Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (broken txt)

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     TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPHSMITHSelected and Arranged by Joseph Feldng S!thTaken from his sermons and writings as they are found in theDocumentary History and other publications of the Church and written orpublished in the days of the Prophet's ministrySelected and arranged by the Historian, Joseph ielding Smith, and his!ssistants in the Historian's "ffice of the Church ofJesus Christ of #atter$day Saints%nde& and Concordance prepared by 'obert J( )atthews"eseret #oo$ Co!panySalt %a$e Cty& 'tah( )*+, "eseret #oo$ Co!panyAll rghts reser-ed. No part o/ ths boo$ !ay be reprod0ced n any /or! or by any !eans 1tho0tper!sson n 1rtng /ro! the p0blsher& "eseret #oo$ Co!pany& P.O. #o2 34)+5& Salt %a$e Cty& 'tah56)34.About this BookThe 1ord o/ the %ord& as re-ealed thro0gh the Prophet Joseph S!th n thsdspensaton& s nterpreted 1th clarty n the 1rtngs and ser!ons o/ the Prophet. Fro!

    the -ol0!es o/ state!ents o/ the Prophet& 1hch 1ere all 1rtten or p0blshed n days o/the Prophet7s !nstry& Joseph Feldng S!th has ta$en !any o/ the !ost s0ccnct and!portant doctrnal state!ents and co!pled the! nto one -ol0!e /or ready re/erence.Teachngs o/ the Prophet Joseph S!th s a -al0able re/erence tool that belongs n thelbrary o/ e-ery %atter8day Sant& to be re/erred to and read /or ts nsghts nto thes0btletes o/ the gospel prncples.The state!ents contaned heren are arranged by the perod n 1hch they 1ereta0ght& and the reader can readly see the de-elop!ent o/ the Ch0rch as ne1 tr0ths 1ere

    re-ealed. In a !nstry that spanned 90st /o0rteen years& the Prophet 1as the %ord7snstr0!ent n the establsh!ent o/ a dyna!c organ:aton that today s one o/ the !a9orrelgons o/ the 1orld. It s ndeed the tr0e gospel as t 1as ta0ght by the Sa-or nthe!erdan o/ t!e.Ths ne1 edton /eat0res a co!prehens-e nde2 and concordance prepared by "r.Robert J. Matthe1s& a !ost help/0l addton to ths !portant p0blcaton.About the AuthorJoseph Feldng S!th& co!pler o/ Teachngs o/ the Prophet Joseph S!th& 1as0n;0ely ;0al/ed to co!ple ths !portant boo$. A grandson o/ the Prophet7s brother 

    Hyr0! and a son o/ the s2th Presdent o/ the Ch0rch& he ser-ed n the Ch0rch Hstoran7sO//ce /or s2ty8nne years& /ro! )*4) to )*+4. For /orty8nne o/ those years he 1as Ch0rch Hstoran.On Aprl ,& )*)4& at the age o/ thrty8three& he 1as called to the Co0ncl o/ theT1el-e. He beca!e presdent o/ that ;0or0! on Aprl *& )*

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     iAbbreviations:MSS?Man0scrpt Hstory.JH?Jo0rnal Hstory o/ the Ch0rch."HC?"oc0!entary Hstory o/ the Ch0rch.E@MS?E-enng and Mornng Star.TS?T!es and Seasons.FAR?Far Aest Record.M and A?Messenger and Ad-ocate. IntroductionA ;0arter o/ a cent0ry ago& Elder Ed1n F. Parry co!pled and p0blshed a class/edarrange!ent o/ e2cerpts /ro! doctrnal ser!ons and 1rtngs o/ the Prophet JosephS!th. These sayngs 1ere ta$en /ro! the "oc0!entary Hstory o/ the Ch0rch. That lttle1or$ /lled an !portant !sson& b0t le/t n the hearts and !nds o/ all 1ho 1erenterested n the sayngs o/ the great latter8day Prophet& a longng /or !ore o/ hssayngs&1hch longng 1as not sats/ed. Many /ath/0l !e!bers o/ the Ch0rch ha-e e2pressedthe desre that a !ore e2tens-e 1or$ o/ ths $nd be p0blshed. The !e!bers o/ theCh0rch ;0te generally desre to $no1 1hat the Prophet Joseph S!th !ay ha-e sad on !portant s0b9ects& /or they loo$ 0pon hs 0tterances as co!ng thro0gh d-nenspraton.

    Many o/ these dsco0rses and 1rtngs appear n the "oc0!entary Hstory o/ theCh0rch& b0t others ha-e not been ncl0ded n these -ol0!es& b0t are scattered thro0gh theearly p0blcatons o/ the Ch0rch. It has been d//c0lt e-en /or the st0dent to obtan thesebeca0se the old p0blcatons are not accessble /or general 0se.In accordance 1th the !any calls that ha-e been !ade that there be a !ore e2tens-eco!platon o/ these dsco0rses and sayngs& the !atter 1as ta$en 0p n the Hstoran7s O//ce and s0ch a co!platon has been prepared& s0b!tted to the Frst Presdency and passed by the! /or p0blcaton.

    It sho0ld be re!e!bered that ths co!platon contans so!e dsco0rses andstate!ents /ro! the !n0tes o/ co0ncl and presthood !eetngs& 1hch are not -erbat! reports o/ the Prophet7s re!ar$s& b0t 1hch ha-e been appro-ed n those !n0tes. Therehas been no atte!pt to co!ple these sayngs by s0b9ect& beca0se /re;0ently n thesa!eartcle or dsco0rse& se-eral s0b9ects are dsc0ssed. It has been tho0ght best to g-e eachartcle& or porton o/ artcle& chronologcally& 1th an e2ha0st-e nde2 thro0gh 1hchthe-aro0s s0b9ects !ay be /o0nd. Hstorcal !atters and ncdental or 0n!portant !atters

    ha-e been el!nated. #y the 0se o/ asters$s these portons le/t o0t are ndcated nthebody o/ the 1or$.Artcles 1hch are accessble& s0ch as Joseph Smith Tells His "wn Story& 1hch asbeen p0blshed n tract /or! and also n the Pearl o/ Great Prce& are not added toths1or$. Re/erences ha-e been !ade to the re-elatons n the "octrne and Co-enants 1herenecessary& b0t these re-elatons are not ncl0ded n ths 1or$. It s /elt that ths -ol0!e 1ll !eet a need and pro!ote /ath a!ong the !e!bers o/

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     the Ch0rch. Ath ths ntent t s sent o0t on ts !sson as another test!ony o/ the d-necallng o/ the Prophet Joseph S!th. JOSEPH FIE%"ING SMITH& Ch0rch Hstoran. Section One1830-1834Title Pae o! the Book o! "or#onMeant!e o0r translaton dra1ng to a close& 1e 1ent to Pal!yra& Aayne Co0nty&Ne1 Bor$& sec0red the copyrght& and agreed 1th Mr. Egbert #. Grandn to prnt /-etho0sand copes /or the s0! o/ three tho0sand dollars. I 1sh to !enton here& that the ttle8page o/ the #oo$ o/ Mor!on s a lteraltranslaton& ta$en /ro! the -ery last lea/& on the le/t hand sde o/ the collecton or boo$ o/plates& 1hch contaned the record 1hch has been translated& the lang0age o/ the 1holer0nnng the sa!e as all Hebre1 1rtng n generalC and that sad ttle8page s not by any!eans a !odern co!poston& ether o/ !ne or o/ any other !an 1ho has l-ed or doesl-e n ths generaton. There/ore& n order to correct an error 1hch generally e2sts concernng t& I g-e belo1/n that part o/ the ttle8page o/ the Englsh -erson o/ th

    e #oo$o/ Mor!on& 1hch s a gen0ne and lteral translaton o/ the ttle8page o/ the orgnal#oo$ o/ Mor!on& as recorded on the plates.?"HC )D+). E)534.F$alue o! the %evelations and &o##and#entsMy t!e 1as occ0ped closely n re-e1ng the co!!and!ents and sttng ncon/erence& /or nearly t1o 1ee$s& /or /ro! the /rst to the t1el/th o/ No-e!ber G)53)H 1eheld /o0r specal con/erences. In the last 1hch 1as held at #rother Johnson7s& nHra!&a/ter delberate consderaton& n conse;0ence o/ the #oo$ o/ re-elatons& no1 to beprnted&/n beng the /o0ndaton o/ the Ch0rch n these last days& and a bene/t to the

    1orld& sho1ng that the $eys o/ the !ysteres o/ the $ngdo! o/ o0r Sa-or are aganentr0sted to !anC and the rches o/ eternty 1thn the co!pass o/ those 1ho are 1llngto l-e by e-ery 1ord that proceedeth o0t o/ the !o0th o/ God?there/ore the con/erence-oted that they pr:e the re-elatons to be 1orth to the Ch0rch the rches o/ the 1holeearth& spea$ng te!porally. The great bene/ts to the 1orld 1hch res0lt /ro! the #oo$ o/Mor!on and the re-elatons& 1hch the %ord has seen /t n Hs n/nte 1sdo! to grant0nto 0s /or o0r sal-aton& and /or the sal-aton o/ all that 1ll bele-e& 1ere d0ly apprecatedC and n ans1er to an n;0ry& I rece-ed the /ollo1ng./n ENo-.& )53)F

    ?"HC )D>33,.Partin the $eil Throuh Per!ect 'aith#rother Joseph S!th& Jr.& sadD Ae ha-e asse!bled together to do the b0sness o/ the%ord and t s thro0gh the great !ercy o/ o0r God that 1e are spared to asse!bletogether& !any o/ 0s ha-e gone at the co!!and o/ the %ord n de/ance o/ e-erythng e-l& and obtaned blessngs 0nspea$able& n conse;0ence o/ 1hch o0r na!es are sealedn the %a!b7s boo$ o/ l/e& /or the %ord has spo$en t. It s the pr-lege o/ e-ery E

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    lder tospea$ o/ the thngs o/ GodC and co0ld 1e all co!e together 1th one heart and one!ndn per/ect /ath the -el !ght as 1ell be rent today as ne2t 1ee$& or any other t!e& and /1e 1ll b0t cleanse o0rsel-es and co-enant be/ore God& to ser-e H!& t s o0r pr-legeto ha-e an ass0rance that God 1ll protect 0s at all t!es./n?FAR& pp. )38)6. EOct. >

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    the contn0ed d0raton /or co!pleton& n order that the hers o/ sal-aton !ay con/ess the%ord and bo1 the $neeC the re1ards /or /ath/0lness& and the p0nsh!ents /or sns&are so!0ch beyond the narro18!ndedness o/ !en& that e-ery !an s constraned to e2cla!DIIt ca!e /ro! God.I EFeb.& )53>.F?"HC )D>8>

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    Medator o/ the ne1 co-enant& 0nless he beco!es as a lttle chld& and s ta0ght bytheSprt o/ God. Ahere/ore& 1e agan say& search the re-elatons o/ GodC st0dy thepropheces& and re9oce that God grants 0nto the 1orld Seers and Prophets. They are they1ho sa1 the !ysteres o/ godlnessC they sa1 the /lood be/ore t ca!eC they sa1 angelsascendng and descendng 0pon a ladder that reached /ro! earth to hea-enC they sa1 thestone c0t o0t o/ the !o0ntan& 1hch /lled the 1hole earthC they sa1 the Son o/ Godco!e /ro! the regons o/ blss and d1ell 1th !en on earthC they sa1 the del-erer co!eo0t o/ Jon& and t0rn a1ay 0ngodlness /ro! JacobC they sa1 the glory o/ the %ord1henhe sho1ed the trans/g0raton o/ the earth on the !o0ntC they sa1 e-ery !o0ntan ladlo1 and e-ery -alley e2alted 1hen the %ord 1as ta$ng -engeance 0pon the 1c$edC theysa1 tr0th sprng o0t o/ the earth& and rghteo0sness loo$ do1n /ro! hea-en n the lastdays& be/ore the %ord ca!e the second t!e to gather hs electC they sa1 the end o/1c$edness on earth& and the Sabbath o/ creaton cro1ned 1th peaceC they sa1 the e

    ndo/ the gloro0s tho0sand years& 1hen Satan 1as loosed /or a lttle seasonC they sa1 theday o/ 90dg!ent 1hen all !en rece-ed accordng to ther 1or$s& and they sa1 thehea-en and the earth /lee a1ay to !a$e roo! /or the cty o/ God& 1hen the rghteo0srece-e an nhertance n eternty. And& /ello1 so9o0rners 0pon earth& t s yo0r pr-legeto p0r/y yo0rsel-es and co!e 0p to the sa!e glory& and see /or yo0rsel-es& and $no1 /oryo0rsel-es. As$& and t shall be g-en yo0C see$ and ye shall /ndC $noc$& and t shall beopened 0nto yo0.

