FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Times and Seasons/5/14
< Times and Seasons | 5
Times and Seasons: Volume 5, Number 14
Summary:Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Times and Seasons Vol. 5
| Number 13 | Number 15 |
Times and Seasons: Volume 5, Number 14
Jump to details:
- HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
- CONFERENCE MINUTES.
- TWO MINUTES IN JAIL.
- PERILOUS TIMES.
- CX PSALM.
- COMMUNICATIONS.
- Eagle Creek,
- POETRY.
| TIMES AND SEASONS | ||
| "TRUTH WILL PREVAIL" | ||
| Volume V. No. 14.] | CITY OF NAUVOO. ILL. AUG. 1, 1844. | [Whole No. 98. |
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(continued.)
Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the scriptures.-From revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points, touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded everyone according to the deeds done in the body, the term "heaven," as intended for the saints eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating John's gospel, myself and elder Rigdon saw the following
VISION.
Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior;-great is his wisdom; marvelous are his ways; and the extent of his doings none can find out; his purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand: from eternity to eternity, he is the same and his years never fail.
For thus saith the Lord, I the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness, and in truth unto the end; great shall be their reward, and eternal shall be their glory; and to them will I reveal all mysteries; yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old; and for ages to come will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom; Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations; their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heeaven [heaven]; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to nought [naught]; for by my spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power I will make known unto them the secrets of my will; yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
We, Joseph Smith, jr. and Sidney Rigdon, being in the spirit on the 16th of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened, and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God, even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his only begotten Son, who was in the bosom if the Father, even from the beginning, of whom we bear record, and the record which we bear is the fulness [fullness] of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision; for while we were doing the work of translation which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the 29th verse of the 5th chapter of John, which was given unto us as follows:-speaking of the resurrection of the dead, conserning [concerning] those who shall hear the voice of the Son of man-and shall come forth; they who have done good in the resurrection of the just, and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust. Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit: and while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understanding, and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about: and we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness [fullness];-and saw the holy angels, and they who were sanctified before his throne, worshiping [worshipping] God and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all, which we give of him, that he lives; for we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the Father; that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created; and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God, who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the only begotten Son-whom the Father loved, and who was in the bosom of the Father-and was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, and was called Perdition: for the heavens wept over him; he was Lucifer a son of the morning; and we beheld and lo, he is fallen! is fallen! even a son of the morning. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision: for we beheld satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and his Christ; wherefore he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasses
592
________________________________________
them round about. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us.
Thus saith the Lord, concerning all those who know my power and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth, and defy my power: they are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say it had been better for them never to have been born; for they are vessels of wrath doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels, in eternity: concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come: having denied the Holy Spirit, after having received it, and having denied the only begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame: these are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devils and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; yea, verily the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath; for all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.-And this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice but of the heavens bore record unto us, that he came into the world, even Jesus to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighthousness [unrighteousness]; that through him all might be saved, whom the father had put into his power, and made by him; who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition, who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him: wherefore he saves all except them; they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment, and the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows, neither will be revealed unto man, except them who are made partakers, thereof: nevertheless I the Lord show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again: wherefore the end, the width, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except them who are ordained unto this condemnation. And we heard the voice saying, Write the vision for fo [lo]! this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly!
And again, we bear record for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ, concerning them who come forth in the resurrection of the just: they are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name, and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given, that, by keeping the commandments, they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; and who overcome by faith, and are sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true: they are they who are the church of the first born; they are they into whose hands the Father has given all things: they are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness [fullness], and of his glory, and are priests of the Most High after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the only begotten Son:-wherefore as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God: wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or all things present, or things to come, all are theirs, and they are Christ's and Christ is God's; and they shall overcome all things: wherefore let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet;-these shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever; these are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, to reign on the earth over his people; these are they who shall have part in the first resurrection; these are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just: these are they who are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all; those [these] are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the first born: these are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all;-these are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out of this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood: these are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God the highest of all; whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo! these are those who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the
593
________________________________________
church of the first born, who have received the fulness [fullness] of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun of the firmament. Behold, these are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men: these are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness [fullness]; these are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness [fullness] of the Father; wherefore they are bodies terrestrial, und [and] not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun: these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus: wherefore they obtained not the crown over the kingdom of our God. And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.
And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differ from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament; these are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus: these are they who deny not the Holy Spirit: these are they who are thrust down to hell: these are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil, until the first resurrection, the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work: these are they who receive not of his fulness [fullness] in the eter [eternal] world, but of the Holy spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial; and also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels, who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them, for they shall be heirs of salvation.-And thus we saw in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial which surpasses all understanding; and no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it. And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial, which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion: And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things; where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever, and ever: before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence and give him glory forever and ever. They who dwell in his presence are the church of the first born; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness [fullness] and of his grace; and he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one. And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one. And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one, for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world: for these are they who are of Paul, and of Appollos, and of Cephas: these are they who say they are some of one and some of another; some of Christ; and some of John; and some of Moses; and some of Elias; and some of Esaias; and some of Isaiah; and some of Enoch, but received not the gospel; neither the testimony of Jesus; neither the prophets: neither the everlasting covenant; last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught unto the church of the first born, and received into the cloud: these are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whoever loves and makes a lie: these are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth: these are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire: these are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God until the fulness [fullness] of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies nnder [under] his feet, and shall have perfected his work, when he shall deliver up the kingdom and present it unto the Father spotless, saying I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God: then shall be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. But behold and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore, and heard the voice of the Lord saying:-These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever: for they shall be judged [according] to their works; and every man shall receive accordlng [according] to his own works, and his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared, and they shall be servants of the Most High, but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the spirit.
But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpasses all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion, which he commanded us we should not write, while we were yet in the spirit, and
594
________________________________________
are not lawful for man to utter; neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him and purify themselves before him; to whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever: Amen.
Nothing could be more pleasing to the saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelations, where the purity of either remains unsullied from the wisdom of men, goes to show the perfection of the theory, and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee. The rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: "It came from God."
