Letter From Elder O. Hyde

London, June 15th, 1841.

President Smith:

Sir, With pleasure I take my pen to write you at this time, and through you to the Times and Seasons; and through it, to the saints at large; and to all whom it may concern.

May grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon you abundantly, and enable you to serve him acceptably-secure to yourself that honor which cometh from above-guide the counsels of the saints in wisdom, that peace and good will may reign predominant in Zion, and joy and gladness swell every grateful heart.

Most gladly would I embrace an opportunity of a personal interview with you, did one offer, but such a favor is beyond my reach at the time. I have just seen the 12th No. of the Times and Seasons, containing the minutes of your conference-the report of the presidency-the celebration of the anniversary of the church: and the laying of the foundation of the Temble [Temple]. This to me, was a precious gem. It brought tidings from my own country; and from the place rendered doubly endearing from the fact that there is the home of my wife and children.

I was sorry that Elder Page had been so tardy in his movements, that objections were made to him. Most gladly would I have hailed him as a companion to the Oriental Continent; but my hopes of that are fled. I shall go alone, or find some other person in all probability to go with me.

I have written a book to publish in the German language, setting forth our doctrine and principles in as clear and concise a manner as I possibly could. After giving the history of the rise of the church, in something the manner that Br. O. Pratt did, I have written a snug little article upon every point of doctrine believed by the saints. I began with the Priesthood, and showed that the saints were not under the necessity of tracing back the dark and bloody stream of papal superstition to find their authority, neither were they compelled to seek for it among the floating and trancient [transient] notions of Protestant reformers; but God has sent his holy angel directly from heaven with this seal and authority, and confered [conferred] it upon men with his own hands: quoting the letter and testimony of O. Cowdery. Next was on the use and validity of the holy scriptures in the church. Next on faith, set forth from the scriptures and the book of covenants-then on repentance-then baptism-then laying on of hands-then the different offices of the church. Next the power and authority of each one; and in fine the whole order, doctrine and government of the saints. I have not written it as a law binding on the German saints; but have taken this course to illustrate and set forth the true principles of our doctrine to them, fully believing that it would meet with the cordial approbation of those whom I have the distinguished honor to represent, could they but see it. I have written a lengthy preface and introduction to it. I here copy an extract from the introduction.

"When in the course of Divine Providence, it becomes our duty to record one of those remarkable events which gives birth to a new era. And lays the foundation for the renovation of the moral world; it fills the mind with wonder astonishment, and admiration: How welcome are the rays of the morning light, after the shades of darkness have clothed the earth in gloom! So after a long and tedious night of moral darkness under which the earth has rolled, and her inhabitants groaned for the last fourteen hundred years; and angle! an angel!! commissioned from the Almighty, discended [descended], and rolled back the curtains of night from the minds of some, and caused the sun-beams of truth to enlighten, cheer, and warm the hearts of many. Welcome! welcome to our earth, thou messenger of the Most High! and thrice welcome, the tidings which thou hast borne [born]!!"

"O! gracious Father! I ask thee in the name of thy holy child Jesus, to bless with thy Royal favor, the weak exertions of thy humble servant; and make this production a blessing to all people who may be favored with a perusal of its pages. Wherever it shall go; let it be a messenger of conviction to the wicked: and a harbinger of peace to the righteous. Let its contents be borne [born] upon every breeze, and wafted to the remotest climes. Let the angel of the covenant go before it, and prepare its way. Let its heavenly influence be distilled upon the rich and fertile soil of humble and honest hearts."

