Messenger and Advocate/3/12

Messenger and Advocate
Volume 3, Number 12

Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Messenger and Advocate Vol. 3

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

LATTER DAY SAINTS'
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
Volume III. No. 12.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER, 1837.	[Whole No. 36.

COMMUNICATIONS.

We have thought best, in order to give general and extensive circulation, to the Bishop's appeal to the churches and the benevolence of individuals abroad, to give it a conspicuous place in our paper. We might comment upon it lengthily ourselves, but, we deemed such a course unnecessary, and rather offering an insult to the judgement and good sense of our readers, so long as the memorial itself can be presented before them entire for their perusal. Our readers will notice it particularly and, no doubt, compare the object therein set forth with the requisitions of scripture, the duty of the saints, as such, and act with reference, to the object of the memorial or appeal, as their own better judgement shall dictate. Although we had thought not best to hazard an opinion of our own on this subject, but we will so far deviate from the course we intended to pursue, as to say, that it is a subject intimately connected with religion, and it is admitted by almost all, if religion be what its votaries and the scriptures say it is, all important, and worthy your sincere and prayerful attention, then give heed to the appeal, and suffer it not to be made in vain.- Ed. Kirtland, Sept. 18,1837. To the Saints scattered abroad, the Bishop and his Counselors of Kirtland send greeting. WHEREAS the church in Kirtland has taken into consideration the affairs of the Latter Day Saints in general, having opportunities of making themselves acquainted with the situation of the Saints throughout the continent, together, with the very flattering prospects of the prosperity of the cause of God in our land. And also of the peculiar condition of the city of Kirtland, which is a kind of first fruits of the cities, which the Lord has began to build unto himself in these last days. It has been deemed of great importance to the prosperity of the cause of truth in general, that the Bishop and his counselors send abroad this their memorial to all the saints throughout the land, as well as to all well wishers to the cause of Zion, in this our most happy country. It is a fact well known, that the saints in the city of Kirtland have been called to endure a great fight of affliction for the truth's sake; and to bear a heavy burden in order that the foundation of the kingdom of God might be laid on a sure and certain bases, so that the prophetic vision of Daniel might most certainly be fulfilled. That this kingdom might break in pieces all other kingdoms, and stand forever. The exertions of the enemy to prevent this have been very great, and through their great exertions, they have given to the saints great trouble, and caused them much expense.-In addition to this, they have had to publish the word of the Lord, which has been attended with great expense: these together with building the house of the Lord, have embarrassed them very much; for when subscriptions failed, they went on and accomplished the work of building the house themselves, plighting all that they had,

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property, credit, and character, and by these means accomplished this great work which is the wonder and admiration of the world. This they have done in faith believing that as the multitude of saints increased, that their liberality would abound towards those who regarding nothing but the salvation of the world, have thus exposed themselves to ruin, in order that the work of the gathering might not fail. And besides all this, there have been a large number of poor who have had to receive assistance from the donations of the church, which have tended to increase its embarrassments. And now so numerous are the saints grown, that it is impracticable for them all to gather to the places which are now appointed for this purpose. The church of Kirtland has, therefore, required at the hand of our beloved brethren Joseph Smith jun. and Sidney Rigdon; (men who have not thought their lives dear unto them, in order that the cause of God might be established,) Presidents, whom God has appointed to preside over the whole church, and the persons to whom this work belongs, that they should go forth, and lay off other stakes of Zion or places of gathering, so that the poor may have a place of refuge, or places of refuge, in the day of tribulation which is coming swiftly on the earth. All these things will be attended with expense. Feeling ourselves under great responsibility by virtue of our office and calling in the church of God, we present this our memorial to all the saints, making a most solemn appeal to the feelings, benevolence, and philanthropy, of all the saints into whose hands this our memorial comes, in faith and confidence, that this appeal will not be made in vain. It is the fixed purpose of our God, and has been so from the beginning, as appears by the testimony of the ancient prophets, that the great work of the last days was to be accomplished by the tithing of his saints. The saints were required to bring their tithes into the store house, and after that, not before, they were to look for a blessing that there should not be room enough to receive it. See Malachi 3rd chapter 10th verse. Our appeal then to the saints is founded on the best of testimony, that which no saint will feel to gainsay, but rejoice to obey. The saint of God will rejoice in all that the Lord does, and in doing all that the Lord requres [requires]. The sacrifice of righteousness which the Lord requires will be offered with a willing heart, and ready mind, and with great joy, because they are counted worthy to offer up cacrifice [sacrifice] for his name. In making this appeal to the benevolence of the saints of God, we do not only take into consideration the situation of the poor, the embarrassments of the stake of Kirtland; but also their own interest; for every saint has an equal interest

