Second General Epistle
Of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the Great Salt Lake Valley, to the Saints Scattered Throughout the Earth.
Greeting: Beloved brethren,
…All the apostles now in the valley have had missions assigned to them. Elder John Taylor, accompanied by Curtis E. Bolton and John Pack, goes to France; Elder Lorenzo Snow to Italy, accompanied by Joseph Toronto; Elder Erastus Snow to Denmark, accompanied by Peter Hanson, and will start in about a week, passing through the States. Elder Franklin D. Richards, accompanied by John S. Higbee, George B. Wallace, Job Smith, H.W. Church, Joseph W. Johnson, Joseph W. Young, and Jacob Gates, will go with the mission to England, to cooperate with President Orson Pratt. Elder John Forsgreen will go out at the same time on a mission to Sweden. For wise purposes Elder P.P. Pratt’s mission to the Western Islands will be deferred until spring.
Elder Orson Pratt is doing a great work in England, and the cause of truth is advancing rapidly in all her home dominions, and the rejoicing of the Saints there, causes Satan to howl, for he is compelled to be subject to the power of the Highest….
Brother Parley P. Pratt is opening a new road through the range of mountains from the Weber to this place, which is already so far advanced that this fall’s emigration will pass over it. This road will be accomplished at a great expense, and will be a great blessing to the emigrating brethren, and together with bridges in the valley, over the Weber and Ogden fork, all of which we expect will be completed before the next emigrating season, will shorten the distance and greatly facilitate the progress of travelers….
Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball
Willard Richards
Great Salt Lake City, Deseret, Oct. 12th, 1849
[Millennial Star, 12:118]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 12, 1849, 1-3]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]