Show to the saints it is a source of the greatest gratifies gratification tion to us I 1 and thanksgiving and praise to our heavenly father that we can truly announce to the saints that i P peace e aee continues to reign triumphant in all the val leys of the mountains in all our settlements I 1 throughout all our territory and what adds to our I 1 joy is that when we look abroad upon the face of the earth we find no other place of peace like this not that we rejoice in war anywhere but that while peace exists we are permitted to be its recipients in every quarter of our globe civil discord strife contention and war are spread spreading ipg their teri i 1 rora in the hearts of the people nation is lifting i i the sword against nation and the mightiest nations are arming and fortifying and preparing for the day of slaughter to their neighbors or to prevent being slaughtered in their turn and earth seems as though it were preparing to become a speedy slaughter house where tile the king and beggar may wallow in their blood together there appears tl tc 1 be ve a general fearful looking for t of J judgment and fiery wrath not irom from the god od of I 1 heaven for the nations have forgotten there is such 1 a being but from each other from throne against I 1 1 throne from kingdom against kingdom from friend against friend and neighbor ag against nei neighbor gabor religious superstition ign ignorance orane bigotry gild and intolerance lie deep in the foundation allbri of these troubles for when we men banish god from their hearts from their remembrance truth justice and equity follow 1 find and men are le left ft to all the false and corrupt influences of ever every y evil spirit that walks the earth and passions the most fiendish assume entire domi dominion mon false religion is worse than no religion it often lulls men to sleep slap in the cradle of deception and lands them in hell before they wake we know of no political constitution on the earth the constitution of the united states excepted that guarantees and secures religious remigious ious freedom to all the right to worship god according to the dictates of their own I 1 conscience conscience all governments have their creeds f forms caremon traditions apil and no I 1 lions interwoven with their organizations to bind mens consciences and aad if they grant any liberty bayoud Tie be yond it is through oaths and licen licenses s e a and a nd forms form 8 and ceremonies instituted fur that purpose and jn in these licenses england is the most I 1 liberal beral and even through that medium has received great great blessings the nations having forgotten the god of abraham the creator of the earth he is leaving them th m to work out their own salvation or damsat damnation 10 i n just as they please hence look where we will we find strife and conteri contention tion in the midst of national affairs generally with emperors kings and presidents and between them and their cabinets and councils in in the midst of their assemblies their parliament their Ser senates intes and among amon the representatives of the people and if god is not mobbed out of doors lie he is lefT but and the right of christian prayers voted after him until the blindness of men frien has become r uch that they extinguish gas lights at midnight and light candles at midday to see if the sun shines and so hungry are they for new inventions ih 1 hat 1 t they can bite their own thumbs at each ot other her for v vanity anity as they would plum pudding or beef steak for dinner while such things are gorg going forward in the high circles of f the nit nations ioni the me lower places are rife with I 1 robbery and plunder and murder deceit and falsehood till fill ina man n knows not when to believe his f fellow ellow or when or where his life is safe from the assassins I 1 land hand for a moment while he who ir in the I 1 j heavens laughing at their calamities and mocking their tears fears lets loose the prince of the power of the i air upon them abern who by whirlwinds whirl winds and hurricane huni cane and tornadoes and waterspouts water spouts are sweep sweeping the earth of its thousands and tens of thousands and I 1 causing the ocean brine to engulf the ships of london liverpool and new york and other modern syrian and ports with all their souls and merchandise merchandize dize time will not permit us to glance at the accidents misery corruption plagues sickness death and dire calamities that are reported by every mail as flooding the earth at every point and if we could it would be only a vexation to y you oil to read the report and what will be more pleasing to you will be to reflect that while animosity and strife fighting in and death are overspreading over spreading all people you are here herein in the rich vallies of ephraim surrounded by the arms of the almighty led and guided by his good spirit so BO far as you keep yourselves pure pare and are willing to follow that ahat counsel which is from above and that you will continue to b be e pr protected and and I 1 preserved from evil elements and men more evil until you are prepared to enter into greater glory there is great occasion for rejoicing among the saints for certain me mean an fellows fellow s of the basest sort whose lives had been saved by your charity and kindness have gone on their ways north and west and invented the report that you have risen up in open rebellion and armed the territory against the general government which report has been publishing in papers as destitute of truth