"Go forth, therefore, little volume to other nations and tongues; and may the Almighty speed your way; and like a sharp two-edged sword, cut thy way through the prejudices of this generation,-encamp with all thy virtues in the hearts of the people, and there let thy principles be enthroned,"

One thing I was pleased with, which I noticed in the Times and Seasons, the remarks made on the use of intoxicating spirits. In my heart, they found a corresponding echo. I should not be willing to indulge the thought for a moment that the saints in Nauvoo would quietly stand still, and see a brother gorge himself with that strong drink which makes a hell of his home, and rolls the fiery flood of ruin over the affections of his once happy family. No; they will dash from his lips the cup of wretchedness; and sharply rebuke the homicide that sells to him the wine of wrath, and measures to him his wife's tears by the pint, the quart, the gallon, and the jug-ful [full].

May the lightnings of heaven forever blast, (I had almost said) those brews of strong drink which send forth their corrupt and poisonous streams to sweep down, in their filthy current, men of sterling talents to an untimely grave.-May the saints of God stand as far from them, as Lot stood from Sodom in its evil day. This dizzy flood has sometimes entered the house of worship-invaded the sacred desk, and hushed, in death, forever, the voice that could plead, like an angel, the cause of God and man.

I have just received a note from Dr. S. Hirschell, President Rabbi of the Hebrew community in this country, in reply to a very polite note which I sent to him, requesting the indulgence of a personal interview with him: But in consequence of a very severe accident which befel [befell] him, he is confined to his room, and unable, at this time, to grant the asked indulgence. [His leg is broken.]

I have addressed to him a communication upon the subject of my mission; a copy of which I transmit to you. It may not be altogether uninterresting [uninteresting] to the saints and friends in America.

"Rev'd Sir,

I cannot but express my sorrow and regret at the misfortune under which you ;labor, in consequence of the severe accident which befel [befell] you; and by which you are confined to your room. Please accept Sir, the sincere wishes of a stranger, that you may speedily recover from the injury you sustained in consequence of the accident; and resume the labor which your high and responsible station calls you to perform."

"Feeling that I may not enjoy the privilege and happiness of a personal interview with you, I hope you will indulge the liberty which I now presume to take in addressing a written communication to you, embracing some of those things which I had fondly hoped, would have been the foundation of a mutual interchange of thought between us: But as Providence has laid an embargo upon that distinguished privilege, I must forego, at this time, the pleasure of a verbal relation of those things pertaining to your nation, with which my mind is deeply affected."

"Since I have arrived to years of more mature reflection, and become religiously inclined, the writings of the Jewish prophets have won my affections; and the scattered and oppressed condition of that people, had enlisted the finest sympathies of my heart. Believing therefore, that the words of Hosea the prophet 2. 23, connected with your magnanimity, will prohibit the indulgence of any prejudice in your feeling against the author of this production, in consequence of his not being able, by any existing document or record, to identify himself with your nation."

"About nine years ago, a young man with whom I had had a short acquaintance, and one, too, in whom dwelt much wisdom and knowledge-in whose bosom the Almighty had deposited many secrets, laid his hands upon my head, and pronounced these remarkable words: 'In

due time, thou shalt go to Jerusalem, the land of thy fathers, and be a watchman unto the house of Israel; and by thy hands, shall the Most High do a good work, which shall prepare the way, and greatly facilitate the gathering together of that people.' Many other particulars were told me by him, at that time, which I do not write in this letter: But sufficient is written to show that divine appointment is claimed as the main-spring that has sent me forth from the embraces of an affectionate family, and kind friends as well as from the land that gave me birth."

"My labors since that period, have been bestowed upon the Gentiles in various countries, and on both sides of the Atlantic, until, in the early part of March 1840, I retired to my bed one night as usual; and while meditating, and contemplating the field of my future labors, the vision of the Lord like clouds of light burst into my view. (See Joel, 2. 28) The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me; and the spirit said unto me, 'Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also, is the field of your labors. Take therefore propper [proper] credentials from my people, your brethren, and also from the Governor of your State with the seal of authority thereon, and go ye forth to the cities which have been shown you, and declare these words unto Judah, and say, 'Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves an let us go into the defenced [defended] cities. Set up the standard towards Zion-retire stay not; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way-he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate, and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.'

