Presidents Office
Great Salt Lake City
Nov. 30th 1867.
Mr. Heber Young,
My Dear Son:-
Your letter dated Oct. 12 came to hand in the course of mail. Its contents were very satisfactory to your mother and myself, for they breathed a good spirit, and testified of your labors and efforts to establish the kingdom of God on earth, which is the only aim of our existance in this life, if we are living up to the covenants which we have made before heaven.
hopes of the future rests on the faithful labors of those ministers of the Gospel who are teaching the sons of men the way of life. It is in the power of each elder to lay the foundation for future greatness in the kingdom of God. or to mar his existence here and meet nought but condemnation
hereafter. When we know that God is with us and will strengthen our hands, giving us power to overcome the temptation which beset our pathway, oh! how earnestly we should seek Him and the light of His Spirit when He is so willing to bestow, and is ever ready with open hands to shower down the
rich blessings of eternity upon his children.
If the Elders but realized the fact that the Angels of God go forth with them recording their labors each day and the motive which prompts men, how much more carefull they would be to avoid even the very appearance of evil, and the arch enemy would not find them sleeping on their post, but on
the contrary, ever ready with the sword of the Spirit to do battle in defence of the cause of the cause of truth. What joy swells the hearts of those parents who welcome, with out stretched arms, the son who has been to foreign nations and performed a faithful mission in behalf of his fellow man. The greatest good which any man can conceive of is life eternal, and while the elders of Israel bring others into the fold, they are securing their own ultimate salvation in the kingdom of God. What zeal and energy should inspire their hearts in so great and glorious a cause. The storms of adversity but strengthen them, and smiles of sophistry but adds fresh impetus to their zealous labors.
There is plenty of interest stirring. Those Missionaries who were called to Dixie have labored earnestly to get them wives and most of them have succeeded, and I do not perceive that they have cause to regret the step taken. Myra and her sister -- uncle Joseph's girls-- <have married,> Robert
Russell and a left here some weeks since and are now, undoubtedly, in a very warm climate. Geo Spencer married a Miss Thomson and has gone to Dixie happy.
Great changes have taken place. Albert Carrington is in my office, Geo. Q. Cannon now edits the D. N. Your brother Brigham Jun. is also laboring in my office.
The family and friends are well and wish to be kindly remembered to you. Brothers Heber, and Wells, Geo. Q. C., Jos. A. Y. B. Y. Jun. Jno. W. Y. join in love.
May the blessings of God attend you in your labors and bring you safe home in His own due time is the prayer of
Your Father
Brigham Young