--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1839 to 1840. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 1 number: 9 published: 1840-07 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "β€œAn Extract of a Letter Written to Bishop Partridge, and the Saints in General: By J. Smith, Jr. and Others While in Prison,” *Times and Seasons* 1, no. 9 (July 1840): 131–134." printed_title: "AN EXTRACT OF A LETTER WRITTEN TO BISHOP PARTRIDGE, AND THE SAINTS IN GENERAL: BY J. SMITH, JR. AND OTHERS WHILE IN PRISON." source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-07_1_9 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v1n09.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-07_1_9 start_page: 131 end_page: 134 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1840 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-07_1_9 publication_year: 1840 --- # An Extract of a Letter Written to Bishop Partridge, and the Saints in General: By J. Smith, Jr. and Others While in Prison Liberty Jail, Clay co. Mo. [Continued to the Church of Latter Day Saints] We continue to offer further reflections to Bishop Partridge and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; whom we love with a fervent love, and always bear them in mind in our prayers to our heavenly Father. It still seems to bear heavily in our minds, that the church would do well to secure the contract of land offered them by Mr. Isaac Galland, and cultivate the friendly feelings of that gentleman, inasmuch as he shall prove himself to be a man of honor and a friend to humanity: we think his letter breath a kind and generous spirit.-We suggest the idea of praying fervantly [fervently] all men, particularly those who manifest any degree of sympathy for the suffering people of God. We think that the United States survayor [surveyor], Isaac Allen Esq. the attorney general, and Governor Lucas of the Iowa Teritory [territory] from the kindness they manifest, may be of great service to the church. It seems to be deeply impressed upon our minds, that the saints aught [ought] to lay hold of every opening, in order to obtain a foot hold on the earth, and be making all preperations [preparations] that is within their power for the terrible storms that are now gathering in the heavens, with darkness, and gloominess and thick darkness; as spoken by the prophet, which cannot be now long time lingering: for there seems to be a whispering by the angels of heaven, who have been intrusted [entrusted] the council of these matters for the last days; and who have taken council together, and among the affairs transacted by that honerable [honorable] council, they have taken cognizance of the murder of our beloved brethren at Hauns mill, as well as those who were martyred with D. W. Patten, and have passed some decisions peradventure in favor of the saints, these decisions will be made known in their time. We are desirous, that in your general conferences, every thing should be discussed, with candour [candor] propriety, lest you grieve the Holy Spirit, which should at all times be poured out upon you, when you are exercised with the principals of rightousness [righteousness] and are properly affected one towards another. Be careful to remember those who are in bondage, heaviness, and deep affliction for your sake. If there are any among you, who aspire after their own agrandizement [aggrandizement] oppulence [opulence] their brethren are groaning in poverty, and laboring under sore trials and temptations, they cannot be benefited by the intercessions of the Holy Spirit: we aught [ought] at all times to be very careful that such high mindedness [minded] have place in our hearts, but condescend to men of low estate, and with all long suffering, bare the infirmities of the week [weak ?]. There are many called but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set upon the things of the world and are aspiring to the honors of men; they do not learn the lesson that the right, of the priesthood, are inseperably [inseparably] connected with the powers of heaven; and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness, that they may be confered [conferred] upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins, to gratify our pride, vain ambition, or to exercise dominion or compulsion over the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness; behold the heavens withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, then amen to the priesthood, or to the authority of that man; behold ere he is aware, he is left to kick against the prick; to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience, that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, to begin to exercise unrightous [unrighteous], hence many are called but few are chosen. No power or influence can, or aught [ought] to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, by meekness and by love unfeigned; without hypocracy [hypocrisy] and without guile: reproving with sharpness when moved upon by the holy Ghost, and afterwards showing forth an increase of love towards him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy, so that he may know, that thy faithfulnees [faithfulness] is stronger than the cords of death. Let the soul be full of charity towards all men, and virtue guard thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the priesthood shall destil [distill?] upon thy soul, as the dews from heaven; they sceptre [scepter] shall be an unchanging sceptre [scepter] of righteousness, the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, the ends of the earth shall enquire [inquire] thy name; fools shall have thee in derision, hell shall rage against thee, while the pure in heart, the wise, the noble, and the virtuous shall seek council, authority, and blessing, constantly from under thy hand: thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors, although their influence shall cast the [thee ?] into trouble, and into prisons, thou shall be had in honor, and but for a small moment, and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thy enemies, than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness: and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation, if thou art in prison among false brethren, if thou art in perils among robbers, if thou art accused of all manner of false acusations, [accusations], if thine enemies fall opon [upon] thee, if they tare [tear] thee from the society of thy parents, and if with a drawn sword, thine enemies tare [tear] thee from the bosom of thy wife and thy offsprings, while thy eldest son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say my father, my father why, cant you stay with us.