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Vol. V. No. 23.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. Dec. 15, 1844. [Whole No. 107
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(Continued.)
February 27th, 1833, I received the following revelation:
A word of wisdom for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and church; and also, the saints in Zion: to be sent greeting: not by commandment, or constraint: but by revelation and the word of wisdom; showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days. Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, in consequence of evils and designs which do, and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation, that inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together, to offer up your sacraments before him. And behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. And again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly; and is not good for man; but is an herb for bruises, and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. And again hot drinks are not for the body, or belly.
And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof. All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I the Lord hath ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving. Nevertheless, they are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me, that they should not be used only in times of winter or of cold, or famine. All grain is ordained for the use of man, and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man, but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth: and these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine, and excess of hunger.
All grain is good for the food of man, as also the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground. Nevertheless wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse and rye for the fowls, and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals and for mild drinks; as also other grain. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to their bones and shall find wisdom, and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint: and I the Lord give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
March 8th, 1833, I received the following revelation:
Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren, have come up into my ears: therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you: which kingdom is coming forth for the last time
Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another: yea, even unto the church. And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them, lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, aud [and] stumble and fall, when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house.
And again, verily I say unto thy brethren; Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom: as also through your administration the keys of the school of the prophets, which I have commanded to be organized, that thereby they may be perfected in their ministry for the salvation of Zion, and of the nations of Israel, and of the Gentiles, as many as will believe, that through your administration, they may receive the word and through their administration, the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then behold, and lo, they shall
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turn unto the Jews: and then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph of the gospel of their salvation.
For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness [fullness] of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them, for the revelation of Jesus Christ.
And now verily I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that you continue in the ministry and presidency, and when you have finished the translation of the prophets, you shall from thenceforth preside over the affairs of the church and the school; and from time to time, as shall be manifest by the Comforter, receive revelations to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom, and set in order the churches, and study and learn and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues and people. And this shall be your business and mission in all your lives to preside in council and set in order all the affairs of this church and kingdom. Be not ashamed neither confounded; but be admonished in all your highmindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls. Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you.
Now verily, I say unto you, let there be a place provided as soon as it is possible, for the family of thy counselor and scribe, even Frederick G. Williams: and let mine aged servant Joseph Smith, senior, continue with his family upon the place where he now lives, and let it not be sold until the mouth of the Lord shall name. And let thy counsellor [counselor], even Sidney Rigdon, remain where he now resides, until the mouth of the Lord shall name. And let the bishop search diligently to obtain an agent: and let it be a man who has got riches in store; a man of God and of strong faith: that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that the storehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before the eyes of the people. Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly, and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another. Let your families be small, especially mine aged servant Joseph Smith, senior, as pertaining to those who do not belong in your families: that those things that are provided for you, to bring to pass my work, are not taken from you, and given to those that are not worthy, and thereby you are hindred [hindered] in accomplishing those things which I have commanded you.
And again, verily I say unto you, it is my will that my handmaid, Vienna Jaques, should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up unto the land of Zion; and the residue of the money may be consecrated unto me, and she be rewarded in mine own due time. Verily I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes, that she should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from the hand of the bishop, that she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful, and not be idle in her days from thenceforth.
And behold, verily I say unto you, that ye shall write this commandment, and say unto your brethren in Zion, in love greeting, that I have called you also to preside over Zion in mine own due time: therefore let them cease wearying me concerning this matter. Behold, I say unto you, that your brethren in Zion begin to repent, and the angels rejoice over them; nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things: and I am not well pleased with my servant William E. McLelin, neither with my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the bishop also; and others have many things to repent of: but verily I say unto you, that I the Lord will contend with Zion and plead with her strong ones and chasten her, until she overcomes and is clean before me; for she shall not be removed out of her place; I the Lord have spoken it: Amen.
Having come to that portion of the ancient writings called the Apocrypha, I received the following revelation; given March 9, 1833:
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, concerning the Apocrypha, there are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correct: there are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefitted [benefited]; therefore, it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.
March 12th. A council of high priests assembled in the school room of the prophets, and decided that Horace Cowen and Zerubbabel Snow; Amasa Lyman and William Cahoon; Jenkins Salisbury and Truman Wait, journey east, on a mission, two by two, as written; and Brothers Cowen and Salisbury were ordained at the same time.
March 15th. A council was called to consider
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the case of Brother Lake, from Wooster who came professing to have received revelations. On investigation, it was unanimously agreed that said Lake was under the influence of an evil spirit, and his license, as priest was taken from him.
On the 15th, I received the following revelation to Enoch, March, 1833:
Verily, thus saith the Lord, I give unto the united order, organized agreeable to the commandment previously given, a revelation and commandment concerning my servant Shederlaomach, that ye shall receive him into the order. What I say unto one I say unto all.
And again, I say unto you, my servant Shederlaomach, you shall be a lively member in this order; and inasmuch as you are faithful in keeping all former commandments, you shall be blessed forever. Amen.
Great joy and satisfaction continually beamed in the countenances of the school of the prophets and the saints, on account of the things revealed, and our progress in the knowledge of God.
On the 18th of March, the high priests assembled in the school room of the prophets and were organized according to revelation, in prayer by S. Rigdon. Doctor Hurlbut was ordained an elder; after which Elder Rigdon expressed a desire that himself and Brother F. G. Williams should be ordained to the office, to which they had been called, viz: that of presidents of the high priesthood, and to be equal in holding the keys of the kingdom with Brother Joseph Smith, junior, according to the revelation given on the 8th of March, 1833.
Accordingly I laid my hands on Brother Sidney and Frederick and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom, and to assist in the presidency of the high priesthood, as my counsellors [counselors]; after which, I exhorted the brethren to faithfulness, and diligence in keeping the commandments of God, and gave much instruction for the benefit of the saints, with a promise that the pure in heart would see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understandings opened by the spirit of God so as to behold many things.
I then blessed the bread and wine, and distributed a portion to each, after which many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Savior, and concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what they saw, &c.
March 23rd. A council was called for the purpose of appointing a committee to purchase land in Kirtland, upon which the saints might build a stake of Zion. Brothers Joseph Coe and Moses Daily were appointed to ascertain the terms of sale of certain farms; and that Brother Ezra Thayer ascertain the price of Peter French's farm; and the brethren agreed to continue in prayer and fasting for the ultimate success of their mission.
After an absence of about three hours, Brothers Coe and Daily returned and reported that Elijah Smith's farm could be obtained for four thousand dollars; and Mr. Morley's for twenty one hundred; and Brother Thayre reported that Peter French would sell his farm for five thousand dollars. The council decided to purchase the farms, and appointed Ezra Thayre [Thayer] and Joseph Coe to superintend the purchase, and they were ordained under the hands of Sidney Rigdon, and set apart as general agents of the church for that purpose.
