Sundays past the assembly has been addressed by Prest. Kimball at
length in great plainness upon various subjects; he has been clothed
with the Spirit and power of God, so that he has freely satisfied
his mind upon any subject, not regarding any false traditions, we
or our fathers may have imbibed, and the people are edified and
benefitted by what they hear, the ward school houses are all crowded
to excess during the evening meeting. Brother F. D. Richards & [my]self being
the only ones of the Twelve in the city, we organized the missionaries
with the assistance of Prest. Grant, under the directions of Prest. Young
to preach throughout this city, all the wards during Winter have met
in the school houses several evenings in the week, to hear the word
of the Lord. We have attended a meeting of some kind about every
evening for the last 3 months, we meet with the Seventies, High Priests,
Bishops, and ward meetings weekly, our preaching is mostly confined
to reformation, repentance, confession and forsaking of sin, baptism for
the remission of sins, living our religion, magnifying the Priesthood,
prizing the blessings which God has given us, paying our Tithing,
seeking first the kingdom of God and building it up, and mani-
festing our faith by our works and trusting in the Lord for our
blessings. Elders O. Hyde & L. Snow were with us during the setting
of the Legislature and they have joined us in our missionary labors &
the Spirit & power of God has rested upon us in our labors. Elder
Hyde has gone South on a mission and the people almost in mass are
rising up in the city, and in the country and are engaging in the Reform-
ation, confessing their sins and restoring what they have done wrong. Meetings
are crowded, confidence is being restored and a more healthy atmosphere is
sencirly felt, and strong determinations are expressed by the brethren &
live their religion, practice virtue and righteousness, and put down vice &
iniquity in all the forms.

On Sunday the 1st inst. all the Presidency were present, the first time that Prest. Young has been able to attend at the Tabernacle since the burial of Prest. J. M. Grant on the 4th. Decem. ulto. He addressed the people for about one hour and a half, clothed with the spirit and power of God, his discourse was very edifying and instructive and the vast assembly deeply felt the weight of his words. He was followed by Prests. Kimball & Wells, all of their discourses will be seen in the Deseret News.

Prest. Joseph Young has had a severe time of sickness this winter, he was very low, but is now much recovered and able to be among his brethren, and attend to the duties of his calling as President of the Seventies.

Elder Dan Jones has been employed while the weather would permit in fitting up a craft with which to explore Salt Lake, and the mouths of Bear river and the Jordan, and to find what navigation is practicable on the Lake and its tributaries, he is now trying to boat fire wood from Stansbury Island to Black rock, from which point is can easily be drawn into the city. The Blacksmiths at the public works finished him an anchor weighing 330 lbs for his boat.

The Bishops of the various Wards are making their calculations to finish off the Canal this Spring so that the waters of the Big cottonwood can be used on our farming land and in the city.

Feby. 4 2 p.m. Cala. mail has just arrived.

yours truly W. Woodruff