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| TIMES AND SEASONS | ||
| "TRUTH WILL PREVAIL" | ||
| Volume VI. No. 19.] | CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. DEC 15, 1845. | [Whole No. 127. |
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(CONTINUED.)
Gov. Dunklin wrote the brethren as follows:
City of Jefferson, Feb. 4, 1834.
Gentlemen-
Your communication of the 6th Dec. was regularly received and duly considered, and had I not expected to have received the evidence brought out one the enquiry [inquiry] ordered into the military conduct of Colonel Pitcher; in a short time after I received your petition; I should have replied to it long since.
Last evening I was informed that the further enquiry [inquiry] of the court was postponed until the 20th instant. Then, before I could hear anything form this court, the court of civil jurisdiction will hold its session in Jackson county, consequently cannot receive anything from one, preparatory to arrangements for the other. I am very sensible indeed of the injuries your people complain of, and should consider myself very remiss in the discharge of my duties were I not to do every thing in my power consistent with the legal exercise of them, to afford your society to redress to which they seem entitled. One of your requests needs no evidence to support the right to have it granted; it is that your people be put in possession of their homes from which they have been expelled. But what may be the duty of the executive after that, will depend upon contingencies.
If upon enquiry [inquiry] it is found your people were wrongfully dispossessed of their arms by Col. Pitcher, then an order will be issued to have them returned; and should your men organize according to law, which they have a right to do, (indeed it is their duty to do so, unless exempted by religious scruples) and apply for public arms, the executive could not distinguish between their right to have them, and the right of every other description of people, similarly situated.
As to the request for keeping up a military force to protect your people and prevent the commission of crimes and injuries, were I to comply, it would transcend the powers with which the executive of this state is clothed.-The federal constitution has given to congress the power to provide for calling forth the militia, to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrection, or repel invasion; and for these purposes, the President of the United States is authorized to make the call upon the executives of the respective states; and the laws of this state empower the "commander-in-chief in case of actual or threatened invasion, insurrection or war, or public danger, or other emergency, to call forth into actual service, such portion of the militia as he may deem expedient." These, together with the general provision in our state constitution that "the Governor shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed," are all upon this branch of executive powers. None of these, as I consider, embrace this part of your request.-The words "or other emergency" in our militia law seem quite broad, but the emergency to come within the object of that provision should be of a public nature.
Your case is certainly a very emergent one, and the consequences as important to your society as if the war had been waged against the whole state, yet the public has no other interest in it, than that the laws be faithfully executed; this far, I presume the whole community feel a deep interest, for that which is the case of the Mormon to-day, may be the case of the Catholics to-morrow, and after them any other sect that may become obnoxious to a majority of the people of any section of the state. So far as a faithful execution of the laws is concerned, the executive is disposed to do every thing consistent with the means furnished him by the legislature, and I think I may safely say the same of the judiciary.
As now advised I am of the opinion that a military guard will be necessary to protect the state witnesses and officers of the court, and to assist in the execution of its orders, while sitting in Jackson county.
By this mail I write to Mr. Reese, inclosing [enclosing] him an order on the captain of the "Liberty Blues" requiring the captain to comply with the requisition of the circuit attorney in protecting the court and officers, and executing their precepts and orders during the progress of these trials. Under the protection of this guard, your people can, if they think proper return to their homes in Jackson county, and be protected in them during the progress of the trial in question, by which time facts will be developed upon which I can act more definitely. The attorney general will be required to assist the circuit attorney, if the latter deems it necessary.
On the subject of civil injuries, I must refer you to the courts; such questions rest with them exclusively. The laws are sufficient to afford a remedy for every injury of this kind, and whenever you make out a case entitling you to damages,
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there can be no doubt entertained of their ample award. Justice is sometimes slow in its progress, but is not less sure on that account.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
DANIEL DUNKLIN.
To Messrs. W. W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, John Whitmer, Edward Partridge, John Corrill & A. S. Gilbert.
