Today on my arrival at this place,
I received your most welcome and
interesting letter of the 13th of October,
which had been forwarded from Gisborn
to me. I am not able to discribe the
joy it afforded me in reading the contents
of the same, to hear direct from the leaders
of Gods' Kingdom upon the Earth, in
relation to the interest and progress of the
same, and of the welfare of Gods insp-
ired serveants in these trying and per-
ilous times, what a time of rejoiceing
it must have been to you, as also to the
Saints, to have you with them at the late
Confrence, if only for one meeting, after such,
a long time of seclusion, we were indeed
sorry to learn that you had been so unwell
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caused no doubt, by being over taxed by the
many hardious labors prepairing for Con-
frence, which must have unfitted you for
speaking to that vast congraegation, if they
had not heard your voice at all, it would have
^been^ a blessing to them to look upon your face,
once again, we are thankfull that the Ene-
mies to Gods Kingdom allowed the Confrence
to pass of[f] peaceable, without annoying any
of our leaders. oh, what a time of rejoicing it
will be for all Isreal, when our beloved leaders
can again mingle openly with the Saints. God
grant that it is not far in the distance, if it
will bring about his great purposes, but
in all things Fathers will be done.
We were thankfull to know that Elder Corry has arrived home safe and in impr-
oved health, as also to learn that Elder Slater
had arrived with the corpse of Elder B. YW.
Young, and that you approved of the course
we took in the same. the Draft that you
mentioned to defray the expences occured, arrived
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all right, and the Savings Bank has been
instructed to forward his money to his Father.
Your instructions concerning the care to
be used in the revission of the Book of Mormon
secureing the best native talant for the purpose,
will be strictly carried out.
We are thankfull to be able to announce to you
that they are now ready to com^m^ence on the revis-
sion haveing just finished the translation for
the first time, in which they have been greatly
blessed of the Lord.
We rejoice much to learn of the frequent
meetings of the Apostles, and of the good health,
and spirits they are in possession of.
I am just in receipt of a Talagraphm
from Elder H. J. Sears, stating that he has
been released to return home in hast. I was
quite surprised as I did not receive any word by
my home mail, concerning it. I am also sorry
as we are quite short of Maori linquest,
he had just been appointed to labor in the
Mahia district under President M. S. Marriott
to endeavour to open up a new part of the
country. I have not learned the particulars
receiveing only a short dispatch from him,
so do not know in relation to his returning fare
weather it has been sent to him or not, if I
have to borrow the money for him, I will arr-
ange for him to call at the office and report
as there will not be time for me to Send further
word, after hearing from him, by the next steamer
Since my last letter to you there has been
a new Branch organized in this the Waikato
district, with a good prospect of two if not
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three more being organized about Christmass, as
our dusky friends set that time for being
Baptised into the Church as they have arranged
among themselves to all come into the Church
about the same time, there are three villages
of them a Short-distance apart, in company
with Elder H. J. Manning President of the Waikato District I enjoyed my visit to them
very much, as they drank in our words and we
felt the Seeds was being Sown in good grou
-nd, we trust in a few weeks will bring forth a
rich harvest,
the report from the various Districts are good,
good weather has now Set in, and the Elders
will labor with great dilligence during the
Summer months, in endeavering to Spread the
truth among thoes not in the church as we have
many new fields that we desire to open up,
which can be done to much better advantage
during the Summer months, as far as I am
aware the health of the Elders ^and^ Sisters from
Zion is good, with the exceptions of Elder John
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L Blyth who is laboring in Australia, a letter
received from him yesterday State that he is
not enjoying the best of health, and being alone
it makes it quite unplesent for him, I shall
be thankfull when he gets some help, he is feeling
well in Spirits and doing all that lay in his
power to Spread the truth in that part of the
Lords vineyard
there is general good health among our
native Saints at this time and a desire manifested
on their part to Keep the commandments, a
greater interest is being manifested among the
young to get Married by the Elders of the Church
last Monday we had the pleasure of celebrating three
marrages, we improved the oppertunity of talk-
ing in plainness upon this and other princi-
ples of God, unto a large assembly of both
Saints and Strangers,
I am now on my way to Lake Toupo in
company with Elder H. J. Manning a new
part of the Mission. My health is good and I
am enjoying my labors much, feeling that I am
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wonderfully Sustained of the Lord in my travels
and adminestrations among the Elders and
Saints, in my Bretherin and fellow compan-
ims in the minestry I feel I have a good Sup-
port and a fine noble lot of Elders to labor
with, who manifest a Strong desire to be counsell-
ed and directed in their labors, and a willing-
ness to carry out every counsell given them, offer
ing no complaint about the many little trials
they have to pass through, but on the other hand
feel that they are blessed in being counted worthy
to be the Ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I do not think there is a lazy workman in the
field, all Seen to have a desire to do all that lay
in their power to further the work of the Lord.
Thanking you Dear Brother for your Kind
fatherly letter and words of counsell and
in ever praying for Gods choisest blessings
to rest upon you, and all the members of
the Apostles that you may be abundantly
quallified for every labor and duty required
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of you, in your high holy and responsible
callings, and with profound love to you all
in which Elder H. J. Manning who I am
now with join which also all the Elders and
Sisters would gladly do if they were present;
I remain your Brother and Co laborer
in the great cause of truth
P.S.
I have not as yet had the pleasure of reading
the last Epistle, if there has been any pub-
lished in pamphlit form, I would much
like to receive a few coppies for the Elders
Wm P.