Messenger and Advocate/1/10

Messenger and Advocate
1, Number 10

Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Messenger and Advocate Vol. 1

Note: Some headings and bracketed texts are editorial and not part of the original text.

LATTER DAY SAINTS'
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
Volume I. No. 10.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, JULY, 1835.	[Whole No. 10.

Communications

LETTER NO. 9.

Dear Brother in the Lord:—I have perused your sixth letter, addressed to me in the April number of the Messenger and Advocate, and, besides your own matter, it contains many valuable quotations for the edification and instruction of the saints of God, and the world of mankind. For me, however, to go into all the particulars of your letter, would be a matter of supererogation; I therefore shall only touch such items as the spirit of the Lord shall direct, and pray him to guide my pen to good things and great conclusions.—And first—your quotation from the sublime song of Moses: "Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people!"—is so full of meaning, and breathes such an inviting command, that I feel impressed to observe its important import.

On reading the song of Moses one is led to marvel; to wonder; to hope; to glory; to rejoice, and bless,—for what was, and is, and is to come. Why did Moses command the nations to rejoice with the Lord's people? Because the children of Israel, his chosen, his elect, were to be gathered from all the countries whither they had been scattered and driven for their transgressions, that they might come home to Zion, in the last days, with songs of everlasting joy, and live with Christ on earth, a thousand years, in perfect peace and holiness. And as we read that some out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people will be gathered, well might Moses command the nations to rejoice with the Lord's people!

Though thousands may wonder, and even doubt how Moses came to know what should take place in the last days, let us, being enlightened by the revelations of God from the beginning till now, rejoice!—firstly for that glorious messenger of truth which sprung up out of the earth, the book of Mormon, to light up a smile in this world, in the aspect of woe; and secondly that our lives were hid with Christ in God to come forth in this august era, to labor in the vineyard for the last time, before the earth rests from wickedness. We need not wonder that Moses knew what would come to pass in the last days:—he held the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and could unlock the door that led to heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and gaze upon what was, and is, and is to come, as well as see the Lord face to face and talk with him, as man with man. Again, the Urim and Thummim was in the church of Moses, and he could read great things as they were rolled down from heaven upon the holy parchment, and written for the benefit of coming generations. Time must be filled and the earth purified. The Lord is light. When Peter, and James, and John went up into the mount with the Savior, Moses and Elias were there; and the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom were conferred upon them, Peter being at the head.—It is written in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, that after he (Jesus) ascended into heaven, he gave commandments, thro' the Holy Ghost, unto the apostles whom he had chosen, that is, to Peter, James and John, they forming the first presidency of the church of Christ, after the meridian of time: hence we have a sample of the way and manner which God uses to give the scriptures to man:—The Urim and Thummim and the Holy Ghost.—The word of the Lord could come to our forefathers of the church, through the Urim and Thummim, as well as by vision, but then the word of the Lord was read upon the parchment let down from heaven. When the word came by open vision, it was through the Holy Ghost, which is the mind of God, and never dwells in unholy temples.

Having said so much by way of elucidation, let me turn to the subject again. The song of Moses is replete with heavenly and earthly knowledge. When Moses commenced the song, he exclaimed:— Give ear O ye heavens, and I will speak, and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Now why did Moses call upon the HEAVENS TO GIVE EAR, when he was about to drop his doctrine as the rain, and distil[l] his speech as the dew? Was it because he held certain keys, and spoke the mind of the Lord? because he had open visions, and knew the first and last of Israel? He had viewed the kingdoms of God spread through the regions of space; he had looked upon Israel driven and scatter-

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ed over the face of the whole earth, and he had gazed upon the gathering and glory that should follow after much tribulation, and by commandment from the Great I AM—it is no wonder that he could exclaim, Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people!

While on the subject of church history let me remark, that our venerable fathers in the church of Christ of former day saints, being chosen and ordained to offices, took no ordinary pains to preserve and hand down to their posterity, the blessings which they conferred upon their children: and who is not desirous of receiving a father's or an evangelist's blessing? Who can read the ancient patriarchal blessings, recorded in the bible, for the benefit of the church, without a heart filled with joy, and the eyes flowing with tears of gratitude, to God for his merciful kindness towards his children?

