Transcript

Great Salt Lake City
Utah Territory
North America
Oct 7, 1861
Monday Night

Dear Father and Mother

It is with grateful feelings to my Heavenly Father that I sit down to pen a few lines to you injoying the blissings of health and […] and in love all a Portion of the Spirit of Lord[.] I neaver fealt Better all the days of my life than I do at this present time[.] It is Conference time right now[.] it commenced yesterday and it is not finished yet[.] there is to be another day[.] I have enjoyed myself Firstrate and has been at the meetings all […] I do not know wither I will get to more […m] in a Place so I do not feell like run[…] when I have a mind to[.] I have not heard wither […] Missioneriesi [missionaries] apointed to go to Urope [Europe] or […] South […] make a new Settlement to raise grape to make wine[,] figs[,] cotton[,] and tobaco and several other things I do not remember[.] these required to be raised in a warm contry so you see Mother you shall have no need to want your smock when you come to this contry[.] There is a good number of the Swis[s] Saints appointed to go as they have been used to making Wine in that contry[.] I have no doubt but what you have wearied for word from me long before this reach you

but I have neaver seen the First Moment that I could sit down and writ since I came into the City[.] I have not had time to go any where[.] I had a good journey over the Plaines and injoyed myself Firstrate and I am safe and to say there was neaver a more Peaceable Waggon load of Saints crossed the planes than we were[.] there was not on[e] discenting voice amongst us[.] we all messed [meshed] together as one Family[.] Sister Storment and I washed to 4 men all the way[.] that was Brothers Turner[…] from the Glasgow Conference and our Teamster J […] [ed] a good deal crossing the Planes but I could get a ride when I felt tired[.] I must now quit for to[night] for my Master and Mistress is gone to bed[.] that is the way that I have had the chance to write tonight. He went to a Priesthood Meeting and she went to […] left alon[.] he is now come home and gone […] must bid you good night[.] we are earley beders he […]

20th I again [si]t down to try and f[…] glad that I was there for I would not like […] lost what was said on the ocation By Brigham for he said that It would not be in Print so we had got to Remember it so I will try and prophet by it[.] I injoy myself real well in this place[.] The fmaly that I am living [with] are good Folks and the Best of Saints[.] they have got only one child but we have plenty of work to do[.] this is no place for idlers here[.] if any come out here with the idie [idea] that they are to sit at ease they will be miseribley dissipointed[.] Zion has to be built up and that has to be done by puting our shoulder to the wheel and helping it onward[.] I am glad that I started with the Feelings that I did[.] it was to serve my God[.] this has made every thing light to me and keept me up under that witch might be a trile to many[.] The name of my master is Samuel F. Atwood[.] Brother to Millen that Preached in Dundee […] [Con]stitution Hall.

This is now the 27[.] it is 6 weeks today since we entered Salt Lake City[.] We land on the 15 of Sept[.] all is well the whole company of us