Show copyright secured LIFE OF JOSEPH the same line dav I 1 rece received iveda a letter from harvey whitlock of winch the following is a copy DEAR sm having a few leisure moments I 1 have at last concluded to do what my own judgment has haa long ions dictated would be right ze but the allurements allure ments of miny m iny vices have long retard retarded d the hand that would woula wield the pen to make intelligent tell igent the communication that I 1 wish to send to you von and even ven now that ambition which is a prevailing and predominant principle among the great mass of natural almen men forbids that plainness of sentiment with which I 1 wish to write for know assuredly sir air to you I 1 wish to my feelings and unveil t tie he secrets of mv hearth heart as before the omniscient judge of all the earth be not surprised when I 1 declare unto you as the spirit will bear record that my my faith is firm and unshaken in the thi things 1 a of the everlasting gos gospel pe I 1 as it is proclaimed by the servants servant s of the latter dy day saints dear brother josel joseph phi V if f I 1 may in ay be allowed the express i an when 1 consider the happy times and peaceful moments and pleasant seasons I 1 have enjoyed with you and this people contrasted with my now degraded state together with the high and important import mt station I 1 have held before god and the abyss into which I 1 have fallen is a subject that swells ry my heart too bis big for at terance and lariza language ame w overwhelmed with feelings and loses its ire power of description and as I 1 desire to know the wilt will of god concerning tue me believing it is my my duty to make known unto TOO mv real situ situation Atin 18 1 shall ball the therefore theredo refo re d dispassionately ispa mior bately proceed to give a true tru and untarnished tarnished relation I 1 need not tell yon ton that in former times I 1 have preached the word and endeavored to be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhorts exhort and faith faithfully fally to discharge that trust reposed in me but 46 in 1 with what grief and lamentable sorrow and anguish do I 1 have to relate that I 1 have fallen from that princely station where whereunto urAo our god has called me reasons why are unnecessary may the fact suffice and lie believe lieve ne me when I 1 tell you thit tbt I 1 have su sunk myself sinare my mv last separation from this body in crimes of the deepest die inbi a av the better enible you von to under abst i real sins are V 1 will mention a how P aie art it some that I 1 am not guilty 0 of f am my hiki we e not been apen stained with milk innocent ta no e igol u hive I 1 tarn tam couce couched i around the cottages cotta catt aces ees of ofellow gf fellow ellow men man to seize and carry off 0 th boothly boot vly r have I 1 slandered mv neighbor nor 0 tei testimony nor taken unlawful awful hire nor op HMel J the widow nor fatherless n neither ha e 1 abed the saints but my hands are a swift ift to w P iniquity alquit V and my feet are fait running in I 1 q of vice vice and folla and my mv heart q 1 ise wicked imaginations I 1 lum in shrewd with the sure thought though t t rot lia into a world of disembodied 1 without god and with but one b hope 0 I 1 atthe he world which is to know ahm to err eat 1 but to forgive is divine I 1 much I 1 might may in relation to myk and I 1 the original difficulties with wit h the bui ohnah which I 1 will forbear and inasmuch as aa I 1 have hare beta bea charged with things that I 1 am not gui guilty ity allf osfak am BOW more than doubly guilty and 1 am no now willing to forgive and il afo forget et only let me kno kilo that I 1 am within n th the ea re ac dorkof mere mercy it t r ga ate lilt not I 1 have hare no reflections to io cast but say gay I 1 have bare sealed my own doom and pronounced my kiy own sentence if the day is passe passed I 1 hi by with me may I 1 here bek beg leave to entreat I 1 of those who are still toiling up up the r alle ascent ent ta make their way to the ibe realms of endless felicity and delight to stop not for anchors here he be low follow not my my example hut but steer your tour course onward in spite of all the combined powers of earth and hell bell for know that ove oe misstep here is only retrievable by a thousand groans and tears before god dear brother joseph let me entreat you on the reception of this letter as you regard tace salvation of my et soul ua to inquire at the thenard hand of the bordin lord in m ay y behalf for I 1 this I 1 lay day i in n the tha presence of bod 04 do covenant to abide tile tas word that may her be given for 1 I am w willing ill lh i receive any chastisement that toe I 1 deserve now hear my prayer and suffer me to feo break forth in the agony of my soul 0 ye i art angels gels that surround the throne of god princes of heaven that excel in strength ye who are clothed with transcendent transcend ant brightness plead 0 plead for one of the most wretched of the sons of men 0 yo ye heavens whose azure arches rise rise immensely high and stretch immeasurably wide t grand a tand amphitheatre of nature throne of the eternal god bow to boar the prayer of a poor wretched bewildered way wanderer to eternity 01 0 thou great omnipotent and omnipresent Je jehovah horah thou who fc upon the