| 464 We have received the minutes of the conference held in Leachburgh, Armstrong co. Pa. the proceedings were highly satisfactory. Elder William Smith presided. We shall be excused for not giving the minutes entire, in consequence of other matter of interest which crowds upon us. We however, extract the following resolutions and recommend them for the adoption of all the saints.
"Inasmuch, as the user of ardent spirits is prohibited by the gospel, and is not conducive to the happiness, peace and well being of society; therefore,
Resolved, 1st. That this conference utterly discountenance the use of ardent spirits as a beverage.
2nd. Resolved, That this conference disfellowship every member who continues to indulge, and will not forsake such evil practises [practices].
3rd. Resolved, That this conference, collectively and individually, covenant to keep all the known commandments of God, as made known in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and book of Doctrine and Covenants."
Psalm LII.
[A Parody.]
To the Chief Musician, Maschil, a Psalm for Joseph, when Boggs the Edomite came and told Carlin, and said unto him, Joseph is come to the city of Nauvoo.
Why dost thou boast in mischief, wicked man? Thy horrid downfall shall the righteous see,
The goodness of my God endureth still; And laugh to scorn they cursing and thy groans;
Thy wretched soul doth constant evil plan, "Behold the brute who did our God defy!
Led captive by the devil at his will. Despised the widow's tears, and orphan's moans.-" Selah!
Thine eyes for evil constantly do turn, But I will flourish in the house of God;
Thy slanderous tongue with lying mischief run, Because I trust his mercy; and his name
Thou lovest words that blast, devour, and burn; I'll praise forever, near and far abroad,
O that deceitful, blasting cursed tongue!- With joyful saints, publish his matchless fame!
God's curse shall rest on they devoted head,
Thy carcass wither, and thy spirit sink
To seek a hopeless place among the dead;
The dregs of God's almighty wrath to drink, Nauvoo, June 20th, 1841. David Jr.
From the Gospel Reflector.
The Beauty of the Writings of the Prophet Esdras.
Perhaps there are none of the writings of the ancient prophets that are more accurate, and distinct in pointing out future events, than the writings of the prophet Esdras., which are found among the apocryphal writings of the Old Testament. Some of his writings upon the works of God in his own day, are also very plain and precise,. Therefore, we opine that a few extracts from them, will be interesting to our readers. The idea that the writings of Esdras are genuine, as far as the historical matter is concerned, is not so much disputed, as the idea of their being written by the inspiraiion [inspiration] of God. We suppose that the principle objection to them, is that they are written in a different language from the other writings of the Jewish prophets. And tradition or supposition seemed to infuse the idea, that the Hebrew language was a sign that the writings of the prophets were written by inspiration; therefore, because the writings of Esdras were not written in this language, the compilers rejected them as not being inspired writings.
We have reasons for believing that Ezra, whose writings are acknowledged to be pure, and Esdras are the same person, or that the two names are synonymous. The difference in the name , no doubt, arose from the different languages from which it was translated. Names that end with h in the Old Testament, which were translated from the Hebrew, end with s in the New, which were translated from the Greek: for instance, Isaiah, and Jeremiah in the Old Testament, are Esais and Jeremias in the new. And the following shows not only that the writings of Esdras in the Apocrypha, were written in a different language from those of Ezra: but that they are the productions of the same man, and that the difference in the name, arose from the different languages it was translated from.
First, it is said in the vii chapter of Ezra, from the 1st to the 5th verse: "Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the sons of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest."
Second, it is said in the first chapter of the second book of Esdras, from the 1st to the 3rd verse: "The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, the son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marmoth, the son of Arna, the son of Ozias, the son of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi." It seems as though no one could read the above, without being convinced that the Book of Ezra, and the first and second Books of Esdras are the productions of the same man. But to hasten.
Esdras says, in his second Book, ii chapter, from the 34th verse to the end of the chapter: "And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen,
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