--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1845 to 1846. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 6 number: 3 published: 1845-02-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Encouraging,” *Times and Seasons* 6, no. 3 (February 15, 1845): 810." printed_title: ENCOURAGING. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1845-02-15_6_3 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v6n03.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1845-02-15_6_3 start_page: 810 end_page: 810 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1845 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1845-02-15_6_3 publication_year: 1845 --- # Encouraging Last week we received an order from Elder Reed, our agent in St. Louis, for fifty copies of the "Times and Seasons," and fifty copies of the "Neighbor," together with a statement that it was expected the list would shortly be increased. We are pleased to see a spirit of this kind being awakened among some of the branches. "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" We have often heard reflections cast upon St. Louis:-They have been denominated by some, "half-breeds," Apostates," &c.; we would wish to correct this error, and state, that although many apostates have gone to St. Louis, they are not those that compose the church; many of our best brethren have gone there, according to counsel, to obtain employment. They have in all times of trouble been ready to stand by us, and to lend a helping hand, both personal and pecuniary. For an account of the situation of the church in Saint Louis, we would refer our readers to a communication of Elder Hyde, published in the Neighbor, and in the Times and Seasons; and in their activity and liberality in supporting the press, they have shown a zeal in defending truth, which it would be well for many of our branches to imitate. We are not fond of casting reflections upon the brethren, and we are averse to saying anything about ourselves; but while upon this subject, we would state that there is the most deplorable negligence manifested by many of our elders in sustaining the press; it would seem that it was merely a cats-paw which could be used for their own private convenience, without having any reference to the great object for which it was instituted. We last week published a statement made by President Brigham Young in answer to some remarks made in the "Prophet," wherein he assigns as a reason for there not being more subscribers, that the post offices deal fraudulently with us, and keep the papers from the subscribers; this to a certain extent is true, in some peculiar locations; but that it is not general we know assuredly, from the returns we receive from our agents and correspondents.-As we stated in the last Times, means are being used to prevent these frauds and to place the carriage of papers on a more sure footing; in the mean time we would state that if the subscribers will send us word about their delinquencies, we have made arrangements with our Post-master here, to enquire [inquire] into the difficulty; and by writing to him the delinquent Post-masters can be found out and treated according to law. We think the elders should not be discouraged at these things, if so, we may stop our press and do without any medium of communication. We know that we have fulfilled our engagement's always faithfully, and while we are engaged in promulgating the principles of truth, defending the cause of righteousness, and sustaining correct principles, we think it but just, fair, and honorable, and as little as the elders can do, to lend a helping hand in rolling forth the work of the Lord; by assisting us in our laudable endeavors; the press will often do more to sustain correct principles than preaching, because it is a regular visitor. Our enemies are busily engaged in trying to destroy us, let us not be behind them in trying to sustain ourselves. If the different branches abroad would follow the example of St. Louis, in sustaining the Nauvoo papers and the Prophet, all might prosper; the press be placed in easy circumstances, and free from embarrassment, and nobody be injured; but, all mutually benefitted [benefited].