The Historical Record
IS A
MONTHLY MAGAZINE,
Devoted to Historical, Bio-
graphical, Chronological
and Statistical
Matters
PERTAINING TO THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
Subscription Price, 1.25
Per Annum, in Advance.
Andrew Jenson,
PUBLISHER OF
THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
OFFICE.—No. 154 N. Second West Street.
Salt Lake City, Utah,
President Wilford Woodruff and
Quorum of Twelve Apostles.
Dear Brethren:
I feel impressed to lay a matter before you which,
in my estimation is of vital importance, not only to me
personally, but to the whole Church; and I trust that
you in the multiplicity of your other business, and in
the midst of the responsibilities now resting upon your
Quorum, may find time to give it due consideration.
I respectfully draw your attention to the inclosed
"Prospectus" which I issued one year and a half ago.
By this you will see that I have entered upon a
large field, and that ^when^ such a work as the one contem-
plated shall have been completed, it will be very
valuable as a work of reference. Since issuing the
"Circular" I have published 19 numbers of the
"Historical Record" and thus made a good beginning
and before the present volume is completed I shall
have published the history of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion,
biographical sketches of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles, and it's individual members, and those of
other leading and historical men in the Church, as
well as other matters; but the greatest labors is yet to be
accomplished. I commenced my historical labors about
eleven years ago. The History of Joseph Smith, "Kirkens
Historic" History of the Scandinavian mMission, etc.,
in Danish, hasve been the results of my labors, and I think
these works have been appreciated by all who have
read them intelligently. Throughout, it has been a
labor of love, performed while struggling to get daily
bread. I feel, however, that the Lord has blessed
me and acknowledged my labors; and I think that
the time has come when my efforts might be en-
couraged a little more than it has ^been^ in the past,
and my burthen thus be made lighter; and in this
connection I wish to say that it would be agreeable
to my feelings to be employed by the Church as an
assistant to it's Church Historians, so that in all
my travels, labors and researches I might have the
satisfaction of knowing that I am properly authorised
and that the undertaking, instead of being looked upon as
a personal affair, is done ^by and^ for the benefit of the whole community.
Furthermore the Church would receive considerable
financial benefit from the publication of the
"Record" as in the hands of the Church Historians
and ^by^ being published as an authentic work, it
would get a very large circulation at once,
whereas in the hands of private individuals, it
has to struggle for existance like every other
literary enterprise in this ^small^ community. I could give
good reasons for stating this. I hope, dear
brethren, that you will understand my motives. I
desire to continue my historical labors in the interest of
the Church, but I think that the nature of my works
is intitled to more recognition thatn it has had
hitherto, and that my struggling for an existance is
all lost ^out of place^ and inneccessary, as what little ability I may
possess could be turned to better advantage if the change
suggested was made. Hoping that you will, at your
earliest convenience, consider this matter, and praying
God to bless you, the brethren of the Twelve, with the
necessary light and intelligence for your station and calling,
I remain Your Brother and Fellow laborer