Presidents John Taylor & George Q Cannon, Dear Brethren, your letter of Aug 27 was received, and read with much interest. yes Brethren I also feel it my Duty to acknowledge the hand of God in his present Dealing with us. I am satisfied that He is permitting this present raid upon the Latter Day Saints for a wise purpose. But it is all in fulfillment of the revelations of God through the Mouth of Ancient and Modern prophets. Our Nation is determined to get ripe in thir iniquity Their Never was a Nation ripening faster and they must fulfill ther Destiny. The same wave that engulphed the Jaredites & Nephites will over- whelm this Nation or one like it. They will make war upon the Saints untill their cup is full. Again Zion has got to be cleansed The Saints have got to be purified and united, and my opinion is we shall be afflicted untill it is done. It is not for me to say how long it will take. It has seemed to me of late that there was a wave of evil passing over the whole Church & Kingdom of God like a wave of the sea to temp men to do evil. Men that have been strong for years give way to Adultery & pollution; and sacrifice salvation to gratify the lust of the flesh. while these things remain Zion will be afflicted untill she is purified I have been pained to hear the reports of events passing among us. But Zion will not be moved out of her place. God has Decreed it. He will ^contend with Zion &^ plead with her strong ones untill she is purifed and overcomes and clean before the Lord. The Zion- Church, and Kingdom of God must stand, prevail, conquer & overcome while the wicked must be destroyed, and Babylon fall. The Lord will not fail concerning his promises I am satisfied that great Judgments await our Nation, and afflictions begins at the House of God. I think it is vary signifficant that the first Earthquake that has done Damage in North America for a century should begin at Charleston whare the rebellion commenced. See D&C, section 121: 23, 24, 25 v The word of the Lord should comfort us and sustain us in all our afflictions. We are begining to pass through some strait places and making important History (We hear all kinds of reports of the Determination of the wicked concerning the presidency to take them either Dead or alive. I cannot feel that they will be taken in either condition, they will not if the prayers of the saints prevail) But No doubt their is a great exertion made by our enemies to get possession of the leaders of the Church But I am satisfied that the Lord will watch over them, and reveal unto them their Duty, and what course to pursue in order to be saved Joseph Smith has set us an example at the Head of this Dispensation the same as Jesus at the head of his both sealed their testimony with their Blood and lives. We should not feer to lay down our lives if required