Times and Seasons/6/2

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Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Times and Seasons Vol. 6]

TIMES AND SEASONS
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"
Volume VI. No. 2.]	CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. Feb 4, 1845.	[Whole No. 110.

HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.

(Continued.)

The same day I received the following

(Revelation; given June), 1833.

Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten, that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance, in all things out of temptation: and I have loved you: Wherefore ye must needs be chastened, and stand rebuked before my face, for ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you, concerning the building of mine house, for the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. But behold, verily I say unto you, there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called, but few of them are chosen: they who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noonday; and for this cause, I gave unto you a commandment, that you should call your solemn assembly; that your fastings and your mourning might come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth, which is, by interpretation, the Creator of the first day; the beginning and the end.

Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment, that you should build an house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high: for this is the promise of the Father unto you: therefore I commanded you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem; nevertheless my servants sinned a very grievous sin; and contentions arose in the school of the prophets, which was very grievous unto me, saith your Lord; therefore I sent them forth to be chastened.

Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build an house: if you keep my commandments, you shall have power to build it; if you keep not my commandments the love of the Father, shall not continue with you: therefore you shall walk in darkness. Now here is wisdom and the mind of the Lord: let the house be built, not after the manner of the world, for I give not unto you, that ye shall live after the manner of the world: therefore let it be built after the manner which I shall show unto three of you, whom ye shall appoint and ordain unto this power. And the size thereof shall be fifty and five feet in width, and let it be sixty five feet in length, in the inner court thereof; and let the lower part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering, and for your preaching; and your fasting; and your praying, and the offering up your most holy desires unto me, saith your Lord. And let the higher part of the inner court, be dedicated unto me for the school of mine apostles, saith Son Ahman; or in other words, Alphus; or, in other words, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord. Amen.

A conference of high priests convened in the translating room in Kirtland on the third of June, and the first case presented was that of Doctor P. Hurlbut, who was accused of unchristian conduct with the women, while on a mission to the east: on investigation it was decided that his commission be taken from him, and that he be no longer a member of the church of Christ.

The next case before the conference was to ascertain what should be the dimensions or size of the house, that is to be built for a house of worship and the school of the prophets, and received a revelation on the size of the house.-The word of the Lord was, that it shall be fifty five feet wide, and sixty five feet long, in the inner court; and the conference appointed Joseph Smith jr., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams to obtain a draft or construction of the inner court of the house.

On the 4th, a similar conference assembled at the same place, and took into consideration how the French farm could be disposed of. The conference could not agree who should take charge of it, but all agreed to enquire [inquire] of the Lord; accordingly we received the following:

(Revelation to Enoch, June), 1833.

Behold I say unto you, here is wisdom whereby ye may know how to act concerning this matter: for it is expedient in me that this stake that I have set for the strength of Zion, should be made strong: therefore, let my servant Ahashdah take charge of the place which is named among you, upon which I design to build mine holy house: and again let it be divided into lots according to wisdom, for the benefit of those who seek inheritances, as it shall be determined in council among you. Therefore, take heed that ye see to this matter, and that portion that is necessary to benefit mine order, for the purpose of bringing forth my word to the children of men, for behold verily I say unto you, this is the most expedient in me, that my word should go forth unto the children of men, for

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the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men, for your good; even so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, it is wisdom and expedient in me, that my servant Zombre, whose offering I have accepted, and whose prayers I have heard; unto whom I give a promise of eternal life inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments from henceforth; for he is a descendant of Seth, and a partaker of the blessings of the promise made unto his fathers. Verily I say unto you, it is expedient in me that he should become a member of the order, that he may assist in bringing forth my word unto the children of men: therefore ye shall ordain him unto this blessing: and he shall seek diligently to take away incumbrances [encumbrances], that are upon the house named among you, that he may dwell therein; even so. Amen.

And Zombre was ordained by the conference to the high priesthood, and admitted according to the revelation.

June 6th. A conference of high priests assembled, and chose Orson Hyde a clerk to the presidency of the high priesthood. This conference was more especially called to counsel the committee, who had been appointed to take the oversight of the building of the house of the Lord. The conference voted that the committee, (Reynolds Cahoon, Jared Carter, and Hyrum Smith,) proceed immediately to commence building the house; or, to obtaining materials, stone, brick, lumber, &c, for the same.

Doctor Hurlbut being dissatisfied with the decision of the council on his case, presented the following appeal:

I Doctor P. Hurlbut, having been tried before the bishop's council of high priests on a charge of unchristian-like conduct with the female sex, and myself being absent at the time, and considering that strict justice was not done me, I do, by these presents, most solemnly enter my appeal unto the president's council of high priests, for a re-hearing, according to the privilege guaranteed to me in the laws of the church, which council is now assembled in the school room, in Kirtland, this 21st day of June, 1833.

It was voted by the council present, when this was received, that Brother Hurlbut be granted a re-hearing; and after prayer, (which was customary at the opening of all council of the church,) the council proceeded to ordain two high priests, to make out the number, (12) that the council, or church court, might be organised [organized] . Brothers John and William Smith were ordained under the hands of Elder Rigdon, by the choice of the council.

Brother Hurlbut's case was then laid before the court, and the testimony against him, given in by Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith, and duly investigated. The decision of the court was, that Brother Hurlbut should be forgiven, because of the liberal confession which he made. This court also decided that the bishop's council decided correctly on the case, and that Bro. Hurlbut's crime was sufficient to cut him off from the church; but on his confession he was restored.

The president's court, also took Brother Daniel Copley's priest's license and membership from him, because he refused to fulfil [fulfill] his mission according to the council of the high priesthood of the holy order of God. June 21st.

June 23rd. Brother Doctor P. Hurlbut was called in question, by a general council; and Brother Gee, of Thompson, testified that Brother Hurlbut said that he deceived Joseph Smith's God, or the spirit by which he was actuated, &c. There was also corroborating testimony brought against him, by Brother Hodges, and the council cut him off from the church.

The names of the temples to be built on the painted squares, as represented on the plot of the city of Zion, which is now about to be forwarded thither: numbers, 10, 11, and 12, are to be called, house of the Lord, for the presidency of the High and Most Holy priesthood, after the order of Melchisedec, which was after the order of the Son of God, upon Mount Zion, city of the New Jerusalem. Numbers 7, 8, 9; the sacred apostolic repository, for the use of the blshop [bishop]. Numbers 4, 5, and 6; the holy evangelical house, for the high priesthood of the holy order of God. Numbers 1, 2, and 3; the house of the Lord, for the elders of Zion, an ensign to the nations. Numbers 22, 23, and 24; house of the Lord for the presidency of the high priesthood, after the order of Aaron, a standard for the people. Numbers 19, 20 and 21; house of the Lord, for the high priesthood after the order of Aaron, the law of the kingdom of heaven, messenger to the people. Numbers 16, 17, and 18; house of the Lord for the teachers in Zion, messenger to the church. Numbers 13, 14, and 15; house of the Lord for the deacons in Zion, helps in government. Underneath must be written on each house,

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

June 24, 1833.

A council of the elders of the church was held at Westfield, the same day. Elder Gladden Bishop was president, and Brother Chester L. Heath clerk. Brother Paul entered a complaint against Brother James Higby, an elder, for circulating false and slanderous reports, and not observing the order of the gospel, and presented evidence unimpeachable, to substantiate the same to the satisfaction of the council;

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from which, and from Brother Higby's own mouth, and the spirit he showed, he was declared guilty by the council, and he was cut off from the church. The council then demanded his license, and the church book, which he utterly refused to give up; therefore, resolved that the proceedings of the council be sent to Kirtland; and noted among the churches. Copied into the Kirtland record, June 29, 1833.

An explanation of the plot of the city of Zion, sent to the brethren in Zion, the 25th of June, 1833:

This plot contains one mile square, all the squares of the plot contain ten acres each, being forty rods square. You will observe that the lots are laid off alternately in the squares; in one square running from the south and north to the line through the centre [center] of the square; and in the next, the lots run from the east and west to the centre [center] line. Each lot is four perches in front, and twenty back, making one half of an acre in each lot, so that no one street will be built on, entirely through the street; but, one square the houses will stand on one street, and on the next one, another, except the middle range of squares, which runs north and south, in which range are the painted squares.

The lots are laid off in these squares north and south, all of them; because these squares are forty perches by sixty, being twenty perches longer than the other, their greatest length being east and west, and by running all these squares, north and south, it makes all the lots in the city of one size.

The painted squares in the middle are for public buildings. The one without any figures is for store houses for the bishop, and to be devoted to his use. Figure first is for temples for the use of the presidency; the circles inside of the square, are the places of the temples. You will see it contains twelve figures, two are for the temples of the lesser priesthood. It is also to contain twelve temples. The whole plot is supposed to contain from fifteen to twenty thousand people: you will therefore see that it will require twenty four buildings to supply them with houses of worship, schools &c.; and none of these temples are to be smaller than the one of which we send you a draft. This temple is to be built in the square marked figure first; and to be built where the circle is, which has a cross on it; on the north and south of the plot where the line is drawn, is to be laid off for barns, stables, &c., for the use of the city; so that no barns or stables will be in the city among the houses; the ground to be occupied by these, must be laid off according to wisdom.

On the north and south are to be laid off the farms for the agriculturist, and sufficient quantity of land to supply the whole plot; and if it cannot be laid off without going too great a distance from the city, there must also be some laid off on the east and west.

When this square is thus laid off and supplied, lay off another in the same way, and so fill up the world in these last days; and let every man live in the city for this is the city of Zion. All the streets are of one width, being eight perches wide. Also, the space round the outer edge of the painted squares, is to be eight perches between the temple and the street on every side.

No one lot, in this city, is to contain more than one house, and that to be built twenty five feet back from the street, leaving a small yard in front, to be planted in a grove, according to the taste of the builder; the rest of the lot for gardens, &c.; all the houses to be built of brick and stone.

The names of the temples to be built the same as written, June 24th, except a transposition under numbers 19, 20, and 21, thus: house of the Lord, the law of the kingdom of heaven, and messenger to the people; for the high priesthood after the order of Aaron.

The scale of the plot is forty perches to the inch.

A description of the house of the Lord, which is to be built first, in Zion:

This house of the Lord for the presidency, is eighty seven feet long, and sixty one feet wide, and ten feet taken off of the east end for the stairway, leaves the inner court, seventy eight feet by sixty one, which is calculated and divided for seats in the following manner, viz: The two aisles four feet wide each; the middle of the pews, are eleven feet ten inches long, and three feet wide each; and the two lines drawn through the middle, are four inches apart; in which space a curtain is to drop at right angles, and divide the house into four parts if necessary. The pews of the side blocks are fourteen and a half feet long and three feet wide. The five pews in each corner of the house, are twelve feet six inches long. The open spaces, between the corner and side pews are for fire places; those in the west are nine feet wide, and the east ones are eight feet and eight inches wide, and the chimney carried up in the wall where they are marked with a pencil.

The pulpit in the west end of the house is to be occupied by the high priesthood, as follows: Number one, is of the president and his council. Number two, is for the bishop and his council. Number three for the high priests;

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and number four for the elder: each of these are eight feet long, containing three coves or stands of the respective speakers; and those seats opposite them are for visiting officers, who are to occupy seats according to their respective grades. The two spaces in the middle are stairs two feet wide. The middle pulpit is to be elevated; the first seats one foot, the second two feet, the third three feet, and the fourth four feet. And those upon each side are also to be elevated: the first one eight inches, the second sixteen, the third twenty four, the fourth thirty two inches. The corner seats are to be occupied by singers and elevated; the first seat six inches, the second twelve, the third eighteen, the fourth twenty four, and the fifth thirty two inches.