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in building up of the Zion of our God; for it is after the Lord has built up Zion, that he will appear in his glory.-Psalms 102:16. We all look for the appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ; but we shall look in vain, until Zion is built; for Zion is to be the dwelling place of our God when he comes.-Joel 3:21. Any one who will read this chapter with attention, will see that it treats of the last days, and of the Zion of the last days. How then is the Lord to dwell in Zion, if Zion is not built up? This question we leave the saints to answer.-The salvation of the saints one and all depends on the building up of Zion; for without this there is no salvation; for deliverance in the last days is found in Zion, and in Jerusalem, and in the remnant whom the Lord our God shall call, or in other words, in the stakes which he shall appoint.-Joel 2:32. It is in Zion where the Lord is to create upon every dwelling place, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and a smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. It is upon the glory of Zion; that there will be a defense. It is in Zion that there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a plaee [place] of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain, Isaiah 4:5,6. It is upon the walls of Zion, where the watchman shall see eye to eye Isaiah 52:8. Whatever is glorious.-Whatever is desirable-Whatever pertains to salvation, either temporal or spiritual. Our hopes, our expectations, our glory and our reward, all depend on our building up Zion according to the testimony of the prophets. For unless Zion is built: our hopes perish, our expectations fail, our prospects are blasted, our salvation withers, and God will come and smite the whole earth with a curse. Hear then O ye saints of the last days! and let this our appeal have a favorable reception among you. Let every saint consider well the nature of his calling in the last days, and the great responsibility which rests upon him or her, as one to whom God has revealed his will, and make haste not only to the relief of Kirtland, but also to the building up of Zion. Let every man, and every woman, give heed the very instant that they embrace the gospel, and exert themselves with energy to send on means to build up Zion: for our God bids us to haste the building of the city, saying, the time has come when the city must be pushed forward with unceasing exertions; for, behold, the day of calamity draweth nigh, and unless the saints speed the building of the city, they will not escape. Be admonished then O ye saints! and let not covetousness, which is idolitry [idolatry], nor worldly ambition hinder you; but gather up your gold and your silver, and all the means you have, and send on to the saints who are engaged

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in this great work of building the zion of our God, that there may be a place of refuge for you, and for your children in the day of God's vengeance, when he shall come down on Idumea, or the world, in his fury, and stamp them down in his wrath, and none shall escape, but the inhabitants of zion. What we say unto one, we say unto all, haste-haste-and delay not; for the hour of desolation does not linger, and with all the power that the saints have, and with all the diligence they can use, they will scarcely escape. The time is not far distant, when some of those who now deride and mock the saints for devoting their all to build up the zion of God, will bless their name, for having provided a city of refuge, for them and their children, regardless of the ravings of ungodly priests, and the mockings of a stupid and ignorant people. In the confidence which we have in the good sense and righteous principles of the multitude of the saints, we send this our memorial in the name of our master Jesus; believing that this appeal will be received with great kindness, and will be attended to with untiring perseverence [perseverance], until the object for which it has been sent shall be accomplished. And may the God of all grace, pour out his richest blessings on your heads, and crown you with abundance, that the zion of our God may flourish, and cease not, until the righteousness thereof shall go forth as the light, and the salvation thereof as a lamp which burneth, is the prayer of your brethren in Christ Jesus. N. K. WHITNEY, R. CAHOON. V. KNIGHT. Palmyra Portage Co. Ohio, Sept. 14th, 1837. Bro. W. A. Cowdery: I improve a few moments to communicate to you some knowledge of my travels, together with a sketch of my labors the present season. I left Kirtland in company with elder G. W. Meeks to go to the South, we bent our course to West Township, Columbiana Co. in order to attend a conference previously appointed: when we arrived at that place we found elder L. Barns and several other traveling elders. Elder Barns had been preaching some few days previous and baptized several. On Friday, the first day of the conference, we attended to setling [settling] some difficulty in the church, and on Saturday and Sunday we preached to the people. On Sunday three came forward and were baptized by elder Barns; on Monday we again met to finish our conference, after which the several elders went into different parts iu [in] the adjoining towns to preach where the door was already opened. There were at, and near the conference somewhere, I believe, not far from twelve baptized in the vicinity of this place. Elder Meeks and myself continued together sometime and preached in the towns round about where there were calls, but more especially in the township of Salem, where we continued several weeks and laid before the people, the gospel of Jesus Christ according to our several abilities: and we reasoned with them in plainness, both in public and in private, and showed them the work of the Lord had set his hand to do in this age of the world. We found some friendly and believing, yea almost persuaded to be saints, but the cross being so great, together with the many false reports that were put in circulation (for we met with no small opposition from priests and people)

