Letter to John Taylor and George Quayle Cannon, 21 November 1885
Presidents John Taylor & George Q Cannon
Dear Bretheren
Your last letter to
me upon the subject of calling missionaries
etc was received. It is on file at the H. O and
the date is not before me, and the excuse
I have to offer in not answering before is
the death and buriel of my wife Phoebe and
the settlement of my affairs after the buriel which
in some respects was in an unpleasant
condition; and also being under the necessity
of moving by night from place to place for
my own safety. Therefore I trust this may
be a sufficient excuse for my seemingly neg-
lect on my part. I must confess it gave
me peculiar feelings to return to Salt Lake
where I had spent thirty-five years and built
four dwelling houses and now I find not a
place to lay my head. I could not attend the
funeral of my wife with which I had spent
about fifty years in the marriage covenant
The only privilege I had in the matter
was to look through a window at the H. O.
and see the prosession pass and view the
hearse that carried the mortal tabernacle
I will say I have had several copies of the
letter written and sent to E. Snow, M Thatcher,
and have been read to the Bretheren here
and will endeavor to do all I can in having
the counsel carried out. I did not know that
the Suprientendants of the Improvement associa-
tions had been called upon to call men in-
to the missionary field. I enquired of Bro. Franklin
about the matter and he said he had called
upon the Presidents of two stakes to supply call
a certain number of men as missionaries and
they had not made out the number called
for, and ^Bro Richards^ he asked two suprientendants to present
the names of some of the most suitable men to
the President of the stake for his approval, and
that none have been called only upon the ap-
proval of the President of the stake. I am very
good health and spirits at the present time
and am using the best wisdom I posess
to take care of myself. I do not move at any
point only in the night.
The funeral of my wife was watched and
inquiries have made by marshalls if I was
in the City. I pray that the blessing and peace
of God may be with you, and that the Lord
may deliver you from all your enemies
I remain Your brother in the gospel
Wilford Woodruff
