TO EMMA SMITH
1839 APRIL 4

ALS. Joseph Smith, Liberty, Missouri, to Emma Smith, Quincy, Illinois, 4 April 1839, 3 pp., Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

The court of inquiry that committed Joseph Smith and his associates to Liberty Jail in November 1838 designated "the first Thursday after the fourth Monday in March next"589 and the Daviess County court as the time and place for their trial. For the prisoners, the day of removal came none too soon, but it was more than a week after the designated day before they were taken from the jail. On the eve of their departure, Joseph wrote this final letter to Emma from Liberty Jail.

Liberty, Jail, Clay Co. Mo,

Aprel, 4th 1839.

Dear and affectionate wife.

Thursday night I set down just as the sun is going down, as we peak throw the greats of this lonesome prision, to write to you, that I may make known to you my situation. It is I believe <it is> now about five months and six days since I have been under the grimace, of a guard night and day, and within the walls grates and screeking of iron dors, of a lonesome dark durty prison. With immotions known only to God, do I write this letter, the contemplations, of the mind under these circumstances, defies the pen, or tounge, or Angels, to discribe, or paint, to the human mid mind being, who never experiance[d] what I we experience. This night we expect; is the last night we shall try our weary Joints and bones on our dirty straw couches in these walls, let our

case hereafter be as it may, as we expect to start to morrow, for Davis Co, for our trial. We shall have a change of Venue to some of the lower counties, for the final trial, as our Lawyers generaly say, if law can be adheared to in Davis, as it grants us the privaliege. But you are awere of what we may expect, of beings that <have> conducted [themselves] as they have We lean on the arm of Jehovah, and none else, for our deliverance, and if he dont do it, it will not be done, you may be assured, for there is great thirsting for our blood, in this state; not because we are guilty of any thing: but because they say these men <will> give an account of what has been done to them; the wrongs they have sustain[ed] if it is known, it <will> ruin the State. So the mob party have sworn, to have our lives, at all hasards, but God will disappoint them we trust. We shall be moved from this at any rate and we are glad of it let what will become of <us> we cannot <get> into a worse hole [p. 1] then this is, we shall not stay here but one night besides this <if that if that> thank God, we shall never cast a lingering wish after liberty in clay county no Mo. we have enough of it to last forever, may God reward fals swearers according to their works, is all I can wish them. My Dear Emma I think of you and the children continualy, if I could tell you my tale, I think you would say it was altogether enough for once, to grattify the malice of hell that I have suffered. I want <to> see little Frederick, Joseph, Julia, and Alexander, Joana,590 and old major. And as to yourself if you want to know how much I want to see you, examine your feelings, how much you want to see me, and Judge for <you[r]self>, I would gladly go <walk> from here to you barefoot, and bareheaded, and half naked, to see you and think it great pleasure, and never count it toil, but do not think I am babyish, for I do not feel so, I bare with fortitude all my oppression, so do those that are with me, not one of us have flinched yet, I want you <should> not let those little fellows, forgit me, tell them Father loves them with a perfect love, and he is doing all he can to git away from the mob to come to them, do teach them all you can, that they may have god minds, be tender and kind to them, dont be fractious to them, but listen to their wants, tell them Father says they must be good children <and> mind their mother, My Dear Emma there is great respo[n]sibility resting upon you, in preserveing yourself in honor, and sobriety, before them, and teaching them right things, to form their young and tender minds, that they begin in right paths, and not git contaminated when young, by seeing ungodly examples, I soppose you see [p. 2] the need of my council, and help, but <a> as combinnation <of> things have conspired to place me where I am, and I know it <is> not my fault, and further if my voice and council, had been heeded I should not have been here, but I find no fault with you, attall I know nothing but what you have done the best you could, if there is any thing it is known to yourself, you must be your own Judge, on that subject: and if ether of done us have done wrong it is wise in us to repent of it, and for God sake, do not be so foolish as to y<i>eld to the flattery of the Devel, faslshoods, and vainty, in this hour of trouble, that our affections be drawn, away from the right objects, those preasious things, God has given us will rise up in Judgement against us in the day of judgement against us if we do not mark well our steps, and ways. My heart has often been exceding sorrowful when I have thaught of these thing[s] for many considerations, one thing let [me adm]onished you by way of my duty, do not [be] self willed, neither harber a spirit of revevenge: and again remember that he who is my enemys, is yours also, and never give up an old tried friend, who has waded through all manner of toil, for your sake, and throw him away becau[se] fools may tell <you> he <has> some faults; these thing[s] have accured to <me> [as] I have been writing, I do[n't] speak of <them> because you do not know them, but because I want to stir up your pure mind by way of rememberance: all feelings of diss[at]isfaction is far from my heart, I wish to act upon that principle of generosity, that will acqu<it> myself in the preasance of [ ] through the mercy of God You [page cut away]

[Joseph Smith Jr.] [p. 3]

Mrs Emma Smith

Quincy Illinois