Zion's Trumpet

Zion’s

TRUMPET1852 Welsh Mormon Periodical

Zion’s TRUMPET 1852 Welsh Mormon Periodical

Translated and Edited by Ronald D. Dennis Published by the Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in cooperation with Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City. http://rsc.byu.edu © 2013 by Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America by Sheridan Books Inc. Any uses of this material beyond those allowed by the exemptions in US copyright law, such as section 107, “Fair Use,” and section 108, “Library Copying,” require the written permission of the publisher, Religious Studies Center, 167 HGB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of Brigham Young University or the Religious Studies Center. DESERET BOOK is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company. ISBN 978-0-8425-2829-0 Retail U.S. $25.99 Jacket art courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Jacket design by Jacob F. Frandsen.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Zion’s trumpet : 1852 Welsh Mormon periodical / translated and edited by Ronald D. Dennis. pages cm Includes index. Translation of: Udgorn Seion, originally published in Welsh, 1852. Summary: The epic story of the early Welsh Mormons. This volume focuses on “facsimile translations,” or reproductions of early Welsh missionary texts and volumes of official Welsh Mormon periodicals during 1852. ISBN 978-0-8425-2829-0 (hard cover : alk. paper) 1. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Periodicals. 2. Mormon Church—Periodicals. 3. Mormon press—Wales. 4. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—History—19th century—Sources. 5. Mormon Church—History—19th century—Sources. I. Dennis, Ronald D., 1940–, translator, editor. II. Udgorn Seion. English. BX8617.G7Z56 2012b 289.3’42909034—dc23 2012045293 Dedicated to the First Group of Welsh Mormon Emigrants

Under the leadership of Captain Dan Jones, 334 Welsh Mor- mon emigrants gathered at Liverpool in mid-February 1849 to sail to America. Because of space limitations, only 249 of the 334 departed on the Buena Vista on February 26th; the remaining 85 left one week later on the Hartley. One in five of the 334 died of cholera before reaching Council Bluffs, and the survivors faced many other difficulties because of their staggering losses. This volume of Zion’s Trumpet is dedicated to all those who were buried in hastily dug graves on the riverbanks and also to those who were left to mourn the sudden departure of their loved ones. Here are the names of a few of those who suffered some of the most severe losses (BV15 indicates passenger 15 on the Buena Vista, H131 indicates passenger 131 on the Hartley, and so on):

Mary Jones (BV15, age 11) lost both parents

Mary Meredith (H131, age 2) Daniel Meredith (H130, age 5) Margaret Meredith (H129, age 7) lost both parents Eliza Meredith (H128, age 10) Ann Meredith (H127, age 12) }

Nathaniel Eames (H119, age 13) lost both parents and three siblings Owen Owens (H113, age 12) Margaret Owens (H110, age 19) lost both parents and four siblings Cadwallader Owens (H115, age 24) }

Ann Francis (BV167, age 16) lost her father and three siblings

Margaret Francis (BV166, age 48) lost her husband and three children

Sarah Evans Jeremy (BV154, age 34) lost three children

Mary Phillips (BV148, age 31) lost three children

More detailed information about this first group of Mormon emigrants from Wales is available on the website welshmormon.byu.edu and in my book The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1987). Udgorn Seion, volume 4 (1852)

Contents

List of Illustrations...... xi Introduction...... xiii Facsimile Translation Considerations...... xvii Acknowledgments ...... xxi Annotated Contents...... xxiii

Translations January–December ...... 416 pages

Index ...... lxxiii Udgorn Seion, vol. 4, no. 1, 10 January 1852 Illustrations

Udgorn Seion, volume 4 (1852)...... vii Udgorn Seion vol. 4, no. 1...... x John S. and Elizabeth Phillips Davis...... xii 1852 Udgorn Seion title page . . . . facing translation John S. and Elizabeth Phillips Davis Introduction

“Our thoughts are beginning to lean more toward the Trumpet, since we intend to finish the translation [of the Book of Mormon], if we are alive and well, within about three months.” An over burdened John Davis prints this comment in the 29 November 1851 issue of Zion’s Trumpet after having devoted nearly a full year to translating and publishing the entire Doctrine and Covenants and about half the Book of Mormon. In an apparent defense he also declares that the periodical “is not being neglected at present, for in it there are many very interesting things” (Zion’s Trumpet 3 [29 November 1851]: 384). He then promises that when he has more time he will “make it more worthy of being received by writing more ourselves.” Davis’s good intentions to write more for Zion’s Trumpet were not realized, however; instead his contributions to the periodical went from 45 pages in 1851 to only 25 pages in 1852. And his reliance on other printed sources such as the Millennial Star and the Deseret News went from 175 pages to 265 pages, or an increase of 22 percent. Davis acknowledges in his foreword to the 1852 volume of Zion’s Trumpet, dated 22 December 1852, that his “observations as Editor have been infrequent,” but he hastens to add that his “publication is filled with the best things under heaven, even the words of the head of the Church.” Furthermore, he declares the 1852 Zion’s Trumpet to be “the best volume yet.” The following table shows the contents of the two volumes in contrast: xiv INTRODUCTION

Zion’s Trumpet

Vol. Year Total Pages by % Pages from % Pages from % pages Davis other printed letters, poems, sources articles, etc. 3 1851 416 45 11 175 42 196 47 4 1852 416 25 6 265 64 126 30

Although Davis had hoped to finish the Welsh translation and publication of the Book of Mormon by about the end of February 1852, the last segment would not come off the press until mid- April. But when the project was nearing completion, the Rever- end J. Jones, Llangollen, Dan Jones’s brother and Davis’s former boss, had begun to lecture in various places in South Wales against Mormonism. Davis decided to use the time he had intended for writing more for Zion’s Trumpet to instead answer the charges of the Reverend J. Jones. The eventual result was a series of six treatises on miracles that were published apart from the periodical during May, June, and July. Upon completing the series of treatises, Davis’s attention was again diverted from his periodical to translating and publishing the Pearl of Great Price, a task he completed in early September 1852. And then his focus shifted to putting together a definitive Welsh Mormon hymnal—a collection of 575 hymns that would include those from his 1849 hymnal and most of those from Dan Jones’s 1846 hymnal. He published this new hymnal one month before the end of 1852. Thus the good intentions he had expressed one year earlier—to write more for Zion’s Trumpet after completing the Book of Mormon translation—were redirected to three other major and very time-consuming projects. If John Davis was at the point of exhaustion at the end of such a busy year, he gives no indication of it in his enthusiastic announcement of a weekly appearance of Zion’s Trumpet for the coming year in the 11 December 1852 issue, p. 400. He pleads with his subscribers to assist him in widening the circulation of the INTRODUCTION xv periodical to enable him to “put much more in the Trumpet than it contains at present.” As he embarked on his final year as editor ofZion’s Trumpet, John Davis was but thirty years old. He had converted to Mormonism only six years earlier while in the employ of the Reverend J. Jones, Llangollen. The Reverend Jones had permitted his younger brother Dan to print Mormon materials on the press he operated in the small village of Rhydybont, near Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire. As the young John Davis set the type for these publications and as he conversed with Captain Dan Jones, their author, he became convinced of the truth of the Mormon message and accepted baptism on 19 April 1846. This new convert brought with him seven years’ training as an apprentice printer, several years’ experience working as a printer, expertise in both Welsh and English, a poetic gift, and a growing knowledge and conviction of his new religion. No other Mormon convert in Wales had credentials superior to those of John Davis to step into the shoes of Dan Jones at the outset of 1849 as editor of the Church periodical, as one who could defend the doctrine in polemics, as one who could render a superb translation of the Mormon scriptures, and as one who could assemble a hymnal of 575 hymns, a great many of them of his own composition. John Davis was, indeed, a godsend in this regard. As with the English translations of the three preceding volumes of Zion’s Trumpet, this 1852 volume is published in a “facsimile translation” format to provide the reader with something of the appearance and flavor of the original Welsh publication. Ronald D. Dennis

Facsimile Translation Considerations

1. Size. The size of the page and the print of the original has been enlarged by about 30 percent to facilitate reading. 2. Leading and point size. Whatever variations occur in the space between lines and print size in the original are imitated in the translation. 3. Pagination. The content of each translated page may vary by as much as four or five lines from the content of the Welsh original; all major and minor headings are on the same page as the original. 4. Paragraphs and sentences. The tendency of nineteenth- century writers was to use fewer paragraph breaks and much longer sentences than might seem appropriate today. However, for the sake of flavor, the inordinate paragraph size and the seemingly in- terminable sentence length are imitated in the translation. 5. Brackets and parentheses. The only editorial comments in the translation are those of John Davis from the original; consequently, all brackets and parentheses are his. 6. Italicized words. Italics in the original are retained in the translation. Besides the normal practice of italicizing the names of periodicals, books, ships, and so on, the editor used italics either to provide emphasis or to indicate the use of a borrowed word or phrase from English. xviii CONSIDERATIONS

7. Poetry. The primary focus in translating the poetry of Zion’s Trumpet has been its content; thus, poetry translations are informational rather than poetic. 8. Titles of foreign-language publications. To facilitate reading, I have used the English translations for all foreign- language titles that appear in the text and in the Annotated Contents. The following is a list of these translated titles and their corresponding Welsh or French titles. For the items authored by John Davis or Dan Jones, I have indicated the page reference in Welsh Mormon Writings where further information is available.

