President's Office
Salt Lake City
Sept. 3, 1868
Elder Geo. Nebeker
Laie. Oahu.
Sandwich Islands.
Dear Brother
Your welcome letter of June 13. has come to hand, and it is with much pleasure that we hear of the progress and success of your labors among the Native brethren, and that circumstances favor your undertakings in aiding them to come to a knowledge of the purity and sacredness of our holy Religion, and of its adaptability to every station in life and to every individual who embraces it with full purpose of heart to serve God and keep His commandments, for it is not the mere profession which makes the Saint and gives him Eternal Life, but the practice of holy principles and the abstaining from all evil.
Israel has suffered the loss of one of her Chieftains, President Heber C. Kimball who passed away on the 22nd of June after an illness of ten days. We miss him much, and his memory is held most dear not only in the hearts of his family and friends in Zion, but of all the faithful Saints throughout the world; he is another great man gone to rest and reap the reward of a lifetime spent to the honor and glory of God
Brothers Ephraim Green and Charles Boydon arrived safely in this City about four weeks ago with Companies from Australia and California; they appear to feel well. Capt. Wm. H. Hooper arrived recently from Washington, he suffers from feeble health but will doubtless soon recruit in his mountain home in the midst of his family and constituents. There has been quite an attempt made by McGrorty to remove the Captain from his Seat in Congress a proof that the Devil is as inveterate against this Church now, as ever; but they have signally failed to accomplish their vile and illegal purpose. The railroad is fast approaching as a great portion of the work on my contract is completed; the labor, being done by the brethren will have a twofold benefit: it will not only bring considerable money into our Territory and help our people to pay their debts, but it will have a tendency to exclude a large number of men of that class which would be no acquisition to our Society. It is not so much the laborers who would annoy us, but a gang of Saloon and hurdy-gurdy keepers, border ruffians, gamblers and desperadoes generally, who prey upon the laborers, and string the line with such evidence of "Civilization", as are most obnoxious to a peace-loving community; and it would have cost us more to preserve our property from thieves and our families from insult than to go and do the work ourselves, and the pay for it will be more or less in the hands of those who will use it for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God. It is not yet known whether the line will run on the North or South side of the Lake.
My sons Joseph A. Brigham Jun. and John W. are actively engaged in the work as my agents.
The grasshoppers have done some damage to our crops; in Morgan Summit and Wasatch Counties they have taken pretty much all the grain, but in Davis and Cache, the brethren have sown such a quantity that I think with prudence and economy we shall have sufficient breadstuff to last us till another harvest, which shows that the Lord is willing to bless His people when they live up to His Counsels and are persevering and industrious.
Elder Albert Carrington left here on the 17th ult for Liverpool to take charge of the European Mission.
Myself, Bro. Wells and the brethren generally are well: on the 17 ult. I started accompanied by Bros Taylor, Woodruff Geo. A. Smith, Geo. Q. Cannon. Joseph F. Smith and A.M. Musser and others on a trip to Cache Valley; we held meetings in the principal settlements and instructed the Saints on the practical duties of our Religion, urging them to live faithful to their Covenants, take care of their grain and pay their tithing and live humbly and prayerfully before the Lord. We returned on the 25th, having held fifteen meetings and traveled 176 miles.
Some of the immigrants have arrived and look well they appear to appreciate being gathered to the home of the Saints; the railroad bringing them 650 miles West of the Missouri River, renders their journey far less tedious and wearisome than formerly, to which, the health and spirits of these lately arrived amply testify.
The brethren join me in love to you and all the faithful in your Field of labor.
I pray that the Spirit of God may still accompany you in your administration and aid you to accomplish a good work amongst the inhabitants of those islands; and that you may be blessed with all the wisdom and judgment which your position requires, is the sincere prayer of
Your brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young