[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 18th I wrote three Letters one to Br David Bishop one to Smith Tuttle And one to Phebe W. Woodruff. I wrote 10 verses of Poetry in Mrs Woodruff letter. 8 hours intervened between writing the 5 and 6 verses during which time I went out with Mr Merrill in an open row boat to get oysters. We were caught in A gale of wind & rain blown off from shore. Was picked up by A four ton sloop & carried to land. While going in we carried away our gib twice. Came near runing onto the rocks but we got in in safety with no other damage but being drenched with rain the reward of which was A plenty of Oysters for supper. After getting through my Oyster Supper I wrot the last 5 verses And retired to rest for the night. The verses above alluded to will be found on the following Page. The following is also an extract from my letter to my wife:
I have been much blessed with the spirit of God since I saw you I have felt more of the presence and Power of God with me than I expected to have enjoyed on this eastern mission. I have felt that some one has Prayed much for me of late; I wonder if it was Phebe. I know you Pray much for me. I feel its power And Prize it much. I have never felt such A desire to prove worthy of your Confidence and trust, shun evry appearance of evil, keep out of the path of all temptation, And do right in all things as I have of late.
I have had much of the spirit of secret Prayer, have poured out my soul in supplication before God with tears of Joy, while the visions of my mind have been open at times to see clearly my duty to my God to my wife and Children, to the Saints And world at large. I have also seen of late the Awful Certain judgments of God which like a gathering Storm are ready to burst upon the whole gentile world esspe-cially this Nations, who have herd the Sound of the gospel, rejected it with all the testimony of the servents of God, Have stoned And killed the Prophets are drunk with the Blood of marters And Saints And At last have driven the entire Church & kingdom of God with the Priesthood And Keys of eternal life & salvation out of their midst into the wilderness & the mountains of Israel. And by so doing have turned the last key which seals their Condemnation which lingereth not And their damnation which slum-bereth not. Therefore they cannot escape. Not ownly the Holy Ghost but that portion of the spirit of God that enlighteneth evry man that cometh into the world, like A faithful embassador has finished his work And is rapidly taking its flight from Gentile America And Wo , Wo , Wo is their DOOM.
The following verses I penned to my wife at Norwark Ct Oct 18 1848:
When Shall I hear from my dear wife
From those poor suffering Pilgraims too
Whose prayers shield me from that strife
Which daily flow from sin and wo?
It learns me how to prize their worth
When I am from them far away.
Earthly honors could not Call me forth
Or make me leave them for so long A day.
But O A message I am Call to bear
For Him who gave and holds my life.
In many A Sacrafize I'm Call to share
Often to leave my sons, my Daughters, and my wife.
O my Father Shield them with thy power
Behold their earnest Prayers which mount on high
Let Heavens watchers guard their silent Bower
Answer their prayers and note their evry sigh.
Their faith thou hast ever seen
Their sufferings Thou alone dost Know.
None but Thee can tell what all their trials have been
Since they were wandering pilgraims here below.
O my Father guard them through all time to come
Let their days and years be lengthend out.
O call them not to leave my earthy home
But make A Heaven of my humble Cot.
May they fulfill all their visit here
As did their LORD then rise to reign
Inthroned in glory beyound the reach of fear
Or sickness sorrow death or pain.
O! God forgive the past. Keep me from future Ill.
Let light, wisdom, truth and virtue fill my heart.
Prepare me for that glory which doth the Heavens fill.
From the most holy anointed vows may I never part.
O give me power to honor those noble treasures given
As the first pillars to build my Kingdom on.
Help me to firmly stand with them in Heaven
That I may prove A true and faithful son.
Then I will reign with my Dear wife and children to
With Joseph and Hiram and all of Abrams seed
I'll shout Hosannah to God and the Lamb with all who go
From their graves with the redeemed of our DEAD.
[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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