Communications

New York, Feb. 19th, 1840 Brigham Young, H. C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, and P. P. Pratt, to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Commerce, Ill. and to the Saints in general, GREETING. Dear brethren, after so long a time we have met in New York and are about to sail for England. We have bespoke our passage on the old ship Garrick, which carried out Elder Kimball, and others three years since, we sail on Tuesday the 25 inst.

Bro. George Smith was here also, and is gone to Pensylvania [Pennsylvania] on a short mission and will probably be here to go with us. Bro. Hadlock is here, and is also going; Elders Taylor, Woodruff, Turley, and Clark have already gone over to Eng. Most of us have had a very long and tedious journey, and have suffered much from sickness &c, and some are not yet wholly free from the lingering chills and fever, more particularly elder Smith. In journeying through the several states we found many brethren, friends and churches, and many elders who were laboring to advantage; the work is rolling on.-Indeed there were many elders whom we had never heard of before, that were preaching and baptizing, and ordaining other elders, who were still rolling the work of truth, wide and more wide; and thus it spreads. Br. Kimball baptized one in Weathersfield, Genesce co N. Y. and 3 in victor Ontario co. near where the records were found. Many were believing, and a very urgent door for preaching, such as he has seldom witnessed. He has been taken down with the fever four different times on his journey, and has sufferred [suffered] much; but has persevered, and is brought through in safety, and is now tolerably well.

When we reflect upon the mountains of embarrassment which have intervened, to prevent the Twelve from accomplishing their present mission, and consider that most of them have persevered, through mobs, murderers, robbers, thieves; and through storms of persecution, poverty, sickness and death, and at last find themselves upon the sea shore, in health and peace and plenty; ready to set sail, it is a matter of joy and consolation to us and fills our hearts with gratitude to that god [God] who commanded us to cross the mighty deep for Christ's sake and the gospel's. We consider that there is no instance on record where men have been called to so great an undertaking, under the same circumstances of poverty, sickness and distress; both ourselves, families, and brethren; but yet through the mercy of God, we think the mission will be accomplished, and will stand on record, for the wondering gaze of succeeding ages, and to God and the Lamb be all the praise and glory.

When we contrast the parting of Jacob and his son Benjamin, at the time of sending into Egypt for corn, and how it grieved the Patriarch to part with his son for so short a journey, with our having to part with tender wives and helpless offsprings, under cirstances [circumstances] of poverty, sickness, and death, robbed, plundered and driven, houseless, and unprovided for, either the journey or for our families. When we look upon the sufferings of the society around them, and think on the many long miles of our journey and sickness we have had to endure by the way, also the mighty deep which lies before us, and the distance which well separate us from home and country, and friends and wives and children, and from all things naturally dear to our hearts, we are led to think that our sacrifice is almost as great as the old Patriarch's was in the absence of his son; but God will give us grace to perform all these things; and we hope that our transit from sorrow to joy may be like Jacob's when he found that Joseph was yet alive and had sent waggons [wagons] and a great preparation to carry all Israel to Joseph the young dreamer, who had been lost but now was found; who had been in bondage, and in chains and dungeons, but was now exalted to a

prince, and was able to settle his Israelite relations in the best of the land. ("He that hath ears to hear let him hear." We would renewedly [renewably] commend our families to the mercy of God and to the kind attention of the saints, and ourselves to their prayers. We hear continually of the sickness and deaths which still prey upon the Saints in the west, and feel to cry how long O! Lord.

The work of the Lord is still rolling on in all this region where it is preached. The church in Philadelphia now numbers near one hundred, and 8 or 10 come forward for baptism almost daily; some are still coming forward in New York, doors are open more than can be filled at present. The Saints here in N. Y. are filled with faith and joy and charity and hospitality, and the same may be said of the saints in general in all this region.-The spirit that prevails is "westward Ho!" to suffer, to live, or to die with the saints their brethren. There is scarce a saint here who would stay another month if they had means to go west. It is the bad times here and not the good times which keeps them from emigrating. There is but little money, little employment, little business of any kind here, and consequently they are most all groaning in poverty; but their deep poverty abounds unto the riches of their liberality, in forwarding the elders on their journey, and in every good work., while some of them almost lack daily bread. We think at present the church in N. York, with the utmost economy would not be able to emigrate, if land could be given them free of cost when they get there, much less to purchase; yet they hope to come some time another, through the utmost perseverance and industry, and looking to God to open their way: Brethren pray for them. Concerning printing in the west, Br. Charles Ivin of New Jersey, (one of the committee to raise means in this country) had concluded some time ago that he would spare five or six hundred dollars, which we hope he will forward to Commerce for that purpose, We are glad to hear of your resolutions in Commerce for that purpose. We are glad to hear of your resolutions in Commerce to publish the word of God, and pray that you may be successful, and we would take this opportunity to exhort the saints who have not been reduced to poverty by persecution to aid liberally in this matter, as the fulness [fullness] of the gospel as well as a good Hymn book is very much wanted abroad. It is awful times of distress, perplexity, and embarrassment in the commercial world, both here, and in Europe. Tens of thousands are starving, or living on charity. Fires and tempests, ship wrecks, and famine, fearful sights and great signs, the sea heaving beyond its bounds, and all nations are perplexed beyond measure. Merchants weep and howl because no man buyeth their merchandize [merchandise] any more. But the saints rejoice, for they know what it means.

