Appendix 5: Brigham Young’s Address to the Saints in Parowan and Cedar City

The source of this epistle is a draft document in Brigham Young Papers, Outgoing Correspondence, LDS Church Archives. The text, in William Clayton’s hand, was signed by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball and is believed to have been read by James Ferguson at the close of a church conference held in Parowan in May 1852. The notation “Oct. or Nov. 1851” appears on the back of the document, in the hand of Thomas Bullock, Brigham Young’s clerk. As Cedar City was only settled on 10–11 November 1851, however, the draft could not have been written as early as October. More convincing is Henry Lunt’s journal entry of 12 May 1852 in which he records copying out the entire epistle after hearing it read.

To the Saints in Parowan and Cedar Cities and the regions around about in Iron County

Beloved Brethren having visited among you and witnessed your labor in promoting the cause of truth by the establishment of permanent settlements in the vallies of the Mountains wherein our Brethren from afar can find rest with us while the Indignation of the Lord shall be poured out upon the Nations and feeling an ardent desire for your welfare and the wellbeing of the Enterprize in which you have enlisted considered that a word of instruction and Counsel left with you might be useful in reminding you of some things which when absent might be forgotten. Brethren in your midst our hearts have been made to rejoice and our souls refreshed in the union of spirit and effort the good order and industry which so eminently characterises your exertions and the love of which so richly abides in you[.]

It is with regret that we observe there are some among you who seem disposed to scatter out from the Forts thereby hazarding their own lives and the peace of the whole Territory[.] We are located in the midst of savage tribes who for generations untold have been taught to rob plunder and kill and the gratification of every lustful appetite for Blood and revenge[,] success in which among themselves paves the way to destinction and influence. They are moreover ignorant and degraded living in the lowest degree of filthiness practicing extreme barbarity to all such as unfortunately fall into their hands[;] under circumstances peculiar we have been shown into their midst[.] They are of Israel so are we[. O]ur position among them furnishes abundant opportunities of doing good[.] We can here become saviors in very deed saviors of our brethren[.] Even those who through the transgression of their Fathers are weltering under the heavy penalties incured through disobedence [sic][.]. It is a privelege as well as a duty thus to use our influence and exertion to bring them back to the Fold of Christ for the promise is unto them of whom the Lord said a remnant should be saved[.]

While therefore we extend our Charity and good feelings unto them, let us, not condescending to their level, seek to Elevate them in the scale of beings seek to bring them to a Knowledge of their Fathers and our Fathers their God and our God, while we thus seek to do them good[. I]t is obvious that we should not place our selves in their power subject ourselves to the caprice of their Savage Nature which through causes unknown to us may at any moment become excited and arrayed against us. Then follows colision [sic] and warfare and even though we may be successful in the first event yet embittered feelings are engendered which may last for years. Let us then be wise and avoid every measure that gives them any advantage over us[.] To those Brethren who have gone from the Fort and settled south of Cedar City We say return and remain with your Brethren subjecting yourselves to the counsel of those who are placed in authority and set to govern and control. The settlement at Elk horn Springs should be maintained as a herd ground and the Brethren at that point should build a Fort and be susteined by a few more families sufficient to strengthen the place against any surprise and those who dwell there should always be on the alert with their horses and equipments ready at any moment to go or come or defend themselves. They should never leave the Fort destitute of sufficient Men to defend it if it should prove necessary neither should you hold the life of an Indian as Equivalent for the Loss of a few cattle. It is far cheaper for us as a people to feed them all than to defray the expenses of an expedition against them. Though it should prove successful and none of the lives of our Brethren be lost It is well known that they are always hazarded upon such occasions.

Therefore Brethren in all your intercourse with them be mild yet firm generous yet Economical and use diligence, patience and perseverence in inducing them to return to habits of Industry by giving them Employment which meets with an ample and sure reward[.]

The Lord has been merciful with you be ye merciful with them of the rich abundence of his store he has imparted unto you impart you unto them not only food and raiment but of the spirit of grace and forbearance virtue and truth of the which ye have become partakers through the manifold mercies and blessings of our God. We are stewards only over all that we possess for the Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Therefore let us be wise stewards and not neglecting to put to usury our means and increasing our substance yet so order our course that we shall be able to give an account of our stewardship that shall prove creditable to ourselves and advantageous to the cause which we have espoused, that our Faith may be made Manifest by our Works and our whole lives and existance bear to be tested at the shrine of truth and Knowledge of Wisdom and righteousness towards our God[.]

To the Brethren at Cedar City we wish to say a few words[:] we have formed an organization for the purpose of bringing out the Iron[. I]t is unnecessary for us to add that this is and has been the principle object of locating the settlements in Iron County[. Y]ou have the ore, the coal, the Timber: in rich abundance you have in your midst a supply of grain and need have no fears of a scarcity of food[.] You will gradually be strengthened in number as the Emigration shall arrive[.] Everything conspires to accomplish this most desirable object, the manufacture of Iron.

