The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, Nov. 15, 1861.

Elder John M. Kay,
42 Islington, Liverpool, England,

Dear Brother:-

Your welcome favor of Oct. 9 came safe to hand, and its contents were perused with much gratification. I was pleased to learn of the improved state of your health, of the general good health of the Elders sent from here, of the excellent spirit you enjoy in your mission, and of the increased prosperity attending the work in your field of labor.

It is a constant source of joy to us to have the privilege to inform you that we also in our Mountain retreat continue to enjoy the rich blessings of Heaven, and that the people are industriously and prosperously occupied in the various pursuits incident to the season and our present and future designs and wants. Amid numerous other improvements, many teams are busily occupied in delivering the granite blocks for the Temple, while the stonecutters are as busily engaged in preparing them for their places in the building. The roof timbers are being put upon our massive and commodious theatre, and we are in hopes to soon have it inclosed, when we expect to be able to so far finish it as to have it ready for comfortable use during a portion of the coming winter.

The 200 families and odd families selected and volunteered for settling in Washington County are mostly either on the way and preparing to be off soon; some, perhaps, will not be able to wind up their affairs for a start before next spring. This movement bids fair to be of much benefit in greatly increased production of cotton, and in the raising of indigo, olives, and other useful products not adapted to our more northern latitudes.

The telegraph wire, stretched across our Continent on the 24th ult., furnishes us very late dates of events transpiring in the States, whenever the wire is not broken or too highly charged from the atmosphere. To-day morning the wire is reported down between here and Bridger, but will probably be up before night. Such interruptions will doubtless be less frequent and quicker repaired so soon as the company gets its stations and keepers properly arranged.

Under the conditions of your wifes legacy, it will be best for her to go to England next Spring, for by so doing she will not only comply with the conditions for securing the legacy, but will also have an opportunity for again seeing her relatives and friends. Doubtless there will be plenty of chances for her to go cheaply and comfortably to Florence with the down trains next Spring, as we hope to be able to send as many teams as the destitute who reach Florence my need for their transportation across the plains.

Your family and friends are well, so far as I am aware, as are also the people generally. May God bless you.

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young