Elder P. P. Pratt has just returned from Washington city, after warning them faithfully. Whether he will be able to go with us to Eng. at this time is uncertain; he could have done it had he not been called to Washington just as he was getting ready to cross the ocean. but it is a good thing that he went to Washington, for by so doing we can go from America feeling our duty to this Government for the present more fully done.

We must now close by saying, may the the God of Israel bless and preserve the saints in America, and deliver them from their great tribulation, may he go before us, and be with us and enable us to return to this land with our hundreds of thousands of souls saved in the kingdom of God.

We remain your brethren in the everlasting covenant.

P. P. PRATT,

BRIGHAM YOUNG,

H. C. KIMBALL,

ORSON PRATT.

Commerce, March 4th, 1840.

BROS. SMITH & ROBINSON, Having a few moments leisure time, I cheerfully improve them in communicating a few lines to you; and should you think them worthy of a place in your paper, you are at liberty to give them an insertion.

On the 14th of Nov. last, I left this place on a journey eastward, intending to go as far as Philadelphia. At that time I had just began to recover from a long course of the fever and ague, having been afflicted with that disease about 4 months. When I arrived

at Springfield, I fell in company with Brother George W. Robinson, of this place, who was going eastward to Vermont & other States, having with him the history of the church from 1833, written by President Rigdon, read and approved of by the Quincy conference. His design was to procure the printing of this book and put it into immediate circulation, together with some other business. We agreed to unite our exertions to accomplish this work; and having been spoken to by President Rigdon previous to this time, to take an active part in publishing it, I the more readily took hold with bro. R. to throw out before the world a history of the various persecutions which this church has suffered since its organization in 1830.

We pursued our journey in company as far as Putman co. Ia. In crossing one of those large prairies in this State, a violent storm of wind, snow, rain and hail arose from the north-east, which we were compelled to face, brought the ague upon me again. We lay by, a day or two at bro. William Hauks, who received and treated us with the greatest kindness. He lives about sixteen miles west from Terre Haute. We held a consultation in Pleasant Garden, Ia. where it was advised for me to remain for a season, and preach the gospel, and raise all the funds I could to defray the expenses of printing the book. Bro. Robinson went on to Cincinatti [Cincinnati] and engaged the printing of the work at that place and informed me immediately by letter. I continued laboring in the vicinity of Pleasant Garden for a number of weeks. There were many, apparently, believing the gospel; but few were ready to obey it. Yet there is a prospect of doing much good; and if some experienced elder would call and spend some time there, I am persuaded that great good would be the result.

About the first of January, I began to exert myself to raise funds to pay for printing the book at Cincinnatti [Cincinnati].-I called upon some of the rich men who professed to be brethren in the church; and asked their liberality for this very necessary work. But they said like one of old, "go thy way for this time; and at a more convenient season I will call for thee," or assist thee. I called at another time; but that convenient time never came. There are men who wish to be thought very liberal and philanthropic if they can without being to any expense about the matter: But when a draft is made upon their purse their philanthropy retreats behind the bulwarks of a thousand specious and plausible excuses. God knows just how much virtue and righteousness there are in them all; and may HE reward such according to their liberality. I visited some of the poor brethren in the same place, and found them willing to divide the last shilling, and the last loaf. How great the contrast! It reminds me of the poor beggar and the rich man that we read of in the bible: Also, of the words of Christ which say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." I am happy to say however; that I found those who were willing to assist; and did relieve me out of all my trouble in that respect. There are men who have forecast enough to make to themselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when they fail on earth, they may be received into everlasting habitation. As they wanted not their right hand to know what their left hand doeth; I say may the Lord bless them forever. Let their companion be the son of peace; and let him never depart from their habitation. Let their business be prosperous, and their fields bring forth in plenty. Let the arm of the Lord protect them, and his angels guard their way. In the midst of these exertions I have been much afflicted with the ague; and also, while preaching the gospel. About the 6th of Jan. I started for Cincinnatti [Cincinnati] to get the books and carry them on eastward to distribute them and raise all the funds I could for the church, but when I arrived there, the books were not done, and would not be short of about ten days, at this time my health became so poor through exposure etc. that I abandoned the idea of going any farther east at that time; but concluded to leave the books and return directly home, and take some little time to recruit my health; and also, till the cold weather was past, and then try it again.