A blessing, in its general acceptation is favor from God—happiness from heaven—joy from Jesus—prosperity from Providence—peace from the Prince of glory—or a boon from above. From the earliest age a rule was known to obtain blessings: Please the Lord by works of righteousness; offer an acceptable offering, or do all you do with an eye single to the glory of God.—Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord; and Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof: and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering:—It was done in righteousness, and the Lord smiled upon him: But he had no respect unto Cain nor his offering because it came from an impure heart, and from the ground which had been cursed.

But to come nearer to the point, let me refer to the blessings of God—and man—for man being created in his likeness and image, had a claim for blessings—and a right to bless, so long as he was in the right way. After Adam and Eve were created—the holy language is,—and God blessed them, and he said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Surely man and woman came from the hand of God, in his own image, for lords and ladies of creation,— blessed—for posterity—for virtue—for industry—for peace and glory: and notwithstanding they fell, the decree of God continued, that, where there was righteousness, there should be blessings: and this is brought to pass through the plan of salvation which requires belief, repentance, faith, prayer, good works, and endurance to the end, to be in favor with God in this world, and enjoy his presence in the world to come.

After the earth had been baptized by a flood, for a remission of her sins, and Noah had besought the Lord for her while she remained, that seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, might continue without cessation, he blessed Noah and his sons, with a command like that given to father Adam, saying, the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast, &c. adding—flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require: at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. From this scripture it is made clear, that the Lord blesses upon conditions, fulfils his promises, requires the conditions, and punishes every transgression. The Judge of all the earth does right.

But I must not pursue this subject too far; the great object I had in view, in quoting the blessing bestowed upon Adam and Noah, was to show that God, the Father and Author of all good, established an order of blessing in his church upon earth, in all ages: which order had been lost for centuries, even from the flight of blessings and glory in the apostolic days, till the book of Mormon spoke from the dust to cheer the heart of the humble with the fulness of the everlasting gospel—with all its requisitions—with all its promises—with all its glories—with all its plainness, and with all its blessings! No wonder that God blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; no wonder that Melchizedec met Abraham returning from the slaughter and blessed him; no wonder that Jacob called his sons around him, in his old age and blessed them; no wonder he blessed the children of Joseph; no; all these blessings are no wonder—for i[t]

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was a fulfilling a joyful, solemn ordinance of the everlasting gospel! It was acting in one of the sacred functions of the high priesthood for the good of man: It was acting according to the order of God—the order of heaven, in the beauty of holiness, for the benefit, the comfort, the joy and the salvation of man.

Moses, who was a man of God, a prophet, a revelator, and a seer, blessed the tribes of Israel, and who can turn over the sacred pages and read the blessing which he bestowed upon the heads of that chosen, though rebellious nation, without rejoicing? With holy aspirations he commands: Let Reuben live; hear, Lord the voice of Judah; let the Urim and Thummim be with Levi; Benjamin, the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety with thee; Joseph, blessed of the Lord be his land for the precious things of heaven; (how I rejoice for the book of Mormon when I read this) rejoice Zebulun, in thy going out; blessed be him that enlargeth Gad; O Napthali satisfied with favor! Dan shall leap from Bashan; and let Asher dip his foot in oil. Who can read the blessing from which these items are taken, and not rejoice with his people? and not long to suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand? Yea, who would not rejoice to be among the favored of the Lord to receive the chief things of the ancient mountains; and to know of the precious things of the lasting hills? Shall I say there is not an honest person in the world but will give all he has, and even suffer much tribulation for such a multitude of blessings? Yes.

I shall not be able in this letter, to set forth the ancient order and manner of blessing as full as I could wish, notwithstanding, I think I have opened the subject, as connected with the history of the church from the beginning, so plainly that the saints, if not many who as yet are without the kingdom, will see and know that, God has always had, in his church, among his people, men endowed with power and authority to bless the fatherless and the widow, besides the power which was given to the fathers to bless their children, that might be brought up in the way of holiness before the Lord.

The bible and the book of Mormon are plain on this subject. The word of the Lord is plain: the more I read it the more I learn: This is the way, walk ye in it, and the Lord will bless you—which I pray may be the happy lot of the faithful, in time and eternity.

