| 856 But enough: like as the serene sky, after a storm, shows the sun, moon, and stars more beautiful, so does the revelations, truths, and exalted views of Joseph Smith, the martyred prophet, glitter among such fag ends of corruption. Light, love, and liberty will triumph.
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
APRIL 1, 1845.
THE SAINTS MAKE NAUVOO.
Notwithstanding the ebullitions of apostates, and their terrible exits; notwithstanding the awful assassination of our inspired prophet and patriarch; notwithstanding the legislature of Illinois have feloniously robbed us of our charter, and notwithstanding a knot of vagabond newspapers, by publishing outrageous falsehoods to inflame the public mind against us; have rolled up the black thunder heads of mobocracy, to scatter "the fire shower of ruin," yet Nauvoo keeps the even tenor of its way. The spring has met us with an early emigration of saints, never before equalled [equaled]: they come by land and water.
Nor is this all: goods, wares, and articles of necessity, came also: and tithings for the Temple, in money and in meat, have recently cheered the hearts of the Trustees, and building committee, and nerved the arms of the labors with a celestial kind of feeling, that runs from heart to heart, and causes a whisper to mingle with the busy hum of business: that God means to move on his work with rapidity.
The rearing of houses; the opening of gardens; the breaking up of adjacent prairies; the manufacture of articles for foreign exportation, at the mechanic shops, and the preparations to make our own commodities for home consumption, all give the lie to the false insinuation that Nauvoo cannot live without a charter.
The work of the Temple goes on as fast as possible, and, in fact, the anxiety is so great to labor upon this great house of the Lord, that the committee frequently have to set men at other work. A trench is being excavated about six feet wide and six feet deep, around a square of about six or eight acres, which will be filled with stone, and upon which will be placed an iron fence for the security of the Temple, and Tabernacle.
There never was so great union in the city before; with a few exceptions the whole population are saints, and are governed as easy as a "gentle hand would lead an elephant by a hair" The "exceptions" are mainly men who hang on "to keep tavern, stores, or groceries," contrary to the expressed wishes of the majority of the citizens; and why they "hang on" and as it were "beg" for a chance to shave the saints, for a little money, and occasionally corrupt their good feelings with a little of the good creature, called strong drink, or by gambling; or by trying to introduce the custom of debauchery, is really a matter of common notoriety and surprise! The goodly, who tithe themselves are really in hopes, that these men will take a modest hint to sell out and go where their business can be prosecuted with more patronage and less offence [offense].
It is almost a miracle to see so large a population reside so happily together, without strife and litigation. Our justices have little to do in the line of suing. There are two men in the Church, here, that still hold on to the skirts of Blackstone, but all the business they have to do among the saints, will hardly afford them an excuse for the title of lawyer. They will find the promulgation of the gospel more lucrative, than peddling law, unless the surrounding country should require there professional services aside from any difficulties in Nauvoo.
Nor are the services of physicians held in so great repute in Nauvoo, that the saints confide in medicine; but rather the commandments of God are look [looked] to as being far more safe than trusting in an arm of flesh. There is but one Doctor that does much business in his profession, and that is surgery.
Upon the whole, the union, perseverance, and love which pervades the bosoms of the saints, actually astonishes the world, and causes peace to reign in our midst: for which beseeching him to continue these favors until the kingdoms of this world, shall become perfect.
THE MISSION TO SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.
The mission to the Islands of the south Pacific ocean, as will be seen by a reference to the letters published in the last number of the Times and Seasons, &c., has resulted in success and glory, beyond our most sanguine expectations. We therefore feel grateful to our heavenly Father for his favor so signally bestowed for the advancement of his last kingdom.
The success thus far, being so perfect an index to what must eventually be done towards carrying salvation to the remnants of the seed of Abraham, scattered over the face of the earth,
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