Letter from James S. Jensen, 17 December 1890
Salina, Sevier Co,
Presdt Wilford Woodruff
Dear Bro. In answer to your inquiry made
through Bro Geo Reynolds, concerning the "Missionary Call" of
Bro Joseph Sorensen of this place, will say, that he was
called this spring, to perform a mission to New Zealand,
but, was at that ^time^ unable to arrange his buisness, so as to leave
at the time appointed, and on explaining this by letter to
the "First Presidency," was given till fall, to arrange matters,
and prepare for the mission; this he did; but did not
consider it his duty to acquaint you of the fact that he
was ready. I advised him to write and inform you, but,
"he was not going to beg for a mission;" hence, I wrote
giving the information that "Bro Sorenson, was ready for the
mission," and recd a reply from Bro Reynolds, Nov 18, that
"no missionaries, were at present needed in New Zealand,
and that his field of labour had been changed to the Southern
States," and that the company of missionary Elders would leave
Decr 17th. I was requested to inform Bro Sorensen of these facts.
I have done so. Bro Sorensen, in consequence of my writing
to inform you of his being prepared, insists that I have
called him, through spite. Bro Sorensen is of a Family
whose only hope of salvation, to all appearance, seems to be
through him, as he is the only one who seems to take interest
in the 'Work of God', but, he is not strong in the faith, and
we thought—in his case, as in others—a 'mission' would be a
great blessing to him, and, also, to the Sorensen Family—hence
we sent in his name. We have three ^4^ returned missionaries,
young men who were called as he was, who beleived the
work, but had no positive testimony, who, since their
return, bear strong and faithful Testimonies, and are
doing much good in the Ward. Infidelity had spread
amongst the young people of the Ward, but, since the return
