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Manchester, Dec. 4th 1841
Dear Brother Smith.
I take this opportunity to communicate with you, and would say that my
self and family are all Well, and We wish health and peace and favour to rest
abundantly upon you and your family and all the household of faith. We
Rejoice greatly in the continual good news Which We hear from the Land
Of Zion, and in the spirit of faith, union, confidence, enterprise, and industry
Which seems to prevail and increase in your midst. We Rejoice in the
Building of the temple and feel great desire to push it forward. You will
doubtless get the Letter I sent last and you will there see What my mind has
been on that subject for some time and I find that it is in perfect accordance
with the spirit of the Lord in Nauvoo, viz, to push the Temple ahead with all
possible speed, and I hope it Will be enclosed by next fall. Br fielding and
my self will continue to foward according to our ability, and will endeavour
to Influence others So to do. But O! Br. Joseph millions of laborers are out
of employ, and are starving in this country, and among others hundreds of
the most faithful Saints, and hundreds more are laboring like slaves on about
half what they can eat. This pains my heart, and I sometimes feel as if I could
take them all on my shoulders and upon my arms and carry them to Zion;
but allass, the means is Wanting. Yet we are enabled to Work the deliverance
of many by humbling the rich and exalting the poor. But Dear Br. the saints
in this country are nearly all poor and there is no capital among them as it
were; therefore they cannot fulfill your epistle in Regard to men of capital
coming first to prepare the way for the Rich will not hear nor obey the
Gospel, and the poor must flea or perish, and if they perish they had rather
perish Where provisions cost about one sixth part what they cost here. Yea
most gladly would they sell them selves for slaves to their Brethern in
America for the sake of a being on the earth but no one will buy them. (That
is hire them, and advance them Money to go with._
Dear Br be so kind as to write me a few lines in answer to this letter,
and give me a word of encouragement, and advise for I get no letters from
America either from you or any one else, except one of late from Elder G.
A. Smith. Do not fail to write this once as I1 have never Rec’d a letter from
you since I have been in this Land.
And now I would ask advise on several points.
first, I would wish to come home in the spring and stay till the temple
is done, if it is wisdom.
secondly, have you any advise to give as to any ferther provision for
the care and government of the Churches in this Land in my Absence, and
in the abscence of the Residue of the quorum?
thirdly, any advise or instructions in Regard to gathering of the saints
from this Land?
fourthly, any instructions as to the spread of the message to other
Nations?
fifthly, when will the “purchased possession” be Redeemed and the
temple and city commence in Jackson Co. Mo.
sixthly, When Will the ungodly, lying, gentiles begin to loose their
Power and cease to Rule; and We who have now spent half of our lives for
Them, be privaledged to turn from the Gentiles and go in full power to the
Remnants of Joseph and Israel?
Now Dear Br, if you will answer this Letter the same night you get it
and answer these six questions and impart such other Advise or instruction
as god may give you it will be a great blessing to me.
as to news, the Lord is still working in power and signs in this land.
Many of the sick are healed, many have visions, some in Dreams, and some
in Open day. the ministering of Angels is frequently enjoyed, and in short
all the gifts of God are frequently manifestered, as far as they have been
generally attained to in this age.
The Church is Generally in union, and increasing in Confidence and
in Numbers; but it makes but slow progress because of the lying spirit Which
every Where prevails ,and the priestcraft and false doctrines Which are like
a flood around us. Discussions, Contentions, Lectures, Sermons, play cards
tracts, Books, Papers pamphlets, etc. etc. are flooding the Country in Great
number, all contaning Little else than Lies and foolishness of the Grossest
kind aganst the Cause of truth. There is now a periodical of a large
size Bublished jointly against us, and the Socialests and Chartists.
in short, it is wearysome to notice the multitude of Evle and Lying
publications, much more to answer or Reply to them. We therefore pass
them in silence With few ecceptions, and the Lord answers them in his own
time, and in his own way, by Bringing them to Naught and by doing his own
work.
The wickedness and folly of the priests and their followers is
Incredible; it is beyond every thing, language cannot tell it. And I feel as
though it must come to an end soon, very soon, and the servants of God be
Delivered and this yoak broken off from their necks; I am really impatient
I cannot bear with them much longer, the Spirit which is in me cries; come
out in judgement Speedily O, God, and cause their Wickedness and falsehood
to cease, and let the cause of truth triumph and thy Saints Rejoice. Why
Should thy servants be wasted a way and their lives cease from the earth or
their time gone, till Old age come upon them While the wicked Still bear
Rule, and the cause of truth is in Reproach. How long O, Lord - How Long!
Dear Br, Do enquire of the Lord how long we must see the
Gentiles triumph and hear, and bear their Reproach. When Shall the power
Of falsehood Cease to prevail, and the Lord come out of his hiding place, and
make bear his Arm in the eyes of the nations, in behalf of his own Cause, and
his own people?
Do not be angry with your old friend for earnestly seeking this
knowledge, or some information on the subject of these times, for I feel to
humbly solisit at your hand a word on these subjects. In the mene time be
assured that you have my love and best Wishes, and give the same to all
enquiring friends.
I remain your Brother in the cause
of truth
P. P. Pratt
President J. Smith.
All the American friends in this country are well as far as I know.
P P Pratt
Source: Joseph Smith Collection, Letters Incoming 1833-1844, Library Archives, Historical Department, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.
Original grammar and spelling retained.
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