The Brigham Young Center

Instructions to Bp Levi Stewart & Brethren at Kanab

Dear Brethren:-

You are located and laying a foundation for a settlement far distant in an Indian country where it would be imposible to receive timely assistance in case that you should have to encounter hostilities with the Indians. Hence to a great extent you will have to rely upon your own resources and vigilance for your safety. It appears to us that you are already too careless in regard to your stock and in going from place to place in too small companies, although the Indians in your midst appear friendly and may give you timely notice of the approach of Navajoes. Yet it is not safe to trust yourselves entirely to them, as the only means of information and consequent safety. But you must keep your animals, horses and cattle within your own reach and not allow them to go off at such distance as they are at the present time. You must keep your stock in bye places or nooks well guarded so that they cannot be reached by hostile Indians without your knowledge; and when you travel from place to place on business or otherwise, be sure that you go in sufficient numbers to protect yourselves against any wandering band of Indians you may happen to encounter.

No night should pass without having inside your corrals or stables at least a sufficient number of horses to mount your men -- and all this vigilance should be constantly kept up.

Wherever you locate the mill, you should build a block house from which you can with your guns command the mill & surroundings, and have men sufficient to defend the same -Also, observing the above rules concerning the stock.

You should <build> a house for schools and meetings and start a school for your children as speedily as possible. The fort that you now live in should be fixed up in good style and preserved while the Brethren are building on their lots and for others who shall come there to live in till they can build on their lots also -- You are also required to observe the counsel of the Bishop in water and land matters and receive the land and the amt thereof as he shall appoint. We would advise that you organise a cooperative herd and value your stock when put in and taken out -- and that you also establish a cooperative store, owned by the people; so as to prevent any speculator from coming in with goods.

Bp. Stewart must preserve the grain allotted to the Indians at Kanab, and cause that it be dealt out to them from day to day, as they need it.

You will also give out the lots consecutively so as not to scatter the inhabitants, leaving vacant lots between, and as soon as practicable be sure to put out trees and shrubbery for shade and fruit. We would recommend the mulberry and locust in preference to Cottonwood for shade. We also recommend that Lot No.1. in Block No. 4., and Lot No 1. in Block No 28 be held in reserve for school and other public purposes.

You will please render to Bro. Hamblin such needed asistance as may be in your power to afford.

May the blessings of heaven attend you is the prayer of your Brethren in the Gospel of
Peace.-Brigham Young

(Signed)
Daniel H. Wells