| 446 to be settled, and admits of serious doubt, for where in 1860 there were but some forty thousand inhabitants in the Territory, as appears by the census, there may be but a few hundreds more, and of these many must soon see how futile the faith that deceives so much.
"Our faith is predicated upon the love of God, and his Son Jesus Christ; how important then is it to be observant of the plain principles of the gospel given to us by him, and not allow ourselves to be led captive by the sophistry which seizes upon the examples left by some of the ancients who did evil in the sight of God, and who upon those examples have built a system of treacherous indulgence in crime, under the garb of new commandments received through the 'oracles' of God.
"Busy faithfulness and industrious waiting before God is enjoined upon all lovers of his truth; and no matter how boisterous we may be in declaring God's mercy to the children of men, our practical lives must demonstrate the earnestness and saving grace of our faith, or our examples will not only condemn us in the eyes of him that judgeth, but destroy that which we are so anxiously striving to establish.
"The work prospers in America as fast as could be expected, considering the gathering together of so many and so diversified a body of men, filled with every possible creed of which the last days are susceptible. We are looking for some new element of power by and by from the disentanglement of some of the knotty questions with which we have been troubled in the past, and also by a dismemberment of opposing powers.
"Let me, in conclusion, say to the brethren there, Strive diligently for the righteousness of the kingdom of God, that its peace may abide and abound with you.
"With love of God and his covenant people of the last day, I remain, yours fraternally,
"JOSEPH SMITH."
-The Restorer, vol. 2, pp. 81, 82.
In Herald for August 1, 1866, the Editor again speaks of progress, as follows:-
(page 446) |