    ?E@MS A0g0st& )53>. "HC )D>5>8>56.(etter to -ditor SeatonJanuary ., *+,,, the Prophet wrote to )r( /( 0( Seaton, an editor of a newspaper, thefollowing words of counsel and warning concerning the state of the world and the purpose of the #ord in the restoration spoken of by the ancient prophets( Mr. EdtorD?Sr& Consderng the lberal prncples 0pon 1hch yo0r nterestng and-al0able paper s p0blshed& !ysel/ beng a s0bscrber& and /eelng a deep nterest ntheca0se o/ Jon& and n the happness o/ !y brethren o/ !an$nd& I cheer/0lly ta$e 0p!y

    pen to contrb0te !y !te at ths -ery nterestng and !portant perod.For so!e length o/ t!e I ha-e been care/0lly -e1ng the state o/ thngs& as t no1appears& thro0gho0t o0r Chrstan landC and ha-e loo$ed at t 1th /eelngs o/ the !ostpan/0l an2ety. Ahle 0pon one hand I behold the !an/est 1thdra1al o/ God7s HolySprt& and the -el o/ st0pdty 1hch see!s to be dra1n o-er the hearts o/ the peopleC0pon the other hand& I behold the 90dg!ents o/ God that ha-e s1ept& and are stll s1eepng h0ndreds and tho0sands o/ o0r race& and I /ear 0nprepared& do1n to the s

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    hadeso/ death. Ath ths sole!n and alar!ng /act be/ore !e& I a! led to e2cla!& IO that !yhead 1ere 1aters& and !ne eyes a /o0ntan o/ tears& that I !ght 1eep day and nght.IA Slee*in &hristianit. I thn$ that t s hgh t!e /or a Chrstan 1orld to a1a$e o0t o/ sleep& and cry!ghtly to that God& day and nght& 1hose anger 1e ha-e 90stly nc0rred. Are not thesethngs a s0//cent st!0lant to aro0se the /ac0ltes& and call /orth the energes o/e-ery!an& 1o!an or chld& that possesses /eelngs o/ sy!pathy /or ther /ello1s& or that s nany degree endeared to the b0ddng ca0se o/ o0r gloro0s %ordK I lea-e an ntellgentco!!0nty to ans1er ths !portant ;0eston& 1th a con/esson& that ths s 1hat hasca0sed !e to o-erloo$ !y o1n nablty& and e2pose !y 1ea$ness to a learned 1orldCb0t& tr0stng n that God 1ho has sad that these thngs are hd /ro! the 1se and pr0dentand re-ealed 0nto babes& I step /orth nto the /eld to tell yo0 1hat the %ord s dong& and1hat yo0 !0st do& to en9oy the s!les o/ yo0r Sa-or n these last days.The &ovenant ,ith IsraelThe t!e has at last arr-ed 1hen the God o/ Abraha!& o/ Isaac& and o/ Jacob& has

    seths hand agan the second t!e to reco-er the re!nants o/ hs people& 1hch ha-e been le/t /ro! Assyra& and /ro! Egypt& and /ro! Pathros& and /ro! C0sh& and /ro! Ela!& and/ro! Shnar& and /ro! Ha!ath& and /ro! the slands o/ the sea& and 1th the! to brng nthe /0lness o/ the Gentles& and establsh that co-enant 1th the!& 1hch 1as pro!sed1hen ther sns sho0ld be ta$en a1ay. See Isaah ))C Ro!ans ))D>, and >+& and alsoJere!ah 3)D3)& 3> and 33. Ths co-enant has ne-er been establshed 1th the ho0se o/

    Israel& nor 1th the ho0se o/ J0dah& /or t re;0res t1o partes to !a$e a co-enant& andthose t1o partes !0st be agreed& or no co-enant can be !ade.s Chrst& n the days o/ Hs /lesh& proposed to !a$e a co-enant 1th the!& b0t theyre9ected H! and Hs proposals& and n conse;0ence thereo/& they 1ere bro$en o//& andno co-enant 1as !ade 1th the! at that t!e. #0t ther 0nbele/ has not rendered the pro!se o/ God o/ none e//ectD no& /or there 1as another day l!ted n "a-d& 1hch 1asthe day o/ Hs po1erC and then Hs people& Israel& sho0ld be a 1llng peopleC?and He

    1o0ld 1rte Hs la1 n ther hearts& and prnt t n ther tho0ghtsC ther sns and thern;0tes He 1o0ld re!e!ber no !ore.The &ovenant to the )entilesTh0s a/ter ths chosen /a!ly had re9ected Chrst and Hs proposals& the heralds o/sal-aton sad to the!& I%o 1e t0rn 0nto the GentlesIC and the Gentles rece-ed the co-enant& and 1ere gra/ted n /ro! 1hence the chosen /a!ly 1ere bro$en o//C b0t theGentles ha-e not contn0ed n the goodness o/ God& b0t ha-e departed /ro! the /ath that

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    1as once del-ered to the Sants& and ha-e bro$en the co-enant n 1hch ther /athers 1ere establshed Esee Isaah >6Dth chapter. #y the /oregong test!ones 1e !ay loo$ at the Chrstan1orld and see the apostasy there has been /ro! the apostolc plat/or!C and 1ho can loo$at ths and not e2cla!& n the lang0age o/ Isaah& IThe earth also s de/led 0nder thenhabtants thereo/C beca0se they ha-e transgressed the la1s& changed the ordnance

    s& andbro$en the e-erlastng co-enantKIThe plan /act s ths& the po1er o/ God begns to /all 0pon the natons& and the lghto/ the latter8day glory begns to brea$ /orth thro0gh the dar$ at!osphere o/ sectaran1c$edness& and ther n;0ty rolls 0p nto -e1& and the natons o/ the Gentles are l$ethe 1a-es o/ the sea& castng 0p !re and drt& or all n co!!oton& and they are hastlypreparng to act the part allotted the!& 1hen the %ord reb0$es the natons& 1hen He shallr0le the! 1th a rod o/ ron& and brea$ the! n peces l$e a potter7s -essel. The %o

    rddeclared to Hs ser-ants& so!e eghteen !onths snce& that He 1as then 1thdra1ng Hs Sprt /ro! the earthC and 1e can see that s0ch s the /act& /or not only the ch0rches ared1ndlng a1ay& b0t there are no con-ersons& or b0t -ery /e1D and ths s not all& thego-ern!ents o/ the earth are thro1n nto con/0son and d-sonC and Destruction& totheeye o/ the sprt0al beholder& see!s to be 1rtten by the /nger o/ an n-sble hand&nlarge captals& 0pon al!ost e-ery thng 1e behold./o, to -sca*e 1ud#ents

    And no1 1hat re!ans to be done& 0nder crc0!stances l$e theseK I 1ll proceed totell yo0 1hat the %ord re;0res o/ all people& hgh and lo1& rch and poor& !ale and/e!ale& !nsters and people& pro/essors o/ relgon and non8pro/essors& n order that they!ay en9oy the Holy Sprt o/ God to a /0llness& and escape the 90dg!ents o/ God& 1hchare al!ost ready to b0rst 0pon the natons o/ the earth. Repent o/ all yo0r sns&and bebapt:ed n 1ater /or the re!sson o/ the!& n the na!e o/ the Father& and o/ the So

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    n& ando/ the Holy Ghost& and rece-e the ordnance o/ the layng on o/ the hands o/ h! 1ho sordaned and sealed 0nto ths po1er& that ye !ay rece-e the Holy Sprt o/ GodC andthss accordng to the Holy Scrpt0res& and the #oo$ o/ Mor!onC and the only 1ay that!ancan enter nto the celestal $ngdo!. These are the re;0re!ents o/ the ne1 co-enant& or/rst prncples o/ the Gospel o/ ChrstD then IAdd to yo0r /ath& -rt0eC and to -rt0e&$no1ledgeC and to $no1ledge& te!peranceC and to te!perance& patenceC and to patence&godlnessC and to godlness& brotherly $ndnessC and to brotherly $ndness& charty Gorlo-eHC /or / these thngs be n yo0& and abo0nd& they !a$e yo0 that ye shall nether bebarren nor 0n/r0t/0l& n the $no1ledge o/ o0r %ord Jes0s Chrst.I2ion and 1erusale#The #oo$ o/ Mor!on s a record o/ the /ore/athers o/ o0r 1estern trbes o/ IndansC ha-ng been /o0nd thro0gh the !nstraton o/ an holy angel& and translated nto o0ro1nlang0age by the g/t and po1er o/ God& a/ter ha-ng been hd 0p n the earth /or the

     last/o0rteen h0ndred years& contanng the 1ord o/ God 1hch 1as del-ered 0nto the!. #y t1e learn that o0r 1estern trbes o/ Indans are descendants /ro! that Joseph 1ho 1assold nto Egypt& and that the land o/ A!erca s a pro!sed land 0nto the!& and 0nto t allthe trbes o/ Israel 1ll co!e& 1th as !any o/ the Gentles as shall co!ply 1th the re;0stons o/ the ne1 co-enant. #0t the trbe o/ J0dah 1ll ret0rn to old Jer0sale!. Thecty o/ Jon spo$en o/ by "a-d& n the one h0ndred and second Psal!& 1ll be b0lt 0pon

    the land o/ A!erca& IAnd the ranso!ed o/ the %ord shall ret0rn& and co!e to Jon1thsongs and e-erlastng 9oy 0pon ther heads.I EIsaah 3D3>C Isaah >,D>4 and >)C Jere!ah 3)D)>C Psal!s )D and )3. These are test!ones that the Good Shepherd1llp0t /orth Hs o1n sheep& and lead the! o0t /ro! all natons 1here they ha-e beenscattered n a clo0dy and dar$ day& to Jon& and to Jer0sale!C besdes !any !oretest!ones 1hch !ght be bro0ght. And no1 I a! prepared to say by the a0thorty o/ Jes0s Chrst& that not !any year

    sshall pass a1ay be/ore the 'nted States shall present s0ch a scene o/ bloodshedas hasnot a parallel n the hstory o/ o0r natonC pestlence& hal& /a!ne& and earth;0a$e1lls1eep the 1c$ed o/ ths generaton /ro! o// the /ace o/ the land& to open and prepare the1ay /or the ret0rn o/ the lost trbes o/ Israel /ro! the north co0ntry. The people o/ the%ord& those 1ho ha-e co!pled 1th the re;0re!ents o/ the ne1 co-enant& ha-e alrea

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    dyco!!enced gatherng together to Jon& 1hch s n the state o/ Msso0rC there/ore Ideclare 0nto yo0 the 1arnng 1hch the %ord has co!!anded !e to declare 0nto thsgeneraton& re!e!berng that the eyes o/ !y Ma$er are 0pon !e& and that to H! I a! acco0ntable /or e-ery 1ord I say& 1shng nothng 1orse to !y /ello18!en than thereternal sal-atonC there/ore& IFear God& and g-e glory to H!& /or the ho0r o/ Hs90dg!ent s co!e.I Repent ye& repent ye& and e!brace the e-erlastng co-enant& and /leeto Jon& be/ore the o-er/lo1ng sco0rge o-erta$e yo0& /or there are those no1 l-ng 0ponthe earth 1hose eyes shall not be closed n death 0ntl they see all these thngs&1hch Iha-e spo$en& /0l/lled. Re!e!ber these thngsC call 0pon the %ord 1hle He s near&andsee$ H! 1hle He !ay be /o0nd& s the e2hortaton o/ yo0r 0n1orthy ser-ant ESgnedF JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.?"HC )D3)>83),.I#*ortant &orres*ondence 3ith the Brethren in 2ionThe 1"li2e #eaf1 is the name gi2en by the Prophet to the wonderful re2elation knownas Sec( ++, in the Doctrine and Co2enants( There are few, if any, re2elations gi2en to theChurch3and to the world if the world will recei2e them3greater than this 1"li2e

    #eaf,plucked from the Tree of Paradise(1 %n this letter to 4( 4( Phelps, one of the presidingbrethren in )issouri, the Prophet raises a warning 2oice based upon the word ofthe#ord as re2ealed in the re2elation and correspondence from )issouri( =rtland& Jan0ary )6& )533.#rother Alla! A. PhelpsDI send yo0 the Iol-e lea/I 1hch 1e ha-e pl0c$ed /ro! the tree o/ Paradse& the%ord7s !essage o/ peace to 0sC /or tho0gh o0r brethren n Jon nd0lge n /eelngsto1ards 0s& 1hch are not accordng to the re;0re!ents o/ the ne1 co-enant& yet& 1eha-e the sats/acton o/ $no1ng that the %ord appro-es o/ 0s& and has accepted 0s&

     andestablshed Hs na!e n =rtland /or the sal-aton o/ the natonsC /or the %ord 1ll ha-e aplace 1hence Hs 1ord 1ll go /orth& n these last days& n p0rtyC /or / Jon 1ll not p0r/y hersel/& so as to be appro-ed o/ n all thngs& n Hs sght& He 1ll see$ anotherpeopleC /or Hs 1or$ 1ll go on 0ntl Israel s gathered& and they 1ho 1ll not hearHs-oce& !0st e2pect to /eel Hs 1rath. %et !e say 0nto yo0& see$ to p0r/y yo0rsel-es& andalso the nhabtants o/ Jon& lest the %ord7s anger be $ndled to /erceness.A 3arnin to 2ion

    Repent& repent& s the -oce o/ God to JonC and strange as t !ay appear& yet t s tr0e&!an$nd 1ll persst n sel/890st/caton 0ntl all ther n;0ty s e2posed& and thercharacter past beng redee!ed& and that 1hch s treas0red 0p n ther hearts be e2posedto the ga:e o/ !an$nd. I say to yo0 Eand 1hat I say to yo0 I say to allF& hear the 1arnng-oce o/ God& lest Jon /all& and the %ord s1ear n Hs 1rath the nhabtants o/ Jon shallnot enter nto Hs rest.

