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BRETHREN AND SISTERS;
Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
To you and all other lovers of honesty, peace, truth and righteousness I recommend the perusal of the following pages, in
order that you may be truly informed of the corruption and iniquity of the people of Nauvoo, and also the present movements
and future designs of the leaders of that community.
Having lately visited Nauvoo and spent a few days in the city, and being an Elder in the church, I have had a good opportunity
to become acquainted with the secret designs and measures of the twelve and their adherents, and can vouch for the truth of the
information herein given.
Were it not that I have heretofore upheld by my voice and influence the people of that place, and especially their leaders, I
should consider my testimony against them at the present uncalled for, but in view of the foregoing fact, I publish to the
world the few following items of truth that all who may choose to gain information, may be truly informed upon this (to many,)
very important subject, and if it shall be the means of saving a few souls from the wily and practised destroyers of innocence,
the writer will have gained his point.
THE AUTHOR.
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SPIRITUAL WIFERY, &c.
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BRETHREN AND SISTERS: --
Being an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is therefore my Priesthood and calling, to teach
the pure principles of truth and righteousness to all ranks and conditions of the Itemast family, and also to warn them against the
multitude of errors and false doctrines that are abroad in the land, and with this view of things before me I enter with no very
pleasant feelings upon the duty which now seems to devolve upon me.
It is well known to most of you at least, (who are members of the church) that upon the death of our beloved Prophet and patriarch
Joseph and Hyram Smith, Sidney Rigdon, then resident at Pittsburgh, Pa., returned to Nauvoo and was excommunicated from the church,
and since that time the church has been under the sole guidance and management of the Twelve."
How far their management and practice has been in accordance with the principles of Peace, Virtue and Truth, I shall leave the
candid and mind unbiassed to judge after becoming acquainted with the principles taught and practised by them at the present time.
If you have not heretofore been informed of the fact, I will now inform you that the orders of the twelve are to every member of the
church throughout the United States, who can, to make ready to leave Nauvoo as soon as grass grows sufficient to sustain teams on
the way and go to California, in order that they may be free from the persecutions of the Gentiles, and also to fulfil the words
of The Prophet, where he warns the people to "hide themselves in their chambers as it were, for a little moment until the indignation
be overpast." (Isa. 26-20.) Thus claiming the projected move of themselves and followers into the western wilderness to be the
fulfilment of the words of the Prophet.
Again, in order to stir up the lukewarm and "to confirm the weak hands and strengthen the feeble knee," it has been proclaimed on
the stand in the Temple, by Orson Hyde, one of the twelve, that this very anticipated emigration of the church will fulfill the
saying of John the Revelator: 12th chapter.
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven -- a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a
crown of twelve stars, (5th verse). And she brought forth a manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her
child was caught unto God and to his throne, (6th verse). And the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a piece prepared
of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three-score days. Mr. Hyde said, "This church is the woman,
Brethren and Sisters, and Joseph is the man child, and be has been caught up, and we have the testimony of Rigdon, that he is in
heaven, for he says he has seen him sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Thus you see brethren and sisters, that this
scripture is its actual fulfilment, and the church Will be nourished in the wilderness for a time, times, and a half which will
be about --- but I will leave the time for your own consideration."
Thus spake the Great Apostle Orson, upon the application of that Scripture which forms the first necessary prerequisite to the
establishing of the church in 1830, viz: (the fact that it must have been in the wilderness or it could not have come out of it,)
thereby fulfilling Rev. 14-6. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them
that dwell on the earth, &c."
Now those of my readers who are at all acquainted with the pure principles of Mormonism as taught by the Elders heretofore,
most assuredly know, that from our martyred Brothers Joseph and Hyrum down to the weakest Elder who has ever spoken or written
upon the subject, we have been taught that the woman represents the church with its officers at its head, and the manchild
representing the authority of said church was taken from their midst, at which time the church went into the wilderness or in
other words, descended into popery, (570 after Christ,) since which time it has remained in the wilderness unto the consummation
of the 1260 days (or years,) which brings us to the year 1830, the time of the restoration of the priesthood and establishing
of the church with its attendant blessings, thus fulfilling Rev. 14-6 concerning the mission of the angel and forming a bulwark
and foundation which fifteen years of the most powerful opposition has not be enable to overthrow.
