Beloved Brethren,

May grace, mercy and peace rest upon you, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:—

Having several communications lying before me from my brethren the , some of which have ere this merited a reply, but from the multiplicity of business which necessarily engages my attention, I have delayed communicating to you to the present time. Be assured beloved brethren, that I am no disinterested observer of the things which are transpiring on the face of the whole earth; and amidst the general movements which are in progress, none is of more importance than the glorious work in which you are now engaged, consequently I feel some anxiety on your account, that you may, by your virtue, faith, diligence and charity commend yourselves to one another, to the , and to your Father which is in heaven, by whose grace you have been called to so holy a calling, and be enabled to perform the great and responsible duties which rest upon you. And I can assure you that from the information I have received, I feel satisfied that you have not been remiss in your duty; but that your dilgence and faithfulness have been such as must secure you the smiles of that God whose servants you are, and also the good will of the Saints throughout the world.

The spread of the gospel throughout is certainly pleasing; the contemplation of which cannot but afford feelings of no ordinary kind in the bosom of those who have borne the heat and burthen of the day; and who were its firm supporters and strenuous advocates in infancy, while surrounded with circumstances the most unpropitious, and its destruction threatened on all hands; but like the gallant bark, that has braved the storm unhurt, spreads her canvass to the breeze and nobly cuts her way through the yielding wave, more conscious than ever of the strength of her timbers, and the experience and capability of her captain, pilot and crew.

It is, likewise, very satisfactory to my mind that there has been such a good understanding between you, and that the Saints have so cheerfully hearkened to council and vied with each other in this labor of love, and in the promotion of truth and righteousness; this is as it should be in the church of Jesus Christ; unity is strength.— “How pleasing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Let the Saints of the Most High ever cultivate this principles and the most glorious blessings must result, not only to them individually, but to the whole — the order of the kingdom will be maintained, its officers respected, and its requirements readily, and cheerfully obeyed, Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world anxious to bless the whole human race— this has been your feelings and caused you to forego the pleasures of home, that you might be a blessing to others, who are candidates for immortality, but strangers to truth, and for so doing, I pray that heaven’s choicest blessings may rest upon you.

Being requested to give my advice respecting the propriety of your returning in the spring, I will do so, willingly. I have reflected upon the subject some time, and am of the opinion that it would be wisdom in you to make preparations to leave the scene of your labors in the spring. Having carried the testimony to that land, and numbers having received it; consequently the leaven can now spread without your being obliged to stay—another thing, there has been some whisperings of the spirit that there will be some agitation, some excitements and some trouble in the land in which you are now laboring. I would therefore say in the mean time, be diligent, organize the churches and let every one stand in his proper place, so that those who cannot come with you in the spring, may not be left as sheep without a shepherd.

I would likewise observe, that inas [p. 258]