"Dear Brother:--Elder Jared Carter called on this church last Thursday, on his way east, soliciting donations and subscriptions for finishing the house in your place. Although the subject of such a mission, in connection with his name, had been mentioned in the _Messenger and Advocate_, still, as no other method had been taken to impress the subject on our minds, it had measurably passed out, or ceased to make any impression--therefore, we were in some degree taken on surprise. To the recollection of any of the church, neither the Twelve, the Bishop, nor any others clothed with authority have ever mentioned this subject to us, except incidentally. It surely was never made a subject of public instruction--as Brother Carter had just reasons to expect it had been, he felt an embarrassment peculiar to such a situation. He undertook to preach to us yesterday, but from the aforesaid embarrassment, or the deadness, or the covetousness of the church, he could get none of the Spirit of the Lord to assist him. I am free to say that I attributed more to the latter cause than the former; yet notwithstanding, we made out in donations and subscriptions which I trust will realize $341.37 1/2. May the Lord bless and prosper him, and all His faithful servants; and may they find favor in the sight of God and man, is the prayer of your unworthy brother, Warren A. Cowdery. "_To Oliver Cowdery_." From this short letter we discover that the Elders failed in the outset to fill their great and important mission, as they know the Lord has commanded us to build a house, in which to receive an endowment, previous to the redemption of Zion; and that Zion could not be redeemed until this takes place. Knowing that the committee were to journey for the express purpose of soliciting donations, they have failed to hold them up and set forth this first important thing; and in consequence God has not blessed them as He otherwise would. We remind you of these things in the name of the Lord, and refer you to the Book of {240} Covenants, 2nd section, 2nd part, and 12th paragraph, and ask, did we not instruct you to remember first the house, secondly the cause of Zion, and then the publishing of the word to the nations? The other item referred to is an extract from Elder William E, M'Lellin's letter to his wife, as follows:-- "You say that it will not be in your power to go to school this summer. I am glad that it is not, since Elder Hyde has returned and given me a description of the manner in which it is conducted; though we do not wish to cast any reflections."