A Voice from Jerusalem: Or, A Sketch of the Travels and Ministry of Elder Orson HydeHyde, Orson
Religion
A Voice from Jerusalem: Or, A Sketch of the Travels and Ministry of Elder Orson Hyde
Hyde, Orson
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Missions; Jerusalem -- Description and travel; Middle East -- Description and travel
P.S. In justice to the American missionaries at Jerusalem, I must
say, however, particularly of Mr. Whiting, with whom I became most
acquainted, that as men, their conduct towards me was both courteous
and civil; and when I left Mr. W.'s house I could not withhold my
blessing from himself and family--his interesting wife and lovely
little girls, who all speak fluently the English and Arabic. A kind
word or action towards a stranger in a strange land is not soon
forgotten. May the Lord bless them and their families with his
salvation, through the knowledge of the truth, was my desire then, and
is my prayer still.
Note.--Expecting a letter or letters from you to be lodged in Bavaria
for me, I have addressed a note there requesting them (if any) to be
forwarded to me at this place; but as my note went on shore in the
bustle without the postage being paid, and having to pass through
different kingdoms, I do not expect it will be forwarded. I hope,
however, to get news from you and the church when I get there myself. I
hope also to hear something from my wife. I feel that a word from her
would be more precious than gold; yet I am afraid to hear lest she may
be in trouble, or some of her friends dead--a father or mother perhaps,
or brother or sister. Yet I try to comfort myself with the thought that
my long absence is the cause of all my bad feelings. The Lord knows,
and I pray that he may bind up every broken heart. Fare-thee-well; thy
brother in the Lord,
O. H.
* * * *
LETTER II.
_Trieste, January_ 17, 1842.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS AT NAUVOO,
I have just written a lengthy letter to the Twelve, and sent it by way
of Elder Pratt, in England. In that, and in a former one written to
him from Alexandria in Egypt, is contained an account of my mission to
Jerusalem. I feel, however, as though I wished to write a few lines
more on this the last day of my confinement on ship board, where
I have spent the last fifty-six days: six days in the harbour of
Alexandria--twenty-two days on our passage--and twenty-eight here in
quarantine. To-morrow, if the Lord will, the the jubilant song, with
its thrice welcome melody, will greet the ears of a poor captive exile,
the prison doors give way, and he be permitted once more to breathe the
air of freedom in a land where he is not annoyed by the sight of the
star and crescent, the turban and the covered face--all of which are an
abomination in my sight.
The thoughts which I record will, no doubt, be scattering, and like
"the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done;" or like a few
indolent belated stragglers going to the place of worship on a Sabbath
morning after the more conscientious and faithful have broken the
silence which hovered around the place of their devotion, and greeted
the morning with their prayers and joyful acclamations of praise to the
Lord their God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account