Hyram [Hiram, Ohio] July 31 - 1832——

Broth[er] William [W. Phelps] I have received your letter dated 30th June and procede this  morning to answer it. I sit down to dictate for Broth[er] Frederick [G. Williams] to write but  cannot write my feelings, neither can toungue, or language paint them to  you. I only can observe that I could wish, that my heart, & feelings  thereof might for once be laid open before [you], as plain as your own nat ural face is to you by looking in a mirror; Verily I say unto you  my only hope and confidence is in that God who gave me being  in whom there is all power who now is present before me & my  heart is naked before his eyes continually he is my comfeter [comforter] & he  forsaketh me not in the seventh trouble and in the mean time I  have learned by sad experiance there is no confidence to be placed in  in man that the spirit of man is as cold as the northern blast  and had I not considered the great care and multitude of busi ness which is crowding upon your mind I could not have excused  the cold and indifferent manner in which your letter is writen,  true you have expressed fellowship, but the spirit which I possess  enjoy, the feeling of my soul enquires does this letter give me  the important information which I stood in need of at the  present critical moment from your hand concerning yourself  your family & business & the faith & fellowship & prosperity of the breth ren in Zion &c let your own heart and the integrity of your own soul  answer this question & excuse the warmth of feeling of your unworthy  yet affectionate brother in the Lord travling through affliction  and great tribulation, you informed me that you wrote a few  lines to bear up our strength in the glorious labour wherewith  our Saviour hath been pleased to call us, I rejoice exceedingly  for the little strength & information God has been ple[a]sed to  give me through your letter– viz– to hear that our brethren  from this place & Nelson have arived safe in Zion and as I trust  without accident this is the mercy of our God, but in the disch arge <of my Duty,> must inform you that they left here under this dis pleasure of heaven for several reasons now what I write I write  without sparing any (or the feeling of any) knowing that God will  bear me up in what I write, I will give you some of the rea sons, firstly making a mock of the profession of faith in the  commandments by proceding contrary thereto in not complying [p. 1]