The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City, Utah
January 9th. 1862

Elder Joseph Silver,
Cold Springs Mail Station,

Dear Bro:-
Your letter of Dec. 8th 1861 came duly to hand, and although you are a stranger to me personally, I was pleased to hear from you, and I feel to sympathise with you in your afflictions, as I ever do with the faithful saints who are desirious of keeping the commandments of God, and who are striving to their utmost to accomplish and bring about his purposes upon the earth. Though you have been prevented for a time from mingling with the Saints in these peaceful vales, a kind providence will undoubtedly over-rule all for your good and bring you out of your affliction and disappointment with joy and rejoicing.

Agreeable to your request I caused a brief synopsis of your letter to be published in the "Deseret News" so that your friends might know the cause of your detention on the road, a copy of which paper I forward to you by the same mail as takes this.

We have had a remarkably pleasant winter thus far, the workmen are busily engaged in cutting stone and making other preparations for early operations on the Temple in the Spring.

The people here are mostly in the enjoyment of good health and are generally actively engaged in works of improvement all tending to the strengthening and beautifying of Zion.

I hope that you may be able to fully realize your expectations in continuing your journey to this place in the Spring, to which end may God bless and prosper you in all righteousness

With kind respects to Sister Silver, I remain

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young