On the 26th of March, a council of high priests, twenty one in number, convened for the general welfare of the church, in what was then called Zion, in Jackson county, Missouri, on account of a revelation, my letter, and an epistle from the church in Kirtland, a solemn assembly had been called, and a sincere and humble repentance manifested, insomuch [inasmuch], that on the 26th of February, one month previous, a general epistle had been written in conference, which was satisfactory to the presidency and church at Kirtland.
At the sitting of the council of the 26th of March, according to the plan taught at the solemn assembly, which was, that the seven high priests who were sent from Kirtland to build up Zion, viz: Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Sidney Gilbert, Bishop Partridge, and his two councillors [councilors], should stand at the head of affairs, relating to the church, in that section of the Lord's vineyard; and these seven men, with the common consent of the branches, comprising the church, were to appoint presiding elders, to take the watch care of the several branches, as they were appointed. Now, therefore, as many of the high priests, and elders, went up to Zion and commenced regulating and setting the branches in order, allowing themselves as much power by the authority of their priesthood, and gift of the Holy Ghost, as those set apart and appointed to preside over the branches; it became necessary to call the council now spoken of, to set in order the elders of Israel; when, after a long discussion, it was decided from the revelations, that the order taught in the solemn assembly, was correct; and that the elders, when they arrived at Zion, were bound by the authorities set in the church, to be submissive to the powers that be: their labors and callings being more particularly to push the people together
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from the ends of the earth to the places the Lord appointed. This decision in council gave general satisfaction, and the elders soon saw the beauty of every man in his place.
COMMUNICATIONS.
MR. EDITOR:-I have just taken a glance at the 2nd number of Sidney Rigdon's paper.-He tries to show that a division of the church was predicted by the Savior in the parable of the ten virgins: but his logic will all fail on this point. He will never get one half of the church. Consequently the division which he has caused is not predicted of, neither alluded to in the Scriptures which he quotes. But that he is a branch spoken of, none I presume will deny. The Book of Mormon speaks of some bitter branches that were to be cut off, and I am free to confess that he is one of them, and has been legally cut off by the authorities of the church. He tries however to show that Joseph was cut off for his transgressions; yet when he came here first from Pittsburgh, he said that God had shown him that a guardian must be appointed to the church to carry out the measures of Joseph, and he offered himself as the guardian, but was rejected. And now he says to carry out the measures of Joseph would be death.
Mr. Rigdon, do you not remember how you came into a certain council about the 1st of April or latter part of March last, that had been organized by Joseph Smith; and also how you danced and shouted, and threw your feet so high that you came well nigh falling backwards upon the stove? Certainly you must remember this; for you frothed at the mouth like a mad man, and gave glory to God so long and loud that you became entirely hoarse and exhausted. Your song was, "Glory to God and the Lamb that I have lived in this time, Hallelujah to Jesus that mine eyes have seen this day, and thanks to my brethren that I have been permitted to enter here, for of a surety God is with you in power and glory." Do you not recollect, Mr. Rigdon, saying to me a day or two after, at your own house, when you were standing in the door and I just without, that every body might know that God was there. "I know that he was there," said you, "even in that council." Now you say that Joseph was a bad man, and has been for a long time. You say that all the authorities here are base and wicked. But you did declare here that if ever a man died a martyr to the cause of God, Joseph Smith did; and that he went to Heaven holding the keys of the kingdom, and that the kingdom must be built up unto him (Joseph Smith.) You also said that you had seen Joseph in a vision, and that he occupied this important station. You declared that God had shown you these things, and you need not attempt to deny it; for there are thousands of witnesses here of both male and female that heard you. And why are you now prating against him and the church, giving yourself the lie and rendering yourself a burlesque upon all honesty, integrity, consistency and uprightness.
Your race, sir, is about run: and unless you speedily repent, the hand of God will soon be heavily upon you. And if you do repent and eat your own words, that will damn you in the eye of reason and justice; so you are bound to come to naught, and that speedily, turn which way you will or go forward in your present course. If you go forward in your present course, you will waste your strength and spirit, and God will condemn you. But if you repent, you are only damned for this world in the eyes of men, and you may get salvation at last.
The Editor of Mr. Rigdon's paper is very sure that Nauvoo is doomed to be overthrown. I would say, don't be so fast. Nauvoo will live to preach the funeral sermon of the pretended "Branch," and her daughters chant thy requiem. When thy memory only lives to be a stink in thy nostrils, and also in the nostrils of God and his people, when thou art as powerless as John C. Bennett, or Judas Iscariot, then know that you have fought against Jehovah, and lied in his holy name.
ORSON HYDE.
FROM THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA.
Tahita, June 16th, 1844.
* * * * But without going into detail, as it would be uninteresting to you, suffice it to say, on the morning of the 14th of May, we saw Tahita about forty miles distant; and the next day succeeded in getting to an anchor in the bay. But things looked very dark and portentious [portentous] I assure you. Doubtless you have heard the particulars respecting the French having taken possession of these islands and establishing their laws here, if not, this will inform you of the fact, but the particulars I am not sufficiently acquainted with to give.-The natives were, and are still unreconciled to these proceedings, and about two weeks before we arrived, after a continual fermenting between them and the French, the natives took up arms against them, and there was a smart engagement took place, the result of which we have never been able correctly to ascertain, but there were many killed on both sides. The
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natives still remain under arms about 10 miles from Papata the principal town of the island.-What their intentions are is hard to tell, but I do not think there will be another engagement between them at any rate. What the English may do I know not. There is two large men-of-war cruising off the harbor, and more expected shortly peradventure they may take the natives' case in hand.
But notwithstanding all these difficulties, they are no detriment to us as I know of. We are perfectly safe we think from any injury from the natives, as they have great regard for Americans, and we are living right among them. They are very kind and attentive to us, and declare that let what will happen, no harm shall befal [befall] us if they can prevent it. But there is not the slightest danger, the English and French will do all that is to be done. Brother Pratt is on a small island called Tooboni about 300 miles from here. He is the only missionary there, and consequently will get along much better than we shall, who have eight or ten to work against us.
The progress we have made in the language has been very rapid indeed. It is only twenty five days since we came on shore, and we are able to hold quite a conversation, and read without difficulty. In fact the natives tell me I can read better than Mr. Moore, a missionary who has been here eighteen months. We shall soon be able to appoint meetings and preach; what success will attend it time alone can determine, but we think it will be good.-The Lord grant it. Pray for our success Brother ***** and request the church to do the same, for we feel in need of all the help we can get.
