| 817 from the merchants and traffickers of souls, unto the glorious liberty of the gospel. I have baptised [baptized] four since I left Kirtland. As for myself, I intend, if possible, to attend the school at the latter Jerusalem, to which, I am confident, it is my privilege to go, as often as the old apostles went to the former Jerusalem.
I have traveled about five hundred miles in about six weeks, and held fifteen meetings, and I trust that I shall continue to receive the grace of God to support me even to the end.
SYLVESTER SMITH."
"The elders stationed in Zion, to the churches abroad, in love, greeting:
Dear Brethren;
One year having passed, since we addressed the churches abroad, on the situation of Zion, and the state of the gathering, it seems to be our duty, to address the saints on the same subjects. With the exception of the winter season, the gathering has continued slowly. At present we have not the exact number of the disciples; but suppose that there are near seven hundred,-include these, with their children, and those who belong to families, and the number will probably amount to more than twelve hundred souls. Many have been planted upon their inheritances, where, blessed with a fruitful soil, and a healthy climate, they are beginning to enjoy some of the comforts of life.
Here let us remark, that our duty urges us to notice a few letters which have been sent from this place, by persons seeking the loaves and fishes, or by such as have lost their standing among men of character, in the world. In the letters alluded to, are some facts; but the most of them are false. It is said, that women go out to work; this is a fact, and not only women, but men too; for in the church of Christ, all that are able, have to work to fulfil [fulfill] the commandments of the Lord; and the situation in which many have come up here, has brought them under the necessity of seeking employment from those who do not belong to the church.
One Bates, from New London, Ohio, who subscribed fifty dollars for the purpose of purchasing lands, and necessary articles for the saints; after his arrival here, sued Bishop Partridge and obtained a judgment for the same.-Bates shortly after denied the faith, and ran away on Sunday, leaving debts unpaid. Every saint that has come to this land to escape the desolations which await the wicked, and prepare for the coming of the Lord, is well satisfied with the country, and the order of the kingdom of our God; and we are happy to say that the inhabitants of Zion are growing in grace, and in the knowledge of those things which lead to peace and eternal glory. One object in writing this epistle, is, to give some instructions to those who come up to the land of Zion.-Through a mistaken idea, many of the brethren, that had property, have given some away, and sacrificed some, they hardly know how. This is not right, nor according to the commandments. We would advise in the first place, that every disciple, if in his power, pay his just debts, so as to owe no man, and then if he has any property left, let him be careful of it; and he can help the poor, by consecrating some for their inheritances; for as yet, there has not been enough consecrated, to plant the poor in their inheritance, according to the regulation of the church and the desire of the faithful.
This might have been done, had such as had property been prudent. It seems as though a notion was prevalent in Babylon, that the church of Christ was a common stock concern. This ought not so to be, for it is not the case. When a disciple comes to Zion for an inheritance, it is his duty, if he has anything to consecrate to the Lord for the benefit of the poor and needy, or to purchase lands, to consecrate it according to the law of the Lord, and also, according to the law of the land; and the Lord has said, that in keeping his law, we have no need to break the laws of the land; and we have abundant reason to be thankful, that we are permitted to establish ourselves under the protection of a government, that knows no exceptions to sects or societies, but gives all its citizens a privilege of worshiping [worshipping] God according to their own desires. Again, while in the world, it is not the duty of a disciple to exhaust all his means in bringing the poor to Zion; and this because if all should do so, there would be nothing to put in the store-house in Zion, for the purpose which the Lord has commanded. Do not think brethren, by this, that we would advise or direct, that the poor be neglected in the least; this is not the desire of our hearts; for we are mindful of the word of our Father, which informs us that in his bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall possess it.
The circumstances of the saints in gathering to the land of Zion in these last days, are very different from those of the children of Israel, after they despised the promised rest of the Lord, after they were brought out of the land of Egypt. Previous to that, the Lord promised them if they would obey his voice and keep his commandments, that he would send the hornet before them, and drive out those nations which then inhabited the promised land, so that they might have peaceable possessions of the same, without the shedding of blood. But in consequence
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