The Baptist Y Bedyddiwr Book of Doctrine and Covenants Llyfr Athrawiaeth a’r Cyfammodau WMW, 142 Book of Mormon Llyfr Mormon WMW, 149 The Dawn Y Wawr Deceit of Mormonism, together with Twyll Mormoniaeth, ynghyd â Hanes an Account of the Life and Death Bywyd a Marwolaeth Joseph of Joseph Smith Smith Dual Hymnal Llyfr Hymnau Dwyieithog WMW, 149 Lectures on Miracles Darlithoedd ar Wyrthiau WMW, 154 New Hymn Book Llyfr Hymnau Newydd WMW, 159 The Pearl of Great Price Y Perl o Fawr Bris WMW, 157 Prophet of the Jubilee Prophwyd y Jubili WMW, 27 Star of Wales Seren Cymru Treatises on Miracles Traethodau ar Wyrthiau WMW, 154

9. Punctuation. Some changes in punctuation and capital- ization have been made to facilitate reading. 10. Typesetting errors. The typesetters of the original sometimes inverted letters, cited verses that did not match the ac- companying scriptural quotation, left incomplete sentences, mis- spelled words, or committed other typesetting errors. Lacking an unobtrusive method of indicating such aspects of the original in the translation and fearing that confusion would result for today’s reader if such flaws were duplicated, I decided to correct these kinds of imperfections in the translation. 11. Place names. The modern spelling is used for all place names. The name in English is used for places that have both an English name and a Welsh name (e.g., Swansea for Abertawe, Car- diff for Caerdydd, and Blackwood for Coed-duon). CONSIDERATIONS xix

12. Proper names. I have corrected the spelling of biblical and historical names; however, I have preserved the spelling used for all other proper names even when the same individual’s name has variant spellings. 13. Annotated contents. Instead of detracting from the facsimile appearance of the translation by inserting numbers and notes, I have prepared an article-by-article commentary of all twenty-six issues of the periodical. In many instances I give simply a brief statement of the article’s contents, together with an indication of a source if the article is borrowed. I provide more detailed observations for those articles that contain historical information pertinent to the nineteenth-century movement of the Latter-day Saints in Wales.

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Marilyn Davies of Prestatyn, North Wales, for solving numerous “translation traumas” which I suffered during the translation of this fourth volume of Zion’s Trumpet. I am indebted to Sara Seamons, formerly of the Humanities Publication Center, Brigham Young University, and to Dana Kendall of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, for their ex- ceptional skills in setting the type for this “facsimile translation.” My thanks also to Devan Jensen and Brent R. Nordgren of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center and their student assistants Jonathon R. Owen, Nyssa L. Silvester, Katie M. Skovran, and Heidi K. Sutherland for reading the final proofs and making the final preparations.

Annotated Contents

Title page Identical in every respect to the title page for volume 3 (1851) of Zion’s Trumpet except for two—the volume number and the year. The 1852 title page was printed and distributed at the same time as the 25 December issue, along with the foreword and the contents.

Foreword In this paragraph (dated 22 December 1852) John Davis declares that this fourth volume of Zion’s Trumpet is the best yet. He reflects back to theProphet of the Jubilee ( July 1846–December 1848) and the first volume of Zion’s Trumpet (1849) as being “good in their time.” “Now,” Davis continues, “the Welsh Church requires things on a broader scale,” and he proposes to publish the periodical weekly during the coming year with the “words of the head of the Church” and “the best things under heaven.” He closes by expressing his gratitude to all who have assisted with the publication of Zion’s Trumpet and wishes for a hastening of the “fall of Babel” so that “the purposes of God may be fulfilled.”

Contents An alphabetical listing of ninety-six major headings in the original Welsh. Adding two that were omitted in the original (“The Hid- den Gospel,” p. 72, and “Verse,” p. 183) the total is ninety-eight in the translation. The translation is also arranged alphabetically, making the order different from the original. Seven incorrect page references in the original are corrected in the translation. xxiv CONTENTS

JANUARY 10

Sixth General Epistle of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from Great Salt Lake Valley, to the Saints scattered throughout the earth. . . . . 5 The Welsh translation of this document from the First Presidency as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 January 1852): 17–25.

Statistical Report for the Conferences in the British Isles, for the Half Year ending Dec. 1, 1851...... 19 The report shows forty-four conferences in the British Isles, thirteen of them in Wales. The names of the conference presidents are presented in a separate paragraph.

Book Debts from the Conferences, Branches, and Others, for the Quarter Ending January 7, 1852...... 20 For the periodical and other publications the total debt is a staggering £274.

Payments from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7...... 20 Payments totaling £19 15s 9c received from three conferences and ten branches are shown.

JANUARY 24

Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, Sept. 7, 1851...... 21 The Welsh translation of this document as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (1 Feb 1852): 33–36.

Epistle to the Saints in Pottawatomie ...... 27 The Welsh translation of this official correspondence from the First Presidency, dated 21 September 1851, as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 January 1852): 29. CONTENTS xxv

Address of President F. D. Richards...... 29 The Welsh translation of President Richards’s address to all Brit- ish Saints as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 January 1852): 26–28.

Arrival of Brethren from the Valley...... 32 The Welsh translation of this brief article by President F. D. Richards as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 January 1852): 28.

To the Welsh Presidents...... 34 President W. S. Phillips makes a fervent appeal to the Presidents of Welsh Conferences and Branches to clear the book debts and promises them great blessings if they do so.

Conversation between the Son and his Mother...... 35 A poem composed by Morgan Evans of Hirwaun of eight stanzas of four lines each. The conversation is between a son recently converted to Mormonism and his mother, who is strongly opposed to her son’s rejection of the religion he was taught in his youth.

Appointments...... 36 John Parry is to take the place of Eliezer Edwards as traveling elder in North Wales, and Roberts Evans is to preside over the West Glamorgan Conference in place of Henry Evans.

Conferences of the North...... 36 An announcement of conferences to be held in Flintshire, Den- bighshire, Conwy Valley, Anglesey, and Merionethshire.

Book of Mormon...... 36 Davis requests that he be notified of errors found in the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon. He also announces that segment 21 is to be sent out with the next issue of Zion’s Trumpet. xxvi CONTENTS

(No title)...... 36 How kindness works on the part of the receiver and on the part of the doer.

(No title)...... 36 A comparison of great merit and high praise to a strong wind and a full sail.

Payments from January 8 to January 22 ...... 36 Payments received from six conferences and twenty branches are shown.

(No title)...... 36 Davis asks for the patience of his correspondents who have sent their letters, articles, or poetry for publication.

(No title)...... 36 Davis requests distributors and presidents to verify their book accounts.

(No title)...... 36 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

FEBRUARY 7

The Mormons in Utah...... 37 The Welsh translation of an article that appeared in the New York Daily Tribune for 13 January 1852 (page 6, column 2). The favorable article toward Mormonism did not appear in the Millennial Star; consequently, Davis must have translated it directly from a copy of the New York Daily Herald.

The “Word of Wisdom”...... 41 Davis writes that he was inspired by Brigham Young’s comments in the last General Conference about the Word of Wisdom and that he considers it a duty for all members of the Church to observe it. CONTENTS xxvii

Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Mormon...... 44 A continuation from Zion’s Trumpet, Volume 3, of Gibson’s commentary taken from the Millennial Star 12 (1 September 1850): 261–63.

The Excellence of the Religion of the Saints over All Other Religions in the World...... 48 A poem of four 8-line stanzas by “Welshman Blackjaw,” in which the poet explains the superiority of Mormonism. The absence of a place of residence and the unusual nom de plume leads one to suspect John Davis as the poet.

Charity...... 48 The author, “Lover of Keeping Counsel” from Georgetown, an area of Merthyr Tydfil, presents and explains his views about this virtue.

A Good Time Is Coming ...... 50 A poem of seven 8-line stanzas by William Jones, St. Bride’s Ma- jor, about the signs of the last days. The poet includes eight scriptural references.

The Temple...... 51 Davis encourages his readers to do their part in the building of a House of God in the top of the mountains by paying their tithing and offering up their gifts.

From the Valley ...... 52 With respect to the retreat of Judges Brocchus and Branden- burg and Secretary Harris from the Territory of Utah, Governor Brigham Young has appointed a temporary secretary. Readers have the defense of the Mormons by the editor of the New York Daily Tribune as the opening article of this issue.

The Church...... 52 The Church of Christ must suffer while the “great whore” reigns, but this will one day be reversed. xxviii CONTENTS

Payments from January 23 to February 5...... 52 Payments received from two conferences and five branches are shown.

(No title)...... 52 Davis tells those whose poetry has not appeared in the periodical not to give up hope.

(No title)...... 52 Davis encourages all who wish to have their books bound to act soon.

“W. P.”...... 52 Davis notifies “W. P.” and all the distributors of the North that packets are sent from Merthyr Tydfil every other Saturday.

(No title)...... 52 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

FEBRUARY 21

Reviewing Books ...... 53 Davis expresses his weariness in reviewing publications intended to expose the weaknesses of Mormonism since the authors sys- tematically fail to use any sources other than previously published anti-Mormon literature. He explains that the best defense is to distribute tracts, since these answer the attacks of their detractors. He declares the press to be the “most effective preacher” for the Mormons as well as for their enemies.

Fleeting Thoughts ...... 55 While endeavoring to write an article for this issue of Zion’s Trumpet Davis’s mind kept wandering. So he decided to make thirteen of his random thoughts the content of the article. CONTENTS xxix

Knowledge...... 57 Thomas Harries of Georgetown, Merthyr, takes the reader through various considerations relating to the idea of knowledge and how it blesses those who possess it.

