The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City. U.T.
March 20. 1869.

Maria L. Hayden,
Ashland, Mass.

Madam:--

Your interesting letter has come to hand which I have perused with pleasure.

I am compelled to say however, since you ask the facts in the case; that I never resided in Ashland, though my parents did. I was not born till after they had moved from that section. Whitingham, Windham Co. Vermont is my birth-place.

As to strangers visiting Utah, we have never sought to discountenance it, on the contrary, we hope, now that the facilities for travelling are so great that the honorable and high minded will visit us & so remove the strong prejudices which have been created against us by the pens of lying scribblers.

If you should visit this City, as you intimate you may do, I would be pleased to have you call upon me.

Yours with respect.
Brigham Young