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    The brethren n =rtland pray /or yo0 0nceasngly& /or& $no1ng the terrors o/ the%ord& they greatly /ear /or yo0. Bo0 1ll see that the %ord co!!anded 0s& n =rtland& tob0ld a ho0se o/ God& and establsh a school /or the Prophets& ths s the 1ord o/ the %ordto 0s& and 1e !0st& yea& the %ord helpng 0s& 1e 1ll obeyD as on condtons o/ o0robedence He has pro!sed 0s great thngsC yea& e-en a -st /ro! the hea-ens to honor 0s1th Hs o1n presence. Ae greatly /ear be/ore the %ord lest 1e sho0ld /al o/ ths greathonor& 1hch o0r Master proposes to con/er on 0sC 1e are see$ng /or h0!lty and great/ath lest 1e be asha!ed n Hs presence. O0r hearts are greatly gre-ed at the sprt 1hch s breathed both n yo0r letter and that o/ #rother Glbert7s& the -ery sprt 1hch s1astng the strength o/ Jon l$e a pestlenceC and / t s not detected and dr-en /ro!yo0& t 1ll rpen Jon /or the threatened 90dg!ents o/ God. Re!e!ber God sees thesecret sprngs o/ h0!an acton& and $no1s the hearts o/ all l-ng.#rother& s0//er 0s to spea$ planly& /or God has respect to the /eelngs o/ Hs Sants&and He 1ll not s0//er the! to be tantal:ed 1th !p0nty. L L L All 1e can say by 1ay

    o/ concl0son s& / the /o0ntan o/ o0r tears be not dred 0p& 1e 1ll stll 1eep /orJon.Ths /ro! yo0r brother 1ho tre!bles /or Jon& and /or the 1rath o/ hea-en& 1hch a1atsher / she repents not. ESgnedF JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.?"HC )D3),.An -*istleO/ the Frst Presdency& to the Ch0rch o/ Chrst n Tho!pson& Gea0ga Co0nty& Oho. =rtland& Febr0ary ,th& )533. "ear #rethrenDAe sal0te yo0& by ths o0r epstle& n the bonds o/ lo-e& re9ocng n yo0r stead/astness

    n the /ath 1hch s n Chrst Jes0s o0r %ordC and 1e desre yo0r prosperty n the 1ays o/ tr0th and rghteo0sness& prayng /or yo0 contn0ally& that yo0r /ath /al not& and thatyo0 !ay o-erco!e all the e-ls 1th 1hch yo0 are s0rro0nded& and beco!e p0re andholy be/ore God& e-en o0r Father& to 1ho! be glory /or e-er and e-er. A!en.It has see!ed good 0nto the Holy Sprt and 0nto 0s& to send ths o0r epstle to yo0 bythe hand o/ o0r belo-ed #rother Sal!on Gee& yo0r !essenger& 1ho has been ordaned by0s& n obedence to the co!!and!ents o/ God& to the o//ce o/ Elder to presde o-ertheCh0rch n Tho!pson& ta$ng the o-ersght thereo/& to lead yo0 and to teach the thng

    s1hch are accordng to godlnessC n 1ho! 1e ha-e great con/dence& as 1e pres0!e alsoyo0 ha-e& 1e there/ore say to yo0& yea& not 0s only& b0t the %ord also& rece-e h! ass0ch& $no1ng that the %ord has apponted h! to ths o//ce /or yo0r good& holdng h! 0p by yo0r prayers& prayng /or h! contn0ally that he !ay be endo1ed 1th 1sdo!and 0nderstandng n the $no1ledge o/ the %ord& that thro0gh h! yo0 !ay be $ept /ro!

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    e-l sprts& and all str/es and dssensons& and gro1 n grace and n the $no1ledge o/ o0r%ord and Sa-or Jes0s Chrst.#rethren belo-ed& contn0e n brotherly lo-e& 1al$ n !ee$ness& 1atchng 0ntoprayer& that yo0 be not o-erco!e. Follo1 a/ter peace& as sad o0r belo-ed brother Pa0l&that yo0 !ay be the chldren o/ o0r Hea-enly Father& and not g-e occason /orst0!blng& to Sant or snner. Fnally& brethren& pray /or 0s& that 1e !ay be enabled to dothe 1or$ 1here0nto 1e are called& that yo0 !ay en9oy the !ysteres o/ God& e-en a /0llnessC and !ay the grace o/ o0r %ord Jes0s Chrst be 1th yo0 all. A!en. JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.SI"NEB RIG"ONFRE"ERIC= G. AI%%IAMS.?"HC )D3>6& 3>

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    Ath respect to preparng to go to JonD?Frst t 1o0ld be pleasng to the %ord thatthe ch0rch or ch0rches gong to Jon sho0ld be organ:ed& and a s0table personapponted 1ho s 1ell ac;0anted 1th the condton o/ the ch0rch& and he be sent to=rtland to n/or! the #shop& and proc0re a lcense /ro! h! agreeable to the re-elatonDby so dong yo0 1ll pre-ent con/0son and dsorder& and escape !any d//c0ltes thatattend an 0norgan:ed band n 9o0rneyng n the last days.And agan& those n debt& sho0ld n all cases pay ther debtsC and the rch are n no1se to cast o0t the poor& or lea-e the! behnd& /or t s sad that the poor shall nhert theearth.Bo0 ;0oted a passage n Jere!ah& 1th regard to 9o0rneyng to JonC the 1ord o/ the%ord stands s0re& so let t be done.There are t1o paragraphs n yo0r letter 1hch I do not co!!end& as they are 1rtten blndly. Spea$ng o/ the Elders beng sent l$e lghtnng /ro! the bo1 o/ J0dahC thesecond& no secret n the co0ncls o/ Jon. Bo0 !enton these as / /ear rested 0pon yo0r!nd& other1se 1e cannot 0nderstand t. And agan 1e ne-er n;0re at the hand o/ God /or specal re-elaton only n case o/ there beng no pre-o0s re-elaton to s0t the caseCand that n a co0ncl o/ Hgh Prests. L L LIt s a great thng to n;0re at the hands o/ God& or to co!e nto Hs presenceC and

    1e/eel /ear/0l to approach H! on s0b9ects that are o/ lttle or no conse;0ence& tosats/y the;0eres o/ nd-d0als& especally abo0t thngs the $no1ledge o/ 1hch !en o0ght toobtan n all sncerty& be/ore God& /or the!sel-es& n h0!lty by the prayer o/ /athC and!ore especally a teacher or a Hgh Prest n the Ch0rch. I spea$ these thngs not by 1ayo/ reproach& b0t by 1ay o/ nstr0ctonC and I spea$ as / ac;0anted 1th yo0& 1hereas 1eare strangers to each other n the /lesh.I lo-e yo0r so0l& and the so0ls o/ the chldren o/ !en& and pray and do all I can /or the

    sal-aton o/ all.I no1 close by sendng yo0 a sal0taton o/ peace n the na!e o/ the %ord Jes0s Chrst.A!en.The blessng o/ o0r %ord Jes0s Chrst be and abde 1th yo0 all. A!en.JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.?"HC )D335& 33*.Ite#s o! Instruction &oncernin the &onsecration o! Pro*ert.#rother Ed1ard PartrdgeDSrD?I proceed to ans1er yo0r ;0estons& concernng the consecraton o/ propertyD?Frst& t s not rght to condescend to -ery great partc0lars n ta$ng n-entores. The /acts ths& a !an s bo0nd by the la1 o/ the Ch0rch& to consecrate to the #shop& be/or

    e hecan be consdered a legal her to the $ngdo! o/ JonC and ths& too& 1tho0t constrantCand 0nless he does ths& he cannot be ac$no1ledged be/ore the %ord on the Ch0rch#oo$Cthere/ore& to condescend to partc0lars& I 1ll tell yo0 that e-ery !an !0st be hs o1n90dge ho1 !0ch he sho0ld rece-e& and ho1 !0ch he sho0ld s0//er to re!an n thehands o/ the #shop. I spea$ o/ those 1ho consecrate !ore than they need /or thes0pport

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    o/ the!sel-es and ther /a!les.B. "utual &onsentThe !atter o/ consecraton !0st be done by the !0t0al consent o/ both partesC /or tog-e the #shop po1er to say ho1 !0ch e-ery !an shall ha-e& and he be oblged toco!ply 1th the #shop7s 90dg!ent& s g-ng to the #shop !ore po1er than a $ng hasCand& 0pon the other hand& to let e-ery !an say ho1 !0ch he needs& and the #shopbeoblged to co!ply 1th hs 90dg!ent& s to thro1 Jon nto con/0son& and !a$e a sla-eo/ the #shop. The /act s& there !0st be a balance or e;0lbr0! o/ po1er& bet1eenthe#shop and the peopleC and th0s har!ony and good81ll !ay be preser-ed a!ong yo0.There/ore& those persons consecratng property to the #shop n Jon& and thenrece-ng an nhertance bac$& !0st reasonably sho1 to the #shop that they need as!0ch as they cla!. #0t n case the t1o partes cannot co!e to a !0t0al agree!ent&the#shop s to ha-e nothng to do abo0t rece-ng s0ch consecratonsC and the case !0stbelad be/ore a co0ncl o/ t1el-e Hgh Prests& the #shop not beng one o/ the co0ncl&b0the s to lay the case be/ore the!. L L LAe 1ere not a lttle s0rprsed to hear that so!e o/ o0r letters o/ a p0blc nat0re& 1hch1e sent /or the good o/ Jon& ha-e been $ept bac$ /ro! the #shop. Ths s cond0ct

    1hch 1e hghly dsapprobate.Ans,ers to 4ueries to Brother Phel*s+ (etter o! 1une 4thFrst& n relaton to the poorD Ahen the #shops are apponted accordng to o0rreco!!endaton& t 1ll de-ol-e 0pon the! to see to the poor& accordng to the la1so/the Ch0rch. L L LSay to the brothers H0let and to all others& that the %ord ne-er a0thor:ed the!to saythat the de-l& hs angels& or the sons o/ perdton& sho0ld e-er be restoredC /or ther stateo/ destny 1as not re-ealed to !an& s not re-ealed& nor e-er shall be re-ealed& sa-e tothose 1ho are !ade parta$ers thereo/D conse;0ently those 1ho teach ths doctrne h

    a-enot rece-ed t o/ the Sprt o/ the %ord. Tr0ly #rother Ol-er declared t to be thedoctrneo/ de-ls. Ae& there/ore& co!!and that ths doctrne be ta0ght no !ore n Jon. Aesancton the decson o/ the #shop and hs co0ncl& n relaton to ths doctrne beng a barto co!!0non. L L LAe concl0de o0r letter by the 0s0al sal0taton& n to$en o/ the ne1 and e-erlastng co-enant. Ae hasten to close& beca0se the !al s 90st gong.JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.&SI"NEB RIG"ON&F. G. AI%%IAMS.

    P.S.?Ae /eel grat/ed 1th the 1ay n 1hch #rother Alla! A. Phelps scond0ctng the Star at present& 1e hope he 1ll see$ to render t !ore and !orenterestng. In relaton to the s:e o/ #shoprcsD Ahen Jon s once properly reg0lated there 1ll be a #shop to each s;0are o/ the s:e o/ the one 1e send yo0 1th thsC b0t atpresent t !0st be done accordng to 1sdo!. It s need/0l& brethren& that yo0 sho0ld beall o/ one heart& and o/ one !nd& n dong the 1ll o/ the %ord.There sho0ld e2st the greatest /reedo! and /a!larty a!ong the r0lers n Jon.