We have heard nothing from the church since we left, with the exception of a few words by some missionaries, bound to the Sandwich Islands, who left America two months after us. They said they did not think the church had been driven; at any rate they had not heard so. God grant it may be so, but still such news is but little better than no news at all.
We feel very anxious, and shall wait very impatiently until we get letters. Do write to us Brother *****, and give us every particular that you think will interest us, for news is precious from the church here, I assure you.
I am your Brother in the
bonds of the covenant,
BENJAMIN F. GROUARD.
[The foregoing is an extract only, of a letter directed to Elder P. B. Lewis, of this city.-We hope Elder Pratt of New York, will forward files of papers, and also write, by a ship leaving that port, or any eastern one, for the Society Islands. News will be precious to those elders.] Ed.
TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED ABROAD:
Greeting.
After the storm has passed, and the floods abated that have borne [born] our brethren, Joseph and Hyrum, down to the grave: and after Rigdonism has passed off with the filth and rubbish of our population, I sit down in an atmosphere tempered with the pure spirit of God to write a few lines to my brethren and sisters in the new and everlasting covenant.
To be placed at the head of a great and flourishing people in connection with my brethren of the Twelve, is a station that none can fill with acceptance to God, or with profit to the people unless he is endowed with the Spirit of Him who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, let your prayers to Almighty God ascend for me and also for my brethren by whose request I write this epistle, that we may be fully competent for the great work that was laid on us by Joseph Smith in March last, and confirmed by the spirit of the living God. Namely: to lead this church, and to take the entire responsibility of all its affairs.
I am happy to say that a better feeling, as a general, and I may say, almost universal thing, never prevailed among the saints in any place since I have known them, than at the present time. The people are willing to take counsel and to do their duty. The few that adhered to Mr. Rigdon have become sensible of their error, and are glad to flee from it. Mr. Miller and his adherents showed very plausible reasons for the advent of the Son of God on a certain day: yet when that day arrived, no Savior came, which proved they knew nothing of the correctness of the position they had taken.-So also Mr. Rigdon may show plausible reasons to the inexperienced and uninformed that the right of presidency is in him. Mr. Miller succeeded in convincing many men and made them acknowledge that his calculations were correct, but God never acknowledged them by sending his Son according to the calculations. So may Mr. Rigdon cause some to acknowledge him to have the right and power of the priesthood, but God will never acknowledge it: and I will now give you a sign by which you may all know that God is not with the man.-Nothing that he doeth shall prosper. His friends will distrust and forsake him. They will feel a great fear and uneasiness about being wrong, unless they are completely abandoned to their own ways. They shall go backward
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and not forward, they shall go down and not rise up; they shall be prevailed against and not prevail.
Now Mr. Rigdon claims greater power of vision than Joseph Smith ever did: well, I really believe he does possess it; for it was always as much as Joseph Smith could do to see things that either had existed, or that should hereafter exist. But Mr. Rigdon has a discernment keen enough to see things that never did exist, nor never will. This is ahead of Joseph and the Twelve. In proof of the above, he told Moses Daily that he saw him in the great army leading on a battalion, and many others in this place, whom he ordained, and said he saw them in vision while in Pittsburgh at the head of large forces on the eastern continent, fighting tremendous battles. These men have all turned away in utter disgust and contempt of his wild and wicked schemes. Now Mr. Rigdon has seen things that will never exist.-He had better look again and pick out another set of men, for I can assure him that these wont stand to go with him to "take little Vic. by the nose." I would recommend him to get a revised edition of his Pittsburgh visions and try once more: for his master will be dishonored in the house of his friends if he give it up so. Now every body may know, even the world may see that this is the church of God. If they never had any evidence before, they have it now in the person and character of Sidney Rigdon. Paul says expressly; Acts, 20:29 and 30: "For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." Did not Mr. Rigdon prophecy against this place and temple, to frighten the people and weaken our hands? Yes, he did, that he might lead away disciples after him the more easily. Does he not speak perverse things? Has he not gone out from us that it might be manifest that he is not of us? A wolf will always runaway and leave the sheep as soon as the shepherd comes: but I never knew the shepherd runaway and leave the sheep when the wolf came. Mr. Rigdon was very busy with the church while the Twelve were absent, but as soon as the Twelve came Mr. Rigdon became powerless and soon left. He being the true shepherd, let those pesky wolves, the Twelve, drive him off. "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." Mr. Rigdon came in an artful, secret or clandestine manner to steal away the hearts of the people. He held secret meetings that he might steal unobserved. He came to kill, and to destroy: for he advised his friends to arm themselves with deadly weapons and go upon the meeting ground and prevent our holding a meeting to try him for his crimes. But the black-hearted, cowardly wretch would not come himself to see the black catalogue of his deeds held up to the gaze of thousands, but like the wolf, sought to be secluded. If Elder Marks had not opposed his bloody design, perhaps there would have been many lives sacrificed on that day. You may clearly see that Mr. Rigdon possesses every characteristic which the Savior ascribes to a thief. What then must we call Mr. Rigdon? By their fruits shall ye know them says Christ. Does he not bear the fruits of a thief? Well if he does, should we not call him by his proper name?
Paul also speaks of traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Has not Mr. Rigdon long wished to go to the eastern country where he could get cider, apples, leaks and onions? Yes he has.-But has not the Lord repeatedly required him to stand up as a faithful counsellor [counselor] to Joseph? Yes he has; and do not all the Saints in this place know that he has as often neglected to do it? Yes they do. Well, the Lord finally says to Mr. Rigdon, go east as you have desired: and as you have neglected to attend to my wishes, go now your own way. Whither shall I go? says Mr. Rigdon: to Pittsburgh was the answer. Why go to Pittsburgh? Oh! because there is a suitable place provided for you. Elder Page has made himself a nest there, and has some eggs, but he has sat upon them so long and steady that they have all rotted, except a few that were on the out edge of the nest and could get a little air now and then. You must unnest him and take your seat in his place; for he has been slow to obey counsel and is not worthy to remain longer; moreover, if he is not pulled off from nest by force, he will sit there until he dies; and you Mr. Rigdon have just strength enough to pull him off, and you are just worthy of his place: for you have chosen your own way, and God has chosen your delusion, and you will soon find out that you are deluded to your shame and sorrow; and that the whole affair of your going to Pittsburgh was a snare set by the hand of God to chastise you for blaspheming his holy name in Missouri, and for so repeatedly disobeying his counsel.
He has not only betrayed his brethren, but added falsehood to treachery. But what could we expect more honorable of a man who would indulge murder in his heart to carry out his wicked ambition? Nothing! No nothing!! The black list of lies and slander that he has published against the saints is thrown upon the
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back ground altogether when we consider the bloody and hellish design conceived in his heart.