By the foregoing letter from the Governor, the President will perceive a disposition manifested by him to enforce the laws as far as means have been furnished him by the legislature of this State. But the powers vested in the Executive of this State appear to be inadequate for relieving the distresses of your petitioners in their present emergency. He is willing to send a guide to conduct our families back to their possessions, but is not authorized to direct a military force to be stationed any length of time for the protection of your petitioners.-This step would be laying the foundation for a more fatal tragedy than the first, as our numbers, at present are too small to contend single handed, with the mob of said county,-and as the federal Constitution has given to Congress the power to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, or repel invasions,"-and for these purposes the President of the United States is authorized to make the call upon the Executives of the respective States." Therefore, we your petitioners, in behalf of our society, which is so scattered and suffering, most humbly pray that we may be restored to our lands, houses, and property in Jackson county, and protected in them by an armed force, till peace can be restored, and as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Here followed one hundred and fourteen signatures, viz: "Edward Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, Isaac Morley, A. S. Gilbert, W. W. Phelps," &c. &c.
The following letter, accompanied the foregoing Petition:
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10th 1845.
To the President of the United States:
We the undersigned, whose names are subscribed to the accompanying petition, some of the leading members of the church of Christ, beg leave to refer the President to the petition and hand bill herewith, (See Times and Seasons, Vol. VI: Page 881.) We are not insensible of the multiplicity of business and numerous petitions, by which the cares and perplexities of our chief ruler are daily increased; and it is with diffidence we venture to lay before the executive at this emergent period, these two documents, wherein is briefly portrayed the most unparalleled persecution, and flagrant outrage of law that has disgraced the country, since the Declaration of Independence; -But knowing the independent fortitude, and vigorous energy for preserving the rights of the citizens of this Republic, which has hitherto marked the course of our chief magistrate, we are encouraged to hope, that this communication will not pass unnoticed, but that the President will consider our location on the extreme western frontier of the United States, exposed to many ignorant and lawless ruffians, who are already congregated, and determined to nullify all law that will secure to your petitioner the peaceable possession of their lands in Jackson county. We again repeat, that our society are wandering in adjoining counties at this day, bereft of their houses and lands, and threatened with death by the aforesaid outlaws of Jackson county.
And lest the President should have been deceived in regard to our truo [true] situation, by the misrepresentations of certain individuals, who are disposed to cover the gross outrages of the mob, from religious, political, and speculative motives, we beg leave to refer him to the Governor of this State, at the same time informing, that the number of men composing the mob of Jackson county, may be estimated at from three to five hundred, most of them prepared with fire arms.
After noting the statements here made, if it should be the disposition of the President to grant aid, we must humbly entreat, that early relief may be extended to suffering families, who are now expelled from their possessions by force of arms, our lands in Jackson county, are about thirty miles distant from Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri river.
With due respect, we are Sir,
Your obed. serv'ts,
A. S. GILBERT
W. W. PHELPS
EDWARD PARTRIDGE.
P. S. In February last a number of our people, were marched under guard furnished by the Governor of the State, into Jackson county, for the purpose of prosecuting the mob criminally; but the Attorney General of the State, and the District Attorney, knowing the force and power of the mob, advised us to relinquish all hope of criminal prosecution to effect any thing against the band of outlaws, and we returned under guard, without the least prospect of ever obtaining our rights and possessions in Jackson county, with any other means than a few companies of the United States' regular troops to guard and assist us till we are safely settled
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(The foregoing letter and petition were forwarded by mail soms [some] days; also the following.)
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10, 1834.
To his Excellency, Daniel Dunklin,
Governor of Missouri:
Dear Sir: Notwithstanding you may have become somewhat tired of receiving communications from us, yet we beg of your Excellency to pardon us for this, as we have this day forwarded a petition to the President of the United States, Setting forth our distressed condition, together with your Excellency's views of it, as well as the limited powers with which you are clothed, to afford that protection, which we need to enjoy our rights and lands in Jackson county, a few lines from the Governor of the State, in connection with our humble entreaties for our possessions and privileges, we think, would be of considerable consequence towards bringing about the desired effect, and would be gratefully acknowledged by us, and our society, and we may add, by all honorable men.
