Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 6/Messenger and Advocate

Messenger and Advocate
KIRTLAND, OHIO, MARCH, 1835.

—> Conferences. The elders will notice appointments for several conferences, to be holden by the brethren from Kirtland. Frequent and pressing calls have induced the elders here to send these notices, and all others heretofore appointed, except one at Freedom, N. Y. the first next month, will be recalled.

[Editor.]

—> We are requested to inform Elders Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt, that they are desired to attend a meeting of the elders in this place on the 26th of April next. We hope that circumstances may render it convenient for them to attend, as their presence is very desirable.

[Editor.]

"DELUSION,"
Said Mr. A. Campbell, in 1831, soon after the church of the Saints began to be established in this place; but unfortunately for his purpose, if a purpose he had, his cry was unheard, the cause still progressed, and continues to progress. As this gentlemen makes high professions as a Reformer, and is some tenacious that his sentiments are to pervade the earth before the final end of darkness, we think, or at least hope, our readers will pardon our digress from ordinary matters, to give this modern apostle a passing notice.

In his [not] far—famed pamphlet, of Feb. 10, 1831, this grave Reformer, while examining the book of Mormon, says:

"INTERNAL EVIDENCES.

It admits the Old and New Testaments to contain the revelations, institutions, and commandments of God to Patriarchs, Jews and Gentiles, down to the year 1830—and always, as such, speaks of them and quotes them. This admission at once blasts its pretensions to credibility. For no man with his eyes open can admit both books to have come from God. Admitting the Bible now received to have come from God, it is impossible that the Book of Mormon came from the same Author. For the following reasons: —

1. Smith, its real author, as ignorant and impudent a knave as ever wrote a book, betrays the cloven foot in basing his whole book upon a false fact, or a pretended fact, which makes God a liar. It is this:—With the Jews God made a covenant at Mount Sinai, and instituted a priesthood, and a high priesthood. The priesthood he gave to the tribe of Levi, and the high priesthood to Aaron and his sons for an everlasting priesthood.—He separated Levi, and covenanted to give him this office irrevocably while ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came."

Mr. Campbell attempts by a single stroke, to overthrow the validity of the book of Mormon, by bringing forward the institution of the priesthood, conferred upon Aaron and his sons, but we are willing to go the whole length in this matter of priesthood, and say that it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed throughout their generations. Ex. 40:15. And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. We quote this passage because Mr. C. says, that it was only "while ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came." Israel's God takes a longer stretch than this Rev. gentleman. He says "throughout their generations." If the literal descendants of Aaron are no more, then this priesthood is lost from Israel, unless God bestows it upon another family; but if not, not.

But Mr. C. says "while ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came."—By—the—by the temple was not reared when this covenant was made, neither does the Lord mention it, nor the Messiah at the time: it is only one of this Reformer's new fashioned spiritualizing systems—we have not yet learned it.

This is not all: He says that the scripture teaches, that a person of another family who should come near, when this holy ordinance [sacrifice] was being performed, should be put to death. We know that, "the stranger, who cometh nigh, shall be put to death," and that the heathens were called strangers, but not the children of Israel.

Again: Lehi and his sons, who were descendants of Joseph, offered sacrifice, and this is enough to "blast the pretensions of the book of Mormon, to credibility."

Now, as it is, and very correctly too, Lehi and his sons were blessed with the high priesthood—the Melchesedek priesthood. They never made any pretence that they were descendants of Aaron, or ever received that priesthood which was conferred upon him by the hand of Moses, at the direction of the Lord.

How did it happen that Moses had authority to consecrate Aaron a priest? Where did he get his authority to arrange the tabernacle, ark, &c.? Who laid hands upon him? Had he authority to "come near" when the Lord was entreated by sacrifice? He was Aaron's brother, to be sure, but Aaron was the high priest.

