Difference between revisions of "Elder's Journal/1/2"

Revision as of 11:32, 22 November 2012

Elder's Journal
2, Number 2

Source document in online archive: Elder's Journal Vol. 1

17

ELDER'S JOURNAL
OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
Volume I. No. 2.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, NOVEMBER, 1837.	[Whole No. 2.

The following conference minutes should have been published in the Sept. No. with the Bishop's Appeal or Memmorial [Memorial], but through a press of business it has been overlooked and not handed to us until now, however, we feel in hopes that it will serve to call the attention of our readers (those that have the last No. of the Messenger) to the second candid perusal of the Appeal. — Ed. Minutes of a conference, of the authorities of the church of Latter Day Saints assembled in the house of the Lord in Kirtland, Sept. 17th, 1837. President Joseph Smith jr. presided; conference opened by prayer after which Bishop N. K. Whitney arose and said the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to travel and necessarily must have an agent to act in his abscence [absence], agreeably to the Provisions made in the revelations &c. — Elder William Marks was nominated and elected by the unanimous voice of the conference, to act and serve the church in this office. After taking into consideration the affairs of the Latter Day Saints in general, having opportunities of becoming acquainted with the affairs of the Saints throughout the continent, and also the peculiar condition of this our city; it is deemed by this conference, (which is constituted of all the authorities and even members of the church,) of great importance to the prosperity of the cause of truth in general, that the Bishop and his Counselors send abroad their memmorial [memorial], to all the Saints throughout the land, as well as to all well-wishers to the cause of Zion, That their appeal may go forth in the name and by the authority of the church, to all Saints scattered abroad. Some remarks were made by President S. Rigdon, relative to the duties of the Bishop, his counselors and agent, Showing the great necessity of their immediate exertion in steping [stepping] forward in the dignity of their office &c. Conference closed after receiving a benediction from Presidint [President] S. Rigdon. J. SMITH Jr. Pres't. 0. W. Robinson Clerk.

Fox Islands, Vinalhaven Me. Nov. 20th 1837. Elder Don C. Smith. The llth No. of the Messenger and Advocate containing the Prospectus for the Elders Journal has providentially fallen into my hands. It is cheering to my feelings to learn that such a paper is to be presented before the world. I believe it will become a powerful engine in removing a flood of prejudice from the minds of thousands of this generation, and encourage the Saints to persevere in the glorious cause in which they are engaged even if their path should at times be intersected with trials, afflictions, and persecutions. And while we peruse the account of the Elders of Israel, whom God hath called, commissioned and sent forth to establish light and truth in the earth and to prune his vineyard for the last time: we rejoice at their success. And as we learn of their prosperity in the ministry, while faithfully proclaiming the word of God we feel encouraged to go and do likewise. My object in addressing you at this time, is to forward you a list of the names of some of our friends from the several Islands of the sea, who wish you to send them your valuable paper, viz: the Elders Journal of the church of Latter Day Saints, and knowing there are thousands of Saints who feel interested in the progress of the work of the Lord in these last days, and believing it to be interesting to them to learn that the Lord is raising up a people upon the Islands of the Sea, who are engaged in the same cause with their brethren and sisters, that are scattared [scattered] abroad through the land. I will endeavor to give a brief account of its prospect in this part of the moral vineyard. Elder Jonathan H. Hale and myself addressed a letter to Elder Joseph Smith jr. and the church in Kirtland, under date Sept. 18th. We then gave an account of our visit to the Islands, the reception we met with among the people, and the commencement of the work of the Lord. On the 13th of Oct. following we held a meeting on North Fox Island Vinalhaven