The Gospel in South America...... 59 The Welsh translation of Parley P. Pratt’s 24 November 1851 letter sent from Valparaiso, Chile, where he was serving a mission. The letter was first printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 February 1852): 54–55.

News from Great Salt Lake City...... 62 The Welsh translation of Richard Ballantyne’s 23 September 1852 letter to John Taylor as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 February 1852): 56–57.

Farewell Address of Elder Eliezer Edwards...... 64 Elder Edwards writes from Liverpool on 9 February 1852, one day prior to the departure of the Ellen Maria. The forty-fifth convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Wales (baptized on 14 September 1843 one month before his nineteenth birthday), he had served as a Mormon missionary for over eight years. In the letter he expresses gratitude for the privilege of knowing and working with so many fine Saints in Wales, and he invites them to join him in Zion. (See the individual file for Eliezer Edwards at welshmormon.byu.edu.)

Directions for Writing for the Press...... 67 Davis indicates that these directions were taken from a book entitled the “Caledfryn Grammar,” a reference to Gramadeg Cymreig (Welsh Grammar), published in 1851 by W. Owen, Cardiff, and authored by William Williams, known by his nom de plume “Caled- fryn,” which in English means “rough hill.” The directions are on pages 201–2 in the original. In quoting this article Davis is obviously making an appeal to those who wished to publish their poetry or their writing in Zion’s Trumpet to follow certain proce- dures that would facilitate the work of the printer and the typesetters. xxx CONTENTS

(No title)...... 68 A bit of advice on marriage.

(No title)...... 68 “T. H.” (probably Thomas Harries) presents three things a wife should be and three things she should not be.

Payments from February 6 to February 19...... 68 Payments received from five conferences and six branches are shown.

Book of Mormon...... 68 Davis presents information as to the profit to book distributors for the final segments of the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon.

“E. J.”...... 68 Davis’s answer to a question posed by “E. J.”

“T. D.”...... 68 Davis’s advice to “T. D.” about a Welsh newspaper to subscribe to.

“Short of Understanding”...... 68 To someone who calls himself “Short of Understanding” Davis explains a question about Acts 3:22.

(No title)...... 68 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

MARCH 6

Office of Counselor...... 69 The Welsh translation of a brief article in Millennial Star 14 (1 Mar 1852): 74. Davis uses this article to respond to one of his readers who had asked concerning the office of a counselor. CONTENTS xxxi

Welsh Psalm...... 70 Since no author is named, it is safe to assume that this “Psalm” comes from the pen of John Davis. Intending to make this Psalm sound like those of the Old Testament, the writer appeals to the Lord to deliver him and all the Saints from Babylon to Zion.

The Hidden Gospel...... 72 Here again John Davis is probably the author of this brief article since no author is named. Quoting Paul’s comment about a gospel that is “hid,” (2 Corinthians 4:3) the writer explains that those who “come with integrity of heart seeking the truth . . . will be led into the kingdom of light.”

Epistle to the Church in Wales...... 73 President William Phillips begins his epistle by explaining that the numerous tasks of his office have kept him from traveling throughout Wales to visit the Saints. He then touches on a number of topics: the translation of the Book of Mormon, the emigration of the Welsh Saints, the Word of Wisdom, preaching the gospel, and the duties of various offices of the priesthood.

Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Mormon...... 76 A continuation of Gibson’s commentary taken from the Millen- nial Star 12 (1 September 1850): 263–65.

Verses...... 80 In this poem of eight 4-line stanzas, George Watkin extends an open invitation to his fellow Welshmen to come to the kingdom of God for a divine feast.

Knowledge...... 81 The conclusion of the article by Thomas Harries begun on page 57 of the previous issue of Zion’s Trumpet.

Greeting...... 83 In this poem of two 16-line stanzas, David Evans invites his old friends to obey the gospel message. xxxii CONTENTS

Le Livre de Mormon...... 84 The French translation of the Book of Mormon is now available.

Emigration...... 84 The Perpetual Emigrating Fund has made it possible for 250 British Saints to be sent out with the last two shiploads. Converts from France, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany have begun their journey to Zion.

Conferences...... 84 The dates for conferences are announced for Breconshire, Mon- mouthshire, West Glamorgan, East Glamorgan, Carmarthen- shire, Cardiganshire, North Pembroke, and South Pembroke.

Payments from February 20 to March 4...... 84 Payments received from six conferences and eight branches are shown.

MARCH 20

Saints of God versus the World...... 85 The Welsh translation of this article by F. D. Richards as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 March 1852): 81–85.

Key to the Revelation of St. John...... 89 The Welsh translation of Doctrine and Covenants section 77. This is erroneously ascribed to the Pearl of Great Price.

Counsels about Singing...... 92 Davis outlines ten specific directions for singing in Church meetings.

The Word of God...... 93 Thomas Harries, of Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil, expounds on the importance of the word of God; God does not speak vain words, and he expects complete obedience to them. Harries illustrates his point with the stories of Noah, Jonah, and Moses. CONTENTS xxxiii

The Word of Wisdom...... 96 A poem of three 12-line stanzas by John Richards, of Craig-ddu, in which he encourages all faithful Saints to observe the Word of Wisdom.

Lectures on Miracles...... 97 When he lived in the village of Rhydybont, near Llanybydder, the Reverend J. Jones, Llangollen, the older brother of Captain Dan Jones, allowed his press to be used for the printing of Mor- mon materials from 1846 through 1848. At that time, his typeset- ter John S. Davis became convinced of the truth of Mormonism and was baptized by Thomas Harries, later the author of several articles published in Zion’s Trumpet. The Reverend J. Jones, however, continued on as a Congregationalist and delivered lectures against Mormonism in various places in South Wales. On 2 March 1852 in Cymreigyddion Hall (the White Lion Inn) in Merthyr Tydfil President William S. Phillips reviewed the Rev- erend’s first lecture on miracles, and on 9 March and 11 March, John S. Davis reviewed Jones’s second lecture. Davis compares his former employer to Goliath and himself to David the shepherd boy in this battle. In this article Davis announces his intention of publishing a series of pamphlets as a review of Jones’s lectures. First, however, he had the pressing obligation of finishing the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon. (For more particulars of Davis’s series of six pamphlets, see my Welsh Mormon Writings from 1844 to 1862: A Historical Bibliography [Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center], 154–56. For the English translations of Davis’s pamphlets, see my Defending the Faith: Early Welsh Missionary Publications [Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, 2003], Item D21.)

Journey to Great Salt Lake by way of New Orleans . . . . 99 An excerpt from H. Smith Evans’s Guide to Emigration Colonies concerning the cost in terms of money and time to go from Liv- erpool to New Orleans, New Orleans to St. Louis, St. Louis to Kanesville, and then Kanesville to Great Salt Lake City.

(No title)...... 99 How the Egyptians deter gluttony and drunkenness. xxxiv CONTENTS

An Appropriate Response...... 99 The clever response of Dr. Levi Richards to someone who asked whether Joseph Smith was a fortune-teller.

(No title)...... 99 The function of time, patience, and diligence in one’s life.

Visit to Merthyr...... 99 President Franklin D. Richards pays a brief visit to Merthyr Tydfil. Davis apologizes on behalf of the brethren in Merthyr for not being able to publicize the visit sooner so the distant Saints could have come to hear him.

Book of the Church...... 99 Davis answers a question of “J. R.” about the Register of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ and gives additional instructions as to how best to record the information requested about each baptized member. (See Welsh Mormon Writings, 97–100, for further details about this record book.)

(No title)...... 100 Men need to ponder about themselves to come to know their own character.

Promise of the Spirit...... 100 An eight-line poem about the promise of the fullness at the coming of the Son of Man.

Payments from March 5 to March 17...... 100 Payments received from three conferences and nine branches are shown.

(No title)...... 100 Davis announces that the Welsh translation of the Pearl of Great Price will be published soon. CONTENTS xxxv

(No title)...... 100 The cost of sending books through the post.

(No title)...... 100 Issues 10 and 11 of the 1851 Zion’s Trumpet are needed.

(No title)...... 100 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

APRIL 3

Patriarchal. To the Saints Scattered Abroad throughout the World, Greeting...... 101 The Welsh translation of an open letter from John Smith, the Patriarch of the Church, to all members, in which he reflects back on the early days of the Church and expresses his abiding testimony of its truthfulness. See Millennial Star 14 (1 April 1852): 97–100.

Saints of God versus the World...... 107 The conclusion of the article by F. D. Richards that began in the 20 March 1852 issue.

Tithing Circular...... 113 The Welsh translation of an article by Willard Richards, a counselor in the First Presidency, as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (1 April 1852): 100–101.

In Praise of the Restoration of the Everlasting Gospel. . .115 A poem of four 8-line stanzas by Gwilym Collwyn.

Elder J. Taylor...... 116 A brief report on the departure of John Taylor from Liverpool. Released from his mission to France, Taylor had been instrumental in organizing the “Deseret Manufacturing Company” to send some sugar refining machinery to the Valley. Elias Morris, a con- xxxvi CONTENTS

vert from North Wales, had been put in charge of overseeing the transfer of the machinery.

Eld. Erastus Snow...... 116 Elder Snow had arrived in Liverpool from Denmark with nineteen Danish Saints on their way to Zion.

Payments from March 17 to March 31...... 116 Payments from five conferences and seven branches are shown.

Error...... 116 Davis corrects an error made on page 90 of the previous issue.

