Letter to John Taylor and Council, 2 September 1879
Cebollita New Mex.
Pres John Taylor & Councill
Dear Brethren
we returned to this place last
evening from a very interesting Mission and
visit with Elders Ammon M Tenney adnd
P. J Christofferson our visit was to the [Laguna People|Lagunas]]
and Ysletas & Zunies a class of Peopple that
occupy some 40 Vilages embracing some
(32000) thirty two thousand inhabitants & speaking
16 diferent langugeges, and we believe this
people to be the Nephites Jacobites Josephites
and Zoramites spoken of in the D. C. 3 sec
16 & 17th veses if there are any Nepites upon
this continent they are among this people
they seem to us to be a distinct race from the
other Lamenites upon the continenent
They stand far above them on the true
meaning of civilization in occupying Villages
building and dwelling in good Houses and
instances of carpeted floors cleanliness of person
in the cultivation of the Earth their crops
and vinyards of great industry & especially
of Virture & Keeping their Blood pure from
all other Men & especially in cultivating
the spirit of peace instead of war like—
