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Vol. V No. 1.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. JANUARY 1, 1844. [Whole No. 85
HISTORY OF Joseph Smith.
(Continued)
Soon after the foregoing revelation was received, a woman came with great pretensions to revealing commandments, laws, and other curious matters and as every person (almost) has advocates for both the theory and practice, in the various notions and projects of the age, it became necessary to inquire of the Lord, when I received the following revelation, given at Kirtland, February, 1831.
A Revelation given February, 1831.
O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you: for behold, verily, verily I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand. And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
But verily, verily I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power, except to appoint another in his stead: and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments: and this I give unto you that you may not be deceived; that you may know they are not of me. For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained, as I have told you before to teach those revelations which you have received, and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.
And now, behold I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act, and direct my church how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given: and thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me, that inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall be added to the kingdom which ye have received. Inasmuch as ye do it not, it shall be taken even that which ye have received. Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you: sanctify yourselves before me, and if ye desire the glories of the kingdom, appoint ye my servant Joseph Smith, jr. and uphold him before me by the prayer of faith. And again I say unto you, that if you desire the mysteries of the kingdom, provide for him food and raiment and whatsoever thing he needeth to accomplish the work wherewith I have commanded him: and if ye do it not he shall remain unto them that have received him, that I may reserve unto myself a pure people before me.
Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my spirit: and ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken.
Hearken ye, for behold the great day of the Lord is nigh at hand. For the day cometh that the Lord shall utter his voice out of heaven; the heavens shall shake and the earth shall tremble, and the trump of God shall sound both long and loud, and shall say to the sleeping nations: Ye saints arise and live: Ye sinners stay and sleep until I shall call again: wherefore gird up your loins lest ye be found among the wicked. Lift up your voices and spare not. Call upon the nations to repent, both old and young, both bond and free: saying, Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord: for if I, who am a man, do lift up my voice and call upon you to repent, and ye hate me, what will ye say when the day cometh when the thunders shall utter their voices from the ends of the earth, speaking to all the ears of all that live, saying: Repent, and prepare for the great day of the Lord! yea, and again, when the lightnings shall streak forth from the east unto the west, and shall utter forth their voices unto all that live, and make the ears of all tingle, that hear, saying these words: Repent ye, for the great day of the Lord is come?
And again, the Lord shall utter his voice out of heaven, saying: Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you. O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not? How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants; and by the ministering of angels; and by mine own voice; and by the voice of thunderings; and by the voice of lightenings; and by the voice of tempests; and by the voice of earthquakes; and great hailstorms; and by the voice of famines
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and pestilence of every kind; and by the great sound of a trump; and by the voice of judgment; and by the voice of mercy all the day long; and by the voice of glory and honor, and the riches of eternal life; and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not? Behold the day has come, when the of the wrath of mine indignation is full.
Behold, verily I say unto you, that these are the words of the Lord your God: wherefore, labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time; for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth, for in my own due time will I come upon the earth in judgment; and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth; for the great Millennial, which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come; for satan shall be bound; and when he is loosed again, he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the earth; and he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye; and the earth shall pass away so as by fire; and the wicked shall go away into unquenchable fire; and their end no man knoweth on earth, nor ever shall know, until they come before me in judgment.
Hearken ye to these words; behold I am Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds. Be sober. Keep all my commandments; even so: Amen.
The latter part of February I received the following revelation which caused the church to appoint a conference to be held on the 6th of June, ensuing. It was given at Kirtland, February, 1 1831, to me and Sidney Rigdon.
Revelation to Joseph Smith jr. and Sidney Rigdon, given February, 1831.
Behold thus saith the Lord unto you my servants it is expedient in me that the elders of my church should be called together, from the east, and from the west, and from the north and from the south, by letter or some other way.
And it shall come to pass, that inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together. And it shall come to pass that they shall go forth into the regions round about, and preach repentance unto the people; and many shall be converted, insomuch [inasmuch] that ye shall obtain power to organize yourselves, according to the laws of man; that your enemies may not have power over you, that you may be preserved in all things; that you may be enabled to keep my laws, that every band may be broken wherewith the enemy seeketh to destroy my people.
Behold I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received: Amen.
At this age of the church many false reports, lies and foolish stories were published in the newspapers, and circulated in every direction, to prevent people from investigating the work or embracing the faith. A great earthquake in China, which destroyed from one to two thousand inhabitants, was burlesqued in some papers, as 'Mormonism in China.' But to the joy of the saints who had to struggle against everything that prejudice and wickedness could invent. I received the following revelation, at Kirtland, March 7th, l831.
Revelation given March 7th, 1831.
Hearken, O ye people of my church to whom the kingdom has been given: hearken ye and give ear to him who laid the foundation of the earth; who made the heavens and all the hosts thereof, and by whom all things were made which live and move and have a being. And again I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you: in an hour when ye think not he [the] summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved. Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him: saying, Father behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified: wherefore, Father spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
Hearken O ye people of my church, and ye elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called to-day and harden not your hearts: for verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world; a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not: I came unto my own and my own received me not; but nnto [unto] as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God, and even unto them that believed on my name, gave I power to obtain eternal life. And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world; to be a light to the world and to be a standard for my people and for the Gentiles to seek to it; and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. Wherefore come ye unto it, and with him that cometh I will reason as with men in the days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning: wherefore hearken ye together and let
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me show it unto you, even my wisdom, the wisdom of him whom ye say is the God Enoch and his brethren, who were seperated [separated] from the earth, and were received unto myself-a city reserved until a day of righteousness shall come-a day which was sought for by all holy men, and they found it not because of wickedness and abominations: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth; but obtained a promise that they should find it, and see it in their flesh. Wherefore hearken and I will reason with you, and I will speak unto you and prophesy as unto men in days of old and I will show it plainly as I showed it unto my disciples, as I stood before them in the flesh, and spake unto them saying: As ye have asked me concerning the signs of my coming, in the day when I shall come in my glory in the clouds of heaven, to fulfil [fulfill] the promises that I have made unto your fathers: for as ye have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from your bodies to be a bondage, I will show unto you how the day of redemption shall come, and also the restoration of the scattered Israel.
And now ye behold this temple which is in Jerusalem, which ye call the house of God, and your enemies say that this house shall never fall. But verily I say unto you, that desolation shall come upon this generation as a thief in the night, and this people shall be destroyed and scattered among all nations. And this temple which ye now see, shall be thrown down that there shall not be left one stone upon another. And it shall come to pass that this generation of Jews shall not pass away, until every desolation which I have told you concerning them shall come to pass. Ye say that ye know that the end of the word [world] cometh; ye say also that ye know that the heavens and the earth shall pass away; and in this ye say truly, for so it is; but these things which I have told you, shall not pass away until all shall be fulfilled. And this I have told you concerning Jerusalem, and when that day shall come, shall a remnant be scattered among all nations, but they shall be gathered again; but they shall remain until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound; and when the time of the Gentiles is come in a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness [fullness] of my gospel; but they receive it not, for they receivs [receive] not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men; and in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled: and there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land: but my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die. And there shall be earthquakes, also, in divers places, and many desolations, yet men will harden their hearts against me; and they will take up the sword one against another, and they will kill one another.
