Communications

Nauvoo, June 8th, 1844.

Mr. Editor:-

Dear Sir:-It is with mingled feelings of gratitude and pleasure, that I again seat myself to address you a few lines, agreeably to promise, expressive of my feelings with regard to your Prophet-his doctrine, character, views &c.-During my short stay in your city. I have found nothing to alter my opinions of its inhabitants, as expressed in my former letter. I have seen with my eyes and heard with my ears and I am satisfied with the result. I have seen the Prophet, and heard him speak. His actions have rendered him famous-his claims have made him known-his persecutions have made him an object of interest-but his own intrinsic merits have made him beloved, by all who know him.

I was astonished, that men would be so blind as to follow after such a man: but that feeling is gone; and I now only wonder why he has not more followers: the only reason can be, they hate the truth.

Notwithstanding all the efforts of his adversaries, he has pursued the even tenor of his way, and steadily advanced to his present position. Unintimadated by their threats-unmindful of their numbers-unawed by their power, he has always come off victorious, and thwarted all the plans of his opponents. Although priest and people, rich and poor, professor and nonprofessor, learned and unlearned, Christian and infidel, have united their forces to belie, slander, and persecnte [persecute] him, yet has the work in which he is engaged rolled steadily onward, impelled by the hand of a God.

That an illiterate youth of twenty-one, with none of the advantages of our learned divines, with scarce a common school education, poor and despised, alone and unassisted, should have conceived a system of Theology, which all the wisdom and learning of the age have not been able to confute; and the progress of which, the combined efforts of earth and hell have not been able to resist, exceeds even my powers of belief. When we review his career, and behold him, from the poor, despised visionary of Manchester, rising, in the short space of fifteen years, to the Presidency of a church numbering uot [not] less then 200,000 souls, spread throughout the United States and the Canadas, Europe and the islands of the sea; we are led to exclaim 'a greater than Jonah is here.' Indeed had he no other claims to inspiration than his actions, and the works he has performed, they would be abundant to stamp him indelibly, a prophet of God.

He has only to be known, to be admired-his doctrine has only to be investigated, to be believed-his claims cannot be confuted: what then obstructs his progress? Surely nothing, unles [unless] it be the bigotry, superstition and prejudice of a priest-ridden community. But the time will come, perhaps too late, when their eyes will be opened to a sense of their folly. They can then see, that, led on by their priests, they have opposed themselves to inspiration, and rejected the truth. Be not astonished at the warmth of my expression, for I have but just emerged from my thraldom [thralldom], like a Chrysalis breaking its shell, and look back with affright at the bondage to which I was subjected. Would to God that the world would throw away their prejudice and investigate for themselves, or come here and get their eyes opened as I have done.

Would they but examine the matter they would find that the so called "Mormon delusion" beautifully harmonizes with the scriptures-reconciles many seeming contradictions-explains many difficult passages-restores the primitive order and simplicity of the church-fulfills many of the prophesies-and gives us just conceptions of the character, attributes and perfections of the Deity. It contains some of the most glorious grand, and sublime principles ever imagined by the mind of man-

it reveals a plan of life in a future state of existence, worthy conceptions of a God; it elevates our ideas of Jehovah and of his creation; it it plainly shows the whole duty of the Saint-the plan of salvation; the straight and narrow path-and, in short, it is a perfect system of Theology, as far before the clanging, jarring systems of modern divinity, as the Gospel of Jesus Christ was before the systems of the Pharisees and Sadducees, or as the plan of salvation devised by Jehovah before the worlds began is before any of the systems of Sectarianism.

The political views of the Prophet are as far in advance of the age, as his religious principles; liberal, enlightened, and comprehensive; they are totally unique. The friend of equal rights and liberty; he advocates the emancipation of the slaves, and the opening of the prison doors. Independent in his actions; he cares for neither wealth nor fame; but is the friend of the poor. Uncorrupted by the spoils of office; he is opposed to the political aristocrats of Washington lining their pockets with the hard earnings of the poor democracy. His liberality and benevolence extends from pole to pole, hear his views 'come Texas, come Mexico, come Canada and come all the world-let us be brethren; let us be one great family; and let there be universal peace.' What can be more liberal, more benevolent or more in accordance with the spirit of our free institutions. Opposed to the low systems of political chicanery practiced by the corrupt office-seekers of the age; he advocates the principles of unadulterated freedom. The friend of all mankind; he studies the convenience of the people more than the comfort of the cabinet. Uncompromisingly the friend of truth, and freedom: he would carry out the spirit of our constitution, without respect to party or fear of consequences.