As may well be supposed I was much astonished at such an application of Scripture as was given by Mr. Hyde, and supposed it was so
applied to cheer up some, if any there were, who might hesitate about joining the general movement.
I therefore spoke to some few with whom I was acquainted, upon the subject, and was still more astonished to hear those whom I
had supposed to be capable of exercising, an opinion of their own declare they had never heard it applied
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otherwise and that it wag perfectly plain, that it would be fulfilled when the church emigrated and not before.
I endeavored to reason with them and show them that, according to the Scripture, the woman brought forth the marrchild, but if
it applied to the church emigration and to Joseph, it will be assuming that the manchild brought forth the woman, for Joseph
brought forth and established the church in the year of our Lord, 1830.
Such plain reasoning as this had no effect and bore no weight with them. Thus I discovered that any thing spoken by the twelve
was swallowed down without any regard to its truth or falsehood.
I remarked that the Elders who had preached heretofore had preached by the spirit of God, and I believed they had made a right
application of said Scripture, and I did not believe that God was so much of a lawyer as to make a portion sacred writ apply
one way to-day and another way to-morrow.
From an old lady present who had been ordained to the priesthood under the hand of Brigham Young and who had been practicing
the duties of an Elder, viz; the laying on of hands, I received the following answer:
"Brother Olney, Br. Brigham says "Learn to mind your own business, to obey counsel and to hold your tongues, and you will all
get along well enough.
On the following morning I met Mr. Hyde in the street and asked him if the saints were to receive his explanation of the said
scripture as correct, or whether he so explained for the purpose of encouraging the fainthearted.
With a foppish turn of the body, a nod of the head accompanied by a wave of the hand, he replied, "That is as I understood it,
good morning Brother Olney," and passed along, leaving me to wonder a this deceit which was but too apparent.
Let us now, for a moment, see whether God requires us to follow the teachings of such men and thus be led into the wilderness.
They say to the people that it is the will of God for all his saints to flee into the wilderness, and to this end there has been
Elders sent to almost every State in the Union to proclaim to the saints that if they will obey the counsel at the twelve and
go into to the western wilds they will there establish a government and kingdom in which they can enjoy, unmolested, that liberty
of conscience and freedom of speech which they have in vain sought for at the hands of the rulers of this republic and that God
will sustain them and protect them from their enemies until they are secure from them, and then the wicked will destroy the wicked
and thus leave the broad lands of the continent of America to them and their posterity, at which time they will inherit thrones,
dominions, principalities and powers which will continue through the countless ages of eternity.
See last Edition Book Cov., page 400; given of Jan. 19th, 1841.
"I will show unto my servant Joseph, all things pertaining to this house (the Temple) and the Priesthood thereof and the place
whereon it shall be built, and, ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which
I have chosen for you to build it. If ye labor with all your mights I will consecrate that spot, that it shall be made holy, and
if my people will hearken unto my voice and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people. behold, verily,
I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place."
* * *
And it shall come to pass that if you build a house auto my name and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath
which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands saith the Lord, for instead of blessings, ye, by
your own works bring cursings, wrath, indignation and judgments upon your own heads by your follies and by all your abominations
which you practice before me saith the Lord." Now behold ye and see, my friends who believe the revelations which have come forth
by our Prophet Joseph "that if the saints would hearken unto the voice of God they should not be moved out of their place."
And again, even if the house should be built, if they have not observed to keep the commandments of the Lord, they should not receive
their expected blessings and endowments but should bring curses, wrath, indignation and judgments upon their own heads. Now let
the twelve take which horn they please and see if they can make such removal coincide with the revelations of God, in which they
profess to believe.
Their removal will be proof ample that they are in transgression, if not, "they shall not be moved out of their place." And if they
endeavor to remain, they must be driven by the people of Illinois (so says P. P. Pratt) which will go conclusively to show that they
have not kept the commandments, and hearkened to the counsel of the Lord; see, Book Cov., page 385, given 1834, 2nd verse "But
verily, I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto
the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold, they shall, for I have decreed it begin to prevail against
mine enemies from this very hour, and by hearkening, to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God shall speak unto them,
they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet and the earth is given to the Saints
to possess it for ever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms
of the world shall prevail against them, for they were set to be a light unto the world and to be the saviors of men, and inasmuch
as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is, thenceforth, good for nothing but to be cast
out and trodden under foot of man." Thus you see that if they are moved out of their place, it is in consequence of their
transgression, and if they remain and are prevailed against, it is a proof of transgression, and the twelve say they must be driven
unless they leave of their own will. But remember God decreed that if they hearkened to his counsel and obeyed his precepts they
shall not be prevailed against but should prevail against all the kingdoms of the world. Thus I have given in short, abundant
evidence to show that the saints are not required to go into the wilderness but may remain where they choose at present, and with
an eye single to
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the glory of God, wait until you can see the disorganized and headless body of the church re-organized and established by having
its proper authority and priesthood at its head: See Book of Cov., page 129, 3d verse.
"Therefore, thus saith the Lord, unto you with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers, for ye are
lawful heirs according [to] the flesh and have been hid from the world with Christ in God, therefore, your life and the priesthood
hath remained and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all
the holy prophets since the world began." Now inasmuch as it is plain that the church as well as the leaders, are in transgression.
We must come to the conclusion that the head and body both being corrupt, the purity and chastity of the whole organization has fled
to parts unknown. Therefore, let us, as servants of God, be watchful and prayerful -- watchful that we be not caught in the snares
of the evil one, and prayerful that the Lord will speedily call to the work one of that linage with which the priesthood must needs
come by power, therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man who shall lead them like as (not where) Moses led the children of
Israel, for ye are the children of Israel and of the seed of Abraham."
This was given in the year 1834 before which time the Prophet Joseph was raised up, yet here is a positive declaration to have its
fulfilment in the future from that time, thereby showing that another prophet must be raised up, and according to page 129 which I
have, heretofore quoted, he must be of that lineage with whom the priesthood has remained, and must still remain, -- Therefore
Brethren and Sisters let us in view of this important subject; follow no man or set of men, until we can see who will next rise up
at the call of God, and show forth a true authority and a pure priesthood; I freely acknowledge that the twelve should have stood in
their office and held the keys of the priesthood, and guided the affairs of the church, (unless they were found in transgression,) in
connection with the other authorities of the church, until God should raise up a head to the quorum of first Presidency, or in
other words until such times as one of that lineage should stand up to claim and exercise the authority of his priesthood. But, the
twelve having gone into measures not compatible with the pure principles of righteousness have fallen from high and exalted station
to which God has raised them to a level with The brute beast that yields every motion to the promptings of that passion, which at
the time may chance to have the preeminence.
Perhaps some of you my readers may think this to be the overflowings of a heart full of prejudice, but I assure you I visited Nauvoo
with the intention and expectation of making it my winter's residence, and for the purpose of receiving blessings and endowments in
the Temple. yes, I expected to realize the truth of what I had read in the "Times and Seasons," and "Nauvoo Neighbor," and had on my
way to that place used my utmost ability to free the twelve from what I considered foul calumny and vile aspersions against their
character, but judge my surprise and disappointment when I came to see with my own eyes, and hear with my own ears, I found Nauvoo
a sink of iniquity inhabited by a people whose leaders are whoremongers instead of those who I fondly thought were among the first
to contemn vice and foster the germs of virtue and truth, that thereby the saints might be brought into the bonds of perfectness.
Our prophet Joseph said to the people that he did not want any to leave Nauvoo till the Temple was finished, and then after receiving
their endowments they might scatter abroad upon the face of the land and preach the Gospel, raise up the branches, establish stakes
and build Temples on all the land of Zion, which he said was the continent of America knowing as he did that if they kept the
commandments of God, they should never cease to prevail. Thus the important question is, will the people of Nauvoo prevail or are
they in transgression in consequence of which they are to be moved out of their place.
Methinks every honest lover of truth must agree with me that the church is now guided by such men as are not led by the spirit of
the living God; but are speedily forsaking every principle of truth and honesty, and are now living on the ill-gotten spoils of
their corrupted authority, while thousands of the honest hearted scattered abroad in the world are (by paying tithing) supporting
them in their luxury and extravagance. Although as I have written that I found Nauvoo a sink of iniquity, I do not mean to be
understood that all are so practising upon their own judgment, but hundreds are so bound up in the belief that the twelve are pure,
paying no regard to the reasonableness of their requirements that it is often said, "If we obey counsel and commit sin to so doing
it will not lie at our doors but will be answered upon the heads of the twelve for so teaching us." This is the confidence which that
people have in the twelve, to the exclusion of all honor, truth, justice. peace, mercy and righteousness.
