Salt Lake City
June 17. 1871.
Mr. Willard Young,
West Point. N.Y.
My dear Son,
Yours of the 3rd inst. with your certificate of acceptance enclosed for my signature were duly received.
We were all well pleased to hear from you, and to know that you passed a successful examination. This news was considered of sufficient importance to be flashed across the wires with the general telegraphic dispatches. I signed the certificate and forwarded it yesterday (16) to the Department.
I have instructed Bro. Cannon to send you regularly a Copy of the "Deseret Evening News" which will keep you posted in general news. Any thing else you require from time to time, let us know and we will endeavour to supply you.
It appears from some of the eastern papers, they are rather exercised over your admission among the cadets & one correspondent writing from this City to the N. Y. Herald, wants to know "Will the boys permit the outrage," it is easy to guess the course whence this emanated, some member of the notorious ring here, who leave no stone unturned to create friction between us and the Government. You are aware how signally they have failed and this malicious though very paltry effort only serves to shew them up as they are.
Since I wrote to you on the 19th May, nothing out of the ordinary course has transpired here. I will mention however, a very agreeable circumstance which transpired on the 1st of June That being the 70th anniversary of my birthday, a surprise was prepared for me which, though it had been in preparation several days, was kept entirely from me. I stepped into dinner as usual suspecting nothing & was greeted by a concourse of children in the lobby, neatly dressed & each bearing a bouquet. I was ushered into the parlour where to my astonishment I was met by not less than 80 persons assembled to congratulate me the occasion. We all proceeded to the dining room and 87 persons sat down to table. An address prepared by Sister Eliza R. Snow was then read to me which embodied in a beautiful composition the affecionate sentiments of my family & immediate relatives & friends. While it was being read many were moved to tears and altogether it was a really pleasant time which will not easily be forgotten by those who were present.
Work progresses finely on the U.S.R.R. The iron is laid for miles and the grading continues steadily along.
We are having a novelty in the shape of a Methodist Camp meeting located on the Orson Spencer lot just across the street north of Henry Lawrence's house. Meeting is held in an extraordinarily large tent said to accomodate 3000 persons. I am not aware they have made any converts as yet, though a large number of our people attend nightly. We have advised all to attend, young and old, I have only been present at one meeting. The affair is very dry. Mr. Boole who preached on that occasion put me in mind of an old, dried up wooden pump, laboring and creaking in a dry well, working very hard but producing no water. I understand their services will close tom-morrow.
Though you are absent from us and far from home and your dearest friends, be assured we are not unmindful of you, our prayers are constantly exercised on your behalf that you may be kept free from the contaminating influences that will doubtless surround you. Let me again advise you that you cannot be too careful to shun the temptations of the day. We are not afraid of you, but you are in a more conspicuous position, probably, than you realize, the eyes of many are upon you to see what is likely to be your future. You will meet with those of your companions who will try every means to induce you to deviate from the path of virtue, but with a firm front, you can easily parry every such effort and still be kind and courteous, and rest assured that this course will win for you far greater respect, even from the unvirtuous, than that which would follow were you to fall in with the dissolute habits of the day.
Above all things, seek closely to the Lord. Pray for His Holy Spirit to guide your steps and to deliver you from every snare.
Write to us often, and at length; your letters will be looked for with pleasure.
You will be pleased to learn my health is good, and that all the family are well.
May peace be and abide with you, and the blessings of Heaven constantly surround you.
I was just about to mail this when your letter to the folks was handed me to read which I did with great interest. When you write I would like to learn in detail the routine of your daily life, and what your studies will consist of. Whether your friends are allowed to visit you, & if so, are they restricted to certain times? indeed, a brief description of the entire rules of the Academy would be quite interesting to us, and might furnish an interesting article for the News.
Your letter to me of the 11th, I have just this moment received. Thank you for writing me, and should you meet Gen. Ingalls again soon present my compliments to him.
Your affectionate Father
Brigham Young
June 20.
P.S. I am particularly desirous to know the regulations about visitors, because, if allowed I shall request all our elders visiting in your neighbourhood to call upon you. Bishop Sharp sends his respects and will be with you to see you while he is east, which will be shortly.