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    Ae 1ere e2ceedngly sorry to hear the co!plant that 1as !ade n #rother Ed1ardPartrdge7s letter& that the letters attendng the Ol-e %ea/ had been $ept /ro! h!& as t s!eet that he sho0ld $no1 all thngs n relaton to Jon& as the %ord has apponted h! tobe a 90dge n Jon. Ae hope& dear brethren& that the l$e occ0rrence 1ll not ta$e placeagan. Ahen 1e drect letters to Jon to any o/ the Hgh Prests& 1hch pertan to thereg0laton o/ her a//ars& 1e al1ays desgn that they sho0ld be lad be/ore the #shop& soas to enable h! to per/or! hs d0ty. Ae say so !0ch hopng t 1ll be rece-ed n$ndnessC and o0r brethren 1ll be care/0l o/ one another7s /eelngs& and 1al$ n lo-e&honorng one another !ore than the!sel-es& as s re;0red by the %ord.Bo0rs as e-er&J. S.&S. R.&F. G. A?"HC )D3,683,5.-5cer*ts !ro# the Second &o##unication to the Brethren in 2ion=rtland& J0ly >nd& )533.To the #rethren n JonD L L LThe )i!t o! TonuesAe are engaged n 1rtng a letter to E0gene GbranchH respectng the t1o S!ths& as

    1e ha-e rece-ed t1o letters /ro! the!C one /ro! John S!th& the other /ro! the Elder o/the Ch0rch GEden S!thH. As to the g/t o/ tong0es& all 1e can say s& that n ths place 1eha-e rece-ed t as the ancents ddD 1e 1sh yo0& ho1e-er& to be care/0l& lest n ths yo0be dece-ed. G0ard aganst e-ls 1hch !ay arse /ro! any acco0nts g-en by 1o!en& orother1seC be care/0l n all thngs lest any root o/ btterness sprng 0p a!ong yo0&andthereby !any be de/led. Satan 1ll no do0bt tro0ble yo0 abo0t the g/t o/ tong0es& 0nlessyo0 are care/0lC yo0 cannot 1atch h! too closely& nor pray too !0ch. May the %ord g-e

    yo0 1sdo! n all thngs. In a letter !aled last 1ee$& yo0 1ll do0btless& be/ore yo0rece-e ths& ha-e obtaned n/or!aton abo0t the Ne1 Translaton. Consgn the bo2 o/the #oo$ o/ Co!!and!ents to N. =. Ahtney @ Co.& =rtland& Gea0ga co0nty& Oho&care o/ =elly and Aal1orth& Cle-eland& C0yahoga co0nty& Oho. L L LAe concl0de by g-ng o0r heartest approbaton to e-ery !eas0re calc0lated /or thespread o/ the tr0th& n these last daysC and o0r strongest desres& and sncerest prayers /orthe prosperty o/ Jon. Say to all the brethren and ssters n Jon& that they ha-e o0rhearts& o0r best 1shes& and the strongest desres o/ o0r sprts /or ther 1el/are&te!poral&sprt0al& and eternal. As e-er& 1e sal0te yo0 n the na!e o/ the %ord Jes0s. A!en.

    JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.&>,SI"NEB RIG"ON&>,F. G. AI%%IAMS.?"HC )D3,583+4."inor -vents in 2ion and 6irtland7an A**eal to the )overnor o!"issouriL L L(etter to $ienna 1a8uesSepte!ber 6.?I 1rote as /ollo1s to Sster Menna Ja;0es& at Independence& Msso0rD"ear SsterD?Ha-ng a /e1 les0re !o!ents& I st do1n to co!!0ncate to yo0 a /e1

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    1ords& 1hch I $no1 I a! 0nder oblgaton to !pro-e /or yo0r sats/acton& / t sho0ld be a sats/acton /or yo0 to rece-e a /e1 1ords /ro! yo0r 0n1orthy brother n Chrst. Irece-ed yo0r letter so!e t!e snce& contanng a hstory o/ yo0r 9o0rney and yo0r sa/earr-al& /or 1hch I bless the %ordC I ha-e o/ten /elt a 1hsperng snce I rece-ed yo0rletter& l$e thsD IJoseph& tho0 art ndebted to thy God /or the o//erng o/ thy Sster Menna&1hch pro-ed a sa-or o/ l/e as pertanng to thy pec0nary concerns. There/ore shesho0ld not be /orgotten o/ thee& /or the %ord hath done ths& and tho0 sho0ldst re!e!berher n all thy prayers and also by letter& /or she o/tent!es calleth on the %ord& sayng& O%ord& nspre thy ser-ant Joseph to co!!0ncate by letter so!e 1ord to thne 0n1orthyhand!aden& and say all !y sns are /org-en& and art tho0 not content 1th thechastse!ent 1here81th tho0 hast chastsed thy hand!adenKI Bes& sster& ths see!s tobe the 1hsperng o/ a sprt& and 90dge ye 1hat sprt t s. I 1as a1are 1hen yo0 le/t =rtland that the %ord 1o0ld chasten yo0& b0t I prayed /er-ently n the na!e o/ Jes0s that

    yo0 !ght l-e to rece-e yo0r nhertance& agreeable to the co!!and!ent 1hch 1asg-en concernng yo0. I a! not at all astonshed at 1hat has happened to yo0& nether to1hat has happened to Jon& and I co0ld tell all the 1hys and 1here/ores o/ all thesecala!tes. #0t alas& t s n -an to 1arn and g-e precepts& /or all !en are nat0rallydsposed to 1al$ n ther o1n paths as they are ponted o0t by ther o1n /ngers& andarenot 1llng to consder and 1al$ n the path 1hch s ponted o0t by another& sayng& Thss the 1ay& 1al$ ye n t& altho0gh he sho0ld be an 0nerrng drector& and the %ord hs God

    sent h!. Ne-ertheless I do not /eel dsposed to cast any re/lectons& b0t I /eel to cry!ghtly 0nto the %ord that all thngs 1hch ha-e happened !ay 1or$ together /or goodCyea& I /eel to say& O %ord& let Jon be co!/orted& let her 1aste places be b0lt 0p andestablshed an h0ndred /oldC let Thy Sants co!e 0nto Jon o0t o/ e-ery natonC lether bee2alted to the thrd hea-ens& and let Thy 90dg!ent be sent /orth 0nto -ctoryC and a/terths great trb0laton& let Thy blessng /all 0pon Thy people& and let Thy hand!ad l-e tllher so0l shall be sats/ed n beholdng the glory o/ JonC /or not1thstandng her pre

    senta//lcton& she shall yet arse and p0t on her bea0t/0l gar!ents& and be the 9oy and gloryo/ the 1hole earth. There/ore let yo0r heart be co!/ortedC l-e n strct obedenceto theco!!and!ents o/ God& and 1al$ h0!bly be/ore H!& and He 1ll e2alt thee n Hs o1nd0e t!e. I 1ll ass0re yo0 that the %ord has respect 0nto the o//erng yo0 !ade. #rother"a-d A. Patten has 90st ret0rned /ro! hs to0r to the east& and g-es 0s great sats/acton

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    as to hs !nstry. He has rased 0p a ch0rch o/ abo0t eghty8three !e!bers n that part o/the co0ntry 1here hs /rends l-e?n the state o/ Ne1 Bor$. Many 1ere healed thro0ghhs nstr0!entalty& se-eral crpples 1ere restored. As !any as t1el-e that 1ere a//lctedca!e at a t!e /ro! a dstance to be healedC he and others ad!nstered n the na!e o/Jes0s& and they 1ere !ade 1hole. Th0s yo0 see that the laborers n the %ord7s -neyardare laborng 1th ther !ght& 1hle the day lasts& $no1ng Ithe nght soon co!eth 1hen no !an can 1or$.IESgnedF JOSEPH SMITH.?"HC )D64+864*%e#e#brance o! &anada Saints7&orres*ondence and Petition%elative to "issouri A!!airsNo-e!ber )*.?I 1rote as /ollo1s& /ro! =rtland& to Moses C. Nc$erson& Mo0ntPleasant& 'pper CanadaDAn5iet. !or A!!licted Saints#rother MosesD?Ae arr-ed at ths place on the /o0rth 0lt!o& a/ter a /atg0ng9o0rney& d0rng 1hch 1e 1ere blessed 1th 0s0al health. Ae parted 1th Father andMother Nc$erson at #0//alo& n good health& and they e2pressed a degree o/ sats/acton

    /or the prosperty and blessngs o/ ther 9o0rney.Snce o0r arr-al here& #rother Sdney has been a//lcted 1th sore eyes& 1hch sprobably the reason 1hy yo0 ha-e not pre-o0sly heard /ro! 0s& as he 1as calc0latng to1rte yo0 !!edately. #0t tho0gh I e2pect he 1ll 0ndo0btedly 1rte yo0 soon& as hseyes are e-dently better& yet& lest yo0 sho0ld be !patent to learn so!ethng concernng0s& I ha-e tho0ght that perhaps a /e1 lnes /ro! !e& tho0gh there !ay be a lac$ o//l0ency accordng to the literati o/ the age& !ght be rece-ed 1th a degree o/sats/acton on yo0r part& at least& 1hen yo0 call to !nd the near relaton 1th 1hch 1eare 0nted by the e-erlastng tes o/ the Gospel o/ o0r %ord Jes0s Chrst.

    Ae /o0nd o0r /a!les and the Ch0rch n ths place 1ell& generally. Nothng o/conse;0ence happened 1hle 1e 1ere absent& e2cept the death o/ one o/ o0r brethren?"a-d Johnson?a yo0ng !an o/ great 1orth as a pr-ate ct:en a!ong 0s& the loss o/1ho! 1e 90stly !o0rn.Ae are /a-ored 1th /re;0ent ntellgence /ro! d//erent sectons o/ o0r co0ntry&respectng the progress o/ the Gospel& and o0r prayers are daly to o0r Father& that t !aygreatly spread& e-en tll all natons shall hear the gloro0s ne1s and co!e to a $no1ledgeo/ the tr0th.Ae ha-e rece-ed letters /ro! o0r brethren n Msso0r o/ late& b0t 1e cannot tell&/ro! ther contents& the probable e2tent to 1hch those persons 1ho are desro0s to

     e2pelthe! /ro! that co0ntry 1ll carry ther 0nla1/0l and 0nrghteo0s p0rposes. O0r brethrenha-e appled to the e2ec0t-e o/ the state& 1ho has pro!sed the! all the assstance thatthe c-l la1 can g-eC and n all probablty a s0t has been co!!enced ere ths.Ae are n/or!ed& ho1e-er& that those persons are -ery -olent& and threaten!!edate e2ter!naton 0pon all those 1ho pro/ess o0r doctrne. Ho1 /ar they 1ll bes0//ered to e2ec0te ther threats& 1e $no1 not& b0t 1e tr0st n the %ord& and lea-e the

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    e-ent 1th H! to go-ern n Hs o1n 1se pro-dence.I shall e2pect a co!!0ncaton /ro! yo0 on recept o/ ths& and hope yo0 1ll g-e!e n/or!aton concernng the brethren& ther health& /ath& etc.& also n/or! !econcernng o0r /rends 1th 1ho! 1e /or!ed ac;0antance.Bo0 are a1are& no do0bt& dear brother& that an2etes ne2pressble cro1d the!sel-es contn0ally 0pon !y !nd /or the Sants& 1hen I consder the !any te!ptatons to 1hch 1e are s0b9ect& /ro! the c0nnng and /lattery o/ the great ad-ersary o/ o0r so0lsD and Ican tr0ly say& 1th !0ch /er-ency ha-e I called 0pon the %ord /or o0r brethren nCanada.And 1hen I call to !nd 1th 1hat readness they rece-ed the 1ord o/ tr0th by the!nstry o/ #rother Sdney and !ysel/& I a! tr0ly 0nder great oblgatons to h0!ble!ysel/ be/ore H!.&o#in o! the Son o! "anAhen I conte!plate the rapdty 1th 1hch the great and gloro0s day o/ the co!ngo/ the Son o/ Man ad-ances& 1hen He shall co!e to rece-e Hs Sants 0nto H!sel/&1here they shall d1ell n Hs presence& and be cro1ned 1th glory and !!ortaltyD1hen I consder that soon the hea-ens are to be sha$en& and the earth tre!ble and reel toand /roC and that the hea-ens are to be 0n/olded as a scroll 1hen t s rolled 0pC and thate-ery !o0ntan and sland are to /lee a1ay& I cry o0t n !y heart& Ahat !anner o/

    persons o0ght 1e to be n all holy con-ersaton and godlnessNBo0 re!e!ber the test!ony 1hch I bore n the na!e o/ the %ord Jes0s& concernngthe great 1or$ 1hch He has bro0ght /orth n the last days. Bo0 $no1 !y !anner o/co!!0ncaton& ho1 that n 1ea$ness and s!plcty& I declared to yo0 1hat the %ord hadbro0ght /orth by the !nsterng o/ Hs holy angels to !e /or ths generaton. I praythatthe %ord !ay enable yo0 to treas0re these thngs n yo0r !nd& /or I $no1 that Hs Sprt1ll bear test!ony to all 1ho see$ dlgently a/ter $no1ledge /ro! H!. I hope yo0 1llsearch the Scrpt0res to see 1hether these thngs are not also consstent 1th those thngs

    1hch the ancent Prophets and Apostles ha-e 1rtten.I re!e!ber #rother Free!an and 1/e& Ranso! also& and Sster %yda& and lttleCharles& 1th all the brethren and ssters. I entreat /or an nterest n all yo0r prayersbe/ore the throne o/ !ercy& n the na!e o/ Jes0s. I hope the %ord 1ll grant thatI !ay seeyo0 all agan& and abo-e all that 1e !ay o-erco!e& and st do1n together n the $ngdo!o/ o0r Father.Bo0r brother& etc.JOSEPH SMITH?"HC )D66)8663.The Pro*het+s %e!lections &oncernin Sidne. %idon

    The character of Sidney 'igdon is here 2i2idly portrayed, followed by an earnest prayer for his sal2ation and a prophecy concerning his posterity( %t is true that hisgenerations ha2e been hunted for, and some of them found( His son, John 4(, 5oined theChurch many years ago after wandering in the wilderness of darkness( )ore recently oneof his grandsons, now an old man, 5oined the Church and another grandson hase&pressed himself fa2orably towards the Church( %n this way, in part at least, w

