President's Office,
Great Salt Lake City,
September 25th, 1867.
President F. D. Richards,
42 Islington, Liverpool, Eng.
Dear Brother:
Your favor of the 27th ult. came to hand two days ago. I am pleased to learn from it of your welfare and the progress of the work of the Lord in the mission over which you preside. From the accounts we have received the missionaries have been greatly prospered on their journey across the Plains and the ocean to their fields of labor. When they left here the troubles on the Plains were of such a nature that if we had looked at matters as men usually do, it might have been pronounced foolhardy for them to do so; but the Lord has opened the way and has delivered His servants from every evil which threatened them. Our faith is exercised continually in behalf of our brethren who are on mission that they may be preserved in purity and health and be able to return to their homes having accomplished a good work.
By what we have heard of late we should judge that the work in the British Isles is not very promising, and that the labors of the elders are not attended with that success which has been usual in former years.
The publication of Mr. Dixon's New York may possibly create an additional interest in our principles in the minds of a great many who, otherwise, could not be reached. Sooner or later those classes which have heretofore desired to ignore the existence of "Mormonism" as it is termed because of what they considered the lowness of its origin, will have their attention called to the great work of God and will take sufficient interest therein to investigate its principles and associate with its converts. Before this day comes there will, doubtless, be judgement and calamity poured out upon many of the nations, and men's hearts will fail them for fear in looking forward to the things which are coming.
The work of God is destined to occupy a higher and more conspicuous position, and every year that passes over our heads gives it increased importance. When misrule, oppression and wickedness, with their attendant evils, shall prevail to such an extent that confidence among men will be universally
destroyed, then their attention will be directed to the Kingdom of God, and to the good and stable government under which its people dwell.
My sons, Brigham Jr. and John W., & Brigham Jr's. wife arrived here in good health and spirits last night. They left the emigrant company at Independence Rock, and came on with their own conveyances to Bridger, where they took stage. They have been gladly welcomed home. We sent eight four-mule teams laden with grain and provisions, last week, to meet the emigrants. When they reach them they will bring back all the folks they can carry.
We had a storm on the 15th and 16th insts., which Brigham Jr. and party found to be very severe. It overtook them at Rocky Ridge. Myself and the brethren who usually travel with me encountered it coming from Bear Lake Valley to Ogden. We returned here on the 17th instant. We were absent sixteen days, during which time we held twenty-five meetings and traveled three hundred miles. The meetings were crowded, and the greatest possible interest was manifested in the counsels, and instructions given. It was one of the most pleasant trips I ever made, and this was the opinion of the company generally. Peace, contentment and prosperity prevail throughout the settlements, and the teachings which were given to the Saints were eminently practical.
We see a visible improvement in our settlements north, and we were all very much struck with the number of children in every settlement. The people are increasing very rapidly.
Of late we have felt led to give considerable instruction to our young people respecting marriage -- encouraging them to enter into the bonds of matrimony, and in the absence of a foreign emigration, endeavor to increase our home emigration, which we have, heretofore, found to be far the best, very few every apostatizing and proving recreant to the truth.
You doubtless saw the confession made by Bro. Amasa M. Lyman respecting the doctrine of the atonement of the blood of Jesus. After making this confession he went South. He preached at Beaver after his return. The substance of this sermon was telegraphed to me. When we went to Dixie last
Spring the matter was investigated, and it was decided that his preaching was not sound and not consistent with his printed confession. He read the 35th psalm without comment, leaving it to his hearers to make their own application of it; and in alluding to his confession, he told the anecdote about the countryman and the merchant, in which the countryman said that all men would lie if pinched hard enough. The merchant queried how hard an honest man would have to be pinched to make him tell a lie; to which the countryman made answer, "Why, pinch him until he lies." The whole drift of his teachings on the occasion referred to was in vindication of his former erroneous teaching respecting the atonement of Jesus. The committee of the Twelve who investigated this matter, having satisfied themselves respecting his teaching decided that Elder Amasa M. Lyman be deprived of his priesthood. Their decision was confirmed by the remainder of the Twelve Apostles who were at home.
During our recent trip to the North, all of the brethren of the Twelve in the Territory -- ten in number -- were together, and the subject of electing a person to fill the vacancy caused by the dropping of Amasa M. Lyman was brought up. Elder Joseph F. Smith was elected to fill that vacancy. His name will be presented at the Conference for the acceptance of the people.
I gave Amasa a mission to labor and provide for his family which I believe he is doing.
Respecting the publication of the Book of Mormon in the language of Holland, I think it had better not be printed. If the Hollanders can furnish the means, then it might be printed; but if they cannot it had better remain in mss.
With love to yourself and the brethren, in which Presidents Kimball and Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. join, and praying the Lord to bless you with every blessing necessary to qualify you for all the duties devolving upon you in your high calling, I remain
Your Brother
Brigham Young
P. S.
A missionary, by the name of George K. Ruse, who went from the 2nd Ward in this city left a wife here by the name of Caroline Brum. She was from Scandinavia. When she emigrated to this country she was affianced to a brother by the name of John Rogers who remained behind. After her arrival here she went to live with Bro. Ruse. They became too familiar, and she became pregnant. She says that she told him she believed Rogers would still take her to wife when he came on; but Ruse told her that it would be better for them both for her to be sealed to himself, and she consented. Rogers has
since come on She now wants to be divorced from Ruse and be married to Rogers, and the latter is also desirous to have her. Enclosed find bill of divorce which you will please have him sign and return. There are three bills -- original, duplicate and triplicate for him to sign. His name should be written on the lines above hers. When signed he can keep the "duplicate"-- the "original" and "triplicate" you can return.