Letter from John Daniel Thompson McAllister, 29 December 1885 [LE-21259]

St George Temple, 29th Dec^r. [1885] ink faded

L. Allen. Dear Brother,

Yours of the 21^st inst. I recieved on the 26th. We have joy in knowing you are safe and well. Our workers here are well, and enjoy their labors.

For some time past, ^before begining ordinance work,^ we have occupied about 20 minutes every working day, in singing, prayer, singing, and in study. the people, who enter here to participate in the ordinances and blessing for which they are recommend^e^d. The last ^two^ fast day we held about an hour service ^each^ before engaging in ordinance work. but the Temple must be kept open on [those] days, we come fasting. and although we are here to labor, we join with [all] [illegible] in [opening] that day, after Temple labors close, we have something to eat. We will continue these meetings, we keep brief minutes of the instructions:

On the prophet (Joseph Smiths) birth day, we had 2 first, and 95 baptisms for the dead, and 0 Living Endowments and 84 the dead. quite a number celebrated his birth day by working for the dead. Our Companies interesting and the house is [comfortable]. The Temple entrance at the north [door] is enclosed, carpenter work will be finished to day. It makes the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] comfortable, when it is very [condusive] the people can be comfortable there while up at [prayer], [soon] it is a good place to wash their boots & shoes. The paint has commenced [now] we shall have it completed in a short time.

Our new ditch [works] well, we have several tithing teams at work. hauling dirt and [cement] for the side walk and [steps]: [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] on the [Tuesday]. Bro^s D. W. Cannon has charge of this work. [I am.] I would like you to be here to see what we are doing, and the just [amount] that ought to be done. [that] [illegible] [illegible]

[and unto be me the a tout] said a build a intition . In presidency on to be as be mature and the last[ pinsible] [muting. a nite was in the for every living] to report financial condition of it [erad] giving the number of indians and [to] in an [molcble] to work. and to donate [illegible] state funds as king that the [illegible] of the [illegible] and inhabitants here put that they have got down to the [bed hook] as the ongoing is, and quite a number who are willing and [able as how] [listen] to this instructions, have not with [suot lower], and many in debt ffeel somewhat cramped. [shore] owing the office. are to [man] 2/3 of their corn [preinstion], the 1/3 to apply in their [indetutuion] the their sidneyi the tithe are called upon to "^^"by the vote of the Brethren"^^" upon this "^^"shephard"^^" matter to the first presidency [to we in to and] be done if any thing, to help [and, some of a and have not ] [illegible] I, [illegible illegible illegible illegible illegible ]

President Taylor and cannon in [uganda %] [Wion with] up a run stat office in to [come over of to bennah] write [illegible] [noly in here the nainlege persuine] from this, me an on the [niune. I tuent] to than at present I cannot see if we the presidency of the state and to [Rivlnme] upon an so clearly [condi ton] it second to be some [conditional wine] we were, of somon we can send him who it is [unseay] all is plan here, for the present we to be left to [muilures.] President [Ezpuige] [Industion] Elder Cannon [G Blea k.shorp] ionin. [I arkin] and in many [ostus, not joy to] [Bev. Fairsanth unto Rundins. jesu Bandall] and Bigter "^^" jion in"^^" wishing you the compliments of the season, with love and blessing to you the presidency and all [c latne] furnish. I am your Bro in the Gospel John D T mc Allister