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    e see thefulfilment of this earnest plea by the Prophet Joseph Smith(Nothng o/ note occ0rred /ro! the /allng o/ the stars on the )3th& to ths date&No-e!ber )*th& 1hen !y heart s so!e1hat sorro1/0l& b0t I /eel to tr0st n the %ord& theGod o/ Jacob. I ha-e learned n !y tra-els that !an s treachero0s and sel/sh& b0t /e1e2cepted.Sidne. %idon#rother Sdney s a !an 1ho! I lo-e& b0t he s not capable o/ that p0re and stead/astlo-e /or those 1ho are hs bene/actors that sho0ld character:e a Presdent o/ theCh0rcho/ Chrst. Ths& 1th so!e other lttle thngs& s0ch as a sel/shness and ndependenceo/!nd& 1hch too o/ten !an/ested destroy the con/dence o/ those 1ho 1o0ld lay do1nther l-es /or h!?these are hs /a0lts. #0t not1thstandng these thngs& he s a -ery great and good !anC a !an o/ great po1er o/ 1ords& and can gan the /rendshp o/ hshearers -ery ;0c$ly. He s a !an 1ho! God 1ll 0phold& / he 1ll contn0e /ath/0l to hs callng. O God& grant that he !ay& /or the %ord7s sa$e. A!en.And agan& blessed be #rother SdneyD not1thstandng he shall be hgh and l/ted 0p&

    yet he shall bo1 do1n 0nder the yo$e l$e 0nto an ass that cro0cheth beneath hs b0rden&that learneth hs !aster7s 1ll by the stro$e o/ the rodC th0s sath the %ordD yet& the %ord1ll ha-e !ercy on h!& and he shall brng /orth !0ch /r0t& e-en as the -ne o/ thechoce grape& 1hen her cl0sters are rpe& be/ore the t!e o/ the gleanng o/ the -ntageCand the %ord shall !a$e hs heart !erry as 1th s1eet 1ne& beca0se o/ H! 1ho p0tteth/orth Hs hand& and l/teth h! 0p o0t o/ deep !re& and ponteth h! o0t the 1ay& and g0deth hs /eet 1hen he st0!bles& and h0!bleth h! n hs prde. #lessed are hsgeneratonsD ne-ertheless one shall h0nt a/ter the! as a !an h0nteth a/ter an ass

     that hasstrayed n the 1lderness& and straght1ay /ndeth h! and brngeth h! nto the /old.Th0s shall the %ord 1atch o-er hs generaton& that they !ay be sa-ed. E-en so& A!en.The Pro*het+s "a5i#sThe !an 1ho 1lleth to do 1ell& 1e sho0ld e2tol hs -rt0es& and spea$ not o/ hs/a0lts behnd hs bac$. A !an 1ho 1l/0lly t0rneth a1ay /ro! hs /rend 1tho0t a ca0se&s not easly /org-en. The $ndness o/ a !an sho0ld ne-er be /orgotten. That person 1hone-er /orsa$eth hs tr0st& sho0ld e-er ha-e the hghest place o/ regard n o0r hearts& ando0r lo-e sho0ld ne-er /al& b0t ncrease !ore and !ore& and ths s !y dsposton and

    these !y sent!ents.?"HC )D6638666.Instructions on Sale o! (and in 2ionThe following is an e&cerpt taken from a communication to the Saints in 6ion, whohad been dri2en from their homes and basely persecuted by a mob in Jackson County,)issouri(L L LI 1sh& 1hen yo0 rece-e ths letter& that yo0 1o0ld collect e-ery partc0lar& conce

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    rnngthe !ob& /ro! the begnnng& and send 0s a correct state!ent o/ /acts& as they occ0rred/ro! t!e to t!e& that 1e !ay be enabled to g-e the p0blc correct n/or!aton on thes0b9ectC and n/or! 0s also o/ the st0aton o/ the brethren& 1th respect to ther !eans o/s0stenance.I 1o0ld n/or! yo0 that t s not the 1ll o/ the %ord /or yo0 to sell yo0r lands nJon& / !eans can possbly be proc0red /or yo0r s0stenance 1tho0t. E-ery e2ertonsho0ld be !ade to !antan the ca0se yo0 ha-e espo0sed& and to contrb0te to thenecesstes o/ one another& as !0ch as possble& n ths yo0r great cala!ty& and re!e!bernot to !0r!0r at the dealngs o/ God 1th hs creat0res. Bo0 are not as yet bro0ght ntoas tryng crc0!stances as 1ere the ancent Prophets and Apostles. Call to !nd "anel&the three Hebre1 chldren& Jere!ah& Pa0l& Stephen& and !any others& too n0!ero0sto!enton& 1ho 1ere stoned& sa1n as0nder& te!pted& slan 1th the s1ord& and 1andered abo0t n sheep s$ns and goat s$ns& beng destt0te& a//lcted& tor!ented& o/ 1ho! the1orld 1as not 1orthy. They 1andered n deserts and n !o0ntans& and hd n dens& and

     ca-es o/ the earthC yet they all obtaned a good report thro0gh /athC and a!dst all thera//lctons they re9oced that they 1ere co0nted 1orthy to rece-e persec0ton /or Chrst7ssa$e.Ae $no1 not 1hat 1e shall be called to pass thro0gh be/ore Jon s del-ered andestablshedC there/ore& 1e ha-e great need to l-e near to God& and al1ays be n strctobedence to all Hs co!!and!ents& that 1e !ay ha-e a conscence -od o/ o//enseto1ard God and !an. It s yo0r pr-lege to 0se e-ery la1/0l !eans n yo0r po1er tosee$redress /or yo0r gre-ances /ro! yo0r ene!es& and prosec0te the! to the e2tent o/

     thela1C b0t t 1ll be !possble /or 0s to render yo0 any te!poral assstance& as o0r !eansare already e2ha0sted& and 1e are deeply n debt& and $no1 o/ no !eans 1hereby 1e shall be able to e2trcate o0rsel-es.The nhabtants o/ ths co0nty threaten o0r destr0cton& and 1e $no1 not ho1 soonthey !ay be per!tted to /ollo1 the e2a!ple o/ the Msso0ransC b0t o0r tr0st s n God&and 1e are deter!ned& Hs grace assstng 0s& to !antan the ca0se and hold o0t /ath/0l0nto the end& that 1e !ay be cro1ned 1th cro1ns o/ celestal glory& and enter nto the

    rest that s prepared /or the chldren o/ God.Ae are no1 dstrb0tng the type& and ntend to co!!ence settng today& and ss0e apaper the last o/ ths 1ee$& or begnnng o/ ne2t. Ae 1rote to Elder Phelps so!e t!esnce& and also sent by Elder Hyde& /or the lst o/ na!es o/ s0bscrbers to the Star, 1hch1e ha-e not yet rece-edC and& 0ntl 1e rece-e t& the !ost o/ the s0bscrbers 1ll bedepr-ed o/ the paperC and 1hen yo0 rece-e ths& / yo0 ha-e not sent the lst& I 1sh yo0

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    to attend to t !!edately& as !0ch ncon-enence 1ll /ollo1 a delay.L L LAe learn by Elder Phelps& that the brethren ha-e s0rrendered ther ar!s to theMsso0rans& and are /leeng across the r-er. I/ that s the case& t s not !eet that theysho0ld reco!!ence hostltes 1th the!C b0t& / not& yo0 sho0ld !antan the gro0nd as long as there s a !an le/t& as the spot o/ gro0nd 0pon 1hch yo0 1ere located& stheplace apponted o/ the %ord /or yo0r nhertance& and t s rght n the sght o/ God thatyo0 contend /or t to the last.Bo0 1ll recollect that the %ord has sad& that Jon sho0ld not be re!o-ed o0t o/ herplaceC there/ore the land sho0ld not be sold& b0t be held by the Sants& 0ntl the %ord nHs 1sdo! shall open a 1ay /or yo0r ret0rnC and 0ntl that t!e& / yo0 can p0rchase atract o/ land n Clay co0nty& /or present e!ergences& t s rght yo0 sho0ld do so&/ yo0can do t& and not sell yo0r land n Jac$son co0nty. It s not sa/e /or 0s to sendyo0 a1rtten re-elaton on the s0b9ect& b0t 1hat s stated abo-e s accordng to 1sdo!. Ihaste

    to a close to g-e roo! /or #rother Ol-er& and re!an yo0rs n the bonds o/ thee-erlastng co-enant&Joseph S!th& J0n.?"HC )D66586

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    e2pected that Jon 1o0ld s0//er so!e a//lcton& /ro! 1hat I co0ld learn /ro! theco!!and!ents 1hch ha-e been g-en. #0t I 1o0ld re!nd yo0 o/ a certan cla0se none 1hch says& that a/ter !0ch trb0laton co!eth the blessng. #y ths& and also others&and also one rece-ed o/ late& I $no1 that Jon& n the d0e t!e o/ the %ord& 1ll be redee!edC b0t ho1 !any 1ll be the days o/ p0r/caton& trb0laton& and a//lcton& the%ord has $ept hd /ro! !y eyesC and 1hen I n;0re concernng ths s0b9ect& the -oceo/the %ord sD #e stll& and $no1 that I a! GodC all those 1ho s0//er /or !y na!e shallregn 1th !e& and he that layeth do1n hs l/e /or !y sa$e shall /nd t agan. No1& there are t1o thngs o/ 1hch I a! gnorantC and the %ord 1ll not sho1 the!0nto !e& perhaps /or a 1se p0rpose n H!sel/?I !ean n so!e respects?and they aretheseD Ahy God has s0//ered so great a cala!ty to co!e 0pon Jon& and 1hat the great!o-ng ca0se o/ ths great a//lcton sC and agan& by 1hat !eans he 1ll ret0rn her bac$to her nhertance& 1th songs o/ e-erlastng 9oy 0pon her head. These t1o thngs&brethren& are n part $ept bac$ that they are not planly sho1n 0nto !eC b0t there are so!ethngs that are planly !an/est 1hch ha-e nc0rred the dspleas0re o/ the Al!ghty.The %ihteous Su!!er ,ith the )uilt.

    Ahen I conte!plate 0pon all thngs that ha-e been !an/ested& I a! a1are that Io0ght not to !0r!0r& and do not !0r!0r& only n ths& that those 1ho are nnocent areco!pelled to s0//er /or the n;0tes o/ the g0ltyC and I cannot acco0nt /or ths& only onths 1se& that the sayng o/ the Sa-or has not been strctly obser-edD II/ thy rght eyeo//end thee& pl0c$ t o0t& and cast t /ro! theeC or / thy rght ar! o//end thee& c0t t o//&and cast t /ro! thee.I No1 the /act s& / any o/ the !e!bers o/ o0r body s dsordered&the rest o/ o0r body 1ll be a//ected 1th t& and then all are bro0ght nto bondage 

    togetherC and yet& not1thstandng all ths& t s 1th d//c0lty that I can restran !y /eelngs 1hen I $no1 that yo0& !y brethren& 1th 1ho! I ha-e had so !any happy ho0rs?sttng& as t 1ere& n hea-enly places n Chrst Jes0sC and also& ha-ng the 1tness1hch I /eel& and e-er ha-e /elt& o/ the p0rty o/ yo0r !ot-es?are cast o0t& and are asstrangers and plgr!s on the earth& e2posed to h0nger& cold& na$edness& perl& s1ord?Isay 1hen I conte!plate ths& t s 1th d//c0lty that I can $eep /ro! co!planng and!0r!0rng aganst ths dspensatonC b0t I a! sensble that ths s not rght& and !ay Godgrant that not1thstandng yo0r great a//lctons and s0//erngs& there !ay not anyth

    ngseparate 0s /ro! the lo-e o/ Chrst.#rethren& 1hen 1e learn yo0r s0//erngs& t a1a$ens e-ery sy!pathy o/ o0r heartsCt1eghs 0s do1nC 1e cannot re/ran /ro! tears& yet& 1e are not able to real:e& only n part&yo0r s0//erngsD and I o/ten hear the brethren sayng& they 1sh they 1ere 1th yo0& thatthey !ght bear a part o/ yo0r s0//erngsC and I !ysel/ sho0ld ha-e been 1th yo0&had

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    not God pre-ented t n the order o/ Hs pro-dence& that the yo$e o/ a//lcton !ghtbeless gre-o0s 0pon yo0& God ha-ng /ore1arned !e& concernng these thngs& /or yo0rsa$eC and also& Elder Co1dery co0ld not lghten yo0r a//lctons by tarryng longer1thyo0& /or hs presence 1o0ld ha-e so !0ch the !ore enraged yo0r ene!esC there/oreGodhath dealt !erc/0lly 1th 0s. O brethren& let 0s be than$/0l that t s as 1ell 1th 0s as ts& and 1e are yet al-e and perad-ent0re& God hath lad 0p n store great good /or0s nths generaton& and !ay grant that 1e !ay yet glor/y Hs na!e.The $alue o! an InheritanceI /eel than$/0l that there ha-e no !ore dened the /athC I pray God n the na!e o/ Jes0s that yo0 all !ay be $ept n the /ath 0nto the endD let yo0r s0//erngs be 1hat they!ay& t s better n the eyes o/ God that yo0 sho0ld de& than that yo0 sho0ld g-e 0p theland o/ Jon& the nhertances 1hch yo0 ha-e p0rchased 1th yo0r !oneysC /or e-ery!an that g-eth not 0p hs nhertance& tho0gh he sho0ld de& yet& 1hen the %ord shallco!e& he shall stand 0pon t& and 1th Job& n hs /lesh he shall see God. There/ore& ths s