(No title)...... 116 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

APRIL 17

Fear of Dying...... 117 Davis explains that a true follower of Christ has no need to fear death, rather to fear God and revere his words.

The Scandinavian Mission...... 118 The Welsh translation of Elder Erastus Snow’s report of his mission to Denmark as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 April 1852): 117–19.

Reasons for Being Saints...... 122 Thomas Harries, one of the very early converts in the Merthyr Tydfil area, admits that at first it was difficult for him to believe the message of Mormonism. But when he followed the advice of the Apostle Paul to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good,” he received a confirmation of the Spirit that the Mormons had the true gospel of Christ. Harries presents various reasons for continuing with the Saints and preparing to join the body of the Church in Zion, and he encourages others to do likewise. CONTENTS xxxvii

Translators of the Bible ...... 126 Davis obtained this article from Y Wawr (The Dawn), a Welsh periodical published in Cardiff during 1850 and 1851. It provides a detailed, chronological account of events that led to the publication of the Welsh translation of the Bible in 1588.

Letter to the Editor...... 129 R. Evans, Glan Conway, writes from Swansea that he has been “long hidden” but that he has “kept to the path.” He commits to be diligent and calls on the Saints in West Glamorgan to do likewise.

Book of Mormon...... 130 Davis notifies his readers that the last segment of the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon is being sent out with this issue of Zion’s Trumpet. He also gives instructions about binding.

Mournful Lament of the Devil...... 131 A poem of four 8-line stanzas by Thomas Conway, Flint, in which he has the devil express discouragement that his tactics to defeat Mormonism have not worked and that defeat to his own kingdom is nigh.

Pamphlets—Lowering of Prices...... 132 Davis announces new prices for pamphlets and requests orders for his series entitled “Lectures on Miracles.”

The Debt...... 132 Davis makes an earnest plea for the presidents to “collect all the book debts without delay.”

Book Debts from the Conferences, Branches, and Others for the Quarter Ending April 13, 1852...... 132 The debt owed by twelve conferences, twenty-seven branches, and seven individuals comes to over £310. xxxviii CONTENTS

Payments from April 1 to April 13...... 132 Payments from one conference and four branches are shown.

(No title)...... 132 Davis notifies his distributors that all errors in accounting for publications have been corrected.

(No title)...... 132 Davis announces a delay in the publication of the next issue of Zion’s Trumpet.

MAY 8

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 133 The Welsh translation of these minutes as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 May 1852): 177–81, and the following four issues.

The Word and Will of the Lord...... 137 The Welsh translation of this revelation as printed in the Mil- lennial Star 14 (1 May 1852): 150–51. These instructions were given 14 January 1847 at Winter Quarters, Iowa, about three months before the lead group of Mormon pioneers began their trek across the plains.

Epistle of a Conference President to the Saints under his Care...... 139 At a General Conference of Officers held April 26th and 27th, R. Evans was so impressed by the teachings of President William S. Phillips that he composed this article in the form of an epistle for Zion’s Trumpet. It is worded as if a conference president were writing to the branch presidents under his jurisdiction. Evans presents detailed instructions regarding the qualifications and duties of a branch president, then of his counselors, then of a branch scribe, and finally of a branch book distributor. CONTENTS xxxix

Letter from Great Salt Lake City to the Editor of the “Trumpet”...... 142 Having left Wales three years earlier with the first group of Welsh Mormon converts, Thomas Jeremy now writes to John Davis, the young printer who attended Church meetings at Glantrenfawr, Jeremy’s house in Llanybydder. Davis’s baptism on 19 April 1846 was only seven weeks following that of Jeremy; thus they grew in the gospel together and had many experiences in common. In his letter Jeremy reminisces about some of those experiences and then proceeds to describe some of the wonderful things about Zion in Salt Lake City. He closes his letter by relaying the fond regards of Benjamin Jones and Richard Jones, two other converts from Llanybydder who had been baptized the same day as Jeremy, all three by Captain Dan Jones. (Benjamin Jones and Richard Jones were not related, but they married sisters and emigrated on the Joseph Badger in 1850. For further information, see the individual file for Richard Thomas Jones on welshmormon .byu.edu.)

False Spirits ...... 146 The Welsh translation of this brief article printed in the Millennial Star 14 (15 April 1852): 126.

Eisteddfod of the Saints...... 146 The “eisteddfod,” or “sitting together,” is an ancient Welsh tradition during which there are competitions in oratory, recitation, singing, and poetry. One was held on 26 April 1852 in Merthyr Tydfil and was presided over by Dewi Elfed Jones (David Bevan Jones), a former Baptist minister who had received baptism at the hands of William Phillips one year earlier. Among other things that took place on the occasion was the presenting of a copy of the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon to William Phillips. Brother R. Evans, Glan Conwy, then recited a poem of three 4-line stanzas to honor God for “showing the treasure,” John Davis for translating it from English to Welsh, and William Phillips for his guidance. (See the individual file for David Bevan Jones on welshmormon.byu.edu for more details about this color- ful figure.) xl CONTENTS

Common Law in Utah...... 147 What happens to any man who seduces his neighbor’s wife.

The “Star”...... 147 The Millennial Star, with a circulation of 23,000, is to be published weekly.

Defense of the Mormons ...... 147 A correspondent in Philadelphia of the Manchester Examiner is quoted in the Liverpool Journal as saying that the Mormons in Utah have been maligned undeservedly.

(No title)...... 147 The New York Herald is quoted concerning the wages of the government officials who “deemed it wise, for their own personal benefit, to leave Utah suddenly.”

Book of Mormon in Italian...... 148 Davis declares having just seen a copy of the Book of Mormon in Italian.

J. Taylor...... 148 Elder John Taylor arrived in Halifax on 17 March 1852.

Congress...... 148 Davis gives a brief account from the New York Herald of two members of Congress who had a fight because one called the other a liar.

(No title)...... 148 Davis reports receiving letters from Eliezer Edwards, Henry Evans, and others after arriving at New Orleans.

Conferences of the North...... 148 An announcement of conferences to be held in Flintshire, Den- bighshire, Conwy Valley, Anglesey, and Merionethshire. CONTENTS xli

Payments from April 14 to May 5...... 148 Payments from nine conferences and twenty-one branches are shown.

(No title)...... 148 Davis asks for segments 2, 7, and 9 of the Welsh translation of the Doctrine and Covenants, issue 14 of Zion’s Trumpet, and numbers 7, 8, and 28 of Prophet of the Jubilee.

(No title)...... 148 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

MAY 15

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 149 Continued from page 136.

Intelligence from Great Salt Lake Valley...... 156 The Welsh translation of this editorial from the Millennial Star 14 (22 May 1852): 200–202.

To the Presidents and the Distributors...... 159 Davis calls on the conference and branch presidents and their book distributors to be more diligent in getting Church publications not only in the hands of members but out among “the world” as well. He urges them all to follow carefully the instructions given in the “Address to the Saints” on page 267 of the previous volume of Zion’s Trumpet.

Death of the Wanderer...... 161 This poem is dated 25 September 1847, Carmarthen, and the composer is identified only by the initials “J. D.,” in all likelihood John Davis. The initial thirty-three lines of the poem describe the wanderer in the far west thinking about his native land as he lies dying. The final five stanzas of six lines each are a funereal xlii CONTENTS

song sung by his friends. The “L. E. L.” after the three introductory lines refer to Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the English poet and novelist, 1802–38.

Verses...... 163 A poem of three 4-line stanzas composed by John Parry Jr., in which he encourages the Saints to be cheerful. Parry’s brother Caleb and their parents had left Wales with the first group of Welsh Mormon emigrants three years earlier. John Parry Jr. would serve a seven-year mission before emigrating in 1856. He left a very fine journal, which is linked to his individual file on welshmormon.byu.edu.

(No title)...... 163 The way to be able to read while riding in a steam engine.

(No title)...... 163 Why fat men can swim more easily than thin men.

(No title)...... 163 Being poor in spirit is worse than being poor in money.

Lectures on Miracles...... 163 Davis announces his intention to publish from four to six lectures on miracles that will contain a review on the lectures of J. Jones, Llangollen, on the same topic.

(No title)...... 163 The reward for getting a good son-in-law and the loss for getting a bad one.

(No title)...... 163 The result of lying and deceiving.

Lament of the Lazy...... 163 The lazy person spends his leisure time complaining about his work. CONTENTS xliii

(No title)...... 164 Why we should not lust after wealth or fear poverty.

(No title)...... 164 Why it is important to keep your good word.

(No title)...... 164 It is better to have an endowment in a wife than with a wife.

Payments from May 5 to May 12 ...... 164 Payments from two conferences, four branches, and one individual are shown.

(No title)...... 164 Davis calls for segments 25 and 26 of the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon, segments 7 and 9 of the Doctrine and Covenants, number 14 for Zion’s Trumpet, vol. 3, and numbers 7, 8, and 18 for Prophet of the Jubilee.

(No title)...... 164 Those who wish to have their Book of Mormon bound in London must send them to Davis within a fortnight.

(No title)...... 164 Instructions for persons who live far from Merthyr Tydfil to obtain licenses and other items.

(No title)...... 164 Instructions to the distributors concerning the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and hymnbooks.

(No title)...... 164 Instructions and encouragement to treatise writers. xliv CONTENTS

(No title)...... 164 Why this issue of Zion’s Trumpet is being published only one week following the previous issue.

(No title) Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

MAY 29

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 165 Continued from page 156.