And now, when I the Lord had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were troubled; and I said unto them, be not troubled, for when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you, shall be fulfilled; and when the light shall begin to break forth, it be with them like unto a parable which I will show you: ye look and behold the fig-trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth their leaves and are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand: even so it shall be in that day, when they shall see all these things, then they shall know that the hour is nigh.
And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of man; and they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; and they shall behold blood and fire, and vapors of smoke; and before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven: and the remnant shall be gathered unto this place: and then they shall look for me, and behold I will come: and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven clothed with power and great glory, with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.
But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept, shall come forth to meet me in the cloud. Wherefore if ye have slept in peace, blessed are you, for as you now behold me and know that I am, even so shall ye come unto me and your souls shall live, and your redemption shall be perfected, and the saints shall come forth from the four quarters of the earth.
Then shall the arm of the Lord fall upon the nations, and then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro, and the heavens shall shake, and the Lord shall
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utter his voice and all the ends of the earth shall hear it, and the nations of the earth shall mourn, and they that have laughed shall see their folly, and calamity shall cover the mocker, and the scorner shall be consumed, they that have watched for iniquity, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.
And then shall the Jews look upon me and say, What are these wounds in thy hands, and in thy feet? Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them, These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their King.
And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them; and satan shall be bound that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men. And at that day when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins: for they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived, verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day, and the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation, for the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their King and their Lawgiver.
And now, behold I say unto you, it shall not be given unto you to know any further concerning this chapter, until the New Testament be translated and in it all these things shall be made known: wherefore I give unto you that ye may now translate it, that ye may be prepared for the things to come; for verily I say unto you; that great things await you; ye hear of wars in foreign lands, but behold I say unto you, they are nigh even at your doors and not many years hence ye shall hear of wars in your own lands.
Wherefore I the Lord have said gather out from the eastern lands, assemble ye yourselves together ye elders of my church; go ye forth into the western countries, call upon the inhabitants to repent, and inasmuch as they do repent, build up churches unto me; and with one heart and with one mind, gather up your riches that ye may purchase an inheritance which shall hereafter be appointed unto you, and it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the most high God; and the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch [inasmuch] that the wicked will not come unto it: and it shall be called Zion:
And it shall come to pass, among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor, must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven: and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. And it shall be said among the wicked, Let us not go to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible.-Wherefore we cannot stand.
And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion singing with songs of everlasting joy.
And now I say unto you, keep these things from going abroad unto the world, until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this work in the eyes of the people, and in the eyes of your enemies, that they may not know your works until ye have accomplished the thing which I have commanded you: that when they shall know it, that they may consider these things, for when the Lord shall appear he shall be terrible unto them, that fear may seize upon them, and they shall stand afar off and tremble: and all nations shall be afraid because of the terror of the Lord, and the power of his might; even so: Amen.
COMMUNICATIONS
To the Editor of the Times and Seasons. Pittsburg [Pittsburgh], Dec. 11th. 1843.
Beloved Brother Taylor:-It is with pleasure I address a few lines to you concerning the onward march of the work of God in this place.
I have been here between two and three weeks during which time I have lectured to large congregations, some fifteen times; held one public discussion with one of the learned priests of this generation. A number have come forward for baptism. The priest backed out after the second night. I have attended baptism four times within the last week; prejudice and lies are giving way on every side before the power of eternal truth; to God be all the glory, Amen. I visited Cincinnatti [Cincinnati] on my way to this place, and converted the 'Infernal Regions,' (that is the large hall formerly occupied by the Infernal Regions) into a preaching place, and caused their travelling [traveling] Hell, or Tophet to decamp. Thus you see, truth is mighty, and will yet no doubt overthrow the devil's kingdom:
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"So mote it be." The people turned out well to hear the truth, and I had the glorious privilege of crushing falsehood and slander, in that city. The saints and people were very kind, some came forward for baptism. The field truly is all white, and I bless God that I have the unspeakable privilege to assist in gathering the harvest. The saints in Pittsburgh are truly a lovely and united people, and do their duty to a man: 'Honor to whom honor is due.
G. J. Adams.
P. S.. I have just baptized five, making twelve this week. yours in haste,
G. J. A.
Waynerville, Dec. 5th, 1843
DEAR Brother Woodruff,-My ears being constantly saluted with the onward progress of this glorious kingdom of the "eleventh hour dispensation," through the untiring struggles, and faithful perseverance of the servants of God, in Europe, as well as in America, and that too, through the medium of your respectably conducted periodical, that comes as it were like a heavenly messenger, holding upon its pages the intelligence of the future glory and reward of that servant, that shall be found laboring when the Lord again shall visit his vineyard, induces me at this time to trouble you with a short sketch of the increase and prosperity of the kingdom of our God, in this part of his vineyard.
On my arrival at Clinton Co., the adjoining one to this, I had the happy fortune of meeting with Elder Ball, who was lifting a warning voice to the inhabitants of that region, which induced many to come forward and renounce the world, and be buried with Christ by baptism for the remission of sins. They now number between 60 and 70 in good standing. Elder Ball and myself commenced laboring together, in the adjoining region of country, and, "God giving the increase," 12 more were immersed for the emission of sins, and are now rejoicing in the truth, with their faces Zion-ward.
There being quite a manifestation of feeling in this place by some of the citizens, and having received a special invitation from them, I came to this place and commenced preaching the word, and soon the seed sprouted and needed watering. I was joined by Elder Elliot, from Cincinnatti, [Cincinnati] who laid hold of the work with undaunted courage, and through many struggles of debate and refutation of lies and slanders, we have been enabled, through the grace of God, to plant the standard of truth, in defiance of all the opposition of men and devils-for truly we have been visited by both. The faithful in this region numbers about 22, and there are many more that will obey from the heart that form of doctrine which we have delivered unto them.
I remain yours truly,
S. BRAMAN
Mr. Editor,-Sir,-Wishing at all times to be obedient unto our heavenly calling, we have deemed it a duty we owe to God and to our brethren, to give a short account of our stewardship and mission. Brother Crosby and myself left Nauvoo on the 30th of July last for Cook Co. Ill. and Nova Scotia, we labored a short time in Cook Co. with but little success, the spirit propelling us onward until we reached Jefferson Co. N. Y. where we have been laboring for three months with good success.
We commenced preaching the gospel in spirit and power, which soon stirred up the whole mass, both priests and people, and while we are sounding the gospel of Christ Babylon's watchmen spare no pains in their calling of publishing falsehoods of the darkest and blackest kind, both in public and private; so we have it both up hill and down-hip and thigh, as Sampson [Samson] slew the Philistines. But thanks be to God who has thus far given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Crosby has held a public debate with one of their Goliah priests, which has resulted greatly in favor of the saints, and has caused the word to spread far and wide. Thirty have already embraced it and a great many more believing. We have appointed a conference on the 30th of Dec. after that we will give the particulars.
Brethren, our prayer to God is for the welfare and glory of Zion.
