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| Missouri Persecutions (1833–1834)
(4) |
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| Joseph and Sidney gone
to Canada. No recent revelations §. Council seeking
redress §. Temple construction, printing office
(and school of prophets) §. Oliver and Newel in
New York §. Keep speaking in tongues quiet §. |
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HISTORY OF JOSEPH
SMITH.
[Continued.] |
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TS 6, no. 7 (Apr. 15, 1845): 864–866.
John Taylor, editor. [Continued.] is in the original. |
| Joseph
and Sidney to Canada |
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On the 5th of October,
1833, I started on a journey east and to Canada, in company with Elders
Rigdon and Freeman Nickerson, and arrived the same day at Lamb's tavern,
in Ashtabula … |
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October 8th. Elders
Phelps and Hyde presented the petition of the saints in Jackson county to
the Governor of Missouri, who gave them for answer that the Attorney General
of the state, was absent, and on his return he would inform them of his
conclusions, by mail, addressed at Independence; whither they immediately
returned.
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¶ |
… |
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This day October 10th,
Elder Williams wrote as follows, from Kirtland to the saints in Missouri: |
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Dear Brethren: |
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| Long
time, no hear |
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It is a long time since
we have received any intelligence from you, save a letter received by Brother
Elliott from Elder John Whitmer, which
informed us that he had wrote four letters since Elder Oliver Cowdery left;
but we have not received any of them, nor from any other one in Zion, except
one from Bishop Partridge of August 13th,
and have had no information concerning the riot, and the situation of the
brethren in Zion, to be depended upon; and considering that the enemy have
commenced intercepting our letters, I direct this to Mrs. Billings, thinking
by so doing, that you may get it. |
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Council
seeking redress
Two messengers sent to Zion |
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The
brethren here are all engaged in the work of the Lord, and are using every
exertion in their power for the welfare of Zion, and for the promotion of
the great cause of our Redeemer. Immediately after the arrival of Oliver,
we sat in council to know what should be done. The decision of the council
was, that measures should be immediately taken to seek redress by the laws
of your country, for your grievances; accordingly two messengers were dispatched
for that purpose. Let this suffice, for this may fall into the hands
of the enemy. |
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| No revelation for
a long time |
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We have received
no revelation for a long time, and none concerning the present situation
of Zion, which has been written; but is has been manifested to Joseph, and
communicated to me by him, that the brethren in Zion should not sell any
of their inheritances, nor move out of the county, save those who signed
the agreement to go, and if it becomes necessary for those to move, for
their personal safety, let them be directed by wisdom, and seek for homes
where the Lord shall open the way. |
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| Phelps
stay if reconciliation possible |
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If Elder Phelps
is obliged to move from that place, let him take his family and Elder Cowdery's
wife, and come to Kirtland, but not to bring any thing with him, except
his bedding and clothing; and let Elder Gilbert
furnish him with the means to bear his expenses; but it would not be expedient
for Elder Phelps to come, provided the prospect is favorable for a reconciliation,
so that the saints are not obliged to leave the county.
