| 116 believe that he has come to Nauvoo. He further stated, that he was looking for the day of judgment every moment; for they had counted time down to 1843, and now the reckoning had run out; and as a ship, when her log book is full, is not far from port.* He says the elements of this earth will be burned up, and the wicked destroyed; quoting Malichi [Malachi], but forgetting to say that Elijah, the Prophet should come, before the great and notable day of the Lord shall come, and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse. He referred to Noah, the flood, Sodom, Jerusalem, and the present blindness of the Christian world; but forgot to say that Noah had a revelation from God, that an angel was sent to Sodom, or that God revealed to the prophets concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, or that John had said that he saw an angle flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, in order to save the present generation from destruction. This could not be, according to Millerism, as no revelation is needed in these days. Now the query in my mind is this, if we are to have no revelation to make known unto us the day of judgment, and all the mighty revolutions that are to transpire in the coming of Christ, in this day of darkness how shall we know when the trumpet gives an uncertain sound? or is this Millerite's chart sufficient to warn the world of its destruction? or is it an invention of man?
Now as your paper is a vehicle of knowledge, I wish you to answer the following questions:
1. Do the Mormons believe that Jesus Christ has come to Nauvoo?
[If Christ had not come when you were here last, he is not come yet.]
2. If they do, please tell me when he came, and whether he came in the clouds, with ten thousand of his saints?
[We have neither heard of nor seen Christ, nor any saint, coming in the clouds of heaven.]
3. Did every eye see him?
[We have not heard of any body seeing him, either in Asia, Africa, or Europe, and we have had no particular information of the kind in America.]
4. Did all nations wail because of him?
[There has been a good deal of wailing lately among the nations, but not on account of seeing Christ.]
5. Did he consume the wicked, and burn up the earth?
[There are some few wicked left yet. The earth is not burnt in Nauvoo, however you may fare in Springfield.]
----------------------
*We think that Mr. Miller will have to put a few more leaves into his log book, or he will not be able to land at all.-Ed.
----------------------
6. Are we living in a new heaven, and on a new earth?
[No.]
7. Or did this Millerite tell a lie when he said the Mormons believed that Jesus Christ had come to Nauvoo? for it is important that men should keep truth on their side when they believe the day of judgment is near at hand, least that day overtake them as base and wilful [willful] impostors, wolves in sheep's clothing, and appoint their portion among hypocrites and unbelievers, in that lake where all liars shall meet their fate.
[Yes.]
Having given you a short sketch of the Millerite sermon, some part of which I have not said was not true; but I leave for your better judgment to conclude whether or not they are consistent with the principles of reason, good logic, or the language of the bible. And if the above interrogatories propounded are answered in the affirmative, it must be they have all taken place since I left, and I shall expect to find that a great revolution has taken place in Nauvoo, when I return home from Springfield. I know that strange things do sometimes happen in these last days, and especially in the land of Ham. And what is still more strange, is, that no one should find it out and proclaim it to the world but J. C. Bennett, and the Millerites.-One thing is certain, Balaam's ass was not a Millerite, for he could speak the truth, and talk plain Hebrew, and this Millerite could not do it.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. WM. Smith.
Fort Wayne, Allen Co, Ia. Feb. 16, 1843.
Rev. Mr. Taylor,
Sir,-Having on a former occasion addressed a note to the Hon, High Council of your church and not having received any answer to my communication, I have upon reflection concluded through you, to renew my request. Upon a close examination of the public pulse, I am induced to believe that there is a large and respectable portion of the citizens of this city, and of the adjacent country, who are not only willing, but deeply anxious that a preacher of your church should pay us a visit, and expound her doctrines.
It is true we have occasionally heard the word dispensed in neighborhoods remote from this city, by young men who have but just commenced their career in turning the gospel crank, but who nevertheless are almost daily making accessions to the church; but by the friends of the cause generally, it is not thought expedient that they should commence active
(page 116) |