About the first of March, in conexion [connection] with the translation of the scriptures, I received the following explanation of the revelations of St. John.
What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter and 6th verse of the revelations?
It is the earth in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state.
What are we to understand by the four beasts spoken of by John in the 4th chapter and 6th verse of Revelations?
They are figurative expressions) used by the Revelator John, in describing heaven, the paradise of God, the happiness of men, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air, that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal, and that which is temporal, in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person; as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.
Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders?
They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order, or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.
What are we to understand by the eyes and wings which the beasts had?
Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge; that is, they are full of knowledge-and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, &c.
What are we to understand by the four and twenty elders spoken of by John?
We are to understand that these elders whom John saw, were elders who had been faithful in the of the ministry, and were dead, who belonged to the seven churches, and were then in the paradise of God.
What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals.
We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries and works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning the earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
We are to understand that the first seal contains things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
What are we to understand by the four angels spoken of by John, 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelations.
We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, having power to shut the heavens, to seal unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness.
What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelations, 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
We are to understand that the angel ascended from the east; is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the Twelve Tribes of Israel, wherefore he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads; and if you will receive it, this is Elias which was come, to gether [gather] together the tribes of Israel, and restore all things.
What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished?
They are to be accomplished in the sixth
595
________________________________________
thousand year, or the opening of the sixth seal.
What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel, twelve thousand out of every tribe?
We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come, to the church of the first born.
What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelations?
We are to understand that God made the world in six days, and of the seventh day he finished his work and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth; even so in the beginning of the seventh thousand year will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels, are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seven thousandth year, the preparing of the way before the time of his coming.
When are the things to be accomplished which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelations?
They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ.
What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by. John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelations?
We are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things.
What is to be understood by the two witnesses in the 11th chapter of Revelations?
They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and build the city of Jerusalem, in the land of their fathers.
CONFERENCE MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.
At two o'clock, P. M., Patriarch Hyrum Smith arrived at the stand, and said he wanted to speak something about the Temple. We want 200,000 shingles, as we shall resume the work on the Temple immediately; all who have not paid their tithing, come on and do it. We want provisions, money, boards, planks, and anything that is good; we dont [don't] want any more old guns or watches. I thought some time ago I would get up a small subscription, so that the sisters might do something. In consequence of some misunderstanding, it has not gone on as at first; it is a matter of my own, I do not ask it as a tithing. I give a privilege for any one to pay a cent a week, or fifty cents a year. I want it by next fall to buy nails and glass. It is difficult to get money, I know that a small subscription will bring in more than a large one;-the poor can help in this way. I take the responsibility upon myself, and call again upon the sisters; I call again until I get about $1,000, it only requires 2,000 subscribers. I have sent this subscription to England, and the branches; I am not to be dictated to, by anyone except the prophet and God; I want you to pay in your subscriptions to me, and it shall always be said boldly by me-the sisters bought the glass in that house-and their names shall be written in the book of the law of the Lord. It is not a tax but a freewill offering to procure something which shall ever be a monument of your works. No member of the Female Relief Society got it up; I am the man that did it; they ought not to infringe upon it; I am not a member of the Female Relief Society; I am one of the committee of the Lord's House. I wish to accomplish something; I wish all the saints to have an opportunity to do something; I want the poor to have a chance with the purse of five dollars.-The widow's two mites, were more in the eyes of the Lord, than the purse of the rich; and the poor woman shall have a seat in the house of God, she who pays her two mites as much as the rich; because it is all they have. I wish all to have a place in that house; I intend to stimulate the brethren; I want to get the roof on this season; I want to get the windows in, in the winter, so that we may be able to dedicate the house of the Lord by this time next year, if nothing more than one room; I will call upon the brethren to do something.
I cannot make a comparison between the house of God and anything now in existence. Great things are to grow out of that house; there is a great and mighty power to grow out of it; there is an endowment; knowledge is power, we want knowledge; we have frequently difficulties with persons who profess to be Latter Day Saints; when the sacrament will be administered in the Lord's house, it will do away with a
596
________________________________________
great deal of difficulty that is now in existence. If we can have a privilege and confess our faults unto God and one another every Sabbath day, it will do away with these, you poor sisters shall have a seat in that house; I will stand on the top of the pulpit and proclaim to all what the sisters have done; when you offer up your sacraments every Sabbath, you will feel well a whole week; you will get a great portion of the Spirit of God, enough to last you a week, and you will increase. We are now deprived of the privilege of giving the necessary instruction,-hence we want a house. All the money shall be laid out for you what you design it; it shant be paid for anything else. I am one of the committee; the committee tell me the quarry is blockaded, it is filled with rock; the stone cutters are wanting work; come on with your teams as soon as conference is over. It is not necessary for me to tell who will come and do it; I will prophesy that you will do it. There is not one in the city but what will do right if they know it; only one or two exceptions and they are not worth notice; God will take care of them, and if he dont [don't] the devil will. I described them once and you will always know them while you see them, they will keep hopping till they hop out of town. Some are tree toads who climb the trees and are continually croaking.-We are now the most noble people on the face of the globe, and we have no occasion to fear tadpoles. We are designated by the all-seeing eye, designated to do good; not to stoop to any low thing. We are apt to suffer prejudice to get into our hearts on hearing reports, we never should allow it; never should pass our judgment until we hear both sides. I will tell a Dutch anecdote: a certain Dutchman had a cause brought before him and heard one side and he gave his decision, 'by sure you have got the case;' and when the other party brought their witnesses, he said again, 'by sure you have got the case too.' If you hear of any one high in authority, that he is rather inclined to apostacy [apostasy], dont [don't] let prejudice arise, but pray for him;-God may feel after him and he may return; never speak reproachfully or disrespectfully, he is in the hand of God, I am one of those peacemakers who take the stand above these little things. It has been intimated we should have investigations this conference, do you think I would trouble this conference with it. If I have difficulty with a man I will go and settle it, let them settle their difficulties; there is not a man who has had a difficulty, who would trouble this congregation about it; we ask no favors, we can settle it ourselves; dont [don't] think any thing about persons who are on the eve of apostasy, God is able to take care of them. Let God judge, do your duty, and let men alone.