Jefferson Co. N. Y. Dec. 6th, 1.843
Benjamin Brown
Jesse W. Crosby
A SHOWER OF FLESH AND BLOOD.
In 1841, accounts were published in the newspapers of two showers of flesh and blood-one in Tennessee, and the other in Massachusetts. A correspondent of the South Carolian [Carolina], writing from union district, S. C. under date of the 30th ult., who signs himself L. M. Davis, gives the following account of a similar occurrence which lately took place in that state: 'on Saturday last, whilst Mr. Wm. M. Inlow and his two sons were picking cotton on his plantation, (in Laurens District, near Enoree river, and about two miles below Musgrove's Mill,) the younger son called to the others, who were a little distance from him, to listen, for he heard something falling near him. They thought he was mistaken, and paid but little
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attention to it; but he insisted, and told them if they would come, he would show it to them on the ground. They went and found the ground strewed with what appeared to them to be pieces of meat, varying from the size of an ounce ball to larger than a hen's egg. These pieces were very moist, and as red as blood or any thing else could make them; and the grass, cotton, or whatever they came in contact with, was stained as with blood. They were scattered several feet apart, over a space of ground some twenty or thirty yards in width; and they examined it for something like fifty yards in length, but did not go to the end of it.
I was informed of it yesterday, and went in company of two gentlemen, to visit the place in person. We were so lucky as to find some of the articles still remaining, and all agree that it had the appearance of flesh, of the finest mould [mold], much finer than we had ever seen before. Some of the pieces seemed to be entirely fat, but most of it lean, very red, and somewhat transparent when held up toward the light, but it was considerably dried when I saw it, having lain twenty-four hours.
The younger Wm. Inlow, a very intelligent and credible youth of fourteen, says he first heard a few scattering peaces fall, and looking up, saw the air darkened with them; and that it looked something like snow falling slowly, when the flakes are far apart; but that the pieces fell more rapidly. The shower fell about the middle of the day, while the sun was shining, and a few light clouds were in the atmosphere; but nothing visible could be assigned as the cause of the phenomena."
SINGULAR PHENOMENON.
Mr. James Arlington Bennet has written an interesting and curious letter to the Commercial Advertiser respecting several meteors he has noted during the last year. Respecting the first he says:
'Being near the sea shore some years ago, in the month of August, I observed a bright meteor descending right in front of me, almost in a perpendicular line, and not, to appearance, three rods distant, and being between me and the sea it maintained its light until it almost touched the ground. A light shock instantly struck my ear as though something had fallen. I approached the spot, but there being only star light could see nothing. On feeling the ground, however, I stuck my finger into something soft, which I found to have a most peculiar fetid smell, like something I had never met with in the laboratory or any where else. Next morning I examined the place and found about two pounds of brown jelly, which had descended in globular form, but had been broken by the fall and formed a small segment of a sphere. Having no means of either weighing or analysing [analyzing] this matter, I passed it by with the conjecture that it was the substance which forms these meteors or falling stars. The altitude of this meteor could not be more than one hundred yards.'
The next fell in the pail of his milk-maid, depositing the same kind of jelly without her observing its fall. The only effect of the shock was to throw the pail a little on one side.
'The third that presented itself was about the latter end of July, last year. Having gone toward the stable between 11 and 12 o'clock, of a very clear night, I noticed all of a sudden that the east end of the coach-house presented a brilliant light, and turning to look for the cause, a most splendid meteor, which had run nearly half its course, leaving a brilliant streak of light after it, was descending directly towards me, on an angle of about 45 degrees, when it immediately ceased to shine. 'There goes another jelly,' I said to myself, 'which I must hunt up in the morning."
Mr. Bennet marked the spot where it fell, and next morning proceeded with a lad to find it. It had fallen farther off than he expected, and he says:
I passed four fields without success, when at the lower end of the fifth field, a piece of meadow land, full half a mile from where I stood, to my wonder and admiration I discovered a little on the right of the line of search, a body of dark brown jelly, exactly like one side of a convex lens, three feet in diameter, but broken into many pieces by the fall. The stench was most insufferable. This body of jelly before it fell must have formed a globe of from ten to twelve inches in diameter, if not more. This jelly, which lay on the spot where it fell until the 12th of September following, entirely destroyed all the grass under and near it. Now I think that the base line of a right angle triangle at double the distance from where I stood, and this meteor having its formation at the head of the perpendicular, its altitude must be counted at least one mile, as its downward course would trace the hypothenuse (hypotenuse) of the same triangle for some distance.
I put a piece of this jelly on the coals, the odor from which drove the servants from the kitchen. There arose neither flame nor smoke, yet it extinguished the coals where it lay. Being very busy at the time, I did not attempt to determine its constituents. Its fracture was not, however, like that of jelly, but it appeared to break into cubes.
There is a possibility of this meteor having had its origin much higher in the atmosphere
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than here supposed, its velocity appeared to be very great, but as I heard no explosion by which its true distance and altitude might have been determined, the elevation of one mile is but hypothesis. The meteor of the 18th August, 1793, described by Mr. Cavello, in the Philosophical Transactions of London for 1784 he places by vague and uncertain data at an elevation from the earth of 56 1-2 miles, and pretends to have heard the explosion twelve minutes after, at 130 miles distance!
May not each of these jellies be the residum [residuum] or symthetical result of the combustion or discharge of a large portion of gasses, through an electrical agent? The universal downward tendency of their motion shows that their specific gravity is much more than that of the atmosphere, and that they therefore must be formed at the moment of discharge.
'The editor puts after this the account of the shower of flesh and blood that fell lately in South Carolina, and says perhaps Mr. B.'s theory will explain it. There may be something in this; and the two substances noticed in each case may result from the same cause, and that so often laughed at under the name of 'a shower of flesh and blood' be a very philosophic and true thing after all.
But Mr. B. is mistaken in calling them meteors in the common acceptation of that term, we have no hesitation in saying. Those fiery masses that pass so rapidly through the air, accompanied often with loud detonations and throwing off fragments that reach the earth, are something entirely different. Those fragments are stone and are hurled so violently as to be embedded in the soil. The meteor described by Mr. Cavillo, in 1783, and to which Mr. Bennet refers, we take to be an entirely different thing from ordinary shooting stars. That it had a great altitude is also highly probable, for some of them most certainly have. The heavy stones which they have frequently hurled to the earth, would have effectually demolished the maid's milk pail. The substance of the meteoric showers, so called, no one pretends to know. They are supposed, however, to be entirely different from the ordinary shooting stars.
The falling star that any one may see of a clear night, has long been regarded by philosophers as a gelatinous matter, inflated with phosphuretted [phosphoretted ?] hydrogen gas: and the splendid meteor of Mr. Bennet was doubtless one of those ordinary shooting stars appearing very bright by its proximity. The gelatinous substance he found, accords with the experience and theory of others, and indeed is a very singular and curious corroboration of them.
That these substances 'must be formed at the moment of discharge, we do not think necessary. Their ascent and descent would depend entirely on the amount of gas they contain.
