| 576 There have been unruly members, but for the want of penitence they were excluded from the church. The same may be said of all the Orthodox societies.
It has also been stated as a fact, that we have unlawfully taken possession of a large tract of land in Iowa, and claimed a title direct from heaven. This is equally false with the other charges before mentioned; for it is but a short time since, Dr. I. Galland, who sold most of the above mentioned land to individuals of the society, published an article in one of the Philadelphia papers, contradicting the report , stating that he had in his possession the obligations of the purchasers, which he could show, and Mr. Snow hereby states that he wrote most of the deed for said land, in June, 1839. Indeed, such reports are only got up to excite prejudice and indignation against us.
Some man who was somewhat fruitful in imagination, has written a letter to some New England editor, stating that the Mormons, so called, were making preparations to make war with their neighbors, &c. Now this is the foolish imagination of some anonymous letter writer, who did not really know the difference between a meeting-house and a fort. Some of the society are obliged to do military service, and all the military operations, or organizations, that we know of in Illinois, where the leading men of the society reside, are done by the authority and according to the laws of the State. If this is preparation for war, then all the State of Illinois are preparing for war.
Another scurrilous tale has been paraded before the public, saying that we discard the sacred Scriptures, viz: the Old and New Testaments. Such a report is awfully absurd. Indeed, we esteem them as highly as any other men, so much so, that we consider the New Testament supersedes the necessity of all creeds, liturgies, and books of divinity that men ever have or can invent.
Some pretend to say, that we preach another gospel. This is a misrepresentation, for we believe that no other gospel but that which Paul preached, is the power of God unto salvation, who says: "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed."
Again, some of our opponents have the audacity to assert that the position we take encourages immorality. This is also a wanton implication without the least shadow of truth. Hear our lectures, and read our books, and then judge.
We might seperately [separately] speak of several other tales that are afloat, and occasionally drift into the mouths of the retailers of slander, which are ridiculous and absurd, such as the new-bible story, money diging [digging] story, walking on the water story, the Spaulding romance story, the murder of Martin Harris by Joseph Smith, who by the by, is still living and a member of the society, and knew nothing of his being murdered till he read the account of it in the newspapers, which came so well authenticated that we never have heard of his having any disposition to controvert it!! But we think that we have dwelt sufficiently long on evil reports: for should we examine each one distinctly, and refute it by a plain statement of facts, our enemies would coin new ones; for no sooner are they detected in one, than they put another in circulation. We now turn from the wickedness of men, to make mention of the righteousness of the Great God, and our faith in his precepts.
(To Be Concluded Nexy [next] No.
Minutes of a Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Nauvoo, Ill, Commencing Oct. 1st, 1841.
Friday, Oct. 1st. In consequence of the inclemency of the weather, the congregation were prevented from assembling, and conference, from business.
Saturday, 2nd, A. M. The conference assembled on the meeting ground; but as the Presidency were absent laying the corner stone of the Nauvoo House, business was delayed, and the conference organised [organized] themselves in their several quorums in order. Br. B. Young opened divine service, and Br. O. Pratt closed, The conference then made choice of Br. Joseph Smith to Preside in conference, and appointed Elias Smith and Gustavus Hills as Secretaries.
P. M. Pres. Joseph Smith opened by calling on the choir to sing a Hymn-sung 18th Hymn. The President then read a letter from Br. O, Hyde giving an account of his journeys and success in
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