I wish to speak about Messrs. Law's steam mill, there has been a great deal of bickering about it. The mill has been a great benefit to the city, no matter how much fault found; it has been the means of building the city, it has brought in thousands who would not have come here; but as they saw that the Mormons had got no horns, they came, and have got good by it. People would rather come in than starve.-The Messrs. Laws have sunk their capital, and done a great deal of good; it is out of character to cast any aspersions on the Messrs. Laws.-When we come to investigate conspiracy, it is that rascal Jackson who presumed upon them; he supposed he could lead them into any manner of iniquity. I do not believe that the Messrs. Laws would do any thing to injure me or any man's life. The men gave in affidavit that Jackson said they would go into it tooth and toe nail; I will not believe they will do it, if Jackson swore upon a stack of Bibles as big as Mount Etna. I make these observations for the purpose of putting down prejudice. If I was as full of the devil as an egg is full of meat, and you undertook to oppress me, you could not drive me, neither if I was full of the Sprrit [Spirit] of God. Never undertake to destroy men because they do some evil thing; it is natural for a man to be led and not driven; put down iniquity by good works; many men speak without any contemplation, but when they have a little contemplation it would not have been spoken. We ought to be careful what we say, and take the example of Jesus, cast over the mantle of charity and try to cover their faults. We are made to enlighten, and not to darken one another, save men but not destroy men; do unto others what you would have them do unto you. It is well enough to root out conspiracy, do not fear, but if you are in the right track, having God to guide you, he will save you, for God will save you if he has to destroy the wicked so as by fire.
I want to put down all false influence; all that brother Joseph said, was all right; but it was said by the rascal Jackson. If I thought I should be saved, and any in the congregation be lost, I should not be happy; for this purpose Jesus effected a resurrection; our Savior is competent to save all from death and hell; I can prove it out of the revelations; I would not serve a God that had not all wisdom and all power. The reason why I feel so good is because I have a big soul, there are men with small bodies who have got souls like Enoch; we have gathered out all the big souls from
597
________________________________________
the ends of the earth; the gospel picks out all the big souls, out of all creation; and we will get all the big souls out of all the nations, and we shall have the largest city in the world; It works just like a God. We will gather out all the big souls out of every nation: as soon as the gospel catches hold of a big soul it brings them right up to Zion. There is a thing called an eye star; the gospel is similar; then will have a people big enough to be saved.-Popery could not write what Enoch preached; he told the people the Spirit of God took him up into a high mountain; showed him the distress of the people; the destruction of the world, and he said his heart swelled wide as eternity; but Popery could not receive any thing as large as that. Every society are just like them; God Almighty has made men's souls according to the society which he lives in, with very few exceptions, and when men came to live with the Mormons, their souls swell as if they were going to stride the planets, as I stride the Republic of America. I can believe that man can go from planet to planet, a man gets so high in the mansions above.
A certain good sister came to my house and she was troubled because she heard so many big things; she thought it weakened her faith. I told her she had too much faith; she believed too much; I will tell you how you will know whether the thing is true or not. When any come to you with a lie, you feel troubled; God will trouble you and will not approbate you in such belief; you had better get some antidote to get rid of it. Humble yourself before God, and ask him for his spirit; and pray to him to judge it for you. It is better not to have so much faith, than to have so much as to believe all the lies. Before this conference eloses [closes] I want to get all the elders together. I shall make a proclamation: I want to take the line and axe [ax], and hew you, and make you as straight as possible; I will make you as straight as a stretched line. Every elder that goes from Nauvoo to preach the gospel, if he preach any thing else we will silence him through the public print; I want all the elders to meet and to understand, and if they teach any thing but the pure truth we will call them home.
(To be continued.)
From the Nauvoo Neighbor.
TWO MINUTES IN JAIL.
Possibly the following events, occupied near three minutes, but I think about two, and have penned them for the gratification of many friends.
Carthage, June 27th, 1844.
A shower of musket balls were thrown up the stair way against the door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid footsteps. While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it, there being no lock on the door and no ketch that was useable [usable]. The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the stairs head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and we must change our position. Gen. Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself sprang back to the front part of the room, and Gen. Hyrum Smith retreated two thirds across the chamber directly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his nose when he fell backwards extended at length without moving his feet. From the holes in his vest, (the day was warm and no one had their coats on but myself,) pantaloons, drawers and shirt, it appears evident that a ball must have been thrown from without, through the window, which entered his back on the right side and passing through lodged against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch at the same instant the ball from the door entered his nose. As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically; "I'm a dead man." Joseph looked towards him, and responded, "O dear! Brother Hyrum!" and opening the door two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one barrel of a six shooter (pistol) at random in the entry from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and entering his throat, passed into his head, while other muskets were aimed at him, and some balls hit him. Joseph continued snapping his revolver, round the casing of the door into the space as before, three barrels of which missed fire, while Mr. Taylor with his walking stick stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets, which were constantly discharging through the doorway, while I stood by him, ready to lend any assistance, with another stick, but could not come within striking distance, without going directly before the muzzle of the guns. When the revolver failed, we had no more fire arms, and expecting an immediate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets-half way into the room, and no hope but instant death from within: Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. When his body
598
________________________________________
was nearly on a balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket, near his left breast, and smashed it in "pie," leaving the hands standing at 5 o'clock, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds-the force of which ball threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed which stood by his side, where he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as large as his left hand, and were hindered only by my knocking down their muzzles with a stick; while they continued to reach their guns into the room, probably left handed, and aimed their discharge so far around as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I re-commenced the attack with my stick again. Joseph attempted as the last resort to leap the same window from whence Mr. Taylor fell, when two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward exclaiming, "O Lord my God!" As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left side a dead man. At this instant a cry was raised, "He's leaped the window," and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out. I withdrew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a hundred bayonets, then around Gen Smith's body. Not satisfied with this I again reached my head out of the window and watched some seconds, to see if there were any signs of life, regardless of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved; being fully satisfied, that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body and more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a return to our room I rushed towards the prison door, at the head of the stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded, to learn if the doors into the prison were open.-When near the entry, Mr. Taylor called out, "take me;" I pressed my way till I found all doors unbarred, returning instantly caught Mr. Taylor under my arm, and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, or inner prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed in such a manner, as not likely to be perceived, expecting an immediate return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, this, is a hard case to lay you on the floor, but if your wounds are not fatal I want you to live to tell the story. I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the door waiting the onset.