    !y co0nsel& that yo0 retan yo0r lands& e-en 0nto the 0tter!ost& and e!ploy e-ery la1/0l!eans to see$ redress o/ yo0r ene!esC and pray to God& day and nght& to ret0rn yo0 npeace and n sa/ety to the lands o/ yo0r nhertanceD and 1hen the 90dge /al yo0& appeal0nto the e2ec0t-eC and 1hen the e2ec0t-e /al yo0& appeal 0nto the presdentC and1henthe presdent /al yo0& and all la1s /al yo0& and the h0!anty o/ the people /al yo0& andall thngs else /al yo0 b0t God alone& and yo0 contn0e to 1eary H! 1th yo0r!port0nngs& as the poor 1o!an dd the 0n90st 90dge& He 1ll not /al to e2ec0te90dg!ent 0pon yo0r ene!es& and to a-enge Hs o1n elect that cry 0nto H! day and

    nght.#ehold& He 1ll not /al yo0N He 1ll co!e 1th ten tho0sand o/ Hs Sants& and allHs ad-ersares shall be destroyed 1th the breath o/ Hs lpsN All those 1ho $eep thernhertances& not1thstandng they sho0ld be beaten and dr-en& shall be l$ened 0ntothe1se -rgns 1ho too$ ol n ther la!ps. #0t all those 1ho are 0nbele-ng and /ear/0l& 1ll be l$ened 0nto the /oolsh -rgns& 1ho too$ no ol n ther la!psD and 1hen theyshall ret0rn and say 0nto the Sants& G-e 0s o/ yo0r lands?behold& there 1ll be no roo!/o0nd /or the!. As respects g-ng deeds& I 1o0ld ad-se yo0 to g-e deeds as /ar as the

    brethren ha-e legal and 90st cla!s /or the!& and then let e-ery !an ans1er to God /orthe dsposal o/ the!.I 1o0ld s0ggest so!e deas to Elder Phelps& not $no1ng that they 1ll be o/ any realbene/t b0t s0ggest the! /or consderaton. I 1o0ld be glad / he 1ere here& 1ere tpossble /or h! to co!e& b0t dare not ad-se& not $no1ng 1hat shall be/all 0s& as1e are0nder -ery hea-y and sero0s threatenngs /ro! a great !any people n ths place.#0t& perhaps& the people n %berty !ay /eel 1llng& God ha-ng po1er to so/ten the

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    hearts o/ all !en& to ha-e a press establshed thereC and / not& n so!e other placeC anyplace 1here t can be the !ost con-enent& and t s possble to get to tC God 1ll be 1llng to ha-e t n any place 1here t can be establshed n sa/ety. Ae !0st be 1se asserpents and har!less as do-es. Agan& I desre that Elder Phelps sho0ld collect all then/or!aton& and g-e 0s a tr0e hstory o/ the begnnng and rse o/ Jon& and hercala!tes.A Pra.er !or the A!!licted SaintsNo1 hear the prayer o/ yo0r 0n1orthy brother n the ne1 and e-erlastng co-enantD?O !y GodN Tho0 1ho hast called and chosen a /e1& thro0gh Thy 1ea$ nstr0!ent byco!!and!ent& and sent the! to Msso0r& a place 1hch Tho0 ddst call Jon& andco!!anded Thy ser-ants to consecrate t 0nto Thysel/ /or a place o/ re/0ge and sa/ety /orthe gatherng o/ Thy Sants& to be b0lt 0p a holy cty 0nto Thysel/C and as Tho0 hast sadthat no other place sho0ld be apponted l$e 0nto ths& there/ore& I as$ Thee n the na!e o/Jes0s Chrst& to ret0rn Thy people 0nto ther ho0ses and ther nhertances& to en9oy the/r0t o/ ther laborsC that all the 1aste places !ay be b0lt 0pC that all the ene!es o/ Thy

    people& 1ho 1ll not repent and t0rn 0nto Thee& !ay be destroyed /ro! o// the /ace o/ thelandC and let a ho0se be b0lt and establshed 0nto Thy na!eC and let all the losses thatThy people ha-e s0staned& be re1arded 0nto the!& e-en !ore than /o0r8/old& thattheborders o/ Jon !ay be enlarged /ore-erC and let her be establshed no !ore to bethro1ndo1nC and let all Thy Sants& 1hen they are scattered as sheep& and are persec0ted& /lee0nto Jon& and be establshed n the !dst o/ herC and let her be organ:ed accordngtoThy la1C and let ths prayer e-er be recorded be/ore Thy /ace. G-e Thy Holy Sprt

    0nto!y brethren& 0nto 1ho! I 1rteC send Thne angels to g0ard the!& and del-er the! /ro!all e-lC and 1hen they t0rn ther /aces to1ard Jon& and bo1 do1n be/ore Thee andpray&!ay ther sns ne-er co!e 0p be/ore Thy /aceC nether ha-e place n the boo$ o/ Thyre!e!branceC and !ay they depart /ro! all ther n;0tes. Pro-de /ood /or the! asTho0 doest /or the ra-ensC pro-de clothng to co-er ther na$edness& and ho0ses that they!ay d1ell therenC g-e 0nto the! /rends n ab0ndance& and let ther na!es be recordedn the %a!b7s boo$ o/ l/e& eternally be/ore Thy /ace. A!en.Fnally& brethren& the grace o/ o0r %ord Jes0s Chrst be 1th yo0 all 0ntl Hs co!ng

     n Hs $ngdo!. A!en.JOSEPH SMITH& J'N.?"HC )D6

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    phetproceeded to bless "li2er Cowdery and se2eral members of the Smith family, after ha2ingconferred upon Joseph Smith, Sen(, the office and Priesthood of Patriarch of the Church(The blessings follow(Blessin o! Oliver &o,der.#lessed o/ the %ord s #rother Co1dery& ne-ertheless there are t1o e-ls n h! that he !0st needs /orsa$e& or he cannot altogether escape the b0//etngs o/ the ad-ersary. I/he /orsa$e these e-ls he shall be /org-en& and shall be !ade l$e 0nto the bo1 1hch the%ord hath set n the hea-ensC and shall be a sgn and an ensgn 0nto the natons. #ehold&he s blessed o/ the %ord /or hs constancy and stead/astness n the 1or$ o/ the %ordC1here/ore& he shall be blessed n hs generaton& and they shall ne-er be c0t o//&and heshall be helped o0t o/ !any tro0blesC and / he $eep the co!!and!ents& and hear$en0nto the co0nsel o/ the %ord& hs rest shall be gloro0s.The Pro*het+s Blessin to /is 'ather and "otherTh0s spo$e the Seer& and these are the 1ords 1hch /ell /ro! hs lps 1hle the

    -sons o/ the Al!ghty 1ere open to hs -e1& sayngD#lessed o/ the %ord s !y /ather& /or he shall stand n the !dst o/ hs posterty andshall be co!/orted by ther blessngs 1hen he s old and bo1ed do1n 1th years& andshall be called a prnce o-er the!& and shall be n0!bered a!ong those 1ho hold the rghto/ Patrarchal Presthood& e-en the $eys o/ that !nstryD /or he shall asse!ble togetherhs posterty l$e 0nto Ada!C and the asse!bly 1hch he called shall be an e2a!ple /or!y /ather& /or th0s t s 1rtten o/ h!DThree years pre-o0s to the death o/ Ada!& he called Seth& Enos& Canan& Mahalaleel&

    Jared& Enoch and Meth0selah& 1ho 1ere Hgh Prests& 1th the resd0e o/ hs posterty& 1ho 1ere rghteo0s& nto the -alley o/ Ada!8ond8Ah!an& and there besto1ed 0pon the!hs last blessng. And the %ord appeared 0nto the!& and they rose 0p and blessed Ada!&and called h! Mchael& the Prnce& the Archangel. And the %ord ad!nstered co!/ort0nto Ada!& and sad 0nto h!& I ha-e set thee to be at the headD a !0ltt0de o/ natonsshall co!e o/ thee& and tho0 art a Prnce o-er the! /ore-er.So shall t be 1th !y /atherD he shall be called a prnce o-er hs posterty& holdng the$eys o/ the patrarchal Presthood o-er the $ngdo! o/ God on earth& e-en the Ch0rc

    h o/the %atter8day Sants& and he shall st n the general asse!bly o/ Patrarchs& e-ennco0ncl 1th the Ancent o/ "ays 1hen he shall st and all the Patrarchs 1th h! andshall en9oy hs rght and a0thorty 0nder the drecton o/ the Ancent o/ "ays.And blessed also& s !y !other& /or she s a !other n Israel& and shall be a parta$er1th !y /ather n all hs patrarchal blessngs.And blessed& also& are !y brothers and !y ssters& /or they shall yet /nd rede!pton

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    n the ho0se o/ the %ord& and ther o//sprngs shall be a blessng& a 9oy and a co!/ort 0ntothe!.#lessed s !y !other& /or her so0l s e-er /lled 1th bene-olence and phlanthropyCand not1thstandng her age& she shall yet rece-e strength and be co!/orted n the!dsto/ her ho0seD and th0s sath the %ord. She shall ha-e eternal l/e.And agan& blessed s !y /ather& /or the hand o/ the %ord shall be o-er h!& and he shall be /0ll o/ the Holy GhostC /or he shall predct 1hatsoe-er shall be/all hsposterty0nto the latest generaton& and shall see the a//lcton o/ hs chldren pass a1ay& and therene!es 0nder ther /eetD and 1hen hs head s /0lly rpe he shall behold h!sel/ as anol-e tree 1hose branches are bo1ed do1n 1th !0ch /r0t. #ehold& the blessngs o/Joseph by the hand o/ hs progentor& shall co!e 0pon the head o/ !y /ather and hs seeda/ter h!& to the 0tter!ost& e-en he shall be a /r0t/0l bo0ghC he shall be as a /r0t/0lbo0gh& e-en a /r0t/0l bo0gh by a 1ell 1hose branches r0n o-er the 1all& and hs seedshall abde n strength& and the ar!s o/ ther hands shall be !ade strong by the hands o/

    the !ghty God o/ Jacob& and the God o/ hs /athersD e-en the God o/ Abraha!& Isaac andJacob& shall help h! and hs seed a/ter h!D e-en the Al!ghty shall bless h! 1thblessngs o/ hea-en abo-e and hs seed a/ter h!& and the blessngs o/ the deep that leth0nderD and hs seed shall rse 0p and call h! blessed. He shall be as the -ne o/ thechoce grape 1hen her cl0sters are /0lly rpeD and he shall also possess a !ansononhgh& e-en n the Celestal =ngdo!. Hs co0nsel shall be so0ght /or by tho0sands& and heshall ha-e place n the ho0se o/ the %ordC /or he shall be !ghty n the co0ncl o/the

    elders& and hs days shall yet be lengthened o0tD and 1hen he shall go hence he shall go npeace& and hs rest shall be gloro0sC and hs na!e shall be had n re!e!brance to theend. A!en.Ol-er Co1dery& Cler$ and Recorder?MSS& "ec. )5& )533.The Pro*het+s Blessin to /is Brother /.ru##lessed o/ the %ord s !y brother Hyr0! /or the ntegrty o/ hs heartC he shall begrtabo0t 1th strength& tr0th and /ath/0lness shall be the strength o/ hs lons. Fro! generaton to generaton he shall be a sha/t n the hand o/ hs God to e2ec0te 90dg!

    ent0pon hs ene!esD and he shall be hd by the hand o/ the %ord that none o/ hs secret partsshall be dsco-ered 0nto hs ene!es& 0nto hs h0rt. Hs na!e shall be called a blessnga!ong !en. Hs ac;0antance shall be a!ong $ngs& and he shall be so0ght /or that he!ay st n co0ncl& by natons and $ngs that are a/ar o//C and tho0sands o/ so0ls shall hebe an nstr0!ent n the hand o/ hs God n brngng 0nto sal-aton. And 1hen he s n

