| 800 TIMES AND SEASONS.
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL."
Vol .VI. No. 3.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. Feb 15, 1845 [Whole No. 111.
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(Continued.)
The same day we wrote to Brother W. W. Phelps, and others in Zion, from Kirtland as follows:
Brethren,
We have received your last, containing a number of questions which you desire us to answer; this we do the more readily, as we desire with all our hearts, the prosperity of Zion, and the peace of her inhabitants, for we have as great an interest in the welfare of Zion, as you can have:
First, as respects getting the Book of Commandments bound, we think that it is not necessary. They will be sold well without binding, and there is no book binder to be had as we know of, nor are there materials to be had for binding, without keeping the book too long from circulation. With regard to the Books of Mormon, which are in the hands of Brother Burket, we say to you get them from Brother Burket, give him a receipt for them in the name of the literary firm. Let Brother Gilbert pay Brother Chapin his money.
We have not found the Book of Jasher, nor any of the other lost books mentioned in the Bible as yet; nor will we obtain them at present. Respecting the Apocrypha, the Lord said to us, that there are many things in it which were true, and there were many things in it that were are not true, and to those who desire it, it should be given by the spirit to know the true from the false. We have received some revelations, within a short time back, which you will obtain in due time; as soon as we can get time, we will review the manuscripts of the Book of Mormon, after which they will be forwarded to you.
We commend the plan highly, of your choosing a teacher to instruct the high priests, that they may be able to silence gainsayers. Concerning bishops, we recommend the following: let Brother Isaac Morley be ordained second bishop in Zion, and let Brother John Corrill be ordained third. Let Brother Edward Partridge choose as counsellors [counselors] in their place, Brother Parley P. Pratt, and Brother Titus Billings, ordaining Brother Billings to the high priesthood. Let Brother Morley choose for his counsellors [counselors], Brother Christian Whitmer, whom ordain to the high priesthood, and Bro. Newel Knights. Let Brother Corrill choose Brother Daniel Stanton, and Brother Hezekiah Peck for his counsellors [counselors]: let Brother Hezekiah, also, be ordained to the high priesthood.
Zombre has been received as a member of the firm by commandment, and has just come to Kirtland to live; as soon as we get a power of attorney signed agreeably to law, for Alam, we will forward it to him, and will immediately expect one from that part of the firm to Ahashdah, signed in the same manner. We would again say to Alam, be sure to get a form according to law, for securing a gift. We have found by examining the law, that a gift cannot be retained without this.
The truth triumphs gloriously in the east, multitudes are embracing it. I Sidney, who writes this letter, in behalf of the presidency, had the privilege of seeing my aged mother baptised [baptized] into the faith of the gospel, a few weeks since, at the advance age of seventy five. She now resides with me.
We send by this mail, a draft of the city of Zion, with explanations, and a draft of the house to be built immediately, in Zion, for the presidency, as well as all purposes of religion and instruction.
Kirtland, the stake of Zion is strengthening continually. When the enemies look at her, they wag their heads and march along. We anticipate the day when the enemies will have fled away and be far from us. You will remember that the power of agency must be signed by the wives as well as the husbands, and the wives must be examined separate and apart from the husbands, the same as signing a deed, and a specification to that effect inserted at the bottom, by the justice before whom such acknowledgment is made, otherwise the power will be of none effect.
Clarissa Batchelor, of Boston, wants her paper discontinued, because she has gone from the place, and she has turned from the faith.-Send a paper to Joshua Bailey, of Andover, Vt. Should you not understand the explanations sent with the drafts, you will inform us, so as you may have a proper understanding, for it is meet that all things should be done according to the pattern.
The following errors we have found in the commandments, as printed: fortieth chapter, tenth verse, third line, instead of coruptable [corruptible], put corrupted. Fourteenth verse of the same chapter, fifth line, instead of respector to persons, put respector of persons. Twenty first verse, second line of the same chapter, instead
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