WILLARD RICHARDS.
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
THURSDAY, AUG. 1, 1844.
PERILOUS TIMES.
The ancient prophets and apostles all seem to have had a view of the great troubles of the last days; and, in order the more fully to make the subject plain, they particularized the actors, and the scenes; that the generation which was to experience the vanity of flesh, and the wrath of God, might know of a surety the exact time. To this end, Paul wrote to his son Timothy, in this wise; [2d Timothy, 3;1-4.]
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God."
The language of this apostle is so plain that no person of sense can possibly mistake it.-Truce breakers, false accusers and traitors, come before us in living reality. Peter also who held the keys of the kingdom, says: [2nd Peter, 2;1,-3.]
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction; and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandize [merchandise] of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not"
If the way of truth was ever evil spoken of, now is the time. This is not all; Peter wrote again that we "may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." These predictions coupled with that emphatic declaration of Jesus Christ to "the Twelve;" that because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, are all sufficient indexes to moral men, that now is the time!
A sketch of the startling atrocities, outbreaks or mobbing, in our once beloved country, for a
599
________________________________________
few weeks back, may serve as a telegraph to more melancholy details. Several thousand infuriated persons out of the inhabitants who have dwelt with the saints in sweet peace, rush up to exterminate them for a supposed criminality without a trial, and finally murder two of their principal men while prisoners in jail, under the faith of the state, pledged by the governor for the protection of their lives. In Boston, a state convention of Mormons is interrupted by a set of dishonorable rowdies, whereby the hitherto untarnished fame of the "cradle of liberty" is disgraced. Philadelphia, the city of loving brotbers [brothers], forgetting that in her sacred domains the Declaration of Independence was signed and delivered to the sons of liberty to secure equal rights to the "oppressed of all nations who might seek asylum
"In the land of the free
And the home of the brave,"
has become recreant to those rights, and actually mustered military and mob for "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness," whereby, after an attack with cannon and small arms, some twelve or fourteen persons have been killed, and fifty wounded. We need not say more, the great flood on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the fermentation of society over the whole country, and the lack of confidence among rulers, priest and people, are occurrences so prominent that all ears must hear and all eyes must see. Should there be any so calous [callous] as to say, "O these things have always been so," we answer, events have always happened, men have often fought, and waters have risen and fell, but rarely by a specified time of the prophets.
If any one will take the pains to read Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, they will find a destruction determined for the whole earth, which, 'from the time it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night; and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. For the Lord will rise up in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth."
If the great family of man collectively and individually cannot see a time of trouble coming speedily upon the world, like a whirlwind, the Spirit of God must have nearly withdrawn, as in the days of the flood. From one of our exchanges the following is added to show that trouble seldom comes single.
"The Cholera, which started from India in its desolating progress through the world, is making sad havoc in the same region at present. Four American missionaries have died at Madura, and the natives are dying at the rate of one thousand a day."
Notwithstanding all nations seem to be expecting something extraordinary to take place, yet the Latter Day Saints are the only people that are truly sounding the alarm, and preparing for "the strange act." The word of the Lord unto the elders is, when they have faithfully warned the people "after your testimony, cometh wrath and indignation upon the people; for after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground, and shall not be able to stand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thundrings [thunderings], and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea, heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion; and surely men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people; and angels shall fly in the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying, prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come: behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." [See D. C., page 105, par. 25.]
CX PSALM.
Among the many strange things presenting themselves to the gaze of intelligence, we have thought that three translations of the cx psalm might have their good effect to cause men to reason and reflect for themselves on the subject of religion, as well as on arts and sciences. The first translation was made in the 15th century, and bears the printers date "1582" in old English black letter. We give the original spelling, and Italicise [italicize] their additions:
A PSALM OF DAVID.
1. "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstoole.
2 The Lorde shall sende the rodde of thy power out of Zion: be thou ruler in the middes of thine enemies
3 Thy people shall come willingly at the time of assembling: thine army in holy beauty: the youth of thy wombe shall be as the morning dewe.
4 The Lorde sware and will not repent,
600
________________________________________
thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord, that is at thy right hande, shall wound kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall be judge among the heathen: he shall fill all with dead bodies, and smite the head over great countreys [countries].
7 He shall drink of the brooke in the way: therefore shall he lift up his head."
The second translation made in the beginning of the 17th century, by King James translators, is as follows:
A PSALM OF DAVID.
1 "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be, willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with dead bodies; he shall wound the head over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore he shall lift up the head."
The third translation made in the 19th century, is from the Hebrew of Michaelis, independent of sects or creeds, and is as follows:-
A SONG OF DAVID.
1 "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand until I place thine enemies at thy footstool.
2 The rod of thy strength the Lord will send from Zion: subdue thou in the midst of thy enemies.
3 A plenty of thy people for the day; thine army in the majesty of holiness from the recess of the morning, for thyself, the dew hath begotten thee.
4 The Lord hath sworn and will not lament, thou art a priest for eternity over the order of the king of righteousness.
5 My Lord, upon thy right crusheth the kingdoms in the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge among the nations full of dead bodies, to crush the head over the whole earth.
7 From the stream in the way, he will drink, therefore he will exalt the head.
+ We hope our readers will compare these three equally true translations, leaving out the italic, and judge for themselves which is most consistent according to revelation and reason.
COMMUNICATIONS.
REFLECTIONS.
