Paracletes

MR. EDITOR-If you think the following sketch of the "Paracletes" worthy of a place, in the Times and Seasons, use it.

Once upon a time, the most honorable men of the creations or universes, met together to promote the best interest of the great whole.-The "head" said to his oldest son, you are the rightful heir to all, but you know I have many kingdoms and many mansions, and of course it will need many kings and many priests, to govern them, come you with me in solemn council, and let us and some of the "best" men we have had born in the regions of light, to rule in those kingdoms and set them in order by exhibiting good that evil may be manifest.

It was said and done, for every thing there, was adopted from the "head" by common consent. As free agency gave the sons of the "head" a fair chance to choose for themselves, the most noble of the hosts, came forward and selected a world or kingdom, and a time or a season, when he would take his chance, at winning the hearts of the multitude, a kingdom, crown, and never ending glory.

The innumerable multiplicity of kingdoms, or spheres for action, with beings and animals in proportion, and time, times, eternity and eternities [eternity's], for a full development of the qualities and powers of each, would so far exceed the common comprehension of mortals, that I can only say eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, nor hath a natural heart yet been able to calculate either. I then shall content myself, for this time to sketch but one. Idumia is the one as interesting as any, and being situated at an immense distance from the center or "head's" residence, and many eternities [eternity's] from the birth of the "Son of the morning" or even the great holy day when the "morning stars sang together," because so many worlds had been wrought out and left "empty and desolate," as places for "all the sons" of God to multiply and replenish the earth, I select that.

Time being divided into seven parts, the following

men agreed to leave the mansions of bliss, and spiritually help organize every thing necessary to fill a kingdom for the space of many of the Lord's days, viz: Milauleph, Milbeth, Milgimal, Mildauleth, Milhah, Milvah and Milzah. Now after they had organized the kingdom of Idumia spiritually, then one at a time, was to come temporally and open the door of communication with the spiritual kingdom, that all that would, might return to their former estate; for, for this reason, all the regions created and to be created, were filled with a variety of beings: agents to themselves but accountable to the "head" for promises, made, when they agreed "to go" and be born of the flesh as they had been of the spirit; that they might know the evil, and choose the good: and then be born again of the spirit and the water," and enter into the mansions prepared for them before the foundations of the worlds.

Milauleph being the eldest and first chosen for Idumia, came on when 'there was not a man to till the ground," that is, there was not a "man of flesh" to labor temporally; and his elder brethren who had wrought out their salvation, upon worlds or realms, or kingdoms, ages, yea even eternities [eternity's] before, formed him a temporal body like unto their spiritual bodies, and put the life of his spiritual body into it, and gave him the power of endless lives.

Now the acts of his spiritual body, while he was a child with his father and mother in heaven; and his acts while he was in the spiritual councils of the Gods for millions of years;-and his acts upon Idumia, while he named, arranged and prepared every thing upon it to fulfil [fulfill] the end and aim of their creation, behold they are written in 'the books' of the 'head,'-which are to be opened when the judgment comes for just men to enter into the joys of a 'third existence' which is spiritual.

Milauleph had one thousand years to account for, as well as to be 'arch angel' of Idumia, after he laid down his temporal body. Behold here is wisdom, he that hath ears to hear let him hear, for Milauleph, as yet had not been tempted with evil that he might know the good. He had not exercised the power of endless lives that he might do the works that his father had done: and he had not 'fell that men might be.' Although he had seen his eldest brother create worlds, and people them; and had witnessed the course and conduct of that world and people, as free agents, 'sinning and being sinned against,' while 'death' who held a commission from the 'Son of the morning,' to end the first partnership between the spirit and the body, yet, with all this knowledge, and a liberal education in the great college of the nobles of heaven, wherein all perfection was taught, all science explained from first to last, and all that was, is, or will be, was exhibited on the great map of perpetual systems, and eternal lives, Milauleph had to take his wife or one of the 'Queens of heaven,' and come upon Idumia, and be tempted, overcome, and driven from the presence of his Father, because it had been agreed by the Gods and grand council of heaven, that all the family of the 'head' that would do as he or his eldest son did, should be exalted to the same glory.

This was to be accomplished by the power of 'perpetual succession' in eternal lives, wherein there was no 'remission of sin without the shedding of blood;' no forgiveness without repentance; and no glory without perfect submission to the 'head.' The foundation was truth: and the continuation, perpetual succession by revelation. Milauleph, then, knew that he and his wife would sin, and be troubled; but as the eternal spirit in him was the candle of the Lord, he knew also that the light thereof upon the eyes of his understanding, would show some of the way marks to the original 'truth,' whereby he might work out his salvation with fear and trembling. That none of the work of the hands of the 'Son' might be lost or any souls which his father had given him, might be left in prison, angels were commissioned to watch over Idumia, and act as spiritual guides to every soul, 'lest they should fall and dash their feet against a stone.' They were denominated 'the angels of our presence.

