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W. Woodruff.
St George
June 243 [18]85
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President John Taylor,
Dear Brother,
I feel like
writing a few lines to you this morning. I have
felt for a few days like breaking out of my prison house
some here in St George. I met in council with E. Snow
and the presidency of the St George stake, on friday night. I
felt a desire to attend the quarterly conference and con[si]der-
ded to do so, but as the U. S. Marshall Armstrong and
Clerk of the Commissioner at Beaver was expecting to attend
conference on both days; I concluded not to go untill
sunday. So I attended the Bishops Meeting in the morning
at 9 oclock upon the subject of trying to collect means
for the firnishing finishing of the Manti Temple
All the Bishops promised to do all thy could to acompli-
sh it. At 10 oclock I went into the stand, and I dont
know that there would have been much more su^r^prise if
a man had risen from the Dead & gone there; for although I had
been 3 1/2 months in St George very few persons knew that I was in
the county, as I had ownly privately met with some of the
prayer circles. In the Afternoon I had the privilege of speaking
to a full house including the U. S. Officers. I did not
hesitate to speak plainly and bear my testimony of our
mission to the world, and our responsibility to God and
our fellow men in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, and when Nations and rulers passed laws against the
Laws & Commandments of God it was better to obey God rather
than man. I felt free in my spirit Brother Snow spoke in the forenoon
At the Close of the meeting I passed out by the Marshal who conversed
with Brother Snow and others. I had no conversation with him
They put up with Brother Snow, but I was informed they got
[to] church the friday night they came in, they were not able
to attend conference on Saturday. Brother Snow seems
to think with some caution I would be safe in Salt Lake
City, and He thought the Twelve felt the same. He seems to think
the Courts & Marshals here got so far along without the Church
records that they find they do not need them. That there
is no necessity of proving any marriage, as they seem to
have adopted Judge Howards views, that it requires very little
Law and Damn little testimony to convict a mormon.
I thought if the presidency had any views to communicate
to me about coming to S. L. C. I should be pleased to receive
them. Brother Snow will start in few days for S. L. and wished
me to go with him, but I felt Like waiting a short time
longer, as I have a chance to go in a waggon a week
after him I think probably it would not be well for
me to go by rail I am in the enjoyment of good health
and feel well in spirit. I feel that I can acknowledge
the hand of God in what is going on around us. The army worm
Canker worm, catapillar the lice, with all the plagues of Egypt
including the Judges & Marshals. I think the hand of the Lord
is in it Judgments & afflictions must begin at the hand of God
but the wicked will not escape. Our Nation must have a chance to
get ripe, and they are fast approaching the Harvest. My Love to
Brother Cannon and those with you That health, peace, prosperity,
and Liberty may abide with you is the prayer of your brother in the Gospel
W. Woodruff