THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

OFFICE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY

SALT LAKE CITY 11, UTAH

HUGH B. BROWN

July 22, 1963

Hon. Stewart L. Udall

Secretary of the Interior

Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Brother Udall:

Upon my return from the East this morning, I was delighted to find a short note from you dated July 12. I was in Washington for a short time for the youth conference on the 14th and 15th, but my time was completely occupied. Otherwise I should have made an effort to get an appointment with you.

Thank you for bringing to my attention the short article on Romney and civil rights and the Negro question in general.

You might have noticed sometime ago a special article in the New York Times indicating the possibility of some change in our attitude on this question. While this article was not accurate in its statements of the interview I had with the reporter, it did give the over-all picture rather fairly.

I do not know what action should or can be taken in the matter in the immediate future, but it is of very great and, I think, urgent importance to all of us.

You may have heard of the possibility of our going to Nigeria in response to a call from a very large group of people there who have organized themselves into a church and given it the name of our Church and are now asking that we send missionaries to baptize them. The government there has refused visas and passports to our missionaries thus far, but quite recently we have word that they may relent.

Be assured we are giving this matter very serious consideration constantly and hoping for Divine guidance in decisions that may be reached.

Again I express regret that I have not been able to contact you either in Washington or here, as I should very much appreciate a personal interview and am anxious to become better acquainted.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness in writing.

Cordially,

Hugh B. Brown

HBB:na