Brethren shall it be done, shall the people of this Territory be no longer dependant upon foreign and distant countries for their Mill Irons, and [sic] Machinery, and Stoves, their pots and Kettles, their plows and every other useful and necessary implement which is composed of Iron, or shall we be disapointed in our expectations and still labor under the present disadvantage of precarious and expensive transportation and continual drain of our money or do without those articles which are so necessary and which are so easily furnished by a little well directed industry and perseverence in our midst You have raised your hands in solemn covenant that you will do all that lies in your power to accomplish this object; and we now leave you with the fullest expectation that you will bend your united and untireing Efforts to this purpose with the fullest assurance that but a few weeks shall roll around before the cheering intelligence will salute our Ears,—“send your orders we are prepared to fill them. The Iron is piled up in our houses and in our streats send your teams and carry it away.” You Brethren have been selected for this purpose and set apart to this mission. Let no influence swerve you from this duty. Let no selfish interest intervene betwixt you and the accomplishment of your duties but let a devoted magnanimity for the Public interest blended with a oneness of untireing Efforts characterize all your exertions in whatsoever you shall put your hands to do[;] do it in a spirit of oneness and of faith believing, and the happiest results will be most likely to follow[:] so shall you accomplish the object of your mission and subserve the Public good.

It is a gentile custom to sell Knowledge. This principle is utterly opposed to the Principles of Salvation[;] by it no person would ever to be able to Enter the Celestial gate. [H]ad the savior of the world required remuneration for disclosing his knowledge of the way to obtain Eternal life made manifest by his words and atoning blood at the hands of the Children of Men, who could have been saved? [S]urely not the poor fishermen who followed him while living and bore testimony of his death and resurrection which testimony they also sealed with their blood[. H]aving also been made partakers of the good word of life they also shared in his sufferings, after having freely proclaimed the same to all people. The Jew first and also unto the gentile. “Ho Every one that thirsteth come drink of the waters of life freely and whosoever will let him come without money and without price” was the proclamation. Did the almighty require a fee or charge per diem or Mileage for opening up again the way of life and salvation in this last dispensation and was not the gospel brought to you by the servants of God without reward from you? If these things are so then how reasonable to suppose that not only our Knowledge but our talents our capacity, be it they great or small should be devoted to the cause of God in what Ever calling we may be engaged in, that is conducive to its interest[.]

“If I had been called upon to manage the affair I would have been successful but he Knows nothing about it”[—]how common the sentiment and yet how destitute of sense and detestable the principle, fools that they are who act upon this principle[;] do you not know that all you possess of knowledge of wisdom of Judgement yea of existance is lent and given you of the Lord, Again it was said by our Savior, “Let him who would be the greatest among you become the least of all” and how truly exemplified is this principle in the life and sufferings of our redeemer who decended [sic] below that he might arise above all things. Brethren are these true principles and will we not act upon them[? A]re these the truths of Eternity and we give heed to them. [W]ill we enwrap ourselves in the folds of selfishness and self importance in unyielding aristocratic feelings and withhold the little Knowledge that we may chance to possess from our brethren and from our common cause, God and the building up of his Kingdom, and the promoting of his cause upon the Earth, should be our theme by day and by night; and how we can best subserve its interests our most anxious enquiry to yield forth our most earnest contributions in faith in Knowledge in works or in anything which we possess[,] is but our reasonable service and is justly due to our sacred cause[.] If we ever attain unto a celestial Glory we may expect to seek for it with willing hearts and with all our might mind and strength. The work in which you are engaged, in the manufacture of Iron at this juncture is one branch of the Kingdom of our God and should be pursued with all the vigor and Energy that has hitherto characterized your Exertions in thse vallies, should be pursued as regardless of the consequences pertaining to pecuniary considerations as preaching the gospel[. I]t is as sacred as any other Mission and when was the time and where the place that a faithful Elder who trusted in God did not find food and clothing sufficient to supply his necessities. We do not recommend that you neglect to enclose your field, water your grain, and harvest the same, this is all necessary to save and secure the labor which you have performed and the seed which you have put into the ground, but be generous with one another and not permit any influence foreign to your Mission to intervene and thwart the purposes thereof[.]

The Church does not desire to engage in any Enterprise foreign to its legitimate functions nor divert the funds from their proper objects, and much prefers that individuals should engage in every kind of domestic Manufacture. She has enough to do in spreading the Gospel, building Temples, and preparing the way for the salvation of the Living and the dead. It is true that she has extended assistance in many instances and thereby become involved in manufactories and Enterprises of various Kinds[.] This has been permitted because of our anxiety to have operations of this Kind commenced and the poverty of the people not enabling them to sustain themselves until the Enterprise itself should prove lucrative, but i[t] is not desirable to do so and it always proves detrimental to her interests.

In relation to the extent of assistance which we expect to render your Enterprize you have been instructed and your President and Bishop will see carried into effect[. I]t Comprises the produce and labor tithing only of residents here and orders on the funds need not be drawn with any expectation of having them answered. Commence upon a small scale and produce the Iron before you go into any great expense and then you can increase your operations as circumstances will permit and justify[. L]et your improvements be of a permanent nature that your labor be not lost[;] do not be discouraged in your experiments if the first should fail. In new and untried localities that would be an incident most likely to occur and yet a subsequent trial prove more successful. [B]ut enough has been said upon this subject[;] words will not accomplish the desired object but united and persevering efforts will.

We therefore close our Epistle praying God our heavenly Father in your behalf that his blessings may ever rest down upon you and all the faithful saints who shall essay to perform his will upon the Earth until a more perfect day shall usher in the brighter dawning of a glorious inheritance among the blood washed throng in [the] presence of Hyrum & Joseph[,] our Redeemer and our God.

Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball