Reflections

O earth! earth! earth! and ye inhabitants thereof hear the word of the Lord, and reverence the wisdom that cometh from the council of perfection! wherever the sun, moon or stars shine: wherever the dew moistens: wherever there is an ear to hear, or a heart to conceive, there let truth be obeyed, and virtue honored: for truth is worth more than gold; obedience is better than sacrifice; honor is the fidelity of God, and virtue the bliss of heaven. God is all for all; and all that was, or is, or yet shall be, comes from him: his power is boundless; his wisdom almighty; his justice perfect; his mercy eternal, and his lifetime the perpetual eternity that continues throughout the eternities, which gave time to all his creations ad infinitum.

His throne is the centre [center] of the great all; and his light the light of the whole, though there be Lords many and Gods many. Order, union, beauty, harmony and grace, adorn the creations of his hand, from a mite to a man; from a fowl to a beast; from a globe to a god. His wisdom; his reason; his prudence, his justice, and virtue exalt him to a glory that man, poor weak man, in his low estate, never saw; never dreamed of; no, nor never will, till he comes up through the same tribulation, the same narrow way, the old path wherein our fathers went, and escaped in fire to bliss; and wherein Jesus, by his own blood, wrought out a more perfect escape for the children of obedience from evil to good, from death unto life; from mortality to immortality; from time to eternity; wherefore O man! consider thy ways; obey the voice of the Lord; be directed by reason; embrace the truth; reject error; love thy kindred; never stray from the ways of wisdom, and you shall find rest for your soul in the hour of calamity, the great day of God Almighty, when the wicked shall be cut off from the earth.

O man! man! why wast thou made in the image of God? was it to war with thy brethren, and follow the dictates of passion, and bemean thyself as the beasts of the field and become the slave of Satan and his fallen host of angels in a kingdom of misery and darkness, or was it to do his will and be exalted like him, through the perfection of grace, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, power and virtue unto a

kingdom of happiness, light and glory? Commune with thine own heart and answer these questions.

Who art thou, O man! that vauntest thyself of thine own prudence and wisdom? Be admonished of thine arrogancy; the first step towards the cabinet of wisdom, is to know thou art ignorant: the second step is, to disencumber thyself of the folly of self-conceit, and then walk slow in the path of truth, being continually lighted by the lamp of virtue. If thou hast any thing about thy raiment, about thy person, or in thy speech, that is adorned with beauty, like the fair woman of ancient days, vail [veil] it, so thy modesty exalt the [thee] in the courts of kings. Prudence and integrity, like a husband and wife, should be united in a perpetual covenant with him that means to be what his creator made him-a man.

A great man, possessing a noble soul is above meanness: he ever stoops from the dignity of his reputation to the degradation of a traitor, to accomplish the purposes of God.-Nor does he endeavor to win the hearts of the people, under the mantle of charity, with the oil of religion, while his tongue is green with the venom of corruption, and his pockets groan with the weapons of death. O thou who art charmed with the beauties of truth, and dost boast of the gem of sincerity;-beware lest hypocrisy and deceit bring thee to shame and disgrace in this life, and wretchedness and wo in the world to come! Fidelity and friendship and love and light, are only eternal by perpetual succession.

Man, how nobly hast thy creator endowed thee with reason, with faculties, and with powers; so that thou canst know thyself and comprehend thy being's purpose and perpetuity: canst comprehend the globe with all the glory of its elements; canst comprehend the heavens in all their majesty and sublimity. P.

Ship Timoleon, North Atlantic Ocean,

Nov. 4th, 1843.

Lat. 20-15, Lon. 25-19, west from Greenwich.

I expect ere this reaches you, Brother P. B. Lewis will deliver you the letter and articles I sent you by him, with the $8,00 in cash, I expect he has told you the state of Br. Hanks health when he left us, the reason I never wrote you the particulars of his health was because he did not wish to have his friends know the worst. I did not see him from the time I left them at Evansville till he came to me at Winchester. At first sight of him there I saw he had failed materially, and I was bed-fellow with him; my heart often ached to hear the deep rooted cough as it racked his whole frame. I kept a bed vessel with some fresh water in it and what he raised from his lungs would sink in it like lumps of clay; this indicated to me that short of the immediate interposition of divine Providence nothing would save him from a premature grave. On his passage from Nauvoo to New York he seemed to recruit up, but from New York to New Bedford he with Brother Grouard took passage in a packet; the weather was rough and they were both sea sick, by being exposed to the sea air together with his sea sickness, his disease took a regular downward course, from which I had but little hopes of his recovering. When I met him at Winchester, the kind attention and anxious solicitude which Sister Abigail and the rest of the family took in his welfare, seemed to recruit him up a little.

