President Wilford Woodruff.
Salt Lake City
Dear Brother.
Yours of July 10th came safely to hand and found us
well here in the office. The Article we were pleased to receive.
It will give encouragement to the Elders many of whom are
laboring without any seeming return—bonds of warning exhortat[io]n
Counsell or testimony are received with grattitude by us all
Many if us are young men Some men advanced in years but
young in experience in the ministry and when Elders like
yourself grown grey in the service drop words of encouragement
or counsell or Iexplain your own experiences they help us
to despel our own little troubles and take gold with renewed
vigir to push forward the cause of our God. It is the hardest
thing that an Elder has to do to day to keep from becoming
despondent. for to travel from weeks end to weeks end without
gathering any fruit requires a man to posess in a large
degree the sunshine if the Holy spirit in his composition.
Elder W D Williams President of the Manchester Conference speaks
in high terms of the earnestness your son displays in performing
his duty, he is a young man of considerable promise and
will no doubt bring gladness to your heart for his faithfulness
and fidelity in the field. There can be no greater joy to a Father
that has devoted his life to the interest of a cause that he
knows is true than to have his children ceasing hold of the
iron rod and following in the paths of honour—continuing his
work and perpetuating his name. I am becoming very much
interested in trying to open up a mission to Turkey. I have been in
Correspondence for some months with a Turkish gentleman
one of whose letters I sent to Bro Taylor some time ago. I herewith
enclose one to you—I would like two missionaries, men who
have some taste for learning languages, and who could go to
that country and make a successful effort in introducing the
gospel in that land. You may have already considered this
Matter, but you can read the letter to the brethren in order that
they may judge of the spirit of it. I am pleased that Congress has
again adjourned which will give the country a little peace
It is a fearful thing that the people should stand in dread of
their lawmakers, and but for the faith of the saints in God they
certainly would. England is passing through another trying experience
in her political affairs. The Liberal ministry has tryed to enfranchise
2 Millions of Men—the law passed the commons, but the House of
Lords, have made an effort to stop the law, not daring to reject it
entire, they have tied it up in some form which prevents for the
present at least its passage. Popular demonstrations are the
order of the day—and while this is done peaceable there is
much clamour among the masses for a change in the consti-
tution which will do away with the House of Lords or
make them elective by the people. You have no doubt seen
in the Telegrams, the unearthing of some scandals in Dublin.
It seems to be an open secret, that quite a number of
Gentlemen moving in higher circles are charged with the
crime of sodomy. These parties have been arrested and are
being quietly investigated, that crime will bring transporta-
tion for life if proven guilty. One of the Judges of the Assign
Court of this County was found dead in a home of Ill fame
a few days ago. He died in the arms of his paramour—this
also is being secretly investigated. Cholera and small pox
or talk of them at least seems to be in the very air. Our next
Company will leave on August 30th, there will be in the
neighbourhood of 30 returning elders, most of them will have
been away from home nearly two years—and have labord as
a rule to the best of their ability. Some men are not missionaries
and they cannot help it doing the best they can in the circum
stances in which they are placed. Young men should be sent here
because: better able to stand the climate, the poor food, long
walks, sometimes poor beds, and sometimes no beds. Elder
Reid of Ogden informs me he is 67 years of age and
he finds it impossible for him to put up with the hardship
incident to missionary life. his spirit is willing but his
flesh is weak. Elders Geo Goddard and Edward Stevenson
are making an ernest effort in Leicester their old home
they have hopes of accomplishing some good altho their first
meetings they regarded as almost failures so far as attendance
was concerned. We are continuing our outdoor preaching when
the wheather permits, it having been quite rainy for two weeks
past. has interifered with us some. The prospect of crops at present
is moderately good. Farmers are harvesting. In the some of the
Manufacturing districts business is very dull—quite a number
of our people are out of employment in various places. I trust
that arrangements may be made with the Church property that [Him]
and his thieving gang wont get their hands upon it even if Congress
should at some future time pass to vote a bill as the one which
fails to go through. Give my kind regards to the brethren
in the Office with you and any other of the brethren you
may meet my wife thought it best to go home and I felt
it was right. May the Lord bless and prosper you and lengthen
out your days that your testimony may be heard in Israel
until you are sattisfied with life your Brother in the Gospel
John Henry Smith