1864 December 13 Letter to George T. Pomeroy

Title

1864 December 13 Letter to George T. Pomeroy

Description

Church members are encourage to gather and most are willing to work outside their expertise. Individuals are encouraged to investigate the gospel before immigrating to Utah.

Type

Correspondence

Sender

Brigham Young

Recipient

George T. Pomeroy

Date

1864 December 13

Location

Great Salt Lake City

Subject

Employment
Missionary Work
Gospel Doctrine

Item sets

383 - 385

Great Salt Lake City, U. T.
Decr. 13th 1864.

George T. Pomeroy Esq.,

Dear Sir:

Your favor of Nov. 22nd, in which you state that you have a desire to come (to Utah,) and are now ready to accept any position I may be pleased to favor you with, has just been received.

I have all the Clerks in my service at present that I can possibly employ. They have been and are a very numerous class with us -- a large number of educated men coming into this Territory annually from various quarters. Still, I should be pleased, if you feel like it, to have you come and live with us, and participate with us in our labors. It is not unfrequently the case that gentlemen who are desirous of casting their lot with us, come here, and have to turn their attention to some other method of making a livelihood than to that to which they have been accustomed, until they have an opportunity of obtaining the employment which is best adapted to their previous habits and circumstances. It is not so difficult to obtain work as a general thing here as it is to obtain some particular kinds of employment. But the great bulk of our population has come here prompted by religious motives, and the people consequently are prepared to submit to trials and inconveniences, which others, who do not profess their belief, might view as unbearable. The members of this society --the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-- deem it a privilege to leave their old homes and associations and come here
to help build up the kingdom of God and to enjoy the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are the feelings of all those, without scarcely an exception, who come here with the intention of making this place their permanent residence.

Our missionaries go forth from here, and preach to the people unto whom they are sent, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world, repentance of sin, baptism for the remission of sins, promising the people,
that if they will sincerely comply with thee requirements, they shall receive the Holy Ghost through the ordinance appointed by the Lord for this purpose, viz: the laying on of the hands of the servants of the Lord according to the ancient practice (See Acts 8th Chap. 17th verse and the context, also 19th Chap 6 verse and the context; and Hebrews 6 Chap., 2 verse). The most of those who come here to reside have taken this course, and they testify that they have truly received the Spirit of the Lord, and that through that Spirit they have obtained a knowledge that the men who came to them preaching this doctrine and administering these ordinances were the legally authorized servants of the Lord. Beleive that the Lord has commanded his people to gather together to one place, and to separate themselves from the wickedness which prevails in the world, and also beleiving that He has began to pour out His judgments and calamities upon wicked, and will continue to do so until they are swept off from the face of the earth, they gather together to this country.

Now, I should advise every person, who might think of making this country his permanent residence, to sit down and calmly investigate the principles which we believe in, and if he should become satisfied of their truth and the benefits and blessings which would inure to him by obeying them, he would then have a sufficient inducement to prompt him to patiently endure the inconveniences which he might have to contend with in making this country his residence. The gospel of the Son of God which we believe in, and the blessings of which we enjoy, forms the great and only attraction for a residence here; all that we enjc flows from this.

Any news that I should receive from old friends in Auburn, N. Y, woul be very acceptable. It was once a place that was very much endeared to me

Accompanying this, please receive a copy of the Deseret News, which contains an epitome of our belief.

I remain Your ob't Serv't.

Brigham Young