The idea of accounting for the shower of flesh and blood on this theory is certainly new to us, and deserves, we think assecond [a second] thought.'
We think the following scriptures will explain it more scripturally, if not more philosophically.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity:' Luke, XXI;25.
'And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come:' Joel, II;30-3l-Ed.
ANCIENT RUINS.
Every day adds fresh testimony to the already accumulated evidence on the authenticity of the "Book of Mormon." At the time that book was translated there was very little known about ruined cities and dilapidated buildings. The general presumption was, that no people possessing more intelligence than our present race of Indians had ever inhabited this continent, and the accounts given in the Book of Mormon concerning large cities and civilized people having inhabited this land, was generally disbelieved and pronounced a humbug. Priest, since then has thrown some light on this interesting subject. Stephens in his "Incidents of Travels in Central America," has thrown in a flood of testimony, and from the following statements it is evident that the Book of Mormon does not give a more extensive account of large and populous cities than those discoveries now demonstrate to be even in existence.-Ed.
(From the Texas Telegraph, Oct. 11.)
We have been informed by a gentleman who has traversed a large portion of the Indian country of Northern Texas, and the country lying between Santa Fe and the Pacific, that there are vestiges of ancient cities and ruined castles or temples on the Rio Puerco and on the Colorado of the west. He says that one of the branches of the Rio Puerco, a few days travel from Santa Fe, there is an immense pile of ruins that appear to belong to an ancient temple. Portions of the walls are still standing, consisting of huge blocks of limestone regularly hewn, and laid in cement. The building occupies an extent of more than an acre. It is two or three stories high, has no roof, but contains
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many rooms generally of a square form, without windows, and the lower rooms are so dark and gloomy that they resemble caverns rather than apartments of an edifice built for a human habitation.-Our informant did not give the style of architecture, but he believes it could not be erected by Spaniards or Europeans, as the stones are much worn by the rains, and indicate that the building has stood several hundred years. From his description we are induced to believe that it resembled the ruins of Palenque or Otulun. He says there are many similar ruins on the Colorado of the west, which empties into the California sea. In one of the valleys of the Cordileras traversed by this river, and about four hundred miles from its mouth, there is a large temple still standing, its walls and spires presenting scarcely any trace of dilapidation, and were it not for the want of a roof it might still be rendered habitable. Near it, scattered along the declivity of a mountain, are the ruins of what must have been once a large city. The traces of a large aqueduct, part of which is however in the solid rock, are still visible. Neither the Indians residing in the vicinity, nor the oldest Spanish settlers of the nearest settlements, can give any account of the origin of these buildings. They merely know that they have stood there from the earliest periods to which their traditions extend. The antiquarian who is desirous to trace the Aztec or Toltec races in their migrations from the northern regions of America, may find in these ancient edifices many subjects of curious speculation.
PHENOMENA.-The brig Foster, from Bath, (Me.) on her passage to Key West, reports that on the 21st Nov. during a gale at sea, "A huge ball resembling fire, about the size of a hogshead, from the deck, and burst with a report like that of a heavy clap of thunder, followed by a sharp flash of lightening, stunning nearly all on board. It was indeed an "awfully beautiful" sight-the emenating [emanating] sparks illuminating the air for several minutes after the explosion."
"Wonderful Cave in Iowa.-In the lead district, within a few miles of the town of DuBuque, is a cave lately discovered, which abounds in inexhaustible quantities of rich lead ore. Some of the apartments are beautiful, ful [full] of spar and other formations. In one section, the caverns extend to an unknown distance; it has been traveled three miles without any sign of its termination, or without the sight of walls on either side.-Compared to this the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and other subterranean wonders dwindle into littleness. The American continent, when fully explored, will will be found to contain the most magnificent natural curiosities in the world."
Accounts from Java of the 6th of June, state that an earthquake had occurred at Nias, which destroyed a great many houses, and that numbers of the inhabitants were buried in the ruins.
Nearly all the barracks in Ireland are in a state of military defence [defense]. This looks as if the British Government was preparing for the worst.
"Millerism.-Reuben H. Brown publishes in the Portland American an appeal to the people called "Millerites," that he has given away all his money to various brethren and in aid of the cause under the impression that the world was to come to an end on the 14th of April. His wife told him better, but he would not listen to her, and some of the Millerites told him he was crazy, but took his money. Now he says he finds that although the world has by no means come to an end, his money has. He wants them to refund, but they place their fingers on their noses and tell him he "can't come it." Well; served him right."
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
Monnday,(Monday) January 1, 1844.
EDITORIAL ADDRESS
We now present ourselves before our readers in a new volume at the commencement of another year. Forty-four has come rolling upon us with all its responsibilities, leaving the events that have transpired in the by-gone year to mingle with those before the flood; and we are now ushered forth with the rapidity of the whirling spheres, into the cumbrous, the uncertain, the unknown future. In resuming our onerous duties, of an editorial nature, we commence by wishing our readers a happy new year.
In reflecting upon the past, we have many pleasing recollections. We have witnessed the work of God rolling forth with unprecedented rapidity, and the potency of truth, has been felt and realized throughout the length and breadth of this continent, on the continent of Europe, and among the distant nations of the earth.
The little stone hewn out of the mountain without hands, has commenced its progress, and
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like a snow ball, it becomes more ponderous as it rolls along, gathering together the pure in heart among all people, and forming a nucleus around which shall gather the great, the virtuous, the benevolent, the wise, and the patriotic of all nations. That 'knowledge is power,' is a truth acknowledged by all, and if there is any true and correct source of intelligence, it must be that which proceeds from the Almighty, Joseph by his wisdom became second to pharaoh in power, and in command in Egypt. Daniel through his wisdom was placed in great authority in the Babylonish kingdom, being made chief ruler and governor. When our Savior made his appearance in the world, it was said of him, 'whence hath this man this wisdom, seeing he has never learned?' he spake as never man spake,' and his 'fame went out to all the country round about.' The reason is obvious: those persons had all received intelligence from God, and being instructed by the great Eloheim [Elohim] were enabled to unfold principles of intelligence that far exceeded every thing that was merely human; the wisdom and intelligence of the generations in which they severally lived. Life and immortality, we are told was brought to light in the days of our Savior by the gospel, and the same gospel having been restored in these last days by the revelation of Jesus Christ, the opening of the heavens, the ministering of angels, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the power of God, we may expect a pure stream of intelligence to flow unto us, which has its fountain in the bosom of the almighty, and which is calculated to satisfy the capacious desires of intelligent spirits, and expand the human heart wide as the universe. Already many great things have been unfolded unto us, which as far exceed the principles of sectarianism, as light does darkness. Their influence has been felt, both at home and abroad, and although handled in many instances by unlettered men: they have produced a mighty effect. The diamond has shown in all its resplendent beauty and thousands who know how to appreciate truth have been attracted by the precious gem.
Perhaps there never was a time since the principles of our holy religion were first revealed from the heavens, in these last days when they spread more rapidly than they do at the present time. Our elders are going forth 'bearing precious seed,' and the accounts which we are daily receiving from all parts of the union are of the most flattering kind. Intelligence is disseminating, truth is triumphing, churches are being built up, and superstition, ignorance and bigotry are loosing their fascinating charms, being eclipsed by the more lucid rays of eternal truth.