We therefore, as humble petitioners, ask the favor of your Excellency to write to the President of the United States, that he may assist us, or our society, in obtaining our rights in Jackson county, and help protect us when there, till we are safe, as in duty bound, we will ever pray.
(Signed) W. W. PHELPS
JOHN WHITMER,
A. G. GILBERT,
E. PARTRIDGE,
JOHN CORRILL."
Also the following was sent by the same mail, to the Senator from Missouri, then in the Congress of the United States, at washington;
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10, 1834.
Dear Sir: As our society has just sent a petition and hand bill to the President of the United States, setting forth their distressed condition since expelled from their homes by the Jackson county mob; and as you may remember that I was about to establish, last summer, previous to the destruction of my office by the mob, a weekly newspaper, in favor of the present administration, I have thought best to address this communication to your honor, and refer you to said petition and handbill, and assure you at the same time, that my determination is to publish a weekly paper, in favor of the present administration, in Jackson county, as soon as onr [our] society is restored to its legal rights and possessions.
As a people we are bound to support our republican government, and its institutions and more than all, my press, which was wrested from me, is now printing a mean opposition paper, by "Kelly & Davis" Any communication from you will be received by
Your obed't serv't,
W. W. PHELPS.
Hon T. H. Benton.
Friday, April 11th, I attended meeting, and Father Tyler was restored to the fellowship of the church.
On the 12th I went to the Lake, and spent the day in fishing, and visiting the brethren in that place.
Sunday the 13th, was sick and unable to attend meeting.
On Monday 14th, I purchased some hay and oats and got them home.
Tuesday 15th, drawed a load of hay; and on Wednesday ploughed [plowed] and sowed oats for brother Frederick.
Thursday the 17th, of April, I attended a meeting agreeably to appointment, at which time the important subject of the deliverance of Zion, and the building of the Lord's House in Kirtland, was discussed by Elder Rigdon. After the lecture I requested the brethren and sisters to contribute all the money they could, for the deliverance of Zion, and received twenty nine dollars and sixty eight cents.
April 18th, I left Kirtland in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and Zebedee Coltrin for New Portage, to attend a conference; dined at W. W. Williams, in Newburgh, and continuing our journey, after dark we were hailed by a man who desired to ride. We were checked by the spirit, and refused. He professed to be sick, but in a few minutes was joined by two others, who followed us hard, cursing and swearing, but we were successful in escaping their hands, through the providence of the Lord, and staid [stayed] that night at a tavern where we were treated with civility.
On the 19th continuing our journey, dined at brother Joseph Bosworth's, in Copley, Medina county. Brother Bosworth was strong in the faith, and if faithful may do much good. We arrived the same day at brother Jonathan Taylor's, in Norton, where we were received with kindness. We soon retired to the wilderness, where we united in prayer and supplication for the blessings of the Lord to be given unto his church. We called upon the Father in the name of Jesus to go with the brethren who were going to the land of Zion, and that I might have strength and wisdom and understanding sufficient to lead the people of the Lord, and to gather back and establish the saints upon the land of their inheritances, and organize them according to the will of heaven,
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that they be no more cast down forever. We then united in the laying on of hands.
Elder Rigdon, Cowdery and Coltrin, laid their hands on my head and conferred upon me all the blessings necessary to qualify me to stand before the Lord, in my calling, and be returned again in peace, and triumph, to enjoy the society of my brethren.
Those present then laid their hands upon Elder Rigdon, and confirmed upon him the blessings of wisdom and knowledge to preside over the church in my absence; to have the spirit to assist Elder Cowdery in conducting the Star, and arrange the covenants, and the blessings of old age and peace till Zion is built up and Kirtland established, till all his enemies are under his feet, and a crown of eternal life in the kingdom of God with us.
