| 445 the condition of mankind, even, what are termed enlightened nations, and through the glass of scripture see manifest all their blindness, depravity, and hypocrisy, my heart sickens at the sight, and I turn away from the contemplation and I am ready to exclaim, O Lord!
How long shall such wickedness,
Be suffered in the land?
How long before thou makest bare
Thine own almighty hand?
May 14th. I have just returned to my stopping place, from where I have been preaching. I spoke to the congregation on the subject of the gospel, and the second coming of Christ, and also the judgments of Almighty God which would be poured out upon the ungodly. I shewed [showed] from the prophet Joel, what the fulness [fullness] of the gospel was, and that the spirit of God, should be poured out upon all flesh, and then the people should prophesy, dream dreams, see visions &C. I then refered [referred] to the thousand years reign of the saints, proving the same from the book of Rev., and other parts of scripture, and likewise that the general judgment would not take place until the thousand years were expired. While testifying to the truth of the gospel and proclaiming the important message of salvation, the power of the Most High rested upon me, the spirit of the Lord was manifest, believers rejoiced in the Lord and others who had stood aloof were constrained to acknowledge the truth of the message, and it is expected that some will be baptized next Sunday.-Thus spreads the work of the Lord, and numbers are added to the church daily, such as shall be saved.
15th. Saturday morning. Preparations are making for the conference. In consequence of my incessant labors, I do not feel very well, my lungs are affected through much speaking; I feel as if I could not forbear, the Macedonian cry of "come over and help us" is so frequently sounding in my ears, that I could not forbear, and have been influenced to labor beyond my strength.
I have not told you much of my journey since I left home, but will give you the particulars in my next; suffice it to say that I have been able to prosecute my journey remarkably well,-When I left Nauvoo, I had little or no money, and had it not been for the kindness of a gentleman of the name of Mr. Silas Haight who resides in Farmington, Iowa. I do not know how I should have got along. He being on his way to St. Louis on board the same steamer, and seeing me among the deck passengers, took me into the cabin, and paid my fare to St. Louis, and then loaned me money to help me on my journey. I hope the Lord will reward him for his kindness, even a hundred fold.
May 7th. Our conference being over I am now preparing to leave for the east and pursue my journey.
I am, yours in the bonds of the gospel.
William Smith.
Elder D. C. Smith.
News from the South-Disturbances in Lafayette City.
Nauvoo, June 8th 1841.
Mr. D. C. Smith:-Dear Brother in the bonds of the Everlasting Covenant, and kingdom of Christ, set up on the earth, no more to be thrown down, nor given to another people.
It is with pleasure that I address a few lines to you at this time, to inform you of my success and labors on my late mission to the City of New Orleans. I arrived in that city on the 28th of last March, with the intention of sounding the gospel trumpet, for the first time in the ears of the inhabitants of that place. I found some few brethren there who had gone to spend the winter season, and had made themselves known as Latter Day Saints, held some meetings, and did what they could to spread the truth. They received me gladly, and assisted me in getting a house, which we hired at five dollars per week. I then published an appointment, and commenced preaching; our meetings were well attended, it was remarked by some, that we had the largest congregations of any in the place. I continued preaching and conversing with the people, until we had obtained a house in the City of Lafayette, immediately above Orleans where we also proclaimed the gospel. I need not say, that the preaching of the gospel had the same effect upon the people
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