Presidents' Office
Great Salt Lake City
March 28, 1867
President B. Young Jr.
42 Islington, Liverpool, England
Dear Son:
Your letters of the 18th & 24 written from Chicago, New York and Washington have all reached me, though the two former have been much delayed. We have been much pleased to hear respecting your movements, as, with the exception of the telegram you sent on your arrival in New York, we had not heard a word from you, yourself, or through Brother Hooper. I hope you have had a pleasant trip across the ocean, and that you found your family, John W. and the other elders well.
It is our intention to send a number of elders from here at this Spring Conference; and as we mean to hurry them over, so that they will probably reach England in June, I would like you and John W. to remain till their arrival and see them distributed; you will then have the most pleasant part of the summer in which to cross the ocean and come home. As soon as they are appointed I shall forward you a list of their names. I expect that your bro. Heber B. will <be one of the Co.> Myself and President Wells, and Elders G.A. Smith and Geo. Q. Cannon have been holding a two-days meeting at Grantsville, Tooele Co. They have a very fine new Meeting House there in which the people can be comfortably assembled. The meetings were very much enjoyed by all, both speakers and hearers, and much valuable instruction was given; the Spirit leading us to speak, particularly, upon the subjects of union and obedience in temporal matters -- and sustaining ourselves, and withdrawing support from our enemies, and combining for the purchase of machinery to engage more extensively in home manufactures.
The weather still continues very cold for the season. We have had considerable snow this last week, and the mountains are covered down below their bases. We had snow and very bad roads going to Grantsville, and in returning we travelled through a snow storm till we reached the confines of the City; being prepared for such a contingency, however, we suffered no special inconvenience.
I have just received a letter from two young relatives of mine, named respectively, Catherine Morton, and Gertrude F. Lewis, their address is P.O. Box 114, Chicago, Ill's. They are grand daughters of two of my mother's cousins. They express a desire to come to Utah. Though they are both young, they say they are obliged to depend on their own labor for a living, and are qualified to teach piano music, and one can teach school. Both have had some experience as teachers. I shall write them to day and give them the P.O. address at New York, where, to the care of Bro. Miles, they can write you and John W. and inform you what their address is &c. I shall inform them that if they wish to come to the Valley they can do so when you return.
Peace and good health are general her. Your family and John W's, and your mother and the folks are enjoying usual health. They all join in sending love to you, John W., Oscar B. Katie and the elders.
It is very cheering to get such news from Oscar, and I hope through perseverance and the favorable circumstances in which he is now placed that he will improve himself and acquire an education; for he will be very useful in the ministry.
You will please attend to what I have written respecting our relatives in Chicago; they are distant relatives, but still I would like to have you treat them as your cousins.
Praying the Lord to bless and preserve you, and to bring you home in safety, I am your father
Brigham Young