Letter from John Taylor and George Quayle Cannon, 12 November 1885
President Wilford Woodruff
and Council of the Twelve Apostles
Dear Brethren:
Letters which we receive in response
from those who are called to go on missions prompt us
to communicate with you upon this subject. We are
sending out a large number of missionaries in various
directions and it is important that in making sel-
ections we should get the best material available for the
purpose. It is not unreasonable to suppose that many very
worthy persons who would make excellent missionaries
are overlooked, while many who are not so suitable are
selected. It appears to us that this business of selecting
missionaries can be more systematized, and be attended
with more satisfactory results than it is at the present
time. The calls for missionaries should be considered
by the Twelve Apostles. They should understand the
fields to be supplied and the kind of men that are
needed to supply them. At the present time they travel
