--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Cowdery, Oliver collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 2 number: 8 published: 1899-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Cowdery, Oliver, "Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 8 (June 1899): 590–596.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera28unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera28unse start_page: 590 end_page: 596 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera28unse publication_year: 1899 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church EARLY SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CHURCH. BY OLIVER COWDERY. LETTER VI. Dear Sir. — gave, I in my last, a few words, on the subject of a few items, as spoken by the angel at the time the knowledge of the record of the Nephites was communicated to our brother, and in consequence of the subject of the Gospel and that of the gathering of Israel's being so connected, I found it difficult to speak of the one without mentioning the other; and this may not be improper, as it is evident, that the Lord has decreed to bring forth the fullness of the Gospel in the last days, previous to gathering Jacob, but a preparatory work, and the other is to follow in quick succession. This being of so much importance, and of so deep interest to the Saints, I have thought best to give a further detail of the heavenly message, and if I do not give it in the precise words, shall strictly confinemyself to the facts in substance. David said, (Ps. c.) " Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands, [that is, all the earth.] Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing." This he said in view of the glorious period for which he often prayed, and was anxious to behold, which he knew could not take place until the knowledge of the glory of God covered all lands, or all the earth. Again he says, (Ps. cvii) "0 give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say EARLY SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CHURCH. 591 80,whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and gathered out of the lands from the east, and from the west; from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distress; and led them in the right way that they might go to the city of habitation." Most clearly was it shown to the prophet, that the righteous should be gathered from all the earth. He knew that the children of Israel were led from Egypt, by the right hand of the Lord, and permitted to possess the land of Canaan, though they were rebellious in the desert, but he further knew, that they were not gathered from the east, the west, the north and the south, at that time; for it was clearly manifested that the Lord himself would prepare a habitation, even as he said, when he would lead them to a city of refuge. In that, David saw a promise for the righteous, (see cxliv Ps.) when they should be delivered from those who oppressed them, and from the hand of strange children, or the enemies of the Lord; that their sons should be like plants grown up in their youth, and their daughters like comer-stones, polished after the similitude of a beautiful palace. It is then that the sons and daughters shall prophesy, old men dream dreams, and young men see visions. At that time the garners of the righteous will be full, affording all manner of store. It was while contem- plating this time, and viewing this happy state of the righteous, that he further says: the Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, Zion, unto all generations, Praise ye the Lord! Isaiah, who was on the earth at the time the ten tribes of Israel were led away captive from the land of Canaan, was shown not only their calamity and affliction, but the time when they were to be delivered. After reproving them for their corruption and blindness, he prophesies of their dispersion. He says, your country is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is thus made dosolate, being overthrown by strangers. He further says, while speaking of the iniquity of that people: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of 592 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the widow come unto them. Therefore, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel, Ah, I will ease him of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies. But after this calamity has befallen Israel, and the Lord has poured upon them his afflicting — judgments, as he said by the mouth of Moses I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend my arrows upon them. They shall be afflicted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the earth —he will also fulfill this further prediction uttered by the mouth of Isaiah. I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy sin: and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Then will be fulfilled, also, the saying of David: And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Isaiah continues his prophecy concerning Israel, and tells them what would be done for them in the last days; for thus it is written: The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exhalted above the hills; —and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their^ swords into plough shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nations shall not lift up the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of his people in Zion, and upon their assemblies,a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense, or above shall be a covering and a defense. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. And his people shall dwell safely, they shall possess the land forever, even the land — EARLY SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CHURCH. 593 which was promised to their fathers for an everlasting inheritance: for behold, says the Lord by the mouth of the prophet, the day will come that I will sow the house of Israel with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw doAvn, and destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build and to plant, says the Lord. For this happy situation and blessed state of Israel, did the prophets look, and obtained a promise, that though the house of Israel and Judah should violate the covenant, the Lord in the last days would make with them a new one : not according to the one which he made with their fathers in the day that he took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; which, said the Lord, my covenant they broke, although I was a husband and a father unto them; but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and will write in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. For thus says the Lord, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and the voice of them that make merry: — and I will multi- ply them and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregations shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. Their nobles shall be of themselves and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them. At the same time, says the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people; I will bring them from the north country, and gather from the coasts of the earth; I will say to the north. Give up, and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth. And in those days, and at that time, says the Lord, though Israel and Judah have