The work is still progressing in Canada, New Brunswick, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and in the Isle of Man; and despite of the vast numbers that are constantly immigrating to this land, their numbers are continually on the increase. In Wales, native elders have been ordained, who are going forth and preaching in their own language, the great principles of eternal truth. We have elders preaching in New Holland, and in the East Indies, and elders during the past year have been sent to Islands in the South Sea. Elders Hyde and Adams, are also preparing to go on a mission to Russia in the spring.
Our affairs in Nauvoo are prosperous; vast numbers of brick houses have gone up the last summer and fall, and our city begins to present a very pleasing prospect. Great numbers of merchants have settled among us during the past year, and the amount of merchandise which has been imported, has placed goods within the reach of the citizens of Nauvoo, at as reasonable a rate as they can be purchased at any of our western cities.
Considering the many improvements that have been made, and the difficulties in many instances under which the committee has had to labor, the Temple has made great progress; and strenuous efforts are being made in quarrying, hauling, and hewing stone, to place it in a situation that the walls can go up and the building be enclosed by next fall.
There has not been much done at the Nauvoo House during the past season, further than preparing materials; most of the brick, however, and hewed stone are in readiness for that building; and the Temple and Nauvoo House committees, having purchased several splendid mills in the pineries, place them in a situation to furnish both of the above named buildings with abundance of excellent lumber, besides having a large amount to dispose of.
Great improvements have been made in our Municipal regulations lately; ordinances have been passed to protect our citizens against the encroachments and persecutions of Missouri, and a standing police of forty men have been appointed to see those laws enforced, to guard against the encroachments of blacklegs, horse thieves, kidnappers, and other scoundrels, who so much infest our river, and who in so many instances, (in consequence of the credulity of the people,) have been enabled to commit all kinds of depredations at the expense of the Mormons.
Vigorous efforts are being made to improve our wharves, and facilitate the landing of steamboats on our shores. A charter has also been granted by the City Council for the erection of
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a dam, upwards of a mile long, across the Mississippi, to commence some distance below the Nauvoo House, and intersect with an island above; so as not to interfere with the main channel of the river. This work when completed, will not only form one of the best harbors on the Mississippi river, making the whole of our shore accessible at all times to the largest class of boats; but it will at the same time afford the best mill privileges in the western country.
Nor have our farmers been idle. Very great improvements have been made during the last year, in agricultural pursuits. Extensive farms are beginning to spread themselves for miles in every direction from our city, on the bosom of the great prairie, as far as the eye can reach; fencing, ploughing [plowing] and building, seems to be the order of the day. 'The wilderness is' indeed being 'made glad, and the desert blossoms as the rose.'
Many branches of mechanism are going on; brick makers, carpenters, brick layers, masons, plaisterers [plasterers], black smiths, and many other branches of business have found abundance of employ. There is however one thing which we would respectfully call the attention of our brethren to; that is, the business of manufacturing.
There is perhaps no place in the western country, where cotton, woolen, silk, iron and earthen-ware could be manufactured to better advantage than they could in Nauvoo. There is not a branch in any of the above trades, from making the machinery, to completing the most delicate fabrics, or wares, but what we have artisans and mechanics that are fully competent to the task, having followed those several branches of manufactures, either in the eastern states, or in the old world: and when the above named dam shall be erected, it will afford greater facilities for manufacturing purposes, and better prospects for the capitalists to invest their money than anything that has come under our notice for a long time
Our relations with the state of Missouri, and with all our enemies, are placed on a very different footing to what they ever were before. That state has used all her ingenuity to entrap, persecute and destroy us, but she has failed in the attempt; she has not yet a pretext left for even an illegal prosecution. The Governor of this state has declared himself in favor of law, and there is not the least shadow of a pretext for issuing any process for Joseph Smith, and there is little prospect of any requisition being complied with. The old charge of 'burglary, arson, treason, murder, &c, is worn so thread bare, that nobody will pay and [any] attention to it.
Orin P. Rockwell has also been acquitted, before even a Missouri court; not the slightest evidence of his guilt having been adduced even by his most bitter enemies; and as he was falsely charged with being the principal in the attempted murder of Ex-Governor Boggs, there can no further charges be made against Joseph Smith as 'accessary [accessory] before the fact.'
Brother Avery and his son have also been aquatinted, and there is not one person belonging to our church that the state of Missouri can institute the least shadow of charge against.-We are informed also that Governor Ford has ordered the sheriff of this county, to take those persons who assisted the Missourians in kidnapping in this state; and to hold them in recognizances to appear at the county court; thus relieving us from the unpleasant task of enforcing the law. Most of the persons engaged in the mobocratic meetings in Carthage and elsewhere, are heartily tired and ashamed of their company, having found out that they have been gulled by the misrepresentations and falsehoods of designing demagogues, to seek to overthrow an innocent and law-abiding people
Throughout the whole region of country around us those bitter and acrimonious feelings which have so long been engendered by many are dying away, and a more friendly, amicable and peaceable spirit has taken its place.
Our influence abroad is also an [on] the increase, truth and innocence is triumphing over falsehood and malace [malice], and the most honorable and intelligent of all classes, are beginning to gaze with admiration upon, and to investigate and admire those glorious principles which God has revealed in these last days for the salvation of the human family. The prophesies of sacred writ are fast fulfilling, intelligence is rolling forth in majesty. The power of God is being made manifest; and soon every kindred, people and tongue shall listen to the voice of eternal truth, and all nations see the salvation of God.
CORRESPONDENCE OF GEN. JOSEPH SMITH AND HON. J. C. CALHOUN.
Hon. John C. Calhoun,-Dear Sir,-As we understand you are a candidate for the presidency at the next election; and as the Latter Day Saints (sometimes called Mormons, who now constitute a numerous class in the school politic of this vast republic), have been robbed of an immense amount of property, and endured nameless sufferings by the state of Missouri, and from her borders have been driven by force
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of arms, contrary to our national covenants; and as in vain we have sought redress by all constitutional, legal and honorable means, in her courts, her executive councils, and her legislative halls; and as we have petitioned Congress to take cognizance of our sufferings without effect; we have judged it wisdom to address you this communication, and solicit an immediate, specific and candid reply to What will be your rule of action, relative to us as a people, should fortune favor your ascension to the chief magistry?
Most respectfully, sir, your friend
And the friend of peace, good order,
And constitutional rights,
Joseph Smith,
In behalf of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Hon. John C. Calhoun, Fort Hill, S. C.
(Hon. J. C. Calhoun's reply.)
"Fort hill, 2d Dec. 1843
Sir,-You ask me what would be my rule of action, relative to the Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, should I be elected president, to which I answer; that if I should be elected, I would strive to administer the government according to the constitution and the laws of the union; and that as they make no distinction between citizens of different religious creeds, I should make none. As far as it depends on the executive department, all should have the full benefit of both, and none should be exempt from their operation.
