Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 2 (1869 - 1875)

Lt 26, 1871

White, W. C.

Richmond, Maine

November 25, 1871

Previously unpublished.

My Dear Son Willie:

I sent you a few lines from Portland. We came from Portland yesterday. We tarried last night at Brother Merriman’s. Today we came to Brother Weber’s. We are welcomed by all with great ardor. I have had one dozen homes opened to me to make my home and write. I fear if we come to Battle Creek we shall not do much writing. We have just about decided to tarry at Samuel Abbey’s with Lucinda. I could perhaps do better there than to stay further east. But in many places they urge my tarrying that I may be a help to them in their meetings. How does this plan suit my Willie? 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 1

I am settled not to keep house if I come home, but we do desire to get my book out this winter. I have great freedom in writing when I can get an opportunity. We have taken bad colds by sleeping in damp, musty beds. We hope we shall not be exposed any more in this way. 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 2

Willie, I told you to plant the tulips. If you think the tulips would freeze to be put in now, you need not do it. If you have planted them, cover them with dressing or plant them quite deep. Consult others in regard to this. 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 3

My dear Willie, we do want to see you but we hope you will have both physical and mental health. Watch and pray, my dear boy, lest ye enter into temptation. If the disciples had regarded the words of warning given by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane they would not have been left in their weakness to forsake their Saviour in the hour of His greatest trial. Had they watched and prayed they would have been impressed, in a manner never to be forgotten, by the sorrowful anguish of Christ in the hour of terrible agony while Satan was assaulting the Divine Sufferer with his fiercest temptations, which led Him to exclaim, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death.” [Matthew 26:38.] They lost the impressive scene of seeing an angel from glory descending with a message of love from the Father to His Son. This message soothed and calmed the noble, sensitive soul of the Son of God. 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 4

It will pay, Willie, for you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. God has promised that if you do this He will bless you. Trust in God, my dear boy. He knows every trial and temptation that besets you. He knows every conflict, every good endeavor. God is good and His mercy endureth forever. Seek to perfect a Christian character for yourself. Do not be influenced by anyone in the wrong direction. We must all overcome for ourselves. It is an individual work. A work has been left for each and all, all individually to perform. Christ has opened the way by His own death, making it possible that we may work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We may wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb. We are to remove from us the defects in our moral character and trust in Christ for the great salvation He has provided. 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 5

God strengthen and bless you is the daily prayer of your mother. 2LtMs, Lt 26, 1871, par. 6