Presidents Office.
Great Salt Lake City,
Utah Territory, Nov 9th. 1864
Instructions for Elders Francis A. Hammond and George Nebeker.
Dear Brethren.
You are hereby appointed and authorized to proceed to the Sandwich Islands to take full charge, oversight and presidency of the Mission an all the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on those Islands, and to direct, counsel and advise in regard to all persons and affairs connected with said Mission in such a manner as Your judgement, the Holy Spirit, and advice from us, from time to time, may deem best for the salvation of the human family and the full accomplishment of the objects of your Mission.
By a recent letter from Elder Joseph F. Smith, written from Honolulu, we are informed that Haalelea had offered the Elders a tract of land containing 15,000 acres, on the Island of Hawaii, for $3000.00/100. We wrote to him, under date of Oct. 17th, informing him, that if the land was as good and suitable as he described for a plantation and place of settlement for the Native Saints, he had better close for it and draw on me for the amount. If this has not been purchased, you will proceed, upon Your arrival at the Islands, to look out, select, and secure, upon proper and reasonable terms, a suitable tract of land for a plantation and place of Settlement for the native Saints. When you have secured such a place, you can proceed to establish a Tannery, and as soon as practicable, commence the cultivation of Cotton, Sugar cane, the olive, grapes for Wine, and figs, and such other tropical productions as can be conveniently and profitably raised, or enter into any other branch of business that can be entered into by the Saints whom you can gather together there. You will gather as many of the native Saints as possible into a Settlement or settlements and use their services as far as you can, that they may be taught to labor an to exert themselves for their own support and developments, temporally and Spiritually.
We feel that the time has come when that people must try and do something for themselves.
The Lord is satisfied with what we are doing and have done for them; they must now arouse and exert themselves for their own salvation; for we are under no obligations to them. You, probably, can use their labor to good advantage, and by your example and teaching many of them may be induced to form habits of industry that will prove of lasting benefit to themselves and also exert a salutary influence on their fellow-countrymen. By taking this Course, you may gather them around you, and form a prosperous and healthy settlement or settlements.
As soon as you have looked out and made your arrangements for a plantation, You can advise us immediately of your progress, and write back for your families that they may follow you. We purpose, if your reports are favorable, to select some mechanics, and their families, in the Spring, and send them to the Islands to co-operate with and assist you. If your prospects should be favorable, and there should be other tracts of land which would be suitable for plantations, that could be advantageously occupied, it would be well for you to secure them. You should take sufficient means with you from here to properly sustain yourselves, that you may be relieved from the unpleasant necessity of depending upon the Natives and being compelled to eat any of their filthily prepared diet. Should your own means prove insufficient to buy the needed land, and you should draw on me for the means to purchase, the deeds must be drawn in my name. Care should be taken by you in purchasing to have the place of settlements convenient to and accesible from the sea, that your produce may be easily shipped and your supplies be easily obtained.
The Elders from here, whom you will find on the Islands upon your arrival there, you can release to return home, if they do not choose to stay and co-operate with you.
After your arrival at the Islands should you find that you cannot purchase a suitable place for the above mentioned purposes, and prospects are unfavorable for the successful prosecution of the labors and duties assigned unto you in this letter of instruction, and the Spirit whispers that your efforts would be of no avail. You may consider yourselves at liberty to return.
That you may be abundantly blessed in all your efforts to do good, magnify your calling, and honor our God, and be greatly instrumental in spreading his work upon the earth, is the prayer of
Your brethren in the Gospel,
Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball