Salt Lake City, U. T.
March 13th, 1868.
Elder G. W. Crosby,
Box 250 Aberdeen, Monro Co.,
Mississippi.
Dear Brother:-Your favor of the 20th ult., with enclosure, afforded much gratification, informing us of the kind reception you meet with and of the great number to whom you have spoken upon the principles of the great latter-day work so near and dear to lovers of the truth. Whether they listen to and live by your teachings is with themselves. The dear bought experience of the few past years tends to render very many and reflective, but whether sufficiently so as to cause them to embrace the principles of the gospel is yet to be learned, though br. Dusenberry writes that he also may baptize a few. On the other hand I perceive, from br. Campbell's letter, that the late past and the present acts and the course of the general government are engendering much bitterness and animosity, out of which there may spring a good harvest of the honest and
Your experience and the whisperings of the Spirit have no doubt taught you the futility of disputations, discussions and faulting the beliefs and faiths of others, and that wisdom dictates teaching the first principles and accompanying ordinances of the gospel, inviting the hearers to embrace the truth, and then leaving it with themselves whether they will forsake their erroneous views or not.
Should this letter reach you in time, in as much as money is probably scarce in the regions where you are laboring, on which account it may often happen that those wishing to come here can
dispose of their property for horses, mules and wagons to better advantage than for money, it will be well for them to do so, and to organize themselves into a company or companies large enough to make themselves safe against the depredations of the red man, and come orderly, pleasantly and securely, and thus travel all the way. This plan will, of course, occupy more time on the journey, but, aside from giving a better opportunity for disposing of their places, &c., will land them here with wagons and teams with which to begin to help themselves.
As the brethren will be inexperienced on such a journey, it will be well for br Brown, br. Dusenberry, yourself and other Elders of the southern mission or so many of you as may be requisite, at the rate of at least one to each company, to come through with them, even should it be thought best for you to return this fall which can now be quickly done by railroad.
Money is very scarce here and, as a consequence, business dull. Some are anticipating that the Sweetwater gold mines will afford a good money market for surplus products, but their value is undetermined. It is now probable that grading will be commenced soon, by the U. P. Railroad, between Weber Canon and our eastern boundary; should they do so, money will soon again become comparatively plenty.
The present scarcity of money is quite a draw back upon the amount that would otherwise be given to aid the poor from Liverpool to the terminus of the railroad, though as it is we hope that some 5000 will be immigrated by help of the assistance we can lend, and have requested Bishop Hunter and his counselors to <have> 500 four-yoke teams in readiness to start for the terminus about the middle of June, to bring the immigration from that point. The spirit for donating is very liberal and general, and were money as plenty as at times it has been, nearly or quite all the Saints abroad would be immigrated this season. To still further aid, many cattle have been donated, which we shall try to sell for money in time for this seasons operations, if possible.
Affairs in your Dixie home are progressing very favorably, and the health of the people there is very generally better than it was during the early period of this settlement in that section of our
Territory.
Spring is thus far opening favorably for the labors incident thereto, and plowing and seeding will be vigorously prosecuted, in trust that we may harvest to supply our wants.
Please write to me as often as you feel inclined, and your letters will be carefully responded to, as opportunity may offer by,
Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young