The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City.  Dec: 31. 1851.

Dear Brethren
Your communication is received in which your difficulties are made known.
I have only to say that I have not given license nor counselled any person to build or not to build a mill in that Kanyon, neither do I wish to have matters of such trivial import, referred to me.

If a man is found transgressing laws and regulations or rights granted by or through the proper authority common sense would seem to dictate that he should be made amenable to that authority   If on the contrary a man is found in possession of privileges rightfully and legally obtained, the same principle would seem to indicate the proper course to pursue viz legal redress or appeal to the authority granting such rights, privileges &c.

As brethren I feel grieved to think that so much disaffection and division exists in your midst, it is disgraceful to your character as saints of the Most High.  Is there no one among you sufficiently endowed with the spirit of God to cause disunion to cease in your midst?

Must the spirit of avarice, of Speculation arise in our midst about a paltry Kanyon, when the land is open for all, when the Lord has blessed us with so goodly a land, and made it free for us to occupy.  shall we grieve his Holy spirit by quarreling about his most benevolent and fatherly blessings.  It belongs to none of you, the Almighty has left it open for all to occupy to the exclusion of none.  The earth, the air, the water, all is free.

When a man enters upon a peice of land and makes an improvement which is thus free to all, then it becomes his possession, and no man can interfere with that possession, without trespassing upon anothers rights.  Brethren settle this matter among yourselves, get together and pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ to enlighten your minds, and be guided by the dictation of the Spirit of the Lord and all will I doubt not be satisfactorily arranged.

Brethren cease not to pray especially for the spirit of wisdom to guide and direct you, for the spirit of God to dwell in your midst, pray for yourselves and for each other.
Praying the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus in [illegible] strifes and contention may cease in your midst and [?] continue unto you his choice blessings [illegible] and that you may appreciate all his kind mercies, I remain as ever, your friend and brother in the gospel of salvation and [illegible]

Messrs Harlow Redfield
David Canfield                   [Curly bracket] Comm
Joshua J Willis