I now expect to leave for England soon, by way of Cincinnatti [Cincinnati], Philadelphia

and New York; and I humbly ask the prayers of all the saints that God may go with me, and prosper his work exceedingly through my instrumentality.

It is with joy, I anticipate the day of siting [sitting] under a large oak with brother Turley on the other side of the Atlantic; and meeting with the saints in England once more. As ever, I am your friend and brother in the kingdom & patience of Jesus Christ, Amen.

ORSON HYDE.

Eebruary [February] 8 th, 1840.

BRO'S. SMITH & ROBINSON, Dear brethren: I improve this opportunity of addressing a few lines to you, to inform you of the spread of truth in the State of Michigan.

I left the city of New York the 5th of Aug. 1838, and came to the State of Michigan: I commenced laboring in Lenawee co. I there raised up and organized a church of 11 members. I still continued my labors in different parts of the State as the way opened, and in the fall of 1839, I removed from Lenawee co. to Washtenaw co. where I continued my labors: I was greatly assisted by the visit of brother Orson Pratt when on his way to England, he called and tarried with me two weeks, and preached 14 sermons, which greatly excited the minds of the people, and they began to search their bible to see if these things were so.

Since he left I have continued preaching, and the honest has still continued searching; while those whose crafts are in danger, still continue to oppose: but, (say they,) "we could get along with it very well if it was not for Joe Smith, and that Book of Mormon;" and while they saw the truth was spreading, and the honest were searching, they thought to stop the cause of Christ and break down the truth. A Baptist challenged me for a debate on the book of Mormon; I accepted it, the day was then appointed for the debate to commence: he then asked me if he might get who he pleased to assist him: I told him he might, he then employed three to assist him, one Methodist and two Universalians: We met on the 16th of January at 11 o'clock A. M. with a large congregation to investigate the truth of this wonderful Book. We then chose two moderators on each side, and they chose the fifth man to give the descision [decision], and if he did not wish to give the descision [decision], it should be given by a vote of the congregation.-The question was then written and handed to the Judge, and also the number of minutes that we were to speak on each side, which was confined to 20; the question was this, "Is the book of Mormon a divine revelation from God." We then commenced and spoke four times each, and then gave an intermission of 15 minutes: commenced again and spoke three times on each side, we then dismissed till seven in the evening. The congregation then gathered, and we commenced and made three more pleas on each side, and then submitted the question for decission [decision]: The Judge then arose and said he would not give the descision [decision], for he was not a believer in either book, but should call upon the congregation to give the descision [decision]: he then called the vote as follows: Has the book of Mormon been proven to be a divine revelation, from God, this day by the weight of argument, you that do believe that it has, may signify it by the raising of the right hand; all hands were raised through the whole assembly, both men and women. My opponants [opponents] said they would not allow that vote, and that none should vote but the male adults, and that should be by their rising up. They were all seated that could be, and the question was again stated by the judge, and the male adults arose and they counted 35; they then took their seats, and the vote was called on the negative, and 3 arose on their side. And thus I can truly say, that the saying of Isaiah is fulfilling, where he says, "For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."-Thus you see the cause of truth is onward with Omnipotent strength in the State of Michigan: Since that debate I have had calls in every direction of the country, and also great calls for the book of Mormon to read for themselves, and wish to now [know] of me how long before you will have more of them for sale, and also your hymn books.

I preach from 5 to 6 times a week, and sometimes more, and then cannot

fill all the calls; the harvest is truly great and the laborers but few.

Yours in the bond of of the everlasting covenant. M. SIRRINE.

TIMES AND SEASONS

COMMERCE, ILL. MARCH, 1840.

APOLOGY-We are sorry to say that this number has been delayed beyond its usual time, but the circumstances have been unavoidable; our paper, (although purchased last fall at Cincinnatti, [Cincinnati] did not arrive until the last of the present month, which has been a great disappointment to us, as well as our patrons.