Show TWELFTH GENERAL EPISTLE Q oftie f V oftie cathe of tie the church chura of jem jew christ glat 0 o of fLat latter lattey day saints to the saints in ae the valleys of f the mountains and those scattered abroad throughout the earth oree GREE GREETING tina TING BELOVED beloyed under the blessings of an overruling providence for our preservation we have renewed obligations of thankful ness and praise to our father in heaven whose protecting care has turned aside the shafts of death and sheltered us urns with a mantle mantie from the scourges urges and devastations which have been poured out upon the earth we have truly realized that lits nis power has been over us fbi for goo goodard dand that these distant vales have thus far proved a safe afe 0 1 retreat treaty re wherein the saints have found quiet beai beal thy prosperity and peace while the indignation of the lord has partially visited the nations our hearts are full of oy or when we reflect how kindly the lord has overruled seeming evil for good and find turned the wrath of man to his IT praise alse by py delivering dellver ng so many of his saints from wicked babylon and from the power of their enemies before these scenes of woe woo t contusion and distress spread desola tion and affliction over the earth at the same name time we fe teel feel anxious for those faithful saints who are still obliged to wait for deliverance in the midst of such tearful fearful calamities the te indications of the times and seasons as they rapidly roll are truly fulfilling the words of the ancient prophet ern ein that the ilie lord has decreed a consumption upon the whole earth in the dispensation of the lat last daysee are truly gratl faed fled with the faithfulness of the elders eldera in going forth to proclaim the fullness of the everlasting gospel to the children of men although though 6 a great work wort yet remains to be accomplished accor pit shed still it has been carried to the most distant por portions dons of the earth and been prea hed to many of the principal nations in their native tongue in north america and great britain it has been extensively preached and published it has boen been preached and published in the french german italian danish and webb languages it ii Is also translated and ready for publication in the Ha alawat walran wallan an language yand jand and kiil kill probably be published the n suing ruing beltson seit gelt season geason son in addition to the forego foregoing ingy it has been to the spaniards swedes iceland MY ers erf and the inhabitants on the danube the niles ale the he indus dusy and the ganges it has been freely offer offered edy by the hider MIder got israel isrel traveling without purse or scrip to all thebe theae nations and to the people of malta southern africa ceylon slam australia the largest and most populous of the paci pacific aie fie isles and to many other nations and people in their native language among al all to whom the gospel has been proclaimed it has found more or less of israel but it Is worthy of remark that in those countries which were ere favored with the gospel in ill the early ages vf of christianity that had bad the testimony of jesus and ties we find the grossest darkness and idolatry Idolat ll and the least susceptibility to the principles of our holy rell reil gln while among among the more enlightened portions onsy such as western europe the english settlements la australia Austral lay lap and fand america and in the united state it is Is more readily received by the honest enquirer arter after truth the rhe illusions during the past year have been usually successful we have revived intelligence from australia which shows a considerable increase of num bersand a con scantly increasing inquiry after Alter a knowledge of the truth from br jesse jessie davenp haven is still presiding and preaching inq in cape colony we learn that thai quite a branch has been raed robed since his arrival arriva arrivals lp mostly amon the english set liers tiers at ceylon the missionaries were badly treat trea tedy edy and were oon soon obliged to leave the island in slam they have been permitted to remain but have made very little impression Im presson except among the english a few of whom have embr embraced acid aced the gospel this mission has been in the immediate charge of brys bria luddington and savage under tinder the bresden cy of bishop nath V jones whose location Is at calcutta in this place also as well an as Bo bombay burmah and the northern provinces of india small interest has been awakened awaken edy and that mostly among the english but the majority of them being soldiers in the british army the officers frequently prohibit their attending the meetings or in any wise associating with ak ith the saints they also used usel use 1 a very powerful interest against our brethren in all their labors even with the natives in hamburg and in several of the european states our el eliene filers lers have frequently been imprisoned imprIson edy and finally bani banished blied from their dominions but in all of enose places the word has been sown town and the ballve native breth brethren reny who have a right to remain bainy are preaching and teaching as opportunity occurs there by laying a foundation which will eventually even evin result