| 616 or any other evil practice, in any person, or persons whatever, whereby either the lives or property of our fellow men may be unlawfully taken or molested: neither are such things sanctioned or approbated by the First Presidency, or any other person in authority or good standing in said church, but such acts are altogether in violation of the rules, order, and regulations of the church, contrary to the teachings given in said church, and the laws of both God and Man. I caution the unwary, who belong to the aforesaid church, and all other persons, against being duped, or led into any act or scheme which may endanger their character, lives or property, or bring reproach upon the church; and I certify that I hold my person and property ready to support the laws of the land, in the detection of any person or persons who may commit any breach of the same. To which I subscribe my name and testify, this 26th day of November 1841,
HYRUM SMITH.
Sworn to, and subscribed before me, this 26th day of November, 1841.
E. ROBINSON, J. P.
Proceedings of a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at Ramus, Nov. 18th, 1841.
Opened by singing and prayer by Elder Brigham Young. The object of the meeting was then stated by the president. Which was for the purpose of taking into consideration the cases of Alanson Brown, Joseph Holbrook, John Telford, James B. T. Page, and Wm. H. Edwards, who stand indicted for Larceny, &c. After the evidence was brought forward, it was unanimously resolved that said five persons be expelled from the Church.
Appropiate [Appropriate] remarks were then made by Elders Young, Richards, Savage, Gurley and others, for the occasion.
A charge was then prefered [preferred] against Thomas S. Edwards for Assault and Battery, with evidence that a warrant was issued for his apprehension, and against Wm. W. Edwards for being accessary [accessory] to the same, after the evidence.
Unanimously resolved that Thomas S. Edwards, and Wm. W. Edwards also, be expelled from the Church.
Resolved that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Times and Seasons.
Resolved that all other church business be laid over to conference.
Resolved that this meeting be adjourned. JOEL H. JOHNSON, Prest.
J. E. Johnson, Church Recorder
We are very glad that the perpetrators of the above crime have been caught in their iniquitous practices; and we are only sorry that anybody should be found who would bail them out of prison; for such individuals if the charges are true ought to be made an example of, and not be suffered to run at large.
We have been informed that some of them have been talking of moving into this place; but we would here inform them, that persons whose conduct has exposed them to the just censure of an indignant public, can have no fellowship amongst us, as we cannot and will not, countenance rogues, thieves, and scoundrels, knowingy [knowingly]; and we hereby warn them that the law will be as rigerously [rigorously] enforced against them in this place as in any other, as we consider such characters as a curse to society, whose pestilential breath withers the morals, and blasts the fame and reputation of any people among whom they may sojourn. There is no poison that is and ought to be despised more than the thief, by any respectable community; yet more especially ought such persons to be abhorred who have taken upon them the name of Christ, and thus with the pretext of religion, and garb of sanctity, cloak their nefarious practices.
We have been told that some individual or individuals, have, under false pretences [pretenses], been wishing to palm their wicked and develish [devilish] principles upon the authorities of the church, stating that it was part and parcel of the gospel which God had revealed, and that it is one of the mysteries which the initiated only are acquainted with. We know not how to express our abhorrence at such an idea, and can only say that it is engendered in hell, founded in falsehood, and is the offspring of the devil; that it is at variance with every principle of righteousness, and truth; and will damn all that are connected with it; for all mysteries are only such to the ignorant, and vanish as soon as men have sufficient intelligence to comprehend them.
(page 616) |
