Letter to Erastus Snow, 9 December 1856
G. S. L. City .
Elder E. Snow
Dear bro.
I desire to drop you a few lines as the
mail East goes out in the morning.
The Reformation is going on in Israel with
mutch warmth and stedfastness, the Missionaries in this city are
taking an active part in preaching to, and stirring up the people.
Prest. J. M. Grant went forward in this Reformation
as an angel of God in the midst of his brethren, and with a
loud voice proclaimed repentance in the ears of this people &
made every exertion possible to get the people to live their religion.
his labours were so unceasing that he brought his body down to
the grave. He died on the 1st inst after about two weeks
illness of chills & fever, then bilious fever, terminating in lung
Fever. ^he was buried on the 4th. with military honors.^ He is much lamented in Israel, but now lamented
for his own sake, for we know it is well with Jedediah
The last hand cart Coy. arrived nNov 30 which
relieved our feelings greatly. Many have suffered much having
frozen their feet, hands, & limbs. The expense of this years
emigration to us is immense, besides the suffering &
exposing of the lives of our brethren who have gone to the
rescue of the Companies.
The last Coy. are at Bridger; and about 60
4 horse teams have gone out to bring them in, with about
30 or 40 tons of flour.
Bro. Franklin & myself are all of the Quorum
who are now in the valley, & the Presidency having put the
Missionaries under our control, we feel that the responsibility
upon us at this time requires us to live near the Lord
that his grace may be sufficient for us.
Praying that you and the brethren of our
Quorum ^abroad^ may have the power & blessing of God to rest
abundantly upon you for the salvation & gathering of
Israel & desiring an interest in your prayers.