Warning...... 178 Thomas Pugh, President of the East Glamorgan Conference, sends word that W. T. Tonkins, formerly an elder in the English Aberdare Branch, has been cut off from the Church.

Verses...... 178 In this poem of four 8-line stanzas John Wilkins, Clynmil, advises his fellow Saints to make their way to Zion in order to escape the hatred of family and former friends.

Steamboat Explosion...... 179 A brief report on the 9 April 1852 explosion of the steamboat Saluda on the Missouri River. One of the victims was William Rowland from Hirwaun, but his wife Rachel and two of their children survived. For further details see the individual file for Rachel J. Evans on welshmormon.byu.edu.

Departure...... 179 Franklin D. Richards and Erastus Snow left Liverpool for New York on 8 May. CONTENTS xlv

Gathering in Earnest ...... 180 Elder Ezra T. Benson has ordered one thousand wagons, two thousand handcarts, and one thousand wheelbarrows for the poor Saints to travel from Council Bluffs to Salt Lake Valley this season.

Decisions...... 180 The Carmarthenshire Conference now consists of two conferences.

Produce in Utah...... 180 Mr. Mendenhall in Springville, Utah, has achieved a remarkable yield in his crops.

Deaths in the Great Salt Lake City...... 180 The death rate is very low in Salt Lake City.

Payments from May 13 to May 26...... 180 Payments received from two conferences and seven branches are shown.

JUNE 12

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 181 Continued from page 177.

Verse ...... 183 An eight-line poem by Elizabeth from Merthyr Tydfil asking for the Lord’s blessing.

Treatise on the Duty of Parents to their Children. . . . .184 Nearly six pages of counsel by John Richards as to how parents should deal with their children to prepare them for adulthood. Using the nom de plume “Earthworm,” Richards submitted this treatise in an Eisteddfod competition and then sent it to be pub- xlvi CONTENTS

lished in Zion’s Trumpet. He attributes his opening quotation from Proverbs 22:6—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”—to Selyf the Wise, a sixth-century king of Powys in North Wales. Although Richards had published several selections of poetry in Zion’s Trumpet, this is his first article.

False Accusers of the Saints...... 189 Letters making accusations against the Mormons had appeared in two newspapers in South Wales, the Cardiff and Merthyr Guard- ian and the Welshman. The authors of the letters, William Davies and Evan Howell, emigrants on board the Ellen Maria that left Liverpool on 1 February 1851, complained that they were treated by other Mormons on board the ship with unkindness during the crossing and after they reached New Orleans on 7 April 1851. Alfred J. Wood, another passenger on the Ellen Ma- ria, presents a contrasting viewpoint in this 3 May 1852 letter to John Davis. Davis has left the letter in English in Zion’s Trumpet “so the Saints may show it to the persons who read the English newspapers.”

The Yellow Fever, or Itching for the Gold of Australia. . .193 John Richards, Graig-ddu, presents a humorous remedy for the disease known as “yellow fever.”

Letter from the North...... 194 William S. Phillips requests that a letter he had received from John Parry in North Wales be printed in Zion’s Trumpet. In his 20 May 1852 letter Parry reports that when the missionaries were preaching outside near Wrexham the Methodists came to disrupt them by singing, and some irreligious people came with rotten eggs to throw at them. One of the Methodists was hit in the forehead with a rotten egg and decided to sue the person who threw it. The judge who heard the case told the Methodist that it served him right to be hit with the egg for disturbing the Mormons. CONTENTS xlvii

Officers of Utah...... 195 The New York Tribune reports that Orson Hyde and Willard Richards have been nominated to fill the positions vacated by Brocchus and Harris.

News from Utah...... 195 The New York Herald reports some favorable things about Brigham Young and the Mormons.

Disappointment...... 195 Those who were hoping that the Saints in Utah would be destroyed have been greatly disappointed.

Earthquake...... 195 On the morning of 1 June there was an earthquake tremor that lasted about half a minute.

(No title)...... 196 Be wise in your business dealings by making a fair and correct agreement beforehand.

(No title)...... 196 The value of a good wife and the curse of a bad one.

(No title)...... 196 One of the values of marriage.

Emigration...... 196 The next shipload of emigrants from Wales will not be until next January.

Conferences...... 196 The dates for Conferences are announced for Breconshire, Mon- mouthshire, East Glamorgan, West Glamorgan, Llanelli, Car marthen, Cardiganshire, North Pembroke, and South Pembroke. xlviii CONTENTS

Treatises on Miracles...... 196 The second treatise will accompany this issue of Zion’s Trumpet. Davis is pleased with the circulation of the first treatise.

(No title)...... 196 Money for the Emigrating Fund is to be paid by the 24th of this month.

(No title)...... 196 Richard Morris wishes for the Saints to be more prompt in calling for books left with him to be bound.

Payments from May 27 to June 9...... 196 Payments from four conferences and nine branches are shown.

(No title)...... 196 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

JUNE 26

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 197 Continued from page 183.

Epistle of President S. W. Richards to the Saints in the British Isles...... 206 The Welsh translation of this epistle as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (19 June 1852): 257–60 and (26 June 1852): 273–77.

Invitation to the Saints...... 211 A poem of two 16-line stanzas by William Charles, Rhymney. The poet invites all faithful Saints to join him in preparing to “bid an eternal farewell to Babylon” and journey to Zion. CONTENTS xlix

Baptismal font ...... 211 President Young has ordered a baptismal font built on the Temple Block.

(No title)...... 211 Elder Franklin D. Richards and Erastus Snow arrived safely in New York on May 19th.

(No title)...... 211 Brigham Young’s family wove five hundred yards of cloth last winter.

(No title)...... 212 Davis wonders whether the poor Saints with their wheelbarrows and handcarts might have a better journey across the plains than do the rich.

Festival...... 212 A festival was held on 4 March 1852 in the Territorial House in Salt Lake City; the printers held another on 24 February 1852 in a schoolhouse in the Fourteenth Ward.

Hindustan ...... 212 According to a letter received from Elder W. Willis, the work of God is prospering in India.

Payments from June 10 to June 24 ...... 212 Payments from six conferences and nine branches are shown.

(No title)...... 212 Davis announces that he has received the numbers of Zion’s Trumpet, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon previously requested. The pamphlet Sound Doctrine is out of print. l CONTENTS

(No title)...... 212 Apparently Phillip Davies had sent an indiscreet question to John Davis. Davis responds that if his correspondent likes to look into the affairs of other men, he should ask his branch president.

(No title)...... 212 Davis asks for his correspondents to exercise patience when they do not see their writings in print in Zion’s Trumpet. He instructs them to read “The Hero and the Spider” (Zion’s Trumpet, vol. I, p. 98–99) to learn about patience.

JULY 10

Truth and Salvation...... 213 The Welsh translation of this article as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (10 July 1852): 310–11.

Minutes of the Special General Council of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...... 216 Continued from page 210. At the end of this concluding segment Davis comments that he had translated the beginning portion and that Thomas Job had translated the remainder. (See the individual file for Thomas Job on welshmormon.byu.edu to which his very fine biography by Bliss Brimley is linked. Thomas Job later settled in Goshen, Utah, and became a missionary for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)

Honor ...... 224 This poem of seven 8-line stanzas was composed by John Wilkins, Clynmil.

Statistical Report of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in the British Isles ...... 226 This is the semiannual report as it appears in the Millennial Star 14 (10 July 1852): 310–11. Both the Millennial Star and Zion’s Trumpet CONTENTS li

have the date 1 June 1852 as the ending of the half year. A total of 32,340 members of the Church is reported. The second page of the report gives the names of the Presidency of the Church in the British Isles, the Presidency of the Church in Wales, the Area Presidencies, and the Presidents and Scribes of Conferences.

France ...... 228 Elder Curtis E. Bolton writes an enthusiastic report of missionary work in France.

Hindustan Again ...... 228 Elder William Willis writes from India that there are now 150 members of the Church in that country.

Prepared Drink...... 228 Davis gives the recipe for a refreshing drink. Years later he had a store in Salt Lake City in which he sold a drink called “Cronk Beer.” (See the individual file for John Silvanus Davis on welshmormon .byu.edu for his advertisement for “Davis’ Cronk Beer!”)

Payments from June 25 to July 8...... 228 Payments from eight branches and one individual are shown.

(No title)...... 228 Davis notifies the Presidents and Distributors of a slight restruc- turing of quarters for billing.

Treatises on Miracles...... 228 The fourth treatise is being sent with this issue of Zion’s Trumpet, and the fifth is at the press.

(No title)...... 228 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil. lii CONTENTS

JULY 24

Seventh General Epistle of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the Great Salt Lake Valley to the Saints Scattered throughout the Whole World...... 229 The Welsh translation of this Epistle as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (17 July 1852): 321–26.

Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the New Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1852, at ten o’clock in the morning, President Brigham Young presiding...... 239 The Welsh translation of these Minutes as printed in the Millen- nial Star 14 (24 July 1852): 339–45.

Happening...... 243 During a conference held at a hall in Newport the ceiling above the platform fell on the Saints who were gathered. No one was hurt.

Prepared Drink...... 244 A modification in the recipe given in the previous issue.

Conferences of the North...... 244 An announcement of conferences to be held in Flintshire, Denbigh shire, Conwy Valley, Anglesey, and Merionethshire.

Book Debts owed by the Conferences, Branches, and others, for the Quarter Ending July 3, 1852 ...... 244 The debt owed by twelve conferences, thirty branches, and an unspecified number of individuals comes to over£ 268.

