
Vol. V. - No. 41. N. Y., Saturday, July 3, 1841. Whole No. 238.

Highly Important from the Far West --
Remarkable Movements of the Lattter Day Saints --
A Crisis Approaching.
We have received from Nauvoo, the modern city of Jehovah, highly important despatches, developing, the movements and purposes of the Mormons, now "staked" as they call it, at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, and in Iowa, on the opposite side of the Mississippi River.
We have already stated that Joe Smith, the Latter Day prophet, has been arrested by the Governor of Illinois, but that he had procured a habeas corpus, and waited its decision. He has been charged with treason to the State of Missouri, but this is merely a trick of one set of speculators to put down the leading men of another set. Smith and the Mormons have taken possession of some 230,000 acres of fine land on the Missouri -- that is squatted on it, or "put down the stakes" as they call it. This has created excitement among the other sects, and Smith is charged with all sorts of crimes.
We annex the following singular document, revealing the views and purposes of the Mormons, and of their remarkable leader Joe Smith. It will be seen that it bears a strong resemblance to the celebrated "Proclamation" issued by M. M. Noah, from Grand Island, calling the Jews together from all parts of the earth, and attempting to impose a shekel of silver on every head. This Noah has been since placed, as we learn, on the criminal bench of a city called New York -- and we should not be surprised if Joe Smith were made Governor of a new religious territory in the west, that may rival the Arabians one of these days.
The Revelation,
GIVEN TO JOSEPH SMITH, JR., JAN. 19TH, 1841.
Verily, thus saith the Lord, unto you my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offerings and acknowledgments which you have made, for unto this end have I raised you up, that l might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth. Your prayers are acceptable before me, and in answer to them, I say unto you, that you are now called, immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel, and of this stake which I have planted to be a corner stone of Zion, which shall be polished with that refinement which is after the similitude of a palace. This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world to the four corners thereof -- to the honorable President elect, and the high minded Governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad. Let it be written in the spirit of meekness, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be in you at the time of the writing of the same; for it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost to know my will concerning those kings and authorities, even what shall befal them in a time to come. For, behold! l am about to call upon them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her.
Call ye, therefore, upon them with loud proclamation and with your testimony, fearing them not, for they are as grass, and all their glory as the flower thereof, which soon faileth that they may be left also without excuse and that I may visit them in the day of visitation, upon I shall unveil the face of my covering, to appoint the portion of the oppressor among hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth, if they reject my servants and my testimony which I have revealed unto them. And, again I will visit and soften their hearts, many of them, for your good, that ye may find grace in their eyes, that they may come to the light of truth, and the Gentiles to the exaltation or lifting up of Zion. For the day of my visitation cometh speedily, in an hour when ye think not of and where shall be the safety of my people? and refuge for those who shall be left of them? Awake! O kings of the earth! Come ye, O! come ye with your gold and your silver, to the help of my people -- to the house of the daughter of Zion.
And again, verily, I say unto you, let my servant Robert B. Thompson help you to write this proclamation, for I am well pleased with him, and that he should be with you, let him, therefore, hearken to your council, and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, let him be faithful and true in all things from henceforth and he shall be great in mine eyes; but let him remember that his stewardship will I require at his hands.
And again, verily, I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith, for I the Lord loveth him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.
Again, let my servant John C. Bennett, help you in your laboi, in sending my word to the Kings and the people of the earth, and stand by you, even you my servant Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction, and his reward shall not fail if he receive council, and for his love, he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he does this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work he hath done, which I .acoept, if he continue; and will crown him with blessings and great glory.
And again, I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant Lyman Wight, should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world, and I will bear him up as on eagle's wings, and he shall beget glory and honor to himself, and to my name, that when he shall finish his work, I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time, and also, my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged servant Joseph Smith, sen., who setteth with Abraham, at his right hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine.
And again, verily, I say unto you, my servant George Miller is without guile, he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart and for the love which he has to my testimony, I the Lord loveth him. I therefore say unto you, I seal upon his head the office of a bishoprick, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may receive the consecrations of mine house, that he may administer blessings upon the heads of the poor of my people, saith the Lord. Let no man despise my servant George, for he shall honor me. Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my name such an one as my servant Joseph shall show unto them, upon the place which he shall show unto them also. And it shall be for a house of boarding, a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein -- therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveller may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord, and the corner stone I have appointed for Zion. This house shall he a healthy habitation, if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it, shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.
And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, let all my saints from afar, and send ye swift messengers yea chosen messengers, and say unto them, come ye with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come may come, and bring the box tree and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron, and with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein, for there is not place found on earth, that he may come and restore again that which was lost to you, or, which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood; for a baptismal font there is not upon the earth; but they my saints may be baptised for those who are dead; for this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me. But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me, and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But, behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me, and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith the Lord your God. For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house unto me, wherein the ordinance of baptism for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world. your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me, for therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory. -- And after this time your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord; for it is ordained that in Zion and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.
And again, verily, l say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name? For, for this cause I commanded Moses, that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise that those ordinances might be revealed, which had been hid from before the world was, therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons of Levi, and your oracles in your most holy places, wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes, and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion and for the glory, honor, and adornment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.
and verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people, for I design to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world -- things that pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times; and I will show unto my servant Joseph, all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built, and ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which l have chosen for you to build it. If ye labor with all your mights, I will consecrate that spot, and it shall be made holy; and if my people will hearken to my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed, to lead my people, behold verily, I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place. But if they will not hearken unto my voice, nor unto the voice of those men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute my holy grounds, and my holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words, which I give unto them.
And it shall come to pass, that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord; for instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgment upon your own heads by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practiced before me, saith the Lord.
Verily, verily I say unto you, that when I give a commandment unto any of the sons of men, to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their mights, and with all the have, to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them, and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behoveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings; and the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments, I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and forth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God. Therefore, for this cause have accepted the offerings of those men whom I commanded to build a city and a house unto my name in Jackson county Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God; and I will answer judgment, wrath, indignation, wailing, anguish and gnashing of teeth upon their heads unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your God. And this I make an ensample unto you, for your consolation, concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work, and have been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression, saith the Lord your God; for I am the Lord your God, and will save all those of your brethren who have been pure in heart, and have been slain in the land of Missouri, saith the Lord.
And again, verily, I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place that ye may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality and eternal life.
And now I say unto you as pertaining to my boarding house, which I commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers; let it be built unto my name, and let my name he named upon it and let my servant Joseph and his house have places therein from generation to generation. For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the heads of his posterity after him, and as I said unto Abraham, concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so, I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee, and in thy seed, shall the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him, have place in that house from generation to generation for ever and ever, saith the Lord, and let the name of that house be called the Nauvoo House, and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting place for the weary traveller, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this the corner stone thereof, that he may receive, also, the council from those whom 1 have set to be as plants of renown, and as watchmen upon her walls.
Behold! verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant Peter Hawes, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum, for the purpose of building that house.
Verily, I say unto you, if my servant George Miller and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Hawes, receive any stock into their hands, in moneys or in properties, wherein they receive the real value of moneys, they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other purpose, only in that house, and if they do appropriate any portion of that stock, any where else, only in that house without the consent of the stockholders, and do not repay four fold, they shall be accursed, and shall be removed out of their place, saith the Lord God, for I the Lord am God, and cannot be mocked in any of these things.
Let my servant Vinson Knight lift up his voice long and loud in the midst of the people, to plead the cause of the poor and needy, and let him not fail, neither let his heart faint, and I will accept of his offerings, for they shall not be unto me as the offerings of Cain, for he shall be mine, saith the Lord. Let his family rejoice and turn away their hearts from affliction, for I have chosen him and anointed him and he shall be honored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins, saith the Lord, Amen.
Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock in that house for I the Lord loveth him for the work he hath done, and will forgive all his sins, therefore let him be remembered for an interest in that house from generation to generation. Let my servant Isaac Galland be appointed among you, and be ordained by my servant William Marks, and be blessed of him to go with my servant Hyrum to accomplish the work that my servant Joseph shall point out to them, and they shall be greatly blessed.
Let my servant William Law pay stock in that house for himself and his seed after him, from generation to generation. If he will do my will, let him not take his family unto the eastern lands, even unto Kirtland, nevertheless I the Lord will build up Kirtland, but I the Lord have a scourge prepared for the inhabitants thereof. Let no man go from this place who has come here assaying to keep my commandments. If they live here, let them live unto me, and if they die, let them die unto me, for they shall rest from all their labors here and shall continue their works. Therefore, let my servant William put his trust in me, and cease to fear concerning his family, because of the sickness of the land. If ye love me, keep my commandments, and the sickness of the land shall redound to your glory.