throne before whom all things are present I 1 thou maker moulder and mioner fashioner of all things visible and invisible breathe 0 breathe into the ears of thy servant the prophet words suitably adapted to my case and situation speak peak once more make known thy will concerning me which favors I 1 ask in the name of the son of jod god amen i N B I 1 hope you will not let any business prevent you tou from answering this letter in haste yours respectfully HARVEY WHITLOCK to JOSEPH SMITH SHIM which I 1 answered as follows kirtland nov 16 1835 bro haffey whitlock I 1 have received your oar letter of the of september 1835 and I 1 I 1 have read it twice and it gave me sensations I 1 that are better im imagine I 1 inel thin than described it suffice that Is I 1 say thit that the very flood gates of my heart were broken up I 1 could not refrain fro from weeping 11 I 1 thank god that it has enter ed liuo ikuo your your heert to try to return to the lord and to 10 this people if it so be that he will have mercy upon n I 1 have inquired of the lord concerning your case these words came to me verity verily thus thua saith the lord unto you let him who was my servant harvey return unto me and unto the bosom of my church and forsake all the sins wherewith he ha clr ended against me and pursue from henceforth a virtuosi virtu ou oui and upright life and remain under the direction of tho those se thom hoin I 1 have appointed to be pillars and heads of my church charch nd behold be bolij saith the lord your goi L his sins sh s h JI be blotted out oat from un der heaven ani shallie shall be fore forgotten otten from amon among 13 men man and shill not come up in in anine mine ears nor be recorded as a memorial against him but bat I 1 will lift him up as oat of deep mire and he be shall be exalted upon the high places and ahall be counted worthy to stand among princes and shall r vet be made a polished shift sh ift in my quiver of by bridgina brin in gina down the strong holds of wicked ness among m those who set themselves vea up on I 1 high that they way may take counsel against me I 1 an and J 1 L I 1 a s t my anointed ones in the last days ther therefore e 3 re let lei him prepare himself speedily and come unto you even to 10 kirtland kinland and inasmuch as he shall li hearken arken unto all your counsel from henceforth he shall be restored unto his former state ami in shall be saved unto the uttermost devenas even as the lord your god liveth amen thus thua you see my my dear brother the willingness 15 of our hea heavenly venty father to for forgive r 1 ve sins sins and restore to favor all those who are wil willing cillino lino to humble bumble themselves before him and co confess n their sins and forsake them and return to him i na with full purpose of heart beart acting no hypocrisy i to serve him to the end marvel not noi that the lord has descended condescended con to speak from the heavens he avena and give you instructions whereby you may learn your duty he has heard beard your prayers and witnessed your humility and holds forth the hand of paternal affection for your return ac tha no angels rejoice over you while the saints are willing to receive you again into fello fellowship I 1 hope on the receipt of this you will lose no time in coining to kirtland for if you get here in season you will have the privilege leve of attending the school of the prophets which has already commenced and also receive instructions in doctrine and principle from those whom god has appointed whereby you may may be qualified to 10 go forth and dec declare ia re the true doctrines of the kingdom according to the mind and will of god and when you come to kirtland it will be explained to you why god has condescended con descended to give you a revelation according accordi i to your request T please give my respects to your family and be a assured stifen I 1 am fours youra in the bonds of the new and everlasting I 1 covenant JOSEPH SMITH junior in the course of the day father beeman elder strong and aind others called to counsel with I 1 me in the evening a council was called at rn my y house bouse to co counsel with alya alva beeman on the subject of his movin moving to missouri I 1 had previously told him that t the e lord had said that he had better go to missouri next spring however he wished a council called the co council uncil met and president david lemd whitmer arose and said the spirit manifested to him that it was his bis duty to go others bore the same testimony the same night I 1 received the word of the e lord on oa mr case he hadde bad desired sired that I 1 would inquire atthe at the hand band odthe of the lord whether it was his duty to be baptized here or w wait ait until he returned home the word of the lord came unto me saying that mr holmes had better not ot be ba bip tied here and that he had better not return gy by water also that there ther I 1 wore were three men that were seeking 0 his bis destree Y tion to boware beware of his bb enemies tuesday lath exhibited the alphabet 0 of the ancient ancie fit records to mr hol holmes law and some 0 others h went with him tot toj G U williams to see ee the mummies we then r ook the parting hand and he be started for home being strong in tm the faith of the gospel of jesue christ and determined to