Letter to Orson Hyde-- Directed to Orson Hyde at Nauvoo, this letter pictures conditions in the Camp of Israel and urges those still remaining in Nauvoo to turn their backs on the Temple of the Lord and emigrate to some "consecrated spot, where the Kingdom of God may be built up, and we may do his will as the angels do it, undisturbed." Certainly such instructions are of significance to more than a single man, Orson Hyde, to whom the letter was addressed. For further background see: RCH 2: 141-153; BY-Nibley, pp. 72-76.
While Encamped at Richardsons Point, President Young Wrote to Orson Hyde at Nauvoo March 16th, 1846
Elder Orson Hyde, Beloved Brother: Your letter of the 10th inst., was duly received by the hand of Brother L. Stewart on Thursday last, and was read with much interest.
We are not unmindful of you or of the Saints we left at Nauvoo, but the prayers of the Camp of Israel ascend to heaven daily and without ceasing in your behalf, that our Heavenly Father will open the way for all the honest in heart, and for all who abide in the truth and not give heed to old wives' fables and the foolish dogmas of more foolish men-that they may come out of that city, where stands the Temple of the Lord, reared by their own hands, and on which, by a series of circumstances and events we have been compelled to turn our backs-and that too in all probability until Zion shall be redeemed with judgments and her stakes can be established in righteousness and their inhabitants dwell in peace-and go with us to some consecrated spot, where the Kingdom of God may be built up, and we may do his will as the angels do it, undisturbed.
Notwithstanding our great exposure to wet the past week, very few are confined to their beds by sickness, and none are dangerous. The health of the camp is generally good, and better, we have no doubt, than among the same number of inhabitants in Nauvoo.
Corn is plentiful at this point and has fallen since our arrival from 18-3/4 and 20 cents to 12-1/2 and 14 cents per bushel, and can be had in great abundance for making rails, roofing, houses, building barns, etc., in which the brethren are daily engaged. Oats cost 12-1/2 cents per bushel, meal 25 cents, potatoes 20, timothy hay $4 per ton, fresh pork $2.50 per cwt., and bacon from 4 to 6 cents per pound. Twenty miles west corn is 20 cents and thirty miles west 25 cents.
We can say, with the utmost confidence, that we do not believe that so large a company ever camped together, so long upon the face of the earth, as this has, with so much good feeling, contentedness, kindness, benevolence, charity and brotherly love, as has been and is still manifested in this camp; and all this notwithstanding the lying slander and malicious reports that have been got up at Nauvoo by Strangites, apostates and mobocrats, to hinder the honest in heart from pursuing their duties and keeping them within their reach, so that they might make gain and speculate out of the Saints at pleasure, and thus ruin the soul and body for time and eternity.
We feel to repeat to the Saints what we have so often told them: be patient, be humble, be prayerful, be diligent in business; let Strangism alone, it is not worth the skin of a flea; remember the Mormon creed, "mind your own business"; seek diligently to help yourselves and follow after us; be faithful in all things pertaining to godliness and we will never relax our exertions till every honest soul is planted in the land of peace. {1846-March 16-RCH 2:148-149}
[source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
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