But, as you refer to the case of Missouri, candour [candor] compels me to repeat, what I said to you at Washington; that according to my views the case does not come within the jurisdiction of the federal government, which is one of limited and specific powers.
With respect, I am &c. &c.
J. C. CALHOUN.
Mr. Joseph Smith."
Nauvoo, Illinois, Jan. 2, 1844
Sir:-Your reply to my letter of last November, concerning your rule of action towards the Latter Day Saints, if elected President, is at hand; and, that you and your friends of the same opinion, relative to the matter in question, may not be disappointed as to me, or my mind, upon so grave a subject, permit me, as a law abiding man; as a well wisher to the perpetuity of constitutional rights and liberty, and as a friend to the free worship of Almighty God, by all, according to the dictates of every persons conscience, to say I am surprised, that a man, or men, in the highest stations of public life, should have made such a fragile view of a case, than which there is not one on the face of the globe fraught with so much consequence to the happiness of men in this world, or the world to come. To be sure, the first paragraph of your letter appears very complacent, and fair on a white sheet of paper, and who, that is ambitious for greatness and power, would not have said the same thing? Your oath would bind you to support the constitution and laws, and as all creeds and religions are alike tolerated, they must, of course, all be justified or condemned, according to merit or demerit-but why, tell me why, are all the principle men, held up for public stations, so cautiously careful, not to publish to the world, that they will judge a righteous judgment-law or no law: for laws and opinions, like the vanes of steeples, change with the wind. One congress passes a law, and another repeals it, and one statesman says that the constitution means this, and another that; and who does not know that all may be wrong? The opinion and pledge, therefore, in the first paragraph of your reply to my question, like the forced steam from the engine of a steamboat, makes the show of as bright cloud at first, but when it comes in contact with a purer atmosphere, dissolves to common air again.
Your second paragraph leaves you naked before yourself, like a likeness in a mirror, when you say that 'according to your view, the federal government is one of limited and specific powers,' and has no jurisdiction in the case of the Mormons. So then, a state can at any time, expel any portion of her citizens with impunity, and in the language of Mr. Van Buren, frosted over with your gracious 'views of the case,' though the cause is ever so just, government can do nothing for them, because it has no power.
Go on, then, Missouri, after another set of inhabitants, (as the Latter Day Saints did) have entered some two or three hundred thousand dollars worth of land, and made extensive improvements thereon: go on, then I say, banish the occupants or owners, or kill them, as the mobbers did many of the Latter Day Saints, and take their lands and property as a spoil: and let the legislature, as in the case of the Mormons, appropriate a couple of hundred thousand dollars to pay the mob for doing the job; for the renown senator from South Carolina, Mr. J. C. Calhoun, says the powers of the federal government are so specific and limited that it has no jurisdiction of the case! Oh ye people who groan under the oppression of tyrants, ye exiled Poles, who have felt the iron
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hand of Russian grasp; ye poor and unfortunate among all nations, come to the 'asylum of the oppressed;' buy ye lands of the general government, pay in your money to the treasury to strengthen the army and the navy; worship God according to the dictates of your own consciences; pay in your taxes to support the great heads of a glorious nation; but remember a 'sovereign state!' is so much more powerful than the United States, the parent government, that it can exile you at pleasure, mob you with impunity; confiscate your lands and property; have the legislature sanction it: yea, even murder you, as an edict of an Emperor, and it does no wrong, for the noble senator of South Carolina, says the power of the federal government is so limited and specific that it has no jurisdiction of the cause! What think ye of Imperium in imperio.
Ye spirits of the blessed of all ages, hark! Ye shades of departed statesmen, listen! Abraham, Moses, Homer, Socrates, Solon, Solomon, and all that ever thought of right and wrong, look down from your exaltations, if you have any, for it is said in the midst of counsellors [counselors] there is safety, and when you have learned that fifteen thousand innocent citizens after having purchased their lands of the United States, and paid for them, were expelled from a 'sovereign state' by order of the Governor, at the point of the bayonet; their arms taken from them by the same authority: and their right of migration into said state, denied under pain of imprisonment, whipping, robbing, mobbing, and even death, and no justice or recompence [recompense] allowed; and from the legislature, with the governor at the head, down to the justice of the peace, with a bottle of whiskey in one hand, and a bowie knife in the other, hear them all declare that there is no justice for a Mormon in that state, and judge ye a righteous judgment, and tell me when the virtue of the states were stolen; where the honor of the general government lies hid; and what clothes a senator with wisdom? Oh nullifying Carolina!-O little tempestuous Rhode Island! Would it not be well for the great men of the nation to read the fable of the partial judge, and when part of the free citizens of a state had been expelled contrary to the constitution, mobbed, robbed, plundered and many murdered, instead of searching into the course taken with Joanna, Southcott, Ann Lee, the French prophets, the Quakers of New England, and rebellions [rebellious ?] niggers, in the slave states, to hear both sides then judge, rather than have the mortification to say, 'oh it is my bull that has killed your ox, that alters the case! I must inquire into it, and if, and if?
If the general government has no power to reinstate expelled citizens to their rights, there is a monstrous hypocrite fed and fostered from the hard earnings of the people! A real 'bull beggar' upheld by sychophants; and, although you may wink to the priests to stigmatize;-wheedle the drunkards to swear, and raise the hue and cry of imposter [impostor] false prophet, God damn old Joe Smith, yet remember, if the Latter Day Saints are not restored to all their rights, and paid for all their losses, according to the known rules of justice and judgment, reciprocation, and common honesty among men, that God will come out of his hiding place and vex this nation with a sore vexation-yea, the consuming wrath of an offended God shall smoke through the nation, with as much distress and woe, as independence has blazed through with pleasure and delight. Where is the strength of government? Where is the patriotism of a Washington, a Warren, and Adams? and where is a spark from the watchfire of '76, by which one candle might be lit, that would glimmer upon the confines of democracy? Well may it be said that one man is not a state; nor one state the nation. In the days of General Jackson, when France refused the first instalment [installment] for spoliations, there was power, force, and honor enough to resent injustice and insult, and the money came: and shall Missouri, filled with Negro drivers, and white men stealers, go 'unwhipped of justice,' for ten fold greater sins than France? No! verily no!-While I have powers of body and mind, while water runs and grass grows; while virtue is lovely, and vice hateful; and while a stone points out a sacred spot where a fragment of American liberty once was; I or my posterity will plead the cause of injured innocence, until Missouri makes atonement for all her sins-or sinks disgraced, degraded and damned to hell-'where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.
Why Sir, the power not delegated to the United States, and the states, belongs to the people, and congress sent to do the people's business, have all power-and shall fifteen thousand citizens groan in exile? oh vain men, will ye not, if ye do not restore them to their rights and $2,000,000 worth of property relinquish to them, (the Latter Day Saints) as a body, their portion of power that belongs to them according to the constitution? Power has its convenience, as well as inconvenience.-'The world was not made for Cæsar alone, but Titus too.'
