# Letter to Emma Smith, 9 November 1839
# Date: November 9, 1839 | Source: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-emma-smith-9-november-1839/1
# Scribal status: holograph (JSP source note: 'handwriting of JS')
# Spelling: original (Joseph Smith Papers verbatim transcript); deletions, editorial glosses/footnotes, and address panels removed

Springfi ld Ill November 9th 1839
My Dear Wife
perhaps you may thing strange That we are not further on our Jouny at this date but I will say that we have done all that we could for the safety of Elder Rigdon on account of his week state of health and this morning we are under the nesesity of leaveing him at Brother Snyders and pesueing our Journy without him we think he will soon recover his health as he is not dangerously sick we regret that he cannot go on with us very much but cannot help ourselves but must commit him into the hands of God and go on being filled with constant anxiety for our Families and friends behind I shall be filled with constant anxiety about you and the children until I hear from you and in a particular maner litle Frederick it was so painful to leave him sick I hope you will watch over those tender offsprings in a maner that is becoming a mother and a saint and try to cutivete their minds and learn them to read and be sober do not let them be exposed to the wether to take cold and try to git all the rest you can it will be a long and lonesome time dureing my absence from you and nothing but a sense of humanity could have urged me on to so great a sacrafice but shall I see so many perish and not seek redress no I will try this once in the name of the Lord therefore be patient untill I come and do the best you can I cannot write what I want but believe me my feelings are of the best kind towards you all my hand cramps so I must close I am
