President's Office
Gt. Salt Lake City
March 13, 1867
President George Nebeker,
Laie, Oahu
Sandwich Islands.
Dear Brother:
We have not heard from you for a considerable length of time, and feel anxious to know how you are progressing in your affairs on the Islands We have not heard from you respecting the money that we sent, whether you received it or not, but suppose by not hearing, that it must have reached you safely. Still we would like to know respecting this, and whether you were able to save the amount of interest spoken of by you in one of your previous letters. It was sent from here we thought, sufficiently
early to enable you to pay Mr. Doherty by the time he wished.
We hope you are not getting discouraged in your labors, and that good health is enjoyed by all. The failure of your crops is discouraging; but you may have these things to contend <with> as a trial of your faith, but by patience and perseverance, and the exercise of a proper degree of energy, these difficulties may be overcome, and prosperity attend your labors.
The only motive that we had in sending the Elders to the Islands was the salvation of the native Saints. I trust that your labors for their benefit will be attended with encouraging and saving results, and that the ignorance and other evils under which they have suffered will be gradually removed by your teachings, and industrious <habits> inculcated by your example. We would like to hear frequently from you upon these subjects, for we feel interested in the success of your Mission, and our faith is constantly exercised in your behalf. Every effort should be made on your part to preserve union among yourselves. Where disunion or a want of harmony exists among Elders they can not prosper. "Except ye are one ye are not mine", and the whole experience of our people has proved the truth of the Lord's words.
We have had, on the whole, a mild but rather singular winter. We have had a great deal of wet weather which has made the roads very bad. Probably, travelling has not been so difficult any previous winter since our settlement here as it has been this winter; nearly all our principal roads have been almost impassable for loaded teams. We have had more cold weather during the last three or four weeks than we had all the winter previous. Colds have been somewhat prevalent; With this exception the people have been generally healthy. I have been somewhat troubled with rheumatism this winter, otherwise my health has been tolerably good. Peace and quietness have prevailed throughout the Territory. The operations of our enemies, for our injury, have signally failed, and we never have been more unmolested by them than we have been this winter and are at present. Council has been given to the people to refrain from purchasing of, and dealing with our enemies. The people have listened to this counsel, and those who have been operating against us, and whose constant effort has been to misrepresent us abroad, and to the Government, that an army might be brought here, are feeling the effects of this wise policy. The times have contributed to make this counsel more effective. There is great dulness in all kinds of business, and very little if any money in circulation. Flour is very low, and there is no demand for it at any price. The violence and disorder which have been too prevalent in our streets of late years are rarely seen at present. The strangers who are here, and who are generally the authors of these scenes, have but very little money to spend in drinking and paying fines, and Dr. Clinton, who is the only acting Magistrate in the City and county, scarcely has a case, and will necessarily have to turn his attention to some other business to obtain his support. You may be sure that our faith is exercised for this to continue and for circumstances to be so shaped that there will be no
inducement for the wicked to come here and stay in our midst.
We can raise our own flour and eat it, and the prospect is that we will soon be able to manufacture a large proportion of our own wool, as a number of the brethren feel interested in the importation of Woollen Machinery. The Lord will so shape circumstances, if we are only faithful, that we will become an independent people; all His providences tend to bring this about.
The Telegraph is in successful operation from Logan in the north, to St. George in the South. There is <a> branch line also, running from Nephi through San Pete to Manti. A new era is inaugurated in Zion by the erection of this wire in the facilities of communication have been so much increased. I can now sit in my office and communicate with Bros. Benson, Snow and Hyde in their several settlements, and with many of the Presidents, or with the Bishops of the Wards along the line of the Telegraph with the greatest ease, It requires only a few moments to communicate with any or all of these, to give counsel, warning or instruction or to ask information from any of them concerning the Indians, the health of the people, or any other matter about which enquiry may be needed. We hope before long to have every settlement in our Territory in communication with this City by means of the Telegraph wire. We will find it much easier to bring our people from Europe now than we did last year -- the Rail Road has been pushed so rapidly this way during this past Season. If a corresponding amount of energy be exercised this year in pushing the work ahead, the distance will be shortened several hundred miles, and should we have occasion to send teams down in '68 for passengers or freight we will find the trip a comparatively easy one to what it has been. It is not our intention to send any teams down for the poor this season, though there will probably be a number come through from Europe with their own means.
The coal we are now getting from Weber is much better than it was formerly, and every year a better quality of coal is being found. With love to yourself and the Elders and to your families, in which Presidents Kimball & Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. join, and that the Lord may be with and guide you, and so control your labors that they may redound to His glory and to the salvation of yourself and your fellow men is the prayer of
Your Brother
Brigham Young
P.S. Have Bro. Alma L. Smith and the other brethren received the letter which I sent to them about drawing five hundred dollars ($500.00) from me; and do they have cows to furnish them milk? I would like the faithful brethren who understand the native language to be aided in sustaining their families while laboring in the ministry among the people.
B.Y.