But I must stop, Mr. Editor: my story of the whole seven who managed the seven dispensations of Idumia, will be too long for one communication. And let me say that I have began this story of the 'Paracletes,' or Holy Ones to counterbalance the foolish novel reading of the present generation. My story is not revelation, but the innuendoes relate to holy transactions, which may lead good people to search after truth and find it. If this meets the approbation of virtuous minds, I shall write more.

JOSEPH'S SPECKLED BIRD.

Nauvoo, May-1845

MR. EDITOR: Having returned from a short mission to the east, and having rested myself, I thought I would give a sketch of what I saw and heard, which, if worthy, you may publish.

I left Nauvoo on the 28th of last January, in company with Elder Willard Snow, for the southeast part of Indiana. When we arrived we found great trouble in the branches which we had built up three years before. There were men among them of another spirit-of

the doctrine of Rigdon, and it was marvelous to witness the "wicked spirit" of those who had turned away from the faith. I never realized before the abomination and wickedness of dissenters. They drew after them a multitude of the baser sort, who stood and delighted to hear them ridicule and slander the prophet and people of God; by which "the way of truth was evil spoken of."

The place was strewed [strewn] with Rigdon's papers and pamphlets, which, however, had a good effect upon many, for they could see the spirit by which they were written, and shun the contagion.

I had but little understanding of the wickedness, rotten heartedness, and baseness of Sidney Rigdon, till I went to the region of country, and found some of his elders, sent out to seek whom they might devour.

I am constrained to believe, that the statement made upon the stand was true:-"that Rigdon did write letters to the mob in Missouri" (as stated by Mrs. Rockwell.) and that he sought opportunity-or laid plans to destroy Br. Joseph. The wicked spirit in Rigdon's elders, and those that receive their spirit, are plain manifestations of their situation. The honest in heart need not, and cannot be deceived.

After reading the minutes of the Pittsburgh conference, to hear them talk of "righteousness," and how they will stand by each other in all righteousness, gives me peculiar feelings, and solemn sensations; especially when I reflect on the scenes past, and the experience I have had in the last thirteen years. The many that have risen up against the man of God, the servant to prune the vineyard for the last time, or more properly, the "seer that the Lord said he would bless," whom he upheld until the time appointed to finish his work: He that never turned aside after the flatteries of hypocrites, nor rejected the commands of God when the heathen raged; or when mobs assembled, whined; or when Hinkle and McLellin or others betrayed him into the hands of others for slaughter,-sianed [signed] he with his lips: no: he was true always. I was there and saw the works of those two men at Far West:-and now to hear them talk of righteousness-that McLellin will stand by Rigdon in all righteousness-it's marvellous [marvelous]!

It brings to mind what I witnessed in Jackson county, in 1833, a few months before we were driven from that place. The power of God was manifest on that land in our meetings, held by the elders. I remember in one of those meetings it was made known by prophecy and revelation, through T. B. Marsh, as the spirit gave utterance, "that McLellin would carry the things the Lord was revealing to his people, to the world, and would use his influence against the church to destroy it."

McLellin wondered why T. B. Marsh uttered words against him:-Then another arose and bore testimony to what Marsh had foretold, by the same spirit; and a third arose and testified also, and we marveled! we sorrowed! we wondered! I shall never forget the scene. It was true, and when I read the Pittsburgh papers, and saw McLellin in with Rigdon, it brought the prophetic language of 1833, to my mind, and confirmed it. McLellin goes against the church to destroy it!

The scenes I have passed through since 1832, for my candid belief in sacred things, are wonderful. I and my family, and brethren, are exiles in our own nation because we believe that God, according to the predictions of the holy scriptures by sundry prophets, has raised up a prophet and seer: that through him we have received the Book of Mormon, containing the history of a fallen people who inhabited this land before our progenitors discovered it; and also, containing the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel for the salvation of the whole world.

For this belief, I have been robbed, plundered and driven from houses, goods, possessions and all, and have lost one son whose bones are now "bleaching on the plains of Quincy," together with other Saints who fell victims to the iron hand of Missouri vengeance.

We have importuned, according to the commandment, at the feet of the judge, at the feet of the governor, and at the feet of the president, yet no helping hand has been raised in our behalf to save us from such fury, but rather the rulers take counsel together to destroy us. As in the days of the Savior, we find false brethren seek to betray us unto death. But our thanks are due to God who hath so far preserved us to carry on his work, so devoutly begun by that great servant of God and man, Joseph Smith.

In the hope of the bliss that cometh after much tribulation, and through patience, I remain in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant, Your brother and friend,

DAVID PETTEGREW.