I have never felt a greater peace of mind in any circumstances that I have ever been placed in than I have in this penitentiary, understand, I am not at all in love with prison life, quite the contrary, I loathe it, yet the Lord has blessed and sustained his servants here, and what would under other circumstances have been a perfect hell has become almost a heaven to us, because of the peace of mind that we have enjoyed.
We as a people are passing through some very peculiar circumstances, and are making some very peculiar history, still we have passed through much more trying scenes in the past, and God has sustained us and caused the wrath of our enemies to be overruled for our good, and so it will be again. His work will be consummated, “the gospel will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then will the end come” who (outside of the church of Christ) understands the significance of this saying? Christ will come and reign upon the earth as King of Kings,
and then it will not be accounted treason to profess to be citizens in his kingdom, nor will any court or power be found to imprison men for believing in Him and keeping His commandments as has been the case so many times in the history of mankind.
Urge upon the saints the necessity of reading and profiting by the remarks of President Woodruff delivered in S.L. City last Sunday, they give the key to our position and our hope and our trust. Our ultimate triumph is as sure as that God lives and overrules the actions of men for the accomplishment of His purposes, but we must not forget that the promise is to those who endure to the end.
Bro. John Lucarnberg is well (as also all the brethren from our county) and desires a kind remembrance to you and all.
I hear some little talk of a Rail Road through our county, while I know nothing about it, and therefore have nothing to say, yet in a general way I may say, that if the donation of considerable labor by our people would bring a R.R. that would not otherwise come, it would be a good investment for us to make the donation. Let my folks know you have heard from me as I cannot write to them this week.
Kind love to your wife, Bro. Nielsen & family and all the saints, as ever your friend and Brother,
Thomas Yates