When we took stage for Boston, our friends in Winchester, with myself, felt fearful he would not be able to perform the journey, but the thought of meeting Brothers Rogers and Grouard, the expectation of seeing some of the "Twelve," and attending conference with a large collection of brethren, stimulated him to great faith, and he stood the ride far beyond my expectation. The stage was crowded inside with ladies, and we were obliged to take an outside seat, for one of that kind it was very good, much of the way I supported him in my arms, and when I thought he was getting fatigued, I would secretly place my hands upon him and raise my desire to him, who is able to save and strengthen. We staid in Boston with Sister Whitmore; her untiring kindness to him is long to be remembered. He was able to attend conference but little, he was administered to by some of the Twelve once twice while there. I was with him continually while I staid in Boston, I nursed him as well as I knew (as you know I am not very skilful [skillful];) I daily rubbed him with flannels, anointed him with consecrated oil in the name of the Lord, and prayed with him, and was often assisted by Brother Rogers. When I left for New Bedford, Brother Rogers took charge of him; they went to Salem on business for the mission; back to Boston and then came on to New Bedford; when I was away from him a few days the change was more visible than when I saw him daily. I was surprised at the change, and knew at that rate he could live but a few days. I asked him particularly how he felt, he would at no time betray the least fear that he should not live, notwithstanding he closed up all his business before we left New Bedford. I believe he was determined to die as near the place of our destined

mission as possible and therefore nothing would deter him from his course. When I saw his feeble state and knew the privations he would naturally have to suffer by a sea voyage, I could not help speaking discouraging to him on the subject, and told him of all the privations he would have of necessity to undergo, but nothing would discourage him; I believe the reason he would never betray any fear of not living, was because if he did so, our faith for him might fail, and this was what he depended on to carry him to the last extremity.-Indeed it was so, the mate of the ship (not knowing the cause) observed to me, he was the strongest constitutioned man he ever saw in his life, for he never saw a man live so long that was so reduced.

After we left New Bedford, we had rough weather, and there was but 2 or 3 days we thought it prudent to take him on deck. He kept his berth most of the time, we took the best care possible of him, daily rubbing him with flannels and annointing [anointing] him in the name of the Lord; when he was afflicted with pains in any part of his system, we used to administer to him by the laying on of hands and he never failed of receiving immediate relief, but to approach the root of the disease, we never had power to affect it, but kept its regular march reducing him from day to day till I could clasp with my hand within one fourth of an inch the calf of his right leg, making it but a little larger than my wrist, though his appetite continued good he coughed and raised continually.

Soon after we sailed he got so weak that if he slept too long, he would get into a profuse sweat, and we found it necessary to watch him, we accordingly divided the night into watches of 3 hours each and kept it up; he continued regular till the first of November then his cough took a different turn, it was hard for him to raise and his lungs seemed stuffed up. I had no apprehensions of him till the 2nd, at low 12-I was called by Brother Rogers to relieve him and stand my regular watch with Brother Hanks, I then had fearful apprehensions his dissolution was near at hand. At 10 o'clock A. M. his extremities were cold, and the large drops of cold sweat covered his emaciated system. It was with great difficulty he could raise strength enough to throw off from his lungs the rattling phlegm that was continually threatening to strangle him, at that moment as I stood watching him. He made a violent struggle to throw up the obstacle, but through weakness was not able, and in the struggle he lost his breath, his eyes rolled up in his head and I thought he had left us forever. I flew to Brother Grouard (who from unwearied attention had laid down to take a little repose) but before he could spring to his feet, Brother Hanks, caught his breath again and revived a little, soon after some of the cabin passengers came in to see him. Doct. Winslow recommended a little wine and water, after taking that he revived so much that he wished to be shaved and his hair combed; after this was done, I talked with him some time about his departure; his mind was clear, calm and perfectly resigned; I told him it was a great satisfaction to me that he had visited the place of my nativity he had been in the house my father had built; was acquainted with his companion, (my mother) was acquainted with the surviving brothers and sisters of those who had gone to the world of spirits before them; he had seen the portrait of my brother Marshal, I asked him if he thought he should know him, he said if he looked like that, he should. I told him it was taken very correctly. I sent word by him to those I had been baptized for, and those I intended to be baptized for when I returned to Nauvoo. He then adjusted some of his temporal affairs, between 12 and 1 o'clock P. M. he had another strangling turn, this reduced his strength, he could only speak in whispers after, between 8 and 10 he fell into a drowse.

After he awoke he whispered to me and said I dreamed a dream, do you wish to hear it? I told him I did. He said I dreamed I went to the spirits in prison; it was an immense space. I looked to the east and to the west, and saw immense multitudes of people, that looked just like people in real life. I said can these be spirits? I was assured they were. I looked to the north and saw a stand, somebody had just been preaching there and they were dispersing from around it. I saw no children among them. I looked to see if there was any body that I knew, but saw none. I thought they were coming together again in a few minutes and I should be there; then I should see people I knew, I then awoke. About 11 o'clock he had another dream, he heard the last trump sound, and saw the multitude which John saw, that no man could number, small and great, stand before God, (they were small and great in capacity) for there were no children there, he awoke before he saw any farther. As I thought it my last opportunity with him, I sat up about 6 hours, I then called Brother Rogers, I laid down and in about 2 hours he called me and said he is dying. I heard the death-rattling in his throat

and sprang up. He had placed his own hands high upon his breast, his left hand clasping his right, he died as he had lived, calm and resigned without a struggle or an emotion.

I never saw a more pleasant corpse in my life, after we had dressed it in a neat burial robe, we wrapt it in a large winding sheet and carried it on deck; a plank was laid in the starboard gangway, on it was prepared a piece of canvass, in this we laid it and sewed it up; to his feet was attached a bag of sand of about 60 pounds weight. Then the topgallant sails were furled, the courses hauled up, and the main and mizzen topsails were hove aback, the noble ship stopped her headway, and lay in gentle motion, as if to witness the solemn scene. The American flag was hoisted to half-mast as a signal that one of her noble countrymen had gone the way of all the earth. Then her generous crew gathered around and with uncovered heads listened in breathless silence to a very appropriate prayer made by Brother Rogers then they gently raised the end of the plank till the corpse slid off and struck in the water feet foremost. My eyes followed him as he sank till a white speck vanished in the blue waters below, this was in latitude 21-34 north Longitude 26-11 west from Greenwich.

Reflections-I believe the weight of sand was sufficient to sink him below the reach of all ravenous fish, and the salt at that depth strong enough to preserve him from putrefaction, and there he will remain entire and unmolested till the morn of the first resurrection, then he will come forth. My views from recent information are entirely changed from what they used to be respecting burying the dead at sea. From the fabulous stories I used to hear, I did suppose the sharks destroyed every corpse that was put into the ocean. But from my better judgment I know this is erroneous, for sharks are afraid and will flee from anything white in the water. And if a proper weight is attached to a corpse it will sink so low, that the compression of the water is so great that it will kill any fish to go down to it. One of these whalemen told me he was lancing a whale and he sounded and carried the lance with him, he went to such a depth that the lance pole, which was made of dry ash timber was completely saturated with water as if it had been sunk for months.

Thus ended an intimacy with one who had rendered himself doubly dear to me by an intimate acquaintance. I have met but few men in my life with whom I could exchange feelings, reciprocate joys and sorrows, as we pass down the step of life, more sympathetically than with Brother Hanks. A few days before his death I asked him if I had at any time violated the pledge I made him before we left Nauvoo, (of standing by him as a friend) he assured me I had not; this to me is a source of satisfaction.

Nov. 6th. We are now running for the Cape De Verde Islands and expect to be there in 2 or 3 days; we expect to touch there and send letters. We have had a remarkable passage thus far; no severe storms nor calms, and fair winds mostly. The officers say it is the most remarkable one they ever knew, and they frankly give it as their opinion, that it is an answer to the prayers of the Mormons they have on board.

We have thus far been treated with great kindness by officers, passengers and crew.-The captain is a frank open-hearted man, but I expect he has no bump of reverence, and has hardly seen the inside of a meeting house in his life. He has thus far given us no privilege of preaching on the Sabbath, but religious controversies are common every day with passengers and crew. The sailors are rather a wild set, but still there is some hope. Doctor Winslow is quite a gentleman, and I should think a man of skill in his profession, but rather skeptical in his religious views. He converses with us very freely on religious topics, and on the whole thinks our religion a pretty good one. His wife is a lady of refinement and taste and I think an excellent woman; is very familiar and free in conversation, they have three very pretty children, Charles is the oldest, four years old, Lizzy his sister is two years and a half old. The other is an infant. They have a large terrapin or land tortoise on board, he was brought from the Galipagos [Galapagos] Islands in the same ship. Children if you look on the atlas I sent you by Brother, Young, you will see them on the equator west of Quito, this tortoise is very docile and strong, he measured forty four inches on circumference. In pleasant weather these two children will get on to his shell and ride him about the deck; it is an odd sight, and I think it would please you. They have an Irish maid of about thirty. She is a Catholic. Mr. Lincoln and wife are the other passengers, he is a carpenter. They are Baptists, and perhaps may be Mormons yet. They are quite liberal in sentiment, and think the church ought to enjoy the gifts now as well as anciently. They were all very kind to Brother Hanks and daily sent him nice cakes, &c. As to our health, Brothers Rogers and Grouard were some seasick at first, but now their appetites are good. As for myself I never

knew what sea sickness was. When in Nauvoo I weighed 156 pounds. At Winchester I weighed 159. At New Bedford I weighed 174 and have been on the gain ever since. Surely the Lord is with us for we are favored at his hand. My mind has been buoyed above desponding feelings far beyond my expectations. We have a little room to ourselves and can pray, sing, read and talk when we please, and time glides away pleasantly.-As I expect the children have received the Atlas from Brother B. Young ere this-I will give them some lessons on it. We expect to stop, or as sailors call it touch, at one of the Cape De Verde Islands, called the Isle of Sal, in English it would be the Isle of Salt. We expect to get salt there to salt fish with; then we shall touch at Bonavista, there we expect to get oranges, pine apples, raisins, figs, grapes and wine. These are latitude 17 north, and longitude 25 west: look on the map of Africa and you will find them.

From there we shall steer a south course till we make or see the Isle of Tristan de Acunha, this is in south latitude 38, west longitude 130. Then we shall steer for the Cape of Good Hope; then for the islands of St. Pauls and Amsterdam. These are in east longitude 88, south latitude 39, here we expect to catch the fish to use our salt on; there are innumerable multitudes of them around these famous islands, and the captain says they are extremely fat, and more delicious than Salmon. Here we expect to feast ourselves, as you know I am fond of fish; we expect to be there in January.

Answer the questions:-What season of the year will it be then? Where will the sun be at noon? When the sun is just setting with us there, what time will it be with you then?

After we leave there, we shall steer for Van Diemans Island, South Cape. From there we shall make the N. W. point of New Zealand. from [From] there to Otaheite or Tahita [Tahiti]. When we get there, how much shall we lack of having circumnavigated the globe, and after the sun sets with you, how high will it be with us?

Nov. 9. We made the Isle of Sal this morning about 3 o'clock, by moon light; it is called low land, and so it is in comparison with the rest; but it is higher than the mountains about Winchester; and a view from the sea looks like a ridge of snow drifts, for it is very broken, and the peaks very sharp, (it is barren and waste, no vegetation on it. What few inhabitants there are yet there, live by selling salt. We are now sailing pretty close to it, and it looks pleasant to see land again, even in this rugged situation, after being deprived of the privilege for a month. We have made a mistake in the island, it is St. Nicholas's; we are now so near a town that we can see the houses and the vessels at anchor; we expect to send a boat on shore in a few minutes. If there is a chance to send the letters from there we will, if not, I will write some more on the way to St. Jagoes

Nov. 10. I went on shore in the boat yesterday, the island is quite different to what it appears at first; quite fruitful; a plenty of oranges, plantains, benanas [bananas], melons, gooves, popogars, &c. &c. The inhabitants are Portugees [Portuguese], about half black; there are some English among them, they are quite friendly.-The Doctor, with his little son, Charles, were with us. He is a very delicate, fine looking fellow; there were a multitude of people on the shore when we landed; they were overjoyed to see little Charles, the dark ladies took him up, hugged and kissed him till he was frightened and began to cry, but they gave him a variety of fruit, and sweet cake to pacify him. I was quite amused at the fun. Children, when I saw this nice fruit, so plenty and so cheap, I wished I could buy a basket of it and give you, but the ocean rolls between us, and how long it will continue to, the Lord only knows; but he may preserve us till we all meet again in this life, in health and strength, is the continual prayer of your unworthy father.

There is a brig, the Susan, of Salem, lying here, bound to Surinam, the Captain offers to take our letters and send them from there the first opportunity; it is rather a round about way, but I think I will send them. The brig is to take a load of live cattle from this island. I don't know whether I have said any thing about your writing; I wish you to write as soon as you receive this; I wish to know all about the situation of the Church. You know they were threatening to drive all away when we left.-Write to Tahita, [Tahiti] to the care of the American counsul; [consul] also the care of Nathaniel Cary, jr., New Bedford.