As ever.

W. W. PHELPS.

TO OLIVER COWDERY. Esq.

"The House of God."

It will not be deemed improper for us to give the saints and friends of the everlasting gospel, a few words relative to the house of worship now erecting in Kirtland, Ohio. The first stone was laid on the twenty third of July, 1833, when, without faith, yea precious faith in the promises of the Lord, the appearances of the church would have indicated any thing but a speedy completion. Let it be remembered that the unparalleled outrages of the mob of Jackson county, were committed about this time, and the church in its infancy, had to weep over this cruel tragedy as a sore affliction upon the children of Zion.

Trusting, however, in the God of Enoch, who succors the needy, and exalts the humble, a few commenced the work; and though other important matters rolled round, which, to many, would have seemed insurmountable, and calculated to retard the progress of the building, still, the walls and the timbers of the roof were finished, being raised late last fall: and the roof is now covered.

This edifice is stone, to be completed on the outside with a "hard finish of cement." Its length is eighty feet; its width, sixty; its height, from the ground to the top of the eaves, about fifty; from the basement forty four, giving two stories of twenty-two feet each, besides an attic story in the roof for school rooms. It will be lighted with thirty-two Gothic, three Venetian, ten dormer, one circular and two square gable windows. The dome of the steeple will be not far from 110 feet high, and the bell about ninety.

The sum expended, thus far, towards its erection, may be computed at about ten thousand dollars, and the whole cost, when finished, will probably be from twenty to thirty thousand. Like many houses for public worship, this house has been, so far, reared, and must be finished, by donations from the saints, and all that feel an interest in the salvation of the human fam-

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ily. As a sample of the liberality and faith of the saints at Kirtland, we have the pleasure of saying, that on Thursday the 18th of June last, $950 were subscribed for the work; and, that on Thursday the 25th of the same month, $6,232, were subscribed for the same glorious purpose, making seven thousand one hundred and eighty two dollars. So much for the laudable object of preparing a house where the incomings and the outgoings of the saints may be in the name of the Lord, as in old times.

This noble example is a good pattern, and must be imitated by every well wisher of the cause of Zion. The churches abroad will not, they cannot honestly withhold their abundance or little,—no; they will contribute till the spirit of the Lord will bear witness, and write upon their hearts—"well done thou good and faithful servants"—you shall receive your rewards.—When the saints bless, they may expect to be blessed; be with God and God will be with you.

The honest, who may not as yet have come into the kingdom, and embraced the everlasting gospel, it is to be hoped, will not scruple to lend to the Lord, for he is good to reward; mighty to save, and ever to be honored. Nothing uncommon is solicited of the children of men, when donations are asked: House after house has been reared by subscription; want after want has been supplied by alms; and heart after heart has been feasted and comforted by charity—and surely when our object is good and our motives pure, we shall not be less happy in finding faithful friends for the benefit of fallen man!

We rejoice, when we reflect what the Lord of glory has said on this subject. After giving line upon line according to promise, he has said:—"Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you; and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom: seek learning even by study, and also by faith. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; that your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High."

Brethren and friends! the commandments of the Lord are sure; the prospect of the saints is cheering; the harvest is great; the laborers are few; the work is glorious; the cause is righteous, and the reward eternal: Be ready, then, to tithe yourselves, and prepare yourselves, that you may be among the happy number who shall be invited to the supper of the great Bridegroom, because you have added virtue to your faith; and knowledge to your virtue; and temperance to your knowledge; and patience to your temperance; and godliness to your patience; and brotherly kindness to your godliness; and and charity to your brotherly kindness:—for "the house of the Lord, built by the Latter Day Saints."—P.

SLANDEROUS.