I will give you a parable, A certain Lord had a vineyard in a goodly land, which men labored in at their pleasure; a few meek men also went
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and purchased with money from some of these chief men that labored at pleasure, a portion of land in the vineyard, at a very remote part of it, and began to improve it, and to eat and drink the fruit thereof; when some vile persons, who regarded not man, neither feared the lord of the vineyard, rose up suddenly and robbed these meek men, and drove them from their possessions, killing many. This barbarous act made no small stir among the men in the vineyard, and all that portion who were attached to that part of the vineyard where the men were robbed, rose up in grand council, with their chief man, who had firstly ordered the deed to be done, and made a covenant not to pay for the cruel deed, but to keep the spoil, and never let those meek men set their feet on that soil again, neither recompence [recompense] them for it. Now these meek men, in their distress, wisely sought redress of those wicked men in every possible manner and got none. They then supplicated the chief men, who held the vineyard at pleasure and who had the power to sell and defend it, for redress and redemption, and those men, loving the fame and favor of the multitude, more than the glory of the lord of the vineyard, answered, your cause is just, but we can do nothing for you, because we have no power. Now, when the lord of the vineyard saw that virtue and innocence was not regarded, and his vineyard occupied by wicked men, he sent men and took the possession of it to himself, and destroyed those unfaithful servants, and appointed them their portion among hypocrites.
And let me say, that all men who say that congress has no power to restore and defend the rights of her citizens, have not the love of the truth abiding in them. Congress has power to protect the nation against foreign invasion and internal broil, and whenever that body passes an act to maintain right with any power; or restore right to any portion of her citizens, IT IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, and should a state refuse submission, that state is guilty of insurrection or rebellion, and the president has as much power to repel it as Washington had to march against the 'whiskey boys of Pittsburg [Pittsburgh],' or General Jackson had to send an armed force to suppress the rebellion of South Carolina!
To close, I would admonish you, before you let your 'candor compel' you again to write upon a subject, great as the salvation of man, consequential as the life of the Savior, broad as the principles of eternal truth, and valuable as the jewels of eternity, to read in the 8th section and first article of the constitution of the United States, the first, fourteenth and seventeenth 'specific' and not very 'limited powers' of the federal government, what can be done to protect the lives, property and rights of a virtuous people, when the administrators of the law, and lawmakers, are unbought by bribes, uncorrupted by patronage, untempted by gold unawed by fear, and uncontaminated by tangling alliances-even like Cæsar's wife, not only unspotted but unsuspected! and God, who cooled the heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, or shut the mouths of lions for the honor of a Daniel, will raise your mind above the narrow notion, that the general government has no power-to the sublime idea that congress, with the President as executor, is as Almighty in its sphere, as Jehovah is in his.
With great respect, I have
the honor to be your
obedient servant,
JOSEPH SMITH.
Hon. ('Mr.'!) J. C. Calhoun,
Fort Hill, S. C.
Minutes of the general conference, held December 2d 1843
The elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, composing the Gennessee conference, in the state of New York, met at the house of elder George Thompson, in the town of Alexander, in the county of Gennessee; on the second day of December, 1843.
High priests present, 2; Seventies, 1; Elders, 21; Deacons, 1.
The house was called to order by elder Noah Packard, and was organized by calling Noah Packard to the chair, and Wm. Brown was appointed clerk.
The conference was opened by singing a hymn and a prayer by Elder Almon Babbit.
The chair then stated the object of the conference, and presented brother Hartman to be ordained to the office of an elder, which was carried.
The representation of the different branches was then called for, composing the Gennessee conference, which were represented as follows:
The Alexander branch, represented by Anson Sheffield, composed of 32 members, 12 elders: four members were cut off since the last conference.
The Acron branch, represented by Elder Heat; 10 members, five elders.
The Utica branch, represented by Elder Shadbolt; 17 members, including three elders.
The Brant branch, represented by elder Beebe, 15 members, including elders and teachers.
The Buffaloe [Buffalo] branch represented by elder Gunniue; 10 members, two elders.
The Cambro branch, represented by Elder
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Gleason; 25 members, six elders.
The Bennington branch, not represented.
The Hartland branch, represented by Elder Brown; 15 members, two elders.
The Charlotte and Salem branches, not represented.
The Newfane branch, represented by Elder Gleason; 10 members, two elders.
The Centerville branch, represented by Elder Hasking; 20 members, two elders.
The Nethersfield branch, represented by elder Craborth; five members; Grand Island, eight members, Yates, six; Rochester and Otto, fourteen members
The Batavia Branch, represented by Elder Tylor; 22 members, eight elders.
After the representation of the several branches, Joseph Shamp presented a petition to the conference, setting forth his grievances concerning the manner that he was dealt with in the Buffaloe [Buffalo] Conference. He stated that he was not labored with according to the requisition of the gospel; and that he was not notified to appear at the conference, so that he might be prepared to make his defence [defense]. The conference after hearing the whole matter, decided that the proceedings in the Buffaloe [Buffalo] conference were illegal.
The conference then adjourned for two hours.
After the recess, they proceeded to hear all charges against Joseph Shamp, who, after a thorough investigation, was restored to fellowship.
The conference then went into the business of Elder Tylor's case. The charges were sustained against him for unchristianlike conduct. Brother Tylor then made a confession to the conference, and it was voted that he be restored to the office of an elder.
The conference then investigated the case of Elder Young; but as the charges were not sustained against him, it was voted that he retain his office.
The conference then adjourned until Sunday morning at ten o'clock.
Sunday, met according to adjournment. Elder Babbit addressed the conference upon the subject of the gospel, with his usual zeal and eloquence, illustrating many principles of the gospel. At 2 o'clock Elder Babbit again addressed the congregation, on the subject of the second coming of Christ, and the gathering of the house of Israel, in contradistinction to Millerism; showing from the scriptures that the house of Israel must be gathered before Christ could come; and that this 'gospel of the kingdom must be preached as a witness unto all nations' and that the church of Christ must be organized on the earth, with all its offices, gifts, and authorities.
At 6 in the evening, Elder Babbit preached upon the subject of the mammon of unrighteousness, arguing the necessity of the saints overcoming the principle of covetousness; that they be given to hospitality, and that they assist with their means as just stewards, in rolling forth the kingdom of God, and the building up of the same. After some remarks from several others of the elders, on different subjects, for the furtherance and prosperity of the Gennessee conference, it was
Moved, that the conference be adjourned until the first Saturday and Sunday in March, 1844. Noah Packard, priest.
Wm. Brown, Cl'k.
Minutes of a conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at Conistick, Kalamanoo [Kalamazoo] Co., Mich. the 8th 9th and 10th days of December, 1843.
Conference met at 2 o'clock. Elders present, E. M. Webb, P. Webb, E. Lee, J. Cuykendall, D. M. Grant, W. R. Loveland, S. Willard, J. Bottonis, C. Dunn, D. Savage, D. A. Cobb and J. H. Sosee.
Elder E. M. Webb, was chosen president, and Elder C. Dunn clerk.
Opened by singing and prayer, by elder Grant; after which the elders gave a history of their travels, the spread of the truth and their determinations to labor in the vineyard; after which, E. M. Webb represented the Kalamazoo branch as consisting of forty-two members, two elders, one priest, one teacher and two deacons.