Should Mr. C. finally learn, that Moses received the holy priesthood, after the order of Melchesedek, under the hand of Jethro, his father in—law, that clothed with this authority he set Israel in order, and by commandment ordained Aaron to a priesthood less than that, and that Lehi was a priest after this same order, perhaps he will not raise so flimsey [flimsy] an assertion, as he does when he says the validity of the book of Mormon is destroyed because Lehi offered sacrifice; and perhaps, also, be may not be quite so lavish with his familiar titles as he was when he called brother Smith "as impudent a knave as ever wrote a book!!"

This is a mere specimen: "This ignorant and impudent liar, [bro. Smith] in the next place, makes the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, violate his covenants with Israel and Judah concerning the land of Canaan, by promising a new land to a pious Jew."

We know that God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed, but we have yet to learn where he said that he would not give them any more. Mr. C. will find, in the 49th of Genesis, where Jacob declared that his blessings had prevailed above those of his progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and that he confers them upon the head of his son Joseph, of whom Lehi was a descendant.

If the reader will also look into the 33d chap. of Deut. he will find that Moses promises Joseph a land; for he says, "Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and the deep that coaches beneath, and for the precious fruits bro't forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills."

Why all this parade about the bless-ing of Joseph, if he were only to inherit an equal proportion of the land of Canaan? Surely the Messiah was never promised through his lineage, or descendants: then why say so much about Joseph? But we quote another verse from the same chap. which makes the subject sufficiently plain only to a man who has been crying Millen[n]ium! Mellenium [Millennium]!! some four or five years, without ever giving his hearers one solitary scroll to point them to the word of God for a preparatory guide to be prepared for that august period!

"His [Joseph's] glory is like, the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."

Now, if some friend of ours, or even the editor of the Millen[n]ial Harbinger, will be so kind as to solve one mystery on the subject of Joseph's blessing, he will do us a favor. Place Joseph in the land of Canaan and never suffer his descendants to go out, and then set him to push the people together to [from] the ends of the earth, and if you do not see a new thing under the sun, it will be because the Millen[n]ial Harbinger has gathered Israel from the four winds, and left them all standing where they now are!

If the Lord promised, (which he did,) the land of Canaan to Abraham, and Jacob's blessing had prevailed above that, to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, where could he find it? Not in the land of Canaan, merely, though Mr. C. has the daring effrontery to say that if God should take any of the seed of Jacob to any other part of the earth, he would violate his covenant which he had previously made!—How does he know it?

With his boasted knowledge he will not be disturbed if we give our readers another specimen:

"The pious Jews in the captivity turned their faces to Jerusalem and the holy place, and remembered God's promises concerning the place where he recorded his name. They hung their harps upon the willow trees, and could not sing the song of Zion in a foreign land; but the Nephites have not a single wish for Jerusalem, for they can, in their wig wam temple, in the wilderness of America, enjoy more of God's presence than the most righteous Jew could enjoy in that house of which David had rather be a door—keeper than to dwell in the tabernacles of men. And all this too, when God's only house of prayer, according to his covenant with Israel, stood in Jerusalem."

Here are further secrets unfolded.—We remember to have read, in the 137th Ps. either a history of what had taken place, or a prophecy concerning something to come, and which, in the days of David was yet to transpire;—but the lamentation was uttered by those who were in distress and mocked by the heathen. The reader will also remember that Solomon, the son of David, built the Temple, and how, we ask, could David be a door—keeper in the same, when it was not reared until his earthly tabernacle was crumbling to dust? But it does very well for Mr. C.—he can get him up there with songs of thanksgiving, waiting before God, and keeping the doors of his sacred Temple, and not a stone of it yet laid!!

We remember also to have read a sublime sentence uttered by the mouth of a prophet, in the name of the Lord, something like this: "Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things that my hand has made." Solomon, who built the Temple, of which Mr. C. says David desired to be a door—keeper, after he was gathered to his fathers, says: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and heavens of heavens cannot contain thee."

Now, if God's presence and glory fill the heavens, is he not sufficient to fill more than one small house like that built at Jerusalem? and has not a man, endowed with the holy priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek, authority to build a house to the honor of HIS name, and especially, when the worship of that at Jerusalem was corrupted, or it thrown down? We have yet to be informed when the Lord said that he would not fill another house with his glory, as he did that at Jerusalem, or when he ever said that the descendants of Joseph should be cursed, if they should build another like that, when enjoying the promised blessing, made to them by the mouth of God, through Moses, that they should possess the ends of the earth.

