| 816 TIMES AND SEASONS.
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL."
Vol. VI. No. 4.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL, March 1, 1845 [Whole No. 112.
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(Continued.)
July, which once dawned upon the virtue and independence of the United States, now dawned upon the savage barbarity and mobocracy of Missouri. Most of the clergy, acting as missionaries to the Indians, or to the frontier inhabitants, were among the most prominent characters, that rose up and rushed on to destroy the rights of the church, as well as the lives of her members. One Pixley, who had been sent by the Missionary Society, to civilize and christianize the heathen of the west, was a black rod in the hand of Satan, as well as a poisoned shaft in the power of our foes, to spread lies and falsehoods.
He followed writing horrible accounts, to the religious papers in the east, to sour the public mind, from time to time; besides using his influence, among Indians and whites, to overthrow the church. On the first of July, he wrote a slanderous article entitled, "Beware of false Prophets," which he actually carried from house to house, to incense the inhabitants against the church, to mob them, and drive them away.
The July number of the Evening and Morning Star, pursued a mild and pacific course, the first article therein, entitled, "Beware of false Prophets," was calculated to disabuse the honest, public mind, from Pixley's falsehoods; and the caution against "Free people of color," settling in Missouri, was sufficient to silence the fears of every sober mind, yet, it was all in vain; the hour of trial must come: and, notwithstanding the constitution of Missouri, as published in the same paper, says:
"Article 4th. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; and that no man can be compelled to erect, support, or attend any place of worship, or to maintain any minister of the gospel or teacher of religion; that no human authority can control or interfere with the rights of conscience; that no person can ever be hurt, molested, or restrained in his religious professions or sentiments, if he do not disturb others in their religious worship.
5th. That no person, on account of his religious opinions, can be rendered ineligible to any office of trust or profit under this state; that no preference can ever be given by law, to any sect or mode of worship:" yet, because the saints believed and taught differently from their neighbors, and according to the laws of heaven, in spiritual things, Satan said, let there be a mob and a mob there was, and they drew up and published a manifesto, which will appear in its place.
Extracts, from the elder's letters, to the editor of the Evening and Morning Star, in the July number:
"Palmyra, Missouri, May 16th, 1833.
The Lord is opening the eyes of the blind, and blessing our labors. We have baptised [baptized] eighteen members in this settlement.
G. M. HINKLE,
ELISHA GROVES."
"Six miles off Quincy; (Mo) June 3, 1844.
Every few days there are some honest souls born into the kingdom of God. Persecution rages to a considerable extent. It seems as if every denomination, sect, party and club, were prepared to fight against the work of the Lord. I often think of Paul, when his friends let him down by the wall, in a basket; but, notwithstanding all that I suffer, I rejoice. I will live godly in Christ Jesus, though I suffer persecution. A man has just told me, that in Palmyra, in forty-eight hours, the cholera had taken forty-seven to their graves. The disease is in the country, as well as the town, and carries off all ages, colors and conditions, sparing none.
GEORGE M. HINKLE."
"Chenango Point, N. Y. May 16, 1833.
Dear Brother:
I rejoice much in the prosperity of Zion, and pray God to enlarge her borders, and increase her converts; yea, and extend peace unto her as a river, that she may arise as from the dust and come to light, and go forth unto the regions round about, and become the joy of the whole earth.
It is about six weeks since I left Kirtland to take a mission to the east; since which time I have visited twelve churches, and passed three others in coming to this place; all of which are nearly in the course, from Kirtland to Chenango N. Y.: so grows, and so spreads the mighty work of the Lord. Some of said churches are composed of nearly one hundred members; and in nearly all of them, the work is still going on. O! may the Lord cause his glorious voice to be heard, until error and superstition shall give way to the everlasting gospel of Jesus. I feel much weakness as a man, but in the strength of Christ, I am resolved to blow the trumpet of the gospel, until the people of God are delivered
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