Letter from Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, 11 April 1839
Source Note
, Letter with postscript by , , Adams Co., IL, to and JS, , Clay Co., MO, 11 Apr. 1839. Featured version copied [between 29 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 39–40; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
Historical Introduction
On 11 April 1839, wrote from , Illinois, to his brother in the in , Missouri; Don Carlos’s wife, , added a postscript addressed to Hyrum and JS. In the letter, Don Carlos provided an update on Hyrum’s family, who had departed , Missouri, earlier in the year and settled in the vicinity of Quincy.
This letter was the second one sent to the prison. In his 6 March letter, he noted that ’s wife, , continued to suffer with a “severe cold.” He also reported that she and her infant son were staying with her sister and Mercy’s husband, , and that Hyrum’s five children from his deceased wife, , were staying with Hyrum’s parents. Don Carlos also suggested there were problems with family dynamics. This troublesome news was exacerbated because Hyrum had not received direct communication from Mary. According to the contents of the featured letter, Hyrum apparently replied to Don Carlos in late March, expressing anxiety and asking for additional information about his family. Don Carlos responded with this 11 April letter, reassuring his brother that Mary’s health was improving and that the tensions in the family were partially relieved. Don Carlos also asked Hyrum to convey words of encouragement to JS and the other prisoners—, , and . then added a short postscript addressed to Hyrum and JS, expressing her faith in divine providence and referring to the well-being of Hyrum’s and JS’s children.
As with the letters and wrote to the prisoners on 10 April 1839, it is unknown whether and ’s 11 April letter was carried to immediately or held until the received further information about the prisoners’ anticipated change of venue. The original letter is apparently not extant; however, copied the letter into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between 29 May and 30 October 1839.
Mulholland copied his own 29 May 1839 letter to Edward Partridge on page 15 of Letterbook 2, making that the earliest likely copying date for documents he subsequently copied but that had dates preceding 29 May.
Beloved Brethren and Joseph, by the permit of my I write a line to show that I have not forgotten you, neither do I forget you for my prayer is to my Heavenly Father for your deliverance; It seems as though the Lord was slow to hear the prayers of the Saints, but the Lord’s ways, are not like our ways, therefore he can do better than ourselves; you must be comforted Bro & J. and look forward for better days; your little ones are as playful as little lambs, be comforted concerning them, for they are not cast down as and sorrowful as we are; their sorrows are but momentary, and ours continual. May the Lord bless, protect, and deliver you from all your enemies, and restore you to the bosom of your families, is the prayer of .