On 15 January 1844, member wrote a poem in for JS, whom he called his “beloved brother in ,” identifying signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ, describing his poor health and his family’s difficult financial situation, and expressing a desire to move somewhere with better work opportunities. Little is known about Ross beyond the information contained in the poem. He was a shoemaker who had previously presided over the of the church at , New Jersey. In fall 1843, he apparently moved to Nauvoo with his wife and three children but could not find work there. Like many other Latter-day Saints, he and his family traveled to nearby St. Louis to seek employment.

filled the first half of his poem with allusions to biblical prophecies about the latter days. He used the next portion of the poem to describe the poverty he had experienced since leaving and to express his belief that moving to or back to New Jersey would considerably improve his family’s circumstances. However, he wanted to be sure that he could find work and lodging in Nauvoo before making the journey from . Ross asked JS for advice on the matter and requested that he write back to him in St. Louis.

mailed his poem to on 17 January 1844. He addressed it to church member , whom he apparently knew, with a note in the margin of the second page requesting that Spencer give the poem to JS. JS presumably received the letter sometime in mid- or late January. There is no known reply.