| 149 As to the saints in England, they seem to be still rejoicing in the truth, and increasing in numbers; but I have not time to write much news. I forward a No. of the Star, dated Jan. 1st, from which you can extract any item you may deem proper.
As to emigration to Nauvoo, it is gathering as a cloud, yea, they are flocking as doves to their windows, from all parts of England and the States. The ice remaining so late in the river has congregated them in St. Louis in great numbers, some from Ohio and the east, and from various places. I think that thousands will land in Nauvoo in the course of the spring. Yes, as soon as the ice is out they will throng Nauvoo in swarms. The people in Missouri are beginning to be more and more astonished, and are expressing great fears that "Joe Smith" will yet prevail so as to restore the supremacy of the laws in that dark corner of the earth, where a gang ef [of] robbers and murderers have so long controled [controlled] a state.
I long to be with you on the 6th of April, but fear that the ice will prevent.
I am in haste, your's in the new covenant.
P. P. Pratt.
Messrs. Taylor and Woodruff.
Clinton County, Ia., March, 9, 1843.
Dear Brother-I embrace an opportunity now offered to inform you of the progress of truth in this region.
I left Nauvoo on the twenty-third of September last, to go to the eastern states, to preach the everlasting gospel, in company with another elder. On our journey we preached frequently to large congregations, many of whom, in consequence of false reports, appeared enraged against us as a people; but when the truth penetrated their hearts, they saw that they had been imposed upon by falsehoods and misrepresentations, and entertained very different feelings towards us. Their enmity was turned to respect, and they treated us with the greatest kindness. The Lord has indeed opened out our way, and although we have had much to contend with, both from priests and people, we have lacked no good thing, for the Lord God has been our friend.
When we arrived at Clinton, Boon County, we were fully satisfied that it was our duty to stop and preach. We had, at first, some difficulty to get a place to preach in but after speaking two or three times, there was more calls than we could attend to. We have continued preaching in this and an adjoining county, and combatting [combating] with priests, (who seem to be the most determined opposers to the truth,) until now. We have baptized thirty-two, and the prospect is still good. There are many enquiring [inquiring] after truth, and earnestly desirous to know the way of salvation, while many of the priests are running from place to place, and crying delusion! delusion!! and we have understood by many of the citizens that their great text is 'the Mormons' and 'Joe Smith;' but 'while they have made lies their refuge, and under falsehood hid themselves,' their misrepresentations only have a tendency to drive the honest in heart to enquire [inquire] into the truth, and to make the saints rejoice while they see satan overshoot himself. They have been endeavoring lately to make their hearers believe that we are more dangerous than their own mother, the Roman Catholic Church; they call her the mother of Harlots, if indeed she is , they are her offsprings and they all have descended form her. It does not speak much for her relationship; we must be in a bad predicament, if we are worse than them, for they are the acknowledged daughters of the old lady, who is described as being the mother of harlots.
In the midst of all their strife and confusion however, the work of the Lord is still progressing; the "little stone cut out of the mountains without hands" rolling forth, truth is gaining ground and priestcraft is trembling, and my prayer is, that the God of truth may roll forth his mighty work, till the honest in heart shall be gathered out of all nations, and the ends of the earth see the salvation of God.
I remain yours, in the new and everlasting covenant,
E. H. Mower.
From the Daily Sun.
Full particulars of the wonderful sights seen by the pilot of the Wm. Penn in the sky on Tuesday night, March 21.
On Saturday afternoon Mr. Wm. Frances, pilot of the Wm. Penn Steamboat, a packet that runs between this city and Rising Sun, Ia. called personally at our office to give us the full particulars of the wonderful sight seen by him on the night above mentioned, fully impressed with the solemnity of the subject, and the awful responsibility of telling any thing of this nature but what is strictly true. Mr. F. informed us that he is a member of the church, and assured us in the most solemn manner, that what he was about to relate was truth and nothing but the truth, and he is ready to convince any gentleman or lady that will call upon him.
He states that as the Penn was on her trip to this city, when between Rising Sun and Aurora, about 11 or 12 o'clock, P. M. he was
(page 149) |