The pulpit in the east end of the house is to be occupied by the lesser priesthood. Number one is for the presidency of the lesser priesthood; number two for the priest: number three for the teachers: and number four for the deacons; and the seats by their sides, are also to be occupied by visiting officers; each on opposite his respective grade, &c. The pulpits are to be done off with panel work, in the best workmanlike manner, and the building to be composed of stone and brick of the best kind. The side view represents five windows in each story. The windows are to have each forty eight lights, of seven by nine glass, six one way and eight the other; the sides and lintels of the windows to be of hewn stone; and on the top of the lintel is to be a gothic top, as you see, but the windows must have a lintel; and so with the outside doors, all with gothic tops.

Make your house fourteen feet high between the floors. There will not be a gallery but a chamber; each story to be fourteen feet high, arched over head, with an eliptic [elliptic] arch, over each of the stories. Let the under part, or foundation of the house, be of stone, let it be raised sufficiently high to admit of banking up so high as to admit of a descent every way from the house, so far as to divide the distance between this house, and the one next to it. On the top of those stones, and above the embankment, let there be two rows of hewn stone, and then commence the brick on the hewn stone.-The entire height of the house, twenty eight feet, each story being fourteen feet; make the wall a sufficient thickness for a house of this size.

Observe particularly that as there are pulpits at each end of the house, the backs of the congregation must be to one of them, and they will want occasionally to change. In order for this, the house must have pews instead of slips, and in the pews let the seats be loose, so as to slip from one side of the pew to the other, so as to face either pulpit, as occasion may require.

The end view represents five windows of the same size as the side, the middle windows excepted, which is to be the same, with the addition of side lights. This middle window is designed to light both above and below, as the upper floor is to be laid off in the same way as the lower, and arched overhead, with curtains, or vails [veils], as before mentioned.

You will be careful to have hooks and rings to suspend your vails [veils] on, so that they can be let down or raised at any time, at pleasure.-Also, as you see, the pulpits are to have four seats, one rising above another; for instance, the elder's seat is the lowest, next comes the high priests, next the bishop's; so each of these must have a vail [veil] that is suspended on the upper floor, so as to be let down; which will at any time when necessary be let down, and shut off each stand or seat by itself.

The doors are to be five feet wide, and nine feet high, and to be in the east end of the house. The west end is to have no doors, but in other respects to be like the east, except the windows are to be opposite the alleys which run east and west. The roof of the house to have one pitch, the door to have gothic top, as the windows. The shingles of the roof to be painted before they are put on. There is to be a fan light, as you see. The windows and doors are all to have venetians; a belfry in the east end, and a bell of very large size.-June 25th, 1833.

Extracts from H. C. Kimball's Journal.

[Continued.]

One circumstance that occurred while we were traveling in Indiana, I will here mention, concerning some spies who came into our camp. One day while we were eating dinner three gentleman came riding up on very fine looking horses and commenced their inquiries of various ones concerning our traveling in so large a body, asking where we were from, and where we were going. The reply was as usual some from the State of Maine, another would say, I am from York state, some from Massachusetts, some from Ohio, and some replied, we are from the east, and as soon as we have done eating dinner we shall be going to the west again. They then addressed themselves to Doctor Williams to see if they could find out who the leader of the camp was. The Doctor replied, we have no one in particular. They asked if we had not a general to take the lead

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of the company? The reply was, no one in particular. But said they, is there not some one among you who you call your captain, or leader, or superior to the rest? He answered, sometimes one and sometimes another takes charge of the company so as not to throw the burthen [burden] upon any one in particular. These same spies who had come from the west passed us that same day, or the next.