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hindered them from obeying the truth. We after having discharged our duty faithfully, left the place and returned as far as Milton township, Trumbull Co. We found a door opened for preaching and left an appointment at the Christian meeting house near by Mr. James Winans'. It happened now that I was left destitute of a fellow laborer and had to stem the current of opposition alone, however, I went forth alone trusting in God and proclaimed the glorious gospel of the Son of God to a large congregation, in the fore part of the day, and after having dismissed the congregation and appointed the hour for preaching to commence again, one Joseph Pierce, a Christian preacher, arose and claimed the house. So I thought it was best not to have any further difficulty with the man-therefore I told the people rather than be disappointed as I had come something like fifty miles to preach to them, we would go a short distance to the grove, accordingly I went to the place appointed and the people followed except a few who tarried with the preacher, but they did not continue their meeting long but broke and joined ours. After having got through with my subject I gave an appointment for the next day at 4 o'clock, & then dismissed the congregation. The next day met with the people and blest with a good degree of liberty in addressing the congregation after which, we repaired to the water where I had the privilege of leading two willing souls into the waters of baptism. I then left an appointment to preach again in two weeks and returned home, I have since continued preaching in other towns, and in the fore mentioned place till the present time, and have baptized in all seven, there has been eight others baptized in this section by elder Snow. S. B. STODDARD. ANCIENT HISTORY. No. 8. THE REPUBLIC OF ATHENS On the abolition of the regal officer at Athens, the change of the constitution was more nominal than real.-The archonship was, during three centuries a perpetual and hereditary magistracy. In the year 754 A. C. it become decennial, or elective once in ten years. In 648 the archons were anually [annually] elected, were nine in number and were of equal power. These changes convulsed the people, and helped to render their condition, miserable. Draco, an archon, in 724 A. C. projected a reform in the constitution of his country, and thought to repress disorders by the extreme severity of penal laws. But his talents and popularity were unequal to the task he had undertaken. Solon, an illustrious Athenian, was elevated to the dignity of archon in 594 A. C. and was entrusted by his countrymen with the important task of forming a new form of government.-He possessed extensive knowledge, but wanted that intrepidity of mind that was necessary to characterize a great statesman. The people claimed the sovereign power, and they received it. The rich demanded offices and dignities.-The citizens were divided into four classes according to the measure of their wealth. To the three first classes belonged the offices, but the fourth class were more numerous than all the others, had an equal right of sufferage [suffrage], and consequently decided every question. Solon introduced a Senate consisting of 400, which was afterwards increased to five, and even to 600, in which body all measures must originate and undergo a diecussion [discussion] before they could be brought before the people. He had a court called the court of Areopagus to whom he committed the guardianship of the laws and the power of enforcing them. This may properly be styled their judicary [judiciary]. This court and the senate operated as a check on the popular assemblies. But notwithstanding, these checks, demagogues never failed to corrupt the popular will, to whom the ultimate decision was referred, and turn it to their own advantage. The Athenian laws relating to debtors were mild and equitable, and so were those regulating the treatment of slaves. One most iniquitous and absurd peculiarity of the Athenian government was the practice of ostracism as it was called which consisted, in a ballot of all the citizens, on which each wrote down the name of such individual, as he thought most obnoxious to censure; the person thus marked out by the greatest number of voices, though accused