Adison Pratt.

Eagle Creek,

Benton county, June 22, 1844.

Pursuant to previous arrangements, the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, met in conference, when A. O. Smoot was chosen to preside, and Joseph Mount secretary.

Elders present-A. O. Smoot, Joseph Younger, David P. Raney, Wm. L. Cutler, W. P. Vance, Hiram D. Bugs, John W. Greerson, Wm. Camp, Joseph Mount, A. F. Young.

The conference was then opened by prayer, after which Elder Joseph Younger addressed the people in an able manner, setting forth the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, followed by elder Smoot, on the advancement of the church in the knowledge of the truth.

The conference adjourned until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Conference convened pursuant to appointment, when elder Raney addressed the meeting on the keeping of the commandments and the order of baptisms; after which elder Smoot spoke at large on the effect produced by keeping the commandments.

Conference adjourned till next day at 8 o'clock.

Met pursuant to adjournment.

The conference proceeded to organize a branch consisting of 17 members, to be called the Eagle Creek branch. Robert C. Petty was chosen to preside, and was ordained an elder; Seth Velie, priest; and B. B. Barnet teacher.

At 10 o'clock the congregation was addressed by elder Mount, on the restitution of all things, as spoken of by the prophets and apostles; after which a recess of 30 minutes was given, when elder Smoot preached on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, showing that such a workman must necessarily come forth in fulfilment [fulfillment] of the ancient prophesies; after which four were added to the church by baptism.

After a short recess, the remainder of the evening was spent by administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and appropriate remarks by the several elders present.

A. O. Smoot, Prest.

Joseph Mount, Clerk.

Chicago, Ill., May 27,1844.

A general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, met according to previous notice, in the City Council room, Chapman's buildings, Chicago, May 24th and 25th, 1844.

Present 11 elders.

The meeting was called to order by elder Samuel Shaw, when elder A. Cordon was appointed President, and James Burgess, clerk.

The meeting was opened by prayer by the president, after which a hymn was sung, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning."

The president then stated the object of the meeting and presented the truths of the Church of God, as they were really taught, believed, and practised [practiced] by the Latter Day Saints.

The branch of the church in Chicago was represented, comprising 22 members, four elders three priests and one deacon.

The conference then proceeded to withdraw the hand of fellowship from six individuals, to wit: Samuel Nickbucker and wife, --Hasty and wife, Abraham Beeman and --Vanseccles.

Hasty and wife, and Beeman have been to Nauvoo, and have denied the faith and returned to this place. It will be unnecessary perhaps to state every particular, suffice it to say that the conference went off well; addresses were delivered by elders Cordon, Burgess, Terry, Nixon, &c., with much good feeling and energy. Prejudice was allayed to some extent, and the hearts of the people were open to investigate our views, and doctrines; political and religious. I would just say that the people in Chicago are aroused; though the strong band of prejudice was fast upon them, the tie is now broken. One has been baptized, and I have no doubt but many will embrace the truth.-Joseph's views and measures are liked very much, though many are opposed to the man; but let our motto be "the best measures flow from the best men." We have conversed with all that came in our way, read to them the Prophet's Views, and the generality of the people are in favor of them. We feel in good spirits, and are determined to go ahead; preaching liberty to the captive, and opening the prisons to them that are bound.

A. CORDON, Prest.

James Burgess, Clerk.

DIED-In this city on the 30th ult., Elder Samuel H. Smith, aged 36 years.

The exit of this worthy man, so soon after the horrible butchery of his brothers, Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage Jail, is a matter of deep solemnity to the family, as well as remediless loss to all. If ever there lived a good man upon the earth, Samuel H. Smith was that person; in fact he was too good for this generation, and the infinite wisdom of Jehovah seems to have been exerted in this instance of taking him, "to remove him from evils to come." The highest point in the faith of the Latter Day Saints, is, that they know where they are going after death, and what they will do, and this gives a consolation more glorious than all the fame, honors and wealth, which the world has been able to heap upon her votaries or ever can: and so, when a faithful saint dies, like this, our lamented brother, calm, faithful and easy, all Israel whispers, as expectants of the same favor, "let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his."

His labors in the church from first to lats [last],

carrying glad tidings to the eastern cities; and finally his steadfastness as one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and many saintly traits of virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, shall be given of him hereafter, as a man of God.