Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 7/Editorial comments and notices

We are requested to inform the eastern churches, that elders Hyrum Smith and Jared Carter have been appointed by the church in Kirtland to visit them this season, for the purpose of soliciting donations to finish the stone meeting house now erected in this place.

Elder Carter visited many churches last season, and was successful in obtaining sufficient, with the aid of other donations, to erect the walls, but much remains to be done yet, and the further prosecution of the work de-pends in a measure, upon the liberality of the saints.

Where these elders are known, a recommend would be superfluous, but as they will probably visit many churches where they are unknown by face, it is proper to say that they are men of unblemished characters, and are duly authorized to make collections, as above, known to be strictly honest and responsible.

We drop these few remarks lest our worthy brethren might labor under embarrassments, where they are not known, and we cheerfully recommend them as men capable of giving every necessary information concerning their mission.

As it is expected that elder Smith and Carter will leave for the east the first of May, they will be able to visit many churches, but should they be unable to visit them all, we hope that we may not come under censure.

The churches will also receive much benefit from the instruction which they will receive in the gospel, from these brethren and withall we wish them success, and much grace upon the saints.

The last Conference at Freedom, we are informed, was an interesting one. There were 18 elders present, who gave cheering accounts of the prospects of the work in the different parts of the country where they reside, and where they have been laboring.—It was but a short time since the elders held a conference in that place, and we may conclude from the minutes of the last, that the work has taken effect since the former, to a considerable extent, when we see six branches represented which have never been represented in a conference before.

From all we can learn, we come to the conclusion, that there is a vast region anxious to receive instruction concerning the faith and belief of this church, being excited to enquiry by the few elders who have providentially preached in that country. We look with anxiety and delight to the time of the next conference to be held in that place (Freedom) when we hope the people may generally hear.

When we bring our mind to reflect how many there are kept back from hearing this gospel, because some unprincipled person has ran forward of the elders with a foolish false report, and that those whose profession says to the world, that they are the friends and advocates of truth, not unfrequently bringing forward these reports as arguments against the gospel, we are filled with a deep feeling of sympathy for those who are under their influence.

If a former opinion of ours is incorrect, if we have, through the influence of those whom we thought possessed understanding, embraced a system which we afterward fear is incorrect, what do we lose, if, after investigation, it proves to be so? The answer is at hand—we lose a bad principle, are convinced of a false system, and are thus prepared to embrace the truth whenever it shall be presented: and to be able to make this exchange will rejoice the heart of every individual who rightly considers the value of eternal life. We often reflect upon this, most of all points important, and are not unfrequently left to wonder why men are unwilling to attend to it. If our future state were to be like the present, if a few days, measured by this present sun, were to terminate that existence, then perhaps an excuse might be urged for neglecting to inform ourselves concerning its consequences and ends; but as it is beyond this vale of sorrow lies, to us, an unbounded ETERNITY, where, when we inherit it, we must remain, how important above all things, that we be prepared for its consequences! And that men may receive an assurance in this life, of a crown of glory, we humbly ask our God, the great Head of the church, to give his feeble instruments sufficient grace to present the beauties of the gospel to mankind, that they may be persuaded to embrace it.