Where is the bandit, the pirate, the highway robber, the midnight assassin, that would not blush and shudder at so dastardly and cowardly an act? Why, I should not be surprised if even devils should haunt him in his night dreams, and whisper the following words in his ear to reprove his madness:
"Thou traitor, thy vow thou hast broken,
Thy tongue hath commissioned the deed to be done;
Now lo the avenger! the word he that spoken.
And hard on thy track his race he doth run.
In the stillness of midnight when darkness prevaileth,
And slumbers have stole o'er thy ghost haunted mind;
Then sure the bright arrow from the bow that ne'er faileth
Shall spill the red current of hearts false as thine."
I am sure he is in the society of devils, and he and they for it. They can compromise on whatever principles they are disposed. We wish no acquaintance with that family.
AMASA LYMAN.
MORE REVELATIONS.
It would seem from the following that Mr. Rigdon has had more battles for his followers to fight than those mentioned in his revelations that should take place in the eastern country. This very gentle, peaceable, and humane man would have commenced in Nauvoo, by butchering a small number of saints as a commencement, provided he could have got the courage of his followers to the sticking point.- Editor
ONE OF RIGDON'S MYSTERIES.
I have just learned that Mr. Rigdon's wish and counsel to his followers, was that they should arm themselves with deadly weapons, and go upon the meeting ground and prevent our holding a meeting at the time he was to be tried and cut off from the church. But his principal counsellor [counselor] opposed him so strongly that the measure did not carry, but fell through. Oh! Mr. Rigdon, were you not cut off from the church without trial? Poor man, your fiendish schemes have entirely failed, the bubble has burst, and you must be consumed by the sparks of your own kindling, and welter under the infamy created by your own nefarious designs. Let Mr. Rigdon deny this if he will, then my proof shall be forth coming.
ORSON HYDE.
Nauvoo, Dec. 9th, 1844.
Resolved, by the High Council that Elder Samuel C. Brown be cut off from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for refusing to comply with the requisitions of said council, and notice of the same be given in the "Times and Seasons."
C. C. PENDLETON, Clerk.
NOTICE!!
After mature and candid deliberation, I am fully and satisfactorily convinced that Mr. Sidney Rigdon's claims to the presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are not founded in truth. I have been deceived by his specious pretences[pretenses], and now feel to warn every one over whom I may have any influence to beware of him, and his pretended visions and revelations. The Twelve are the proper persons to lead the church.
WILLIAM MARKS.
Nauvoo, Dec. 9, 1844.
From the N. Y. Prophet.
Boston, Nov. 8th, 1844.
Now I say unto you Joseph Smith, if you will abide in me (Christ) you shall be an instrument in my hands to bear this, my kingdom, off triumphant unto the end; but, if you do not abide in me (Christ) I will place another in your place.
MR. EDITOR:
This was quoted by a follower of Mr. Rigdon from the Doctrine and Covenants, when I asked him how he supported Mr. R's claim to the presidency of the church. I would say to Mr. R. and his followers that it will do for them to quote this to weak saints, or once-a week saints, but it will not do for them to quote it to those who know anything about the spirit of God-and I would just take the liberty to inform those who know anything about the spirit of God-and I would just take the liberty to inform those who are following this man, that this does not place him in Joseph Smith's place. I will take the liberty to ask a few questions.-Did Joseph die in the Lord? or was he cut off from the church before he died? I have no account that he was. Or does he (Mr. R.) consider that a man's dying in the church affects his office? Mr. R. does know that this is not the case; but that they still hold their office.-So it is with Joseph-he is still the head of the church, and will lead this church off triumphant unto the end. Mr. R. might as well say that Jesus Christ was no longer the Son of God because he was slain. Joseph is our head, Christ is his head-they are both beyond the veil, and can work to a better advantage for the saints.
D. JOYCE.
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TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
DECEMBER 15, 1844.
VOLUME VI.
The present number and one more, closes volume fifth, and, with as ardent a desire as ever for the great work of the gathering of Israel in the last days, we feel disposed, to call upon the brethren and all honest men, to lend us their aid, and grant us their patronage for the sixth.
In calling upon our friends at home and abroad, for pay in advance for the next volume, we save the perplexity of dunning our subscribers for means after we have got under way; we save ourselves from bad debts, and we save a certain number of copies to bind for future use. These hints are sufficient without urging the necessity of paying the printer in advance, because the workmen need the comforts of life as well as other trades.
We might say much in this article, because great things have taken place among us as a church, in eighteen hundred and forty four.-As has been the case in all ages of the world, when righteous men endeavored to promulgate the everlasting gospel, for the benefit and salvation of the human family, wicked and ungodly men, have taken counsel together and slain the "Lord's anointed." Two of the best men of this generation have fallen martyrs to the cause of revealed religion; and truth has seemingly perished in the midst of the land.
Now the great question is, is there goodness and patriotism enough among the brethren and honorable men to support the "Times and Seasons," while it speaks the truth, and sedulously maintains the great principles of religious toleration and constitutional liberty? Will the friends of freedom, knowing that "an hour of virtuous liberty, is worth a whole eternity of bondage," exert half as much pains for our welfare, as is manifested for the ordinary journals of the day? If they will, we shall receive ample means to carry us through eighteen hundred and forty five, without the embarrassing or discouraging necessity of having to borrow means to answer in the place of delinquent or remiss subscribers.
We will here remark, that so far as our knowledge extends, we have generally found that "stingy christians make snivling [sniveling] saints" and as the church has been learning lessons of practical instruction for fourteen years, we can hope with assurance, that all who have the good of the cause at heart will manifest it by liberality. The apostle says, "a liberal man deviseth liberal things."
The world is full of events, and heaven is rich with revelation, and who wishes to live without the one, and die without the other? No one, except he be ignorant that he has a soul, or like the fool, shall say in his heart, there is no God.
But we have said enough; the day in which we live, the vengeance and folly of mankind, manifested in every important move, the eagerness with which truth is received by the faithful saints; and the heavenly desire, burning in the hearts of the "heirs of salvation," like the fire in the 'burning bush of Moses,' for the completion of the temple, wherein can only be consummated and practiced the holy washings; the holy anointing; and the holy conversations for the salvation of the living and the dead, are sufficient to arouse every one that wishes to be saved, to secure the only paper that is entirely devoted to the revelations of Jesus Christ, and a determination to carry out the measures and plans of the great martyr of the nineteenth century, JOSEPH SMITH. And let us not forget to say that his history which the world so much desires, will continue to occupy a portion of the paper.
Having said so much, we have now to rely on the goodness of the saints, both for prayers and means for success, confident that the elders abroad, will work while the day lasts; and that the "Times and Seasons" will be its own witness of their exertions to sustain it, both in matter and money.