Let my servant William go and proclaim mine everlasting gospel, with a loud voice, and with great joy as he shall be moved upon by my spirit unto the inhabitants of Warsaw, and also unto the inhabitants of Carthage, and also unto the inhabitants of Burlington, and also unto the inhabitants of Madison, and then await patiently and diligently for further instructions at my general conference, saith the Lord. If he will do my will let him from henceforth hearken to the council of my servant Joseph, and with his interest support the cause of the poor, and publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth; and if he will do this, I will bless him, with a multiplicity of blessings that he shall not be forsaken, nor his seed be found begging bread.
And again, verily, I say unto you, let my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed as a counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum; that my servant Hyrum may take the office of priesthood and patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing also by right, that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people that whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curseth shall be cursed -- that whatsoever he shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven, and from this time forth appoint unto him, that he maybe prophet and a seer and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph, that he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive council from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys, whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessings. I crown upon his head, the bishoprick, and blessing, and glory and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon him, that was my servant, Oliver Cowdery; that my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which l shall shew unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, for ever and for ever. Let my servant, William Law, also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive blessings; let him be humble before me, and be without guile, and he shall receive my spirit, even the comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him in the very hour, what he shall say, and these signs shall follow him; he shall heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison, and shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his heel; and he shall mount up as upon eagle's wings and, what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withhold his voice. Therefore, let my servant William cry aloud and spare not, with joy and rejoicing, and with hosannas to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever and forever, saith the Lord your God.
Behold! I say unto yon, I have a mission in store for my servant William, and my servant Hyrum, and for them alone, and let my servant Joseph tarry at home. for he is needed; the remainder I will shew unto you hereafter, even so, amen.
And again, verlly, I say unto you, if my servant Sidney will serve me and be a counsellor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise, and come up and stand in the office of his calling and humble himself before me, and if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering and acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold I the Lord your Gorl will heal him that he shall be healed and he shall lift up his voice again on the mountains and be a spokesman before my face. Let him come and locate his family in the neighborhood in which my servant Joseph resides, and in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the wrath to come, let him assist my servant Joseph, and also, let my servant Willlam Law assist my servant Joseph in making a solemn proclamation unto the Kings of the earth, even as I have before said unto you. If my servant Sidney will do my will, let him not move his family unto the eastern lands but let him change their habitation even as I have said. Behold it is not my will that he shall seek to find safety and refugc out of the city which I have appointed unto you, even the city of Nauvoo. Verily I say unto you even now, if he will hearken to my voice it shall be well with him.
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The Sermon,
Sunday Morning, May 16, 1841
The indications of the morning promised a beautiful day. At 10 o'clock A. M. a large concourse of the saints assembled on the meeting ground, and were addressed by Pres. Joseph Smith, who spoke at considerable length. He commenced his observations by remarking that the kindness of our Heavenly Father, called for our heartfelt gratitude. He then observed that Satan was generally blamed for the evils which we did, but if he was the cause of all our wickedness, men could not be condemned. The devil cannot compel mankind to evil, all was voluntary. Those who resist the spirit of God are liable to be led into temptation, and then the association of heaven is withdrawn from those who refuse to be made partakers of such great glory -- God would not exert any compulsory means and the Devil could not; and such ideas as were entertained by many were absurd. The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but Christ subjected the same in hope -- we are all subject to vanity while we travel through the crooked paths, and difficulties which surround us. Where is the man that is free from vanity? None ever were perfect but Jesus, and why was he perfect? Because he was the son of God, and had the fulness of the Spirit, and greater power than any man. But notwithstanding our vanity, we look forward with hope, (because "we are subjected in hope,") to the time of our deliverance.
He then made some observations on the first principles of the gospel, observing that many of the saints who had come from different States and Nations, had only a very superficial knowledge of these principles, not having heard them fully investigated. He then briefly stated the principles of faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, which were believed by some of the religious societies of the day, but the doctrine of laving on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost, was discarded by them.
The speaker then referred them to the 6th chap. of Heb. 1 and 2 verses, "not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, &c. but of the doctrines of baptism, laying on of hands, the resurrection and eternal Judgment, &c." The doctrine of eternal judgment was perfectly understood by the apostles, is evident from several passages of Scripture. Peter preached repentance and baptised for the remission of sins to the Jews, who had been led to acts of violence and blood by their leaders, but to the Rulers he said, "I would that through ignorance ye did it, as did also those ye ruled." Repent, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing (redemption) shall come from the presence of the Lord, for he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you, &c." The time of redemption here had reference to the time, when Christ should come, then and not till then would their sins be blotted out. Why? Because they were murderers, and no murderer hath eternal life. Even David, must wait for those times of refreshing, before he can come forth and his sins be blotted out; for Peter speaking of him says, "David hath not yet ascended into heaven, for his sepulchre is with us to this day:" his remains were then in the tomb. Now we read that many bodies of the saints arose, at Christ's resurrection probably all the saints, but it seems that David did not. Why? because he had been a murderer.
