| 803 there was a general turn out, good attention, and a pressing invitation for more meetings, which will be granted if the Lord will, when we return from this tour.
Brother Joseph is going to take a tour with Brother George James, of Brownhelm, as soon as Brother George comes to this place. We hope, our brethren, that the greatest freedom and frankness will exist between you and the bishop, not with-holding from each other, any information from us, but communicate with the greatest freedom, lest you should produce evils of a serious character, and the Lord becomes offended, for know assuredly, if we, by our wickedness, bring evil on our own heads, the Lord will let us bear it till we get weary and hate iniquity. Brother Frederick wants you to say to Brother Burk, that the man from whom he expected to get the mill stones, has run off, so he will not be able to get them; but Brother Burk can get them at St. Louis, of the same man's make.
We conclude by giving our heartiest approbation to every measure, calculated for the spread of the truth, in these last days; and our strongest desires, and sincerest prayers for the prosperity of Zion. Say to all the brethren and sisters in Zion, that they have our hearts, our best wishes, and the strongest desires of our spirits, for their welfare, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. And we salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus: Amen.
SIDNEY RIGDON,
JOSEPH SMITH jr.,
F. G. WILLIAMS.
Kirtland, July 2nd, 1833.
To the Church at Eugene:
Dear Brethren;
It is truly painful to be under the necessity of writing on a subject which engages our attention at this time, viz: the case of John Smith, and Eden Smith his son. We have just received a letter from you concerning their standing in the church. We do not hold them in fellowship. We would inform you that John Smith has been dealt with, and his authority taken from him; and you are required not to receive his teachings, but to treat him as a transgressor, until he repents and humbles himself before the Lord, to the entire satisfaction of the church, and also, you have authority to call a conference, and sit in judgment on Eden's case, and deal with him as the law directs.
We feel to rebuke the elders of that branch of the church of Christ, for not magnifying their office, and letting the transgressor go unpunished. We, therefore, enjoin upon you, to be watchful on your part, and search out iniquity, and put it down wherever it may be found. You will see by this, brethren, that you have authority to sit in council on the Smiths; and, if found guilty, to deal with them accordingly. We have this day directed a letter to John Smith, thereby making known to him our disapprobation of the course he has pursued.-We commend you to God and his grace, ever praying he will keep and preserve you blameless till he comes.
JOSEPH SMITH jr.,
SIDNEY RIGDON,
F. G. WILLIAMS.
Postscript by Bishop Whitney, same date:
Dear Brethren;
Yours of the 3rd of June, came safe to hand the last mail, and John Smith's, which was directed to Brother Joseph. Now, my brethren, on this sheet you have Brother Joseph's sanction to my proceedings, and the letter I last wrote you, and you will govern yourselves accordingly, for you have full power and authority to call the two Brother Smith's to an account for their conduct; and, unless they repent and make satisfaction, not only to your branch of the church, but also to this branch, they must be cut off from the body; for, under existing circumstances, we have no fellowship with them. Brother John Smith's authority, as an officer in the church, was taken from him before he left, and he ought to have given up his license; but he went away without doing so, and it seems he has made use of it to impose upon you; as to the two sisters, you spoke of in your last; if there is no testimony on either side, all you can do is to forbid them to partake of the sacrament unworthily; and pray much, and God will bring all things to light.
N. K. WHITNEY, Bishop.
Extracts from H. C. Kimball's Journal.
[Continued.]
In the morning I went to the river in company with Brother Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, and others, as we had it in contemplation to proceed that morning to Liberty, Clay county; but we could not continue our journey as there was no way to cross the river. It was then overflowing its banks, and we have seen the river since and proved that it was full forty feet from the top of the banks to the bottom of the river. Previous to this rain falling, it was no more than anle [ankle] deep. Such a time never was known by us before; still, we felt calm all night and the Lord was with us.-The water was ancle [ankle] deep to us all night so we could not sleep.
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