N. B. We shall keep bound for the benefit of such as wish, a few copies of the three first volumes of the Times and Seasons, and a supply of the fourth and fifth volumes for those that may need them.
***Elder Wm. Smith's letter to W. W. Phelps, in the Prophet, will be answered in the next number of this paper.
THE CITY OF NAUVOO.
Since the death of our beloved Prophet and Patriarch, many have supposed that our city would be laid desolate, or, at least that it would cease to prosper; that Mormonism would die, with its great leader, and that the Latter-day Saints would be scattered to the four winds.-The editors of the day, with few exceptions, have come to this conclusion, and some few in our midst, not being better informed, or wayward in their dispositions, have essayed to believe this egregious folly. Some few families have left us and gone to Pittsburgh, some
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few to the Pine Country, and a few have gone west: but since this occurrence we should think that twice as many have been added to our numbers, as those that have left, as emigration has been pouring in all the time. It is true that a momentary panic ensued immediately after the tragical event; humanity shuddered at the perpetration of so horrid a deed, a temporary gloom overspread the minds of the Saints; they felt that every principle of humanity was violated, and that they were living among a horde of savage barbarians, who were reckless alike of faith, honor and human life; their finer feelings were for a moment stunned; they considered themselves degraded, and their national honor laid prostrate in the dust, and that their nation was damned in the eyes of all nations, by such diabolical acts as had never degraded any other soul.
They felt also to mourn over the bodies of their martyred chiefs, to hang their harps upon the willows, and in their overwhelming grief to cease for a while from the common avocations of life. Their feelings over, and they awoke from their stupor, they started again into life, and every where might be seen the mechanic, the laborer, and the husbandman, following with their wonted alacrity all the various avocations of life.
Great numbers of brick houses have been, and are being put up; various branches of manufacturers have been started, and every thing wears the aspect of industry, content, and prosperity.
The Temple has progressed with greater rapidity since the death of Joseph and Hyrum than ever it has done before; and things in this city never looked more prosperous.
As it regards the church, there never was more faith manifested, nor a greater degree of union than exists at the present time; the church has been more perfectly organized lately in its different quorums, there are fewer dissatisfied spirits in our midst; and peace and harmony universally prevail.
The idea of the church being disorganized and broken up because of the Prophet and Patriarch being slain, is preposterous. This church has the seeds of immortality in its midst. It is not of man, nor by man-it is the offspring of Deity: it is organized after the pattern of heavenly things, through the principles of revelation; by the opening of the heavens, by the ministering of angels, and the revelations of Jehovah. It is not affected by the death of one or two, or fifty individuals; it possesses a priesthood after the order of Melchisedec [Melchizedek], having the power of an endless life, "without beginning of days, or end of years." It is organized for the purpose of saving this generation, and generations that are past; it exists in time and will exist in eternity. This church fail? No! Times and seasons may change, revolution may succeed revolution, thrones may be cast down, and empires be dissolved, earthquakes may rend the earth from centre [center] to circumference, the mountains may be hurled out of their places, and the mighty ocean be moved from its bed; but amidst the crash of worlds and the crack of matter, truth, eternal truth, must remain unchanged, and those principles which God has revealed to his Saints be unscathed amidst the warring elements, and remain as firm as the throne of Jehovah.
ANCIENT RUINS.
Recently so much is said about the discoveries of ancient ruins, that we feel inclined to offer a few ideas upon the subject. Were it necessary, in order to establish the truth of their reality, just as they are found, showing that civilized nations, possessing the highest attainments in the arts and sciences, once occupied this whole land, and we add, world,-we might go behind the flood of Noah, and bring in the ante-deluvians, those "men of renown," and suppose a few cases of their "ruins"-for there were "giants in the earth in those days," and put curiosity on the stretch: but there have been a plenty of events since the flood, to answer our purpose, notwithstanding the soil and sand which tumbled round the globe during the year when the "waters prevailed exceedingly," must have buried cities, towns and curiosities equal to any of the nineteenth century.
From many of the speculations of this age upon the grandeur of the ruins, discovered in Central and South America, it might be supposed, that no nations but those of the nineteenth century, could enjoy and execute the prerogatives of national greatness, national refinment [refinement], and worldly improvement. So small are the hidden mysteries and mighty acts of God, compared to the sword of a less than Bonaparte, and the purse of a poorer than Rothchilds [Rothschilds].
But to the point: ruins are almost the lion of the day. In our last paper may be seen the "Interesting discovery in South America," and the "Disinterment of Nineveh." The prophecies must be fulfilled. There is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered. Many are very anxious to find out something ancient and new-but few are willing to give God the glory. He may have peopled the earth, and destroyed
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cities, kingdoms, nations, and their works for wickedness, and who acknowledges the arm of Jehovah in it? Who, over this wild world, when a nation is scourged with war; rebuked by earthquakes, storms, and disasters, comes out and says-ah, Lord it is thou that liftest up and thou that puttest down-in wrath remember mercy? By excepting the Latter-day Saints, it may be said with shame to the world, not one!
Singular as it may seem, all Christendom, Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherians [Lutherans], Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Universalians [Universalists], Deists, and all other denominations, (but the Mormons) worship a God afar off, and not near at hand; and add to this idea, the refinment of the age, and the spiritual wisdom of priestcraft, and a majority of the christian population, actually worship nothing-because King James' translators, not called, nor sanctioned by revelation, rendered, by supplying "is" in a certain passage in John, "God is a spirit" when common sense, in connection, with the rest of the Bible, from Genesis, where the "spirit" of God moved upon the waters, to Revelations where the testimony of Jesus is the "spirit" of prophecy, would show that God has a spirit: that God and angels dined with Abram on a calf, and that Jesus after the resurrection ate a broiled fish and honey-comb.
If, then, men have strayed so far from the just idea of the true God, is it any thing strange that they should lose the true knowledge of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof? Talk about "ruins" of cities of America; and "ruins" of ancient splendor in Asia; and what of them?-until the people believe in revelation, and in a God that has substance, and that created man in his own "image" and will raise the whole house of Israel in their flesh and bones, to dwell in their own land on earth, that they may be like him, and he like them; for he is their brethren: and has said-YE ARE GODS-until this is bona fidely the case, all we can say is, the wisdom of man is foolishness mith [with] God. Man was created upright, but he has sought out many inventions.