favorably to the cause of zion alon br opening the way B ay for the spread of the gospel and breaking asunder the bonds of bigotry superstition and darkness 3 which have BO so long enthrall edthe earth in england 3 scotland Scot soot landy the orkney landy land denmark sweden norway the channel island Islan dF some oma portions of the united states the brit blitsh sh provinces and the isles the work ork has been and Is prosperous omy owl continually addin adding to the church and opening new and more extended tended fields of labor in our own territory we have been blessed messed with health peace and prosperity unequalled unequal led crops matured and were more plentiful than ever leore teore in these valleys although much damage was done by grasshoppers in the month of july and anti ther there ewas was hard frost and ice on the I 1 he soth of may hay and the oct it Is the first time since we settled in these valle vaile vailey valley 5 that we could say there was a surplus of grain for the inhabitant inhabitants sand and although an and large amount has been drawn for sor who quartered among us during the w inter tery terp from the 2nd and of sept to the present time we still believe belies e there will be an abundance to last until replenished ty by another harvest our public works have steadily progressed the anoble wall around the temple tempi e block has been completed and a large amount of the stona coping prepared and somer bomer bome some putt niton nuton on the endowment house on the temble block 1 Is finished and a large share of the temple foundation Is laid the sugar factory on big kanyon kan on creek harleen put into the south wing of the state coteel at tt fillmore FilImore oita is in of completion ion lon the seventies have built bulit a commodious hall which has been very constantly occupied during th the a wlater although it wag was not began to be bu built it until the of august country and city improvements have been extensive astonishing every beholder with tha the eminent and presy alty which haye hive attended all til our exertions now truly may insy we attribute tributa at all these blessings to that kind father who has shielded ns us from our oar enemies and showered down his blessings upon us he lie has caused the earth to bring forth I 1 in Us its strength the irain grab and rich fruits thereof for the sustenance of man the element elements have also been propitious and the moistening nurture of the eardy eaddy learly cearly and latter rains has not pot been withheld neither have the mountain streams failed to furnish their usual supply there has also a much greater supply of goods been brought into the Terri territory torys than heretofore for which however the demand seems constantly increasing altho large amounts of clothing are in manufactured by tb the e people home manufactures and productions have been a part and portion of our domestic econ economy orryl and should be practised practiced by every saint it Is the only path in which we can walk with any assurance ol 01 securing our freedom and of perpetuating that liberty which we inherit as a rich legacy from our ancestors and our god our holy religion brings us in contact with iong long established errors error and the traditions of centuries which are prevalent throughout the world hence are we necessarily a peculiar and separate people whose best interests interest and and preservation depend upon union and self dependence upon practicing vinnue virtue Indus industry and sobriety and manifesting oar our faith by our works in magnifying our priesthood and in serving our god by keeping ourselves pure and unspotted in this wicked and adulterous gens generation ratton ration for this cause we gather out from the world and for this cause we should rely upon our own skill and ability to produce from the native elemen elements tsy every article of food and raiment necessary for our onn use or comfort brethren be wise and eschew foreign productions as articles not suitable or designed for israel and draw your supplies from natures great storehouse the rich and abundant though undeveloped resources resource with which we are burrou surrounded and which are clearly within our grasp As wickedness discord and confusion continue to prevail and increase upon the earth the saints will discern that the time Is not far distant when they will probably te obliged to pursue this course for their own salvation how much easier then for them to be preparing when surrounded with peace and prosperity how much better to do what 19 9 proper and necessary to be done under the most favorable circumstances than to wait until stern necessity compels we say theny then to the brethren and sis in all these valleys of the mountains learn leam now to make your youk own clothing and encourage the home manufacturer fac ancl anti and producer produce rland and let those who intend to come here to reside bring all manner of laborsaving labor saving machinery and such artl articles cipe elfe for its construction as cannot be readily procured here also bring cotton and t asel sred seed and seeds for raking raising all kinds of vegetable dyestuff and all kind of fruit and flower seed also grafts and grape cuttings procure and drive the best kinds of stock and let those who have the things