31101

Letters to John Burk, Sally Phelps, and Almira Scobey, 1–2 June 1835

 
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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 (O.) June 2d 1835
Dear wife and children:— Having to send the decision in Elder Burkets case, I  embrace the opportunity to fulfil the promise I made you in my first and  second letter, (the second sent by Elder Beebe) to give you and the saints some ad vice. Language has not the power to convey my mind to you; nor can those  who are not separated for months and years, feel for those who are:—  How sweet will be the meeting of those Elders

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...

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, and High prests

An ecclesiastical office. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed an order of high priests who were called to teach the commandments of God and serve as leaders in...

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, who, to  fulfil their promises and commissions, and help save souls, after months’ and  years’ absence, from their beloved wives and families, return to enjoy  their smiles and company!— O how well, we who have left our wives  and children will know how to prize their delightful society!  How often will our wives reflect on the happy moments they  passed by their fire-sides, with their husbands and children! How ma ny times will they long for such happy times again! Now is the  time for our affections to feast on the perfections and virtues of each  other: to be sure, we may have had some little differences about  sume things when we were together, but they are all buried now: And if  any persons under heaven ought to enjoy the blessings prepared for  the saints when Zion

In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the work JS was called to do. However, the term Zion was soon used more specifically to describe a community of believers who live in harmony and equality. The Book of Mormon explained...

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 is redeemed— it is those husbands and wives  that freely, and faithfully bear separation for the sake of the  Kingdom; for the sake of religion; and for the sake of souls! What  though, my dear Sally, can not hear her children— exclaim, as when  I was there, “There comes father!” “father said so,” and “I will ask fath er.” &c What though my flute is not heard morning and evening—  and what though my voice is not heard in reading and praying—  I have confidence in you, and know that you will do right and  teach the children to do so too. Live humble; pray much, for I  pray for you once a day in secret, and I am confident, if you  and the children “do like wise”, that our prayers will be answered:=  for the Lord says what ever thing ye ask which is expedient, being  united, it shall be granted. Seek diligently to preserve the faith <which> has  been delivered unto [us] in these last days: Forgive all that trespass against  you: pray for your brethren and friends— and revile not against your  enemies= Inasmuch as you have strength and <are> prospered in your  labors or undertaking, clothe your selves decently; for this <is> comely  in the sight of God, and honorable before your brethren and  the world. I shall do all I can for you, though the brethren here are  considerably in debt, and are poor. The children! the children!  Sally, teach them diligently the holy precepts which you have had  taught you from the book of Mormon, the bible, the revelations, &c.  Let them take turns in praying. I know if you and the children  are as anxious to live right, as I am to have to have <you> do right; so  that we may all return to Zion with songs of everlasting Joy— you  will not, one of you, do an evil deed, or go out of the way  while I am absent from you. Sally will not, I believe, for since  we were married, I have never known her do wrong knowingly, therefore [p. [3]]

Facts

Editorial Title
Letters to John Burk, Sally Phelps, and Almira Scobey, 1–2 June 1835
ID #
253