Payments from July 9 to July 21 ...... 244 Payments from four conferences and twenty-one branches are shown. CONTENTS liii

Treatises on Miracles...... 244 The last number of this series will be sent out with the next issue of Zion’s Trumpet.

(No title)...... 244 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

AUGUST 7

Address to the Saints ...... 245 The Welsh translation of this address by S. W. Richards as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (24 July 1852): 337–38.

Address of President William S. Phillips to the Saints in Wales...... 257 General words of praise and exhortation to all the Saints in Wales.

Letter to Presidents W. S. Phillips and John Davis. . . . .259 William Morgan writes from Pottawatomie County, Iowa, on 22 June 1852, and reports that the Welsh Branch has begun its journey to the Salt Lake Valley. This Welsh Branch was established in May 1849 with William Morgan as the branch president when the first group of Welsh Mormon converts reached Council Bluffs. They had sailed to America on board the Buena Vista and the Hartley, and one-fifth of their number had suc- cumbed to cholera. Only eighty-one of their number went directly on to the Salt Lake Valley that same year. Some remained in New Orleans and St. Louis, and the others settled in Council Bluffs. The Welsh Branch organized in Council Bluffs increased in number as other Welsh converts arrived. Now, by instruction liv CONTENTS

from Brigham Young, they were headed across the plains to join with the main body of the Saints. Morgan reports that Rachel Rowland was improving after surviving the explosion of the Saluda two months earlier. See the individual file for Rachel J. Evans on welshmormon.byu.edu.

Likeness of President W. S. Phillips...... 260 Davis announces that this likeness of President Phillips is ready for purchase. It is carved on steel and is “more handsome than any image” that Davis had seen among the Saints. None of these likenesses seems to have survived.

(No title)...... 260 A word about fools.

(No title)...... 260 If an old tree is moved, it will wither.

(No title)...... 260 The importance of small things in revealing a man’s character.

(No title)...... 260 How to stay out of debt.

(No title)...... 260 Why Zeno chose silence.

(No title)...... 260 When friends abound.

Payments from July 22 to August 4...... 260 Payments from two conferences and eight branches are shown.

(No title)...... 260 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil. CONTENTS lv

AUGUST 21

A Look at the Church...... 261 According to Davis, the Church has expanded quickly and Zion is growing stronger by the day.

Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Mormon. . . . . 267 A continuation of Gibson’s commentary taken from the Millen- nial Star 12 (15 September 1850): 283–86.

Foolish Practices...... 273 John Richards, Graigddu, explains the foolishness of staying up too late, sleeping too long, using tobacco, drinking intoxicating liquor, taking snuff, and drinking tea and coffee. He concludes his comments with an 8-line poem.

Payments from August 5 to August 18...... 276 Payments received from Minersville, America, four conferences, and seven branches are shown.

(No title)...... 276 Davis announces that there are no more Bilingual Hymn Books for sale but that there is an abundance of the two Welsh hymnals. (For details of the Bilingual Hymn Book, see my Welsh Mormon Writings, 149. And for details of the two Welsh hymnals, see Welsh Mormon Writings, 35–39, 87–89, 132–34.)

“J. E.”...... 276 Davis answers the question of “J. E.” about smoking herbs. lvi CONTENTS

Address ...... 276 The address of Thomas Giles in Tredegar.

(No title)...... 276 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

SEPTEMBER 4

Unity and Division...... 277 The Welsh translation of this article as it is printed in the Millen- nial Star 14 (28 August 1852): 417–21.

Review of the Book of Mormon...... 285 The editor of Seren Cymru (Star of Wales), in the 8 July 1852 issue, gives only condemnation to the recently published Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon that John Davis had sent to him. But he gives high praise to the quality of the printing and declares Davis’s translation to be “fluid and intelligible.” Davis responds that the editor’s negative review actually speaks in the Book of Mormon’s favor.

Letter from Capt. D. Jones...... 287 In his letter from Manti City, dated 1 May 1852, Dan Jones explains to William Phillips that in October 1851 he had been counseled by Brigham Young to prepare to return to Wales to serve another mission; consequently, Jones had not written, thinking he would soon be in Wales in person. But the previous day, 30 April 1852, Jones had been instructed by President Young to search further for the “Madocians,” a tribe of Indians believed by some to be the descendants of a group of Welsh who had arrived in America in 1170 under the leadership of a Prince Madoc. Jones’s dream was to find these “Welsh Indians,” convert them to Mormonism, and then take some of them back to Wales as missionaries to their distant cousins. (See my “Captain Dan Jones and the Welsh Indians,” in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 18, no. 4 [Winter 1985]: 112–17, for more information about the Madocian legend.) Ironically, Brigham Young reversed his instruction one more time before the end of the year, CONTENTS lvii

and Jones arrived in Merthyr Tydfil on 27 December 1852 to begin his second mission to Wales.

Letter to President W. S. Phillips...... 290 Writing from Winter Quarters on 8 July 1852, Eliezer Edwards gives an update on his journey and comments that it is much easier to ask in Wales why the emigrants do not write from America than it is for the emigrants to find the time to write.

Verses...... 291 A poem of three 8-line stanzas by Joseph Davies, Llansawel, in which he gives thanks for having found the true gospel.

(No title)...... 292 Those who think they are always right are most often wrong.

(No title)...... 292 If one has any merit he rarely envies the merit of others.

(No title)...... 292 Unbridled passions are more to be feared than the arrows of the enemy and the fetters of the conqueror.

(No title)...... 292 A brief observation about governing and authority.

(No title)...... 292 The cause of many of the afflictions in families.

Payments from August 19 to September 1...... 292 Payments from three conferences and nine branches are shown.

(No title)...... 292 The address to which letters may be sent to relatives in St. Louis. lviii CONTENTS

(No title)...... 292 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

SEPTEMBER 18

Proclamation to the People of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific Ocean, of Every Nation, Kindred, and Tongue . . . 293 The Welsh translation of this proclamation by Parley P. Pratt as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (18 September 1852): 465–70, and 14 (25 September 1852): 481–85.

To All Conference and Branch Presidents, &c...... 301 William Phillips comments about hymn singing, hymn books, emigration, taverns, and liquor, and he ends by saying that he would much rather sleep in the most humble place among the Saints than to be taken to a tavern to sleep. John Davis adds a footnote calling for all who have composed new hymns to send them to him without delay.

The Living God...... 304 The Welsh translation of this essay as printed in Times and Sea- sons 6 (15 Feb 1845): 808–9.

(No title)...... 308 A quotation from Aristotle about the greatness of one’s land.

(No title)...... 308 The importance of small things in revealing a man’s character. This quotation also appears in the 7 August 1852 issue of Zion’s Trumpet, page 260.

(No title)...... 308 No one is satisfied with his condition or dissatisfied with his mental ability. CONTENTS lix

Conferences...... 308 An announcement of conferences to be held in Breconshire, East Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, West Glamorgan, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Cardiganshire, Aberystwyth, North Pembroke, and South Pembroke.

Appointment ...... 308 Richard Roberts is appointed as president of the Conwy Valley Conference in place of John H. Davies.

(No title)...... 308 William Evans, Pantyrescer, who was an elder in the Cellan Branch, has been cut off from the Church.

Payments from September 2 to September 15...... 308 Payments from four conferences and six branches are shown.

(No title)...... 308 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

OCTOBER 2

Proclamation to the People of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific Ocean, of Every Nation, Kindred, and Tongue. . . .309 Continued from page 301.

Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Mormon. . . . . 315 A continuation of Gibson’s commentary taken from the Millen- nial Star 12 (15 September 1850): 286, and 12 (2 October 1850): 292–94.

A Letter from Calcutta...... 320 Born in England in 1814, William Willes at age twenty-two became head of a boys’ school in Cardiff. He lost his position in 1848 when he converted to Mormonism. In 1851, after serving as a missionary in Wales, he went on a mission to India. This let- lx CONTENTS

ter is a brief report of his experience over the past nine months. Willes comments on the kindness and generosity of the natives, the extreme heat, the belief among Hindus that the end of the world was near, and the curious similarities of the Hindustani and the Welsh languages. The letter appears in Zion’s Trumpet in English.

“The Perpetual Emigrating Fund”...... 321 A poem of seven 12-line stanzas by Thomas Conway, Flint, in praise of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. He counsels all faithful Saints to take advantage of the fund before it is too late.

(No title)...... 323 Beauty without virtue is compared to a whited sepulcre.

Drunkard...... 323 When the drunkard swallows wine, he is then swallowed by the wine, with numerous negative results.

(No title)...... 324 Innocent pleasures followed to excess become sin.

(No title)...... 324 Why it is wiser to look past small transgressions.

Book Debts from the Conferences, Branches, and Others, for the Quarter Ending September 30, 1852...... 324 The debt owed by thirteen conferences, thirty branches, and an unspecified number of individuals comes to over£ 267.

Payments from September 16 to September 30...... 324 Payments from three conferences and nine branches are shown.

Binding of Books...... 324 Davis counsels all the Saints to use their brethren to bind their books and recommends Isaac Jones in Carmarthen and Richard Morris in Merthyr Tydfil. CONTENTS lxi

(No title)...... 324 The article by President S. W. Richards about emigration will appear in the next issue.

(No title)...... 324 Davis has several pieces of correspondence that he intends to publish as soon as he can.

(No title)...... 324 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

OCTOBER 16

The Emigration...... 325 The Welsh translation of this article by President S. W. Richards as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (2 October 1852): 497–500.

