| 225 Times and Seasons.
"Truth will prevail."
Vol. IV. No. 15.] CITY NAUVOO, ILL. JUNE 15, 1843. [Whole No. 75
Correspondence.
To the Editor of the Times and Seasons.
WESTFIELD, HAMDEN COUNTY, MASS., }
March 22d, 1843. }
Beloved Brother:-Through the mercy of the Lord, by the power of an unseen arm, and the protection of an all wise God, I have been brought hither, and have arrived at the place of my destination, as directed by the Lord through the mouth of his Prophet. Notwithstanding the distance, and the many other obstacles that presented themselves to view at the time, as well as after the appointment of my mission to this eastern land, it has been abundantly successful; and be assured by me, that the unbounded confidence which I had at the time of my departure, in the Prophet of immortal memory, has not grown less by time or experience in his prophetic powers. I felt then, and still feel, that I shall, by the help and grace of my Divine Master, accomplish the task allotted me. I have, with pleasure, beheld the fulfilment [fulfillment] of the predictions made by him at the time that I, with a number more, were called to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. I have realized the accomplishment of that which was foretold, that no human eye could have foreseen, nor any human sagacity have penetrated.
Although it fell to my lot, and seemingly unavoidably, to travel alone, yet I have not, at any time, been without friends; nor have I at all been left to the council of my own will, but have endeavored to be governed by the wisdom from above-even by that same spirit which actuated my call. As I passed along, taking for the most part entirely new ground, (and as the Apostle Paul writes, "where Christ had not been named.") I gave strict attention to the movements of the world-both to professor and non-professor, in order to discover, if possible, the great moving cause of the present concern and excitement that appears in the world of mankind. It appears to be evident to all men, and particularly to those who have the enlightening influence of the spirit of God, that an eventful crisis is at hand, the near approach of which, with troublesome times in the world, does not seem at all to be doubted. The watchmen upon the highest towers, the shepherds of the largest flocks, and the pastors of the tallest steeples, all agree in this one position. The most learned of the day, the greatest philosopher of the age, or the most eminent Doctor of Divinity of the enlightened nineteenth century, in their hours of sober reflection and meditations, seem to be lost, and sink into despair when they look to the past, by perusing the volumes of history, both sacred and profane, as it unfolds to the mind scenes that have transpired, and gives place for deep and serious meditation. Also to trace the great events that have followed in succession through the eventful periods that have rolled into forgetfulness by many that have slept beneath its ruins, as it came upon the great mass of mankind, unnoticed and unawares. But never has there been a day when time has been so plentifully supplied, and that with so prominent events-with events so clearly illustrative of miraculous meaning, as appears to be the case in the age and generation in which we live. The land from west to east, seems to be in one general consternation, a fearful looking-for of that which is coming on the earth.
Yet the world are not able to discern the why or the wherefore, neither to tell the cause or to imagine the result. Politicians of all parties are looking for some great and marvelous overturns in the affairs of government, and seem to be aware that nations and kingdoms are upon the eve of ruin. Merchants, and the great men of the commercial cities, are beginning to weep and lament. Distress on all sides is making its appearance. Mourning and lamentation is heard. Truly there is a distress of nations-no one to buy their merchandise. The rich distress the poor, while many are crying for bread, till the lamentations of the widow and the fatherless have reached unto Heaven-yea, the Lord of Sabaoth has heard, and he will answer their prayers with vengeance. The cries of misery are wafted on every gale, while confusion, distress and mourning, pervades every class, from the king, seated upon his throne, or the nobleman, sallying forth in his coach and six, to the humble peasant that bows the knee, or the sweep that is crying in the street.
The last, yet not least, for greater and greater is the mystery of surrounding events, from the pulpit we hear the sound of alarm: one sitting upon a topless throne, as he sees the affrighted, mourning sinners begin to approach the anxious seat, in the midst of phrensied [frenzied] madness, about to sink into despair, surrounded with the groans and sighs of an agonizing multitude of pretended christians, in the most excruciating agony of both body and mind, while from the throne, or high exalted pulpit, we hear this exclamation: this year is the end of God's
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