Great Salt Lake City
January 29th 1855.
Elder Parley P. Pratt
San Francisco, California
Dear Brother,
Your welcome letter of the 18th Ulto. came safe to hand on the 27th inst.
I am glad to learn of your good health and spirits, as also of your good success. thus far in promulgating the principles of truth, combatting error, and putting to shame her votaries, may it ever be so with the servants of God.
It is my desire before God all the day long that they n:ay be sustained while every wicked, evil and corrupt influence shall come to nought, to disseminate those pure and holy principles which lead on to life and salvation to a wicked and corrupt generation who cannot, or if they can, will not distinguish between them and their own debauchery, licentiousness, filth and abominations is in very truth like casting "pearls before Swine''; they love a lie and the maker of it, for a very good reason, which is that they may be damned as they unquestionably should and will be, you know what the Scriptures say about sending them strong delusions and where it has been our happy lot to find on our travels through life and wanderings over the face of the earth preaching the Gospel to the natives to find many honorable exceptions, many who are honest in heart, and who are willing for the love of the truth to embrace it, and suffer for its sake, for who are glad to receive the word of life and henceforth walk in the light, but alas how few in comparison to those who delight in unrighteousness and prefer to dwell in the tents of wickedness
I feel to rejoice with you over the happy few who are found faithful and true, who long after righteousness & whose aim is to abide a Celestial law that they may partake of a Celestial glory.
I am not particularly disappointed that their is no place in California for the gathering of the Saints. If the whisperings of the Spirit are to come to the valley of the mountains it is a happy whispering to you, and them and very satisfactory to me. Neither am I desirous that any should remain at Carson Valley who wish to come here These places are only fixed that those who are disposed may be gathered and not left to wander like sheep without a shepherd.
I have no news from the east except by way of California, as the travel from here to the Missouri River seems to be stopped by hostile Indians. The Indians in this Territory are friendly at present, and we see no indications of their being otherwise, still it is known that where excitement is raised among Indians it meets with responsive feelings among them all and they snuff the air tainted with blood <with peculiar delight>; it becomes us therefore to be on the look out and prepaired to meet any emergency that may arise.
The weather is remarkably fine, roads for the most part are dry and dusty. Work on the Temple foundation was resumed last week and is now progressing finely.
The extensive Sugar Manufactory on Kanyon Creek commenced operations to day.
We learn from Bro. Amasa Lyman and others of the "Hard times" in California owing to the scarcity of Money &c. precluding any probability of them raising the necessary funds to clear the Mortgage from the Ranch of San Bernardino unless the times change very materially for the better without the we help them. We shall probably try to aid them. The Legislature adjourned on the 19th inst. Carson County is organised. Bro. Hyde goes out to that place as Judge of Probate. It has also been made a Judicial District, and Judge Stiles, one of the Associate Justices of the supreme Court assigned to it.
The ensueing Legislative Assembly will meet at Fillmore City. It is expected that the south wing of the State House at that place will be finished by that time, it is now being roofed.
My health is good for my winter health, which you know is not as good as my summer health, but is improving this fine weather.
Wishing you every blessing and enjoyment and praying God to preserve you I remain as ever Your Brother.
Brigham Young