| 153 > In compliance with the polite request from Fort Wayne, Indiana, an elder has been appointed on a mission to that place, who will be there in a few weeks.
Times and Seasons.
City of Nauvoo,
Wednesday, April 1, 1843.
Signs of the Times.
Our Lord in speaking of the signs of the last days, says that there shall be signs in the sun, earth distress of nations, with perplexity; men's hearts failing them for fear of those things that are coming on the earth; and that there should be 'earthquakes in divers places.'
We scarcely can take up a paper, in these days, but what there is recorded some account of an earthquake, tornado, singular comets, signs in the heavens, or some dreadful calamity, phenomenon, or circumstance, calculated to impress forcebly [forcibly] upon our minds the days in which we live.
Many of these signs can be explained on philosophical principle, and no doubt but all of them could, if we were only sufficiently acquainted with the philosophy of the heavens, as well as of the earth, if we could unravel the mysteries of the universe, and penetrate into the designs of God. But this does not alter the principle that is taught by our Savior, as being a criterion whereby the saints are to judge of the signs of the times. If the earth is convulsed by a continuous succession of earthquakes, whose repeated throes are felt all over the universe; if the earth opens and mountains are swallowed, and cities and villages are engulphed [engulfed] in one general ruin, and consternation is spread throughout the world; however philosophically this may be accounted for, it is one the signs of the last days; 'there shall be earthquakes in divers places.'
If the winds should be let loose from their bounds, and mighty tornadoes desolate the earth; if forests should be uprooted, villages and cities rased [razed] to the ground, and one general scene of desolation ensue, or if terrible gales should sweep the ocean, drive vessels from their moorings, and by its fury cause the sea to lift up itself in majesty, and roll furiously beyond its bounds, spreading desolation wherever it bent its course, bidding defiance to the power and skill of man, stranding navies, and swallowing up in its fury ships and their mariners, and spreading wild dismay and general ruin; however philosophically Mr. Espy and other scientific gentlemen may account for storms, yet the finger of God is made manifest in them is fulfilled the saying of the prophets, 'there shall be terrible tempests and whirlwinds, that shall cause the children of men to fear.' 'The sea shall lift up itself beyond its bounds.' The sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them, for fear of those things that are coming on the earth, and the philosophy does not alter the matter of fact spoken of by the prophets, nor remove or invalidate the signs. If again, the stars should be removed from their orbits, or present any singular phenomenon; if there should be strange appearances in the sun, in the moon, or the heavens should shew [show] forth their signs; although philosophy may account for these on the principle of reflection and refraction, and other known causes, it does not alter the force of that saying, nor do away with, or weaken the significance of the sign spoken of by our Savior; 'there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.' Neither if certain comets should in their revolutions, dash with wild fury against the earth, and cause it to 'reel to and fro like a drunken man,' would that circumstance invalidate the testimony of the above mentioned scripture. Or if a fiery comet in its train, at its appointed time, should come in contact with the earth, and the inhabitants thereof should be burned up through that medium, it would not invalidate that scripture which says, 'the earth shall be burned up,' 'the earth that now is, is reserved for fire, against the judgement [judgment] of the great day.' We believe, however, that the signs spoken of in the scriptures will not be something vague, indefinite and uncertain, but clear, plain and intelligible, and such as will be seen and known by all the inhabitants of the earth, and such as they might take as a warning if they would be advised. The sign referred to in another page, wherein the letters G O D was seen in the heavens, is certainly a very striking one, and has a tendency to remind us of the last days.
We have to apologize to our readers, for this number being issued so much later than the day of publication, We had run short of paper, expecting that the river would have opened long before it did: and as it was impossible with the state of the roads to bring it by land, we had no other alternative but to wait until the river opened. We are sorry for the delay, but assure our friends that it was unavoidable on our part.-Every arrangement, however, is entered into that is necessary to make up the lost time, as we have engaged two sets of hands, to keep the
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