| 79 "THINGS IN KIRTLAND.
"The church here at present numbers forty two, and they are all at peace and fellowship among themselves. 'At a conference of the church held here on the 23d of January, 1847, after many remarks by those present, it was motioned by W. E. McLellin and seconded by Martin Harris, that this church take upon them the name of the Church of Christ, and wear it henceforth-shorn of all appendages or alterations. The motion was put by Elder L. Rich, the chairman, and carried with much feeling and spirit in the affirmative, without a dissenting voice.'
"On the 10th of February following, several individuals assembled in our office in the evening and we freely talked over our (then) present standing before the Lord. We were settled in our minds that the time had come for the church to come forth the second time out of 'obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of all the earth with which God is well pleased; speaking unto the church collectively and not individually, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance:' but we felt troubled in our minds about our baptisms and confirmations.
"The church had in the years 1833 and 1834 changed its character from that of a peaceable company to that of a warrior band. The leading men had risen up and taken the spirit of vengeance into their own hands, as was evidenced by their going to war and shedding human blood, even upon the land of Zion, where God had said, 'You are forbidden to shed blood.' They had violated that great maxim of the Savior, 'Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.' A few of the leading men by council action had taken for the church the false name of Latter Day Saints. Joseph had been commanded of the Lord, and had ordained David to be his successor. That boastful church of Latter Day Saints had been 'driven from city to city, and from land to land.' Their Prophet and Patriarch had fallen into the cold embrace of death, at the hands of a ruthless mob. And finally that people
(page 79) |