O earth! earth! earth! and ye inhabitants thereof hear the word of the Lord, and reverence the wisdom that cometh from the council of perfection! wherever the sun, moon or stars shine: wherever the dew moistens: wherever there is an ear to hear, or a heart to conceive, there let truth be obeyed, and virtue honored: for truth is worth more than gold; obedience is better than sacrifice; honor is the fidelity of God, and virtue the bliss of heaven. God is all for all; and all that was, or is, or yet shall be, comes from him: his power is boundless; his wisdom almighty; his justice perfect; his mercy eternal, and his lifetime the perpetual eternity that continues throughout the eternities, which gave time to all his creations ad infinitum.
His throne is the centre [center] of the great all; and his light the light of the whole, though there be Lords many and Gods many. Order, union, beauty, harmony and grace, adorn the creations of his hand, from a mite to a man; from a fowl to a beast; from a globe to a god. His wisdom; his reason; his prudence, his justice, and virtue exalt him to a glory that man, poor weak man, in his low estate, never saw; never dreamed of; no, nor never will, till he comes up through the same tribulation, the same narrow way, the old path wherein our fathers went, and escaped in fire to bliss; and wherein Jesus, by his own blood, wrought out a more perfect escape for the children of obedience from evil to good, from death unto life; from mortality to immortality; from time to eternity; wherefore O man! consider thy ways; obey the voice of the Lord; be directed by reason; embrace the truth; reject error; love thy kindred; never stray from the ways of wisdom, and you shall find rest for your soul in the hour of calamity, the great day of God Almighty, when the wicked shall be cut off from the earth.
O man! man! why wast thou made in the image of God? was it to war with thy brethren, and follow the dictates of passion, and bemean thyself as the beasts of the field and become the slave of Satan and his fallen host of angels in a kingdom of misery and darkness, or was it to do his will and be exalted like him, through the perfection of grace, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, power and virtue unto a
601
________________________________________
kingdom of happiness, light and glory? Commune with thine own heart and answer these questions.
Who art thou, O man! that vauntest thyself of thine own prudence and wisdom? Be admonished of thine arrogancy; the first step towards the cabinet of wisdom, is to know thou art ignorant: the second step is, to disencumber thyself of the folly of self-conceit, and then walk slow in the path of truth, being continually lighted by the lamp of virtue. If thou hast any thing about thy raiment, about thy person, or in thy speech, that is adorned with beauty, like the fair woman of ancient days, vail [veil] it, so thy modesty exalt the [thee] in the courts of kings. Prudence and integrity, like a husband and wife, should be united in a perpetual covenant with him that means to be what his creator made him-a man.
A great man, possessing a noble soul is above meanness: he ever stoops from the dignity of his reputation to the degradation of a traitor, to accomplish the purposes of God.-Nor does he endeavor to win the hearts of the people, under the mantle of charity, with the oil of religion, while his tongue is green with the venom of corruption, and his pockets groan with the weapons of death. O thou who art charmed with the beauties of truth, and dost boast of the gem of sincerity;-beware lest hypocrisy and deceit bring thee to shame and disgrace in this life, and wretchedness and wo in the world to come! Fidelity and friendship and love and light, are only eternal by perpetual succession.
Man, how nobly hast thy creator endowed thee with reason, with faculties, and with powers; so that thou canst know thyself and comprehend thy being's purpose and perpetuity: canst comprehend the globe with all the glory of its elements; canst comprehend the heavens in all their majesty and sublimity. P.
Ship Timoleon, North Atlantic Ocean,
Nov. 4th, 1843.
Lat. 20-15, Lon. 25-19, west from Greenwich.
I expect ere this reaches you, Brother P. B. Lewis will deliver you the letter and articles I sent you by him, with the $8,00 in cash, I expect he has told you the state of Br. Hanks health when he left us, the reason I never wrote you the particulars of his health was because he did not wish to have his friends know the worst. I did not see him from the time I left them at Evansville till he came to me at Winchester. At first sight of him there I saw he had failed materially, and I was bed-fellow with him; my heart often ached to hear the deep rooted cough as it racked his whole frame. I kept a bed vessel with some fresh water in it and what he raised from his lungs would sink in it like lumps of clay; this indicated to me that short of the immediate interposition of divine Providence nothing would save him from a premature grave. On his passage from Nauvoo to New York he seemed to recruit up, but from New York to New Bedford he with Brother Grouard took passage in a packet; the weather was rough and they were both sea sick, by being exposed to the sea air together with his sea sickness, his disease took a regular downward course, from which I had but little hopes of his recovering. When I met him at Winchester, the kind attention and anxious solicitude which Sister Abigail and the rest of the family took in his welfare, seemed to recruit him up a little.
When we took stage for Boston, our friends in Winchester, with myself, felt fearful he would not be able to perform the journey, but the thought of meeting Brothers Rogers and Grouard, the expectation of seeing some of the "Twelve," and attending conference with a large collection of brethren, stimulated him to great faith, and he stood the ride far beyond my expectation. The stage was crowded inside with ladies, and we were obliged to take an outside seat, for one of that kind it was very good, much of the way I supported him in my arms, and when I thought he was getting fatigued, I would secretly place my hands upon him and raise my desire to him, who is able to save and strengthen. We staid in Boston with Sister Whitmore; her untiring kindness to him is long to be remembered. He was able to attend conference but little, he was administered to by some of the Twelve once twice while there. I was with him continually while I staid in Boston, I nursed him as well as I knew (as you know I am not very skilful [skillful];) I daily rubbed him with flannels, anointed him with consecrated oil in the name of the Lord, and prayed with him, and was often assisted by Brother Rogers. When I left for New Bedford, Brother Rogers took charge of him; they went to Salem on business for the mission; back to Boston and then came on to New Bedford; when I was away from him a few days the change was more visible than when I saw him daily. I was surprised at the change, and knew at that rate he could live but a few days. I asked him particularly how he felt, he would at no time betray the least fear that he should not live, notwithstanding he closed up all his business before we left New Bedford. I believe he was determined to die as near the place of our destined
602
________________________________________
mission as possible and therefore nothing would deter him from his course. When I saw his feeble state and knew the privations he would naturally have to suffer by a sea voyage, I could not help speaking discouraging to him on the subject, and told him of all the privations he would have of necessity to undergo, but nothing would discourage him; I believe the reason he would never betray any fear of not living, was because if he did so, our faith for him might fail, and this was what he depended on to carry him to the last extremity.-Indeed it was so, the mate of the ship (not knowing the cause) observed to me, he was the strongest constitutioned man he ever saw in his life, for he never saw a man live so long that was so reduced.