The world has been cumbered with Nimrods, Pharaohs, Alexanders, Nebuchadnezzars, Neros and a host of others, who, whether they built a tower to frustrate the designs of God; or, prepared catacombs to preserve the embalmed dead; guarded Thebes with an hundred thousand men at an hundred gates; conquered the world, and mourned because there was not another to conquer; looked upon themselves as God, and cropped the grass of the field, with beasts, till seven times passed over them for their sinning against heaven;-made a city the mistress of the world, or burned it to cope with religion:-it is all the same: God was not in all their ways; and though they may have tried to ascend into heaven, or dig down into hell; piled monuments to the clouds; spread dominions from sea to sea, and "walked among the stones of fire:" yet their fame has fled; their greatness has departed; their splendor has withered; their palaces have mouldered back to dust; wastes, deserts, lakes, and mountains sit in judgment upon their ruins and their spirits linger in prison, and will linger till the uttermost farthing is paid. Many of these inheritors of folly, might as well not have been born, or been an untimely birth and slept, as Job said:
"With kings and counsellors [counselors] of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver;
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master."
The way of man has been evil continually, and if we had the history of the abominations bloodsheds and mighty acts of men during the first thousand years, as we now have the last it would exhibit a course of moral depravity, fallen greatness, and beastly corruption, as sickening and shocking to the feelings of good men as the customs of cannibals. To strengthen this idea let us introduce a few paragraphs from the Book of Jasher, not allowing it to be revelation but history sustained by other history. That book says:
"And all the sons of men departed from the ways of the Lord in those days as they multiplied upon the face of the earth with sons and daughters, and they taught one another their evil practices, and they continued sinning against the Lord.
And every man made unto himself a god, and they robbed and plundered every man his neighbor as well as his relative, and they corrupted the earth, and the earth was filled with violence.
And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and
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God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals.
And the Lord said, I will blot out man that I created from the face of the earth, yea, from man to the birds of the air, together with cattle and beasts that are in the field, for I repent that I made them.
And all men who walked in the ways of the Lord died in those days, before the Lord brought the evil upon man which he had declared, for this was from the Lord, that they should not see the evil which the Lord spoke of concerning the sons of men.
And Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord chose him and his children to raise up seed from them upon the face of the whole earth."
This is simply a corroboration of the Bible: The wickedness of man became so great that God had to destroy the whole world, wherein was life, by the flood to subdue it, agreeably to a part of the command given to Adam.
But leaving matters before the flood, to be explained when Enoch's pillar is found, and the record it encloses made public, there is plenty of proof to warrant the belief that ruins may be expected all over the earth. When the tower was building we find this record in the Bible, which the Lord must have spoken:
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth."
From this definite account of driving the "nations apart, when the ancient hills did bow," all reflecting minds may judge that man was scattered over the whole face of the earth: And with the superior knowledge of men like Noah, Shem, (who was Melchisedec [Melchizedek]) and Abram, the father of the faithful, three contemporaries, holding the keys of the highest order of the priesthood: connecting the creation, and fall; memorising [memorizing] the righteousness of Enoch; and glorying in the construction of the ark for the salvation of a world; still retaining the model and pattern of that ark, than which a great, ah, we may say, half so great a vessel has never been built since; for another ark, be it remembered, with such a ponderous living freight will never be prepared as a vessel of mercy by command of Jehovah: That was so perfectly built as to brave the fury of the elements a year: and with the image of the tower whose peering top reached the sky in daring magnificence; and with that mighty combination of intellect, when the whole earth was of one language, and the plains of Shinar the capitol,-with all these and thousands of others,-where is the man so self biased for his own age, as to wonder who peopled the ruinous cities of the south, or reared the time defying mounds of the north?
If the first and second thousand years produced the Zion of Enoch and its translation to heaven; the ark and the flood: the tower and the dispersion; who is so narrow minded, so destitute of the matter of man, as not to suppose, that greater things, larger schemes and mightier monuments of both wisdom and wickedness, would characterize the third and fourth thousand years than had the preceding two? One God fashioned the spirits of all men; and, in all ages the same superior intellects, talents and ambition, in all the various grades and trades among men, bring out about the same current of excellence, improvement, vanity, virtue, public good, and national evil. Splendor, renown and ruins, since the flood, ought not to astonish any one: for there must have been much, both from the wisdom and folly of men who had the scope of a thousand years life, to exercise their powers upon. Josephus says many lived to be one thousand years before the flood.
Of matters since then, the scriptures are not silent. Jeremiah says: "arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwell without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, that dwell alone." This was spoken in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; and it is well known that he did not allow any nation to dwell alone without gates and bars; so the wealthy nation, must have dwelt alone on this continent.
As to the original inhabitants of the continent of America, the Book of Mormon, backs up the description of immense "ruins" in Central America, dispels all doubt. And while that book opens the sleeping history of two or three thousand years past, we can see the two families that came out from the tower, spreading from sea to sea, waxing more and more, greater and greater, until they had occupied the entire country fifteen hundred years. In honor of one of the two first families, they were called 'Jaredites.'
After they had almost covered the land with cities, and probably made the present prairies
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by extensive cultivation. The Book of Mormon says:
"And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which was grievous to be borne [born]; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings.-And he did erect him an exceeding beautiful throne, and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto taxes, he did cast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes, he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor, he did cause to be put to death; wherefore he did obtain all his fine work; yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison, and all manner of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prisons. And it came to pass that he did afflict the people with his whoredoms and abominations; and when he had reigned for the space of forty and two years the people did raise up in rebellion against him and there began to be war again in the land, insomuch [inasmuch] that Riplakish was killed, and his descendants were driven out of the land."
The 'Jaredites,' were destroyed for their wickedness, but how many "spacious buildings," and doleful "prisons," remain among the ruins of departed things, as witnesses of their fame and folly, needs a little revelation to unravel: a portion of that spirit which showed a Daniel Nebuchadnezzar's dream and images might solve the mystery. If the "ruins," of Egypt, Balbec, Babylon, and Pompeii, exhibit in the smallest degree, the greatness and glory of the Oriental world, in past ages; so do the "ruins" of Central and South America declare the splendor, genius, intellect, refinement, and power that once actuated the master spirits and their hosts upon these uttermost parts of the earth., It takes some men a great while to consider upon the reality of revelation; they want the privilege of bringing up their "strong reasons" to refute it, when at the same time, a novel or other trite matter, will pass along for truth, without even a hint that all is vanity.-This is not right: it destroys the efficacy of truth and religion at the same time, and introduces the wild imaginations of men in the place of the revealed will of God.
Oneness and union are the only principles upon which Jehovah acts. Oneness of purpose and union to effect it. The course of men, since the fall, has been the reverse. Diversity for satisfaction, and division for success: by which means, the affections have been alienated; love banished by hatred; true religion driven into the wilderness by popularity and public patronage, and the whole world "from the rivers to the end of the earth" has become the market place of speculation: and there are men ready to furnish the market with every thing;-law, religion, politics, souls, bodies, diseases, cures, curiosities, paintings and even "ruins"-but, except the Mormons, no one comes to market in the name of Israel's God, with revelation, declaring the meaning of the handwriting upon the wall; showing a wondering world what has been; what is; what will be; and the way of the Lord.
