--- 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: 4 published: 1845-03-01 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“History of Joseph Smith,” *Times and Seasons* 6, no. 4 (March 1, 1845): 816–818." printed_title: HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1845-03-01_6_4 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v6n04.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_1845-03-01_6_4 start_page: 816 end_page: 818 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_1845-03-01_6_4 publication_year: 1845 --- # History of Joseph Smith (Continued.) July, which once dawned upon the virtue and independence of the United States, now dawned upon the savage barbarity and mobocracy of Missouri. Most of the clergy, acting as missionaries to the Indians, or to the frontier inhabitants, were among the most prominent characters, that rose up and rushed on to destroy the rights of the church, as well as the lives of her members. One Pixley, who had been sent by the Missionary Society, to civilize and christianize the heathen of the west, was a black rod in the hand of Satan, as well as a poisoned shaft in the power of our foes, to spread lies and falsehoods. He followed writing horrible accounts, to the religious papers in the east, to sour the public mind, from time to time; besides using his influence, among Indians and whites, to overthrow the church. On the first of July, he wrote a slanderous article entitled, "Beware of false Prophets," which he actually carried from house to house, to incense the inhabitants against the church, to mob them, and drive them away. The July number of the Evening and Morning Star, pursued a mild and pacific course, the first article therein, entitled, "Beware of false Prophets," was calculated to disabuse the honest, public mind, from Pixley's falsehoods; and the caution against "Free people of color," settling in Missouri, was sufficient to silence the fears of every sober mind, yet, it was all in vain; the hour of trial must come: and, notwithstanding the constitution of Missouri, as published in the same paper, says: "Article 4th. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; and that no man can be compelled to erect, support, or attend any place of worship, or to maintain any minister of the gospel or teacher of religion; that no human authority can control or interfere with the rights of conscience; that no person can ever be hurt, molested, or restrained in his religious professions or sentiments, if he do not disturb others in their religious worship. 5th. That no person, on account of his religious opinions, can be rendered ineligible to any office of trust or profit under this state; that no preference can ever be given by law, to any sect or mode of worship:" yet, because the saints believed and taught differently from their neighbors, and according to the laws of heaven, in spiritual things, Satan said, let there be a mob and a mob there was, and they drew up and published a manifesto, which will appear in its place. Extracts, from the elder's letters, to the editor of the Evening and Morning Star, in the July number: "Palmyra, Missouri, May 16th, 1833. The Lord is opening the eyes of the blind, and blessing our labors. We have baptised [baptized] eighteen members in this settlement. G. M. HINKLE, ELISHA GROVES." "Six miles off Quincy; (Mo) June 3, 1844. Every few days there are some honest souls born into the kingdom of God. Persecution rages to a considerable extent. It seems as if every denomination, sect, party and club, were prepared to fight against the work of the Lord. I often think of Paul, when his friends let him down by the wall, in a basket; but, notwithstanding all that I suffer, I rejoice. I will live godly in Christ Jesus, though I suffer persecution. A man has just told me, that in Palmyra, in forty-eight hours, the cholera had taken forty-seven to their graves. The disease is in the country, as well as the town, and carries off all ages, colors and conditions, sparing none. GEORGE M. HINKLE." "Chenango Point, N. Y. May 16, 1833. Dear Brother: I rejoice much in the prosperity of Zion, and pray God to enlarge her borders, and increase her converts; yea, and extend peace unto her as a river, that she may arise as from the dust and come to light, and go forth unto the regions round about, and become the joy of the whole earth. It is about six weeks since I left Kirtland to take a mission to the east; since which time I have visited twelve churches, and passed three others in coming to this place; all of which are nearly in the course, from Kirtland to Chenango N. Y.: so grows, and so spreads the mighty work of the Lord. Some of said churches are composed of nearly one hundred members; and in nearly all of them, the work is still going on. O! may the Lord cause his glorious voice to be heard, until error and superstition shall give way to the everlasting gospel of Jesus. I feel much weakness as a man, but in the strength of Christ, I am resolved to blow the trumpet of the gospel, until the people of God are delivered from the merchants and traffickers of souls, unto the glorious liberty of the gospel. I have baptised [baptized] four since I left Kirtland. As for myself, I intend, if possible, to attend the school at the latter Jerusalem, to which, I am confident, it is my privilege to go, as often as the old apostles went to the former Jerusalem. I have traveled about five hundred miles in about six weeks, and held fifteen meetings, and I trust that I shall continue to receive the grace of God to support me even to the end. SYLVESTER SMITH." "The elders stationed in Zion, to the churches abroad, in love, greeting: Dear Brethren; One year having passed, since we addressed the churches abroad, on the situation of Zion, and the state of the gathering, it seems to be our duty, to address the saints on the same subjects. With the exception of the winter season, the gathering has continued slowly. At present we have not the exact number of the disciples; but suppose that there are near seven hundred,-include these, with their children, and those who belong to families, and the number will probably amount to more than twelve hundred souls. Many have been planted upon their inheritances, where, blessed with a fruitful soil, and a healthy climate, they are beginning to enjoy some of the comforts of life. Here let us remark, that our duty urges us to notice a few letters which have been sent from this place, by persons seeking the loaves and fishes, or by such as have lost their standing among men of character, in the world. In the letters alluded to, are some facts; but the most of them are false. It is said, that women go out to work; this is a fact, and not only women, but men too; for in the church of Christ, all that are able, have to work to fulfil [fulfill] the commandments of the Lord; and the situation in which many have come up here, has brought them under the necessity of seeking employment from those who do not belong to the church. One Bates, from New London, Ohio, who subscribed fifty dollars for the purpose of purchasing lands, and necessary articles for the saints; after his arrival here, sued Bishop Partridge and obtained a judgment for the same.