On Monday, June 2nd, we crossed the Illinois river. The enemies had threatened that we should not pass over here, but we were ferried across without any difficulty. Here we were counted by the ferryman, and he declared we were five hundred in number, although there was only about one hundred and fifty of us. Our company had increased since we started from Kirtland, in consequence of many having volunteered and joined us from the different branches of the church, through which we had passed in our journey. We camped on the bank of the river until next day.

On Tuesday the 3rd, we went up, several of us, with Joseph Smith jr. to the top of a mound on the bank of the Illinois river, which was several hundred feet above the river, and from the summit of which we had a pleasant view of the surrounding country: we could overlook the tops of the trees, on to the meadow or prairie on each side the river as far as our eyes could extend, which was one of the most pleasant scenes I ever beheld. On the top of this mound there was the appearance of three altars, which had been built of stone, one above another, according to the ancient order; and the ground was strewn over with human bones. This caused in us very peculiar feelings, to see the bones of our fellow creatures scattered in this manner, who had been slain in ages past. We felt prompted to dig down into the mound, and sending for a shovel and hoe, we proceeded to move away the earth. At about one foot deep we discovered the skeleton of a man, almost entire; and between two of his ribs we found an Indian arrow, which had evidently been the cause of his death. We took the leg and thigh bones and carried them along with us to Clay county. All four appeared sound. Elder B. Young has yet the arrow in his possession. It is a common thing to find bones thus drenching upon the earth in this country.

The same day, we pursued our journey.-While on our way we felt anxious to know who the person was who had been killed by that arrow. It was made known to Joseph that he had been an officer who fell in battle, in the last destruction among the Lamanites, and his name was Zelph. This caused us to rejoice much, to think that God was so mindful of us as to show these things to his servant. Brother Joseph had enquired [inquired] of the Lord and it was made known in a vision.

This day, June 3rd, while we were refreshing ourselves and teams, about the middle of the day, Brother Joseph got up in a wagon and said, that he would deliver a prophecy. After giving the brethren much good advice, exhorting them to faithfulness and humility, he said the Lord had told him that there would a scourge come upon the camp, in consequence of the fractious and unruly spirits that appeared among them and they should die like sheep with the rot; still if they would repent and humble themselves before the Lord, the scourge in a great measure might be turned away; but, as the Lord lives, this camp will suffer for giving way to their unruly temper, which afterwards actually did take place to the sorrow of the brethren.

The same day when we had got within one mile of the Snye, we came to a very beautiful little town called Atlas. Here we found honey for the first time on our journey, that we could buy; we purchased about two thirds of a barrel. We went down to the Snye and crossed over that night in a ferry boat. We camped for the night on the bank of the Snye. There was a great excitement in the country through which we had passed, and also ahead of us; the mob threatened to stop us. Guns were fired in almost all directions through the night.-Brother Joseph did not sleep much, if any, but was through the camp, pretty much during the night.

We pursued our journey on the 4th, and camped on the bank of the Mississippi river.-Here we were somewhat afflicted and the enemy threatened much that we should not cross over the river out of Illinois into Missouri. It took us two days to cross the river, as we had but one ferry boat, and the river was one mile and a half wide. While some were crossing, many others spent their time in hunting and fishing, &c. When we had all got over, we camped about one mile back from the little town of Louisiana, in a beautiful oak grove, which is immediately on the bank of the river. At this place there was some feelings of hostility manifested again by Sylvester Smith, in consequence of a dog growling at him while he was marching his company up to the camp, he being the last that came over the river.-The next morning Brother Joseph said that he would descend to the spirit that was manifested by some of the brethren, to let them see the folly of their wickedness. He rose up and commenced speaking, by saying, "if any man insults me, or abuses me, I will stand in my own

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defence [defense] at the expense of my life; and if a dog growl at me, I will let him know that I am his master." At this moment Sylvester Smith, who had just returned from where he had turned out his horses to feed, came up, and hearing Brother Joseph make those remarks, said, "if that dog bites me, I'll kill him."-Brother Joseph turned to Sylvester and said, "if you kill that dog, I'll whip you," and then went on to show the brethren how wicked and unchristianlike such conduct appeared before the eyes of truth and justice.