The following slanderous slip is cut from the New-York Mercury, of June, 25:

"An Angel Caught..—The Magazine and Advocate says, that while the Mormon Prophet, Jo. Smith, was in Ohio, engaged in proselyting the people to the faith of the "Golden Bible," he sought to give additional solemnity to the baptismal rite, by affirming that on each occasion an angel would appear on the opposite side of the stream, and there remain till the conclusion of the ceremony. The rite was administered in the evening in Grand River, near Painesville, not by the Prophet in person, but by his disciples. In agreement with the prediction of the Prophet, on each occasion a figure in white was seen on the opposite bank, and the faith of the faithful was thereby greatly increased. Suspicions, as to the incorporeal nature of the reputed angel, at length induced a company of young men (unbelievers of course) to examine the quality of the ghost, and having secreted themselves, they awaited its arrival. Their expectations were soon realized, by its appearance in its customary position, and rushing from their lair, they succeeded in forcing it into the stream, and although its efforts at escape were powerful, they succeeded in bearing it in triumph to

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the opposite side of the stream, when who should this supposed inhabitant of the upper world be, but the Mormon Prophet himself!— Rochester Rep."

There are, in our day, many kinds of craft; some have but a small, while others have a large support. Some have many advocates while others have few; but among them all, one would suppose that the great Babylon, spoken of in the Apocalypse, might be found—that notable city, which is to fall in one hour, while the inhabitants of the earth lament and mourn.

I do not suppose that the Messenger and Advocate will fall into the hands of but a few, if any, of those who severally read this ridiculous falsehood in the "Magazine and Advocate," which appears was the first to give it publicity; neither the patrons of the "Rochester Republican," (which I did believe possessed too much patriotism and liberality to give any attention to such a tale without proof,) and the "Mercury" which eagerly follows; but that a few thousand, among the many, may know that it adds another to the numerous catalogue, framed by designing men, and put in circulation by them and their dupes, and that it is noticed enough to be contradicted.

It may be distinctly understood that Joseph Smith, jr. the translator of the book of Mormon, has, since the winter of 1831, resided in the State of Ohio, and for the most part of the time, within nine miles of Painesville; and had any occurrence of the kind ever transpired, it would have been proclaimed, through this region, upon the house tops; and further, that he never baptized any one, neither were he present when an individual was baptized, into this church, near Painesville. It carries the stamp of its author upon the face of it.

Every well-wisher of his fellow-men will say at once, that such reports are only put forth with a design to calumniate the innocent and abuse the public, by forestalling their opinion before a man can be heard, or his character and principles known. Are the editors of either of those papers acquainted with the character of Joseph Smith, jr.? Whether they are or are not, I venture to say, that it is as good in the sight of either God or man as theirs. Did they ever see him? Were they present on the occasion of which they have mentioned? Or have they seen a person who says he was? I venture to say, again, that if they are acquainted with the one who reported the lie, he is among that class who think scandal no harm, nor falsehoods upon the innocent, a crime; and if they have seen the man who says he were present when such an occurrence transpired, or ever heard Mr. Smith make or give such a promise to any one, they have given publicity to the falsehood of an individual who was ready to laugh them in their face for their credulity, and blush at their folly.— C.

IS THE END NEAR?

It is with no ordinary feeling that I reflect upon the fact, that there are now upon the earth, say, one thousand million of inhabitants, and that all this vast multitude are bound to the bar of their Creator! Let the man, if one can be found upon the foot stool, who feels himself to be great, think, whether, in this assemblage, he would be considered of much consequence; and then ask, if his significance will not dwindle into insignificance when all generations are brought together?

But let the reflecting mind once peruse the accounts of distress and afflictions, which are going the rounds; and can he, will he doubt, that the end is near?

A riot lately occurred in New York, another in Hartford, Ct. and another in Philadelphia. It appears that disaffections arise between the white and black population, and in some instances serious injuries have been sustained.

An alarming tornado lately passed over the towns of New Brunswick and Piscataway, with which many houses were literally swept away, and several lives lost.

Another awful eruption of Mount Vesuvius has taken place, attended with earthquake, and the emitting of lava to the height of twelve or fifteen thousand feet. The grand crater was said to be two thousand feet across, from which ascended a column of fire and heated rocks. This is the second eruption which has occurred this year.

A tornado lately passed over Williamsport, Pa. one at Little Falls, N. Y. and another in Warren county, N. J. on the same day that the fatal one passed over New Brunswick. Several shocks of an earthquake have lately

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been felt in Maryland. No particular damage has been experienced.

