Page:History of Utah.djvu/206



154 THE STORY OP MORMONISM.

cancelled, old debts forgiven." There were no great riches among them; yet he who had nothing could not be called jDoor amid such surroundings. Head over all, temporal and spiritual, was Joseph Smith, not only prophet and president, but general and mayor." He had now approached the summit of his career, and for a brief space was permitted to enjoy his fame, wealth, and power in some degree of quiet. They were salutary lessons that the prophet and his people had received in Missouri, and for a time their speech and manner were less arrogant than of old. But soon prosperit}^ was far greater here than ever before, and as with Israel of old the chastise- ments of the Lord were soon forgotten. From the moment they crossed the river from Missouri into Illinois their position as men and members of the commonwealth was changed. In the one state they were regarded as fanatics, dangerous to the govern- ment and to the people, having associated assassins to do their bidding, and holding to a doctrine of divine inheritance with regard to all that country; in the

" 'At the conference in April 1840, the prophet delivered a lengthy ad- dress upon the history and condition of the saints. He reminded the breth- ren that all had suCFered alike for the sake of the gospel. The rich and the poor had been brought to a common level by persecution; that many of the brethren were owing debts that they had been forced to contract in order to get out of jNlissouri alive. Ho considered it was unchristian-like for the bi'ethren to demand the payment of such debts; that he did not wish to screen any one from the just ))aymcnt of Iiis debts, but he did think that it would be for the glory of the kingdom if the people would, of their own will, freely forgive each other for all their existing indebtedness, one to the other, then renew their covenants with almiiihty God and with each other; refrain from evil, and live their religion; by this means, God's holy spirit would sup- port and bless the people. The people were then asked if they were in favor of thus bringing about the year of jubilee. All that felt so incline 1 were asked to make it known by raising their hands; every hand in the audience was raised.' The prophet then declared all debts of the saints, to and from each other, forgiven and cancelled. He then gave the following words of advice to the people: 'I wisii you all to know that because you were justified in taking property from j'our enemies while engaged in war in Missouri, which was needed to support you, there is now a dilfercnt condition of things existing. We are no longer at war, and you must stop stealing. When the right time comes we will go in force and take the whole state of Missouri. It belongs to us as an inherit:.;iice: but I want no more petty stealing.' Lee's Mormoiihm, 110-11.

^'Smiih was first mayor. Feb. 1, 1841, Bennett was elected mayor and 80 continued till May 10, 1842, when Smith again assumed the office.