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished-that her iniquity is pardoned for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

"Let your warning voice be heard among the Gentiles as you pass, and call ye upon them in my name for aid and for assistance. With you, it mattereth not whether it be a little or much; but to me it belongeth to show favor unto them who show favor unto you.'

"The vision continued open about six hours, that I did not close my eyes in sleep. In this time, many things were shown unto me which I have never written, neither shall I write them until they are fulfilled in Jerusalem."

"It appears, from the prophets, that Jerusalem has none to guide-none to take her by the hand among all the sons whom she hath brought forth and reared: But these two sons are come unto thee! The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls.'

"Permit me now Rev. Sir, to trouble you with the reflections of a mind that feels completely untrameled [untrammeled] from every party interest, and from every sectarian influence. when I look at the condition of your fathers in the days of David and Solomon, and contrast that with the present condition of their descendants, I am led to exclaim, 'How are the mighty fallen!' Then they possessed a kingdom-a land flowing with milk and honey-then the strong arm of Jehovah taught the surrounding nations to pay tribute and homage to them-then their standard was raised high, their banner floated on every breeze; and under its shade,; the sons and daughters of Israel reposed in perfect safety; and the golden letters of light and knowledge were inscribed on its folds. But now, no kingdom-no country-no tribute of gain or honor-no standard-no security: Their sceptre [scepter] has departed! and instead of that light and knowledge which once gave them a transcendant [transcendent] elevation above other nations, the height of their ambition, is now,.(with some honorable exceptions) the accumulation of sordid gain, by buying and selling the stale refuse with which their fathers would never have defiled their hands."

"Why this wonderful change? Is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a just God? Most certainly he is. If, then, he is a just God, of course, he will mete out and apportion the chastisement of penalty [penalty], to the magnitude of the offence [offense] or crime committed. Allowing, then, the law of Moses to be the standard by which actions are weighed: Were not idolatry and the shedding of innocent blood, the greatest sins which your fathers committed? and was not the penalty inflicted upon them for that transgression, captivity in Babylon seventy years? Have

they ever been guilty of idolatry at all since their return from Babylon? No! Have they been guilty of sheding [shedding] innocent blood, to that extent, since their return that they were, before they were taken captives by Nebuchadnezzar? The Jews says no. Very well: there will none deny, with any claim upon our credulity, but that the disaster and overthrow that befel [befell] the Jewish nation in the days of Vespassian, very far exceeded in severity, in almost every particular, the disaster and overthrow [overthrow] that befel [befell] them in the days of Nebuchadnezzar."

"Now, then, if God be just, and mete out and apportion the chastisement or penalty to the magnitude of the offence [offense] or crime committed, it follows, of course, that your fathers committed some far greater crime subsequent to their return from Babylon, than ever they before committed. Be that crime whatever it may: Know ye, that for it, or because of it, the Roman armies were permitted to crowd their conquests to the heart of your city-burn your temple-kill your men, women and children, and disperse your remnant to the four quarters of the earth. The fiery storm that burst upon your nation at that time, and the traces of blood which they have, ever since, left behind them in their flight and dispersion, together with the recent cursed cruelties inflicted upon them in Damascus and Rhodes, but too plainly declare that the strong imprecation which they uttered on a certain occasion, has been fulfilled upon them to the letter. 'Let his blood be on us and on our children.' If condemning and crucifying Jesus of Nazareth was not the cause of this great evil; what was the cause of it?"

"Aware that I have written very plainly upon those points that have come within my notice; yet believe me, Sir, when I assure you, that my pen is pointed with friendship, and dipped in the fountain of love and good will towards your nation. The thoughts which it records have proceeded from a heart grateful to the Almighty, that the time has arrived when the day-star of your freedom already begins to dispel the dark and gloomy clouds which have seperated [separated] you from the favor of your God. Ere long it will be said to you; 'Arise, shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee."

