| 615 TIMES AND SEASONS
CITY OF NAUVOO,
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1841.
THIEVES.
We are highly pleased to see the very energetic measures taken by our citizens to suppress thieving. It has been a source of grief unto us that there were any in our midst, who would wilfully [willfully] take property from any person which did not belong to them; knowing that if any person, who does, or ever did belong to this church, should steal, the whole church would have to bear the stigma, and the sound goes abroad, the Mormons are a set of thieves and robbers, a charge which we unequivocally deny, and pronounce a falsehood of the basest kind. That there are some amongst us base enough to commit such acts we do not pretend to deny, but whether they are all members of this church or not, we do not know; but some who are, have been caught in their iniquity, and one was among the missing, after a warrant was out for him; circumstantial proof is so strong against him, that his guilt is established beyond a doubt.
We are informed that some of those characters have said that such things are sanctioned by the authorities of the church; this is the most base of all lies; and we would here warn all well disposed persons, to be aware of such characters, and if any such thing is ever intimated to them, to heed it not, unless it be to report such persons to the proper authorities so that they can be brought to condign punishment; for know assuredly, that if you listen to them, they will prove an adder in your path, and eventually lead you down to destruction.
In their respective places, will be found the affidavits of Presidents Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and the testimony of the Twelve on the above subject.
-> We receive regularly, the Ladies Garland, a beautiful Literary work, published by J. VanCourt, in Philadelphia, at $1 per annum in advance, or $5 for 7 copies. We consider it one of the best Periodicals in our country; It is got up expressly for the benefit of the ladies, and it seems well calculated to answer its end. It is mostly composed of original matter, written in a plain, elegant style, beautifully adapted to the capacity of any class of readers, and is worthy of a place on the centre [center] table, in the parlor or drawing room.
"Prairie Flower"-We have received the first No. of a work bearing the foregoing title, published at Shelbyville, Shelby co. Ill. Edited by J. C. Duncan. It is a neat literary work of 24 octavo pages; just the thing to hale from the beautiful prairies of the west. We wish the enterprising editor much success. Price $1,00 per annum in advance.
-> Our paper has not appeared in its usual good style, for one or two Nos. past, as we have necessarily been absent a share of the time to St. Louis on business; but we are again at our post, and we intend to devote more time to the editorial department than we hitherto have been able to do, oweing [owing] to the vast amount of business that crowded itself upon us. We anticipate an improvement in the mechanical department, as we have secured the services of an experienced printer; also, we have moved our establishment into a new and extensive building, which we have had erected expressly for the accommodation of our printing, stereotyping and binding business, so that our facilities for printing are greater than they ever have been, since we commenced publishing this paper.
-> Elder Joseph Fielding, from England, has arrived, with a company of about 200 saints from that country, via. New Orleans. They are in good health and spirits.
Br. F. left several copies of the Millenial [Millennial] Star with us for our friends; we searched the package carefully for ours, but in vain, it could not be found; nothing intended, Br. P. a mere oversight we presume.
Extracts from the Star next No. The work is still progressing rapidly in England.
HYRUM SMITH'S AFFIDAVIT.
Whereas it hath been intimated to me by persons of credibility, that there are persons in the surrounding country, who profess to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who have been using their influence and endeavors to instill into the minds of good and worthy citizens in the State of Illinois, and the adjoining States, that the First Presidency, and others in authority and high standing in said church, do sanction and approbate the members of said church in stealing property from those persons who do not belong to said church, and thereby to induce persons to aid and abet them in the act of stealing, and other evil practices. I therefore, hereby disavow any sanction or approbation by me, of the crime of theft,
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