Proclamation to the People of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific Ocean, of Every Nation, Kindred, and Tongue. . . .332 Continued from page 315.

Minutes of a Special General Council of the Church in Wales...... 336 President William Phillips requests greater obedience from the leaders in reading Zion’s Trumpet. He also explains the importance of following the higher leadership if contrary counsel is given by someone with lower authority.

Blessing ...... 338 President William Phillips answers a question posed by R. V. M. (probably Richard Vaughan Morris, his scribe) about the appro- priateness of Saints’ requesting blessings from someone they do not know. lxii CONTENTS

Sleeping in a Worship Service...... 339 A poem of four 4-line stanzas by W. R. Abraham, Nantygwenith, Merthyr, in which he suggests what should be done with those who slumber in Church.

(No title)...... 340 Pray as often as you need to and give thanks just as often.

(No title)...... 340 Do not speak well of those who are undeserving, and never speak well of yourself.

To the Women of the Snuff ...... 340 A poem of two 4-line stanzas by J. P. Prosser, Cap Coch, in which the poet declares that it is shameful that women be allowed to use the ugly creature of snuff.

Payments from October 1 to October 14 ...... 340 Payments from three conferences and nineteen branches are shown.

(No title)...... 340 Hugh Jones and his wife of the Anglesey Conference have been cut off from the Church.

(No title)...... 340 The Welsh translation of the Pearl of Great Price is now available.

Book of Mormon...... 340 There is now a supply of the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon in “handsome leather, and gilt-edged pages, and binding done in Wales.”

(No title)...... 340 The “poetic brethren” are urged to submit their hymns without delay. CONTENTS lxiii

(No title)...... 340 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

OCTOBER 30

Proclamation to the People of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific Ocean, of Every Nation, Kindred, and Tongue. . .341 Continued from page 336. Morgan Jenkins, Cefn, translated the entire proclamation from English to Welsh except for the poem on page 342, which was translated by Dewi Elfed Jones, the former Baptist minister. In his translation, however, he has taken poetic license to make several changes to accommodate the rhyme scheme and scansion. Also he has added two lines to transform it from a fourteen-line poem to one of four 4-line stanzas. My non-poetic English rendition of Dewi Elfed’s Welsh version is intended to provide the reader with the word-for-word meaning. For purposes of comparison, here is the original English version of the poem as composed by Parley P. Pratt:

Let fly your thoughts on the lightning car, With the speed of light to the realms afar. Mount, mount the car with the horse of fire, Outstript the wind! he will never tire. Let the wild bird scream as he lags behind, And the hurricane a champion find. Search the darkest spot where mortals dwell, With a voice of thunder the tidings tell. Proclaim the dawn of a brighter day, When the King of kings will his scepter sway. Bid pain, and anguish, and sorrow cease, And open the way for the Prince of Peace, He will conquer death—bid sorrow flee, And give to the nations a jubilee!

Minutes of a Special General Council of the Church in Wales...... 344 Continued from page 338. President Phillips gives instructions regarding the distribution and payment of Church publications. Thomas Pugh, the second counselor in the mission presidency, lxiv CONTENTS

strongly affirms the need to keep current in the payment of publications. Dewi Elfed Jones is to receive instruction in keeping books from John Davis, first counselor in the mission presidency, and Richard Morris, scribe to President Phillips, so that he can then instruct others wherever he goes. It is determined that Zion’s Trumpet will be published on a weekly basis beginning the following year. No conference president or traveling elder is to emigrate at the expense of the emigrating fund; rather the members of the respective conferences are to be responsible for that. Brother Shurtleff from the Valley addresses the council briefly in English. (Ironically, Dewi Elfed Jones was excommunicated from the Church in July 1855 for misuse of Church funds, and in March 1853, Thomas Pugh was excommunicated for a moral infraction. There is no record that Pugh was ever reinstated; however, Dewi Elfed Jones came back into the Church in May 1856. See the individual file for David Bevan Jones on the website welshmormon.byu.edu.)

Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Mormon. . . . . 348 The conclusion of Gibson’s commentary taken from the Millen- nial Star 12 (15 October 1850): 313–15. Davis laments that Elder Gibson did not write more, but refers the reader to the writings of Elder Orson Pratt for more about the Book of Mormon.

Letter from Pottsville, America...... 352 In this 14 August 1852 letter written from Pottsville, [Pennsyl- vania], Richard Richards proudly announces his 18 July 1852 baptism into the “Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Apparently Richards had left Wales for America and ended up working in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, where he met with the Mormons. He sends his fond regards to his relatives still in Wales and asks John Davis to print his letter in Zion’s Trum- pet so all his family will know that he is “a worker in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Richards also mentions Thomas Rich- ards, who had come to Pottsville a few years earlier, as being the branch president there. (For further information about the Potts- ville branch, see the individual files for Thomas Morgan Richards and Joseph Henry Joseph on the website welshmormon.byu.edu.) CONTENTS lxv

The Gathering...... 353 In this fifty-line poem John Richards, Graig-ddu, describes the splendor of the Mormon Zion and the multitude of blessings that will come to those who gather there.

Verses...... 354 In this poem of ten 4-line stanzas Dewi Elfed portrays the day when Babylon will fall and Jesus will reign on the earth.

(No title)...... 355 The wisdom of pondering before speaking.

(No title)...... 356 The need for recognizing that which is praiseworthy in the enemies of truth.

(No title)...... 356 Why one should not disregard his inferiors in temporal things.

(No title)...... 356 Why the atheist is the most credulous man in the world.

Verses...... 356 In this poem of two 4-line stanzas Mary-Ann, Georgetown, declares the loveliness of those who have a pure heart and the ag- ony of those who embrace violence.

Payments from October 15 to October 28...... 356 Payments from four conferences and ten branches are shown.

Conferences of the North...... 356 An announcement of conferences to be held in Flintshire, Den- bighshire, Conwy Valley, Anglesey, and Merionethshire. lxvi CONTENTS

Emigrating...... 356 All who intend to emigrate at the beginning of the year are to send their information to President Phillips right away.

Error ...... 356 Because of the carelessness of an apprentice (or “printer’s devil” as Davis called him), the Welsh word “troedfedd” (foot) is used instead of “modfedd” (inch) in describing the measurements of boxes needed for the journey to America. Davis jokingly expresses the hope that none of the emigrants have made boxes of these larger measurements lest they be tempted to put masts on them and try to sail across the ocean in their boxes.

(No title)...... 356 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

NOVEMBER 13

Priesthood ...... 357 The Welsh translation of the article as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (13 November 1852): 593–96. In a footnote following the translation, Davis indicates that the article is to be read aloud in the branches.

Current Condition of the World...... 364 In this four-page article Thomas Davies observes that no two religions agree as to how to obtain eternal life. He quotes a number of scriptures to show that the Holy Ghost will reveal to a faithful follower of Christ how to gain eternal life and that since Christ built his Church on the rock of revelation, one needs to identify a modern-day church that receives revelation through a living prophet. He bears witness that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that church and invites all to receive the message of the restored gospel. CONTENTS lxvii

Bring to Remembrance That which has Gone Past, and Show Things to Come...... 368 W. S. Phillips reminds Church members that contributions to the Emigrating Fund will be used to take the poor Saints to Zion at the beginning of the year; those going at their own expense will go later in the season. He also reminds those involved in distributing publications that they should do their duty with regard to the book debts.

Testimonials to the Character of the People of Utah. . . .369 The Welsh translation of these testimonials as printed in the Mil- lennial Star 14 (30 October 1852): 574.

Important Special Conference, Held at Great Salt Lake City, August 28, 1852...... 370 The Welsh translation of the article printed in the Millennial Star 14 (13 November 1852): 600. The minutes of the conference had not yet arrived, but the names and destinations of 106 elders appointed at that conference to serve missions are presented. Four missionaries, the first from among the Welsh who had emigrated to Utah since 1849, are on their way to Wales: Dan Jones, Thomas Jeremy, Daniel Daniels, and Edward Griffin.

(No title)...... 372 Definition of deceitful tricks.

(No title)...... 372 Why truth is an adornment for man and an instrument as well.

Earthquake...... 372 On 9 November the town of Conway experienced an earthquake. The inhabitants have decided to reform, and they have promised a convenient place for the Saints to hold their next conference.

Wisdom ...... 372 A four-line poem explains that all are wise while they are silent, but when some speak they prove otherwise. lxviii CONTENTS

Payments from October 29 to November 11...... 372 Payments from three conferences and eight branches are shown.

Hymn Books...... 372 Although the last Dual Hymn Book has been sold, the New Hymn Book is now at the press and will be ready for binding in two weeks. It is a combination of many new hymns and the best old ones. See Welsh Mormon Writings, 87–89, 132–34, for information on the two hymnals in the “Dual Hymn Book,” and Welsh Mormon Writings, 159–62, for a description of the “New Hymn Book.”

(No title)...... 372 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

NOVEMBER 27

Speech of Brigham Young on the Fifth Anniversary of the 24th of July...... 373 The Welsh translation of this speech as printed in the Deseret News, 21 August 1852, 4.

Knowledge...... 377 The Welsh translation of this essay as printed in the Deseret News. (Exact source undetermined.)

Emigration...... 381 The Welsh translation of this editorial as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (27 November 1852): 632.