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    tro0ble& and great trb0laton has co!e 0pon h!& he shall re!e!ber the God o/ Jacob&and he shall sheld h! /ro! the po1er o/ Satan. He shall rece-e co0nsel n the ho0se o/the Most Hgh that he !ay be strengthened n hope. He shall be as a coolng sprng thatbrea$eth /orth at the /oot o/ the !o0ntan& o-ershado1ed 1th choce trees bo1ed do1n1th rpe /r0t& that yeldeth both no0rsh!ent to the appette and ;0encheth the thrst&thereby yeldng re/resh!ent to the 1eary tra-ellerD and the gongs o/ hs /eet shall e-erbe by strea!s o/ l-ng 1ater. He shall not /al nor 1ant /or $no1ledge& /or the %ord hsGod shall p0t /orth hs hand and l/t h! 0p and shall call 0pon h! 1th hs -oce n the1ay 1heren he s tra-ellng& that he !ay be establshed /ore-er. He shall stand n thetrac$s o/ hs /ather and be n0!bered a!ong those 1ho hold the rght o/ PatrarchalPresthood& e-en the E-angelcal Presthood and po1er shall be 0pon h!& that n hs oldage hs na!e !ay be !agn/ed on the earth. #ehold he shall be blessed 1th anab0ndance o/ rches o/ the earth?gold& sl-er& and treas0res o/ preco0s stones& o/ 

    da!onds and platna. Hs charots shall be n0!ero0s& and hs cattle shall !0ltplyab0ndantlyD horses& !0les& asses& ca!els& dro!edares& and s1/t beasts& that he !ay!agn/y the na!e o/ the %ord and bene/t the poor. Bea& ths shall be the desre o/hsso0l& to co!/ort the needy and bnd 0p the bro$en n heart. Hs chldren shall be !anyand hs posterty n0!ero0s& and they shall rse 0p and call h! blessed. And he shall ha-eeternal l/e. A!en.Ol-er Co1dery& Cler$ and Recorder.G-en n =rtland& "ece!ber )5& )533.Blessin to Sa#uel and 3illia# S#ith

    #lessed o/ the %ord s !y brother Sa!0el& beca0se the %ord shall say 0nto h!&Sa!0el& Sa!0elC there/ore he shall be !ade a teacher n the ho0se o/ the %ord& and the%ord shall !at0re hs !nd n 90dg!ent& and thereby he shall obtan the estee! and/ello1shp o/ hs brethren& and hs so0l shall be establshed and he shall bene/t the ho0seo/ the %ord& beca0se he shall obtan ans1er to prayer n hs /ath/0lness.#rother Alla! s as the /erce lon& 1hch d-deth not the spol beca0se o/ hsstrengthC and n the prde o/ hs heart he 1ll neglect the !ore 1eghty !atters 0ntl hsso0l s bo1ed do1n n sorro1C and then he shall ret0rn and call on the na!e o/ hsGod&and shall /nd /org-eness& and shall 1a2 -alant& there/ore& he shall be sa-ed 0nt

    o the0tter!ostC and as the roarng lon o/ the /orest n the !dst o/ hs prey& so shall the hando/ hs generaton be l/ted 0p aganst those 1ho are set on hgh& that /ght aganst the Godo/ IsraelC /earless and 0nda0nted shall they be n battle& n a-engng the 1rongs o/ thennocent& and rele-ng the oppressedC there/ore& the blessngs o/ the God o/ Jacobshallbe n the !dst o/ hs ho0se& not1thstandng hs rebello0s heart.

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    And no1& O God& let the resd0e o/ !y /ather7s ho0se e-er co!e 0p n re!e!brancebe/ore Thee& that Tho0 !ayest sa-e the! /ro! the hand o/ the oppressor& and establshther /eet 0pon the Roc$ o/ Ages& that they !ay ha-e place n Thy ho0se& and be sa-ed nThy $ngdo!C and let all thngs be e-en as I ha-e sad& /or Chrst7s sa$e. A!en.?"HC )D6,,86,+.&ounsel and Ad#onition"ear #rethren n Chrst& and Co!panons n Trb0latonD?It see!eth good 0nto 0s todrop a /e1 lnes to yo0 g-ng yo0 so!e nstr0cton relat-e to cond0ctng the a//ars o/the $ngdo! o/ God& 1hch has been co!!tted 0nto 0s n these latter t!es& by the 1lland testa!ent o/ o0r Medator& 1hose ntercessons n o0r behal/ are lodged n the boso!o/ the Eternal Father& and ere long 1ll b0rst 1th blessngs 0pon the heads o/ all the/ath/0l.Ae ha-e all been chldren& and are too !0ch so at the present t!eC b0t 1e hope nthe%ord that 1e !ay gro1 n grace and be prepared /or all thngs 1hch the boso! o//0t0rty !ay dsclose 0nto 0s. T!e s rapdly rollng on& and the propheces !0st be/0l/lled. The days o/ trb0laton are /ast approachng& and the t!e to test the /delty o/

    the Sants has co!e. R0!or 1th her ten tho0sand tong0es s d//0sng her 0ncertanso0nds n al!ost e-ery earC b0t n these t!es o/ sore tral& let the Sants be patent andsee the sal-aton o/ God. Those 1ho cannot end0re persec0ton& and stand n the day o/a//lcton& cannot stand n the day 1hen the Son o/ God shall b0rst the -el& and appear nall the glory o/ Hs Father& 1th all the holy angels.The -vils o! /ast. OrdinationsOn the s0b9ect o/ ordnaton& a /e1 1ords are necessary. In !any nstances there hasbeen too !0ch haste n ths thng& and the ad!onton o/ Pa0l has been too slghtnglypassed o-er& 1hch says& I%ay hands s0ddenly 0pon no !an.I So!e ha-e been ordaned

     to the !nstry& and ha-e ne-er acted n that capacty& or !agn/ed ther callng at all.S0ch !ay e2pect to lose ther appont!ent& e2cept they a1a$e and !agn/y ther o//ce.%et the Elders abroad be e2ceedngly care/0l 0pon ths s0b9ect& and 1hen they ordan a!an to the holy !nstry& let h! be a /ath/0l !an& 1ho s able to teach others alsoC thatthe ca0se o/ Chrst s0//er not. It s not the !0ltt0de o/ preachers that s to brng abo0t thegloro0s !llenn0!N b0t t s those 1ho are Icalled& and chosen& and /ath/0l.IAvoidin 0is*utes

    %et the Elders be e2ceedngly care/0l abo0t 0nnecessarly dst0rbng and harro1ng0p the /eelngs o/ the people. Re!e!ber that yo0r b0sness s to preach the Gospeln allh0!lty and !ee$ness& and 1arn snners to repent and co!e to Chrst.A-od contentons and -an dsp0tes 1th !en o/ corr0pt !nds& 1ho do not desre to$no1 the tr0th. Re!e!ber that It s a day o/ 1arnng& and not a day o/ !any 1ords.I I/they rece-e not yo0r test!ony n one place& /lee to another& re!e!berng to cast nore/lectons& nor thro1 o0t any btter sayngs. I/ yo0 do yo0r d0ty& t 1ll be 90st a

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    s 1ell1th yo0& as tho0gh all !en e!braced the Gospel.#e care/0l abo0t sendng boys to preach the Gospel to the 1orldC / they go let the!be acco!paned by so!e one 1ho s able to g0de the! n the proper channel& lest theybeco!e p0//ed 0p& and /all 0nder conde!naton& and nto the snare o/ the de-l. Fnally&n these crtcal t!es& be care/0lC call on the %ord day and nghtC be1are o/ prdeCbe1areo/ /alse brethren& 1ho 1ll creep n a!ong yo0 to spy o0t yo0r lbertes. A1a$e torghteo0sness& and sn notC let yo0r lght shne& and sho1 yo0rsel-es 1or$!en that neednot be asha!ed& rghtly d-dng the 1ord o/ tr0th. Apply yo0rsel-es dlgently to st0dy&that yo0r !nds !ay be stored 1th all necessary n/or!aton.Ae re!an yo0r brethren n Chrst& an2o0sly prayng /or the day o/ rede!pton toco!e& 1hen n;0ty shall be s1ept /ro! the earth& and e-erlastng rghteo0sness bro0ghtn. Fare1ell. E"ec.& )533.F?"HC )D6,+86,*.S-&TIO9 O9- !ootnote :: Shortly a/ter the organ:aton o/ the Ch0rch the %ordco!!anded Joseph S!th to !a$e a translaton o/ the #ble by re-elaton. It had been 

    !ade $no1n n the translaton o/ the #oo$ o/ Mor!on that beca0se o/ n;0ty I!anyplan and preco0s thngsI 1ere Ita$en a1ay /ro! the boo$& 1hch s the boo$ o/ the%a!b o/ God.I E) Neph )3D>5.F Moreo-er& beca0se o/ the I!any plan and preco0sthngs 1hch ha-e been ta$en o0t o/ the boo$& 1hch 1ere plan 0nto the 0nderstandng o/ the chldren o/ !en& accordng to the planness 1hch s n the %a!b o/ God?beca0se o/ these thngs 1hch are ta$en a1ay o0t o/ the gospel o/ the %a!b& an e2ceedng great!any do st0!ble& yea& nso!0ch that Satan hath great po1er o-er the!.I E) Neph)3D>*.FAs early as Aprl& )5>*& the %ord declared that !any o/ these plan and preco0ssayngs 1ere to be restored& not only thro0gh the #oo$ o/ Mor!on& b0t thro0gh a

    re-son o/ the #ble. Ahen Ol-er Co1dery ca!e to the Prophet Joseph S!th andco!!enced to 1rte at the Prophet7s dctaton n the translaton o/ the #oo$ o/ Mor!on&the %ord sad 0nto h!D IMerly -erly& I say 0nto yo0& that there are records 1hchcontan!0ch o/ !y gospel& 1hch ha-e been $ept bac$ beca0se o/ the 1c$edness o/ the people.And no1 I co!!and yo0& that / yo0 ha-e good desres?a desre to lay 0p treas0res /oryo0rsel/ n hea-en?then shall yo0 assst n brngng to lght& 1th yo0r g/t& those partso/ !y scrpt0res 1hch ha-e been hdden beca0se o/ n;0ty.I E"@C ,D>,8>+.F A /e1days later& n the sa!e !onth o/ Aprl& )5>*& the %ord agan re/erred to the co!ng

    /ortho/ these scrpt0res n the /ollo1ng 1ordsD II 1o0ld that ye sho0ld contn0e 0ntl yo0ha-e /nshed ths record G.e. the #oo$ o/ Mor!onH& 1hch I ha-e entr0sted 0nto h!GJoseph S!thH. And then& behold& other records ha-e I& that I 1ll g-e 0nto yo0 po1erthat yo0 !ay assst to translate.I E"@C *D)8>.F The earlest !an0scrpts o/ the #bletranslaton are n the hand1rtng o/ Ol-er Co1dery. These bear the begnnng date o/J0ne& )534& and contn0e 0ntl October >)& the sa!e year. Ths 1as done n Har!ony&

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    Pennsyl-ana& and Fayette& Ne1 Bor$. #rother Co1dery then departed /or Oho andMsso0r n response to a call /ro! the %ord /or !ssonary ser-ce a!ong the %a!antes.E"@C 3>D)8>.F At ths 90nct0re& John Aht!er ser-ed as scrbe to the Prophet as the translaton contn0ed. In "ece!ber& )534& ha-ng recently 9oned the Ch0rch& SdneyRgdon ca!e to Fayette to see the Prophet Joseph and 1as called by re-elaton to do ths1rtng n the /ollo1ng 1ordsD IAnd a co!!and!ent I g-e 0nto thee?that tho0 shalt1rte /or h!C and the scrpt0res shall be g-en& e-en as they are n !ne o1n boso!&tothe sal-aton o/ !ne o1n elect.I E"@C 34.F In Febr0ary& )53)& the %ord spo$e agan&sayngD ITho0 shalt as$& and !y scrpt0res shall be g-en as I ha-e apponted& and theyshall be preser-ed n sa/etyC and t s e2pedent that tho0 sho0ldst hold thy peaceconcernng the!& and not teach the! 0ntl ye ha-e rece-ed the! n /0ll. And I g-e 0ntoyo0 a co!!and!ent that then ye shall teach the! 0nto all !enC /or they shall beta0ght0nto all natons& $ndreds& tong0es and people.I E"@C 6>D

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    enor!ty are practced?the rsng generaton gro1ng 0p n the /0llness o/ prde andarrogance?the aged losng e-ery sense o/ con-cton& and see!ngly banshng e-erytho0ght o/ a day o/ retrb0ton?nte!perance& !!oralty& e2tra-agance& prde& blndnesso/ heart& dolatry& the loss o/ nat0ral a//ectonC the lo-e o/ ths 1orld& and nd//erenceto1ard the thngs o/ eternty ncreasng a!ong those 1ho pro/ess a bele/ n the relgono/ hea-en& and n/delty spreadng tsel/ n conse;0ence o/ the sa!e?!en g-ngthe!sel-es 0p to co!!t acts o/ the /o0lest $nd& and deeds o/ the blac$est dye&blasphe!ng& de/ra0dng& blastng the rep0taton o/ neghbors& stealng& robbng&!0rderngC ad-ocatng error and opposng the tr0th& /orsa$ng the co-enant o/ hea-en&and denyng the /ath o/ Jes0s?and n the !dst o/ all ths& the day o/ the %ord /ast approachng 1hen none e2cept those 1ho ha-e 1on the 1eddng gar!ent 1ll beper!tted to eat and drn$ n the presence o/ the #rdegroo!& the Prnce o/ PeaceNThe 3orld+s 0e*lorable &onditionI!pressed 1th the tr0th o/ these /acts 1hat can be the /eelngs o/ those 1ho ha-e been parta$ers o/ the hea-enly g/t and ha-e tasted the good 1ord o/ God& and the po1erso/ the 1orld to co!eK Aho b0t those that can see the a1/0l precpce 0pon 1hch the 