If the ministers of religion had a proper understanding of the doctrine of eternal judgment, they would not be found attending the man who had forfeited his life to the injured laws of his country, by shedding innocent blood; for such characters cannot be forgiven until they have paid the last farthing. The prayers of all the ministers in the world could never close the gates of hell against a murderer.
The speaker then spoke on the subject of election, and read the 9th chapter in Romans, from which it was evident that the election there spoken of was pertaining to the flesh, and had reference to the seed of Abraham, according to the promise God made to Abraham saying, "In thee and in thy seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." To them belonged the adoption, and the covenants, &c. Paul said, when he saw their unbelief, I wish myself accursed -- according to the flesh -- not according to the spirit.
Why did God say to Pharaoh "for this cause have I raised thee up?" Because Pharaoh was a fit instrument -- a wicked man, and had committed acts of cruelty of the most atrocious nature.
The election of the promised seed still continues, and in the last days, they shall have the priesthood restored unto them, and they shall be the "Saviors on Mount Zion" the "ministers of our God," if it were not for the remnant which was left, then might we be as Sodom and as Gomorrah
The whole of the chapter had reference to the priesthood and the house of Israel, and unconditional election of individuals to eternal life was not taught by the apostles
God did elect or predestinate that all those who would be saved, should he saved in Christ Jesus, and through obedience to the gospel; but he passes over no man's sins, but visits them with correction, and if his children will not repent of their sins, he will discard them.
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The Proclamation to the Saints Abroad.
The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, anxious to promote the prosperity of said church, feel it their duty to call upon the saints who reside out of this county, to make preparations to come in, without delay. This is important, and should be attended to by all who feel an interest in the prosperity of this the corner stone of Zion. Here the Temple must be raised, the University be built, and other edifices erected, which are necessary for the great work of the last days; and which can only be done by a concentration of energy, and enterprise. Let it therefore be understood, that all the stakes, excepting those in this county, and in Lee county Iowa, are discontinued, and the saints instructed to settle in this county as soon as circumstances will permit.
JOSEPH SMITH.
City of Nauvoo, Hancock Co. Illinois,
May 24th, 1841.
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Military preparations -- Nauvoo Legion.
HEAD QUARTERS, NAUVOO LEGION, CITY OF
NAUVOO, Illinois, May 23. A. D. 1841.
GENERAL ORDERS.
The lst Company (riflemen) 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Cohort, will be attached to the escort contemplated in the general orders of the 4th inst., for the 3d of July next.
In forming the Legion, the Adjutant will observe the rank of companies as follows, to wit: --
1st Cohort -- the flying artillery first, the lancers next the riflemen next, visiting companies of dragoons next the lancers and cavalry next, the dragoons -- 2d Cohort -- the artillery first, the lancers next, the riflemen next, the light infantry next, and the infantry next -- visiting companies in their appropriate places on the right of the troops of their own grade: the ranking company of the 1st Cohort will be formed on the right of said cohort, -- and the ranking company of the 2d Cohort will be formed on the left of said cohort -- the next on the left of the right, the next on the right of the left and so on to the center. The escort will be formed on the right of the forces.
JOSEPH SMITH, Lieut. General.
John C. Bennett, Maj. General.
It will be seen from these curious and unique documents, that Joe Smith is far superior, as a religious impostor to what Noah was, in all the talent and genius necessary to create a new sect, or institute a fresh religion, or organise a new humbug. -- Joe has some of the energetic characteristics of Mahomet, the Arabian prophet, or Moses, the Jewish prophet. His "Revelation" is his code of thought -- his "Sermon," his practice at home -- his "Proclamation" is carrying Mormons to the West -- and his "General Orders" show that he is determined not to be put down by the Gentiles.
Altogether, the movement of Joe Smith is one of the most remarkable in these latter days. Mixed up with religion, as a basis, he avails himself of all the civilization and improvements of the day -- military and civil. With a band of 2000 men, acting under a religious feeling, what is to prevent Joe from establishing his power in the West, as Mahomet did in Arabia. His arrest and imprisonment will only rouse his followers to a greater phrenzy, as Mahomet's flight from Mecca to Medina did. Wait and see the news from the West.
Notes: (forthcoming)
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