| 1111 Now, therefore, as citizens of the United States, and leading elders in the church of the Latter Day Saints, residing in the State of Missouri, in behalf of the church, we, the undersigned, do make this solemn appeal to the people and constitutional authorities of this nation and to the ends of the earth, for peace; that we may have the privilege of enjoying our religious rights and immunities, and worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences, as guaranteed to every citizen by the constitution of the National and State Governments. That, although the laws have been broken, and are defied in Jackson county, we may be enabled to regain and enjoy our rights and property, agreeable to law in this boasted land of liberty.
From the Millennial Star.
A DREAM.
I stood in the midst of a vast field, surrounded by an immense wilderness interwoven with lakes rivers, and streams. The field and wilderness were filled with lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and all manner of wild beasts; also horned cattle, horses, camels, dromedaries, mules, asses, goats, and all species of animals. I looked and beheld some sheep scattered abroad through all the field and wilderness among all the beasts of the field. The lord of the field said to his chief shepherd, "appoint twelve other shepherds, and send three east, three west, three north,, and three south, and let them appoint other shepherds to assist them, and gather together all my sheep throughout all the field and wilderness, for it is not meet in mine eyes that my sheep should remain scattered abroad among all the beasts of the field and forest, lest they be devoured." I saw that the shepherds went and labored with all their might, and gathered them together in flocks throughout all the field and wilderness, and appointed a shepherd over each flock. The lord of the field said to the chief shepherd, "Go to, now, call the twelve principal shepherds, and let them call upon all other shepherds, and let all join together, and prepare a safe pasture, in a choice piece of land, for all my sheep, and build a high wall around it, and build a high tower in the midst thereof, and let a great book be prepared and kept in the tower; let all my sheep be named, and let the shepherd over each flock send up the name of each sheep, that it may be recorded in the book, and all such shall have the privilege of coming in and out and pasture. Let there be a great covering go forth from the tower, that there may be a shelter for my sheep from the heat and tempest." And a chief shepherd, the twelve principal shepherds, went forth with others and labored with all their might to prepare the choice piece of land for a pasture for the sheep, and also to build the great tower. And while they were building the tower, lo! a great wonder appeared among the sheep. It was discovered that some of the sheep that had been fair to look on began to have great horns rise up, their teeth became like those of a lion, and their wool changed to long coarse hair, and they had claws as a bear; they had not the disposition of the sheep, but ran about and roared like the lion, desiring to destroy the sheep. They ran out of the flock and mingled with the wild beasts of the forest; and while many of the principal shepherds had gone out to call upon other shepherds to assist in building the tower, some of the strange beasts that had left the flock returned from the wilderness with a number of wolves to devour the flock. The chief shepherd with his brother, who also was a noble shepherd, with two of the principal shepherds, went out to meet them in order to save the flock. When they saw them they fell upon them and devoured the chief shepherd and his brother, and severely wounded one of the other two. But those of the principal shepherds who were abroad, hearing of the death of the two shepherds, immediately returned with those two who were not devoured in saving the flock. Then was there great mourning among all the shepherds and the flock, because the two chief shepherds were devoured. Nevertheless, the lord of the field said to the twelve principal shepherds. "cease not my work, neither let your hands be slack, but continue the building of the tower and preparing the pasture for the security of my sheep, for they must be saved." And they were joined by many other shepherds, and labored with greater diligence than ever, and the lord of the field helped them, and they reared the tower, and built the wall, and prepared the choice piece of ground, much faster than before. And the lord of the field said, "let a shepherd be appointed to visit the flocks of sheep that dwell among the great lion of the east, and see that their names are sent up to be recorded in the great book that is kept in the tower." And I thought in my dream, it fell to my lot to visit the flocks of sheep in the east. And according to the commandment of the lord of the field, I went to the flocks in the east, and found shepherds with all the flocks. Then I called upon the shepherds to send me the names of the sheep of their flocks, that they might be recorded in the great book of the tower, and most of the shepherds began to send to me the names of the flocks of sheep with them; and my soul was made glad, because of the shepherds hearkening
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