President's Office
Great Salt Lake City
March 18, 1867
President Brigham Young, Junr.,
42 Islington, Liverpool, England
Dear Son:
We received your telegram of Febyr. 20th informing us of your safe arrival in New York, and have been looking anxiously now for some days for further word from you, but up to the present time have received nothing. Bro. Hooper telegraphed from Washington about the time that we expected you would be there if you had succeeded in getting an opportunity to go and see him, but he did not mention your being there. The mails, too, for some time back have been very irregular. The matter that has come in has been drenched with water, and there may be letters from you lying on the way, which we will receive, probably, when the roads get better. We have had much colder weather since you left than we had at any time previous to your departure. The cold began to moderate on Saturday the 16th instant, and the days now being to feel like spring, though the nights are still cold. The health of the people, generally, is pretty good. I do not think there are so many complaining of colds as there were a few weeks ago. Everything is quiet in and around the city, and our enemies do not seem to prosper in their schemes and operations as they hoped they would. There is scarcely any money in circulation, and times, consequently are very dull. Flour is selling very low. The men who signed the "Card" find it very difficult to carry on their business, & pay their rent and clerk hire &c. Circumstances have favored, to a very wonderful extent, the counsel which has been given to our people to cease trading with their enemies; the disposition to carry out the counsel, doubtless existed before it was given, but the scarcity of money causes them to feel more careful about how they spend their means with those men. Present prospects indicate that men who are not of our church will have to withdraw from trading in this city. Of course they feel discontented with such a condition of things, and they would like to have a change. If they had their way there would be large bodies of troops sent here; and to bring them here they would descend to every species of misrepresentation and falsehood respecting us; they would sell this entire people to line their own pockets. The judgments of God will most assuredly fall upon this class. The adversary is very pertinacious in his endeavors to gain influence among us. The most specious pretences are used by men who are not of us to gain influence over our people. They come here as school teachers, and clerks and in various capacities; and to listen to their professions, an inexperienced person would almost imagine they were angels But they seek only to accomplish their own ends; they do not love us nor the work of God, and they would do anything to destroy the organization of the Kingdom, only they think it is to their interest to be friendly. It is only once in a very long time that any of this class show any love for the truth. When men live among us, hear our teachings and witness the lives of the people and the peace and good order which prevail here, and do not manifest a willingness to embrace the truth, we are warranted in viewing their professions of friendship with some distrust. If they were as honest as they profess to be they would recognise the truth and would give heed to the influence of the spirit of God. They who are not for us are against us, and the entire history of our people sustains the truth of these words. It is useless for us to expect the favor of the world. We have been called out of the world, therefore the world hate us. If we were of the world, then the world would love its own and we should have no trouble with them.
If you have had an opportunity of visiting Washington you have become familiar with the movements there. Congress have had so much to do in other quarters that they have not had the time they would have liked to have had to attend to us. The division between them and the President has required all their attention. The disposition to injure us is as strong in them now as at any previous time; but circumstances have been so over-ruled by the Almighty that they have been compelled to leave us undisturbed for awhile, hoping that as soon as the present difficulty was settled they would have the leisure necessary to attend to our case. They flatter themselves with the idea that our question is one they can easily solve; and when they have time to bestow upon us, they do not suppose that they will have much difficulty in putting this question for ever at rest. This is the flattery of the evil one, and when they listen to it they are thus deceived; but there are times, doubtless, when they feel a dread of this work, and they do not know what to do to prevent its further growth. What a glorious thing it is to have God for our friend! We know that He has delivered us in the past, and His promise is sure that He will deliver us in the future if we keep His Commandments.
I wrote Bro. Orson Pratt a letter under date of February 26th in which I said: "Respecting your future labors I desire you to use your own judgment and to be governed by your own feelings in regard to staying longer on your mission or returning home. It will be agreeable to me whichever course you decide upon, and I would, therefore, like you to follow your own inclinations in the matter. When Brigham returned I instructed him, before starting for home again to turn over the Office and business, and the Presidency of the mission to Bro. Franklin."
I wish Bro. Orson to decide upon this for himself. I shall be suited either way.
A box of specimens with father Graves's writing was sent to the care of W. H. Miles, at New York, by Wells, Fargo's & Co's. Express a few days ago. Bro. Miles was instructed to forward them to you at Liverpool.
Your Mother, and your and John W's. folks are all well. Give my love to your brothers John W. and Oscar B., and I would like you to encourage them in their labors and ministry. When you write do not forget to let me know at what time you will start for home, as we want to know when you will be at the terminus of the Rail Road. The boys will want to go down and meet you.
Remember me to Bro's Orson and Franklin and the other elders, and accept my love to yourself and family, in which the folks all join. Praying the Lord to bless you and to preserve you from every evil I remain
Your Father
Brigham Young
P.S. Enclosed find draft No. 988,