The building of the Nauvoo House is wholly abandoned, its bare walls and large piles of brick near by exposed to the weather,
presenting a striking contrast to the view which would be presented if the measures of the martyred Prophet were to he carried out
as he designed. A desperate effort is being made to finish the Temple, although hundreds yea thousands of dollars of the tithing is
appropriated to the subsistence of the twelve, the bishops and their prostitutes, thereby requiring an extra amount of tithing to
what would be necessary for the use to which it should be applied. In view of such a state of things, my heart bleeds and my feelings
burst forth in sorrow to think of the many who must be as I am sadly disappointed, when they learn that they are led by those who
are utterly destitute of every principle that tends to exalt a man in the scale or being, or make him noble in the eyes of his
Creator, in consequence of which, our mites which have been joyfully cast in for the building of the House of the Lord, are applied
to the subsistence and aggrandizement of themselves and their prostitutes; and the honest hearted left no relief or consolation but
to mourn over the depravity of fallen man, and strive to
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shun the vortex of ruin into which others are daily plunging. And such are the men influenced by such passions, who have only to
speak the word, and no crime is too horrible, no act however mean and degrading, too low for their police, (as they are called,)
to perform in order to carry out the designs of their superiors.
Having given a few testimonies from the Book of Covenants, and also from my own personal observation, I shall leave this part of
the subject matter of my little work, trusting that the honest in heart will treasure up the truth, which will enable there to
judge between good and evil, that they may practice the good all the day long that when the night cometh they may be called
upon to enter into the joys of their Lord.
Since writing the foregoing I have perused a pamphlet written by Wm. Smith, Brother of the Prophet, and formerly one of the twelve,
and patriarch in which be has (as far its my knowledge extends) set forth plainly and clearly the corruptions of Nauvoo and its
leaders, and I can recommend the perusal of it to all honest hearted saints to whom it may come, by which it will be seen that he
renounces all their secret designs and unhallowed measures, and still stands forth as a herald of the pure Gospel of Cbrist.
(From the Times & Seasons.)
TUNE -- INDIAN STUDENT'S LAMENT.
Oh give me back my Prophet dear,
And Patriarch, O give them back;
The Saints of latter days to cheer,
And lead them in the gospel track.
But ah! they're gone from my embrace,
From earthly scenes their spirits fled;
Those two, the best of Adam's race,
Now lie entombed among the dead.
Ye men of wisdom tell me why,
When guilt nor crime in them were found,
Why now their blood doth loudly cry,
From prison walls, and Carthage ground
Your tongues are mute, but pray attend,
The secret I will now relate,
Why those whom God to earth did lend,
Have met the suffering martyr's fate.
It is because they strove to gain,
Beyond the grave a heaven of bliss;
Because they made the gospel plain,
And led the Saints in righteousness.
It is because God called them forth,
And led them by his own right hand
Christ's coming to proclaim on earth,
And gather Israel to their land.
It is because the priests of Baal
Were desperate their craft to save;
And when they saw it doomed to fail,
They sent the Prophets to the grave.
Like scenes the ancient Prophets saw,
Like these, the ancient Prophets fell;
And till the resurrection dawn,
Prophet and Patriarch -- Fare well.
A brief outline of the transactions in and about Nauvoo may be found in the remainder of this work, As I before stated I visited
Nauvoo with the strongest assurance that I should find it a place of piety and virtue, but I found it a place where profane language
is in common use with all classes, yea I have heard God's name profaned in the presence and hearing of the twelve, and instead of
reprimanding the swearer one of them excused the matter to me by saying that "the person used to be an infidel, but is a
first rate fellow now."
The twelve often meet in council, to give advice to any who may choose to ask it, and also to give orders to those in authority
under them; and one such occasion I have witnessed where three six shooters (revolving Pistols) were laid on the centre table
and one fifteen shooter (rise) stood in the corner to protect the persons of the twelve, although an armed guard are posted every
night around the city and every street guarded by police, armed with (some of them) large heavy canes with an iron or steel point,
also pistols and bowie knives, and others around the houses of the twelve thus shielding them from any intrusion in the night time,
and in the day time they are (unless they are secreted for fear of being arrested for some of their misdemeanors) walking in the
streets, in their Broadcloths while their followers are tolling to support them in their luxury and extravagance.