Our readers will understand that these extracts are taken from Mr. C.'s writings of 1831, and if occasion requires, we shall give them a specimen of his writings since, in a future number, and then close with this gentleman forever.—[ Editor.]

Letter from Elder S. Carter to J. Carter
We have just been favored with the perusal of a letter from Elder S. Carter, to his brother, J. Carter, of this place, which gives the pleasing intelligence of the spread of truth in the western part of Illinois. We have previously received letters from the same neighborhood from elders G. M. Hinkle and H. Green, from which extracts have heretofore been given; but it appears that our brethren are constantly administering the word of life to the people, many of whom are disposed to hear. The letter says, that there are now one hundred or more who have recently been baptised.

So spreads the mighty work! That stone which was taken from the mountain without hands, in the last days, will roll on till the knowledge and glory of our God fill the earth; for the same power which could take it from the mountain without hands, can speed it onward, though the powers of darkness attempt to oppose it!

Elder Carter writes that he has met with some persecution, and that we have reason to expect. He says that not long before, a gang of about 20 men, armed, came to escort him before a court; but after a hearing he was discharged, though not without being threatened by the rabble that if he did not leave the country immediately, he would be dealt with in a different manner. He however appointed meetings, and continued to proclaim the gospel of our Lord, and hold up the truth to a dying people with as much zeal as before. This was honorable, it was commendable. The more wicked a people, the more need they have of the gospel; for even our Lord came to call such to repentance.

Elder C. is a man with whom we have formed an intimate acquaintance, and know that he is a peaceable, circumspect, devout man of God; and that wherever he may travel and proclaim the gospel, he will do it without infringing upon the lawful privileges of any, and that such men are sure to rouse the indignation of Satan, and his emissaries who labor for hire and make merchandise of souls!

We have not received our usual number of letters from the elders and churches, and shall not in consequence, be able to give our usual lengthy summary. Since the late conference in Freedom, N. Y we are informed, that 11 more have been baptised in Allegany Co. The work in that region seems to be prosperous, and we may say, as we have frequently had occasion to say, we are reminded of Paul's vision, when he saw a man who said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us!"—We seldom hear from any part of our own country, without the same cry being reiterated in our ears; and we often ask, when will the time arrive, or will it ever, that the number of laborers shall be equal to the harvest?

The people in Freedom and vicinity, have long desired some of the faithful elders to visit them, whether they will be accommodated or not, we cannot say, but we hope that the approaching conference will be beneficial to the good cause. It is true they have suffered some persecutions; but God's grace must not be wanting, for they are now a strong band, and more are being added to them and the churches in their vicinity, daily.

Since writing the foregoing, we have received another letter from our brother at Freedom, in which he speaks as follows: "We are looking forward to the time appointed for our conference, when we hope to see some elders from your place. I can truly say, I think the cause rather gaining friends in this region, but we hope and trust that it may then have a new impulse. Yesterday brother A. J. Squires baptized eleven in the town of Rushford, in the county of Allegany, the place of meeting is about 10 or 11 miles from here."

If we mistake not, it is something more than a year since the first were baptized in that place, and when we reflect on what God has truly done for that people, our heart is made to rejoice.

We know that the prejudice is so great in many places, that the people will not come out to hear, but wherever this gospel is preached in plainness, and a hearing is once had, the truth almost invariably finds more or less who love its heavenly influence and are willing to follow its teachings.