On Friday the 6th, we resumed our journey. On Saturday the 7th, at night, we camped among our brethren at Salt river, in the Allred settlement, in a piece of woods by a beautiful spring of water and prepared for the Sabbath. On the Sabbath we had preaching. Here we remained several days, washing our clothes, and preparing to pursue our journey. Here we were joined by Hyrum Smith and Lyman Wight with another company. The camp now numbered two hundred and five men, all armed and equipped as the law directs. It was delightful to see the company, for they were all young men with one or two exceptions, and in good spirits.

We were now re-organised [re-organized], according to the following order: Lyman Wight was chosen general of the camp; then Brother Joseph chose twenty men out of the camp for his life guard, I being one of the number. Brother George A. Smith was Brother Joseph's armor bearer; Hyrum Smith was chosen captain of the life guard. The remainder of the camp was organised [organized] into companies as before stated. We had twenty five wagons, two horses in each and some three. One day while we remained here, our general marched us out on a large meadow or prairie.-He then proceeded to inspect us and examine our firelocks, &c; afterwards we marched in platoons and an object being placed, we discharged our pieces in order to try them. We were drilled about half a day and then returned to the camp.

On the 12th, we again resumed our march: many of the inhabitants went with us several miles; they seemed to have much respect for us. We traveled about fourteen miles, and camped on a large prairie.

Friday the 13th, my horses got loose and went back ten miles, with others. I pursued after them and returned back to the camp in about two hours. We tarried in the middle of this prairie which is about twenty eight miles across, on account of a rupture which took place in the camp. Here F. G. Williams and Roger Orton, received a very serious chastisement from Brother Joseph, for not obeying orders previously given. The chastisement given to Roger Orton, was given more particularly for suffering me to go back after the horses, as I was one of Joseph's life guards , and it belonged to Roger to attend to the team; but, as the team was my own and I had had the care of it all through, he still threw the care on me, which was contrary to orders, inasmuch as the responsibility rested upon him to see to the team. In this place further regulations were made in regard to the organization of the camp.

A day or two after this Bishop Partridge met us direct from Clay county, as we were camping on the bank of the Wacondah river in the woods. We received much information from Brother Partridge concerning the hostile feelings and prejudices that existed against us in Missouri in all quarters. It gave us great satisfaction to receive intelligence from him, as we were in perils, and threatened all the while.-I will here mention one circumstance that transpired during our stay at this place, which was, that of Brother Lyman Wight baptising [baptizing] Dean Gould as he was not previously a member of the church yet had accompanied us all the way from Kirtland.

We pursued our journey and followed the bank of the river for several miles. As we left the river and came into a very beautiful prairie Brother William Smith, one of the Twelve, killed a very large deer, which made us some very nourishing soup, and added to our comfort considerably.

On Wednesday the 18th at night we camped one mile from the town of Richmond, Ray co. On Thursday the 19th, we arose as soon as it was light and passed through the town before the inhabitants were up. As Luke Johnson and others, were passing through before the teams came along, Brother Luke observed a black woman in a gentleman's garden near the road. She beckoned to him and said, "come here massa." She was evidently much agitated in her feelings. He went up to the fence and she said to him, there is a company of men laying in wait here who are calculating to kill you this morning as you pass through. This was nothing new to us as we had been threatened continually through the whole journey, and death and destruction seemed to await us daily. This day we only traveled about fifteen miles. One wagon broke down and the wheels ran off from others, and there seemed to be many things to hinder our progress, although we strove with all diligence to speed our way forward. Our intentions were, when we started to go through to Clay county that day, but all in vain. This night we camped on an elevated piece of land between the two branches