After we left New Bedford, we had rough weather, and there was but 2 or 3 days we thought it prudent to take him on deck. He kept his berth most of the time, we took the best care possible of him, daily rubbing him with flannels and annointing [anointing] him in the name of the Lord; when he was afflicted with pains in any part of his system, we used to administer to him by the laying on of hands and he never failed of receiving immediate relief, but to approach the root of the disease, we never had power to affect it, but kept its regular march reducing him from day to day till I could clasp with my hand within one fourth of an inch the calf of his right leg, making it but a little larger than my wrist, though his appetite continued good he coughed and raised continually.
Soon after we sailed he got so weak that if he slept too long, he would get into a profuse sweat, and we found it necessary to watch him, we accordingly divided the night into watches of 3 hours each and kept it up; he continued regular till the first of November then his cough took a different turn, it was hard for him to raise and his lungs seemed stuffed up. I had no apprehensions of him till the 2nd, at low 12-I was called by Brother Rogers to relieve him and stand my regular watch with Brother Hanks, I then had fearful apprehensions his dissolution was near at hand. At 10 o'clock A. M. his extremities were cold, and the large drops of cold sweat covered his emaciated system. It was with great difficulty he could raise strength enough to throw off from his lungs the rattling phlegm that was continually threatening to strangle him, at that moment as I stood watching him. He made a violent struggle to throw up the obstacle, but through weakness was not able, and in the struggle he lost his breath, his eyes rolled up in his head and I thought he had left us forever. I flew to Brother Grouard (who from unwearied attention had laid down to take a little repose) but before he could spring to his feet, Brother Hanks, caught his breath again and revived a little, soon after some of the cabin passengers came in to see him. Doct. Winslow recommended a little wine and water, after taking that he revived so much that he wished to be shaved and his hair combed; after this was done, I talked with him some time about his departure; his mind was clear, calm and perfectly resigned; I told him it was a great satisfaction to me that he had visited the place of my nativity he had been in the house my father had built; was acquainted with his companion, (my mother) was acquainted with the surviving brothers and sisters of those who had gone to the world of spirits before them; he had seen the portrait of my brother Marshal, I asked him if he thought he should know him, he said if he looked like that, he should. I told him it was taken very correctly. I sent word by him to those I had been baptized for, and those I intended to be baptized for when I returned to Nauvoo. He then adjusted some of his temporal affairs, between 12 and 1 o'clock P. M. he had another strangling turn, this reduced his strength, he could only speak in whispers after, between 8 and 10 he fell into a drowse.
After he awoke he whispered to me and said I dreamed a dream, do you wish to hear it? I told him I did. He said I dreamed I went to the spirits in prison; it was an immense space. I looked to the east and to the west, and saw immense multitudes of people, that looked just like people in real life. I said can these be spirits? I was assured they were. I looked to the north and saw a stand, somebody had just been preaching there and they were dispersing from around it. I saw no children among them. I looked to see if there was any body that I knew, but saw none. I thought they were coming together again in a few minutes and I should be there; then I should see people I knew, I then awoke. About 11 o'clock he had another dream, he heard the last trump sound, and saw the multitude which John saw, that no man could number, small and great, stand before God, (they were small and great in capacity) for there were no children there, he awoke before he saw any farther. As I thought it my last opportunity with him, I sat up about 6 hours, I then called Brother Rogers, I laid down and in about 2 hours he called me and said he is dying. I heard the death-rattling in his throat
603
________________________________________
and sprang up. He had placed his own hands high upon his breast, his left hand clasping his right, he died as he had lived, calm and resigned without a struggle or an emotion.
I never saw a more pleasant corpse in my life, after we had dressed it in a neat burial robe, we wrapt it in a large winding sheet and carried it on deck; a plank was laid in the starboard gangway, on it was prepared a piece of canvass, in this we laid it and sewed it up; to his feet was attached a bag of sand of about 60 pounds weight. Then the topgallant sails were furled, the courses hauled up, and the main and mizzen topsails were hove aback, the noble ship stopped her headway, and lay in gentle motion, as if to witness the solemn scene. The American flag was hoisted to half-mast as a signal that one of her noble countrymen had gone the way of all the earth. Then her generous crew gathered around and with uncovered heads listened in breathless silence to a very appropriate prayer made by Brother Rogers then they gently raised the end of the plank till the corpse slid off and struck in the water feet foremost. My eyes followed him as he sank till a white speck vanished in the blue waters below, this was in latitude 21-34 north Longitude 26-11 west from Greenwich.
Reflections-I believe the weight of sand was sufficient to sink him below the reach of all ravenous fish, and the salt at that depth strong enough to preserve him from putrefaction, and there he will remain entire and unmolested till the morn of the first resurrection, then he will come forth. My views from recent information are entirely changed from what they used to be respecting burying the dead at sea. From the fabulous stories I used to hear, I did suppose the sharks destroyed every corpse that was put into the ocean. But from my better judgment I know this is erroneous, for sharks are afraid and will flee from anything white in the water. And if a proper weight is attached to a corpse it will sink so low, that the compression of the water is so great that it will kill any fish to go down to it. One of these whalemen told me he was lancing a whale and he sounded and carried the lance with him, he went to such a depth that the lance pole, which was made of dry ash timber was completely saturated with water as if it had been sunk for months.
Thus ended an intimacy with one who had rendered himself doubly dear to me by an intimate acquaintance. I have met but few men in my life with whom I could exchange feelings, reciprocate joys and sorrows, as we pass down the step of life, more sympathetically than with Brother Hanks. A few days before his death I asked him if I had at any time violated the pledge I made him before we left Nauvoo, (of standing by him as a friend) he assured me I had not; this to me is a source of satisfaction.