as the reporters and it has gone the world over and is believed by those who are possessed of the same spirit of falsehood h bd us t to contradict such a report for the benefit of those abroad who believe it would be like casting pearls before swine for he who is is possessed of a lying spirit twill will not believe the truth trutha when it is declared unto him and none bailers others will ever believe such a report concerning utah and for us to tell you the report is false would be useless for you you already know jt it therefore we say to you in the wor words ds of jesus blessed are ye when men sha shall j revile and persecute and say all manner manner of evil a against gainni you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great shall he be your reward in heaven li eaven it since judicial ermine doffed coffed its desecrated wand wana to the ladies of utah satan like rebuking fu sin i ll 11 blackened the sacred pages of its count rys history with the records of a mook court shook its shaggy I 1 mane in disappointed wrath and rushed with rapid strides a sabbath da days ys journey over the rocky mountains to its orient den dan the clangor of arms arm 0 i and the din of discord has been unheard unk unknown wn fn an peaceful vale then and than alone has the peace of utah ewer ever jeen been disturbed and when you have sent up your holy and faith faithful fid petitions to the throne of light that you never again may I 1 be visited with such dire calamity let the past 1 pass to tie be re remembered q no morti more till the judgment day I 1 I 1 pray pay without ceasing that god will roll on his I 1 dvork work t hasten the gath gathering e n ni of israel and top up building of zion and give gibe thanks conlie I 1 nally that 0 Y you ou ara are permitted to tol div pw in in peace an and d safely I 1 and enjoy the rich ach rewards of your labors while the earth is filled with trouble tro utile of ever every y sort and alid on every evi I 1 hand be not weary in well doing it is near I 1 I 1 latime ly time 1 to close your spring sowing and planting but put in all you can for there is a multitude of I 1 1 saints near at hand who will want the comforts of life as well as you and who will help you harvest barvest I 1 soon your crops will need irrigation see that all your water ditches are in readiness without delay lest you lose your crops by drouth let the ninety and three who at conference volunteered ered to meet ineat the wheelbarrows wheel barrows harrows and handcarts hand carts on the prairie and any others who may wish to join them be ready to start at a moments warning for we know not the day or the idour hour when we may receive a inessa message 9 e that they are ready for your reception cep tion now is the time for those in distant settlements who have been counselled counseller coun selled to tb build houses to see that the are made the timbers and lumber gathered and as soon as gathered seek the first opportunity port unity to pat them in form ready for tile llie I 1 coming comi ng harvest fur br when harvest comes you will have something to do beside building store houses now is the time between sowing and watering for f or the brethren bri Abren in in this valley to see that hat the public works are supplied with sand lime claybone clay mono done wood and all kinds of materials while feed is good the earth dry and hard and hauling hailing easy and you have leisure we have no feeling to oppress the ver ever e willing and ready I 1 and ana who w 40 delight deli glit in doing what god wants done but hints to the wise are sometimes useful and always thankfully re received c e i I 1 ved li it there are brethren who have got their weds seeds in the earth and they have 1 2 or 3 weeks campara tive leisure there is is no season of the year their labors would woul d be more appreciated on the public works than at the present and that would give then the M the more leisure to attend to their crops when needed and the public works would be advanced thereby instead oi of suffering in short trusting the lord to a little hau hauling liAg for a i few weeks will be better than compound cot pound interest to those at liberty to do it we i have a great many cobble stone about the public works as many as can be used to advantage fit at present and the superintendent has made arrangements range ments for more sizeable stone to complete the W wall all around the temple block and to move large tones atones with convenience and profit a little preparation is wanted if those who are going to draw stone will prepare a rack or platform to their wagons say three poles one on each side of the wagon bolsters and one in the middle with a few sta s guards or pegs between and two slabs or boards or 4 or 6 small poles they will carry the larger stones in safety load and unload easier and save expense of wagon boxes I 1 finally brethren put on the whole armor of god if you have ready got it on and if you have burnish it and see that all your carnal weapons sueh as wagons carts racks scythes sey thes rakes pitchforks cradles sickles spades shovels hoes drags I 1 sheep shears sawmills saw mills and all other machinery a and nd the sisters that their cards and wheels and lo onite and brooms ac are all in in order and ready to conquer the world with diligence and faithfulness in your several callings and H when hen our president returns he will yay ray to us well dono good and faithful servants my joy is full you have been faithful i in my absence enter into my joy to he be continued |