The Brigham Young Center

Gt. Salt Lake City,
Presidents Office
March 15th 1866

Elder Wm P. Nebeker
Geneva Switzerland.
    
Dear Brother:--

Your letter of Jan. 25th came safely to hand, and I was much pleased to receive it and to learn therefrom of the welfare of yourself and the elders, and the prosperity of the work under your care. When I read good reports from our young men who are in the ministry abroad among the nations, and learn of their faithfulness and zeal in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, my heart is gladdened, and I feel to praise the Lord for raising up so many wittnesses of the truth, men whom I trust will be firm and steadfast to the end of their lives. I have heard gratifying reports of the condition of your Mission, and am pleased to here from you that the Elders who have been sent to assist you are paying diligent attention to the acquirement of the language and the other duties which devolve upon them. The perfect knowledge of the language of the people among whom you labor is indispensable to usefulness on the part of the elders; and there is no reason why our elders should not learn languages more perfectly than anybody because they have the promise of that assistance which the Holy Ghost can render. I understand that you make very creditable progress in the german language which I am very pleased to hear, the time that you will remain will be much more profitably spent than the same length of time in the first part of your mission.
    
Peace and quiet and good health prevail here. We have had a severe winter, but there is promise of an early Spring. Our enemies have blustered a great deal, but have accomplished nothing; we pursue the even tenor of our way, and worship our God and build up his kingdom without let or hindrance, paying no attention to their threats and abuse. The kingdom is rolling, Zion is being built up, and will soon be redeemed, the efforts of men and devils to the contrary notwithstanding
    
Be humble, prayerful and diligent, and encourage your Brethren to be so likewise, and the Lord will reveal unto you his mind and will and give you power over your enemies and wisdom to gather out the honest in heart. Accept my love and remember me to bro Spencer, Hoagland and Horn, and all your fellow laborers, and the Saints in your field. That the Lord may bless you and other elders in all your endeavors to build up the kingdom of our God and bring to pass righteousness is the constant prayer of
                                
Your Brother in the Lord,

Brigham Young