| 57 but I have always known him to explain and defend them in a masterly manner.-Being anointed of God, for the purpose of teaching and perfecting the church, it is needful that he should know how to set in order the things that are wanting to bring forth things new and old, as a scribe well instructed. This office and apostleship he appears to magnify; at his touch the ancient prophets spring into life, and the beauty and power of their revelations are made to commend themselves with thrilling interest to all that hear.
You inquire, Does he claim to be inspired? Certainly he does claim to be inspired. He often speaks in the name of the Lord, which would bo [be] rank hypocrisy and mockery, if he were not inspired to do it. It seems very difficult for those who stand at the distance of many generations from the true prophets, to realize what prophets are, and what ought to be expected from them. I do not chide them for their ignorance and folly, however, because I have nothing to boast of previous to embracing the faith of the Latter Day Saints. I understand that prophets may speak as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, at one time, while they may be very far from being moved by the Holy Ghost as they speak at another. They may be endowed with power to perform miracles and mighty deeds at one time, while they have no authority, and there is uo [no] suitableness in doing the same at another time. You ask, Is he a man of prayer? of a pure life? of peace?-Does he appear at the head of his troops as a military commander? These questions I answer according to the best knowledge I have in the affirmative. As a people we perform military duty, as the laws of the State of Illinois enjoin and require. The Legion answers the purpose to keep the lawless and mobocratic at a respectful distance; and the more "earthquake and storm" our enemies raise about the Nauvoo Legion, and a military chieftain, like the ancient Mahomet, the greater fear and dread of us will be conveyed to ths [the] minds of the lawless, who watch for prey, and spoil, and booty. I can assure you that neither Mr. Smith, nor any other intelligent Latter Day Saint, ever intends to make one convert by the sword. Neither are we such teetotal [teetotaler] peace-makers that any savage banditti of lawless depredators could waste our property, violate virtue and shed innocent blood, without experiencing from us a firm defence [defense] of law, of right, and innocence.-We are to this day very sensitive to a repetition of past wrongs, that we still smart under. The Lord our God, who was once called (by a man after his own heart.) a "man of war," we trust will be our defence [defense] and strong tower in the day of battle, if our country should ever call us to scenes of carnage and blood.
You ask, What is the nature of the worship among you, and wherein does it differ from that of religious people with whom you have been acquainted elsewhere? On the Sabbath some person usually preaches a sermon, after prayer and singing, and perhaps reading some scripture. We have also frequent prayer meetings, in which all that are so disposed may join.-The gifts are variously exercised, sometimes in the way of prophecy, or in tongues; sometimes in discerning of spirits, or interpretation of tongues. The ordinance of baptism, together with the imposition of hands, for the gift of the Holy Ghost is administered as occasion may require. Thus you will perceive that our worship differs from what we both have been accustomed to in time past. Anxious seats, and enquiry [inquiry] &c. are not in use at all with us; although converts to our faith have swelled our numbers greatly in every year that is past, yet we are very far from employing any blustering efforts to convert men. The spirit of God attends the truth with sufficient power to save the upright, while those that hold the truth in unrighteousness, and contend with it, are beyond the legitimate exercise of divine power to save, and are led captive by the devil at his will. Our worship differs from that of other religious people, inasmuch as we have the knowledge of God, and the true doctrine and order of his kingdom beyond all perplexing doubt and diversity of opinion. It is utterly impossible for intelligent and devoted sectarian clergy to lead their hearers into any considerable knowledge of God, for this very potent reason, that they neither know much of him themselves, nor indeed have they the means of knowing him. For this they are not at all culpable,; but the fact is nevertheless incontrovertible. I do not speak now to please men, nor to mortify them; but I know it to be true, my brother, and therefore speak it boldly. Are you offended? will you stop here and throw down my letter with contempt, as though an ignorant upstart had abused you? If I write plainly it is with deep and painful emotions.-While writing I can hardly suppress a flood of tears. I know the dilemma in which many of my religious brethren are placed, and the extreme difficulty of approaching them, but whether thy hear or forbear, I must tell them that it is out of their power to attain to any considerable knowledge of the true and living God. But say they, have we not got the good old bible, which makes men wise unto salvation? You
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