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President's Office
G. S. Lake City, March 29/65.
Dear Brother: Wm. King
As you doubtless have learned from the Deseret News, Bro's. F. A. Hammond and Geo. Nebeker were sent last Fall on a Mission to the Sandwich Islands for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of the Saints there, and whether anything could be done for their benefit by purchasing lands and gathering the Saints as fast as practicable and teaching them the arts of industry and self-preservation. They found the Saints on the Islands in fully as good a condition as could be expected from the reports which had reached here respecting operation there. The brethren looked around the Islands to find a suitable place for a plantation or settlement -- one that would be suitable for the raising of Cotton, sugar, rice, and other articles to which that climate is adapted and towards raising which the labor of the native Saints could be advantageously applied. A plantation called Laie on the windward side of the Island of Oahu, the property of a Mr Dougherty, was deemed the most suitable for the purposes above enumerated of any which came under the notice of the brethren. They closed a bargain for that place, which contained, it was estimated, about 6,500 acres of land extending from the sea to the mountain. There was one large Frame house furnished, and five native houses, some stone fences and other improvements on the place, besides 600 head of Cattle, 500 Sheep, 250 Goats and 20 horses and some f[missing] acres planted with cotton which was doing finely. There were seventy natives belonging to the Church already living on the land. The place with its improvements was bought for $14,000 in Gold. Five thousand of this amount be paid to-day (the 29th March); Three thousand by the First of next July, and the remaining Six Thousand in two years. After the closing of the bargain, Bro. Hammond started for this City (Bro. Nebeker having preceded him by a few days) leaving Elders Alma L. Smith and Benjamin Cluff, who were there on Missions, to take charge of the place and to plant Cotton. They expected to have One hundred acres of cotton growing by the beginning of this month.
We intend to send some few Missionaries accompanied by their families, or a portion of their families, to the Islands this Spring, for the purpose of operating with Elders Hammond and Nebeker. We have selected some two or three men who have means sufficient, to go there to buy land on the same or other Islands and open up places where such productions can be raised as will command a ready and profitable sale and in the cultivation of which the native Saints' labor can be employed, and, at the same time, they be taught those arts, habits, &c., which will elevate them from their low and degraded position -- a position to which they have sunk by indulging in lasciviousness and other vile practices, which are rapidly hastening the destruction of the nation -- to one of virtue and enlightenment. There is not much foundation, at present, for believing that we can save the entire nation or even any large portion of those who have joined the Church; but we may be able to save a small remnant of them.
Besides the Elders who will go there with means to purchase land and enter into business, there will be a few brethren sent over who can speak the Hawaiian language, and who can labor among the people as opportunities may present or necessity require in teaching them the principles of the Gospel and in administering the ordinances thereof.
You have been appointed to go on this Mission, and we would like you to make your arrangements so that you will be able to start from this City, with the other brethren who have been appointed, as soon after our April Conference as will be practicable for teams to travel--say early in May. If something should interfere to prevent your getting ready by that time, you can start with your team as soon as you can get ready. You are at liberty to take your family with you, if you wish. And you should start provided with means to take you and them through and to situate yourself comfortably after you get there; for it will scarcely be wisdom for any one to go on this Mission who cannot sustain himself and benefit the natives.
Our object in having the Elders go provided with means and to take steps to sustain themselves is that they may be relieved from the necessity of descending to the filthily-prepared food of the natives as an article of diet and to the style of living common to the natives.
Praying the Lord to bless you I remain,
Brigham Young