| 929 O brethren, let us be thankful that it is as well with us as it is, and we are yet alive, that peradventure, God hath laid up in store, great good for us in this generation, and grant that we may yet glorify his name.
I feel thankful that there have no more denied the faith: I pray God in the name of Jesus that you all may be kept in the faith, unto the end: let your suffering be what they may, it is better in the eyes of God, that you should die, than that you should give up the land of Zion, the inheritances which you have purchased with your monies; for every man that giveth not up his inheritance, though he should die, yet, when the Lord shall come, he shall stand upon it, and with Job in his flesh he shall see God. Therefore, this is my counsel, that you retain your lands, even unto the uttermost, and seek every lawful means to seek redress of your enemies, &c. &c.; and pray to God, day and night, to return you in peace and in safety to the lands of your inheritance: and when the judge fails you, appeal unto the executive; and when the executive fails you, appeal unto the president; and when the president fails you, and all laws fail you, and the humanity of the people fails you, and all things else fail you but God alone, and you continue to weary him with your importunings, as the poor woman did the unjust judge, he will not fail to execute judgment upon your enemies, and to avenge his own elect that cry unto him day and night.
Behold he will not fail you! He will come with ten thousand of his saints, and all his adversaries shall be destroyed with the breath of his lips! all those who keep their inheritances, notwithstanding they should be beaten and driven, shall be likened unto the wise virgins who took oil in their lamps. But all those who are unbelieving and fearful, will be likened unto the foolish virgins, who took no oil in their lamps: and when they shall return and say unto the saints give us of your lands, behold there will be no room found for them. As respects giving deeds: I would advise you to give deeds as far as the brethren have legal and just claims for them, and then let every man answer to God for the disposal of them.
I would suggest some ideas to Elder Phelps, not knowing as they will be of any real benefit, but suggest them for consideration. I would be glad that he were here, but dare not advise, were it possible for him to come, not knowing what shall befal [befall] us, as we are under very heavy and serious threatenings from a great many people in this place.
But perhaps, the people in Liberty may feel willing, God having power to soften the hearts of all men, to have a press established there; and if not, in some other place; any place where it can be the most convenient, and it is possible to get to it; God will be willing to have it in any place where it can be established in safety. We must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Again, I desire that Elder Phelps would collect all the information, and give us a true history of the beginning and rise of Zion, her calamities, &c.
Now hear the prayer of your unworthy brother in the new and everlasting covenant: O my God! thou who hast called and chosen a few, through thy weak instrument, by commandment, and sent them to Missouri, a place which thou didst call Zion, and commanded thy servants to consecrate it unto thyself for a place of refuge and safety for the gathering of thy saints, to be built up a holy city unto thyself; and as thou hast said that no other place should be appointed like unto this; therefore, I ask thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to return thy people unto their houses, and their inheritances, to enjoy the fruit of their labors; that all the waste places may be built up; that all the enemies of thy people, who will not repent and turn unto thee, be destroyed from off the face of the land; and let a house be built and established unto thy name; and let all the losses that thy people have sustained, be rewarded unto them, even more than four fold: that the borders of Zion be enlarged forever, and let her be established no more to be thrown down; and let all thy saints when they are scattered like sheep and are persecuted, flee unto Zion, and be established in the midst of her, and let her be organized according to thy law, and let this prayer ever be recorded before thy face; give thy Holy Spirit unto my brethren, unto whom I write; send thy angels to guard them, and deliver them from all evil; and when they turn their faces towards Zion, and bow down before thee and pray, may their sins never come up before thy face, neither have place in the book of thy remembrance, and may they depart from all their iniquities; provide food for them as thou doest for the ravens; provide clothing to cover their nakedness, and houses that they may dwell therein; give unto them friends in abundance, and let their names be recorded in the Lamb's book of life, eternally before thy face; Amen. Finally, brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all until his coming and kingdom; Amen.
JOSEPH SMITH, jr.
December 12th. An express arrived at Liberty, from Van Buren county, with information, that those families, which had fled from Jackson county, and located there, are about to be
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