No man acquainted with the Spirit of the Lord, who has, by the same, been instructed in the great things mentioned by the prophets which are to be fulfilled in the last days, can reflect one moment upon the subject of the gospel's being proclaimed to the world, without feeling an animating, cheering anxiety, and a holy zeal, kindling into inexpressible desire for those who are entrusted with this healing balm to pour upon the nations, to be faithful to their calling. A man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is not fit for the kingdom, said our Lord. This was uttered by the Lamb just after one had volunteered to preach the gospel, but wanted the privilege of going to bid his friends farewell, and is truly an important item. If, in the days of our Lord on earth, men were called unfit for the kingdom because they desired to spend a few hours, or days, to take leave of their friends, after being called, or volunteering to proclaim salvation, what shall we say, in the last days, when the world is perishing for lack of vision, and every thing declares the near approach of the great day, when we see some possessed of a large share of mental endowments, and abundance of the riches of this world, seating themselves quietly, and fairing sumptuously every day? Will such men's garments be spotless in the presence of the Judge, when the nations are assembled before him?

We are aware of the saying of Paul, on the subject of providing for one's own house, in his first letter to Timothy, but this does not say that those whose houses are provided for, in the providence of our Lord, with all the luxuries of this world, are to come forward with this plea, and flatter themselves that they are doing the will of God. We think (if our humble opinion is worth any thing) that men ought to be certain that they are called to the work of the ministry and then go forward with the zeal and perseverence becoming the importance of this high profession.

We are acquainted with many men, whose earthly income is very small, who have wives and children, and all as dear as the dearest in this life, and they are found in the field almost constantly. Will such men reap a reward? Ask our Master—"There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake, or the gospel's but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life." See Mat. 19:29; Mark 10:29, 30; Luke 18:29, 30.

Will such receive a reward? yes; they will receive a crown in the mansions of glory, and no power of earth or hell can keep it from them. The servants of the Lord will do well to look at these promises—such as leave houses and lands, for Christ's sake, and not such as leave houses and lands when they have none!

Since the perusal of elder S. Carter's letter to his brother in this place, we have received one from elders G. M. Hinkle and H. Green, which says, that themselves, in company with elders S. Carter and S. Brown, have baptized, in that region 117, and that elders Groves and Lyman, a little to the north have baptized 21 more. Thus the mighty work moves forward, and thus it will, when it is preached in plainness. May God put forth his own hand!

From these brethren we have received a number of subscribers for the Messenger and Advocate, and some few for the re—printed Star. We feel ourselves indebted to such as use their exertions to obtain subscribers, as we know through this medium much good may result.

The People’s Magazine
The People's Magazine, by Samuel Coleman, (successor to Lilly, Wait and co. Boston, Ms.) is received—It is a neatly executed work, with a diversity of cuts—in all, it is a beautiful work, well worth the attention of a young man to put carefully away, for afterlife.

Parley's Magazine, by the same, is also received and is well calculated to encourage the young to industry in science—It is particularly calculated for schools.

From the Peoples' Magazine.

WATER DRINKERS.
"Mr. Buckingham, the celebrated oriental traveller, now a member of the British Parliament, states that the strongest race of men he has ever seen were natives of the Himmalch mountains, and came to Calcutta as wrestlers: one of whom was a match for three Britons. Yet these men, Mr. B. says, had never drank any thing stranger than milk!"

This same work, some time since, advocated the principle of water drinking, by endeavoring to prove that Tea and Coffee never afforded any nutriment to the human system. So far very good. They are of our principles in this respect, precisely. What do you say reader, on the subject of Tabacco [Tobacco]? Do you think that there is much real nutriment to be gained from that pleasant weed? Besides it adds so gracefully to one's appearance, to have a large piece in one's mouth, or to emit large quantities of smoke from a pipe or cigar!

SABBATH EVENING.
How pleasant and how cheering to sit quietly by one's fire side, surrounded by a lovely family, and converse upon the hopes and assurances of eternal life, offered in the gospel, after a day's enjoyment of social intercourse in the house of prayer, during a Sabbath—it is heavenly. It gives a new spring to the mind, and calls forth the deepest gratitude to God for intelligence of heavenly things which promises a Sabbath which will never close. We now look forward to that period with longing anxiety, and seize upon the thought with eagerness, by faith; but then we shall realize its eternal blessedness, when corruption, temptation and death, are no terror! O Redeemer, waft, waft, the joyful hour when thy saints may see as they are seen and know as they are known!