Editorial Address

We now present ourselves before our readers in a new volume at the commencement of another year. Forty-four has come rolling upon us with all its responsibilities, leaving the events that have transpired in the by-gone year to mingle with those before the flood; and we are now ushered forth with the rapidity of the whirling spheres, into the cumbrous, the uncertain, the unknown future. In resuming our onerous duties, of an editorial nature, we commence by wishing our readers a happy new year.

In reflecting upon the past, we have many pleasing recollections. We have witnessed the work of God rolling forth with unprecedented rapidity, and the potency of truth, has been felt and realized throughout the length and breadth of this continent, on the continent of Europe, and among the distant nations of the earth.

The little stone hewn out of the mountain without hands, has commenced its progress, and

like a snow ball, it becomes more ponderous as it rolls along, gathering together the pure in heart among all people, and forming a nucleus around which shall gather the great, the virtuous, the benevolent, the wise, and the patriotic of all nations. That 'knowledge is power,' is a truth acknowledged by all, and if there is any true and correct source of intelligence, it must be that which proceeds from the Almighty, Joseph by his wisdom became second to pharaoh in power, and in command in Egypt. Daniel through his wisdom was placed in great authority in the Babylonish kingdom, being made chief ruler and governor. When our Savior made his appearance in the world, it was said of him, 'whence hath this man this wisdom, seeing he has never learned?' he spake as never man spake,' and his 'fame went out to all the country round about.' The reason is obvious: those persons had all received intelligence from God, and being instructed by the great Eloheim [Elohim] were enabled to unfold principles of intelligence that far exceeded every thing that was merely human; the wisdom and intelligence of the generations in which they severally lived. Life and immortality, we are told was brought to light in the days of our Savior by the gospel, and the same gospel having been restored in these last days by the revelation of Jesus Christ, the opening of the heavens, the ministering of angels, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the power of God, we may expect a pure stream of intelligence to flow unto us, which has its fountain in the bosom of the almighty, and which is calculated to satisfy the capacious desires of intelligent spirits, and expand the human heart wide as the universe. Already many great things have been unfolded unto us, which as far exceed the principles of sectarianism, as light does darkness. Their influence has been felt, both at home and abroad, and although handled in many instances by unlettered men: they have produced a mighty effect. The diamond has shown in all its resplendent beauty and thousands who know how to appreciate truth have been attracted by the precious gem.

Perhaps there never was a time since the principles of our holy religion were first revealed from the heavens, in these last days when they spread more rapidly than they do at the present time. Our elders are going forth 'bearing precious seed,' and the accounts which we are daily receiving from all parts of the union are of the most flattering kind. Intelligence is disseminating, truth is triumphing, churches are being built up, and superstition, ignorance and bigotry are loosing their fascinating charms, being eclipsed by the more lucid rays of eternal truth.

The work is still progressing in Canada, New Brunswick, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and in the Isle of Man; and despite of the vast numbers that are constantly immigrating to this land, their numbers are continually on the increase. In Wales, native elders have been ordained, who are going forth and preaching in their own language, the great principles of eternal truth. We have elders preaching in New Holland, and in the East Indies, and elders during the past year have been sent to Islands in the South Sea. Elders Hyde and Adams, are also preparing to go on a mission to Russia in the spring.

Our affairs in Nauvoo are prosperous; vast numbers of brick houses have gone up the last summer and fall, and our city begins to present a very pleasing prospect. Great numbers of merchants have settled among us during the past year, and the amount of merchandise which has been imported, has placed goods within the reach of the citizens of Nauvoo, at as reasonable a rate as they can be purchased at any of our western cities.

Considering the many improvements that have been made, and the difficulties in many instances under which the committee has had to labor, the Temple has made great progress; and strenuous efforts are being made in quarrying, hauling, and hewing stone, to place it in a situation that the walls can go up and the building be enclosed by next fall.

There has not been much done at the Nauvoo House during the past season, further than preparing materials; most of the brick, however, and hewed stone are in readiness for that building; and the Temple and Nauvoo House committees, having purchased several splendid mills in the pineries, place them in a situation to furnish both of the above named buildings with abundance of excellent lumber, besides having a large amount to dispose of.

