The Brigham Young Center

Miss Annette Griffen
Kirtland, Ohio

Dear Madam,
Prest. Young being absent from home I have taken the liberty to send a few lines in reply to your favor of 18th Ult.

I have also sent you a couple of pamphlets regarding the history, faith and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which will give you a much better understanding of our principles than I could in one short letter. One of these more particularly treats on the subject to which you incidentally refer in your note, and here permit me to say that no lady in Utah is forced to mary against her will or desire; in fact, we boast that, in no part of the Union is a woman so free to have the man she loves, as in the midst of the Latter-day Saints, and we consider it her undoubted right, given her of heaven to be united to the man of her choice, which the liberality of our doctrines amply allow which does not force her to take a husband for whom she has no affection, under the cruel necessity of that man or probably no husband at all, as is too often the case in other countries.

Regarding employment, you would probably do as well here, as where you are though I cannot offer any very great inducements. Still every year the increase of our youth brings the demand for more teachers, and ladies capable of instructing the young would possibly do better than others. Should you desire other information than the pamphlets contain, I shall be most happy to answer any inquiries you may be pleased to make.

Geo. Reynolds
Clerk to Prest Young