Besides the destruction of a large district of country in Chili, of late, with the loss of many lives, it is said, that the island of Juan Fernandes is sunk. If this is the fact, one would be sensibly reminded of the saying in the prophet, "Behold he taketh up the isles as a very little thing."

The cholera has again began its ravages in the South. The waters of the Mississippi Valley are troubled, and many who rise in the morning in health, close their eyes on time before the setting of the sun.

A destructive plague has broken out in Egypt, and hundreds and thousands are falling victims to its alarming progress. T[h]e following extract is the last intelligence received:

"THE PLAGUE IN EGYPT.—We have accounts from Alexandria to the 28th of March, at which time the plague was still raging in that city with unabated violence. The deaths were on an average 200 daily. Several European and many Greek houses were infected. Most of the foreign vessels in the harbor had the pestilence on board—several had been obliged to re-land their cargoes after losing part of their crew. The disorder had been very fatal to the crews of an Egyptian ship of the line and a frigate, which were in the roads. The disorder at Cairo was still more destructive than at Alexandria. There it was thought not to have yet reached its height, and yet the deaths were from 300 to 400 daily. But it was at Fua, a town containing about 25,000 to 30,000 inhabitants, & situate on the banks of the Nile, directly opposite to the canal of Mahmedie, that the visitation of this dreadful scourge had been most fatal. It is stated that in that place, out of 19,000 persons attacked, scarcely 500 survived! So that by the sweeping extermination of the great bulk of the population, and the flight of the remnant, the town was wholly depopulated. It is added that all the villages on both banks of the Nile suffer severely, & that the disease gradually reaches those parts of Egypt which had hitherto been spared. All the Foreign Consuls had left Cairo and Alexandria. A report prevailed at Leghorn that Mehemet Ali was again ill, and had been given over by his physicians. It has been said he had fallen a victim to the pestilence, but the report did not rest upon any authority."

Our political horizon is also agitated. Trouble seems to be brooding over our fair and happy land: Brother seems to be arrayed against brother in politics—strife follows strife, and threat succeeds threat—all seem to be waiting for the voice of the Lord: "To war!" when with a tumultuous rushing men and elements will combine to wind up the last scene of wo!" The New Governments to the South West are in commotion: one ambitious chief strives for the mastery over his fellow, and war, desolating war, follows as a consequence.

Nor is the New World alone in trouble—Europe's fair shores are drenched with blood, to gratify the pride and malice of princes. With wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and calamities, afflictions and distress, the sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear, who can doubt but the end is nigh? And where, within a short space, will be this boasting generation, with their pride, popularity, wealth, grandeur and millions? Consumed by the wrath of the Most High, if they repent not! C.

Not long since the people of Kirtland were favored with a discourse from a Mr. Bradley, a preacher of the Universal doctrine. I was not present during the entire lecture, therefore cannot speak upon the merits or demerits of the whole. It may be said, that it is unjust to judge any matter without hearing the whole of it; but as that part which I did hear seemed to be a detached, or an entire subject (though short) of itself, I shall take the liberty to say a few words.

The speaker labored very hard to make his audience believe that they received no punishment after death; but that in common with all men would enjoy eternal life and bliss, whatever were their conduct here. To prove this position he quoted the following, Proverbs, 11:31. "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner."

On this item from Solomon I only remark, that to give it the interpretation the gentleman would have us receive, concerning the wicked and the sinner, we may say that the righteous have no joy after death, with as much

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propriety as we can that the wicked and sinner have no affliction or misery, because if they are to be recompensed in the earth, or in this life, as Mr. Bradley carried the idea, the righteous receive their reward, also, and thus end their hopes and expectations.

While speaking of the gospel, (for he professed a great love and veneration for it,) he said that the Lord sent forth his apostles to preach the gospel of peace, good will, glad tidings, &c. to every creature; to bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of prisons to those who were bound.

I do not say that the gospel is not glad tidings: I know it is, and of great joy, but this leap from the commission (not half told) given to the apostles, to Isaiah, is worthy of notice. Isaiah says, 61:1,2,3: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

This short quotation is of some importance, as it talks of a day of vengeance as well as a proclamation of liberty to the captive. But, that this will refer to the just, and not the unjust, is evident from the fact, that these good tidings were to be preached to the meek, and the comfort to be administered to those in Zion. Now, if the sinner and the wicked are the meek, they may claim this language, but if not, they cannot in justice.

