| 24 the world you shall have tribulation.-If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you." The world has always hated the truth and those who have testified of the same; let us not then think that these are strange things which has never happened before, but, rather let us take the prophets and saints in ancient days as ensamples.
To those who have suffered bereavements in consequence of the cruelties of the wicked, whose husbands, fathers, &c. have been slain, with you, I would drop the sympathetic tear, and would do all I could to comfort you in your distress, and would fain pour into your wounded souls, the oil of joy for mourning; the time is fast hastening, when if faithful, you will join your friends in a more glorified state of existance [existence], where mobs and oppression are not known: look then at the things which are before, and not at those which are behind.
To the church in general I would say, be faithful, maintain your integrity, let the principles of truth and righteousness get deep hold in your hearts, live up to those principles at all times, be humble withall, and then you will be able to stand firm and unshaken tho'
"The mountains skip like rams, And all the little hills like lambs."
Your Brother,
n the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.
HYRUM SMITH.
Commerce, Dec. 1839.
KEOKUK
LEE
LEE COUNTY, IOWA TERRITORY.
This placed is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, about forty miles above Quincy, Illinois, at the foot of the Rapids, which is the first obstruction to the navigation for the largest class of Steam Boats.-At this place all Steam Boats, in ascending the Mississippi at low water, are compelled to discharge their cargoes, which are transported over the Rapids in lighters, and on descending, the boats receive their cargoes from the lighters at this place. The landing is equal to any on the River. And no part of the town is ever overflowed.
A part of this place has recently been purchased by the Bishop of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Bishop Knight has also purchased another town six miles above Keokuk, which is called Nashville, it being at the head of the Rapids, the place has advantages equal to any town on the Mississippi; it has a large body of valuable timber attached to it, and the surrounding country is beautifully interspersed with prairies which will admit of a dense population: these advantages together with the advantage of landing, renders the country valuable.
MONTROSE:-This place is four miles above Nashville, it is situated on a bottom prairie, and a handsome place for a town, it has equal advantages with other town on Mississippi. Bishop Knight has also, purchased a part of this town, together with about thirty thousand acres of the surrounding country, on the point of land between the Mississippi and the Desmoine, generally denominated the Half Breed tract; this tract has actually superior advantages, having the Desmoine on the West, and the Mississippi on the East, both navigable streams; and the soil is generally acknowledged to be nearly equal to that of the State of Missouri. The Half Breed tract contains 119,000 acres, and the whole tract can be purchased by a united effort of the saints.
NAUVOO.-This is a newly located Town, and is situated on the East bank of the Mississippi opposite Montrose, it derived its name from the Hebrew, which signifies Fair, very beautiful, and it actually fills the definition of the word; for nature has not formed a parallel on the Banks of the Mississippi, from New Orleans to Galena, for the beauty of the ground on which it stands; there is a good landing and it has equal privileges with other towns, this is also owned by the saints, and is rapidly increasing; the surrounding country is fertile, and the crops, this present year, are good, therefore there is no fear existing that the gathering will be too extensive.
A. RIPLY.
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