OFFICE OF
The First Presidency
of the
Church of Jesus Christ
of
Latter-day Saints
P.O. Box, B. Salt Lake City, Utah. .
Elder Cornelius D. Schettler,
Dear Brother:
I have taken it upon myself to write a few lines to our young
Elders who went together from Salt Lake upon their first mission to
Germany. We have had a number of letters from Owen, and I have liked
very much the spirit of them.
Mrs. Woodruff and myself took supper with your father and
mother on the 14th and we had a good time. Herman and Irene made us
splendid music. A good deal was said about Cornelius' mission and the
other boys. Of course, you are now beginning to make your first mark
in the ministry. I have been there before you and I know what it is;
though you have the language to learn, which I did not. I went on my
first mission without purse or srcrip. I went through the wilderness,
waded swamps, traveled alone as a priest, and baptized many that I could
not confirm. You are a Seventy and can attend to all the ordinances
necessary in organizing branches of the Church. I have great hopes in
you young men. I suppose you naturally will have some difficulty in
preaching to these foreign governments considering the laws and politics.
But I think there is a good deal of the blood of Israel in Germany and
Switzerland. We have everything to encourage us in searching out hthe
honest in heart among the nations. The Lord told Oliver Cowdery that if
he spent his whole life in saving one soul how great would be his joy in
the eternal world over that one soul. I have felt that I have great
cause to rejoice in that respect; I have had the credit of bringing more
souls into the Church than any one man in the Church; I do not know how
that is. I brought two thousand into the Church in the south of England-
in Herefordshire, &c., in 1840; but I never felt to boast or to take any
credit to myself in any of these things, for it was God not Wilfeord
Woodruff that did it. Yet I felt it was a great blessing to be an
instrument in the hands of God of performing siuch a work. So I look upon
you young brethren who are sent now to the nations of the earth to preach
the gospel and save the souls of men. No greater or more glorious work
could you be called to. Therefore, my dear brother, take hold with all
your might. Call upon the Lord in mighty prayer for the Holy Ghost to
be with you to give you power to preach the Gospel and give you souls in
search of your ministry, and the Lord will hear your prayers and give
you power to accomplish a good mission which will be a satisfaction to
yourself and your friends and acceptable unto God who has called you.
And this applies not only to yourself, but to every Elder with you, and
all who are in the vineyard of the Lord. Therefore, fear not, but labor
faithfully to prune the vineyard once more for the last time and prepare
the earth for the coming of the Son of Man. Avoid all evil, resist all
temptations, and the angels of God will be your constant companions.
Give my love and blessing to Prest. Naegle and wife and all the
Elders with you. I am interested in the welfare of every Elder laboring
in the vineyard of the Lord.
Spencer Clawson's wife died last week, and will be buried on
Sunday. I would be glad to hear from you and know how you are getting
along. Sister Woodruff, Blanch and Alice join me in love to you and Bro.
and Sister Naegle.
From your Brother in the Gospel,
Wilford Woodruff