"The morning breaks, the shadows flee,

Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled;

The dawning of a brighter day

Majestic rises on the world.

The Gentile fullness now comes in,

And Israel's blessings are at hand:

Lo! Judah's remnant cleansed from sin

Shall in their promised Canaan stand."

"Now, therefore, O ye children of the covenant! Repent of all your backslidings, and begin, as in days of old, to turn to the Lord your God. Arise! Arise! and go out from among the Gentiles; for destruction is coming from the north to lay their cities waste. Jerusalem is thy home. There the God of Abraham will deliver thee. (See Joel 2, 32) There the bending heavens shall reveal thy long-looked-for Messiah in fleecy clouds of light and glory, to execute vengeance upon thine enemies; and lead thee and thy brethren of the ten tribes to sure conquest, and certain victory. Then shall thrones be cast down, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God. Then will they come from the east, west, north and south, and set down in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the children of the kingdom (Gentiles) shall be cast out, and the kingdom restored to Israel.

With sentiments of distinguished consideration I have the honor, Sir, to subscribe myself

Your most ob't servant

Orson Hyde.

Rev. Dr. Solomon Hirschell,

Pres't Rabbi of the Hebrew society in England.

It is very hard times in England.-Thousands that have nothing to do, and are literally starving. Trade of all sorts is at the lowest ebb. Very cold and dry. No harvest, unless rain come soon.

You will discover that the greater part of the English brethren, have always worked under masters; and they have not so much notion of planning and shifting for themselves, particularly in a strange country, as the Americans.-They want some one to be a kind of father to them, to give them plenty of work, and plenty to eat; and they will be content, They are a very industrious people whenever they can get employment; and by a little fatherly care, they will soon get way-wished to the conntry [country], and be enabled to shift for themselves. I trust that exertions are made to give employ to as many as possible

You know the reasons there better than I do; and you have received a speciman [specimen] of the English saints. Now if you have any counsel to give concerning the gathering, in addition to that already given, I shall be happy to receive it, and execute as far as opportunity offers. I shall not remain here long, it is true. But Br. Pratt is here, and I shall return here sometime if the Lord will.

I must now close by saying for one and all, God bless Zion forever and ever.

Your brother in Christ.

Orson Hyde.

To the Editor of the Times and Seasons:

Dear Sir:-

If you think the contents of this sheet worthy of a place in your excellent publication, its insertion will greatly oblige yours in the covenent [covenant].

F. Moon.

From the short history of Lot, we may learn many important things: he is brought before us as an herdsman with Abraham, and certain difficulties, arising, they determined upon a separation. And although Abraham was his uncle, yet he gave him the choice of going either to the East or West. And Lot went and dwelt in Sodom. Let us notice his love of earthly things. "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordon, that it was well watered every where-even as the garden of the Lord-and lot chose him all the plain of Jordon and he went and dwelt in Sodom." In this choice religious privileges and those things which concern the soul, that are of eternal moment were never calculated upon. And in about nineteen years he was visited by angels bearing a message of distruction [destruction] for Sodom and the neigboring [neighboring] cities. Now let us, who have come from the east, west, north and south, not imitate the conduct of Lot; and although there may be apparent difficulties, and a lack of this, and that, which would be pleasing to the flesh: yet let us compare our advantages if we were not here; and never attempt to join the world, at the risk of losing our soul. But here an objector may arise and say "I could go to such and such a place, and get all that heart could desire, and love for God too." I admit the possibility, but it is not so probable that this would be the case; but supposing it should, where would be the benefit if in a few years, when you have increased your goods, a messenger should be sent to sound in your ears these alarming words, "escape for thy life, look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain." Could you without confering [conferring] with flesh and blood, forsake all, or with the anxiety and disobedience of a Lot's wife, look back, and thus exhibit the awful consequences of transgression.

