This afternoon, Erastus Holmes, of Newbury, Ohio, called on me to inquire about the establishment of the Church, and to be instructed in doctrine more perfectly.
I gave him a brief relation of my experience while in my juvenile years, say from six years old up to the time I received my first vision, which was when I was about fourteen years old; also the revelations that I received afterwards concerning the Book of Mormon, and a short account of the rise and progress of the Church up to this date.
He listened very attentively, and seemed highly gratified, and intends to unite with the Church.
On Sabbath morning, 15th, he went with me to meeting, which was held in the schoolhouse, as the plastering of the chapel was not yet finished.
President Rigdon preached on the subject of men being called to preach the Gospel, their qualifications, etc. We had a fine discourse, it was very interesting indeed. Mr. Holmes was well satisfied, and returned and dined with me. Said Holmes has been a member of the Methodist church, and was excommunicated for receiving the Elders of the Latter-day Saints into his house.
Went to meeting in the afternoon. Before partaking of the Sacrament, Isaac Hill's case was agitated again, and settled after much controversy. He was retained in the Church, by making a humble acknowledgement before the Church, and consenting to have his confession published in the Messenger and Advocate; after which the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered, and the meeting closed late. Returned home and spent the evening.
Monday 16.—At home. Dictated the following letter for publication in the Messenger and Advocate.[[1]]
The Case of Harvey Whitlock.
The same day, I received a letter from Harvey Whitlock, of which the following is a copy—
Harvey Whitlock's Letter.
Dear Sir.—Having a few leisure moments, I have at last concluded to do what my own judgment has long dictated would be right, but the allurements of many vices have long retarded the hand that would wield the pen to make intelligent the communication that I wish to send to you; and even now, that ambition, which is a prevailing and predominant principle among the great mass of natural men, forbids that plainness of sentiment with which I wish to write; for know assuredly, sir, to you I wish to unbosom my feelings, and unveil the secrets of my heart, as before the omniscient Judge of all the earth. Be not surprised, when I declare unto you, as the Spirit will bear record, that my faith is firm and unshaken in the things of the everlasting Gospel, as it is proclaimed by the servants of the Latter-day Saints.
Dear Brother Joseph, (if I may be allowed the expression,) when I consider the happy times, and peaceful moments, and pleasant seasons I have enjoyed with you and this people, contrasted with my now degraded state; together with the high and important station I have held before God, and the abyss into which I have fallen—it is a subject that swells my heart too big for utterance, and I am overwhelmed with feelings that language cannot express. As I desire to know the will of God concerning me, and believing it is my duty to make known unto you my real situation, I shall dispassionately proceed to give a true and untarnished relation.
I need not tell you that in former times I have preached the word, and endeavored to be instant in season, and out of season—to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and faithfully to discharge that trust reposed in me. But oh! with what grief, and lamentable sorrow, and anguish, do I have to relate that I have fallen from that princely station whereunto our God has called me. Reasons why are unnecessary, may the fact suffice, and believe me when I tell you, that I have sunk myself (since my last separation from this body) in crimes of the deepest dye. And that I may the better enable you to understand what my real sins are, I will mention (although pride forbids it) some that I am not guilty of. My hands have not been stained with innocent blood, neither have I lain couched around the cottages of my fellow men, to seize and carry off the booty; nor have I slandered my neighbor, nor borne false testimony, nor taken unlawful hire, nor oppressed the widow or fatherless, neither have I persecuted the Saints. But my hands are swift to do iniquity, and my feet are fast running in the paths of vice and folly, and my heart is quick to devise wicked imaginations; nevertheless, I am impressed with the sure thought that I am fast hastening into a world of disembodied beings, without God, and with but one hope in the world, which is to know that to err is human, but to forgive is divine.
Much I might say in relation to myself, and the original difficulties with the Church, but I will forbear; and inasmuch as I have been charged with things that I am not guilty of, I am now more than doubly guilty, and am now willing to forgive and forget, only let me know that I am within the reach of mercy. If I am not, I have no reflections to cast, but say that I have sealed my own doom, and pronounced my own sentence. If the day is passed by with me, may I here beg leave to entreat of those who are still toiling up the rugged ascent, to make their way to the realms of endless felicity and delight, to stop not for anchors here below, follow not my example, but steer their course onward in spite of all the combined powers of earth and hell, for know that one 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 the salvation of my soul, to inquire at the hand of the Lord, in my behalf; for I this day, in the presence of God, do covenant to abide the word that may be given, for I am willing to receive any chastisement that the Lord sees I deserve. Now hear my prayer, and suffer me to break forth in the agony of my soul. O ye angels! that surround the throne of God, princes of heaven that excel in strength, ye who are clothed with transcendent brightness, plead, O plead for one of the most wretched of the sons of men. O ye heavens! whose azure arches rise immensely high, and stretch immeasurably wide—grand amphitheatre of nature, throne of the Eternal God, bow to hear the prayer of a poor, wretched, bewildered, way-wanderer to eternity. O! Thou great omnipotent and omnipresent Jehovah! Thou who sittest upon the throne, before whom all things are present; Thou maker, moulder, and fashioner of all things visible and invisible, breathe, O breathe into the ears of Thy servant the Prophet, words suitably adapted to my case and situation. Speak once more, make known Thy will concerning me; which favors I ask in the name of the Son of God. Amen.
Yours respectfully,
HARVEY WHITLOCK.
To Joseph Smith.
N.B.—I hope you will not let any business prevent you from answering this letter in haste.