The Brigham Young Center

Mr. Heber Young
Zurich, Switzerland.

Dear Son:-

On my return from Southern Utah I was gladdened by the receipt of your interesting letter of April 5. wherein you inform me of your continued health & prosperity, & of the blessings of Heaven upon your labours in the building up of the Kingdom of God. It is cheering to hear of the success of our missionaries. We continually pray for this, & we are well assured that if we only do our part the Lord will not be unmindful of his, & therein is the success.

We had a very interesting trip through the southern settlements to Dixie which occupied 28 days. As usual the People vied with each other in their profusions of kindness to us; we did a great deal of speaking, counselling & exhorting the Saints -- & I believe that much good will follow from our visit. As you have doubtless heard ere this; the Railroad is completed between Omaha & San Francisco, a distance of 1882 miles. The last rail was laid at the Promontory on the 10th at 11.45. a.m. Demonstrations in honour of the great event were made in every part of the Country. The celebrations in this City, I am told was a grand affair-- Services in the New Tabernacle -- & in the evening a general illumination of all the Public Offices & Buildings & a huge bonfire on Arsenal Hill. I was in Provo that evening on our return home.

On Monday the 17th we break ground for the first division of the Utah Central Railroad, to run between Salt Lake City & Ogden, forming a junction at Ogden with the Pacific Railroad. The Capital Stock is placed at Three Million dollars.

Our Mercantile Co-operative Institution is progressing finely & will be a great blessing to the Community when fully understood and appreciated. Nearly every Ward throughout the Territory has its own Cooperative Store which is owned & controlled by the people of the Ward in a Joint Stock capacity.

Elder Orson Pratt is now in New York engaged in the publication of the Book of Mormon in the Deseret Alphabet with a view to its introduction into all our Schools. We already have the Deseret First Book, which is a preliminary speller & reader in use in nearly all of our Schools & I think we may consider the subject as fairly under weigh.

The Emigration Agent has been appointed to superintend the Emigration of the Saints from the Saints, who will, we trust be able to make satisfactory terms with the Railroad Co. & thereby facilitate the Emigration; but from present appearances, it will be wisdom not to ship the Saints from England for some time yet, on account of the present high rates of passage. Due notice will be given to the Saints when the arrangements are consummated.

Heber John Richards has just returned from New York, where he has been studying Surgery with a view to practising here himself, as well as to instruct others in this important branch of education; he is merely here on a visit now & will soon resume his studies in New York, & obtain his Diploma.

(May 19) Since writing the above I have been to Ogden & broken ground for our Railroad. There I met with with John W. Young, his wife Elizabeth & her Mother -- My wife Amelia & daughter Jeanette who had just returned from a trip to the east. All feeling well, & especially glad to get home.

to say that my health & that of my immediate associates is good.

Remember me kindly to Bro. Maeser & all the brethren with whom you are associated.

Seek unto the Lord -- be humble -- be diligent -- shun evil & continue to work righteousness -- and in time to come you will look back with satisfaction to your Mission as a bright period in your history, for there is nothing on earth that can give more joy to an Elder in Israel than the assurance that he is faithfully discharging his duties.

Your Affectionate Father,
Brigham Young