He stands alone; modern degeneracy has not reached him. Stern and unyielding in his integrity: the features of his character bear the stamp of Roman patriotism. No narrow system of vicious politics, no political demagoguery, no contest for the spoils of office, have sunk him to the vulgar level of the great; but unfathomable, great, and benevolent, his object is the freedom of the world, his ambition to win the love of all mankind. The sight of his mind is almost infinite; his schemes are to affect not the United States and the present age only, but the world and posterity. And judging the future by the past, the means by which these objects will be accomplished, though seemingly small and insignificant,-will be always seasonable, always adequate, the suggestions of an understanding animated by love, and illuminated by inspiration.

Comprehensive in his views, unflinching in his patriotism, uncontaminated by his intercourse with the world, unsullied [unsullied] in his character, unbending in his morality, independent [independent] in his actions, high literary attainments, of great political capabilities, a Gentleman and a Scholar, what more can we ask in a chief magistrate. A character so exalted, so various, so grand astonishes this coorupt [corrupt] age, and the political demagogues and office-seekers, struggling for 'the loaves and fishes' tremble in every limb, and quiver, through fear, in every muscle, at the name of the far-famed General Joseph Smith. I cannot better express my opinion of him than in the language of Robertson, in his character of the celebrated Sir William Pitt "upon the whole there is something in this man, that would create, subvert and reform: an understanding, a spirit, and an eloquence, to summon mankind to society, and break the bonds of slavery asunder-something to rule the wilderness of free minds: something that could establish or overwhelm empires, and strike a blow in the world that should resound through the universe."

May the great Jehovah inspire his heart with wisdom and understanding sufficient to lead his people, in the paths of truth and righteousness, and bring about the reformation of mankind [mankind]. May he be endowed with power to establish universal peace, prepare the way for the coming of the messiah, and usher in the glorious millenium [millennium], and that he may have the Divine sanction in all his proceedings and be blessed in all his undertakings, is the sincere desire of

Yours Respectfully,

HOSPES.

Portage, Allegany [Allegheny] co. N. Y. May 1st, 1844.

Dear Brother Taylor:

I now take my pen in hand to inform you of my success for some time past. I left Nauvoo the last of September, and have been since that time striving with the assistance of the grace allotted to me to spread the cause of truih [truth]. I reached the state of New York about the middle of October. I began laboring in the counties of Allegany [Allegheny] and Steuben; soon after I commenced preaching, effectual doors were opened and many expressed a willingness to hear the truth; I have striven successfully against the opposition, and God has been pleased to bless my labors. I have baptized 46 and have witnessed the baptism and confirmation of 15 or 20 more. I have traveled alone the most of the time since I started on this mission,

until the first of March, since that time I have been in company with Elder Julius J. Guinand and I find him to be a worthy brother, and one who is capable of doing much good in the world. I have been beset frequently by those who profess a great deal of sanctity and who possess more self-righteousness, but are as far from the kingdom of God, as was Simon when he offered money saying, "give me this power &c:" They often endeavor to put down the truth but are as often put to shame and confusion. My constant prayer is that God will be with me and grant that through obedience to all his commandments, I may be enabled to accomplish the work whereunto I am sent, that at last I may be found without spot, and blameless. I am glad to hear of the peace and prosperity attending the saints in that place; I shall soon be on my way to the state of Vermont, and I intend to spend the summer in that state. My motto is onward and if my bodily strength should prove equal to my resolution, I hope ere long to return to the city of the saints, with the assurance that I have been the happy instrument in the hands of God, of bringing many souls into the kingdom.

Your friend and brother in Christ,

WM. HYDE.