| 723 will warrant us. With this exception the conference sanction this letter.
This winter was spent in translating the scriptures; in the school of the prophets; and sitting in conferences. I had many glorious seasons of refreshings. The gifts which follow them that believe and obey the gospel, as tokens that the Lord is ever the same, in his dealings with the humble lovers and followers of truth, began to be poured out among us, as in ancient days;-For as we, viz: Joseph Smith jr., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebidee Coltrin, Joseph Smith sen, Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman Johnson, Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, high priests; and Levi Hancock, and William Smith elders, were assembled in conference, on the 22nd day of January I spoke to the conference in another tongue, and was followed in the same gift by Brother Zebidee Coltrin, and he by Brother Wm. Smith, after which the Lord poured out his spirit in a miraculous manner until all the elders spoke in tongues, and several members, both male and female. Great and glorious were the divine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Praises were sung to God and the Lamb; speaking and praying, all in tongues, occupied the conference, until a late hour at night, so rejoiced were we, at the return of these long absent blessings.
On the 23rd, we again assembled in conference; when, after much speaking, singing, praying and praising God, all in tongues, we proceeded to the washing of feet, (according to the practice recorded in the 13th chapter of John's gospel,) as commanded of the Lord.-Each elder washed his own feet first, after which I girded myself with a towel, and washed the feet of them all, wiping them with the towel with which I was girded. Among the number, my father presented himself, but before I washed his feet, I asked of him a father's blessing, which he granted by laying his hands upon my head, in the name of Jesus Christ, and declaring that I should continue in the priest's office until Christ comes, &c. At the close of the scene Brother Frederick G. Williams, being moved upon by the Holy Ghost, washed my feet in token of his fixed determination to be with me in suffering or in journeying, in life or in death, and to be continually on my right hand; in which I excepted him in the name of the Lord.
I then said to the elders, "as I have done so do ye." Wash ye, therefore, one another's feet; and by the power of the Holy Ghost I pronounced them all clean from the blood of this generation; but if any of them should sin wilfully [willfully] after they were thus cleansed and sealed up unto life eternal, they should be given over unto the buffetings of satan until the day of redemption. Having continued all day in fasting, and prayer, and ordinances, we closed by partaking of the Lord's supper. I blessed the bread and wine in the name of the Lord, when we all ate and drank and were filled: then sung a hymn and went out.
I completed the translation and receiving of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833, and sealed it up, no more to be opened till it arrived in Zion.
AN EPISTLE
Of the first presidency, to the church of Christ in Thompson, Geauga county, Ohio.
Kirtland, February 6, 1833
Dear Brethren:
We salute you, by this our epistle, in the bonds of love, rejoicing in your stedfastness [steadfastness] in the faith which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; and we desire your prosperity in the ways of truth and righteousness in the bowels of Jesus Christ, praying for you continually, that your faith fail not, and that you may overcome all the evils with which you are surrounded, and become pure and holy before God, even our Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
It has seemed good unto the Holy Spirit and unto us, to send this our epistle to you by the hand of our beloved Brother Salmon, your messenger, who has been ordained by us, in obedience to the commandments of God to the office of an elder to preside over the church in Thompson, taking the oversight thereof, to lead you and to teach the things which are according to godliness; in whom we have great confidence, as we presume also you have, we therefore say to you, yea, not us only, but the Lord also, receive you him as such, knowing that the Lord has appointed him to this office for your good, holding him up by your prayers, praying for him continually that he may be endued with wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of the Lord, that through him you may be kept from evil spirits, and all strifes and dissensions, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Brethren, beloved, continue in brotherly love, walk in meekness, watching unto prayer, that you be not overcome. Follow after peace, as said our beloved Brother Paul, that you may be the children of our Heavenly Father, and not give occasion for stumbling, to saint or sinner. Finally brethren, pray for us, that we may be enabled to do the work whereunto we are called, that you may enjoy the mysteries of God,
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