Luke, in the 4th chapt. of his testimony, has given a relation of the Savior's saying that that scripture was fulfilled in the ears of the Jews—that is, he was the person referred to, by the prophet, who was to proclaim this good news: that fact is not controverted, but in the commission of the apostles, there is an item worth our attention, as it is as positively the condition on which all men may get into the kingdom of God, (and if men can be saved out of it I have yet to learn the fact,) as there is such a kingdom or men, whose condition required it for their salvation.—It reads thus: Mark, 16:15,16: "And he [Christ] said unto them, GO YE [you apostles] INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED, SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT, SHALL BE DAMNED." Has Mr. Bradley a diploma like this?

It may be said by some, that the word "damned," in this place only means condemnation or reproof, and that no principle like this exists in the law of the Lord. Mark 3:29 says: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." Now, if there were no possibility of blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, the Lord of glory never would have warned us against doing this act; and if no such principle exists as damnation, and that eternal, to be inflicted upon such as do blaspheme, he certainly has spoken nonsense and folly.

On the subject of the wicked's being rewarded as well as the righteous, in this life, I give a few words from John, and leave this part of the lecture. John 5:28, 29: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his [Christ's] voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation!"

Another item I wish to notice. Mr. Bradley instructed his audience, that it was unnecessary for the followers of Christ to receive persecution. As this puts at defiance the actual experience of the world from the earliest period to the present, I add only a few remarks. Was Abel a saint, a righteous man? and was he, or was he not slain by the hand of his brother? and for what?—Says John, 1st epistle, 3:12: "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."—What course could Abel have pursued in order to escape persecution? The answer may be, to have done as Cain wished. Query, then, would he have

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been a saint, since we learn that Cain was of the devil?

Paul said to Timothy, 2 ep. 3:10, 11, 12: "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. You, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Were James, Peter, Paul and thousands of the righteous, slain for the testimony of Christ, or were they not? and if so, why did they not pursue a course in life differently, so as to avoid those painful afflictions, miseries and death? But to decide this matter I add the word of the Lord himself, and let Mr. Bradley, and his followers reconcile it with their creed: John 15:18,19,20: also 16:2:

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. They shall put you out of the synagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service."

I do not say that those who persecute the saints are justified—far from this; but I do say, that the man that preaches that the saints could live, in past ages, and keep the commandments and ordinances of the Lord Jesus, without suffering persecutions, afflictions, and death, says at once, that the religion of heaven is a farce, and the word of Christ a lie. And that if a people can live, in obedience to the gospel, amid a corrupt and sinful generation, without receiving scoffs and reproaches, is sporting with the common sense and experience of every man of God. The disgraceful scenes of the Missouri mob are too fresh in my mind to be imposed upon by Mr. Bradley, or any other man who thus perverts the word of life, and insults the good feelings of those who have been dispossessed of their homes and houses by lawless marauders, for their religion's sake! Yes, the groans of the dying, the cry of innocent mothers and virgins, the shrieks of helpless infants, have ascended up into the ears of Jehovah, as a testimony of the truth of the religion of the Lord Jesus, and will ever stand as a memorial, on the records of heaven, against those who afflicted them without cause, and slew without law. And it may be understood, that no man can offer a higher insult to the feelings and dignity of the people in this place, than to say that he that lives godly, in an ungodly generation, will not be persecuted, saying nothing of the perversion of the word of truth, and the attempt to prove that "he that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way is not a thief and a robber!" C.

Virtue is succeeded by vice in the extreme, and all parade and pomp attached to religion is sound without substance—solemn mockery before the Lord, and an offering of vanity which never raises a soul to heaven. It is in vain to buy eternal life with money; it is in vain to please God, if we neglect the poor; it is vain to serve the Lord with fashions, and it is in vain to expect corrupt trees to bring forth good fruit. If we ever enter a world of happiness it will be because we have obeyed the commandments of the Lord; visited the fatherless and the widow and administered to their afflictions and necessities; because we have visited the saints in prison and comforted them; because we have never looked upon sin with any degree of allowance, and because we have fought the good fight of faith and been faithful to the end—yea, our ears will hear the word of the Lord, behind us, saying; "This is the way, walk ye in it."