18

and organized a small branch of the church to the number of twelve, and broke bread unto them. On the day following we left the Islands, as Elder Hale was desirous to return to his friends in Kirtland. While on our way to Portland we preached in the town of Bath, to a large and respectable congregation of citizens who met in Pierces Hall: We were treated with every mark of respect and civility, and solicited to meet with them again. I took the parting hand with Elder Hale in South Berwick Me. And after spending a season among the Saints and friends in Saco and Scarborough, I left Portland on board the Bangor (in company with Mrs. Woodruff) for the purpose of returning to the Islands to spend the winter. Notwithstanding we passed through a severe snow storm by the way, we arrived at North Fox Island safe and in good spirits, on the 31st Oct. and found the Saints strong in the faith, and I think growing in grace. I have as yet, mostly, confined my labors since my return to North and South Fox Islands. I have had more calls for preaching than I can fill I find a deep interest manifested in the minds of many while investigating the subject of the fullness of the gospel. The people are more noble in Vinalhaven than in many places, they are generally willing to hear the matter before they judge it. I have baptized a number since my return, and others have offered themselves as candidates. The church now numbers 17 in this town; and I consider it as only the beginning of the work of the Lord upon the Islands of the Sea. I would here remark, that I have visited the Isle of Holt since my return. The vessel in which I sailed left the Island the day following our arrival, consequently 1 had but little time with the people. I had the privilege of preaching the gospel unto them and leaving the book of Mormon. I have had an interview with persons from several Islands where we have not as yet proclaimed the gospel, and some of the number have manifested their faith in the cause, by inviting me to visit them and offering to open their doors for preaching. Thus doors are open not only upon the maine [main] land, but upon the Islands of Sea for faithful laborers in the vineyard. The enemy of all righteousness is busy in opposing the Saints, and striving to stop the progress of truth in this country, as in all places where truth is proclaimed, by creating and setting afloat every falsehood and foolish story that human ingenuity can invent, or wicked men devise. The doctrines of the shakers, and Matthias and others I might name with all the appendages of stories added unto them that have long since been worn out and found a grave, have of late appeared upon these Islands of the Sea, as though they had risen from the dead with redoubled strength and are heaped upon the heads of the Latter Day Saints, But notwithstanding this exertion against the truth the work of God rolls on and will continue to roll until his Kingdom fills the whole earth. I need the prayers of all the Saints as I am alone and much is required at my hands, I wish to say a word concerning a statement made by Mr. G. J. Newton, in his letter under date of Oct. 12,, 1837, published in a Baptist paper at Portland called Zion's Advocate, In speaking of the fruits of their seven days meeting in the Baptist church on North Fox Island, Mr. Newton (the Pastor of the church,) made mention of two converts that had been impressed before this protracted meeting: one of which he says was afterwards baptized. It is a well known fact that the two mentioned persons were his own son and daughter. He then speaks of several others who had received the fellowship of the Church as candidates for the ordinance of baptism, Mr. Newton sums up the subject by saying, "It is worthy of remark that those who have obtained a hope are some of those who stood aloof from hearing the "Mormons"' (as he is pleased to call us.) Now what can Mr. Newton think by presenting such a “Sentiment” before the publick [public], for it is a truth too notorious to be denied, that not only his son and daughter, but some, if not all of the other converts of which he speaks as well as himself attended our meetings from time to time. The cloud of witnesses is to [too] great on this subject to convince the citizens of Vinalhaven that such a statement is correct, and wherever else it may find credit or be believed, it will not be on North Fox Island. Whenever men who profess to be teachers of the people and ministers of the gospel

19

of Jesus Christ, so far stray from the truth (in order to appear plausible,) as to clearly show that they have need that one teach them the first principles of the gospel, are rather to be pittied [pitied] than ridiculed. Yours in the bonds of the covenant. WILLFORD WOODRUFF.

