Tooele City Dec 30th 1893 President Wilford Woodruff Dear brother yours of the 18th came duly to hand which I am rather long in answering my reasons are as follows I have a quarter section of land which I have not proved up on yet & I find that it would ^take^ at least two months to secure it, which if not done before I leave will be forfeited I do not like to loose it, if it can be helped, but I realise that the work which I am called to help with ...

J. A. S. Smith Dec 30 [18]93 is the work of the lord, & I am willing to go & do what I can, so that if you say go on the 27th I will do so & let the land go for this work is of more importance than a piece of land, if it will not make too much difference I would like to have 3 months to straighten up things. hoping to hear soon what to do I remain your brother in the gospell James A S Smith Thomas ...