As it respects the late troubles in the county I am prepared to say in truth as follows:
The twelve by their unbounded influence over their subjects, and by teaching that the people round about them are gentiles
and that the saints are to "suck the milk of the gentiles," have created such a state of feeling in the breasts of their
followers that they think it is no sin for them to "suck a little," just now, and in fact, I have heard prominent men such
as High Priests and Presiding Officers say that if a gentile comes in their way the best way to do is to put him "out of
the way," as quick as possible. Such sentiments thrown out by the people at Nauvoo have not failed to create a response on the
part of the settlers, and the feeling has been fanned into a flame that will ere spring (I opine) burn too hot for Mormons.
Yea, even to their expulsion from the state, and for this reason.
A stipulation has been mutually agreed to by both Mormons and anties, that hostile operations and maneuvers should cease
on both sides, and also that the Mormons should leave Nauvoo as soon as grass grows sufficient for teams to subsist upon.
Yet still the Mormons have been visited by writs to bring some offenders (of which class there are many) to justice; which
serves as a pretext for the Mormons to send out armed forces, numbering from 50 up to 200, who on horseback scour the prairie
between Nauvoo and Carthage, (as they say) in search of "Prairie Chickens," and latterly as if this was not enough; a body of
these men have been to Carthage, and entirely broken up the court which was in session at that place, (so I heard one of the
men engaged in the transaction declare,) so that none of the brethren could be tried at that court if arrested, but probably there
will be none arrested, for Brigham says to the people to "give them what is in their guns first and then use them to the best
advantage before they submit to an arrest."
The judge of the court in company with some of the lawyers of the county, visited Nauvoo to inquire the reason of the breaking
up of the court in such a manner, but received nothing satisfactory, except a tirade from John Taylor (one of the twelve,) which,
he the judge carried away rankling and festering in his own bosom.
Another evidence of their purity and holiness, may be gathered from the fact that at the houses of some of the twelve, I have
seen from three
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to five young females, whose prolific appearance indicates a great increase of posterity in the temporal kingdom, to say nothing
of a great number of married women who are sealed to different ones in high standing in the church, and (as I have been taught from
their own mouths,) believe it to be their privilege before God to raise up as many children here in the flesh as they can, that they
may have a greater kingdom to rule over in eternity; and on being asked how many women it is one's privilege to beget children
with, the answer was, "As many as he can maintain." Thus making it an object among themselves, (except the twelve, the bishops,
the Temple committee and some other privileged characters,) who help themselves out of Temple funds; to enter largely into
speculating engagements, that thereby upon their income they may support (if they have no husbands to support them) those
unhallowed and polluted vestiges of humanity, with whom they practise such abominations under the guard of righteousness; as
must make the heavens weep, and the earth mourn, in witness to the fallen and degraded state of those who are to be "a light
unto the world and also the saviors of men." And whose privilege it was to bring in everlasting righteousness, to make the earth
bloom as Eden and to gather Israel from the dispersions, preparatory to the coming of the Messiah and establishing of the
celestial kingdom of God, when the earth and the fulness thereof shall be given into the hands of the most High.
Another important item in the present teachings of the twelve, is that "At the time of receiving their washings and anointings
of their endowments, all marriages will be declared void, and every person have the privilege of choosing for him or herself,
by a mutual agreement, that is, if two choose to remain together it is their privilege to do so, but neither one can retain the
other, if he or she chooses to depart and live with another. Oh shame! where is thy blush? Furthermore, it is said by the
redoubtable Brigham, that "when the church once gets away from Nauvoo, if any find any fault with the twelve, their heads shall
come off, and none shall ever return to tell their tales!"
Another of his sayings is, "It is better that an innocent man should suffer death, than that a crime should be proven against any
one of the twelve, even if he were guilty."
Another is, "The Bible is no more to the people of this generation than a last year's almanac, for I am all the bible needful
for the people now, if they will obey my counsel."
Another testimony of the purity of that people is the fact that a High Priest of that place told me that he had witnessed the
deaths of five mobocrats at the hands of Mormons on the prairie, and also that the catfish of the Mississippi had scraped the
bones of some who had better have kept away from Nauvoo.