Previously to blessing Elder Rigdon, we laid hands on Elder Cowdery, and confirmed upon him the blessings of wisdom and understanding sufficient for his station, that he be qualified to assist Elder Rigdon in arranging the church covenants, which are soon to be published; and have intelligence in all things to do the work of printing.
After blessing Elder Rigdon we laid our hands upon Brother Zebedee, and confirmed the blessings of wisdom to preach the gospel even till it spreads to the Islands of the seas, and to be spared to see three score years and ten, and see Zion built up and Kirtland established forever, and even at last to receive a crown of life. Our hearts rejoiced and we were comforted with the holy spirit.
Sunday, April 20th, Elder Rigdon entertained a large congregation of saints with an interesting discourse upon the dispensation of the fullness of times, &c.
The Governor of Missouri wrote to the brethren as follows, in reply to their last letter.
"City of Jefferson, April 20th, 1834.
To Messrs. W. W. Phelps, E. Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, and A. S. Gilbert.
Gentlemen, yours of the 10th inst. was received yesterday, in which you request me, as Executive of this State, to join in an appeal to the President of the Untied States for the protection in the enjoyment of your rights in Jackson county. It will readily occur to you, no doubt, the possibility of your having asked of the President, protection in a way that he, no more than the Ezecutive [Executive] of this State, can render. If you have for that which I may be of opinion he has power to grant, I should have no objection to join in urging it upon him; but I could no more as the President, however willing I am to see your society restored and protected in their rights, to do that which I may believe he has no power to do, than I could do such an act myself. If you will send me a copy of your petition to the president, I will judge of his rights to grant it, and if of opinion he possesses the power, I will write in favor of its exercise.
I am now in correspondence with the federal government, on the subject of deposits of munitions of war on our Northern and Western borders, and have no doubt but shall succed [succeed] in procuring one, which will be located, if left to me, (and the Secretary at war seems willing to be governed by the opinion of the executive of this State,) some where near the State line, either in Jackson or Clay counties. The establishment will be an 'Arsenal' and will probably be placed under the command of a Lieutenant of the army. This will afford you the best means of military protection, the nature of your case will admit, although I can see no direct impropriety in making the subject of this paragraph public, yet I should prefer it not to be so considered for your present, as the erection of an Arsenal is only in expectancy.
Permit me to suggest to you that as you now have greatly the advantage of your adversaries in public estimation, that there is a great propriety in retaining that advantage, which you can easily do by keeping you adversaries in the wrong. The laws, both civil and military seem deficient in affording your society proper protection, nevertheless public sentiment is a powerful corrector of error, and you should make it your policy to continue to deserve it.
With much respect, and great regard,
I am your obed't serv't,
DANIEL DUNKLIN.
On the 21st I attended conference, and had a glorious time. Some volunteered to go to Zion, and others donated sixty six and thirty seven cents, for the benefit of the scattered brethren in Zion. The following are extracts from the minutes of the conference:
"This day a conference of Elders assembled at the dwelling house of brother Carpenter, President Joseph Smith Jun., read the 2nd chap. of Joel's prophecy, prayed and addressed the conference as follows:
It is very difficult for us to communicate to the churches all that God has revealed to us, in consequence of tradition; for we are differently situated from any other people that ever existed upon this earth; consequently those former revelations cannot be suited to our conditions; they were given to other people, who were before us; but in the last days, God was to call a remnant, in which was to be deliverance, as well as in Jerusalem and Zion. Now if God should give no more revelations, where
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will we find Zion and this remnant? The time is near when desolation is to cover the earth, and then God will have a place of deliverance in his remnant and in Zion," &c.
