| 108 Now reader, reflect upon these things ponder well the paths of your feet, for know assuredly as the Lord lives, that the words of the prophets and of the Savior, have commenced to be fulfilled upon the head of this generation, and will continue until all shall be fulfilled; although the cry of peace, peace, and all is well, may be in every man's mouth, yet "when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."-ED.
IMPORTANT CHURCH NEWS.
From a communication addressed to us by elder J. Wood, dated Nov. 18th, we learn that a small branch of the church has been organized about nine or ten miles north west of Burlington, Iowa Territory: Its length forbids an entire insertion, we therefore extract the following, in order that elders passing may give them a call. "During my stay here I baptized two; organized a church of about twelve members, ordained a teacher and a deacon, turned much prejudice, convinced some of the truth; and have no doubt, but if a judicious proclaimer of the word would go there, he would be blessed by bringing souls unto Christ."
The following is a short extract of a lengthy letter written by elder Duncan McArthur, dated Bethel, Oxford co. Me. March 25th. After giving an account of his travels, and labors in several counties, he proceeds: "I left Vershire on the 10th of Sept. in company with bro. P. Sessions for this place, arrived here on the 19th, found bro's. York and Carter sick with the fever and ague, unto whom we administered, and commenced laboring in this part of the vineyard of our God; here we labored incessantly until the 4th of Nov. and baptized five. We went into the town of Errol, Coos co. N. H. found a few brethren, preached a number of times in that place, baptized two, organized a branch of the church, ordained a teacher, and returned: then bro. Sessions took bro. York, and went east about fifty miles to the town of Farmington, baptized two, and returned to this place. I travelled [traveled] South to the city of Portland, held meetings in Saco, Buckston, Scarborough and Remond, returned to this town and baptized two. On the 23rd of Nov. I again fell in company with bro's. York and Sessions, held several meetings in company with them in this vicinity and on the 14th of January, we all went east as far as Dixfield; tarried there until the 20th: we again separated; they went as far as the town of Solon preaching in the several towns as they passed through the country the people had never heard the gospel in its fulness [fullness] before; they had calls for preaching on every hand.-I travelled [traveled] and preached in Welton, Farmington, Strong, Philip, and Dixfield. baptized two in Farmington, seven in Dixfield, and returned to this place where I have been laboring ever since. * * Bro's. York and Sessions returned to this place a few days since; they baptized one in Farmington on their return. * * We have succeeded in gathering a few of the scattered Israel from the hedious [hideous] mountains of the north over which we have to pass in this country. We are all strong, in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing that God is with us. waiting with patience for the redemption of Israel and the coming of the Son of man in glory."
Elder Samuel Phelps, writes from Kirtland, Ohio, under date of March 9th, from which we learn that the work of the Lord is still going on in that section of country, a conference was then in session in the town of Nelson, Portage co. Some were being baptised [baptized] many were believing: a branch of the church was organized in Nelson consisting of thirteen members
It will be recollected that, in the section of country where elder Phelps is laboring, only a few years since, bro's. J. Smith jr. and S. Rigdon were dragged from their beds in the dead hour of night by a ruthless banditti, (in the town of Hyram,) and most unmercifully beaten, tarred and feathered, and left on the ground as dead. The mob had supposed this would put an end to "Mormonism," as they call it, but to the contrary "Mormonism" has spread far and wide; and they now begin to "pant for the word of life," (the gospel:) and we hope that the word of life will continue to be proclaimed in their ears,
(page 108) |
