| 406 the records. As I was returning from a spacious bureau, where it seemed I had been reading; in an opposite part of the room, I saw a man approaching the same bureau. I did not know him, but felt assured within myself that it was one of the ancients of the nation. He took from the bureau two or three small boxes; and as he presented one of them to me, exclaimed, 'these were the archives of state,' and while in the act of placing it in my hand, finished the sentence he had commenced, 'but it is turned to blood.' I saw while yet the words were on his tongue, the box dissolve to blood. Then I turned to view the other boxes; and they were also turned to blood.
With sentiments of respect,
I remain your humble servant,
BENJAMIN ANDREWS.
For the Times and Seasons
Pekin, Illinois, Dec. 1, 1843.
Brother Taylor:-In compliance with my promise to the citizens of Fort Wayne, (Ia.) and the surrounding country, I now proceed to inform you that they petition for an elder to be located there, for a season.
They are intelligent and liberal minded, and offer to support an elder well.
Query; If Joseph Smith and the Mormon leaders, (as they are called) are so ignorant, &c., that they are unworthy of notice, and Mormonism so gross an imposition as to call for no refutation, as the priests and men of learning in sectarianism were wont to say, why the necessity or propriety, of all denominations striving to put it down by conversation, preaching, printing books, and by circulating all manner of lies and silly stories; which notwithstanding all the sanctity with which they come clothed, do not commend themselves to the mind that is free and intelligent. Here I will mention a book published by the Methodists, having one Jonathan Kidder for its author; a respectable book in appearance on the outside, but within it is full of all manner of blasphemies and foolish stories, such as the following:
The author says he was on board the steamboat Nauvoo, on the Mississippi river, where Joseph Smith kept himself secreted, until he would be informed by some of his followers of any thing that was said against him. Then he would make a grave appearance, and take the offending person to task, as if made known to him by revelation.
These tales now become Sunday School tales, to be read in the place of tracts written by students at law for a premium; giving an account of death bed scenes, and wonderful conversions.
Thus they would fortify the youthful minds against hearing and receiving the truth. Why do the reformers of the day continually cry investigate! investigate!! And why will they investigate with their sectarian brethren, and yet refuse to investigate with the Latter Day Saints. We do not intend to wage a war with any denomination, but we want justice to take place. Therefore, let Alexander Campbell come out like a man of God, and investigate with us face to face, and let it be published to the world, as was his debate with Bishop Percell of Cincinnati, Ohio, and with others. If he feels his argumentative powers failing him, on account of age, infirmities, &c., let him select a young man in the vigor of life: or if he is convinced at last of the extreme shortness, and deficiencies of his system, let him, like an honest man acknowledge it. But if he will do neither, we call on him to cease to backbite, and misrepresent us as he does in his 'Millennial Harbinger.'
Why is the world in a state of alarm, and all priestscraft [priestcraft] in danger? why are things that have been hid up for ages continually coming forth? Why do mankind now treat the Latter Day Saints as they did the former day saints, 1800 years ago? Ye men of science and literature, why does Josiah Priest's antiquities, and Stephens' Yucatan, give an account of the very things that were described in the Book of Mormon, before their discovery? Why does the circumstance of the plates recently found in a mound in Pike county, Ill., by Mr. Wiley, together with ethmology and a thousand other things, go to prove the Book of Mormon true?-Ans. Because it is true!
Why were the leaves of an honest man's Bible found turned down?-Because he turned those down that favored Mormonism.
Why are all nations expecting something of great importance to burst forth upon the world. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The time has come for the restoration of Israel to their own land, in fulfilment [fulfillment] of the covenant of circumcision, made to Abraham, Gen. 17, ch. 8,10. God hath again spoken from the heavens, and restored the priesthood! The prophecies are fulfilling. We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto we do well take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts. The God of heaven is about to set up that kingdom which shall never be destroyed.
The little stone, seen in the prophetic vision of Daniel, has commenced to roll, and it will
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