The President then gave a relation of obtaining and translating the Book of Mormon, the revelation of the Priesthood of Aaron, the organization of the church in 1830, the revelation of the High Priesthood, and the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the church, &c., and said:
"Take away the Book of Mormon, and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none; for without a Zion, and a place of deliverance, we must fall; because the time is near when the sun will be darkened, and he moon turn to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places where God has appointed, with all our former professions and our great love for the Bible, we must fall, we cannot stand, we cannot be saved; for God will gather his saints out from the Gentiles, and then comes desolation of destruction and none can escape, except the pure in heart who are gathered," &c.
Elder Rigdon addressed the Conference and said, "on two points hang all the revelations, which have ever been given, which are the two advents of the Messiah. The first is past and the second is now just before us, and consequently those who desire a part in this era which the angels desired to look into, have to be assembled with the saints; for if they are not gathered, they must wail because of his coming. There is no part of his creation which will not feel a shock at this grand display of his power, for the ancient saints will reign with Christ a thousand years. The gathered saints will dwell under that reign; and those who are not gathered may expect to endure his wrath that length of time, for the rest of the dead are not to live till the thousand years are ended."
"It is in vain for men, in this generation to think of laying up and providing inheritances for their children, except they lay it up in the place where deliverance is appointed by the voice of God, for these are the days of vengeance as were in the days of Jeremiah; because before his eyes were closed in death the Jews were led captive, and the land possessed by another people; and so in this day, while the father is laying up gold for his son and the destroyer may lay him lifeless at his feet, and where then is all his treasure? Therefore if we, the islands of the sea, and all the ends of the earth, desire an inheritance for ourselves, themselves, and their children and our children it must be obtained where God has appointed the places of deliverance."
Elder Rigdon adverted to the former covenants to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and others of the ancients which were to be realized in the last days, &c.; and spoke at some length upon the deliverance of Zion; the endowment of the elders with power from on high, according to the former promises; and the spreading of the word of the Lord to the four winds.-He first referred to the situation of the brethren in Missouri, and urged the importance of those who could, giving heed to the revelations by going up to their assistance; and those who could not go to help those who are going to means for their expenses, &c.
Elder Cowdery gave a brief relation of the mobbing in Missouri &c., and called for a contribution. Elders Ambrose Palmer, and Salmon Warner followed on the same subject.-Brother Joseph Bosworth spoke of the deliverance of Zion; and said, he had no property, but if necessary for her deliverance he would sell his clothes at auction, if he might have left him as good a garment as the Savior had in the manger. Others spoke on the same subject.
President Joseph Smith, Jun., prophecied [prophesied] "If Zion is not delivered, the time is near when all of this church, wherever they may be found, will be persecuted and destroyed in like manner."
Elder Rigdon in speaking on the second item, gave an account of the endowment of the ancient apostles, and laid before the conference the dimensions of the House to be built in Kirtland, and rehearsed the promise to the Elders in the last days, which they were to realize, after the House of the Lord was built. Brother Bosworth then related a few items of a vision, which he gave as a testimony of those things contained in the revelations read by Elder Rigdon, and his remarks thereon, President Smith explained the revelation concerning the building of the Lord's House.
Elder Rigdon then spoke on the third item, the spreading of the word of the Lord; followed by several of the brethren.
Brother Thomas Tripp's case was then presented. Brother David Evans said that Brother Tripp's took a sister by the hand while going home from meeting; and also, was guilty of other improprieties with another sister; and had sought witness against a sister in good standing from a wicked woman in the world. The conference voted that Thomas Tripp be excluded from this church, with the privilege of an appeal to the Bishop's council in Kirtland.
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President Smith then laid hands on certain children and blessed them in the name of the Lord. Elder Rigdon administered the sacrament. There were present seven High Priests and thirteen Elders. Adjourned to the Monday preceding the second Sunday in September closed by singing "Now my remnant of days, &c."
(Signed.) OLIVER COWDERY,
Clerk of the Conference.
