| 117 operations in this place, inasmuch as we have a goodly number of learned, and highly talented men among us, who would gladly avail themselves of an opportunity to break them down, by involving them in discussions. It is for this reason that we need an experienced hand-one who is not only willing but able to defend the faith once delivered. &c. By pursuing this course, I have no hesitation in saying that I believe it would be the means of doing much good by forming a large and respectable branch to the church. There is a great number of influential and respectable men among us, who are inquiring after truth, and whose minds are, I think sufficiently divested of prejudice to receive it.
If it is thought advisable that one of your honorable body should be sent on a mission to this place, please announce it in your paper or inform us by letter in season, that preparation may be made for his reception. Permit me in conclusion, to say that my only apology for troubling you with this note, is, that I feel an interest in the cause of our common master, and like to see it prosper.
Respectfully yours,
David Ball.
We are frequently receiving solicitations similar to the above, for elders to be sent to the different parts of the Union and have published Mr. Ball's letter for the purpose of giving a general answer to the whole.
The public mind has of late become considerably aroused, concerning the principles of eternal truth, which the great Jehovah has revealed for the salvation of the human family; so much so that we find it extremely difficult to supply the many calls that are made upon us for elders. We could indeed wish that all the places were as well supplied as Mr. Ball represents the neighborhood that he resides in to be-with even young preachers; we would say of them (while they are zealously engaged in the cause of truth, and studying to shew [show] themselves approved) as Paul said to Timothy: "Let no man despise thy youth." But we are convinced that there may be circumstances, such as Paul met with in Alexander, the coppersmith, when he says, "at my first answer no man stood by me;" that it may require men of experience to combat their errors; men having a knowledge of human nature, as well as of the gospel; and probably this case is one of those.
A special conference will be held in this place on the sixth of April next, at which time there will, in all probability, be provisions made for many of those calls.-Ed.
History of Joseph Smith
Continued
Early in the month of August, Newell Knight and his wife paid us a visit, at my place, at Harmony, Penn and as neither his wife nor himself had been as yet confirmed, it was proposed that we should confirm them, and partake together of the sacrament, before he and his wife should leave us. In order to prepare for this, I set out to go to procure some wine for the occasion, but had gone only a short distance when I was met by a heavenly messenger, and received the following revelation; the first paragraph of which was written at his time, and the remainder in the September following:
Revelation given at Harmony, Penn. Aug. 1830.
Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful. For behold I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory; remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins: wherefore a commandment I give unto you, that you shall not purchase wine, neither strong drink of your enemies: wherefore you shall partake of none, except it is made new among you, yea, in this my Father's kingdom which shall be built up on the earth.
Behold this is wisdom in me: wherefore marvel not for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness [fullness] of my everlasting gospel; to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim; and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things, or the restorer of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days: and also the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias; which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, jr. and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron: and alse [also] Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse: and also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham
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