President's Office
Gt. Salt Lake City,
Octr. 1st, 1866.
President Geo. Nebeker,
Laie, Oahu, Sandwich Islands.
Dear Brother:
We have not heard anything from you since we received your letter of July 5th. We presume that you are all well and doing pretty well, or we should have heard from you. Your movements and progress are matters of considerable interest to us here, and we like to hear from you as often as convenience.
Our emigration is coming in now pretty fast. There are still three companies out, the last of which was at the Three Crossings of the Sweetwater this morning. That company is not heavily loaded, as we sent some Mule teams back to help them and they are bringing in some of the people, &c. The companies, which have already arrived, have been in good health as a general thing. The intention has been to keep the Saints in the City, instead of having scattered, as is usually <the> case, throughout the Territory. There are many, however, who have friends in other parts of the Territory, who will naturally be anxious to join them, and whom it will be difficult to keep here. We have a large number of returned Missionaries this Season, young men who left here for Europe in 1863. We have been much rejoiced in listening to their testimonies on the Stand since their return. We deem the sending of these young men to the nations as an excellent experiment, the results of which are very apparent in their improved manners and the knowledge which they have gained. Every man who goes forth from Zion to carry glad tidings to the people and seeks to magnify his priesthood, whether he goes to Europe or any other continent or to the Islands of the sea, as yourself and the Elders have done, he will be sure to improve in every godlike gift and quality, and when he returns he will be able to bear a testimony that will gladden the hearts of the Saints who <will> listen to him. I have regretted to hear that there has not been the feeling of union and devotion to the interests of the Work, among the Elders whom we sent from here <to the Islands> that should always be manifested by men who bear the Holy Priesthood of the Son of God. It will be with you on the Islands as it is with the people elsewhere who have entered into the new and everlasting covenant, if you are diligent and prayerful, and constantly seek for the spirit of love and union, that those gifts may abound among you, the blessings and power of God will rest upon you; but if any take an opposite course, the consequences will follow, and they will reap the fruits of their own conduct.
The experience which you are gaining in planting will be very valuable to you in your future labors. Every experiment that you make increases your experience, and you will, after awhile, become acquainted with the capabilities of the soil and the nature of the climate. Respecting selling land to the Natives when you get the Mortgage paid off, I should think that it would be better to rent to them in preference to selling. Do everything that you can to raise means to meet your note by the time it is due; and be sure and write me in time, informing me what you need to complete the payment, so that I can deposit the necessary means in California in season for you to have it for use when the payment becomes due.
We have had a very quiet time this summer in the City. The efforts and schemes of our enemies have been very unsuccessful; they have not been able to accomplish their desires. The Lord has heard the prayers of His people, and has shielded and protected them against the plotting and assaults of the wicked. The Lamanites have troubled our people in the South <this past Summer,> and many of the Settlements on the Sevier have been abandoned, and in the Settlements which are still maintained, they have built Forts and taken precautionary measures to protect themselves against the attacks and depredations of the red men.
With love to yourself and the Elders with you, and praying the Lord to bless and uphold you, and to give you the necessary qualifications to discharge all the duties upon you in an acceptable manner, I remain
Your Brother,
Brigham Young