Elder Grant represented Duck Creek branch, Lake Co., Ind., nine members, one elder; also Porter branch, Porter Co., Ind., one elder.
Elder Dunn represented the Mottville branch, St. Joseph Co., Mich., seven members, one elder.
J. Bottoon represented the Albion Branch, ten members, two elders, one priest, one deacon.
Elder Gamut represented Quincy branch, six members, one elder, one priest.
D. Savage represented the Pawpaw branch, Van Buren county, seven members, three elders, sixteen scattering members.
On motion the conference adjourned till 6 1-2 o'clock, P. M.
Conference met agreeable to adjournment, and was opened by C. Dunn.
Elder Savage then addressed the meeting upon the necessity of receiving a continuation of revelations, and was followed by elders Dunn and Gamut.
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Adjourned until 11 o'clock the following day.
Conference met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened by the president.
C. Dunn then addressed the meeting on the subject of the priesthood, and was followed by elder Grant.
Adjourn for 1-2 hour.
Met pursuant to adjournment; opened by brother Loveland, after which Samuel Willard, Edward Willard, Jeremiah Crumm, were ordained elders by the voice of the conference, under the hands of elders Gamut and Webb;-Jonathan Willard and John R. Gilbert to the office of priests by the same.
Adjourned till 1-2 past 6 P.M.
Met pursuant to adjournment, opened by brother Loveland.
J. Bottom spoke on the literal fulfilment [fulfillment] of prophesy.
Adjourned until 9 o'clock next day A.M.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Brother S. Willard opened the meeting by singing and prayer. Elder Gamut then addressed the meeting on the subject of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Elder Webb then spoke on the gospel.
Conference adjourned to meet at Albion, Calhoun county, Mich., on Friday preceding the second Sunday in March next, 1844. The elders bring us cheering news from abroad, of the speed [spread ?] of the gospel, truly the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. E. M. Webb, Prest.
E. C. Dunn, Clk.
At a special conference held at Macedonia, December 26th, 1843, J. M. Benson was arraigned on a charge of seduction and adultery.
Upon defendants plea of guilt,
Resolved, That Elder J. M. Benson be cut off from the church, and published in the Times and Seasons.
After some very appropriate remarks by the president, conference adjourned sine die. JOHN SMITH, Prest. pro tem.
J. E. Johnson, Recorder.
POETRY.
For the Times and Seasons
QUEEN VICTORIA.
BY MISS E. R. SNOW.
Before leaving London, Elder Lorenzo Snow presented to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and his Royal Highness Prince Albert; through the politeness of Sir Henry Wheatly, two neatly bound copies of the Book of Mormon, which had been donated by president Brigham Young, and left in the care of elder Snow for that purpose; which circumstance suggested the following lines:
Of all the monarchs of the earth A herald of salvation bore
That wear the robes of royalty To her, the words of endless life.
She has inherited by birth
The broadest wreath of majesty. That GIFT, however fools deride,
Is worthy of her royal care;
From her wide territorial wing She'd better lay her crown aside
The sun does not withdraw it's light; Than spurn the light reflected there.
While earth's diurnal motions bring
To other nations day and night. O would she now her influence bend-
The influence of royalty,
All earthly thrones are tottering things, Messiah's kingdom to extend,
Where lights and shadows intervene; And Zion's "nursing mother" be;
And regal honor often brings
The scaffold or the guillotine. Thus with the glory of her name
Inscrib'd on Zion's lofty spire,
But still her scepter is approv'd- She'd win a wreath of endless fame,
All nations deck the wreath she wears; To last when other wreaths expire.
Yet, like the youth whom Jesus lov'd,
On [One] thing is lacking, even there. Though over millions call'd to reign-
Herself a powerful nation's boast;
But lo! a prize possessing more 'Twould be her everlasting gain
Of worth, than gems with honor rife- To serve the king, the Lord of Hosts.
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For there are crowns and thrones on high, In distant isles the sound is heard;
And kingdoms there, to be confer'd- Ye heavens rejoice! O earth give ear!
There honors wait that never die;
There fame's immortal trump is heard. The time, the time is now at hand
To give a glorious period birth;
Truth echoes-'tis Jehovah's word; The Son of God, will take command
Let kings and queens and princes hear. And rule the nations of the earth.
THE ODE OF GENIUS TO TRUTH.
I'll sing to thee, O truth!-Thy laws are giv'n The slumb'ring nations, waken with thy blaze,
For my directory o'er earth and heav'n!
I sing of thee-I prize thy presence more In falsehood's stream, let error bathe his soul
Than all the gifts of richly treasured lore- And slander bend to envy's base control;
I sing thy praises-thou art all to me- Be thou, 0 truth! my arbiter and guide-
I crave no pow'r but that confer'd by thee. Beneath thy standard, let my feet abide
Let thy celestial banner be unfurl'd,
Until its crescent circumscribes the world;
Eternal beauties in thy features glow, On hope's high pinion, write thy burnished name,
And from thy lips eternal fountains flow; And plant thy signet, on the spire of fame.
Let the pure luster of thy radiant eye
Beam thro' my soul and lift my nature high; Go forth and conquer-all to thee shall bow:
The master strokes that on my pulses roll And fadeless laurels fade thy noble brow:
Are but emanations of thy soul. The palm of victory waits to crown thy war--
The seal of triumph lingers not afar.
Let the fierce tigress chide her churlish brood; Victorious truth! the conquering scepter wield
Monster on monster, vent its spiteful mood- Till all thy foes in meek submission yield-
Let crawling reptils [reptiles] of the reptile school Until inquiry spreads himself abroad,
Chastise offenders of their puny rule- And knowledge smiles to his instructive rod-
Let insects feel the weight of insects' paw
For the transgression of an insect law: Till party zeal is shrouded with disgrace,
But truth! thy advocate shall not descend And superstition hides his lengthen'd face-
To sordid means, thy honor to defend; Till old stupidity is forc'd to fly-
For thou, O truth! wilt not ignobly bend Till ignorance and prejudice shall die-
To servile measures, for a noble end. Till pompous error, vanquish'd, licks the dust
And princely falsehood fires his smoking bust;
Should lofty Genius strike a feeble string; Then shall thy fiat hold the world in awe
No: in thy presence Truth, of Truth I'll sing: And barb'rous isles exult to hear thy law;
Thou art the basis of each worthy theme- Strong as omnipotence, thy arm shall prove,
Thine is the luster in each golden beam: And as eternal as the throne above.
Wide as eternity, diffuse thy light Morley Settlement, Nov. 25th, 1843
Till joyous day shall burst the shades of night:
Benighted earth, illumine with thy rays-
The Times and Seasons,
IS EDITED BY
JOHN TAYLOR.
Printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, by
JOHN TAYLOR AND WILFORD WOODRUFF.
TERMS.-Two dollars per annum, payable in all cases in advance. Any person procuring five new subscribers, and forwarding us Ten Dollars current money, shall receive one volume gratis. All letters must be addressed to John Taylor, editor, POST PAID, or they will not receive attention.
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