obey its requirements I 1 returned home and spent the day in die dictating tating and comparing letters a one fine pleasant day although cool this evening at early candle light I 1 preached r so had at t the be school house I 1 V wednesday IM at home i in the forenoon until about 11 1 I 1 then went to preserved i harriss to preach his fathers funeral ser I 1 cwm hythe request of af his family I 1 reached preached orn on the subject of the resurrection the he congregation g gre r gation ta on were ver very y attentive M my V wl wife e ny my ima anal e r and my scribe accompanied me to the fanneral fa pleasant out but cool and cloudy on W return this day a coa council of high priests and eld iii of the church of lat lifter ter day dal saints was wit held at new portage to hear the complaint of bitter clarissa matthews against elder reuben for prosecuting in Q court of law and lakwa their property on execution that he had received his pay or the most 0 st par part t of it and refusing to allow them for feat they had paid to hire him also forfeiting his I 1 word as he had frequently stated to her that ife 14 bould not take her property in such a manlier i band and also f fr ar oppressing her family in an manner elder keeler p plead I 1 ead 4 t milty guilty but the council decided that he was go oa y 0 of f th the e first and last charges and gave judgment ament accordingly with which chieh elder keeler refused t comply y and saidee said be would appeal to the ae erk high h coon ed Albro sipa im er PT P E joseph B bosworth clerk I 1 at evening bishop whitney his wife father mother and inlaw in law ca came m e and invited me and my wife to go with them and visit father smith and family my wife was unwell and could not go go but I 1 and my scribe went when we arrived some of the young elders were about engaging in in a debate on the subject 0 of f m miracles i 1 the question was or was it no not t th the e d design ra of christ to establish his gospel by m miracles ira i after an interesting debate of three hours or more during which time much talent was displayed it was decided by the president of the debate in the negative which was a righteous decision I 1 discovered in this do debate much warmth displayed too much zoal zeal for mastery too much of that enthusiasm thi that at characterizes a lawyer at the bar who is determined to defend his cause right or wrong I 1 therefore availed myself of this f favorable e opportunity port unity to drop a few words upon this subject by way of advice that they might improve their minds mind and cultivate their powers of intellect in a proper manner that they might not i incur the displeasure of heaven that they should hould handle sacred things very sacredly and with ith due deference to the opinions of others na with an eye eve single to the glory of god f thursday went in company campany with doe doc aitor williams and my scribe to tf see how the workmen prospered in finish ing the house houie I 1 the reasons masons on the inside had h id commenced pu putting t on the finis finishing bing coit coat of plastering on I 1 mv my return I 1 met loyd and lorenzo loreno lewis and conversed with thea upon the subject of their being disaffected I 1 fou found a d that they were not so as touching the faith of the debure chucci but with some of the I 1 returned home and spent the day in translating the egyptian records a and clemant pie isaab d ty ly frid friday ay at home in the morning weather warm and rainy we spent the day in in translating and made rapid progress at ea evening eniar president cowdery returned from new york york bringing with him a 1 quantity of hebrew books for th the 0 benefit of the school he presented me with a H hebrew brew bible lexi lexicon eon d and na gramm ir also a greek lexicon and websters en english aish lexicon president cowdery had a prosperous journey according D to the prayers of tho the sain saints is in kirtland I 1 saturday spent the day at home in examining my books and studying the hebrew ap alphabet habet at evening met with our hebrew rr tass to make some arrangements about a te acher it was decided by bt the voice of the school to send to new york tor for a jew to teach us ua the language 0 if we could get released from the engagements we had made with doctor 15 13 to teach us having ascertained that he was not qualified to give us the knowledge we wished to acquire of the hebrew S sunday anday went lo 10 meeting meeting at the usual hour simeon carter preached arom from the ath of matthew Mat their president Rig doni lons brother broth r in liw law and other relatives were at meeting in the I 1 afternoon the meeting was held in the school house in the evening evening a council of high priests priests and elders was areld held in in the presence cresence of we e members of the church when mr L r andiew ackson squires who had been an ordained el aler er in the church and for a time had preached the gospel successfully but after a while sent his hia license to president deni smith in a letter came before the council and cons sed that he hm hid I 1 been in temptation and fa fallen anen into error so much as to join the methodists yet vet said he was not ilot in faith with their doctrine lie he desired to return to the fellowship of the church asked forgiveness of the |