| 152 Bethlehem city led men to the fountain of intelligence and truth; and pointed out in language, not to be misunderstood, the errors of the world, and at the same time declared the principles, by which mankind could be put in possession of that Spirit which leads unto all truth and shews [shows] things to come.
Angels have frequently been employed in ancient days to announce important information to the world-warning men of impending judgments, and unfolding the events of futurity: Although it was not anticipated, or the least expected, by the world or by professing christians, that any thing which would transpire for ages would render it neccessary [necessary] for those celestial messengers to revisit our globe, to communicate any intelligence, yet to the astonishment of the world and to the confounding of false doctrines a holy messenger, an ambassador from the court of heaven, with a brightness above the mid-day sun appeared to a youth, and with a voice sweeter than music, saluted his ears, and made known the object of his mission, told him of the corruptions of christendom, and communicated to him the important fact, which had heretofore been involved in doubt, that the aboriginees [aborigines] of this country were the descendants of the promised seed, nor was this all, but the gospel of christ was made known, the priesthood was communicated, and a commission was given to preach this gospel to this generation. Nothing but a sense of the importance of the work, his responsibility, and unshaken reliance on the aid of Omnipotance [Omnipotence], could have induced him to deliver a testimony, or preach doctrines so unpopular to the world, which struck directly at the root of all the creeds, doctrines and opinions of this age, which is so celebrated for inteligence [intelligence], piety literature and arts.-He was pitied by a few as being of a weak mind, cursed by others as being a designing knave, and laughed at by all on account of his folly in introducing another religion, and setting forth such strange doctrines, as "baptism for the remission of sins, & the laying of hands for the gift of the holy ghost," but conscious of the integrity of his heart, desiring to obey the mandate of heaven, feeling a love to his fellow mortals, and being assured of the truth and importance of those things he "had seen and heard and which had been declared to him," induced him, young and inexperienced as he was, to go forth and proclaim like the servants of God in ancient days, the message of heaven to this generation, nor did scoffs and ridicule suffice, but to the eternal disgrace of its instigators, persecution was resorted to in order to put down the truth he promulgated, and many who were zealous for their favorite creeds, were equally so to destroy his life.
Some time after he had borne testimony to the truth, he had the pleasure of introducing a few, who were nobleminded enough to obey the truth for the truth's sake, into the kingdom, agreeably to the rules and ordinances that were revealed, some of whom were ordained to be fellow laborers in the vineyard, and to assist in spreading the gospel of the son of God; nor did they labor in vain, or spend their strength for naught, for when they reared the standard of truth, and proclaimd [proclaimed] the tidings of salvation to the listening multitudes; the power of the most High rested upon them; their testimony was convincing, the truth of heaven found a reception in the honest heart, the meek increased their joy in the Lord and the poor amongst men rejoiced in the holy one of Israel.
Attacks were frequently made upon them by the learned teachers of the day, but with all their intelligence and combination of superior talents, they found the bulwork [bulwark] of truth too formidable for their gigantic efforts, and its doctrines laid upon too sure a basis, to be overthrown by their herculian [Herculean] powers, and as frequently as they assailed those high and holy principles, they have as frequently retired in shame, and words of the Savior have been fully verified, to his servants, "that at the same time it should be given them what to say" and frequent has been the expression which has escaped the anxious listener, that these "men speak with authority." Notwithstanding the superiority of truth, many rejected it and chose to continue in error on account of their love of the world and a good name, yet their were others who notwithstanding their former prejudices came forward and obeyed the gospel,
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