Communications

Van Buren co. I. T. Dec. 13th 1841.

To E. ROBINSON:

Dear Brother, it is with heart felt gratitude to our Heavenly Father, that I at this time sit down to write a few hasty lines to you, as also to my beloved brethren, to let you know of the advancement of the cause of truth in this part of the land. I left home about the first of August to unite my feeble efforts with those of my much esteemed and beloved Brother, Elder Ball. Although, in consequence of sickness and affliction, but just able to walk, yet by the word of the Lord the man whom he has chosen in these last days, as he did a Moses, I went forth relying upon the God of Elijah for support, and I found him a present help in every time of need. I recovered my health in a measure, and have continued from the above date till the present, (as my health and circumstances would permit,) to preach and baptize, sometimes mostly alone, and sometimes having assistance from other elders; viz. Br. Roe [Joe?] Smith, &c. and truly the cause of truth spreads and the scoff of fools, the roar of bigots, the frown of the superstitious, and the howling, groaning and lying of the priests of Baal, whose craft is in danger by the forth coming of truth; for those that eat the fat and clothe themselves with the wool, that have run as did Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, without being sent, that are acting without authority from heaven, God having never hired them, consequently they must seek for pay from some other quarter, they see that God is spoiling their pasture. But they are fulfilling certain prophecies of good old Isaiah, by making lies their refuge, and under falsehood do hide themselves, as also, they eat the fruit of lies and trust themselves in the multitude of their mighty men, but I am determine by the help of the Lord God of Israel to be one, (although weak,) to assist to pull down the strong holds of satan, to break the chain of priestcraft, to scale the walls of sectarianism, that have been built and daubed with untempered mortar, untill [until] the wall with those that have daubed it shall fall and be leveled with the dust; yea, to rim rack and centre [center] shake the kingdom of the devil, untill [until] the kingdom of the great God shall rise in majesty and power, the knowledge of God cover the earth as the waters do the great deep, Christ be king over all the earth, and peace, love, union, and harmony prevail.

There has been seventeen added, a branch organized, which numbers about thirty members, and love and union appear generally to prevail. The prospect for the spread of truth is very flattering; some ten or twelve more I expect will be baptized soon, and many more believing; and if I may be allowed to judge from what I have seen, and from the acquaintance I have had with the brethren in this region, they are saints that can be depended upon, and that are willing to sacrifice all things, even life itself, if necessary, for the cause of God. This generation appear to be as angry at the Lord for answering their prayers, as Jonah was because the Lord did not just according to his notion of things fulfill his prophecy on the Ninevites, and because he did not, he tried to quarrel with him. Just so with this generation relative to Br. Joseph. How often have I heard them pray for the Lord to revive his work, even the great work spoken of by the prophets, and say, "O Lord send by whom thou wilt send!" he has answered their prayers, and they are mad about it. Now they say, "Lord send by whom thou wilt send, but dont [don't] send by Joe Smith, (Joseph Smith) any body but Joe Smith." The fact is, they want the Lord to do according to their sectarian traditions; they are not willing to have him work in his own way. But who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counsellor [counselor]. The Lord does and will work according to the counsel (age 665)

of his own will, in spite of men and devils combined; yea, the great work of the Lord does and will roll forth, with a mighty impetus, propelled by the hand of the Lord God of Elijah, until the little stone that Daniel saw cut out of the mountain without hands, will become a great mountain and fill the whole earth.

I remain as ever, your

Brother in Christ.

TRUMAN GILLETT Jun.