therefore my time is short little Elexander is on my mind continuly Oh my affectionate Emma, I want you to remember that I am a true and faithful friend, to you and the chilldren, forever, my heart is intwined around yours forever and ever, oh may God bless you all amen. [2]
[1] In Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 362-363.
[2] In Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 367-368.
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The latest iteration of the joint Hamblin/Peterson Saturday column for the Deseret News has now appeared:
“The Anglican Church, England’s unique Reformation”
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A new piece has also been published by Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture:
“Marjorie Newton on ‘The Mormons in Australia’ — A Retrospective Review”
Posted from Jerusalem, Israel
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