| 520 his duty faithfully and well. He it was who wrote from the mouth of the Prophet, those sacred revelations recently received, and in his dying hour gave a fearless testimony as to the truth of those things in which we believe; his soul was filled with the love of God, and he went forth rejoicing, to enter (as he said) upon a new course of labors.
He is taken from the evils to come, he rests from his labors and sorrows here, and continues his works, where the wicked cannot trouble, and where the weary may find rest.
That our days may be spent in righteousness, and that we may die in the Lord, and meet our friends at the first resurrection, is the prayer of
Your Brother in the bonds of the
Everlasting Covenant,
Wm. Law.
An Epistle of the twelve, to the saints scattered abroad among the nations,
Greeting?
Beloved Brethren-
You will perceive by the foregoing minutes of a conference held in this city on the 16th Aug., 1841, that we have returned from the mission which was required of us by the Lord, and have now been called upon to assist in building up the stakes of Zion, and of planting the saints upon the lot of their inheritance; and feeling as we do a humble reliance upon divine aid at all times, in our unremitting desire to be useful to our fellow men, and especially to the household of faith, that they may be prepared for the great things which God is about to reveal and which speedily await this generation, we feel anxious to improve the earliest opportunity to make known unto you the mind of the spirit concerning those things which require your more immediate attention.
It will be discovered in the minutes before referred to, that we have already began to select such individuals as have been with the church and have had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the principles thereof to some extent; and to designate certain towns and cities where they will locate themselves and build up churches inasmuch as the people are willing to receive them. These generally will not take their departure from this for their several stations, until after the October conference, previous to which they will have the opportunity of receiving particular instructions in relation to their mission, and of becoming more perfectly acquainted with those principles which are necessary to be acted upon, in order that they may become highly useful in helping to roll forth the kingdom, of God in these last days.
All those elders and priests who are now in the vineyard will communicate with us immediately and inform us of their situations, designs, and all things relating to their ministry, and improve the earliest opportunity of repairing hither, where they will have the privilege of instruction from the First Presidency and thereby understanding principle and doctrine, not to be learned elsewhere, and which is necessary for them to know, that they may become wise stewards in their master's house.
We are engaged in a great work, and but little comparitively [comparatively] can be known of the magnitude thereof, of the revelations of heaven, and the order of the kingdom, by the Saints while they are scattered to the four winds; and this being well understood by the ancient prophets and apostles was the reason why they so often spoke of the gathering in the last days, and as this is the place where the elders are to receive instruction concerning their ministry, so as to become successful ministers of the dispensation of the fulness [fullness] of times, so also this is the place where the brethren may receive such instructions as are necessary to constitute them a righteous and holy people, prepared for the reception of the Lord Jesus; therefore, we say to all saints who desire to do the will of heaven, arise, and tarry not, but come up hither to the places of gathering as speedily as possible, for the time is rapidly approaching when the Saints will have occasion to regret, that they have so long neglected to assemble themselves together and stand in holy places awaiting those tremendous events which are so rapidly approaching the nations of the earth.
It will be recollected that in a recent communication from the First Presidency, all places of gathering are discontinued, excepting Hancock county Ill. and Zarahemla, in Lee county I. T. opposite Nauvoo, and we would suggest to those coming up the Mississippi particularly, and all others who are disposed, to look at Warsaw, a beautifully located village about 20 miles below Nauvoo, consisting of about 500 inhabitants, a steam flour
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