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of the Fishing river, the main branch of which was formed by seven small streams or branches, these being two of them. Just as we halted and were making preparations for the night, five men rode into the camp, and told us we should see hell before morning, and such horrible oaths as came from their lips, I never heard before. They told us that sixty men were coming from Richmond, Ray county, who had sworn to destroy us, also, seventy more were coming from Clay county, to assist in our destruction. These men were armed with guns, and the whole country was in a rage against us, and nothing but the power of God could save us. All this time the weather was fine and pleasant. Soon after these men left us we discovered a small black cloud rising in the west; and not more than twenty minutes passed away before it began to rain and hail, but we had very little of the hail in our camp. All around us the hail was heavy; some of the hailstones, or rather lumps of ice, were as large as hen's eggs. The thunders rolled with awful majesty, and the red lightnings flashed through the horizon, making it so light that I could see to pick up a pin almost any time through the night; the earth quaked and trembled, and there being no cessation it seemed as though the Almighty had issued forth his mandate of vengeance. The wind was so terrible that many of our tents were blown over and we were not able to hold them; but there being an old meeting house close at hand, many of us fled there to secure ourselves from the storm. Many trees were blown down, and others twisted and wrung like a withe. The mob came to the river, two miles from us; and the river had risen to that height that they were obliged to stop without crossing over. The hail fell so heavy upon them that it beat holes in their hats, and in some instances even broke the stocks off their guns; their horses being frightened fled leaving the riders on the ground, their powder was wet and it was evident the Almighty fought in our defence [defense]. This night the river raised forty feet.

(To be continued.)

COMMUNICATIONS.

BR. TAYLOR:-

Sir: Will you please to give place to a few lines in the Neighbor and Times and Seasons. I observe in the New York Prophet, a hint to the Elders, concerning the circulation of our valuable periodicals. Why is it, they ask, that there is no more interest manifested among the Elders in enlisting support or subscription for our periodicals?

For one I will answer the question. While I have been preaching abroad in the world from place to place, the question being asked of me so many times by the saints: Why do not my papers come? I sent the monies [moneys] long ago to pay my subscription for the year, and have received but two or three numbers. Why is it that I do not get them? My reply has been: It seems, then, that the Post Office Department is as the Indian said of the white man: 'very unsartin.' Realising [Realizing] the very few that has been received by our brethren abroad, in proportion to the many that have been mailed at our establishments, my heart has fainted, and I have not had courage to ask men to pay their money; fearing they would never get their papers. But this difficulty, we trust, will soon be obviated.

BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Nauvoo, Jan. 29, 1845.

(->) In connection with the above, let us say to the elders and subscribers abroad, that ample provisions are now made, and being made, with "Wm. A. Livingston & Co's Package Express," to remedy the evils complained of.-That line now extends to St. Louis, and the agent for this place, and a continuation of the line to Nauvoo, will soon be made.

We think, our foreign subscribers for papers and books, may rest assured, as to a safe conveyance , and punctuality.-[ED.]

MR. EDITOR:-

I have just returned from a very pleasant and interesting visit to St. Louis. I was highly pleased with the spirit that prevails among the saints in that place. They are united in fellowship-they are one in heart, one in faith, and one in their resolutions to serve and honor the Lord, to uphold the regular authorities of the church, and listen to the counsel and instructions of the Twelve.

The vigilant exertions of Bro. Riley, the presiding Elder, together with all the official members of the church, are truly praiseworthy. They are indefatigable in their labours [labors] to gather together all the scattered sheep and bring them back to the fold. They visit the sick and administer to their wants so far as they have ability; and they also remember the building of the Temple of the Lord by giving a portion of their earnings. They are willing and glad to do all in their power, and they shall be blest in their basket and in their store; and when the servants of the living God receive their blessings, they also in St. Louis will be had in remembrance before the Lord, and the faithful shall receive the desire of their hearts.

