Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 3/Number 5/Editorials

W. A. Cowdery, Editor.

Kirtland, Ohio, Feb. 1837.

Although mutability seems stamped on all sublunary things, the world around us undergoes various changes, and we are so frequently presented with new scenes, new plays, and new actors on the stage, that one might naturally be led to the conclusion, that nothing can take place in the material, or moral world, to produce astonishment or create surprise: but such is not the fact. Men are often left to wonder at that which occurs around them, without reflecting on the causes that precede the effects that so much excite their admiration. A few short months since, yea, even a few days since, we hardly dreamed of assuming the responsible charge we have now taken upon ourselves. When we reflect that it has been in more able hands; hands from whom the public (or the saints at least-for whom we are to cater,) had a just right to look for more instruction in the great things of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than from our pen; but relying on the blessing of God, the prayers of the saints, and our exertions, we venture forward.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are among the blessings of a free government, and notwithstanding we may differ in sentiment from many of our fellow men, still a free government and a consciousness of the rectitude of our own views many times console us under trials not pleasing to be borne or congenial with the pride of the human heart. We have sometimes been not a little astonished or amused that so many have cried delusion so long, yet no one has been successful enough to find out wherein the delusion consists.

We believe with the immortal Jefferson, that there is little danger from the propagation of error while reason is left free to combat it. Our sentiments have now been more than six years before the world; professors of all denominations where they were announced, denounced, ridiculed and despised, but the Lord, by his Spirit, sent home the truth with power to the hearts of many, and caused them to rejoice in the brilliancy of the light reflected upon their understandings. Others have manifested, by their conduct, the same spirit which actuated the cotemporaries of the Savior, and they cried out in all the bitterness of their hearts, away with him! away with him!

The word of the Lord has gone forth, and has not returned void; and there is no marvel that it should not, for the Lord himself has said it should not; we have also an evidence, that the word of the Lord will continue to grow and multiply, for so it did anciently when propagated in its purity, and so we may reasonably expect it will now. "Truth is mighty and will prevail." Demons in hell may howl and their emissaries on earth may rage, the still small voice of truth will find its way to the hearts of the children of men, and convince them of the puerile efforts of this crooked and perverse generation, to stop the spread of truth.

It shall be our endeavor to instruct rather than amuse, and if light is reflected on our understandings, we shall cheerfully and fearlessly disseminate it. If in our editorial labors we shall at any time be led astray and be instrumental in propagating error, we hope our brethren, will have that confidence in us, that they are errors of the head and not of the heart.

If, as we have remarked, errors of principle or practice shall grow out of what comes from our pen, it will not only be our bounden duty, but our highest privilege to retract when we are made sensible of our faults. We shall rely, therefore, on the good sense and friendship of our brethren to correct our errors and inform our judgment.

From our enemies we neither look for sympathy nor kind feelings, and if we should be so fortunate as to discover either, we shall be free to extend the hand of peace, and own we have been for once, disappointed.

Our periodical is intended to be a faithful chronicle of events that transpire in building up and establishing the kingdom of God in these last days.-For an accurate knowledge of those that transpire in our own vicinity, we shall generally rely on the evidence of our own senses. For what we record, as having transpired beyond our own ken, we shall rely on the veracity of our brethren and friends for an accurate knowledge of facts, and we hope for the truth's sake, they will never, intentionally, lead us astray. We pledge ourselves "not to exaggerate, or set down aught in malice."

We still solicit communications from our elders who are traveling and laboring to promote the same good cause with us, and as our periodical is not large, we shall expect them to be confined to a brief, but simple narration of facts as they exist.

We will here remark, that all communications intended for insertion must be accompanied with a responsible name, that every man may have that just meed of praise from a generous public which his talents merit.

To our elders we would again remark, that we hope they will confine themselves in their communications designed for publication, to what will be most interesting to the saints, and tend most to edify and build them up in the most holy faith, lest we shall be under the necessity of condensing their articles and giving only a synopsis.

A word to those who differ with us in sentiment. Your opposition in principle, if you are men and gentlemen, will never make you enemies to us, or create animosity in our bosom towards you; although we are not theological gladiators, and therefore, throw down the gauntlet to no man, but we shall pursue the even tenor of our way, fearless of all consequences. If we are assailed by the presses of our enemies, we shall take the liberty of replying or not, as we judge proper. If we neglect or refuse to notice every vile epithet that may be lavished upon us, our friends and our enemies may understand that it is not from a consciousness that our ground is not tenable, but from a knowledge of our own temper, we are sensible, that if we dip our pen in gall, bitter and grievous words will flow from it, and the wise man said that "grievous words stir up strife." We may, therefore, let them alone till they have wasted their own strength, or conquered themselves.-While their shafts fall short of us for want of strength in their bows, or pass by from not having been aimed aright, we shall be passing boldly and fearlessly on to the haven of repose.