To turn the attention of such as may read the works of Stevens' upon the "ruins" of Central America, we ask a perusal of the following from the writings of Nephi in the Book of Mormon:
"Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof. And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned. And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof; to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them. And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth; yea, and the city Onihah, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mecum, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants thereof, and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them. And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city Gimgimno, all these have I caused te [to] be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof, and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them. And behold, that great city Jacobugath which was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government
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of the land: therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them. And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations; and because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them, might not cry unto me from the ground against them; and many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations."
Now, gentle reader, with all these facts before you, and the light and knowledge of the nineteenth century to explain them, what think ye of the "ruins," and what think ye of the spirit of revelation? What has the boasted wit, wisdom, and learning, of the Gentile world performed in the space of four thousand years? Ah! the problem is easily solved. They have made a great noise in piling up monuments of their greatness which after generations discover as "ruins." So let us say once for all:-without revelation from God the world is but a wilderness.
KEYS.
This may be thought by some to be rather a singular caption for a religious article, but when duly considered, it is presumed, that persons of candor will reflect upon it as an expression, or as a term, when used in the revelations of God, conveying the meaning of power, authority, and knowledge: The symbolical meaning of the word "key" or "keys" pertaining to the priesthood of the Son of God, cannot, or will not be fully defined to the present generation, because the world is unworthy of the information.
The first important passage in the bible, relating to this matter, is found in Isaiah; the which, with some other very curious knowledge unexplained, we will here quote:
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed and be cut down and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it."
Now, permit us to read our translation of the two first verses from the Hebrew of Michaelis: And it shall be in that day that I call unto my servant, through Eliakim, (Hebrew, God raises up) the son of Hilkiah; that I will cause him (my servant) to be clothed with thy robe, (i.e. Isaiah) and to be strengthened with thy girdle, &c., &c, and he (i.e. the servant) shall be a father to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
The next verse, the 22nd is fully expounded by John in his Revelations on the Isle of Patmos. And shows that Jesus Christ is the "servant" spoken to in the two previous verses, and that he holds the "key of David."
"The nail fastened in a sure place," remains a mystery to the world, and will, but the wise understand. As to the "offspring and issue of his father's house" being appended to Jesus Christ, the Latter-day Saints believe that-but if any man believes that the 25th verse is a true translation and explanation of the "nail," he is welcome to his opinion; he knows nothing of the key of David, and little about the keys of the kingdom.
As Nephi said, it supposes us that the "keys" of the kingdom of heaven, spoken of in Matthew 16:19, was a symbolical expression which conveyed to the saints then an idea similar to the "horns of Joseph" at any rate, power, authority, knowledge, and the assurance of eternal life, seem to be locked or unlocked by these "keys" as much as the prisons of the dead, or "death or hell," are opened and shut by the keys that are held by the resurrected Savior.
That great phrase-I have all power in heaven and on earth delivered unto me, coupled with "if any man will follow me," let him keep my commandments, has often passed through the mind of holy men, and they have spoken as moved by the Holy Ghost: but unaccountable and mysterious as it may appear to some, the
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'key' or 'keys' come from the Son of God of his own good will and pleasure. For it is written in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee, &c., and sanctified thee and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." There are other instances to show that God ordains his servants, before they take upon them flesh, but let this suffice. The power or keys, conferred by such ordination, is made manifest by the Holy Ghost,-of which "John was filled from his mother's womb,' and went forth in the spirit and power of Elias.
But we have said enough on this subject, and will conclude that in all ages, whenever a messenger, or, we will say prophet of God, has graced the earth, his own works has been the evidence of his power, authority, and knowledge,-keys. Abel's offering was accepted.-Enoch was translated. Noah built the ark.-Moses brought the stone tables. Elijah was translated. Jesus showed Peter, James, and John the transfiguration. Joseph Smith brought forth the Book of Mormon: and what was the reception these holy men and many others met with holding the keys of light and knowledge? With a few exceptions, the answer is MARTYRDOM in the most hellish sense of the word.-And what has been the reception of those who have said they were apostles, and were not? They have built cities and towers, and been honored by the world for shedding blood, because the devil loves his own. And even the great Anti Christ of the last days, who would feign to make the world believe, (the saints know better) that he is "my servant" the branch holding the before mentioned key of David, has gone to Pittsburg [Pittsburgh] to prepare for war. "Wisdom will be justified of her children."
EXTRACT.
We take the following extract of a letter from the Prophet.
Boston, Nov. 19,1844.
I will now proceed in writing my history.-In August last, myself, in company with Elder B. Brown, left Nauvoo, having been appointed by the Twelve to visit the British Provinces.-We made our way east to western New York, where we were induced to stop and spend the then coming winter. The Lord was with us in word and in deed. We organized several branches of the church, baptized rising of one hundred and fifty souls in all, and held two public conferences, the minutes of which were forwarded to Nauvoo for publication, but for some reason did not appear. After a tarry of about eight months, we again pursued our journey eastward, by way of Montreal and Quebec, making a short stay in each of these Catholic cities, preached some and circulated some books, pamphlets, &c. From thence we proceeded down the St. Lawrence twenty five miles below Quebec, then crossing over to New Brunswick, we found ourselves in a country where no Latter-day Saint had ever journeyed, and where the fulness [fullness] of the gospel had never been heard. We had of course to clear away heaps of rubbish to prepare the people to receive the word: our labors were hard-yet the Lord was with us, and "confirmed the word with signs following," so that notwithstanding opposition from rulers, and threats-yea, violence from mobs, we were enabled to plant the standard of truth in New Brunswick, and forty-seven gathered around it, during our short stay there, who are numbered with us in the new covenant: they were organized into two branches: both in the county of York, above Fredericton. If any travelling [traveling] elders should have occasion to journey that way, they are requested to call on them. A great work might have been done, but time and circumstances would not admit of our staying longer, besides I was worn down with exercise, labors by day and by night. All things being now ready, we set out for Boston, and arrived here about the middle of October. I was happy to hear of the prosperous state of the church here, and after council with Brothers Woodruff, Adams, and others, I concluded not to return to Nauvoo until spring.-I have just returned from Peterborough; the church numbers eighty members, all in good standing who expressed their determination to uphold the Twelve, by a hearty vote, not one dissenting spirit. On my return I stopped in Lowell (Sunday last) and preached to the saints, who are well united with the exception of two or three uneasy spirits. I attended meeting last night and night before in Boston, the spirit of God rested upon the saints in power: Such meetings as I attended in all three of the above branches, is a caution to Rigdonites, who tell us "the church has fallen." O, shame on such characters for ever! who waste their strength in trying to breed sedition and divide the saints. I abhor the principle, and look with contempt upon the man who will be guilty of such things. May the Lord judge them according to their works. But I must close by saying, that I will assist all my power to support your paper.-I have just been writing to my brethren in the Provinces, to send on their money and names. If you are not pressed with matter I may address you again.
