I Have thus given you a few names if there were ans
many again I think they could be profitably employed
upon this mission there are many who have been
here whose names are not before me but perhaps
Bro Snow or the Councill will be able to furnish
names it seems to be that if these Brethren would
Bring their Families it would tend to ga greater good
as there is room in this country for many thousands
of Laterday Saints to make Homes
as ever I remain your Bro
in the Everlasting Covt
W
[sideways text] Wilford Woodruff
call for missionaries
to Indians
Sept 1879 [end of sideways text]
Cebollita New Mex.
Pres John Taylor & Councill
Dear Brethren
we returned to this place last
evening from a very interesting Mission and
visit with Elders Ammon M Tenney adnd
P. J Christofferson our visit was to the [Laguna People|Lagunas]]
and Ysletas & Zunies a class of Peopple that
occupy some 40 Vilages embracing some
(32000) thirty two thousand inhabitants & speaking
16 diferent langugeges, and we believe this
people to be the Nephites Jacobites Josephites
and Zoramites spoken of in the D. C. 3 sec
16 & 17th veses if there are any Nepites upon
this continent they are among this people
they seem to us to be a distinct race from the
other Lamenites upon the continenent
They stand far above them on the true
meaning of civilization in occupying Villages
building and dwelling in good Houses and
instances of carpeted floors cleanliness of person
in the cultivation of the Earth their crops
and vinyards of great industry & especially
of Virture & Keeping their Blood pure from
all other Men & especially in cultivating
the spirit of peace instead of war like—
other indian tribes they also seem to possess
minds capaciated to receive any principles
of the Gospell eaqual to the Anglo Saxon
race a Histry with full description of
our journey I will send you Hereafter
my object in writing you at this time is that
we believe that the time Has come when mission-
aries should be called who can speak the Spanish
languge or will soon learn it to go forth
among them to preach the Gospell & prepare
them to fullfill their destiny in this last
dispensation and as we was desirous of
presenting ^to you^ some names for the October
Conference and mails being so uncertain
we wish to write in time. Bro Tenny
Has visited the settlements before and Had in
some measure opened the way & formed
acquaintences so that we were able to Hold some
meetings among them and we were very Kindly
received & entertained in all places that we went
and we are satisfied there is no better field
open for labor for a class of wise men than
there is among that people one or two men
cannot do much alone in Breaking the bands
of Catholocism that Has bound those tribes for
generations but with a combined effort of a
company of the Elders of isreal it can be done
they are allready becoming tired of their relegion and
are loocking for something better I Herein insert
a list of names for your consideration a part of
which can allready speak the Spanish and others
can soon learn it Bro Erastus Snow doubtless
will know of others that he mite add to the list
also several young men at Draper who are somewhat
acquainted with the language & Have been in this
countrey the B.P. of that place can inform you.