| 617 and there are no mysteries connected with godliness, and our holy religion, but what are pure, innocent, virtuous, just and righteous; if this is a mystery, it is the "mystery of iniquity." We are at a loss to know who could be vile enough to propogate [propagate] such base and unfounded statements, and we would say to the church, beware of such men! set them down as the worst of scoundrels; and reject their foul insinuations, with that indignation and disgust, that such unhallowed and vile insinuations deserve; for such men are either avowed apostates, or on the eve of apostacy [apostasy], or have only taken the name of religion to cloak their hypocracy [hypocrisy]; we fear the latter, in some instances, is the case, and the Mississippi scoundrels palm themselves upon us to cover their guilt. We further call upon the church to bring all such characters before the authorities, that they may be tried, and dealt with according to law of God, and delivered up unto the laws of the land.
It is scarcely possible that any virtuous man could be made to believe any such statements however ignorant; yet lest through false pretences [pretenses] the innocent might be drawn into a snare, we would quote the following from the book of Doctrine and Covenants: Sec. xiii, Par. 22. "And if any man or woman shall rob, he or she shall be delivered up unto the law of the land, And if he or she shall steal, he or she shall be delivered up unto the law of the land." Again Sec. xiii, Par., 2. "Thou shalt not steal, and he that stealeth and will not repent shall be cast out." The broad law of God "thou shalt not steal," and thieves, together with "liars and whoremongers," will eventually be found without the city, with dogs and sorcerers." We need only say that if we find such characters engaged in their nefarious practices, whether in or out of the church, we shall take them up and deal with them according to the law of God, and man; and we wish the church to inform us of such delinquents, or the sin will lay at their own door.
As there are gangs of robbers up and down this river, from whom we have suffered much, having had many horses, cattle, and other property stolen; we purpose instituting a police for the protection of our property, and the vigorous enforcement of the laws of our country; and should any, who call themselves Latter Day Saints, be found in their midst, they will be cut off from the church, and handed over to the law of the land.
We hope that what we have written may suffice, and take this opportunity of expressing our decided and unqualified disapprobation of any thing like theft, in all its bearings, as being calculated to destroy the peace of society, to injure the Church of Jesus Christ, to wound the character of the people of God, and to stamp with eternal infamy all who follow such diabolical practices; to blast their character on earth, and to consign them to eternal perdition.
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
HEBER C. KIMBALL,
PARLEY P. PRATT,
ORSON HYDE,
WILLIAM SMITH,
ORSON PRATT,
JOHN E. PAGE,
WILLARD RICHARDS,
LYMAN WIGHT,
WILLFORD WOODRUFF,
JOHN TAYLOR,
GEO. A. SMITH,
Nauvoo, Ill. Dec. 1st, 1841.
PRES'T. J. SMITH'S AFFIDAVIT.
City of Nauvoo, Ill.,
Nov. 29th A. D. 1841.
To the Public:-
The transpiration of recent events makes it criminal for me to remain longer silent. The tongue of the vile yet speaks, and sends forth the poison of asps-the ears of the spoiler yet hear, and he puts forth his hands to iniquity. It has been proclaimed upon the house-top and in the secret chamber, in the public walks and private circle, throughout the length and breadth of this vast continent, that stealing by the Latter Day Saints has received my approval; nay, that I have taught the doctrine, encouraged them in plunder, and led on the van-than which nothing is more foreign from my heart. I disfellowship the perpetrators of all such abominations-they are devils and not saints, totally unfit for the society of Christians, or men. It is true that some professing to be Latter Day Saints have taught such vile heresies, but all are not Israel that are of Israel; and I wish it to be distinctly understood in all coming time, that the church over which I have the honor of presiding will ever set its brows like brass and its face like steel, against all such abominable acts of villany [villainy] and crime; and to this end I append my affidavit of disavowal taken this day before General Bennett, that there may be no mistake
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