Dear brethren:— There are great moves in the west. Last week an alarm was spread in the seat of iniquity and bloodshed, that the “Mormons” were crossing the , to take possession of their lands, and nearly all the county turned out, “prepared for war,” on Saturday and on Sunday took the field, near old McGees, above . But no “Mormons” came; neither did go over to see about his spilt whiskey, so that the scene closed by burning our houses, or many of them. Our people had about one hundred and seventy buildings in , and a bonfire [t]o nearly all of them at once, must have made a light large enough to have glared on the dark deed and cup of iniqusty [iniquity] running over, at midnight.

The crisis has eome [come]. All that will not take up arms with the mob and prepare to fight the “Mormons,” have to leave .

I understand some have left the because they refused to fight an innocent people. It is said the mob will hold a “general muster” this week for the purpose of learning who is who. They begin to slip over the and commit small depredations upon our brethren settled near the river, as we have reason to believe.

It is said to be enough to shock the stoutest heart to witness the drinking, swearing, and ravings of the most of the mob: nothing but the power of God can stop them in their latter day crusade against the .

Our brethren are very industrious in pnt.ting in spring crops; and they are generally in good health and the faithful in strong faith of a glorious hereafter.