-Bates shortly after denied the faith, and ran away on Sunday, leaving debts unpaid. Every saint that has come to this land to escape the desolations which await the wicked, and prepare for the coming of the Lord, is well satisfied with the country, and the order of the kingdom of our God; and we are happy to say that the inhabitants of Zion are growing in grace, and in the knowledge of those things which lead to peace and eternal glory. One object in writing this epistle, is, to give some instructions to those who come up to the land of Zion.-Through a mistaken idea, many of the brethren, that had property, have given some away, and sacrificed some, they hardly know how. This is not right, nor according to the commandments. We would advise in the first place, that every disciple, if in his power, pay his just debts, so as to owe no man, and then if he has any property left, let him be careful of it; and he can help the poor, by consecrating some for their inheritances; for as yet, there has not been enough consecrated, to plant the poor in their inheritance, according to the regulation of the church and the desire of the faithful. This might have been done, had such as had property been prudent. It seems as though a notion was prevalent in Babylon, that the church of Christ was a common stock concern. This ought not so to be, for it is not the case. When a disciple comes to Zion for an inheritance, it is his duty, if he has anything to consecrate to the Lord for the benefit of the poor and needy, or to purchase lands, to consecrate it according to the law of the Lord, and also, according to the law of the land; and the Lord has said, that in keeping his law, we have no need to break the laws of the land; and we have abundant reason to be thankful, that we are permitted to establish ourselves under the protection of a government, that knows no exceptions to sects or societies, but gives all its citizens a privilege of worshiping [worshipping] God according to their own desires. Again, while in the world, it is not the duty of a disciple to exhaust all his means in bringing the poor to Zion; and this because if all should do so, there would be nothing to put in the store-house in Zion, for the purpose which the Lord has commanded. Do not think brethren, by this, that we would advise or direct, that the poor be neglected in the least; this is not the desire of our hearts; for we are mindful of the word of our Father, which informs us that in his bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall possess it. The circumstances of the saints in gathering to the land of Zion in these last days, are very different from those of the children of Israel, after they despised the promised rest of the Lord, after they were brought out of the land of Egypt. Previous to that, the Lord promised them if they would obey his voice and keep his commandments, that he would send the hornet before them, and drive out those nations which then inhabited the promised land, so that they might have peaceable possessions of the same, without the shedding of blood. But in consequence of their unbelief and rebellion, they were compelled to obtain it by the sword, with the sacrifice of many lives. But to suppose we can come up here and take possession of this land by the shedding of blood, would be setting at nought [naught] the law of the glorious gospel, and also, the word of the glorious Redeemer; and to suppose we can take possession of this country, without making regular purchases of the same according to the laws of our nation, would be reproaching this great republic, in which the most of us were born, and under whose auspices we all have protection. Then brethren we would advise, that where there are many poor in a church, that the elders counsel together and make preparations to send a part at one time, and a part at another. And let the poor rejoice in that they are exalted, but the rich in that they are made low, for there is no respect of persons in the sight of the Lord. It ought to be known abroad that much improvement is needed in the cattle, sheep, and hogs, in this part of the country. For the sake of comfort and convenience, as cows here are worth from ten to fifteen dollars, our brethren would do well, and we would advise them to purchase before they arrive in this region. In fact, if they journey according to the commandments of the Lord, pitching their tents by the way, like Israel in days of old, it would be no more than right to drive cows enough to supply every family, or company, with milk on the way. They would then have them when they arrived here, and if they selected of the best breeds, they would lay a foundation for improvement. The sheep of this state are large, but as their wool is coarse, the quality would soon be improved, if our brethren would drive with them, some merinos or saxony. As soon as wool and flax are had among the brethren, sufficient for the purpose, they will manufacture cloth for their own use in the church. The swine in this country are not good, being the old fashioned shack breed, and much inferior to the large white grass breed of the eastern states. If any could introduce this breed among the brethren in Zion, what little pork might be wanted in the winter, would be much better, and easier raised. It is a matter of some surprise to us, that our brethren should come up to the land of Zion, as many do, without bringing garden seeds, and even seeds of all kinds. The Jaredites and Nephites took with them of all kinds; and the Jaredites, all kinds of animals." The flood of waters, occasioned by the great rains, in the eastern and middle states, did immense damage: war between Turkey and Russia continued to rage: and the epidemic disease of London continued its frightful ravages; so terrible was its effects as to close all the principal places of amusement and suspend the court of reform for the metropolis. [See Evening and Morning Star for July.] July 13th. A council of elders, viz: G. H. Carter, Jacob Wood, Dennis Lake, Brigham Young, James Lake, N. K. Whitney, John Smith, Luke Johnson, with myself, assembled in Kirtland; Elder James Lake desired to know the will of the Lord, whether he should proceed on to Zion, or remain in Kirtland; it was decided that he should remain in Kirtland.