now named preserve them with carey care that the bestif all kinds of fruit and stock may b cultivated and the poorer qua qualities mies improved that in our midst maybe may be found an abundance of everything that will contribute to use and aad com comfort forty forts or that will delight the vy eya eye or beautify the earth for the encouragement of fruit growers we merely mention the fact that for til the 1 e last tour sour years peaches have haxe ripened upon trees growing from saed planted by byu musj since our location in these valleys and apple trees bave have though in less quantities been hearing bearing twi twy years and bid fair to produce much fruit the present season on the of 0 june the conference appointed at the adjournment of the april conference commenced and was held two days during which many missionaries were sent to the among whom was elder john taylor of the quorum of the twelve apostles who was to proceed to new york tork city with the view of there publishing in a newspaper john smith son of hyrum myrum was cho s sn nj presiding patriarch over the tile whole church and was ordained to that office with all the keys and authority thereof on the of february this was to 1111 fill the vacancy which occurred by the death of our beloved and lamented patriarch father john smith who died on the of may 1854 aged seventy three father john smith was the brother of joseph smith senar who was the father of the prophet awas the first pa tri trl in the church lie ile was succeeded in that office by his son nynie upon whom he conferred it before his deathy death ald aid after his dec decease easey father john smith was chosen seny sent hyrum having baving no son old enough to fill the tha office at that time the respected and beloved patriarch went to his rest full of days and honor having run the race with patience and endured unto the end and was lamented by thousands upon whom he had laid bis big venerable hands bands to confer a patriarchal blessing by virtue of his holy office and priesthood lie he will long be remembered by the saints as a father whose blessings blemings were counted of great valur value and which will remain a comfort and consola consol tion iloa through all the various changes of lifes pilgrimage in the flesh having suffered persecution in comman with us and our brethren who have bare gone before lie was broken in body and although permitted to live a few short years in quiet and peace peace in the valleys of the mountains still the infirmities were upon him which were caused by the many exposures and troubles through which it has been the lot of the saints to travel but the vigor of his mind and intellect remained unimpaired to the last thus has another of t the noble men of the earth gone to his rest prepared to come forth with glory immortality and eternal lifey life when the keys of the resurrection r shall be given unto the priesthood of the almighty to again administer its power upon the earth during daring the past year we have enjoyed tranquility with the native tribes having concluded i a treaty of peace teace with the indian chief Wl kr whom we met for that purpose at chicken drek creek in juab county on the lith day of may last we have great came cale to acknowledge the hand of the lord in restraining these savages from literally drenching our settlements with the blood of the saints and in preserving our brethren from utter destruction for nothing but ills nis almighty power has prevented such a catastrophe cata some 04 0 the settlements seeing and feeling by sad experience perl peri ence ces cey the imminent peril they were in have undertaken to partially secure themselves by fortifications ac but we are grieved at being obliged to say eay that these de fences generally remain in an unfinished condition 5 and many of them are of but little value how long the lord will continue to extend his protecting care and indulge his people in such inexcusable carelessness and enea enca to his counsel and gentle gentl admonition remains to be seen it appears that the very moment when peace I 1 again smiles upon us danger la Is forgotten and we at once relapse into the game same careless indifference which h has always characterized our actions la in these valley vailey st so 0 o tar far as regards our being well prepared to meet our steadfast enemies euiles en we say unto you breth brethren reny reng do not longer in bulge in such criminal neglect do not longer trifle with the counsel and urgent entreaties ot of your brethren but improve the present moment 0 of peace and prosperity for making yourselves secure and tn in preparing against a day of 0 trouble towards the indians continue to exercise patience charity and forbearance give them your faith for their reclamation from their low estate pray for them and teach them also alsop that the principle of improvement and enlightenment may possess their minds never again to be rooted out that they may learn the ways of the lord urd and rejoice in the true knowledge of the god of their fathers we realize that the lord mid has been gracious and Is answering the prayers and of the saints in their behalf we ive realise realism that ills spirit IB Is being poured out upon them and to this cause e attribute the power which b bas has as restrained them from more |