The Lord has commanded his people to gather, and though there may be troubles, yet if it is according to the law of heaven, it ought to be attended to without a murmur; and it is far better with us, than it was with the children of Israel, for they had not water: and many more things they complained of, and they said "would to God we had stayed in Egypt, or died when our brethren died"-and they said to Moses and Aaron, "why have ye brought us" &c., [Numb. 20. 2-5.] But an inspired writer has a different view of this subject, "and thou shalt remember" says he, "all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whither thou wouldest keep his commandments or no." What I mean to say is this, that we ought to live where we can enjoy most of the blessings of heaven, and receive the greatest knowledge of the things of God, hanging upon this promise, "seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you",-for what is time when compared with eternity! and what is this world when compared with that which is to come!

Let us look again at Lot, and notice his disrespect to the commandments of God. In the morning he was commanded to take his family that was with him, and first he began to linger, but the angels laid hold of him and got him without the city, and gave him a command; the latter part of which he objected to, and says that God asked impossibilities at his hands. The Lord told him to go the mouatain [mountain] that he might live; he says "I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die: Behold now this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh! let me escape thither, and my soul shall live!" The face of this seems to be , 'let me do as I please, and then I shall be comfortable; but if I do as you have commanded me, I see danger;' from this we

may learn something of importance. We shall find upon examination, that the children of men have taken an unauthorised [unauthorized] liberty with the commandments of God, and that to their ruin: and the principal reason for their objection is, that in their view they are but small. But we ought not to look at the command without considering the curse or blessing, connected with it, and then we shall be able to determine whether it is a little one or not. The law given to Adam, may be called small; but when we look at the connection, we must say it was great. The law of the blood of the passover was simple; buy the cause of life and earth were in the precept. The command given to Moses [Num. 20, 8.] looked little, but when it was violated it was awful, [Num. 20, 10-12] What Naaman was ordered to do, was allowed to be a very small thing, so much so, that he would not do it, until his servant spake to him on the subject. All the commandments of God are simple; and it appears that he will save, or condemn, the world upon this principle; and not only in ancient days has he given little things for the observance of the children of men: but even now, as he did in old time: witness the word of wisdom. Now what shall we say it is the work of man, or shall we say it is given by the spirit of God? But comparing the whole work we must say it is the latter; had it been the work of man, we might have trampled upon his law with impunity, & defied all his threats with mental force; but when the great Jehovah speaks, who, though he dwells in the heavens, yet he condescends to speak with men, who are but worms of the earth; and offers to them life and salvation upon certain simple principles.

To say nothing about the disputed point contained in the word of wisdom: the Lord has said strong drink and tobacco are not good for man. But here an objector will arise and say, 'I know that strong drink is good, for I have tried it many a time, and have found great a benefit from it, so much so, that if it had not been for it I should have died.' Then what they mean to say is this 'I cannot give it up, is it not a little one? Let me have it and my soul shall live.' And thus whether they consider it, or not, they give their Maker the lie. Those who use tobacco say we cannot make such a sacrifice; and thus, with Lot, they find that what God has ordained for life, to be unto death; Let me have this little tobacco and my soul shall live. Lot said I shall die if I go to the mountain, but in a short time he was compeled [compelled], for he feared to live in Zoar. [Gen. 19, 30.] And you spirit drinkers, and tobocco [tobacco] users, will soon have to witness the same things, viz: if you cannot live without it, you cannot live with it, so you must either obey the commandment or be reconciled to your doom. But I would advise you to come forth with the resolution of a man, and show to the world that you are determined to take the kingdom if it be by storm, and enjoy all the blessings, contained in the word of wisdom. But if you are determined to pursue your own course, and hug your idol to your heart-I would say, go on, and the God of heaven will reward you according to your works: for that period is not far distant, when the destroying angel will pass through the land, who will lay great Dagon with all his worshippers prostrate on the earth: for no idol shall stand in the presence of the great God, for when be comes, all evil will be gathered out of his kingdom, and only they who keep his commandments shall be able to stand.