∗ ∗ ∗

We are aware that it is not expected by the elders of the church of Latter Day Saints, that their private epistles will be spread before the public, especially when addressed to their wives; & the apology we have to offer for so doing at this time is, that our columes [columns] could not be devoted to a better use, than they are with the following epistle from our beloved Bro. O. Hyde. Although it is but ten days later than that of elder Kimball's, published in the Oct. No. yet, we think it will be a sweet morsel to every Saint, and will serve as a stimulative to the ministers of our God, that their exertions in the proclatmaion [proclamation] of the gospel may be untiring, until the uttermost corners of the earth shall be made to tremble with the sound of their voices, and the Israel of God be gathered out against the day of disolution [dissolution], which is speedily to come upon the earth, if the ancient prophets have not prophesied falsely. — Ed Preston, Eng. Sept. 14, 1837. My dear, Marinda:— I have been and procured a large sheet of paper which will give me ample room to redeem the promise I made to you in a few lines which I addressed to you in Bro. Kimball's letter to his wife. Through the favor of the Lord, I am in good health and spirits, and so are all the brethren. I read your letter with peculiar interest and have but one fault to find, and that is, there was not quite enough of it. — I should like to have heard how the brethren are getting along, but I know you could not think of every thing. I never wanted to see you more than I do at this time: But in this I cannot be gratified at present. There are about four thousand and two hundred long miles which separate us, and the mighty ocean rolling between. Since I came to this place I have been down by the water side and looked westward over the surface of the deep as far as the eye could extend, fancy painting to my imagination the prospect of catching a glimpse of my native shore through the glass of great desire and intense anxiety, but, alas! the greatness of the distance blasted the prospect, and the fleet and extended imagination returned within its own native borders. Again I looked as the sun was fast reclining in the western sky, leaving his golden beams in the mirror of waters, and descried a proud and lofty billow bending its course towards the shore, as if to say, I have brought tidings from your home, your dear native home: But O! how I was disappointed again on seeing this false messenger sink by its own gravity to rise no more. This much is the result of one view of the sea shore I labor in the vineyard night and day and the Lord labors with me. — There has been between one and two hundred baptized in this place since we came; and Elder Kimball is now a laboring about 15 miles from this place where he has raised a small church, and I do not know but that it is a large one by this time. The Lord is with him, and he can preach so loud and so fast that the Catholics call him a noisy devil. Bro. Goodson has this day returned from Bedford and says that he left thirteen baptized into the new covenant there, and bro. Richards is left with them. Bro. Goodson will remain in this place with me for a season. — Brother Snider has returned from the borders of Scotland where he and bro. Russel went to labor, and Bros. Fielding and Snider left this place yesterday to go out into the country on a mission, and will go from house to house. Bro. Russel has not baptized any as yet but he will soon I think. Those who have been baptized, are mostly manufacturers and some other mechanics. They know how to do but little else than to spin and weave cotton, and make cambrick, mull and lace, and what they would do in Kirtland or the city "Far West," I cannot say. They are extremely poor, most of them not having a change of clothes decent to be baptized in, but they have open hearts and strong faith. We have taught them

20

nothing about the gathering for they have no means to bring them to America, let alone procuring them a place to live after they get there. We all pay 2 english shillings per week for our lodging which is nearly 50 cents, and then we buy our own provisions at the market and it is cooked for us. — The brethren will frequently divide the last loaf with us, and will do all in their power for us. If it had not been for brother Goodson's books, I know not how we should have lived. They are very kind to us where we are, but their circumstances will not allow them to do much for us without pay. I have frequently seen the tender and delicate females with their old pails or baskets in the streets gathering up fresh horse dung with their naked hands, and then go and sell it and get a penny or two's worth of bread for themselves and hungary [hungry] children. Marinda, how would you like to follow that busines [business]? I pray God that such may not be your lot. — Tell the brethren if it would be a pleasure to them to see their wives carrying on such or a similar branch of business for a living, to bring them along with them when they come to old England to preach the gospel. Whoever comes here for loaves and fishes will realize their expectations as much as our Kirtland speculators. If brother Joseph never advised correctly before, he certainly did when he advised the brethren to leave their women at home. My humble advice is, that if they have any compassion on their wives, let them for God's sake and for their wive's sake leave them at home. It is of no use for any to come into this country to preach the gospel unless they are able to defend it like a man of God. For unless they have a pretty powerful gift, they cannot live. Not so at home, if a preacher has but a small gift there, he can get what he wants to eat &c. because there are none so distressedly poor there and they will keep him over night free, but this is not the custom in this country. The people expect pay for what they do; and in fact, that people who will receive the gospel, are not able to do it without pay. Now if there are any elders or preachers in the church of Latter Day Saints in America who have faith to brook all these difficulties, let them come to Old England. We want them. We must have such men, and we say to them "come over into Macedonia and help us." We do believe that Kirtland affords some such men, men who are willing to forsake wife and children for Christ's sake and the gospel's, and look forward for their recompense at the resurrection of the just. It would be altogether better for the brethren :o [to] see us before they commence their labors in this country, for we can tell them many things respecting the customs of the people, and the laws of the land respecting preaching the gospel, that will be of great service to them. I understand that brother Pratt has gone East with his wife to spend the winter, and meet some other brethren in N. Y. in May next to come to England: But he had better wait and see us in Kirtland before he starts, or any one else; for we can tell them things that will prove to their advantage and to the advantage of the cause if they will do so. We shall probably sail for N. York about the first of March next, at least some of us, if not all: And we hope to be in Kirtland about the first of May next. — My dear wife, I never wanted to see you more than I do at this time, yet I am glad you are where you are, and that I am where I am. But the time will be when we shall meet again and rejoice before the Lord. I can truly say that I never before preached with that power and Spirit that I have since I come to this place. In fact, I am surprized [surprised] at myself many times. The priests all fear and tremble and Babel's towers begin to fall. The priests talked of putting me in prison for preaching without a liscence [license] from under this government. I made application to the Clerk of the peace for a liscence [license], but he informed that I could not obtain one until the court of quarter sessions which would be in October. I thought it would not answer for me to be idle until that time, therefore I continue preaching in houses, and in the streets, and on the public grounds, and in the market places, and am liable to be taken & thrust into prison any day when informed against: But the priests dare not really do this for fear of the people, for all men, almost, consider us to be prophets of God. Thus by the power and goodness of God we still continue to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. We are now. occupying a large and spacious building in town owned