The "anointing and washing" as it is jocosely called, is practised frequently upon those offenders who are not judged worthy of
death, which is covering them from head to foot with filth obtained from the vault of some necessary in the city, and then
casting them into the river.
Alas! for the purity of such a people, when their renowned head is upholding them in, and urging them on to deeds of shame and
degradation, no where equalled in the annals of history, but which must stand forth in bold relief, as a warning to any who may
hereafter be called to stand in as high and holy a calling as were these men who have now sacrificed every honest and virtuous
principle at the shrine of female corruption, and justly merited a portion with those who are left without the city, such as
(see Rev. 22:16) "Dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
Another heart-rending fact in the present history of Nauvoo is that hundreds of honest hearted females are there, who have
no means with which to get away, and scarce any means of subsistence there, except at the expense of virtue, and who are
continually subject to the importunities of those fiends in human shape who, after having gratified their passions for lust,
will, straightway, upon the public stand, declare before God and the Angels, that no system of spiritual wifery is practised or
tolerated by them, when perhaps some of their victims are at the very time upon their knees in secret beseeching God to forgive
them for yielding in an unguarded moment to their seducers, and to open a way for their escape from he folds of their destroyers,
that, perchance, by a life of morality, virtue and piety, hey may atone for the weakness of a moment, and at last gain an inheritance
with yhe saints of God. Think not, my readers, that this is a fancy piece, or the suggestions of an over excited imagination, for
it is but a few out of the thousands of the testimonies that might be brought to show that virtue and truth have fled from their
midst, and vice, in almost every form, has stalked forth, and holds, unchecked by any pure principle, the sway over almost the
entire community, while the publications -- "Times and Seasons" and "Neighbor" -- would fain make the people at a distance believe
that Nauvoo is pure as was Eden at first, and that the people are the innocent but persecuted people which they once were. I blush
for the depravity of my fellow-man, and were it not for some hopes for the future, I should be disposed to loathe the society of
human intelligences, and in the deep recesses of the forest learn the man was exalted only that he might be abased, and virtue
nourished only, for a time that vice might the more strikingly exhibit the contrast, and cast mankind to a depth from which
they might never arise, but to witness their own depravity, and weep over the last sad remains of a miserable existence.
But I yet hope for the future, and pray God that he will soon reorganize, his kingdom, and preserve all the honest in heart from
the hand of the spoiler until everlasting righteousness is brought in, and his saints inherit the kingdom prepared for them from
before the foundation of the world, even so, Amen.
O. OLNEY.
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Copy of a letter received from Br. Wm. Smith, dated,
St. Louis, Nov. 4th, 1845.
ELDER OLNEY:
Dear Brother, -- I understand you have arrived in this city from Nauvoo, on this steamer Boreas, and as many
of the saints are leaving that that place, the cause is plainly evident to every honest and discerning mind, whether their stay
has been long or short there, that such is the declining state of morality, and such the departure from the old and pure principles
of religion, as laid down in our books and as taught by my brothers, Joseph and Hyram, that hundreds must be inevitably ruined by
the damnable heresies that have crept into the church, whereby many are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils,
speaking lies in hypocrisy, &c., unless they are redeemed by a speedy and bold exertion on the part of the honest and uncorrupted
Elders of Israel.
As I understand you are about to publish your sentiments, for the, purpose of exposing their works of darkness, it is to be hoped
that your praiseworthy and laudable undertaking of exposing these wolves in sheep's clothing, their secret abominations, their plans
of seduction, crime, cruelty, false claims, unhallowed pretensions and base subterfuges, may be blessed to the saving of souls from
ruin. It is my counsel and advice that all the saints remain where they are, and not remove to Nauvoo. Let the Elders continue
preaching the gospel in its original purity, and follow no spurious twelve. Let the saints continue to hold meetings, preach and pray,
do good &c., until a general conference can be held, and all things regulated according to the pattern given by the revelations of
God, and if you please you may give this, entire, a place in your pamphlet for the benefit and instruction of the saints. Wishing
them and all mankind, in company with yourself, salvation through obedience to the requirements of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ,
Your friend and brother,
In the new and everlasting covenant.
WM. SMITH.
Patriarch of the Church.
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