Copy of a Letter written by O. Cowdery, on the restoration of the Priesthood

Norton, Medina co. Ohio, Sabbath evening, September 7, 1834

Dear Brother,-

Before leaving home, I promised, if I tarried long, to write; and while a few moments are now allowed me for reflection, aside from the cares and common conversation of my friends in this place, I have thought that were I to communicate them to you, might, perhaps, if they should not prove especially beneficial to yourself, by confirming you in the faith of the gospel, at least be interesting, since it has pleased our heavenly Father to call us both to rejoice in the same hope of eternal life. And by giving them publicly, some thousands who have embraced the same covenant, may learn something more particular upon the rise of this church. in this last time. And while the gray evening is fast changing into a settled darkness, my heart responds with the happy millions who are in the presence of the Lamb, and are past the power of temptation, in rendering thanks, though feebly, to the same Parent.

Another day has passed, into that, to us, boundless ocean, ETERNITY! where nearly six thousand years have gone before; and what flits across the mind like an electric shock is, that it will never return! Whether it has been well improved or not; whether the principles emanated from HIM who "hallowed" it, have been observed; or whether, like the common mass of time, it has been heedlessly spent, is not for me to say-one thing I can say-It can never be recalled!-it has rolled in to assist in filling up the grand space decreed in the mind of its Author, till nature shall have ceased her work, and time its accustomed revolutions-when its Lord shall have completed the gathering of his elect, and with them enjoy that Sabbath which shall never end!

On Friday, the 5th, in company with our brother Joseph Smith jr. I left Kirtland for this place (New Portage,) to attend the conference previously appointed. To be permitted, once more, to travel with this brother, occasions reflections of no ordinary kind. Many have been the fatigues and privations which have fallen to my lot to endure, for the gospel's sake, since 1828, with this brother. Our road has frequently been spread with the "fowler's snare," and our persons sought with eagerness, of the Savage's ferocity, for innocent blood, by men, either heated to desperation by the insinuations of those who professed to be "guides and waymarks" to the kingdom of glory, or the individuals themselves! This I confess, is a dark picture to spread before our patrons, but they will pardon my plainness when I assure them of the truth. In fact, God has so ordered, that the reflections which I am permitted to cast upon my past life, relative to a knowledge of the way of salvation, are rendered double endearing."-Not only have I been graciously preserved from wicked and unreasonable men, with this our brother, but I have seen the fruit of perseverance in proclaiming the everlasting gospel, immediately after it was declared to the world in these last days, in a manner not to be forgotten while heaven gives my common intellect. And what serves to render the reflection past expression on this point is, that from his hand I received baptism, by the direction of the angel of God-the first received into this church, in this day.

Near the time of the setting of the Sun, Sabdath [Sabbath] evening, April 5th, 1829, my natural eyes, for the first time beheld this brother. He then resided in Harmony, Susquehanna county Penn. On Monday the 6th, I assisted him in arranging some business of a temporal nature, and on Tuesday the 7th, commenced to write the book of Mormon. These were days never to be forgotten-to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth, as he translated, with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites would have said, "Interpreters," the history, or record, called "The book of Mormon."

To notice, in even few words, the interesting account given by Mormon, and his faithful son Moroni, of a people once beloved and favored by heaven, would supercede [supersede] my present design: I shall therefore defer this to a future period, and as I said in the introduction, pass more directly to some few incidents immediately connected with the rise of this church, which may be entertaining to some thousands who have stepped forward, amid the frowns of bigots and the calumny of hypocrites, and embraced the gospel of Christ.

No men in their sober senses, could translate and write the directions given to the Nephites, from the mouth of the Savior, of the precise manner in which men should build up his church, and especially, when corruption had spread an uncertainty over all forms and systems practiced among men, without desiring a privilege of showing the willingness of the heart, by being buried in the liquid grave, to answer a "good conscience by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

After writing the account given of the Savior's ministry to the remnant of the seed of Jacob, upon this continent, it was easily to be seen, as the prophet said would be, that darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. On reflecting further, it was as easily to be seen, that amid the great strife and noise concerning religion, none had authority from God to administer the ordinances of the gospel. For, the question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations? when his testimony is no less than the spirit of prophecy? and his religion based, built, and sustained by immediate revelations in all ages of the world, when he has had a people on earth? If these facts were buried, and carefully concealed by men whose craft would have been in danger, if once permitted to shine in the faces of men, they were no longer to us; and we only waited for the commandment to be given, "Arise and be baptized."