Great improvements have been made in our Municipal regulations lately; ordinances have been passed to protect our citizens against the encroachments and persecutions of Missouri, and a standing police of forty men have been appointed to see those laws enforced, to guard against the encroachments of blacklegs, horse thieves, kidnappers, and other scoundrels, who so much infest our river, and who in so many instances, (in consequence of the credulity of the people,) have been enabled to commit all kinds of depredations at the expense of the Mormons.

Vigorous efforts are being made to improve our wharves, and facilitate the landing of steamboats on our shores. A charter has also been granted by the City Council for the erection of

a dam, upwards of a mile long, across the Mississippi, to commence some distance below the Nauvoo House, and intersect with an island above; so as not to interfere with the main channel of the river. This work when completed, will not only form one of the best harbors on the Mississippi river, making the whole of our shore accessible at all times to the largest class of boats; but it will at the same time afford the best mill privileges in the western country.

Nor have our farmers been idle. Very great improvements have been made during the last year, in agricultural pursuits. Extensive farms are beginning to spread themselves for miles in every direction from our city, on the bosom of the great prairie, as far as the eye can reach; fencing, ploughing [plowing] and building, seems to be the order of the day. 'The wilderness is' indeed being 'made glad, and the desert blossoms as the rose.'

Many branches of mechanism are going on; brick makers, carpenters, brick layers, masons, plaisterers [plasterers], black smiths, and many other branches of business have found abundance of employ. There is however one thing which we would respectfully call the attention of our brethren to; that is, the business of manufacturing.

There is perhaps no place in the western country, where cotton, woolen, silk, iron and earthen-ware could be manufactured to better advantage than they could in Nauvoo. There is not a branch in any of the above trades, from making the machinery, to completing the most delicate fabrics, or wares, but what we have artisans and mechanics that are fully competent to the task, having followed those several branches of manufactures, either in the eastern states, or in the old world: and when the above named dam shall be erected, it will afford greater facilities for manufacturing purposes, and better prospects for the capitalists to invest their money than anything that has come under our notice for a long time

Our relations with the state of Missouri, and with all our enemies, are placed on a very different footing to what they ever were before. That state has used all her ingenuity to entrap, persecute and destroy us, but she has failed in the attempt; she has not yet a pretext left for even an illegal prosecution. The Governor of this state has declared himself in favor of law, and there is not the least shadow of a pretext for issuing any process for Joseph Smith, and there is little prospect of any requisition being complied with. The old charge of 'burglary, arson, treason, murder, &c, is worn so thread bare, that nobody will pay and [any] attention to it.

Orin P. Rockwell has also been acquitted, before even a Missouri court; not the slightest evidence of his guilt having been adduced even by his most bitter enemies; and as he was falsely charged with being the principal in the attempted murder of Ex-Governor Boggs, there can no further charges be made against Joseph Smith as 'accessary [accessory] before the fact.'

Brother Avery and his son have also been aquatinted, and there is not one person belonging to our church that the state of Missouri can institute the least shadow of charge against.-We are informed also that Governor Ford has ordered the sheriff of this county, to take those persons who assisted the Missourians in kidnapping in this state; and to hold them in recognizances to appear at the county court; thus relieving us from the unpleasant task of enforcing the law. Most of the persons engaged in the mobocratic meetings in Carthage and elsewhere, are heartily tired and ashamed of their company, having found out that they have been gulled by the misrepresentations and falsehoods of designing demagogues, to seek to overthrow an innocent and law-abiding people

Throughout the whole region of country around us those bitter and acrimonious feelings which have so long been engendered by many are dying away, and a more friendly, amicable and peaceable spirit has taken its place.

Our influence abroad is also an [on] the increase, truth and innocence is triumphing over falsehood and malace [malice], and the most honorable and intelligent of all classes, are beginning to gaze with admiration upon, and to investigate and admire those glorious principles which God has revealed in these last days for the salvation of the human family. The prophesies of sacred writ are fast fulfilling, intelligence is rolling forth in majesty. The power of God is being made manifest; and soon every kindred, people and tongue shall listen to the voice of eternal truth, and all nations see the salvation of God.