| 583 of Christ, gathering of the house of Israel, and Book of Mormon, are respectfully invited to attend our public lectures.
We have no disposition to sit in judgment upon any man's religion. We will let the law of the Lord judge, and we will humbly aquiesce [acquiesce] in the descision [decision].
Truth is our object;-unvarnished truth without mixture of error can alone be serviceable to mankind. We say as did St. Paul, "We seek not yours; but you." No preacher in our society receives a salary, other than the voluntary donations of the charitable, whose hearts the Lord opens to suply [supply] their actual wants; and to such, He will say in the great day of retribution, "Come ye blessed," &c.; "for when I was an hungered ye fed me; naked and ye clothed me; a stranger and ye took me in;" "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of my disciples ye have done it unto me;" (See Mat. xxv, chap.)
If our testimony is true, all are interested in it. Say not it is beneath your notice because it is unpopular; for Christ said, "Whatsoever is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." He further said to his diciples [disciples] that they would be hated of all nations, and become so odious, that men would think they were doing God service in killing them.
While we still linger upon this subject, we cannot but reflect upon the various persecutions that saints have endured at different times, for propagating such principles as we have before mentioned. Besides the twelve hundred of our brethren that were driven from Jackson co. Mo., and rendered houseless and pennyless [penniless] in 1832; the still more dreadful scenes of 1838, (in which we were personal sufferers,) have made an impression upon our memories that time can never erase.
We well remember the time when twelve or fifteen thousand souls were banished from the state of Missouri.-Most of our persecutors were excited to these outrages by means of malicious falsehoods and slander. Indeed, it was falsehoods and slander that brought the malice of the Jews on the head of Jesus, excited by his exposure of their hypocrisy and priestcraft.
When we call to mind that from twenty-five to thirty noble hearted brethren have fallen victims to a ruthless mob, in the State of Missouri, we cannot help exclaiming, Oh! murdered, butchered brethren, dear to our hearts, once we enjoyed each other's company in the house of the Lord; and sat under the smiles of our Redeemer's countenance and expressed our determination to each other to serve the Lord unto the end, if death should stare us in the face.
The time of trial found them true to their promise, and they died as valinat [valiant] hearted soldiers of the cross. And widows and orphans are left to mourn their loss. Yes, if the sturdy oaks of Missouri's forests could speak, they would tell a tale of wo [woe], how widows and orphans bemoaned while under their branches, because of the loss of husbands and fathers.
If the wild gophers of Missouri's plains could speak, they would tell of the sufferings of women and children, which would soften the heart of an adamantine, and cause a flood of tears to flow from the hard hearted.
Oh liberty! whither art thou fled? Oh patriotism whither art thou gone? Once the United States of America, was a land of freedom, liberty of speech, and of press; liberty of conscience was enjoyed really, and not merely in name. Now so no longer. The blessings purchased by the blood of our forefathers, have flown for ever! That blood which was shed so freely, for the purchase of an inheritance, which they esteemed sufficiently worthy of the sacrifice, now no longer avails. The constitution formed and ratified by the father of our country, who esteemed it dearer than life, is now a dead letter. The blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are no longer guaranteed to the citizen. Nor can he any longer worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, unmolested.
The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has wofully [woefully] verified this fact. To heighten the wrong, it has all come upon them, in consequence of their adhesion to the truth.-Say not it is deception, delusion, fanaticism, or if you do, take care you apply it where it belongs, that is to those who ascribe these qualities to the Church of Latter Day Saints. If they are deceived, the bible has deceived them; but they know and dare boldly testify, the religion of the bible is no deception, it is an eternal reality. Therefore, examine the
(page 583) |