Our nation is certainly receding from virtue; from many places there might be reason to say the people know how to act better than they do. We subjoin the following from the Albany Mercury as one evidence in support of the premises we have entered:

"MISSIONARIES.—It is a lamentable truth, that, notwithstanding the preeminent advantages the Americans enjoy, notwithstanding the great diffusion of education among them, there is a degree of religious fanaticism existing in the United States, that, if permitted to come to maturity, will sweep away, in one common ruin, liberty, happiness, and the rights of man. Do but examine one single feature of this fanaticism, and then Judge what princi-

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ples the WHOLE must be composed of. Look at the thousands of dollars that are sent out of the country, day after day, to support a Legion called 'Missionaries.' Look to individuals that will subscribe tens of thousands of dollars to the support of this fund, who would not give a single cent to the relief of his fellow creature on a bed of sickness, with his weeping and half naked children around him;—and then take a view of the solitary captive, the American Artisan and Mechanic, with a trifling debt on his shoulders, looking through the bars of a prison on the blessed Sabbath day, and, in our own city, depending for a morsel to eat on the charity of their fellow citizens." P.

It affords us no small consolation to witness the slow but steady increase of the church of Christ of Latter Day Saints. The fulfilment of the prophecies, and the natural evidence of the fruit of righteousness—are sufficient signs for those that believe—and we rejoice that it is yet to-day—praying that many may hearken to the everlasting gospel. We hope, knowing that great things await us in this generation; we have faith because the promises of God are sure, and we pray for the faithful laborers in the Lord's vineyard: they send us good tidings and we glory with them at the prospect before us.

"The twelve" have been blest: at their conference in Freedom, N. Y. May 22, they "Resolved that the limits of that conference should extend from Lodi, so far east as to include the branch of the church in Avon; south to the Pennsylvania line, and north to lake Ontario—to be called Freedom Conference." The representations of the numbers of the churches, were, Freedom 65 members; Rushford 28: Portage 26; Burns 30; Niagara 4; Holland and Aurora 18, who had suffered some, from the false insinuations of the enemy of righteousness. They established a conference at Lyons, N. Y. In one month they had baptized 36.

At Pillow-point, N. Y. eleven branches of the church were represented, containing in all 109 members, who, with the others above, are said to be in good standing. The conference or council at this place, tried a brother "John Elmer (who had lately joined the church) for holding doctrines and views opposed to the principles of the church of the Latter Day Saints.—When called upon, he stated that he had had many visions and revelations, and he said that the Lord had revealed to him of a certainty that he would make his second appearance within fifteen years; also that the Spirit of God often came upon him and threw him down and caused him (as he expressed it) to disfigure himself, or die the death of the righteous, and also of the wicked, and then come to life again, in the presence of others in order to convince them that he was a man of God, and had great power. He also stated that in one of his visions the Lord Jesus appeared to him personally and laid his hand upon him, and sanctified him both soul and body; and that he was now immortal, or changed, so that he would never die. He stated many other curious notions and vagaries ascribing them all to the power of God, and that he never would deny them altho' the council and the whole church should decide against them. The council endeavored to show him that he was deceived by the adversary, but to no effect. He said he had rather be excluded from the church than to give up any of his views or say they were not of God: consequently the church lifted their hands against him."

During the ministering at this place, eleven were added to the church. They held a conference at Loborough, Upper Canada, the 29th of June; the branch of the church there consists of 25 members in good standing, but much in want of the pure knowledge and doctrine of the kingdom: they think, with us, that the Messenger and Advocate is of great consequence, in giving the saints strength to maintain the cause of the Lord. Elders Henry and Jacob Wood, who had been suspended for some time, were excluded, and the church lifted their hands against them. After the conference closed they baptized three. We shall continue to pray for the twelve, that they may be with God and God with them. P.

By request, a conference will be held at New Portage, on Friday, the 4th of Sept. next. On Saturday public preaching may be expected, commencing at 9 o'clock, A. M. C.