TO ABIJAH TEWKSBURY
1844 JUNE 4

FC. Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois to Abijah Tewksbury, Bonston, Massachusetts, 4 June 1844, 1 p., in hand of William W. Phelps, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

In April 1842, Freeman Nickerson, presiding elder of the Church in Boston, Massachusetts, reviewed the progress of the Church since his arrival there in May 1841. He wrote that after participating several months in the free discussions of religion at Winchester Hall, "one of the number which was called infidels," Abijah Tewksbury, was the first to be baptized. Tewksbury had opened his shipping office to preaching, and in September 1842 he represented the Boston Branch, consisting of seventy-seven members, at a conference held in Salem, Massachusetts. Church annals contain no further references to Tewksbury, but it is evident that he later left the Church.670 Recording Joseph Smith's activities for the afternoon of 4 June 1844 in the Prophet's diary, Willard Richards noted, among other things, that Joseph "wrote Mr Tewksbury, Boston."

Nauvoo Ill. June 4, 1844.

Sir:

We understand that you have been cut off from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and feeling an ardent desire for the salvation of the souls of men, we take pleasure in feeling after you: and therefore would in the sincerity of men of God advise you to be rebaptized by Elder Nickerson <one of the servants of God> that you may again receive the sweet influences of the holy Ghost, and enjoy the fellowship of the Saints <the law of God requires it and you cannot be too good> Patience is heavenly; obedience is noble: forgivness is merciful; and exaltation is Godly: and he that holds out faithful to the end shall in no wise lose his reward. A good man will endure all things to honor Christ, and dispose of the whole world and all in it to save his soul grace for grace is a heavenly decree, and union is power where wisdom guides Respectfully even

Joseph Smith

Hyrum Smith