Nov. 6th. We are now running for the Cape De Verde Islands and expect to be there in 2 or 3 days; we expect to touch there and send letters. We have had a remarkable passage thus far; no severe storms nor calms, and fair winds mostly. The officers say it is the most remarkable one they ever knew, and they frankly give it as their opinion, that it is an answer to the prayers of the Mormons they have on board.
We have thus far been treated with great kindness by officers, passengers and crew.-The captain is a frank open-hearted man, but I expect he has no bump of reverence, and has hardly seen the inside of a meeting house in his life. He has thus far given us no privilege of preaching on the Sabbath, but religious controversies are common every day with passengers and crew. The sailors are rather a wild set, but still there is some hope. Doctor Winslow is quite a gentleman, and I should think a man of skill in his profession, but rather skeptical in his religious views. He converses with us very freely on religious topics, and on the whole thinks our religion a pretty good one. His wife is a lady of refinement and taste and I think an excellent woman; is very familiar and free in conversation, they have three very pretty children, Charles is the oldest, four years old, Lizzy his sister is two years and a half old. The other is an infant. They have a large terrapin or land tortoise on board, he was brought from the Galipagos [Galapagos] Islands in the same ship. Children if you look on the atlas I sent you by Brother, Young, you will see them on the equator west of Quito, this tortoise is very docile and strong, he measured forty four inches on circumference. In pleasant weather these two children will get on to his shell and ride him about the deck; it is an odd sight, and I think it would please you. They have an Irish maid of about thirty. She is a Catholic. Mr. Lincoln and wife are the other passengers, he is a carpenter. They are Baptists, and perhaps may be Mormons yet. They are quite liberal in sentiment, and think the church ought to enjoy the gifts now as well as anciently. They were all very kind to Brother Hanks and daily sent him nice cakes, &c. As to our health, Brothers Rogers and Grouard were some seasick at first, but now their appetites are good. As for myself I never
604
________________________________________
knew what sea sickness was. When in Nauvoo I weighed 156 pounds. At Winchester I weighed 159. At New Bedford I weighed 174 and have been on the gain ever since. Surely the Lord is with us for we are favored at his hand. My mind has been buoyed above desponding feelings far beyond my expectations. We have a little room to ourselves and can pray, sing, read and talk when we please, and time glides away pleasantly.-As I expect the children have received the Atlas from Brother B. Young ere this-I will give them some lessons on it. We expect to stop, or as sailors call it touch, at one of the Cape De Verde Islands, called the Isle of Sal, in English it would be the Isle of Salt. We expect to get salt there to salt fish with; then we shall touch at Bonavista, there we expect to get oranges, pine apples, raisins, figs, grapes and wine. These are latitude 17 north, and longitude 25 west: look on the map of Africa and you will find them.
From there we shall steer a south course till we make or see the Isle of Tristan de Acunha, this is in south latitude 38, west longitude 130. Then we shall steer for the Cape of Good Hope; then for the islands of St. Pauls and Amsterdam. These are in east longitude 88, south latitude 39, here we expect to catch the fish to use our salt on; there are innumerable multitudes of them around these famous islands, and the captain says they are extremely fat, and more delicious than Salmon. Here we expect to feast ourselves, as you know I am fond of fish; we expect to be there in January.
Answer the questions:-What season of the year will it be then? Where will the sun be at noon? When the sun is just setting with us there, what time will it be with you then?
After we leave there, we shall steer for Van Diemans Island, South Cape. From there we shall make the N. W. point of New Zealand. from [From] there to Otaheite or Tahita [Tahiti]. When we get there, how much shall we lack of having circumnavigated the globe, and after the sun sets with you, how high will it be with us?
Nov. 9. We made the Isle of Sal this morning about 3 o'clock, by moon light; it is called low land, and so it is in comparison with the rest; but it is higher than the mountains about Winchester; and a view from the sea looks like a ridge of snow drifts, for it is very broken, and the peaks very sharp, (it is barren and waste, no vegetation on it. What few inhabitants there are yet there, live by selling salt. We are now sailing pretty close to it, and it looks pleasant to see land again, even in this rugged situation, after being deprived of the privilege for a month. We have made a mistake in the island, it is St. Nicholas's; we are now so near a town that we can see the houses and the vessels at anchor; we expect to send a boat on shore in a few minutes. If there is a chance to send the letters from there we will, if not, I will write some more on the way to St. Jagoes
Nov. 10. I went on shore in the boat yesterday, the island is quite different to what it appears at first; quite fruitful; a plenty of oranges, plantains, benanas [bananas], melons, gooves, popogars, &c. &c. The inhabitants are Portugees [Portuguese], about half black; there are some English among them, they are quite friendly.-The Doctor, with his little son, Charles, were with us. He is a very delicate, fine looking fellow; there were a multitude of people on the shore when we landed; they were overjoyed to see little Charles, the dark ladies took him up, hugged and kissed him till he was frightened and began to cry, but they gave him a variety of fruit, and sweet cake to pacify him. I was quite amused at the fun. Children, when I saw this nice fruit, so plenty and so cheap, I wished I could buy a basket of it and give you, but the ocean rolls between us, and how long it will continue to, the Lord only knows; but he may preserve us till we all meet again in this life, in health and strength, is the continual prayer of your unworthy father.
There is a brig, the Susan, of Salem, lying here, bound to Surinam, the Captain offers to take our letters and send them from there the first opportunity; it is rather a round about way, but I think I will send them. The brig is to take a load of live cattle from this island. I don't know whether I have said any thing about your writing; I wish you to write as soon as you receive this; I wish to know all about the situation of the Church. You know they were threatening to drive all away when we left.-Write to Tahita, [Tahiti] to the care of the American counsul; [consul] also the care of Nathaniel Cary, jr., New Bedford.
Adison Pratt.
Eagle Creek,
Benton county, June 22, 1844.
