Little Pidgeon, Pottawattamie County, Iowa
April 27, 1851

Dear Brother;

   This morning I take the opportunity of dropping you a few lines,
Yours of the 25th March came to hand last Sunday, which gave us much
satisfaction to hear that you were all well and doing well, but it
would give me more satisfaction to hear that you was coming and was
going to Zion with me this spring.  I do not know whether I shall
leave for the West this spring or not.  I have not sold out yet-and
if I do sell out I can leave in a week, and if I do I will write you
and let you know.

I tell you I am westward bound, for the word is, "lo-the Bride Groom
cometh, go ye out to meet him!"  Myself and  my family are all well,
and I pray that these lines may find you and yours enjoying the same
blessing.  I want to see you all very bad but not bad enough to make
me quit the church and "Kingdom of God," where I can get light and
knowledge of things pertaining to the Kingdom.  I see you say come
back and live neighbor to you.  I tell you, if I was to come back
there to live again where I could not get any intelligence only under
a wildering Priesthood, I should be like a fish on dry land.  I am to
living very well at present.  I have a good house and home and plenty
of land to work of my own and a good wagon and team of oxen.  I have
plenty of cows to give me milk and butter.  My boys are now large
enough to help me considerable.  They can plow and drive teams and do
most anything about a farm.  I have made about $40.00 in the last two
months.  I shall commence plowing for corn in a few days.  I 'low to
put in a good crop of corn and if I should go on West I can sell it as
it stands in the field.

    I see you say you do not know why a person cannot live a Christian
life there as well as here.  Well, I will tell you they can but they
cannot live a Saint there as they can here or in the mountains, and you
say-"Why?"  The cause is this-I cannot live by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of the Lord and live there, for there I could not get
it and here I can.

    You might say, "The Bible would tell me."  I do not deny that, for
the Bible tells me that they that lived in that day had a God that could
and would give revelations.  So, I believe in the same God giving and will
give revelations in this day.  The commandments in that day and to that
people do not concern me in this day.  I must live by the commandments that
are given in these days and I will say this much, those that will look
after those commandments and do not look for any in these days will fall
short of salvation while in the Probation.  

    I tell you, God has set up his Kingdom for the last time and He is going
to cut his work short in righteousness.  And I want you from the time you
get this letter to commence and try to find out the Latter-day work and what
God intends to do in these last days, for I tell you the Prophets speak of
many things that are to come to pass in the last days.  If you want to get
wisdom from a Saint, just invite him to your house and ask him and he will
tell you.

    There is a man gone to them parts to proclaim the gospel; just call on
him.  He is by the name of Berrier.(?)

    Jethro, look out for yourself for God's sake and for your own sake and
for your children's sake.  I ask you these questions and do demand them of
you in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Now, I will say one thing and you shall find it to be true either in
time or in Eternity and that is this,--You will say if I had followed my
Brother Thomas Charles's councils I should have been better off.  Now you
may take this as a Prophesy if you like,--for I have the testimony of Jesus
and that is the spirit of Prophecy.  I would to God that you would quit
trying to get this world's goods; "For what will it profit a man, if he
gains the whole world and loses his soul."

    I would that you could be here a little while to see the Saints
flocking in by hundreds and by thousands from all parts of the globe,
going on west to that place where God has appointed to build Him a house;
even in the tops of the mountains in the last days.  Micah 4:1-Isaiah 2:2-3.

    Now I want you to come and go with me and help me do the work that is
involved upon me to do, that you may have the glory also.  I would like
for you to take the paper that is published here in Kanesville by one of
the Twelve, Orson Hyde.  It is called, "The Frontier Guardian."  It will
teach you things you never heard of before.  If you want it and will let
me know, I will start it to you.  It costs $1.00 per year.  It comes out
every two weeks.

              T. C. D. Howell

    P.S.  This morning is the 29th of April.  I have undone my letter to
write another line.  I never saw such a storm as this morning in my life.
Everything is white with snow and snowing very fast.  Give my respects to
Caleb and Robert and family and also Hallamons.  Tell them what I have
told to you is to them also and to all good and honest people.

    My dear Brothers what I have said to you is truth and I am resolved
to go on my way rejoicing.  Please read the inside sheet.

    2 Ps's:  Now I will give you the prices of many articles here.
Corn is worth 20 cents per bushel; wheat $1.25 per bushel, bacon from
7 cents to 8 cents per pound; flour from $3.50 to $4.00 per cwt.  Horses
from $40.00 to $75.00.  Oxen from $35.00 to $50.00 and $60.00 per yoke.
Hogs are very high.  You did not state who you sold Philis to.  I want to
know.  I want you to write and keep writing, and another thing, I do not
want you to send me white paper to read.  I want lengthy letters and them
that contains a great deal of matter.  Where is John Pearce.  What is he
doing?

    Give my love to Mr. Cavenys and lady, and to Mr. Tyson and Mrs. Tyson
and to all the old friends.  Tell them I am on the way to Zion.  Seeking
that Kingdom that is not made with hands.  Eternal in Heavens.
(So turn and read).

    Jason says he wants to see his Uncles Jethro, Caleb and Robert very
bad-to see if they look like Pop.  Henry says he can beat his Uncle Jethro
reading and writing.  I will send you a lock of my hair to see if it has
altered from its color since I left there.  I want you to do the same in
return to me.

    Sally says farewell to you all.  Matilda Park says, "Tell the friends
she is bound for the Salt Lake Valley this spring and expects to start on
the 10th day of May.  I see you wrote that you was my Brother until Death.
Now I will tell you, you are my brother long after death.

    This is all at present.  Tell Tom the old bald headed Negro I want to
see him worse than anybody.  Tell him if he is getting weak in the knees,
just get some buzzard's grease and rub on them and that will make them
limber.

          Thomas C. D. Howell