| 903 Here then we have a prophecy some two thousand five hundred years old with living witnesses of its fulfilment [fulfillment].
The twenty third chapter of Isaiah contains a little history on this noted place. The bible, ahead of the theories, imaginations, and calculations of designing men, has an Almighty God to unfold a world of testimony to prove his work, and establish its own truths, beyond refutation or successful contradiction.
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
MAY 15, 1845.
LOVE AND UNION.
We feel thankful to our Father in heaven, for the good degree of his spirit, constantly blessing the saints of Nauvoo and elsewhere.-Our advices from the islands of the sea; especially in the South Pacific; from Great Britain and Scotland, show an increase of love and union.
Here, while the Temple is daily advancing, and the city improving like a garden, the love and union, are truly praiseworthy. We have actually learned from the things which we have suffered, that fires within should be put out as soon as discovered, lest by smothering a while, they become so hot as to fly off and set on fire the mountains.
Every thing for the speedy completion of the Temple and Nauvoo House is going forward.-Our hearts are one; our exertions are one; our interests are one; our God is one; our hope is one; our salvation is one; our heaven is one; and our glory is one; so the saints abroad can see, that being united, the Lord is with us to bless and sanctify our works.
Perhaps we ought to explain our figure of "putting out fires as soon as discovered." By this we mean, bad members at home or abroad; those that keep not the commandments of the Lord; grumblers-whiners-adulterers-transgressors: cutting them off is our salvation. Jesus said:
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Since the church began to purify itself, the power of God has been manifest. The saints abide counsel and prosper. The city is blest; they are blest; their works are blest, and blessed be the name of the Lord.
PROSPERITY OF NAUVOO.
We take pleasure in saying that the prosperity of Nauvoo was never more apparent.
The Temple progresses rapidly and the saints being united, (as we have heretofore said,) are industrious, frugal, and determined. From experience, from suffering, and from the promises made in the revelations, they have learned to wait patiently for the consummation of Israel.
It may be said, that they hearken to counsel diligently. Even the poet's great command is heeded with as much reliance as the sectarian world place in the proverbs of Solomon:
"Bide your time-one false step taken
Perils all you yet have done.
Undismayed-erect-unshaken-
Watch and wait-all, all is won,
'Tis not by a rash endeavor
Men or states to greatness climb.
Would you win your rights for ever,
Calm and thoughtful-bide your time."
Yes, truly and manfully, will they abide their time, and carry out the vast measures of Joseph Smith, till this world is purified of wickedness, and made to blossom as the rose. Their reliance in the word of the Lord, is unabated: they read the assurance in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants thus:
"Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the Book of my Commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you O inhabitants of the earth: wherefore fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed, in them, shall be fulfilled. And verily, I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious; yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure; unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man."
And then rejoice that they are counted worthy to be numbered in the house of Israel; that they, after many days, will have the unspeakable satisfaction to reign with the just when peace like light will gladden and blissify the whole earth.
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