21

by a general philanthropist, but does not belong to any church. The place will accommodate towards eight hundred people, and we have it free of charge. The priests have been to him telling him that he was encouraging false doctrine by letting us have the house &c. His reply to them is, "You are at liberty to go and contest the point with them; and if you think their doctrine incorrect, go and expose them. — You shall have your turn in the use of the house:" This shuts their mouths and puts them in rather an awkward position. The people here are quite anxious to build a chappel [chapel] for themselves by laying aside sixpence a week out of their scanty earnings, but we shall advise them upon this subject to do differently. * * * * We have not said a hard word against the priests since we came here, neither have we spoken against any sect, yet they say all manner of evil against us. The people have discovered this difference between us, and they are most agreeably surprised, and it gives us unbounded influence. We tell them that God has not sent us to judge and condemn another man's servant: But he has sent us to preach the kingdom of God. The short experience that I have had here, causes me to regret that all the elders have not observed the same course. I am quite satisfied that the great and frequent anathemas pronounced by many of our elders upon people who do not believe their testimony, are not by the Spirit of God: neither do I think it wisdom to be clubing [clubbing] the sects always; but let them alone, and preach Jesus Christ.

* * * * * *

My dear wife: I take the liberty to write a few more words across the lines which I hope you will be able to read: I feel that I have given myself wholy [wholly] to the Lord and to the work of the ministry. I feel that I am far from home and no arm to lean upon but the arm of the Almighty. In him do I put my trust; and to him do I look for every blessing that I need. I know that in me there is no goodness, that is, in my flesh. For when I view my past course, I am ready to say, Lord deliver thy servant from vanity — Cleanse his heart from all unholy desires. Let the virtue of thy blood wash him and make him fit for an inheritance with the Saints in light. Let him be sanctified, a vesel [vessel] of honor to bare [bear] glad tidings to those who sit in darkness, and call upon poor wandering prodigals to return to their father's house. Give him prosperity in the promulgation of thy words; and let the enemies of the cross be confounded and put to shame before the sublimity and power of his arguments. Let him raise the standard of the cross in every land and nation where he shall go; and let the simple and broken hearted flock unto it and rejoice beneath its heavenly banner. Before the light which he shall hold forth, let error, ignorance, and superstition fall like Dagon before the ark of God, or flee like the shades of night before the rising glory of the king of day. Let his heart became the storehouse of charity and good will to men, and his body the temple of the Holy Ghost. Let his tongue be armed with truth supplied from the rich and flowing fountain of the heart. O Lord, remember the partner of all my joys and sorrows; and when she reads this epistle from her dear and affectionate husband. Bless, O bless her with the same love and joy that now inspire my bosom. Let her enjoy health of body and peace of mind. When she is sick, do thou heal her: When she is cast down do thou raise her up. When she is sorrowful do thou comfort her, when the tear of deep affection steels down her cheeks, do thou cheer her mind with the prospect of once more seeing the object of her earthly hopes; and with open arms embracing her nearest and dearest friend. And now O Lord, have thou respect unto the little babe which thou hast given us. Take it not from us, but let it remain as a source of comfort unto its parents. Give her health and prosperity and may she grow like thine own plants and let the blessings of heaven rest upon her. Let the babe and her mother be faithfully preserved until thy servant shall return to his home. Let these, the humble petitions of thy servant be answered, for I ask them in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, Amen. * * * * Now farewell for a little season Until I come and bring a reason, Why I left my all behind, To go and warn all mankind. For lo! the time is drawing nigh, When Christ will take us up on high;

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

Difference between revisions of "Elder's Journal/1/2"

Revision as of 11:32, 22 November 2012

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

Our Friends

Follow Us

Donate to FAIR

Main navigation

Difference between revisions of "Elder's Journal/1/2"

Revision as of 11:32, 22 November 2012

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

Footer

Our Friends

Follow Us

Donate to FAIR