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W. Woodruff
St George
March 26, [18]85
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St George, Utah,
.
President Taylor,
Dear Brother,
I write to say that
Brothers McAllister and Bleak were making
preparations to go to attend the Logan Conference.
As exposure was so great on the railroad they
were preparing to go by team; this going and re-
turning would make a journey of 900 miles.
This decision was taken upon the ground that
counsel was given last year for all the Presidents
of Stakes to attend the Semi Annual Conferences
I reflected upon this subject, and my mind was
exercised upon it and the Spirit did not dictate
to me that it was wisdom for them to go, and I
told them so. The same authority that gave them
counsel at that time to attend, has since given
them and us all counsel to keep out of the
hands of our enemies; and I feel satisfied
that with the exposure to which they are subject that they
could not go through the country to Logan and return
without getting into trouble as all the railroad
trains and stations are guarded from here to Logan.
Bro. McA. has got half of his family in Salt Lake and
the rest here, and he got word last night from there, from
a reliable source not to come up and expose him-
self. The same party wished us to get word to you,
not to give your enemies any chance; but I was
satisfied that you would be kept advised of all
things necessary for your protection.
I wish it distinctly understood that I do not wish to
interefere with any counsel given by the Presidency of
the Church, but in this case, I did not think you would
approve of it yourself and I have told them so; and
they are acting upon it and are going to stop; and if
there is anything wrong about it, I wish to take the res-
ponsibility upon myself and not them. I have acted
upon the best judgment I possess in the matter. They
themselves felt they were running great risks, especially
McA., but they wished to obey counsel.
Brother David H Cannon thinks he can go in safety,
and I think is calculating to go to represent the Stake.
I do not know whether Erastus is calculating to go
or not. I have enjoyed good health and spirits
with the exception, I am just getting over an attack
of the Epizootic, or distemper of some kind that has
been going through this Southern country, and which has
meade me nearly sick for a week; but I am all right at pre-
sent. I visited Bunkerville and the Muddy settlements and
held meetings with them and installed a Bishop at
Overton on the Muddy. Our brethren are resettling that
country again. The land is very rich and abundance
of water. When our brethren were there before they
put out a good many cottonwood cuttings, which
now make forests of timber over two feet through. I have
never seen timber grow so fast in any country.
We are kept acquainted of the exertions made by our enemies
to entrap our leading men and their families, and they have the
prayers of all Israel. I was made acquainted with your meeting
with the Apostles, which I heartily endourse and will hold to the compact
That the protection of the Almighty and the power and spirit of
God may be with you and family and coucillors is the daily prayer
of your brother in the Gospel