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Source: Times and Seasons Vol. 5 Chapter 12 Page: 567

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567 of getting men together, without my authority, hoping that when assembled, they may be ready to join in their violent councils; this is a fraud upon the country and must not be endured.

I am afraid the people of Hancock are fast depriving themselves of the sympathy of their fellow citizens, and of the world. I strictly order and enjoin on you that you permit no attack on Nauvoo, or any of the people, without my authority. I think it would be best to disband your forces, unless it should be necessary to retain them to suppress violence on either side, of this you must be the judge at present.

I direct that you immediately order all persons from Missouri and Iowa to leave the camp and return to their respective houses without delay.

I direct also that you cause all mutinous persons, and all persons who advise tumultuous proceedings to be arrested; and that you take energetic measures to stop the practice of spreading false reports put in circulation to inflame the public mind.

(Signed,) THOMAS FORD,

Commander-in-chief.

To Brig. Gen. Damming, Carthage, Ill.

COMMUNICATIONS.

Nauvoo, June 13, 1844.

Bro. Taylor:

It is about four years since I embraced the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel. About two years after this I commenced preaching the doctrine in New Germantown, New Jersey, where I baptised [baptized] two. From thence I went to Bangor Maine, where, and in the vicinity of which, with Elder Aaron Blake I labored about four months. We held 147 meetings, disposed of 389 books, baptised [baptized] 15, and organized a branch of the church in the city of Bangor, of eleven members by ordaining one elder, and one priest. In most of the places where we preached and sold our books, the doctrine was entirely new to the people; but when they examined their bibles, they found that what we proclaimed was contained therein, therefore we left many believing. After this we came to Boston, where I left brother Blake. From thence I went to Newark, N. J., where I found five or six members, and one priest, but no meetings had been held by them for a long time. Here I commenced preaching which I continued for some weeks, and by the favor of the Lord, baptised [baptized] eleven, organized them into a branch, by ordaining two elders, one priest, and one teacher. After this I purposed moving to Nauvoo, where I arrived with my family, the first of April, 1844. On our way I labored some time in Beaver Co. Pa., and baptised [baptized] fourteen, left many believing, some of whom have since been baptised [baptized], and are now in Nauvoo.

Yours in the new covenant,

ELIJAH SWACKHAMER.

Jefferson Co., N. Y. , April 19th, l844.

Bro. Taylor:

As we are about to leave this place for Halifax, Nova Scotia, we deem it proper to give you a brief account of our mission thus far:

We have labored in this part of the vineyard, seven months, and have baptised [baptized], 109; we with thankful hearts can truly say, the Lord has blessed us with his spirit, and also, those whom, through our instrumentality he has brought us to an understanding and knowledge of the truth: a great number have obtained the Heavenly gifts, such as, tongues, interpretation, prophesy, and visions; also, many of the sick have been healed by the laying on of hands, which strengthens the faith of the saints, and increases the hatred of the wicked, with the hireling priests at their head.

The brethren here, have full faith and confidence, in Joseph Smith, as a prophet, also as a suitable candidate for the presidency of the United States, and will support him heart and hand.

The desire of our hearts, and prayer to God, is, for the welfare of Zion.

Yours in the covenant,

BENJAMIN BROWN

JESSE W. CROSBY.

"An old Indian having attended a Mormon meeting and heard one of its advocates extol Mormonism, he was requested to give his opinion of its merits. He began by detailing the great good that had been done by the bible, God being the author; and, said he, the devil seeing this, determined to have a bible of his own also; but on examination, he felt ashamed of his work, and hid it in Ontario county, N. Y.-but Joe Smith dug it up, and published it as a revelation from God."

INDIAN VS METHODIST.-AN old Methodist priest, after hearing a Mormon preacher explain a great many passages of scripture, beyond the power of contradiction, very sagely remarked to an old Indian, that the bible, with God for its author, in the hands of missionaries had done much good, and that the devil had written a counterfeit bible, but being ashamed of it, hid it in Ontario County N. Y. and Joe Smith dug it up and published it as a revelation. The old Indian drily [dryly] answered, "Missionary

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