April 22nd I returned to Kirtland. 23rd assembled in council with Elder Rigdon, F. G. Williams, N. K. Whitney, John Johnson, and O. Cowdery, and united in asking the Lord to give Elder Zebedee Coltrin influence over Brother Jacob Myres, to obtain the money which he has gone to borrow for us, or cause him to come to this place and bring it himself. I also received the following:
Revelation given to Enoch, concerning the order of the church for the benefit of the poor, April 23rd, 1834.
Verily I say unto you my friends, I give unto you a commandment, concerning all the properties which belong to the order, which I commanded to be organized and established, to be an united order, and an everlasting order for the benefit of my church, and for the salvation of men until I come, with promise immutable and unchangeable, that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful, they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings; but inasmuch as they were not faithful, they were nigh unto cursing. Therefore inasmuch as some of my servants have not kept the commandment, but have broken the covenant by covetousness and with feigned words, I have cursed them with a very sore and grievous curse: for I the Lord have decreed in my heart, that inasmuch as any man, belonging to the order shall be found a transgressor; or, in other words, shall break the covenant with which ye are bound, he shall be cursed in his life, and shall be trodden down by whom I will, for I the Lord am not to be mocked in these things: and all this that the innocent among you, may not be condemned with the unjust; and the guilty among you may not escape, because I the Lord have promised unto you a crown of glory at my right hand. Therefore inasmuch as you are found transgressors, ye cannot escape the buffetings of satan until the day of redemption.
And I now give unto you power from this very hour, that if any man among you, of the order, is found a transgressor, and repenteth not of the evil, that ye shall deliver him over unto the buffetings of satan; and he shall not have power to bring evil upon you. It is wisdom in me: therefore a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize yourselves, and appoint every man his stewardship, that every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him; for it is expedient that I the Lord should make every man accountable, as stewards over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I the Lord stretched out the heavens, and builded the earth as a very handy work; and all things therein are mine; and it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine; but it must needs be done in mine own way: and behold this is the way, that I the Lord have decreed to provide for my saints: that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low; for the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare, yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves. Therefore if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.
And now, verily I say unto you, concerning the properties of the order; let my servant Pelagoram have appointed unto him the place where he now resides, and the lot of Tahhanes, for his stewardship, for his support while he is laboring in my vineyard, even as I will when I shall command him; and let all things be done according to counsel of the order, and united consent, or voice of the order which dwell in the land of Shinehah. And this stewardship and blessing I the Lord confer upon my servant Pelagoram, for a blessing upon him, and his seed after him: and I will multiply blessings upon him, inasmuch as he shall be humble before me.
And again, let my servant Mahemson have appointed unto him, for his stewardship, the lot of land which my servant Zombre obtained in exchange for his former inheritance, for him and his seed after him; and inasmuch as he is faithful I will multiply blessings upon him and his seed after him. And let my servant Mahemson devote his moneys for the proclaiming of my words, according as my servant Gazelam shall direct.
And again, let my servant Shederlaomach have the place upon which he now dwells.-And let my servant Olihah have the lot which is set off joining the house which is to be for the Lane-shine-house, which is lot number one: and also the lot upon which his father resides. And let my servant Shederlaomach and Olihah have the Lane-shine-house and all things that pertain unto it; and this shall be their stewardship
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which shall be appointed unto them; and inasmuch as they are faithful, I will multiply blessings upon them and their seed after them; and this is the beginning of the stewardship which I have appointed them, for them and their seed after them, and inasmuch as they are faithful, I will multiply blessings upon them and their seed after them; even a multiplicity of blessings.
And again, let my servant Zombre have the house in which he lives, and the inheritance, all save the ground which has been reserved for the building of my houses, which pertains to that inheritance: and those lots which have been named for my servant Olihah. And inasmuch as he is faithful, I will multiply blessings upon him. And it is my will that he should sell the lots that are laid off for the building up of the city of my saints, inasmuch as it shall be made known to him by the voice of the Spirit, and according to the counsel of the order. And this is the beginning of the stewardship which I have appointed unto him, for a blessing unto him and his seed after him; andinasmuch as he is faithful, I will multiply a multiplicity of blessings upon him.
