| 132 principles of righteousness, that they may be confered [conferred] upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins, to gratify our pride, vain ambition, or to exercise dominion or compulsion over the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness; behold the heavens withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, then amen to the priesthood, or to the authority of that man; behold ere he is aware, he is left to kick against the prick; to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience, that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, to begin to exercise unrightous [unrighteous], hence many are called but few are chosen. No power or influence can, or aught [ought] to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, by meekness and by love unfeigned; without hypocracy [hypocrisy] and without guile: reproving with sharpness when moved upon by the holy Ghost, and afterwards showing forth an increase of love towards him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy, so that he may know, that thy faithfulnees [faithfulness] is stronger than the cords of death. Let the soul be full of charity towards all men, and virtue guard thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the priesthood shall destil [distill?]upon thy soul, as the dews from heaven; they sceptre [scepter] shall be an unchanging sceptre [scepter] of righteousness, the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, the ends of the earth shall enquire [inquire] thy name; fools shall have thee in derision, hell shall rage against thee, while the pure in heart, the wise, the noble, and the virtuous shall seek council, authority, and blessing, constantly from under thy hand: thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors, although their influence shall cast the [thee ?] into trouble, and into prisons, thou shall be had in honor, and but for a small moment, and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thy enemies, than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness: and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation, if thou art in prison among false brethren, if thou art in perils among robbers, if thou art accused of all manner of false acusations, [accusations], if thine enemies fall opon [upon] thee, if they tare [tear] thee from the society of thy parents, and if with a drawn sword, thine enemies tare [tear] thee from the bosom of thy wife and thy offsprings, while thy eldest son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say my father, my father why, cant you stay with us.-"Oh my father what are the men going to do with you", and then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison and thy enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; and if thou shoudst be cast into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death be passed upon thee, if thou be cast into the deep, if the bellowing surge conspire against thee, if fierce winds become thy enemies, if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up thy way, and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gap open her mouth wide after thee; know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The son of man has descended below them all and art thou greater than he. Therefore hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee, thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; fear not what man can do, for God shall be with thee forever and ever.
We would suggest the propriety of the brethren settling in such places where they may find safety, which may be found between Kirtland and Far West, it will be necessary to do so for the present, untill [until] God shall open out a more effectual door. Again we would suggest to the brethren, that there be no organization of large bodies upon common stock principles until the Lord shall signify it in a proper manner; as it opens such a field for the avaricious, the indolent, and the corrupt hearted, to prey upon the virtuous, the industrious, and the honest. We have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the saints, before God had signified the time, and notwithstanding the principles and the
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