Letter to Presendia Huntington Buell, 15 March 1839

Dear Sister

My heart rejoiced at the friendship you manifested in requesting to  have conversation with us but the Jailer is a very Jealous man for fear some one will  leave tools for us to get out with he is under the eye of the Mob continually and his  life is at Stake if he grants us any privileges he will not let us converse with any one  alone Oh what a joy it would be to us to see our friends it would have gladdened  my heart to have the privilege of conversing with you but the hand of tyrany is upon  us but thanks be to God it cannot last always and he that sitteth in the heavens  will laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear cometh We feel Dear  Sister that our bondage is not of long duration I trust that I shall have the chance  to give such instructions as are communicated to us before long I suppose you  wanted some instruction for yourself and also give us some information and administer  consolation to us and to find out what is best for you to do I think that many  of the brethren if they will be pretty still can stay in this country until the  indignation is over and past but I think it would be better for brother Buel [Norman Buell] to  leave and go with the rest of the Brethren if he keep the faith and at any rate for  thus speaketh the Spirit concerning him I want him and you to know that I  am your true friend I was glad to see you no tongue can tell what inexpressible  Joy it gives a man to see the face of one who has been a friend after having been  inclosed in the walls of a prison for five months it seems to me that my heart  will always be more tender after this than ever it was before my heart bleeds  continually when I contemplate the distress of the Church Oh that I could be  with them I would not shrink at toil and hardship to render them comfort and  consolation I want the blessing once more to lift my voice in the midst of the  Saints I would pour out my soul to God for their instruction it has been the  plan of the Devil to hamper me and distress me from the beginning to keep me  from explaining myself to them and I never have had opportunity to give them the  plan that God has revealed to me for many have run without being sent crying  tidings my Lord and have done much injury to the Church giving the Devil  more power over those that walk by sight and not by faith [blank]  will only give us that knowledge to understand the minds of the Ancients for my  part I think I never could have felt as I now do if I had not suffered the wrongs  that I have suffered all things shall work together for good to them that love God [p. 1]