Hinckley, Utah, . Pres' Wilford Woodruff S L City Dear Bro: I am in receipt of a call from you to depart on a mission for the Netherlands July 31st 1897. And while I would have preferred to have went to England, I make no complaint, and cheerfully accept the call and will be on hand at the appointed time. Yours Truly A A Hinckley. Wm. H. Pratt. BP

President Woodruff then addressed the congregation. He said: I want to say to my young brethren and sisters and friends in the Sabbath schools established here in the Rocky mountains, God bless you and I feel to bless you, as far as I have the power. I want to say that this is a scene before me today that has overpowered me— it has overpowered my speech. I would rather not say anything, still I I feel I want to make a few remarks to my friends. I never in my life have been in a similar position to that of today. The scene before me has been a fulfillment to all my prayers from my boyhood up to early man- hood. Eighty years ago I was a little boy ten years of age attending school the same as you are here in the moun- tains of Israel. I read the New Testa- ment. I read of Jacob, I read of the Apostles and the Prophets. I could not find a man on the face of the earth who taught these principles or be- lieved in them. I prayed to the God of heaven that I might live to see a Prophet; that I might live to see an Apostle who would say something that would satisfy me like unto the principles I read of in the New Testa- ment. Today I stand in the midst of ten thousand young men and women of Israel—sons and daughters of prophets, patriarchs and men of Israel. Men who hold the Holy Priesthood ap- pointed by God of Israel; appointed in the last days to set up and carry these laws and principles of God into effect. It is these principles that we were to look at in the last days. Now I want to say to you as the rising generation, I never expected to see a day of this kind in my life, in my early days. I did expect as it was promised to me to see a prophet. I have lived to see him. I have traveled with prophets and patriarchs and sons of God, I have lived to see this body of intelligence of the sons of the living God, who come here to the meetings of Israel. I rejoice in this for I see before me the nature of the Latter-day Saints. We cannot say the Bible is a novel—the Bible that contains revelation. I have passed through the periods of boyhood, early manhood and old age. I cannot expect to tarry a great while longer with you but I want to give to you a few words of counsel. You occupy a position in the Church and Kingdom of God and have received the power of the Holy Priesthood. The God of Heaven has appointed you and called you forth in this day and generation. I want you to look at this. Young men listen to the counsel of your elder brethren. Live near to God; pray while young; learn to pray; learn to cultivate the Holy Spirit of God; link it to you and it will become a spirit of revela- tion unto you, inasmuch as you nourish it. I feel thankful myself that I have lived to see this day. I declare unto you that there are many in the flesh who will remain so until the coming of the Son of Man. This is about all I wish to say. I feel thankful to my heavenly Father that I see this scene before us this afternoon; that I see the Gospel mani- festations on the earth. There has been, as it was stated by our brother, two powers, one to destroy me and the other to save me. And God in heaven has willed to spare me to see this day. He has given me power to reject every testimony and reject every example that leads to evil. I say to you chil- dren, do not use tobacco, liquor or any of these things that destroy the body and mind, but honor Him and you will have a mission upon your heads that the world know not of. May God bless you. Amen.

[sideways text] Notify Gr B 17 Apl [18]97 [end of sideways text] Hyrum Feb. 28, 1897. Prest. Wilford Woodruff, Dear Brother, My name has been suggested by the Missionary Committee of the Apostles to take a foreign mission. I have wrote the secretary my circumstances and feelings; They have given me what time I thought necessary to settle up my affairs, and prepare for this mission, And report to you my readiness. I think my sircumstances is as good now as they will be, and the longer I wait to report the longer I may. So will report that I will go when called. I anxiously

Meadow. . To the first Prist of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday– Saints, Dear Brethren In reply to yours of Feb 5th [18]97. To know if I excepted the call to the Sandwich Islands. I expect to be on hand at the time set as I deem it my duty. I shall be pleased to know what the fare will be from Salt Lake to the Sandwich Islands. And if I leave van- coover on the 8 of Aug, what date I shall be required to be in Salt Lake to be set a- part. Very Respectfully, Joseph H Fisher. H. B. Benntt Bishop.

On Sunday, , at 2 p. m., and on the following day, Mon-