To the Editor of the Times and Seasons:

Dear Sir:

I have retired to my room for a few moments, to drop a few lines to you, to inform you of the prosperity of our Redeemer's cause in this vicinity. I am sitting at a West window in the Eagle Hotel, in Franklin, Portage co., Ohio, where I have formerly spent fifteen summers with my circle of relatives; but never has the setting sun, the last day of summer, while declining in the western horizon, caused such peculiar reflections on my mind as when it now sinks behind the western hills-all is silent but now and then the rolling of a carriage as it passes, or occasionally the voice of the youth, as they are sporting in the streets-all this is well calculated to cite my mind to the busy bustle of Nauvoo, where my prattling children are sporting about the yard, or assisting their lonely mother in arranging the domestic affairs for the night-and where my beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, are enjoying each other's society-although my mind is with you this evening, my person is separated from you by a distance of near seven hundred miles, but not without sorce [source]

friends; Elder H. S. Eldredge is laboring with me here; he is a faithful servant of the Lord, and with a little more experience, will be able, with the assistance of God, to put to silence all the priests of baal, who dare raise their voices against the truth, to impede the progress of the everlasting gospel.

We have labored here about two months, and have preached three times a week. When we first preached here, the assemblies were large, and good attention was paid to the truth, and a spirit of enquirey [inquiry] was the result; the dust was brushed from many a bible that had lain undisturbed for months, by many however, for the purpose of putting down the truth; but to their great astonishment, truth could not be arrayed against truth, to put it down. What then was to be done? Why, they called in the neighboring priests, of various professions, to assist in the struggle, but alas, their attempt to put down the truth failed, and the more they struggled the deeper they sunk in the mire. Seeing nothing else would prevent the honest from searching the scriptures, receiving and obeying the same, they have resorted to the same method the enemy of all righteousness has ever done; first to ridicule the ordinances of the Gospel, secondly to misrepresent, slander, and speak all manner of evil against us, and those who dare obey the gospel. All this not having the desired effect, they have resorted to threats which are handed out on every side; and even now while I write, I understand they are holding a meeting to take into consideration [consideration] the best method to put a stop to the spread of what they call Mormonism, what the result will be I know not. We have succeeded in establishing the standard of truth in Franklin, for which I thank God; we have had the pleasure of leading twelve into the waters of baptism in this place, and others are believing the work of the Lord; we shall by the assistance of God, organize a branch here, and we therefore invite the Elders traveling this way, to call, for necessity requires that we should return to our families, in the West, in a few weeks.

Yours in the bonds of the

everlasting covenant,

L. A. Shirtliff.

Charlotte Centre [Center],}

Chautauqua co. N. Y.,}

Aug. 18th 1841.}

Br. D. C. Smith:-

I take this epportunity [opportunity] of addressing a person with whom I have no acquaintance, only through the medium of the Times and Seasons, by the perusal of which I have been highly gratified; I have received instruction and information-and long may you continue in health, in peace, and safety to publish that interesting periodical; may it be a swift messenger to communicate to the saints, intelligence, from the traveling Elders, of the spread of the truth, of the increase of the church of Christ, and of the triumphs of the gospel over the kingdoms of darkness-may its pages contain, for the edification of the saints, (especially those scattered abroad) revelation, doctrine and instruction, from the pen, and from the discourses of our beloved Prophet; and from all others who receive light and knowledge by the spirit of truth, and may I continue to receive your valuable paper without interruption, thus increase our acquaintance and we be mutually benefited.

We are ten in number in this vicinity who have embraced the gospel as preached by the Latter Day Saints; we are not organized, but are like sheep without a shepherd, therefore you may judge of our feelings of disappointment when we do not receive the Times and Seasons in due time,-twice the year I have been six weeks without receiving a number.

May the blessing of peace, health and happiness rest upon you.

I have the honor to subscribe myself

Your brother in the

new and everlasting covenent [covenant],

Thomas Pearson, jr.