| 571 epistle to the church in Europe, in which they made the building of the temple and the Nauvoo House a special feature, and appointed John Snider their agent for collecting means.
This epistle was signed by each of the quorum except P. P. Pratt and Orson Hyde, who were in foreign lands. 4
March 24, the "Ladies' Relief Society" was organized.
The editor of the Times and Seasons, Joseph Smith, in the issue for April 1, speaks of the society and explains the purpose of its creation. 5
4 The following is an extract from the epistle of the Twelve:-
Brethren, we wish not to control you or your means; it is not for our peace or interest; nay, rather, it is a source of labor, trouble, and anxiety to have aught to do with the pecuniary business of the church, which we would gladly avoid, could we do it and do our duty, could we do it and the things desired be accomplished and we stand guiltless where God hath placed us; and for this reason we desire to make such arrangements as will most tend to leave the business in your own hands, or in the hands of those whom you shall select; men of your own acquaintance in whom you can repose confidence that they will execute their trust in righteousness. And that our plans may be understood by you and carried into execution, we have sent unto you our beloved brother, Elder John Snider, the bearer of this epistle and other epistles also previously written by us to you; and we beseech you, brethren, to receive him as a servant of the Most High, authorized according to the order of the kingdom of heaven, and assist him by all lawful means in your power to execute the mission intrusted to him; for great events depend on his success, but to none will they be greater than to yourselves.
Our authority for thus sending Brother Snider to you is found in the Book of the Law of the Lord, page 36, as follows: "Nauvoo, December 22, 1841." "The word of the Lord came unto Joseph the Seer, Verily thus saith the Lord, Let my servant John Snider take a mission to the Eastern Continent unto all the conferences now sitting in that region and let him carry a package of epistles that shall be written by my servants, the Twelve, making known unto them their duties concerning the building of my houses, which I have appointed unto you, saith the Lord, that they may bring their gold, and their silver, and their precious stones, and the box tree, and the fir tree, and all fine wood to beautify the place of my sanctuary saith the Lord; and let him return speedily with all means which shall be put into his hands; even so, Amen."
In this revelation, the brethren will discover their duty in relation to the building of the temple of the Lord in Nauvoo and the Nauvoo House; and we call upon them with united cry to give heed unto the things written and help to build the houses which God hath commanded, so that Brother Snider may speedily return with means to strengthen the hands of the laborers and adorn and beautify the tabernacle of Jehovah.
-Times and Seasons, vol. 3 pp. 736,737.
5 LADIES RELIEF SOCIETY.-A society has lately been formed by the ladies of Nauvoo for the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow, and the orphan; and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes. The society is known by the name of the "Ladies' Relief Society of the City of Nauvoo;" and was organized on Thursday, the 24th of March, A. D. 1842.
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