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of no crime, was banished for ten years. This law, as may readily be supposed, gave every factious demagogue an opportunity to inflame the public mind against some of the most virtuous citizens, who stood, or whom they fancied stood in their way, and their treatment towards them looked like base ingratitude. The manners of the Athenians formed a striking contrast with the Lacedemonians. The Athenians cultivated the arts, but the Lacedemonians despised the arts and all who cultivated them. The Athenians cultivated peace, and aimed at the refined enjoyment of civilized life. Sparta was strictly a military establishment. Luxury was the character of the Athenian, and frugality of the Spartan. Both were zealous of their liberties and both were equally brave in war The courage of the Spartan sprang from constitutional ferocity; that of the Athenian from a principle of honor. The Spartan government acquired solidity, while the rest of Greece was torn by domestic factions. Athens passed through the vicissitudes of war and peace monarchy and democracy, till it was involved in a war with Persia.-This will end our extracts from history, passing over many important events, we intended to bring our notes down through ancient, to the commencement of modern history, the fall of the Western empire of the Romans and the subjugation of Italy by the Lombards, but we close. To the inhabitants of Milton and Palmyra, Portage county Ohio: Having learned from a respectable source that rumors were afloat and had gained some credence in your towns, that were derogatory to the characters of Joseph Smith Jr. and the family of Sidney Rigdon We therefore deemed it our duty to say in defence [defense] of injured innocence, that we have the best of reasons for saying that the reports to which we have alluded, are without any foundation in truth. Since our acquaintance with J. Smith Jr. there has been the strongest ties of friendship existing between himself and S. Rigdon. And we hazard nothing in saying, were those reports true that must have originated in your vicinity, the bonds of friendship would have been severed forever between them. We are fully sensible, and are willing, as far as the character of J.-Smith Jr. is concerned, (his enemies themselves in this place being judges) to pronounce the whole a sheer fabrication. Relative to the family of Sidney Rigdon, we have to say, that it is large, consisting mostly of females, young innocent, unsuspecting, without reproach and for ought we know, above suspicion.-Ed. SYNOPSIS OF THE CURRENT NEWS OF THE DAY. FOREIGN. The foreign money market is getting a little more easy than it has been, and it is to be hoped the relief will be permanent. Some fears are entertained, however, that the present pressure in the money affairs of this country will prevent the American Merchants from ordering as heavy bills of goods as usual, and thereby indirectly throw some of their operatives out of employ. It is expected that the cotton growers in the Southern States will be able to take up the drafts drawn on the American houses in England and in so doing prevent so great a draw of the precious metals as was anticipated. The cotton crop it is said, looks promising. DOMESTIC. The sentiments in the Presidents Message relative to the relief that may be afforded by congress its present session, have cast a gloom over some of the fond anticipations of many commercial men, while there are others who receive it with a smile, of approbation. From the returns of elections recently held, it appears that the popularity of the present ruling party in the national legislature, is rather on the wane. If something be done at the present session of Congress, that will afford relief or even promise it, (we mean that which is sound judicious & permanent) to the money market of our country, the administration party will very soon retrieve all that it has lost, and become diservedly [deservedly] popular. Bread stuffs of all kinds are a shade lower than they were a few weeks since, but are yet high considering the quantity raised and the scarcity of money to purchase them.

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The crops throughout the States are generally good as far as we have correctly ascertained. Vegetation has not yet suffered by frost in this section, and present appearances warrant us in the belief that the corn crops as well as all others, that depend on a long season to bring them to maturity, will not suffer. Surely the lord is bountiful notwithstanding man's ingratitude. We had almost forgotten to mention that recent accounts from Sicily and Naples, warrant us in saying that the cholera rages there to an alarming degree. War rages in some parts of our world so that the destroyer is still among the works of God. "Ambition and pestilence seem deputed by death to do the work of age and toss him twice ten thousand at a meal."