The Brigham Young Center

370 - 371

President's Office
G. S. Lake City, Nov. 28th 1864

Elder Erastus Snow,

Dear Brother,

I have been pleased to hear that your local Conference passed off so pleasantly and instructively; also to learn that an effort was being made to sow more or less wheat in the different Settlements.

I send herewith a copy of a Statement which has been made to me by Father Thomas Rhodes, respecting the action of Bishop A. P. Winsor and the brethren at Grafton upon him, by which he was disfellowshipped. I have written to Winsor to-day requesting him to restore Father Rhodes to fellowship, and let his case thus remain until he hears from you. I would like you to visit Grafton at your earliest convenience, and investigate this matter.

There is nothing particularly noteworthy transpiring here at present, with the exception of the steps which are bing taken to construct a Canal to bring the water of the Jordan from a point not far from the borders of G. S. L. County and Utah county to this City and the adjacent farming land. The particulars respecting this matter you will see in this weeks "News." The artesian well which has been commenced on the Bench, in the 20th Ward, has been sunk depth of 165 feet without striking the surface water; as soon as the tools can be prepared, the company will commence boring, and they intend to perserve, if it all possible, until they tap an artesian stream.

Brothers Francis A. Hammond and Geo. Nebeker, started by Stage from this City on the 1Oth instant for the Sandwich Islands, for the purpose of securing land for a plantation and Settlement, upon which to gather the Native Saints, and where they can cultivate cotton, sugar and other tropical productions that can be profitably raised. By telegram, from San Francisco I am informed that they reached there on the 17th. Elders Joseph F. Smith, Wm. W. Cluff and John R. Young, with two Natives and a widow and three children, who were emigrating here, were in San Francisco on their way here from the Sandwich Islands.

With love to yourself and the brethren and praying the Lord to bless you in all your movements and labors

I remain Your Brother in the Lord
Brigham Young

P. S.
Father Rhodes is a man of a peculiar temperament and whose disposition ought to be studied. I have known him for a great many years, and I have always found him to be a man who desired to do right, and I am inclined to receive his statement as correct.