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| Doing all we can |
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We can do no more for you than we
are doing, but we have this great consolation that God will deliver Zion,
and establish you upon the land of your everlasting inheritance. |
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A trial of faith
Redemption near |
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Remember that this is only for the
trial of your faith, and he that overcomes and endures to the end, will
be rewarded a hundred fold in this world, and in the world to come eternal
life: so brethren you have great reason to rejoice, for your redemption
draweth nigh. |
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Joseph
and Sidney on a mission
Expected back in November |
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President Joseph and
Sidney are absent on a mission, and we do not expect their return till some
time in November. They have gone down the lake to Niagara, from thence they
expect to go into Upper Canada as far as Long Point, and preach in all the
most noted places on their way. |
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Temple
construction stopped for winter
Will build printing office, to be used for school of prophets this winter |
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We
held a council this morning on the subject of building, &c. It was decided
by the council that we should discontinue the building of the temple during
the winter for want of materials; and to prepare and get all things in readiness
to recommence it early in the spring. It was also agreed, to set the hands
immediately to erect a house for the printing office, which is to be thirty
by thirty eight feet on the ground the first story to be occupied for the
school of [865] the prophets this winter, and the upper story for the printing
press. |
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| Oliver has gone to
New York with $800 for press |
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Oliver
started for New York the first instant, for the printing establishment,
with eight hundred dollars. There will be as many hands employed upon the
house as can work, and every exertion made to get the printing into operation,
and publish the Star, commencing from the last number printed; and to be
conducted by Oliver, (until an opportunity offers to transfer it again to
Zion, to be conducted by W. W. Phelps & Co., as usual,) and under the
firm of F. G. Williams & Co., entitled the Latter-day Saint's Messenger
and Advocate. The probability is, that the Star will be forwarded to subscribeas
[sic] by the first of December. Oliver has written to you for the names
and residence of the subscribers for the Star, and if you have not sent
them, we wish you to send them immediately, that there may be no delay in
the papers going to subscribers as soon as they can be printed. |
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Here transfer of Star
to Williams is temporary. |
Newel
also gone to New York for goods
Funds raised at last minute |
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Bishop
Whitney, also,
started for New York at the same time, to replenish his store in Kirtland,
with money enough to pay all the debts of both establishments, and expects
to bring a larger supply of goods than at any former time. Thus you see
the goodness and mercy of God in providing for his saints. Not one week
before Bishop Whitney started, the way seemed hedged up and ten or twelve
hundred dollars was the most that he had, and knew not where to obtain the
amount he wanted; but by a remarkable interposition of Divine Providence,
he was furnished with all he wanted, for which, let us all raise our hearts
in gratitude to God and praise his holy name, that he is a present help
in every time of need. |
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Letter
speaks of speaking in tongues, deliverance by judgments, Indians will fight
for us
May be true but best not expressed |
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We have
seen a letter written to Sister Whitney, in Nelson, that has a great deal
to say about the gift of tongues, and the interpretation which was given
by way of prophecy, namely: "that Zion would be delivered by judgments,"
and that certain ones named, would go to such and such places among the
Lamanites, and "great things would be done by them"; and also,
that two Lamanites were at a meeting, and the following prophecy was delivered
to them, "that they were our friends, and that the Lord had sent them
there, and the time would soon come when they should embrace the gospel,"
and also, "that if we will not fight for ourselves, the Indians will
fight for us." Though all this may be true, yet, it is not needful
that it should be spoken, for it is of no service to the saints, and has
a tendency to stir up the people to anger. |
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Minutes
of July 31, 1834
That the Destroyer May Pass (1834)
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| No public
speaking in tongues |
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No prophecy spoken in
tongues should be made public, for this reason: many who pretend to have
the gift of interpretation are liable to be mistaken, and do not give the
true interpretation of what is spoken; therefore, great care should be had,
as respects this thing; but, if any speak in tongues, a word of exhortation,
or doctrine, or the principles of the gospel, &c., let it be interpreted
for the edification of the church. |
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| Protecting
letters |
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When you receive this
letter I wish you to write immediately, and direct your letters to David
Elliott, Chagrin, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and put this mark X on the back
of it, if you do not wish it broken open, and he will forward it to us;
and you will please to name in your letter, where and to whom we shall direct,
and thus we may evade interception, &c.
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Yours in the bonds of
love,
F. G. WILLIAMS. |
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At this time the evil
and designing circulated [sic] a report that Zion was to be extended
as far east as Ohio, which in some degree tended to distract
the minds of the saints, and produced a momentary indecision about removing
thither, according to the commandments; but the report was soon corrected,
and the brethren continued to remove to Zion and Kirtland.
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Missouri Persecutions (3)
Expulsion from Jackson County
Jackson County
Missouri
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