Letter from Elder O. Hyde

(Trieste December) 21, 1841.

MY DEAR MARINDA:-Once more I sit down to write to you, to let you know, that through the mercy of the Lord, I am still among the living; and what is still better, Jesus the sinner's friend, I humbly trust lives in me. I arrived this morning in this port from Alexandria, after a passage of 21 & 1-2 days; and here I must remain 28 days more in quarantine. It is like a prison, but there is no avoiding it.

The city of Jerusalem, I have seen, and walked through it almost every way, and also the regions round about: but as I do not write this letter with the view of its being made public, I shall omit most of the particulars connected with my mission, and give them in a letter addressed to the Twelve, which will be mailed or sent at the same time as this. . . . . .

I hope the answer to the two letters which I wrote from Bavaria, one to you, and the other to Br. Joseph will have arrived safely there. As I must remain here almost one month, I have written to Bavaria requesting them forwarded to me at this place. It is only about 250 miles from this, to Bavaria where I made a stop last summer; and as soon as I am released from this prison, it is my intention to go there and publish the principles of our faith in the German language, unless I shall be differently advised in the letters which I hope to receive. It is directly on my way to London. If you look on the map of Europe, you will see my course from this to London. First over the Alps to Munich, then to Ratisbon, from thence to Frankfort, on the Maine, and then to Mayenz and down the Rhine.

As soon as I can get the foundation of a good work laid in Germany, I shall go to England, if the Lord will, and there

spend a short time, and then return to you. I begin to speak the German considerably. In fact I am obliged to, for there are few who speak English. I have found no difficulty in getting along about languages, though I have been, sometimes where they spoke Turkish, and frequently where they spoke nothing but Arabic and Italian, and then French and German. On board the vessel in which I came from Alexandria they spoke Italian and German. So far as mere travelling [traveling] is concerned, I could go all over the world, let the language be what it might, and I trust the time will be when the servants of the Lord will even be able to proclaim the gospel fully and plainly by the power of the Holy Ghost in all these languages.

I feel quite anxious to get our faith and principles in print in the German language; but what the effect will be, time must determine. The Catholic religion in Germany is fortified by long and deep rooted prejudices; and to a certain extent by laws of human enactment. I have dreamed that they shut me up in prison: but if they do, I shall not have the honor of being the first Latter-Day Saint, who for the truth's sake, has been imprisoned. . . . . . . I feel glad, and more than glad that I have seen Jerusalem. Face never answered more correctly to face in water, than Mt. Olivet did to the vision I had in Nauvoo. . . . . . How it would rejoice my heart to meet with the Saints again. The hope that I shall, makes my heart swell with joy. I pray the Lord to keep me from evil, and strengthen my heart in righteousness, that I may be counted worthy to share their good will when I return. . . . . . .

May the Lord bless you all, and save you from the violence of men, and from all evil. My kind respects to the Presidency, and to all that enquire [inquire] after me. I am ever your affectionate husband.

ORSON HYDE.