With sentiments of high esteem, I subscribe myself your fellow laborer in the gospel,
JESSE W. CROSBY.
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
We have received South Australian papers up to the 28th of May, containing the most gratifying intelligence from that colony, in regard to the present position and future prospects of the inhabitants. The Government census which has been published in April, gives the total population at 17,196-viz-Males, 9526, and females, 7670. Compared with the sister colonies, South Australia is much better off as regards the equalization of the sexes, the present disparity being only 5404 males, against 3862 females; while in New South Wales, for instance, the males amount to 76,583, and the females only to 35,762. "The increase of the last three years," says the Adelaide Observer, "appears to be equal to the ordinary proportional increase of ten years in England; whilst vital statistics, the accuracy of which may be depended on, are triumphantly in favor of South Australia as compared with any British population either in the mother country or the (hitherto esteemed) most healthy of her colonies.
The various denominations which must necessarily exist in the colony, have also been classified under their various heads. and are as follows:-
Church of England 9418
Church of Scotland 1691
Wesleyan Methodists 1666
Other Protestant Dissenters 3309
Roman Catholics 1055
Jews 25
Mahomedans and Pagans 32
Total 17,196
From some other statistical returns, published along with the census, we observe that temperance has been gaining ground. The number of houses in Adelaide. Port Adelaide, and Albert Town, licensed for the sale of spirituous liquors in 1840, was 70; in 1841, 67; in 1842, 44; and in 1843, only 34. These facts derive their main importance from the influence which the consumption of ardent spirits has exercised on the amount of crime and the number of convictions in the district; and tend clearly to point out the intimate connection between the moral conduct, and strict sobriety of the inhabitants. In 1840, the number of convictions amounted to 47; in 1841, to 37; in 1842, to 36; and in 1843, only to 30.
(->) The foregoing information is given in the Times and Seasons, to show the Latter-day Saints, what they will have to contend with in the Far West.
A POOR MAN
It is possible that the accumulation of wealth may add to the sorrow of the possessor. I know an individual, with whom I was very intimate when a youth, and I remember very well at that time, whenever I wanted relief for the poor he would give a 10l. note, and say, "Richard, never pass my door; always come to me when you want assistance for any deserving object." He was then comparatively poor, having perhaps a fortune of from 50,000l. to 60,000l.; but now he is worth nearly 1,000,0001.-One would have thought it ought to have made its possessor happy; but no, I know not a more miserable man than that. Rich as he is, it was but the other day that he ordered some of the beautiful trees in his park to be felled, because he had not money to pay the income-tax with. It was but the other day that he lost 100,000l. in America; that made him mad. He has another 100,0001. which he does not know how to invest,-that makes him miserable, and he is now under the impression that he will die a poor man.-Oastler's speech.
(->) Well, might Paul exclaim: the lore of money is the root of all evil, and Jesus said true, when he observed, that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Autumnal Winds.-The autumnal gales have destroyed an immense quantity of property, upon the eastern and western coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, the past fall. We think we have never read of as many disasters by autumnal gales before. These with the frequent earthquakes at sea, seem to whisper that the calamities of the last days have begun.
Proverbs.-Three things are an abomination to the saints: a slanderer, a tattler, and a hypocrite: but a drunkard, a thief, and gambler are a disgrace to themselves-and the whole too often end with murder.
ONE WORD.
Our subscribers frequently forward letters to us, inquiring "what is the reason their papers do not come, or come so irregular?" All we can say, the fault must be in the Post Office: our papers are regularly mailed. Hereafter, new rulers may urge better rules. We hope so. ED.
Who is the wisest man in the world? He that lays up his treasures in heaven; where rust does not corrupt, and thieves do not break through and steal.
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POETRY.
From the Nauvoo Neighbor.
LINES BY-S. HULET.
O earth attend! ye nations now give ear, Ye patriots whose noble bosoms burn
Let mortals weep, in anguish drop a tear; With ardent zeal-whose hearts like steel are firm;
Ye seraphs bright who range in worlds on high, Rise up like men in freedom's righteous cause;
In sorrow heave a more than mortal sigh. Stand to your rights defend her sacred laws.
Deign now ye gods who dwell in realms of light Immortal shades! our honor'd father's ghosts
To stoop in silence and behold the sight; Who once withstood proud Briton's warlike hosts,
For ne'er transpir'd on earth, (nor yet in hell) Whose fearless spirits broke the haughty foe-
A scene more tragic since the Savior fell. Weep o'er thy sons, thy fallen sons below
Ye saints of God on this polluted earth, Look down ye men now standing at the helm,
Cease from your laughter and put off all mirth; To guide the fate of this extensive realm;
Weep o'er the deeds just done by wicked hands, Your fostering care, to every branch extend;
For righteous blood now stains this guilty land. Their wrongs redress, their liberties defend.
O Illinois thy base high handed crimes, Shall mobs presume to raise the impious hand
Stand yet unrivall'd on the page of time; Against the laws of this once favor'd land,
The horrid deeds that now thy country stain, In acts of riot, plunder, strife, and blood;
Unequall'd were in Nero's bloody reign. Of laws regardless, both of man and God?
Though shameful scenes of blood and carnage great, Wake O Columbia from thy slumbers rise,
Transacted were within a sister state; Break off the spell that closes now thine eyes,
Though dark the deeds perform'd by her alone, Exert thy power quell every hostile band,
More savage still and darker are thine own. An equal measure mete to every man,
Ye men of fame who o'er this state preside- The cause for support for which our father's bled,
Who roll in pleasure, luxury, and pride; The storm avert now pendant o'er thy head,
Your solemn vows now call you to sustain Lest the same hand that thou dost foster now,
Your country's honor and its laws maintain. Smite thee in turn, and cause thee low to bow.
But where's thy greatness and thine honor now, Rouse from thy dreams and open now thine eyes,
Thy proffer'd friendship and thy plighted vows? Ere vengeance dread, shall thunder from the skies,
Where now the pledge that once thou didst bestow- And in thine ears announce thy fearful fate,
Were they perform'd? thine actions answer no. And break thy visions when it be to late.
The Times and Seasons Is 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 EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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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