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President's Office,
Gt. Salt Lake City,
Feb. 21st, 1866.
Elder James T. Cobb,
Box 3957, New York City.
Dear Brother:-
I have just finished reading your letter of Jan 29. I am pleased to receive it, and to peruse the sentiments which it contains. I trust that the feelings which you manifest will ever guide and influence you from this time forward. There is more real pleasure to be enjoyed by the humble servant of God in preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ than in any other business that he can engage in; and it is a labor in which he can increase in knowledge and every other gift which will make men respected and beloved by their fellows. There is a field afforded in the preaching of the Gospel ample enough to satisfy the most ambitious, if ambition be governed by correct principle. Men to understand Mormonism, to know its value, and the object God had in view in revealing it, must work for it. By entering into it with their whole souls, and directing their time and talents to it, they begin to understand the righteousness which God has extended unto us in the plan of salvation which he has revealed. Every man who who occupies any position in this Church at the present time has had to obtain his knowledge of the gospel in this manner. It is a mine which is inexhaustible, and the diligent man will obtain riches in abundance by working in it.
I wrote you a letter under date of Jan 23rd, which I hope you have received before this. In that letter I counselled you to commence missionary labors in the Eastern conferences under the direction of Bro. Miles. I wish you to preach the Gospel without purse and scrip, travel from place to place, visit the Saints, and lift up your voice in testimony of the truth unto all those with whom you may be brought in contact, doing this in meekiness and in humility If you follow this counsel, it will be attended by the best results, and in your future life you will contemplate your labors in this capacity with much joy and satisfaction. I do not know anything that I could recommend to you that would be so beneficial to you as to become a Missionary and preaching the gospel in the Spirit of it.
You allude in your letter to the ship John Bertram as being very suitable to bring our people from Hamburg. This is a matter we can do nothing about here. They arrange those matters in England. Sloman"s line has brought our people from there and will probably, if they come that way, bring them again.
Your Mother and wife and Charlotte and all the folks are well; but as they write you, doubtless, and keep you advised respecting themselves I need say but little about them or the general news. With love and praying the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and to bestow upon you the power of your Holy Preisthood, I remain
Your Brother,
Brigham Young