been driven and scattered, they shall come together, they shall even come weeping; for with supplications will I lead them: they shall go and seek the Lord their God. They 594 IMPROVEMENT ERA. shallask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, and say, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten; and watchmen upon Mount Ephraim shall say. Arise, and let us go up to Zion, unto the holy Mount of the Lord our God; for he will teach us of his ways, and instruct us to walk in his paths. That the way for this to be fully accomplished, may be prepared, the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and with his mighty wind shake his hand over the river and smite it in its seven streams, and men go over dry-shod. And there shall be a high-way for the remnant of hispeople, which shall be from Assyria; like as it was to Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt. And thus shall Israel come not a dark corner of the earth : shall remain unexplored, nor an island of the seas be left without being visited; for as the Lord has removed them into all comers of the earth, he will cause his mercy to be as abundantly manifested in their gathering as his wrath in their dispersion, until they are gathered according to the covenant. He will, as he said by the prophet, send for many fishers and they shall fish them; and after send for many hunters, who shall hunt them; not as their enemies have to afflict, but with glad tidings of great joy, with a message of peace, and a call for their return. And it will come to pass, that though the house of Israel has forsaken the Lord, and bowed down and worshiping other gods, which were no gods, and then be cast out before the face of the world, they will know the voice of the Shepherd when he calls upon them this time ; for soon his day of power comes, and in it his people will be willing to hearken to his counsel; and even now are they already beginning to be stirred up in their hearts to search for these things, and are daily reading the ancient prophets, and are marking the times and seasons of their fulfillment. Thus God is preparing the way for their return. But it is necessary that you should understand that what is to be fulfilled in the last days is not only for the benefit of Israel, but the Gentiles, if they will repent and embrace the Gospel, for they are to be remembered also in the same covenant, and are to be fellow heirs with the seed of Abraham, inasmuch, as they are so by EARLY SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CHURCH. 595 faith—for God is no respecter of persons. This was shown to Moses, when he wrote— Rejoice, ye nations, with his people! In consequence of the transgression of the Jews at the coming of [the Lord, the Gentiles were called into the kingdom, and for this obedience, are to be favored with the Gospel in its fullness first, in the last days; for it is written, The first shall be last, and the last first. Therefore, when the fullness of the Gospel, as it was preached by the righteous, upon this land, shall come forth, it shall be declared to the Gentiles first, and whoso will repent shall be delivered, for they shall understand the plan of salvation and restoration for Israel, as the Lord manifested to the ancients. They shall be baptized with water and with the Spirit — they shall lift up their hearts with joy and gladness, for the time of their redemption shall also roll on, and for their obedience to the faith they shall see the house of Jacob come with great glory, even with songs of everlasting joy, and Avith him partake of salvation. Therefore, as the time draws near when the sun is to be darkened, the moon turned to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, the Lord will bring to the knowledge of his people his commandments and statutes, that they may be prepared to stand when the earth shall reel to and fro as a drunken man, earthquakes cause the nations to tremble, and the destroying angel goes forth to waste the inhabitants at noon-day: for so great are to be the calamities which are to come upon the inhabitants of the earth before the coming of the Son of Man the second time, that whoso is not prepared cannot abide; but such as are found faithful, and remain, shall be gathered with his people and caught up to meet the Lord in the cloud, and so shall they inherit eternal life. I have now given you a rehearsal of what was communicated to our brother, when he was directed to go and obtain the record of the Nephites. I may have missed in arrangement in some instances, but the principle is preserved, and you will be able to bring forward abundance of corroborating scripture upon the subject of the Gospel and of the gathering. You are aware of the fact that to give a minute rehearsal of a lengthy interview with a heavenly messenger is very difficult, unless one is assisted immediately with the gift of inspiration. There is another item I wish to notice on 596 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the subject of visions. The Spirit, you know, searches all things, even the deep things of God. When God manifests to his servants those things that are to come, or those which have been, he does it by unfolding them by the power of that Spirit which comprehends all things always; and so much may be shown and made perfectly plain to the understanding in a short time, that to the world, who are occupied all their life to learn a little, look at the relation of it, and are disposed to call it false. You will understand then, by this, that while those glorious things were being rehearsed, the vision was also opened, so that our brother was permitted to see and understand much more full and perfect than I am able to communicate in writing. I know much may be conveyed to the understanding in writing, and many marvelous truths set forth with the pen, but after all it is but a shadow, compared to an open vision of seeing, hearing and realizing eternal things. And if the fact was known, it would be found, that of all the heavenly communications to the ancients, we have no more in comparison than the alphabet to a quarto vocabulary. It is said, and I believe the account, that the Lord showed the brother of Jared (Moriancumr) all things which were to transpire from that day to the end of the earth, as well as those which had taken place. I believe that Moses was permitted to see the same, as the Lord caused them to pass, in vision before him as he stood on the mount; I believe that the Lord Jesus told many things to his apostles which are not written, and after his ascension unfolded all things unto them; I believe that Nephi, the son of Lehi, whom the Lord brought out of Jerusalem, saw the same; I believe that the twelve upon this continent, whom the Lord chose to preach his Gospel, when he came down to manifest to this branch of the house of Israel that he had other sheep who should hear his voice, were also permitted to behold the same mighty things transpire in vision before their eyes; and I believe that the angel Moroni, whose words I have been rehearsing, who communicated the knowledge of the record of the Nephites, in this age, saw also, before he hid up the same unto the Lord, great and marvelous things, which were to transpire when the same should come forth; and I also believe, that God will give line upon line, precept upon precept, to his Saints until all these things will be unfolded to