And again, let my servant Ahashdah have appointed unto him, the houses and lot where he now resides, and the lot and building on which the Ozondah stands; and also the lot which is on the corner south of the Ozondah; and also the lot on which the Shule is situated: And all this I have appointed unto my servant Ahashdah, for his stewardship, for a blessing upon him and his seed after him, for the benefit of the Ozondah of my order, which I have established for my stake in the land of shinehah; yea, verily this is the stewardship which I have appointed unto my servant Ahashdah; even this whole Ozondah establishment, him and his agent, and his seed after him; and inasmuch as he is faithful in keeping my commandments, which I have given unto him, I will multiply blessings upon him, and his seed after him, even a multiplicity of blessings.
And again, let my servant Gazelam have appointed unto him, the lot which is laid off for the building of my house, which is forty rods long, and twelve wide, and also the inheritance upon which hls [his] father now resides; and this is the beginning of the stewardship which I have appointed unto him, for a blessing upon him, and upon his father; for behold I have reserved an inheritance for his father, for his support: therefore he shall be reckoned in the house of my servant Gazelam; and I will multiply blessings upon the house of my servant Gazelam, inasmuch as he is faithful, even a multiplicity of blessings.
And now a commandment I give unto you concerning Zion, that you shall no longer be bound as an united order to your brethren of Zion, only on this wise: after you are organized, you shall be called the united order of the stake of Zion, the city of Shinehah. And your brethren, after they are organized, shall be called the united order of the city of Zion; and they shall be organized in their own names, and in their own name; and they shall do their business in their own name, and in their own names; and you shall do your business in your own name and in your names. And this I have commanded to be done for your salvation, and also for their salvation, in consequence of their being driven out, and that which is to come. The covenants being broken through transgression, by covetousness and feigned words: therefore, you are desolved [dissolved] as a united order with your brethren, that you are not bound only up to this hour, unto them, only on this wise, as I said, by loan, as shall be agreed by this order, in council, as your circumstances will admit, and the voice of the council direct.
And again, a commandment I give unto you concerning your stewardship which I have appointed unto you: behold all these properties are mine, or else your faith is vain, and ye are found hypocrites, and the covenants which ye have made unto me are broken, and if the properties are mine then ye are stewards, otherwise ye are no stewards. But verily I say unto you, I have appointed unto you to be stewards over mine house, even stewards indeed: and for this purpose I have commanded you to organize yourselves, even to shinelah my words, the fullness of my scriptures, the revelations which I have given unto you, for the purpose of building up my church and kingdom on the earth, and to prepare my people for the time when I shall dwell with them, which is nigh at hand.
And ye shall prepare for yourselves a place for a treasury, & consecrate it unto my name; & ye shall appoint one among you to keep the treasury and he shall be ordained unto his blessing: and there shall be a seal upon the treasury, and all the sacred things shall be delivered into the treasury, and no man among you shall call it his own, or any part of it, for it shall belong to you all with one accord; and I give it unto you from this very hour; and now see to it, that ye go to and make use of the stewardship which I have appointed unto you, exclusive of these sacred things, for the purpose of shinlane these sacred things, as I have said: and the avails of the sacred things shall be had in the treasury, and a seal shall be upon it, and it
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shall not be used or taken out of the treasury by any one, neither shall the seal be loosed which shall be placed upon it, only by the voice of the order, or by commandment. And thus shall ye preserve the avails of the sacred things in the treasury, for sacred and holy purposes: and this shall be called the sacred treasury of the Lord: and a seal shall be kept upon it, that it may be holy and consecrated unto the Lord.