-"Oh my father what are the men going to do with you", and then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison and thy enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; and if thou shoudst be cast into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death be passed upon thee, if thou be cast into the deep, if the bellowing surge conspire against thee, if fierce winds become thy enemies, if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up thy way, and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gap open her mouth wide after thee; know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The son of man has descended below them all and art thou greater than he. Therefore hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee, thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; fear not what man can do, for God shall be with thee forever and ever. We would suggest the propriety of the brethren settling in such places where they may find safety, which may be found between Kirtland and Far West, it will be necessary to do so for the present, untill [until] God shall open out a more effectual door. Again we would suggest to the brethren, that there be no organization of large bodies upon common stock principles until the Lord shall signify it in a proper manner; as it opens such a field for the avaricious, the indolent, and the corrupt hearted, to prey upon the virtuous, the industrious, and the honest. We have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the saints, before God had signified the time, and notwithstanding the principles and the plans may have been good, yet aspiring men, who had the form of godliness but not the substance, by their aspiring notions brought trouble, both upon themselves and the saints at large: However the time is coming, when God will signify many things, which are expected for the well being of the saints. We would likewise suggest for your consideration the propriety of the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the sufferings and abuse put upon them by the people of this state, and also the loss of property, and the amount of damages which they have sustained, and also the names of all persons who have taken a part in their persecutions; perhaps it would be well for a committee to be appointed, to collect the statements and affidavits of brethren on this subject, and also to gather up the libilous [libelous] which are about in the world, and present the whole concatenation of diabolical rascality, and nefarious and murderous impositions before the laws of government, and to the world at large. This we think is a duty enjoined upon us by our heavenly Father, and which must be attended to before we can ask Him to come out of his hiding place; and also that the nation may be left without excuse. It is a duty we owe to our country, whose laws have been trampled on, and set at naught-a duty we owe to our wives and children, who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and anguish under the most damning hand of murder tyrany [tyranny] and oppression, supported and urged on by the influence of that spirit, which has so strongly revited [revisited?] the creeds of the Father, who have inherited lies upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion and prejudice, which has been growing stronger and stronger and has become a source of corruption until the earth groans under its iniquity; it is an iron yoke and a strong band. It is a duty we owe to the widow and the fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand, which dark and blackning [blackening] deed, are enough to make hell itself shudder and stand aghast, and the hands of satan to tremble and palsey [palsy] These things ought then, to be attended to with great earnestness; let no man count them as small things, for there is much that lies in futurity pertaining to the saints, which depend on our present action. You are aware brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much, by a small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept work ways with the wind and the waves; therefore dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that is in our power, and then we may stand still, and see the salvation of God. We further, caution our brethren, against the impropriety of the organization of bands or companies, by covenants, oaths, penalties, or secresies [secrecy's], but let the time past of our experience and sufferings by the wickedness of Docter [Doctor] Avard suffice, and let our covenants, be that of the everlasting covenant, as it is contained in the holy writ, and the things which God has revealed unto us; pure friendship, always becomes weakened, the very moment you undertake to make it stronger by penal oaths and secrecy. Your humble servants intend from henceforth to disapprobate every thing that is not in accordance with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and which is not of a bold, frank, and upright nature; they will not hold their peace as in times past, when they see iniquity begining [beginning] to rear its head, for fear of traitors, or the consequences that shall follow, from reproving those who creep in unawares, that they may get something to destroy the flock. We believe, that from the experience of the saints in times past, they will henceforth be always ready to obey the truth, without having men's persons in admiration because of advantage, we ought to be aware of those prejudices, (which are so congenial to human nature) against our neighbors, friends and brethren of the world, who choose to differ with us in opinion, and in matters of faith: our religion is between us and our God; their religion is between them and their God: there certainly is a tie to those of the same faith which is peculiar to itself, but it is without prejudice, gives full scope to the mind, and enables us to conduct ourselves with liberality towards those who are not of our faith; this principle, in our opinion, approximates the nearest to the mind of God and is God-like. There is a duty, which we in common with all men, owe to Governments, laws, and the regulations in the civil concerns of life; these guarantee to all parties and denominations of religion equal, and indefeasible right, all alike interested; and they make our responsibilities one towards another in matters relating to temporal affairs, and the things of this life; the former principles do not destroy the latter, but bind us stronger, and make our responsibility, not only one towards another, but unto God also: hence we say, that the constitution of the United States is a glorious standard, it is founded in wisdom, it is a heavenly banner, and is to all those who are priviledged [privileged] the sweets of its liberty, like the cooling shade and refreshing water of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land: it is like a great tree under whose branches, men from every clime, can be shielded from the burning rays of an inclemment [inclement], we are deprived the protection of this glorious principle, by the cruelties of those who only look to the time being for pasturage; and who forget that the Mormons, as well as the Presbyterians and every other denomination, have equal rights to partake of the fruits of the great tree of our national liberty; yet nothwithstand- [notwithstanding] we see what we do, and feel the effects of the cruelty of the enemies of freedom; that fruit is no less precious and delicious to our taste, we cannot be weaned from the milk, neither can we be drawn from the breast, nor will we deny our religion because of the hand of oppresion [oppression], but we will hold on until death. We say that God is true, that the constitution of the United States is true, that the bible is true, the book of Mormon is true, that Christ is true, that the ministering of angels is true; and "we know we have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God." a consolation which our oppressors cannot feel, when fortune or fate may lay its hand on them as it has on us. We ask; what is man? Remember brethren that time and chance happeneth to all men. We subscribe ourselves your sincer [sincere] friends and brethren, in the bonds of the everlasting gospel, and prisoners of Jesus Christ. JOSEPH SMITH JR., HYRUM SMITH, LYMAN WIGHT, CALEB BALDWIN, ALEXANDER MCRAE.