| 625 and scenes continually varying. We form society, and break it up, we gather a congregation, and send if off, we increase, and then decrease, we get friends and acquaintance and they vanish away, we form intimacies, and they are broken off; thus it is one continual scene of parting with friends and making more; of breaking off old acquaintance and forming new; all these things are calculated to excite the mind, and to give peculiar feelings, of a mingled nature and not easily described.
Dear brethren, we feel extremely anxious to do something for the temple, but at present the money is all swallowed up in emigration; a few of those who come over in the Tyrean will have a little money, and perhaps they will do some little for the temple; but it will take what they have to provide them a home; indeed many of them will land without a shilling. The distress is such in this country that the saints will go to Zion whether they can carry any thing with them or not. They had rather be slaves in America than to starve in this country. I cannot keep them back,-go they will, and go they must, or perish: many respectable people are seeking a passage with us, who are not saints, as yet.
I have obtained a few dollars for the temple, from two or three individuals, and am in hopes to add something to it, before the sailing of the "Tyrean," and some more before the sailing of the next ship, (in October,) but very few can be found who can spare a sovereign without really distressing themselves. I shall send the mite, for the temple by brother Joseph Fielding who is expecting to take the lead of this company. He will bring it to you in safety if he is spared, and I hope it will be acceptable though small.
I have just heard from Elder Hyde, he was taking passage down the Danube for Constantinople, he is well, and in good spirits.
When I shall see Nauvoo I know not, perhaps it may be many years; but my heart is there, and there my friends and kindred dwell. I must now close: please accept this in token of my lasting rememberance [remembrance], and pray for me-Farewell.
Yours in the bonds
of everlasting freedom,
P. P. PRATT.
BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD.
An Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints of the Last Days.
The building of the Temple of the Lord, in the city of Nauvoo, is occupying the first place in the exertions and prayers of many of the saints at the present time, knowing as they do, that if this building is not completed, speedily, "we shall be rejected as a church with our dead," for the Lord our God hath spoken it; but while many are thus engaged in laboring, and watching and praying for this all important object, there are many, very many more, who do not thus come up to their privilege and their duty in this thing, and in many instances we are confident that their neglect arises from a want of proper understanding of the principles upon which this building is founded, and by which it must be completed.
The children of Israel were commanded to build a house in the land of promise; and so are the saints of the last days, as you will see in the Revelation given to Joseph the Seer, Jan. 19th 1811, wherein those ordinances may be revealed which have been hid for ages, even their anointings and washings and baptisms for the dead; wherein they may meet in solemn assemblies for their memorials, sacrifices, and oracles in their most holy places; and wherein they may receive conversations and statutes, and judgements [judgments]for the beginning of the revelations and foundations of Zion, and the glory and honor and adornment of all her municiples [municipals], through the medium which God hath ordained.
In the same revelation the command is to "all the saints from afar," as well as those already gathered to this place; to arise with one consent and build the Temple; to prepare a place where the Most High may manifest himself to his people. No one is excepted who hath ought in his possession, for what have ye that ye have not received? and I require mine own with usury saith the Lord; so that those who live thousands of miles from this place, come under the same law, and are entitled to the same blessings and privileges as those who have already gathered. But some may say how can this be, I am not there, therefore I cannot meet in the Temple; cannot be baptized in the Font? The command
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