This was not long desired before it was realized. The Lord, who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent prayer of the humble, after

we had called upon him in a fervent manner, aside from the abodes of men, condescended to manifest to us his will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the vail was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the gospel of repentance!-What joy! what wonder! what amazement! While the world was racked and distracted-while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld-our ears heard. As in the "blaze of days;" yes, more-above the glitter of the May Sun beam, which then shed its brilliancy over the face of nature! Then his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, "I am thy fellow-servant," dispelled every fear. We listened-we gazed--we admired! 'Twas the voice of an angel from glory-'twas a message from the Most High! and as we heard we rejoiced, while his love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapt [wrapped] in the vision of the Almighty! Where was room for doubt? No where: uncertainty had fled, doubt had sunk, no more to rise, while fiction and deception had fled forever!

But, dear brother think, further think for a moment, what joy filled our hearts and with what surprise we must have bowed, (for who would not have bowed the knee for such a blessing?) when we received under his hand the holy priesthood, as he said; "upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in rightousness [righteousness]!"

I shall not attempt to paint to you the feelings of this heart, nor the majestic beauty and glory which surrounded us on this occasion: but you will believe me when I say, that earth, nor men, with the eloquence of time, cannot begin to clothe language in as interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage. No; nor has this earth power to give the joy, to bestow the peace, or comprehend the wisdom which was contained in each sentence as they were delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit! Man may deceive his fellow man; deception may follow deception, and the children of the wicked one may have power to seduce the foolish and untaught, till nought [naught] but fiction feeds the many, and the fruit of falsehood carries in its current the giddy to the grave; but one touch with the finger of his love, yes, one ray of glory from the upper world, or one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the bosom of eternity, strikes it all into insignificance, and blots it forever from the mind!-The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel, the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God is to me, past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Savior's goodness with wonder and thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry, and in those mansions where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in that DAY which shall never cease!

O. COWDERY.

Nauvoo, Oct. 7 th , 1840

BROTHER, ROBINSON AND SMITH. I improve a few leisure moments to inform you of my travels and labours [labors] in the vineyard of the Lord this season; for I have not been altogether idle, as some might suppose. On examining my Journal, I find that I have traveled something over one thousand miles, and held twenty nine or thirty public meetings, and baptized seven persons. Although I have introduced but few into the Gospel kingdom, yet others have believed, and not having sufficient time (as they say,) to investigate the principles of the gospel, refused to obey. While scores were constrained to acknowledge the truth of the arguments I advanced; and hundreds heard with astonishment, but were not able to shake off or remove the mist of darkness thrown over their minds by tradition, superstition, and bigotry, the legitimate offspring of the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth. But I trust the seed of rightousness [righteousness] is sown in the hearts of many and will bring forth good fruit to the honor and glory of God.

I spent most of my time, while laboring, in Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Fountain and Warren counties, Ia. in the latter, I baptized five in the south part, near the river.

Elders traveling that way will please call and instruct them in the ways of the Lord more perfectly.

Yours &c. L. A. SHIRTLIFF.

TIMES AND SEASONS

NAUVOO, ILL. NOV. 1, 1840

We wish to say for the benefit of our readers, that having accomplished our business in Cincinnati, and returned home, we now feel justified in assuring our friends, that hereafter the paper shall be issued from our office by the times specified. The delays which have occurred heretofore, are not altogether our fault; as we have ascertained that several times, after the packages have been lodged in the Post office, it has been several days, and some times, weeks, before they were forwarded; and in many instances, after they were forwarded, they never arrived to the places of destination. For these delays we can not be accountable; but situated as we are, (being publishers,) if there is any delay, we have to bear the blame of it; as it is most generally supposed, if a number is not received in season, that it was not issued as soon as it should have been; which we have to acknowledge, has been the case in some instances, during the publishing of the past volume: occasioned by circumstances to us unavoidable. But as the sickly season is past, and we have made large additions to our establishment, also, having obtained a great supply of paper, sufficient for six or eight months, we mean that no pains shall be spared on our part to have the paper printed regularly in future.