Pursuant to previous arrangements, the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, met in conference, when A. O. Smoot was chosen to preside, and Joseph Mount secretary.
Elders present-A. O. Smoot, Joseph Younger, David P. Raney, Wm. L. Cutler, W. P. Vance, Hiram D. Bugs, John W. Greerson, Wm. Camp, Joseph Mount, A. F. Young.
605
________________________________________
The conference was then opened by prayer, after which Elder Joseph Younger addressed the people in an able manner, setting forth the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, followed by elder Smoot, on the advancement of the church in the knowledge of the truth.
The conference adjourned until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Conference convened pursuant to appointment, when elder Raney addressed the meeting on the keeping of the commandments and the order of baptisms; after which elder Smoot spoke at large on the effect produced by keeping the commandments.
Conference adjourned till next day at 8 o'clock.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
The conference proceeded to organize a branch consisting of 17 members, to be called the Eagle Creek branch. Robert C. Petty was chosen to preside, and was ordained an elder; Seth Velie, priest; and B. B. Barnet teacher.
At 10 o'clock the congregation was addressed by elder Mount, on the restitution of all things, as spoken of by the prophets and apostles; after which a recess of 30 minutes was given, when elder Smoot preached on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, showing that such a workman must necessarily come forth in fulfilment [fulfillment] of the ancient prophesies; after which four were added to the church by baptism.
After a short recess, the remainder of the evening was spent by administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and appropriate remarks by the several elders present.
A. O. Smoot, Prest.
Joseph Mount, Clerk.
Chicago, Ill., May 27,1844.
A general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, met according to previous notice, in the City Council room, Chapman's buildings, Chicago, May 24th and 25th, 1844.
Present 11 elders.
The meeting was called to order by elder Samuel Shaw, when elder A. Cordon was appointed President, and James Burgess, clerk.
The meeting was opened by prayer by the president, after which a hymn was sung, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning."
The president then stated the object of the meeting and presented the truths of the Church of God, as they were really taught, believed, and practised [practiced] by the Latter Day Saints.
The branch of the church in Chicago was represented, comprising 22 members, four elders three priests and one deacon.
The conference then proceeded to withdraw the hand of fellowship from six individuals, to wit: Samuel Nickbucker and wife, --Hasty and wife, Abraham Beeman and --Vanseccles.
Hasty and wife, and Beeman have been to Nauvoo, and have denied the faith and returned to this place. It will be unnecessary perhaps to state every particular, suffice it to say that the conference went off well; addresses were delivered by elders Cordon, Burgess, Terry, Nixon, &c., with much good feeling and energy. Prejudice was allayed to some extent, and the hearts of the people were open to investigate our views, and doctrines; political and religious. I would just say that the people in Chicago are aroused; though the strong band of prejudice was fast upon them, the tie is now broken. One has been baptized, and I have no doubt but many will embrace the truth.-Joseph's views and measures are liked very much, though many are opposed to the man; but let our motto be "the best measures flow from the best men." We have conversed with all that came in our way, read to them the Prophet's Views, and the generality of the people are in favor of them. We feel in good spirits, and are determined to go ahead; preaching liberty to the captive, and opening the prisons to them that are bound.
A. CORDON, Prest.
James Burgess, Clerk.
DIED-In this city on the 30th ult., Elder Samuel H. Smith, aged 36 years.
The exit of this worthy man, so soon after the horrible butchery of his brothers, Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage Jail, is a matter of deep solemnity to the family, as well as remediless loss to all. If ever there lived a good man upon the earth, Samuel H. Smith was that person; in fact he was too good for this generation, and the infinite wisdom of Jehovah seems to have been exerted in this instance of taking him, "to remove him from evils to come." The highest point in the faith of the Latter Day Saints, is, that they know where they are going after death, and what they will do, and this gives a consolation more glorious than all the fame, honors and wealth, which the world has been able to heap upon her votaries or ever can: and so, when a faithful saint dies, like this, our lamented brother, calm, faithful and easy, all Israel whispers, as expectants of the same favor, "let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his."
His labors in the church from first to lats [last],
606
________________________________________
carrying glad tidings to the eastern cities; and finally his steadfastness as one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and many saintly traits of virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, shall be given of him hereafter, as a man of God.
POETRY.
For the Times and Seasons.
BY MISS ELIZA R. SNOW.
TO ELDER JOHN TAYLOR.
Thou Chieftain of Zion! henceforward thy name When around you like hailstones, the rifle balls flew-
Will be class'd with the martyrs and share in their fame; When the passage of death open'd wide to your view-
Thro' ages eternal, of thee will be said, When the prophet's freed spirit, thro' martyrdom fled,
'WITH THE GREATEST OF PROPHETS HE SUFFER'D AND BLED. In your gore you lay welt'ring-with martyrs you
BLED.
When the shafts of injustice were pointed at HIM- All the SCARS from your WOUNDS, like the trophies of yore
When the cup of his suff'ring was filled to the brim- Shall be ensigns of honor till you are no more;
When his innocent blood was inhumanely shed, And by all generations, of thee shall be said
You shared his afflictions and with him you BLED. 'WITH THE REST OF THE PROPHETS, IN PRISON HE BLED.
July 27, 1844.
JOSEPH SMITH.
TUNE-Star in the East.
Praise to the man who comun'd with Jehovah, Stain Illinois, while the lauds his fame.
Jesus' anointed "that Prophet and Seer." CHORUS-Hail to the prophet, &c.,
Blessed to open the last dispensation;-
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere. Great is his glory, and endless his priesthood,
Ever and ever the keys he will hold;
CHORUS-Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven, Faithful and true he will enter his kingdom,
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain, Crown'd in the midst of the prophets of old.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren, CHORUS-Hail to the prophet, &c.
Death cannot conquer the hero again.
Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr; Earth must atone for the blood of that man!
Honor'd and blest be his ever great name; Wake up the world for the conflict of justice,
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, Millions shall know "brother Joseph" again.
CHORUS-Hail to the prophet, &c.
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 persons 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.