For the Times and Seasons

To the Hosts of Israel:

"Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward [forward] or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.-Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." I stood on Mount Zion, by the Temple of the Great King, and looked down through the vista of time, and saw people like great water, for they were many-gathered from all nations under the whole heavens: and I saw mighty chieftains upon noble steeds, and armies of chariots and horsemen, and strong cohorts of footmen, great and terrible, with spears and banners, and the implements of war, forming to the sound of the clarion. And a great shout was heard in the camp of the saints, and a voice, like the sound of a mighty trumpet, saying-Go and possess your inheritances, and avenge the wrongs of your progenitors-and the battle was set in array, and the armies of the saints moved forward, attended by thunder and hail, and fire and storm, conquering and to conquer. And the armies of the aliens trembled at the voice, like Belshazzar at the handwriting on the wall-and the hearts of their great warriors, and valiant men, fainted within them, and they fled like grasshoppers, and were consumed like stubble before the devouring flame. The plains were bleached with the bones of the slain, and the rivers flowed with blood. The fierce anger of the Lord returned not until he had done, nor until he had performed the intents of his heart. All were conquered, and the land possessed. Time passed on, and I saw "their swords beat into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks," and the goodly land yielding

a rich increase,-and the luxuries of the earth, and the choice fruits of the field, were in great profusion, scattered upon the plains of Eden. And I saw flocks and herds, large and numerous, feeding upon the luxuriant, waving fields-and the saints praising God in his sanctuary, and in the firmament of his power, for his mighty acts, and his excellent greatness, with the sound of the trumpet, psaltery and harp, with the timbrel and dance, with stringed instruments and organs, and upon the loud and high sounding cymbals, making melody in their hearts, and singing loud hosannas to God, and to the Lamb. And I heard a great shout in the camp of Israel, ringing through their mighty hosts-"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come;" and the saints of light were clad in rich attire, decked with jewels and costly pearls, diamonds and the gold of Ophir. Universal peace, plenteous munificence, and unalloyed happiness, prevailed with every soul of man-all were habited in rich white robes, and glittering crowns, and gave to God the glory. And a loud voice proclaimed-This is the reward of those who have kept the faith, and endured sound doctrine, and the teachings of my prophets, contrary to the traditions of men. It is now as true as it was in the days of the priest of Midian that-"God hath spoken good concerning Israel," for the time to favor Zion, "yea, the set time, is come," when God will sway a righteous sceptre [scepter] over the nations of the earth. "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea; even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." "Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the water: the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.-He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young Unicorn. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh." Look, then, at the holy land, and the glories to be revealed, and take courage. Cast off your superstitions, receive with eagerness the teachings of the prophets, and fear no danger; and the Lord of glory will be your rear-ward, purify your hearts, and preserve your souls unto everlasting life; for "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." JOAB,

General in Israel.

Manchester, Oct., 24th, 1841.

Prest. J. Smith,

Dear Br,--I have just received several letters from Nauvoo, together with the Times and Seasons up to Sept. 15th, being one month and nine days on the passage. The information from that quarter cheers our hearts in regard to the peace and prosperity of Zion. We had previously heard of the death of Gen. D. C. Smith and Colonel R. B. Thompson; which filled our minds with sorrow, not for them, but for those who still live to feel their loss. Br. Carlos, I had known for eleven years, and I never knew him to turn to the right or left from the path of Jesus, or the duties of his holy profession. Br. Thompson was baptized by me in Toronto five years ago; and a more humble, constant, and charitable friend of Zion, I never knew, or one who grew faster in knowledge and usefulness. But they are gone--and it must be for some wise purpose--and the Lord's will be done!

On the 28th of Sept. the ship "Tyran" sailed from Liverpool for New Orleans, under a charter of the Latter Day Saints; she had upwards of two hundred on board, with Elder Joseph Fielding at their head.

By chartering, we saved the company at least 500 or 600 dollars.

The splendid new ship Chaos, 1200 tons burthen [burden], will sail on the 5th November, under our charter. She will have from one to two hundred Saints on board, with Patriarch Peter Melling at their head.

The saints in this country are generally rejoicing, and filled with the testimony of Jesus. Great zeal is manifested by the officers in general, of which there is probably more than one thousand. We are increasing in numbers and in gifts and blessings. New branches of the church are rising in many places, and great additions made to the old ones. Manchester

and vicinity has poured north a stream of emigration for the last 18 months, and still we numbered at our Conference, two weeks ago, near sixteen hundred members, and between one and two hundred officers; all these within one hour journey of Manchester. There has been a general time of pruning, we have cut off upwards of 100 members from this Conference in a few months; this causes the young and tender branches to grow with double vigor.

I now come to the principal subject for which I write this letter, viz: the Temple of the Lord!

The Lord enabled us to send about sixty dollars, in gold, by Elder Fielding; this was mostly subscribed by two or three individuals. We shall probably send as much more by the ship Chaos, in care of Peter Welling.

You are hereby authorized to say to the Building Committee, that I subscribe five hundred dollars for the Temple, including what I have already sent, all to be paid in instalments [installments] between this and next fall; which they may safely depend on if the Lord prospers me. Br. Amos Fielding will go hand in hand with me; so that between us, we hope to send one thousand dollars in the course of the season, besides some little from the churches.

Say to the Building Committee, and to the Saints in general, for me; "Let not your hands be slack, nor your hearts feeble; but drive the Temple ahead in the name of the Lord God of Israel; for thus the spirit whispers in my heart; they shall nor lack, nor be left in embarrassment. I would suggest the idea of using lead for the roofs of the Temple and all other permanent buildings; I think it will be found more durable, more convenient, and cheaper than timber, and will perhaps save whole blocks from being consumed by fire.

Give my love to all enqiring [inquiring] friends, and pray for me, that I may have wisdom to go in and out among this people, who have become a great people. I long to see the time when I can stand once more among the Saints in the land of Zion. I hope to be there next summer or summer after.

Myself, wife, four children and the Americans in this country are generally well. My wife joins me in love to all the Saints in the land of Zion, or the land of Joseph, as it is called by thousands in this country. I remain yours in the bonds of

Everlasting Freedom,

PARLEY P. PRATT.