There is much interest felt by many in St. Louis

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for our cause. More or less are being baptized weekly; aad [and] the saints number between three and four hundred.

May God bless them forever, and bless all that do bless them; and may they ever abide faithful in evil as well as in good report, and gain crowns and kingdoms in the mansions of our God.

ORSON HYDE.

TIMES AND SEASONS.

CITY OF NAUVOO,

FEBRUARY 1, 1845.

LAW AND GOSPEL.

It would be of great benefit to the church, and many times, save the saints money and trouble, if the Elders, through the aid of the churches abroad, would furnish the 'Twelve' at Nauvoo, with the latest 'Revised Statutes' of each State and Territory.

(Prophet please copy.)

WHICH IS RIGHT?

We present, for the inspection of candid people, various translations of the first verse of the twenty ninth chapter of Isaiah. The Bishop's bible being the oldest printed text, we begin with that first.

"Ah altar, altar of the citie that David dwelt in; adde yaere unto yaere: let them kill lambes."

King James' ranks as second, and reads:

"Wo to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt: add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices"

The Catholic occupies the third place, and reads:

"Wo to Ariel, to Ariel, the city which David took: year is added to year, the solemnities are at an end."

The Polyglot, fourth, reads:

"Woe to Ariel (the lion of god,) to Ariel (the lion of God) the city, (or of the city,) where David dwelt; add ye year to year: let them kill sacrifices, (or cut off the heads.")

Michaelis' (Hebrew) comes in a fifth, and if we had Hebrew type would read:

"Ho (O or alas) ari-ale, (altar of God,) ari-ale, altar of God, keir sit (city) khau nauh, (to bow down) Dauveid, (David) se poo (add ye) shaunauh (year) gnal (upon) shaunauh; (year) khaugeim, (festivals) yien-ko poo (let them be cut off.")

Now with very little alteration for dialect, from Hebrew to English, the verse will read:

Alas, altar of God, altar of God, the city bowed down to David: add ye year upon year; let the festivals be cut off.

The first four translations came from the same Hebrew, but not by inspiration.

If all men knew that Isaiah delivered his prophecies about the days that Israel went to a far country; or, more properly, when "The Lord was angry with him, and removed him out of his sight," they might perfectly understand the foregoing verse, and conclude that God removed the altar and festivals with Israel. That Daniel had an allusion to the same things when he said:

"And from the time the daily shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety days."

Israel was "removed out of sight" about seven hundred and twenty years before the birth of our Savior; and five hundred and seventy years of the Christian era, would complete the twelve hundred and ninety days which prophetically means twelve hundred and ninety years. In the next verse Daniel says:

"Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."

This thirteen hundred and thirty five years for the "end" of the whole captivity and gathering of Israel. Thus Mormonism is ahead of all theories and speculations, that can be started. But hark, gentle reader, it is nowhere said, that the sanctuary should not be "cleansed" before the Lord comes, nor is it contrary to the promises of the Scripture, for the Lord to come twenty years before the ten tribes come from the north countries, and meet his foes in the valley of Jehoshaphat. In fact, this view of Daniel's numbers, will exactly meet the return of the ten tribes as foretold in the Appendix to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.

One word further upon the "altar of God," or perhaps some very learned man may choose to call it "the lion of God;"-By reading the rest of the twenty ninth chapter of Isaiah it seems that the "altar" was to be brought down and speak out of the ground; and thus we are reminded that it spoke by the power of the priesthood. No wonder, then, that the prophet exclaimed:-alas for the priesthood! no man could get revelations from God without it:-and so we say; alas, for the clergy without a priesthood; they bow down to the bible, and add translation upon translation; but the spirit ceases to guide them in the old paths, and the whole world has gone a whoring after strange Gods. Alas, for the altar of God!

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