| Show BURKS BURRS GARDEN GARDE tazewell co va july 20 1869 1669 pres brigham young dear bro from the time of my arrival in this nield field fl eld eid up to the of may I 1 associated for the most of the time with bros boyle and coray who kept you informed in regard to the progress of the work in old virginia and other fields in the uthera southern So mission since br bo boyles last report to you the virginia field has been placed in my charge and I 1 deem it my duty to still keep you informed in regard to the onward movements of the cause in this part of the vineyard since the of may we have baptized twenty seven in this field and organized a branch of twenty five members in bussell russell co va we jve now have three regularly organized branches in this field numbering about one hundred in all there is quite q ul te a number now awaiting baptism who will be attended to at the time appointed the growth of the cause causa in this state exceeds my most sanguine expectations and the work has received an impetus that carries it beyond my preconceived opinion I 1 can gaze complacently 0 on n the triumphant marches of truth in this age under the influence of a gospel dis sensation pensa tion undisturbed by that intense eagerness and alid deep anxiety traceable in the furrowed brows of the votaries vot aries of worldly emolument with despondency depicted depleted in the countenance at the announcement no of the failure of human schemes and the departure of human greatness to earths common burial ground oblivion but we battle for truth and truth is mighty and will prevail bro 0 H riggs biggs is with me at present and has been with me since the ath of june he will leave in a few days for pennsylvania to visit his bis relatives before returning to his mountain home this fall I 1 eel feel that god has peculiarly blessed our labors upon this southern mission I 1 know he has the signs have followed the preaching of the gospel here to the healing of the sick etc confirming the words of christ stamping en upon upon the minds of the happy recipients of 0 these blessings the everlasting truthfulness of the gospel of jesus christ restored to the earth in the latter days and they realize the power of the priesthood as it exists today to day and is held by the Latt erday saints the saints here generally feel well and rejoice in the privilege of the gospel all possess a spirit of gathering which principle they are preparing 0 to o obey as soon as matters can be so arranged A great many of the people are growing tired of their breeds and schisms sms which create such confusion when we find sueh such it is not hard to show them the apostolic church of the nineteenth century they can appreciate the fact that god is not eighteen hundred years distant but he is the god of yesterday today to day and forever the state election is over but I 1 cannot see thab that the tho condition of the people is 9 or will be ameliorated in the slightest degree I 1 feel well on my mission and rejoice in the spirit when a full fall obedience to its dictations is discharged by me I 1 truly feel that a great agrest and glorious work is to be accomplished although the usurps every means he can make use we of there are many who gather up to zion with the expectation of folding their arms and have every desire satiated without an exertion on their part any when they find that zion is built up by hearty operative cooperative co hands and they too must lab iab labor orthey they become dissatisfied such never will make saints and never will attain unto an excellence in the kingdom of god unless they throw aside this detestable spirit of inaction there is no excellence without labor bro riggs biggs and the saints join me mein in love to you and prayers that you may long be preserved on the earth also brothers geo A and daniel H and all the brethren associated with y you on your brother in the bonds of the covenant THEODORE 13 LEWIS llewis |