    1orld o/ !an$nd stands n ths generaton& can labor n the -neyard o/ the %ord 1tho0t/eelng a sense o/ the 1orld7s deplorable st0atonK Aho b0t those 1ho ha-e d0lyconsdered the condescenson o/ the Father o/ o0r sprts& n pro-dng a sacr/ce /or Hscreat0res& a plan o/ rede!pton& a po1er o/ atone!ent& a sche!e o/ sal-aton& ha-ng asts great ob9ects& the brngng o/ !en bac$ nto the presence o/ the =ng o/ hea-en&cro1nng the! n the celestal glory& and !a$ng the! hers 1th the Son to thatnhertance 1hch s ncorr0ptble& 0nde/led& and 1hch /adeth not a1ay?1ho b0t s0chcan real:e the !portance o/ a per/ect 1al$ be/ore all !en& and a dlgence n callng0pon all !en to parta$e o/ these blessngsK Ho1 ndescrbably gloro0s are these thn

    gsto !an$ndN O/ a tr0th they !ay be consdered tdngs o/ great 9oy to all peopleC andtdngs& too& that o0ght to /ll the earth and cheer the heart o/ e-ery one 1hen so0nded nhs ears. The re/lecton that e-eryone s to rece-e accordng to hs o1n dlgence andperse-erance 1hle n the -neyard& o0ght to nspre e-eryone 1ho s called to be a!nster o/ these glad tdngs& to so !pro-e hs talent that he !ay gan other talents& that1hen the Master sts do1n to ta$e an acco0nt o/ the cond0ct o/ Hs ser-ants& t !ay besad& Aell done& good and /ath/0l ser-antD tho0 hast been /ath/0l o-er a /e1 thngsC I

    1ll no1 !a$e thee r0ler o-er !any thngsD enter tho0 nto the 9oy o/ thy %ord.So!e !ay pretend to say that the 1orld n ths age s /ast ncreasng n rghteo0snessC that the dar$ ages o/ s0perstton and blndness ha-e passed& 1hen the /ath o/ Chrst 1as$no1n and held only by a /e1& 1hen ecclesastcal po1er had an al!ost 0n-ersal controlo-er Chrstendo!& and the conscences o/ !en 1ere bo0nd by the strong chans o/prestly po1erD b0t no1& the gloo!y clo0d s b0rst& and the Gospel s shnng 1th all the

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    resplendent glory o/ an apostolc dayC and that the $ngdo! o/ the Messah s greatlyspreadng& that the Gospel o/ o0r %ord s carred to d-ers natons o/ the earth& the Scrpt0res translatng nto d//erent tong0esC the !nsters o/ tr0th crossng the -ast deepto procla! to !en n dar$ness a rsen Sa-or& and to erect the standard o/ E!!an0el 1here lght has ne-er shoneC and that the dol s destroyed& the te!ple o/ !ages/orsa$enC and those 1ho b0t a short t!e pre-o0s /ollo1ed the tradtons o/ ther /athersand sacr/ced ther o1n /lesh to appease the 1rath o/ so!e !agnary god& are no1rasng ther -oces n the 1orshp o/ the Most Hgh& and are l/tng ther tho0ghts 0p to H! 1th the /0ll e2pectaton that one day they 1ll !eet 1th a 9oy/0l recepton n Hs e-erlastng $ngdo!NThe (a, o! 'ree Aenc.#0t a !o!ent7s candd re/lecton 0pon the prncples o/ these syste!s& the !anner n1hch they are cond0cted& the nd-d0als e!ployed& the apparent ob9ect held o0t asannd0ce!ent to ca0se the! to act& 1e thn$& s s0//cent /or e-ery candd !an to dra1aconcl0son n hs o1n !nd 1hether ths s the order o/ hea-en or not. Ae dee! t a 90s

    tprncple& and t s one the /orce o/ 1hch 1e bele-e o0ght to be d0ly consdered bye-ery nd-d0al& that all !en are created e;0al& and that all ha-e the pr-lege o/thn$ng/or the!sel-es 0pon all !atters relat-e to conscence. Conse;0ently& then& 1e are notdsposed& had 1e the po1er& to depr-e any one o/ e2ercsng that /ree ndependence o/!nd 1hch hea-en has so graco0sly besto1ed 0pon the h0!an /a!ly as one o/ tschocest g/tsC b0t 1e ta$e the lberty Eand ths 1e ha-e a rght to doF o/ loo$ng at thsorder o/ thngs a /e1 !o!ents& and contrastng t 1th the order o/ God as 1e /nd tn

    the sacred Scrpt0res. In ths re-e1& ho1e-er& 1e shall present the ponts as 1e consderthey 1ere really desgned by the great G-er to be 0nderstood& and the happy res0ltsarsng /ro! a per/or!ance o/ the re;0re!ents o/ hea-en as re-ealed to e-ery one 1hoobeys the!C and the conse;0ence attendng a /alse constr0cton& a !srepresentaton& or a/orced !eanng that 1as ne-er desgned n the !nd o/ the %ord 1hen He condescendedto spea$ /ro! the hea-ens to !en /or ther sal-aton.L L LObedience to )overn#ents 9ecessar.All reg0larly organ:ed and 1ell establshed go-ern!ents ha-e certan la1s by 1hch&

     !ore or less& the nnocent are protected and the g0lty p0nshed. The /act ad!ttedthatcertan la1s are good& e;0table and 90st& o0ght to be bndng 0pon the nd-d0al 1hoad!ts ths& and lead h! to obser-e n the strctest !anner an obedence to those la1s.These la1s 1hen -olated& or bro$en by the nd-d0al& !0st& n 90stce& con-ct hs !nd 1th a do0ble /orce& / possble& o/ the e2tent and !agnt0de o/ hs cr!eC beca0se he 

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    co0ld ha-e no plea o/ gnorance to prod0ceC and hs act o/ transgresson 1as openly co!!tted aganst lght and $no1ledge. #0t the nd-d0al 1ho !ay be gnorant and!perceptbly transgresses or -olates la1s& tho0gh the -oce o/ the co0ntry re;0res thathe sho0ld s0//er& yet he 1ll ne-er /eel that re!orse o/ conscence that the other 1ll& andthat $een& c0ttng re/lecton 1ll ne-er rse n hs breast that other1se 1o0ld& had hedone the deed& or co!!tted the o//ense n /0ll con-cton that he 1as brea$ng the la1 o/hs co0ntry& and ha-ng pre-o0sly ac$no1ledged the sa!e to be 90st. It s not o0rntenton by these re!ar$s& to atte!pt to place the la1 o/ !an on a parallel 1th the la1o/ hea-enC beca0se 1e do not consder that t s /or!ed n the sa!e 1sdo! andpropretyC nether do 1e consder that t s s0//cent n tsel/ to besto1 anythng on !ann co!parson 1th the la1 o/ hea-en& e-en sho0ld t pro!se t. The la1s o/ !en !ayg0arantee to a people protecton n the honorable p0rs0ts o/ ths l/e& and the te!poralhappness arsng /ro! a protecton aganst 0n90st ns0lts and n90resC and 1hen ths ssad& all s sad& that can be n tr0th& o/ the po1er& e2tent& and n/l0ence o/ the la1s o/!en& e2cl0s-e o/ the la1 o/ God. The la1 o/ hea-en s presented to !an& and as s0

    chg0arantees to all 1ho obey t a re1ard /ar beyond any earthly consderatonC tho0gh tdoes not pro!se that the bele-er n e-ery age sho0ld be e2e!pt /ro! the a//lctons andtro0bles arsng /ro! d//erent so0rces n conse;0ence o/ the acts o/ 1c$ed !en on earth.Stll n the !dst o/ all ths there s a pro!se predcated 0pon the /act that t s the la1 o/hea-en& 1hch transcends the la1 o/ !an& as /ar as eternal l/e the te!poralC andas theblessngs 1hch God s able to g-e& are greater than those 1hch can be g-en by !an. 

    Then& certanly& / the la1 o/ !an s bndng 0pon !an 1hen ac$no1ledged& ho1 !0ch!ore !0st the la1 o/ hea-en beN And as !0ch as the la1 o/ hea-en s !ore per/ectthanthe la1 o/ !an& so !0ch greater !0st be the re1ard / obeyed. The la1 o/ !an pro!sessa/ety n te!poral l/eC b0t the la1 o/ God pro!ses that l/e 1hch s eternal& e-enannhertance at God7s o1n rght hand& sec0re /ro! all the po1ers o/ the 1c$ed one.As "an A**roaches )od /e Is -nlihtenedAe consder that God has created !an 1th a !nd capable o/ nstr0cton& and a/ac0lty 1hch !ay be enlarged n proporton to the heed and dlgence g-en to the lghtco!!0ncated /ro! hea-en to the ntellectC and that the nearer !an approaches

    per/ecton& the clearer are hs -e1s& and the greater hs en9oy!ents& tll he has o-erco!ethe e-ls o/ hs l/e and lost e-ery desre /or snC and l$e the ancents& arr-es at that ponto/ /ath 1here he s 1rapped n the po1er and glory o/ hs Ma$er and s ca0ght 0p tod1ell 1th H!. #0t 1e consder that ths s a staton to 1hch no !an e-er arr-ed n a!o!entD he !0st ha-e been nstr0cted n the go-ern!ent and la1s o/ that $ngdo! byproper degrees& 0ntl hs !nd s capable n so!e !eas0re o/ co!prehendng theproprety& 90stce& e;0alty& and consstency o/ the sa!e. For /0rther nstr0cton 1ere/er

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    yo0 to "e0t. 3>& 1here the %ord says& that Jacob s the lot o/ Hs nhertance. He /o0ndh! n a desert land& and n the 1aste& ho1lng 1ldernessC He led h! abo0t& Henstr0cted h!& He $ept h! as the apple o/ Hs eye& etc.C 1hch 1ll sho1 the /orce o/ thelast te! ad-anced& that t s necessary /or !en to rece-e an 0nderstandng concernngthe la1s o/ the hea-enly $ngdo!& be/ore they are per!tted to enter tD 1e !ean thecelestal glory. So dss!lar are the go-ern!ents o/ !en& and so d-ers are ther la1s&/ro! the go-ern!ent and la1s o/ hea-en& that a !an& /or nstance& hearng that there 1asa co0ntry on ths globe called the 'nted States o/ North A!erca& co0ld ta$e hs 9o0rneyto ths place 1tho0t /rst learnng the la1s o/ go-ern!entsC b0t the condtons o/ God7s$ngdo! are s0ch& that all 1ho are !ade parta$ers o/ that glory& are 0nder the necessty o/learnng so!ethng respectng t pre-o0s to ther enterng nto t. #0t the /oregner can co!e to ths co0ntry 1tho0t $no1ng a syllable o/ ts la1s& or e-en s0bscrbng to obeythe! a/ter he arr-es. AhyK #eca0se the go-ern!ent o/ the 'nted States does not

    re;0re tD t only re;0res an obedence to ts la1s a/ter the nd-d0al has arr-ed 1thnts 90rsdcton.(a,s o! "an 9ot on Parallel ,ith (a,s o! /eavenAs 1e pre-o0sly re!ar$ed& 1e do not atte!pt to place the la1 o/ !an on a parallel1th the la1 o/ hea-enC b0t 1e 1ll brng /or1ard another te!& to /0rther 0rge theproprety o/ yeldng obedence to the la1 o/ hea-en& a/ter the /act s ad!tted& that thela1s o/ !an are bndng 0pon !an. Aere a $ng to e2tend hs do!non o-er thehabtable earth& and send /orth hs la1s 1hch 1ere the !ost per/ect $nd& and co!!andhs s0b9ects one and all to yeld obedence to the sa!e& and add as a re1ard to tho

    se 1hoobeyed the!& that at a certan perod they sho0ld be called to attend the !arrageo/ hsson& 1ho n d0e t!e 1as to rece-e the $ngdo!& and they sho0ld be !ade e;0al 1thh! n the sa!eC and /2 as a penalty /or dsobedence that e-ery nd-d0al g0lty o/ tsho0ld be cast o0t at the !arrage /east& and ha-e no part nor porton 1th hsgo-ern!ent& 1hat ratonal !nd co0ld /or a !o!ent acc0se the $ng 1th n90stce /orp0nshng s0ch rebello0s s0b9ectsK In the /rst place hs la1s 1ere 90st& easy to be co!pled 1th& and per/ectD nothng o/ a tyranncal nat0re 1as re;0red o/ the!C b0tthe-ery constr0cton o/ the la1s 1as e;0ty and bea0tyC and 1hen obeyed 1o0ld prod0ce the

    happest condton possble to all 1ho adhered to the!& besde the last great bene/to/sttng do1n 1th a royal robe n the presence o/ the $ng at the great& grand !arrages0pper o/ hs son& and be !ade e;0al 1th h! n all the a//ar