TO VIENNA JAQUES
1833 SEPTEMBER 4

LS Joseph Smith, Kirtland, Ohio, to Vienna Jacques, Independence, Missouri, 4 September 1833, 3 pp., in hand of Frederick G. Williams, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives. The cut away signature suggests that it was a holograph. A clerical note erroneously attributes the entire letter to Joseph's hand and states that the signature was cut off by President Brigham Young on 4 March 1859.

At an early age, Vienna Jacques born at New Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1787 moved to Boston, where, "in her self-reliant way, by patient toil and strict economy," she accumulated considerable wealth. She joined the Methodist Church, but still felt dissatisfied in her spiritual aspirations, so she continued her spiritual quest. In 1831 she heard that a prophet had risen up in the West and published a sacred record containing the fulness of the gospel. Procuring the book but failing to comprehend its message, she set it aside; then one evening as she pondered a theme for her daily meditation, a vision of the Book of Mormon was presented to her mind, and she prayed for an impression of its truth. The resulting manifestation motivated her to travel to Kirtland, Ohio, where she was baptized. Such were her impressions of Mormonism that she donated all her wealth to the Church. Her contribution came at a particularly needful time and helped purchase Missouri land for the settlement of the Saints. When the time came for her own removal to Missouri, she was promised an inheritance by revelation: "And again, verily I say unto you, it is my will that my handmaid Vienna Jacques should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up unto the land of Zion . . . and receive an inheritance from the hand of the bishop."476

Vienna arrived in Jackson County in time to witness the violence that erupted there in July 1833. A short time later she received the following letter from Joseph Smith.

Kirtland Sept 4th 1833

Dear Siste[r]

Having a few Leisur moments I sit down to communicate to you a few wordes which I know I am under obligation to improve for your satisfaction if it should be a satisfaction for you to receive a few words from your unworthy brother in Christ, I received your Letter some time since containing a history of your Journey and your safe arival for which I bless the Lord I have often felt a whispering since I received your letter like this Joseph thou art indebted to thy God for the offering of thy Sister Viana which proved a savior of life as pertaining to thy pecunary concern therefor she should not be forgotten of thee for the Lord hath done this and thou shouldst remember her in all thy prayers and also by letter for she oftentimes calleth on the Lord saying O Lord inspire thy servant Joseph to communicate by letter some word to thine unworthy handmaid canst thou not speak peaceably unto thine handmaid and say all my sins are forgiven and art thou not content with the chastisement wherewith thou hast chastised thy handmaid yea sister this seams to be the whisperings of a spirit and Judge ye what spirit it is I was sensable, when you left Kirtland that the Lord would chasten you but I pray<ed> fervently in the name of Jesus that you might live to receive your inheritance agreeable to the commandment which was given concerning you I am not at all astonished at what has happened to you neither to what has happened to Zion and I could tell all the whys & wherefores of all there calamities but alas it is in vain to warn and give precepts for all men are naturally disposed to walk in their own paths as they are pointed out by their own fingers and are not willing to considder and walk in the path which is pointed out by another saying this is the way walk ye in it altho he should be an unering director and the Lord his God sent him nevertheless I do not feel disposed to cast any reflections but I feel to cry mightily unto the Lord that all things might work together for good which has happened yea I feel to say O Lord let Zion be comforted let her waste places be built up and established an hundred fold [p. 1] let thy saints come unto Zion out of every nation let hir be exalted to the third heaven and let thy Judgments be sent forth unto victory and after this great tribulation let thy blessings fall upon thy people and let thy handmaid live till her soul shall be satisfied in beholding the glory of Zion notwithstanding her present affliction she shall yet arise and put on her beautiful garments and be the Joy and praise <glory> of the whole earth therefore let your heart be comferted live in strict obedience to the commandments of God and walk humble before him and he will exalt thee in his own due time the brethren in this place are gaining ground in spiritual things and are trying to overcome all things that is not well pleasing to their heavenly father we have common there has many brethren mooved to this place from different parts of the country so much so that one house is not sufficient to contain them for public worship and we have divided and hold meetings in two sepperate places namely at the school house on the flats and Uncle John Smiths who lives on brother Coes place we have commenced building the house of the Lord in this place and are making great progress in it so much so that I feel great hopes that by spring it will be finished so that we can have a place to worship where we shall not be molested a few days since Brother Ball and Sister Elizabeth Chan arived here from boston broth[er] ball has gone about three miles from this place to work at his trade and Sister Elizabeth lives with me at present Agnes & Mary477 Lives with father Smith I will assure you that the Lord has respect unto the offering you made he is a God that changes not and and his word cannot fail remember what he has said in the book of mormon respecting those who should assist in bringing this work forth we frequently have intelligence from our elder[s] abroad that are proclaming the word that God is working with them for they have attained to great faith insomuch that signs do follow them that believe [p. 2] Brother David Pattin478 has Just returned from his tour from <to> the east and gives us great satisfaction as to his ministry he has raised up a church of about Eighty three members in that part of the country where his friends live in the state of New York many were healed through his instrumantality several criples were restored as many as twelve that were afflicted came at a time from a distan[ce] to be healed he <and others> administered in the name of Jesus and they were made whole thus you see that the Laborers in the Lords vineyard are Labouring with their mights while the day lasts knowing the night soon cometh wherein no man can work I wish you to say to brother Partridge that we received his letter of the 13 August directed to Bro Frederick requesting an explination on the Plan of the house which is to be built in Zion and also of the City Platt that <the> broth[ren] whom we have recently sent to Zion will giv[e] them all the information they need about it479 I have but little time to write at present for I am Labouring on the house of the Lord with my own hands therefor I must bid you farewell and subscribe myself your unworthy brother in Christ amen

[Joseph Smith Jr.]

Viana Jaquish [Vienna Jacques] [p. 3]

Kirtland Mills O

Sept 11

Viana Jacquish

Independence Jackson [County]
Missouri