And again, there shall be another treasury prepared and a treasurer appointed to keep the treasury, and a seal shall be placed upon it; and all moneys that you receive in your stewardships, by improving upon the properties which I have appointed unto you, in houses or in lands, or in cattle, or in all things save it be the holy and sacred writings, which I have reserved unto myself for holy and sacred purposes, shall be cast into the treasury as fast as you receive moneys, by hundreds or by fifties or by twenties, or by tens, or by fives, or in other words, if any man among you obtain five talents let him cast them into the treasury; or if he obtain, ten, or twenty, or fifty, or an hundred, let him do likewise; and let not any man among you say that it is his own, for it shall not be called his, nor any part of it; and there shall not any part of it be used, or taken out of the treasury, only by the voice and common consent of the order. And this shall be the voice and common consent of the order; that any man among you, say unto the treasurer, I have need of this to help me in my stewardship; if it be five talents, or if it be ten talents, or twenty, or fifty, or an hundred, the treasurer shall give unto him the sum which he requires, to help him in his stewardship, until he be found a transgressor, and it is manifested before the council of the order plainly, that he is an unfaithful, and an unwise steward; but so long as he is in full fellowship, and is faithful, and wise in his stewardship, this shall be his token unto the treasurer that the treasurer shall not withhold. But in case of transgression the treasurer shall be subject unto the council and voice of the order. And in case the treasurer is found an unfaithful, and an unwise steward, he shall be subject to the counsel and voice of the order, and shall be removed out of his place, and another shall be appointed in his stead.
And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts, behold it is my will that you should humble yourselves before me, and obtain this blessing by your dilligence [diligence] and humility, and the prayer of faith: and inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance. Therefore write speedily unto Cainhanhannoch and write according to that which shall be dictated by my Spirit, and I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, that it shall be taken away out of their minds to bring affliction upon you. And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold I will give you the victory: I give unto you a promise, that you shall be delivered this once, out of your bondage; inasmuch as you obtain a chance to loan money by hundreds, or thousands, even until you shall loan enough to deliver yourselves from bondage, it is your privilege, and pledge the properties which I have put into your hands, this once, by giving your names, by common consent, or otherwise, as it shall seem good unto you: I give unto you this privilege, this once, and behold, if you proceed to do the things which I have laid before you, according to my commandments, all these things are mine, and ye are my stewards, and the master will not suffer his house to be broken up: even so; Amen.
ARTIFICIAL PETRIFACTION.-By a private letter from Paris, we learn that an Italian gentleman was in that city, who claims to possess the process of the celebrated Segato, for preserving the human body, with some improvements. He exhibited a snail perfectly preserved, with the head protruding from the shell; also a frog, with all the appearance of life; an eel, coiled upon itself and in a beautiful condition; a small yellow Canary bird, with all its colors and shapes. Besides these he had a number of fishes, and a piece of kidney, having much the appearance and consistence of polished marble; a piece of liver; a tongue; a child's hand, through which could easily be seen the rays: a man's hand, nails perfect; and, lastly, two human heads, in an admirable sate of preservation, the hair not being at all changed. The skin looked dark in all the specimens, but coming as they did from Neapolitan lazzaroni, it is not certain how much is to be attributed to natural complexion, or whether it had altered by the process. At all events the art seems to promise well for anatomical pursuits, and may perhaps succeed in a degree for embalming, but it is questionable whether the natural colors can be retained. The inventor is soon expected in the United States, with a view to obtaining a patent, which may have already been secured in the different countries in Europe. It is confidently expected that the secret will soon be fully known,
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since it is represented to be quite simple, requiring only a tub, some few chemical substances, and an immersion from ten to twelve days
The inventor calls it the petrifactive process-but the articles he has prepared in the new way, have not the weight of stone, although they are heavier than wood.-Medical Journal.
(->) Truly man was created upright, but his posterity has sought many inventions; neither of which tends to eternal lives! O foolish man! O vain world! why not seek for perpetual existence and become as Gods?