The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City May 15/54

To Bishop John Stoker
& other Bishops North

Dear Brethren,

Bros. H. B. Clawson, & Charles F. Decker, are appointed Special Agents for the Church, and instructed to purchase, contract, collect, or cause to be collected, & forwarded to the General Tithing Office in this City, all the wheat, Flour, Potatoes, Beef, Pork, Butter, Cheese, &c. that you can possibly spare in your wards
There are 3. or 400 hands daily employed upon the Public Works, and the amount of Wheat, & other provisions, in the T. Office are completely exhausted.

The most of those hands are employed in the Quarry,-- excavating the foundation of a temporary house to be erected this season, when the saints will receive their Washings & anointings until the Temple is completed, and rearing the outer wall around the Temple Block. If those men are not immediately supplied with eatables, they will have to leave off work, and seek assistance from other sources, to sustain them until harvest; this course if resorted to, will materially retard the Prosecution of a work, which the President, and other authorities of the Church wish to progress speedily and without fail.

We firmly believe, that if each individual in this Territory, who claims membership in the Church, had punctually paid their Tithing, that no lack of this kind would occur, but owing to a remissness of duty on the part of some persons, we are led to this last resort, to enable us to accomplish the work intended.

We hope, and positively expect, that you, & the brethren of your wards, will do the very best you can, in rendering the aforementioned brethren, such assistance, information, or aid, as the exigency of the case may require.

President B. Young left instructions in relation to the collection of wheat &c before he left, and in accordance with those instructions, we call, not only upon you, and your wards, but also upon other Bishops and settlements, who are expected will cheerfully respond to this call.

Finally we wish to be distinctly understood, that the brethren in general, should in this emergency, deal with the Church, as they would wish the Church should deal with them, under like circumstances.

Praying for your welfare always.

I Remain
Your Brother in the Gospel.

J M Grant