First General Epistle
Of the First 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—
…Brothers Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor, as well as Amasa Lyman and those of the Twelve recently ordained, are in this place, and are labouring night and day to do good to the church and locate their families comfortably, so that they can again have the privilege of going forth to the nations and preaching the gospel. If the Saints abroad want to see the elders from this place, let them send us their means according to their ability, that the hands of the faithful may be let loose; that the cords with which they are bound may be severed, and the elders of Israel may feel themselves free as air, and with joyful hearts leave their families and kindred and all that is dear to them here, and soar away on eagles’ wings to the nations, proclaim the gospel of salvation, the day of deliverance to the oppressed; gather the outcasts of Judah and the remnants of Ephraim from the four winds to the place of their inheritance; that Zion may be built up, Jerusalem re-established, and the glory of the latter day fill the earth….
To Elder Parley P. Pratt has been assigned a mission to the Western Islands, whither he is expecting to go before another winter….
Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball
Willard Richards
[Millennial Star, 1849]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 9, 1849, 1-4]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]
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Thursday, April 12. The Twelve concluded an Epistle, written at intervals to President Orson Pratt and the Church in the British Isles. The epistle was signed by Parley P. Pratt and Franklin D. Richards, on behalf of the members of the Quorum, who were in the valley, and was mainly of an historical character, giving the prominent valley news of several preceding months, and referring to the expediency of European Saints, who were mechanics and manufacturers, emigrating to the valley in organized bodies, with sufficient means, and with a view to the establishment of their respective branches of trade and manufacture, and urging that a course of that kind would tend to prevent such brethren from halting on the way, and being allured into the midst of wickedness, till they apostatized and laid their bodies down in the gospel-hardened cities of the States.
[History of Brigham Young, 1849:66]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 12, 1849, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]