| 630 hearken to counsel, and to give heed to the commandments and revelations of God as published among them from time to time, Nauvoo would now have contained a hundred and fifty thousand souls; with industrious work shops of every description, manufacturing every article for home use and comfort, and supplying the whole western states with every thing useful which ingenuity could invent, or skill and industry execute, from a cambrick [cambric] needle or a pin, up to a steam engine; while Hancock and half a dozen other counties would have been filled with a hundred and fifty thousand more of industrious and flourishing farmers, stock raisers, wool growers, etc. etc., while the state legislature would have been filled with our wise men, to make just laws; and the executive chair with a man who would have administered them in equity and justice, for the benefit and protection of all. Every foot of vacant land would have been cultivated like Eden, and a hundred thousand outlaws, murderers, mobbers, and traitors, would have found it impossible to have disturbed our peace, or broke up the government of the country; and those who were opposed to peace, order and civilization, would have had their money for their lands, and would long since have been traveling to Texas, California, Oregon, or the lower regions of his satanic majesty's dominions.
O ye Latter Day Saints, how oft would I have gathered you, but you WOULD NOT.
What is the reason you would not be gathered as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings? I answer; covetousness and unbelief. Ye have chosen your own ways, and have never been willing to hearken to the prophets and servants whom God has sent to you; 'Rising early and sending them.' The instructions have been given you all the day long, to sell off your lands and property, and to gather up your money and substance, and come and purchase lands and farms and establish all the various branches of industry, both in town and country, and to make your purchases and establish your settlements according to counsel; so to act in unison, and thus be able to withstand persecution and every evil work.
We will now proceed to show in a few instances how this has been fulfilled.
An elder by the name of J. M., residing in Ohio, professes great zeal and faith, and made mighty promises what he would do with his money. He accordingly sold and prepared for removal. He had about ten thousand dollars in ready money, which he divided chiefly among his children who were great enemies to the truth, and as I was informed, let the remainder ont [out] at interest to some worldling in his own state, and then came on to Missouri, with great zeal to keep the commandments of God; but was driven out. Query; How many mobbers would that ten thousand dollars have purchased out, in a new country where land was cheap?
Old elder B, of Gennessee Flats, owned about eight thousand dollars worth of land and mills. He promised much, but finally instead of fulfilling, I believe he divided a part to his unbelieving children, and trusted out a good store of the rest; and then came on and was driven out of Missouri.
There is Captain J., an elder who runs a shop from Sing Sing to New York, said to be worth some thousands, who has great zeal for the commandments; and who has known and testified to the truth for some years past. This man runs his sloop still; and his money has never purchased a farm or erected a work shop in Zion. 'how oft would I have gathered you but you WOULD NOT.'
There was a brother W., of New York who joined the church and came out west; but he kept his gold and silver locked up for years instead of laying it out in some branch of industry to employ the poor. He was doubtless the person referred to in the scripture, who did not put his money to use because 'he was afraid.'
One comes here and goes away to St. Louis, Burlington, Peoria, Chicago or some other place, and lays out his means bocause [because] he thinks there is a greater prospect of gain; another goes to a newer country where he thinks to get better or cheaper land; another pays his money out, or lends it to some scoundrel, because he has not sufficient confidence in the church to deal with them.. A woman comes here and keeps her money sewed up in her stays, instead of entering into business with it.
Another comes here and looks about him a while, and then takes his money and goes back to England, or to Philadelphia, or wherever he came from, for fear he should spend it here in doing good.
Another goes away by himself and buys a farm, where he neither enjoys society nor protection.
Thus the poor go unemployed, and are scattered to and fro over the earth, to seek to earn a morsel of bread; while the city of Nauvoo languishes in poverty, the Temple is not built, business is at a stand, and the saints of the Most High are few in number, have but little means, and are persecuted, robbed, killed and destroyed all the day long.
The foregoing are only a few samples out of the thousands which are known to transpire
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