Elders Intending to Emigrate...... 383 The Welsh translation of this brief article in the Millennial Star 14 (27 November 1852): 634. The name of Thomas Pugh, first counselor to President William Phillips, is mentioned. CONTENTS lxix

The Nephites and the Lamanites ...... 384 A poem of nine 8-line stanzas in which the Lamanites are promised deliverance from the oppression of the Gentiles who have occupied their land. The name of the composer is not given; hence, it is most likely John Davis.

Ruins of an Ancient and Magnificient City at Tinian Island, in the Pacific...... 385 The Welsh translation of this article as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (27 November 1852): 638.

The Emigration ...... 386 A poem of three 16-line stanzas by Dewi Elfed Jones in which he foresees the fall of Babylon and the gathering of the faithful in Zion.

(No title)...... 388 Virtuous men are respected by every good man and even by wicked men.

(No title)...... 388 What desire of praise shows.

(No title)...... 388 Advice about flattery.

Payments from November 12 to November 25 ...... 388 Payments from four conferences and ten branches are shown.

“J. H.”...... 388 Davis responds to a question of “J. H.” about going to taverns.

(No title)...... 388 Those who send letters to President Phillips requesting an answer need to enclose a stamp. lxx CONTENTS

New Hymn Books...... 388 The new hymnal is off the press and will be sent to the binder without delay.

(No title)...... 388 Davis apologizes for getting behind in answering correspondence, as he has been busy with the new hymnal.

(No title)...... 388 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

DECEMBER 11

A General Funeral Sermon of All Saints and Sinners, also of the Heavens and Earth...... 389 The Welsh translation of this Orson Pratt sermon delivered at the Tabernacle in Great Salt Lake City 25 July 1852 and as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (4 December 1852): 641–46.

Safe Arrival in the Valley of the Emigrating Fund Saints. . 399 Davis comments on the letter F. D. Richards wrote from Salt Lake City on 30 September 1852 about the safe arrival of the Saints that emigrated with the assistance of the Perpetual Emi- grating Fund. The companies were welcomed by Brigham Young and a brass band.

The Weekly “Trumpet”...... 400 Davis is delighted that beginning in 1853, Zion’s Trumpet will be published weekly. He appeals to Church leaders to strive for the success and for every member among the Saints to feel the spirit of selling it to friends and neighbors.

Warning...... 401 President Phillips calls for the Emigrating Fund money to be sent by the 24th of December and for the semi-annual reports to be sent by the 2nd of January. Three conference presidents are going with the next emigration. CONTENTS lxxi

Mercy of God...... 402 This poem of twenty-five couplets followed by a 4-line chorus is a paraphrase of Psalm 136. The composer is most likely John Davis, since no name is given.

(No title)...... 404 Rich men are trustees over the needy and will be held accountable for their stewardship.

(No title)...... 404 How praises would be valuable.

Coal...... 404 A new vein of coal has been discovered in Iron County, Utah Territory.

Payments from November 26 to December 9...... 404 Payments from four conferences, eleven branches, and one individual are shown.

Conferences...... 404 An announcement of conferences to be held in Breconshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Swansea, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Cardigan, North Pembroke, and Pembroke.

“D. D.”...... 404 Davis answers a question received from “D. D.” about the words “new covenant” and hymn 25.

(No title)...... 404 Davis appeals to those who have left books to be bound to now call for them.

“I. J.”...... 404 Neither the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, nor the hymn books will be sold unbound. lxxii CONTENTS

(No title)...... 404 To clear the book debts, the money must be received by noon on 31 December at the latest.

(No title)...... 404 Davis’s address in Merthyr Tydfil.

DECEMBER 25

A General Funeral Sermon of All Saints and Sinners, also of the Heavens and Earth...... 405 The continuation and conclusion of this sermon from page 399 as printed in the Millennial Star 14 (11 December 1852): 657–62.

(No title)...... 416 What to say about men you cannot praise without envy or chastise without danger.

Payments from December 10 to December 22 ...... 416 Payments from five conferences and nine branches are shown. Z i o n ’ s Tru m p e t 1852 Udgorn Seion title page Zion’s Trumpet

Star of the Saints;

containing

PRINCIPLES OF THE “DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES,”

ESSAYS, LETTERS, ACCOUNTS, POETRY, &c.

“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies,”—Jer. li, 9. “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain.”—Isa. xl, 9.

VOLUME IV.

MERTHYR TYDFIL:

PRINTED, PUBLISHED, AND FOR SALE BY J. DAVIS, JOHN STREET, GEORGETOWN;

1852.

FOREWORD.

Dear Readers,—Here is the fourth volume of Zion’s Trumpet now in your possession; and we think we can say that this is the best volume yet. The Church is growing in its knowledge, and its publications must reflect that growth. There was a time in Wales when we had no publication of any kind; but eventually, through the goodness of God, the “Prophet of the Jubilee” made its appearance, and for two- and-a-half years it was very effective in spreading the knowledge of the first principles, and in defending the character of the Saints; and its skillful Editor did not fall short of doing his best to make it a means of teaching the Welsh Church. That time is past. We enjoyed reading the observations of brother Jones and others in that publication; they corresponded to the condition of the Church at that time; but now the Welsh Church requires things on a broader scale, and it gets as much as it can receive from the First Presidency in Zion. Our observations as Editor have been infrequent, and our publication is filled with the best things under heaven, even the words of the head of the Church. Perhaps some brethren who do not follow the Church in its progress, long for a restoration of the writings like those that appeared in the “Prophet” and the first volume of therumpet T ; those were good in their time, and were beneficial in preparing us for a better time, when we could drink deep from the source. From now on we shall drink each week from the best knowledge; and there is an abundance of that waiting to be published through the Trumpet next year, when it will produce its sound weekly. We thank the Father of every goodness for his profusion of blessings to his people, and for saving them and us to the present time to serve in his name. May He watch over us all until the end of our day, and may our part in His matchless kingdom be eternal. We also thank our brethren for their diligent labor in connection with this publication, and may the Lord bless them an hundredfold. May a sea of knowledge flow to the Saints, and may their enemies become dizzy on human wisdom; may the Saints be delivered to Zion, and may the fall of Babel be hastened, so that the purposes of God may be fulfilled, and may the pure in heart be saved. Yours in the bond of truth, John Davis. Merthyr, December 22, 1852. CONTENTS.

PG. PG.

A General Funeral Sermon, &c...... 389, 405 London...... 133, 149, 165, 181, 197 A good time is coming...... 50 Miscellaneous...... 36, 52, 68, 84, 99, 116, A Letter from Calcutta...... 320 132, 147, 163, 179, 195, 211, 228, 242, 260, A Look at the Church...... 261 292, 308, 323, 340, 355, 372, 388, 404, 416 Address of President F. D. Richards...... 29 Mournful lament of the Devil...... 131 Address of President W. S. Phillips to the News from Salt Lake City...... 62 Saints in Wales...... 257 Office of Counselor...... 69 Address to the Saints...... 245 Patriarchs...... 101 Arrival of brethren from the Valley...... 32 Priesthood...... 357 Blessing...... 338 Proclamation!...... 293, 309, 332, 341 Book of Mormon...... 130 Reasons for being Saints...... 122 Bring to Remembrance, &c...... 368 Remarks of W. Gibson on the Book of Charity...... 48 Mormon...... 44, 76, 267, 315, 348 Conversation, &c...... 35 Review of the Book of Mormon...... 285 Counsels about Singing...... 92 Reviewing Books...... 53 Current condition of the World...... 364 Ruins of an ancient City...... 385 Death of the Wanderer...... 161 Safe arrival in the Valley of the Emigrating Directions for writing, &c...... 67 Fund Saints...... 399 Eisteddfod of the Saints...... 146 Saints of God versus the world...... 85, 107 Elders intending to Emigrate ...... 383 Semiannual report of the Conferences in the Emigration...... 381 British Isles...... 19, 226 Epistle of a Conference President to the Seventh General Epistle of the First Saints under his care...... 139 Presidency...... 229 Epistle of President S. W. Richards to Sixth General Epistle of the First the Saints in Britain...... 206, 217 Presidency...... 5 Epistle to the Church in Wales...... 73 Sleeping in a Worship Service...... 339 Speech of Brigham Young...... 373 Epistle to the Saints in Pottawatomie ...... 27 Testimonials to the character of the False Accusers of the Saints...... 189 People of Utah...... 369 False Spirits...... 146 The Emigration...... 325, 386 Farewell address of Elder Eliezer Edwards... 64 The Excellence of the Religion of the Saints Fear of Dying...... 117 over all other Religions in the World...... 48 Fleeting Thoughts...... 55 The Gathering...... 353 Foolish Practices...... 273 The Gospel in South America...... 59 Greeting...... 83 The Hidden Gospel...... 72 Honor...... 224 The Living God...... 304 Important Special Conference...... 370 The Mormons in Utah...... 37 In Praise of the Restoration of the The Nephites and the Lamanites...... 384 Everlasting Gospel...... 115 The Perpetual Emigrating Fund...... 321 Intelligence from Great Salt Lake Valley...... 156 The Scandinavian Mission...... 118 Invitation to the Saints...... 211 The Temple...... 51 Key to the Revelation of St. John...... 89 The weekly “Trumpet”...... 400 Knowledge...... 57, 81, 377 The Word and Will of the Lord...... 137 Lectures on Miracles...... 97 The Word of God...... 93 Letter from Capt. D. Jones...... 287 The Word of Wisdom...... 41, 96 Letter from Great Salt Lake City to the The Yellow Fever...... 193 Editor...... 142 Tithing Circular...... 113 Letter from Pottsville, America...... 352 To all Conference and Branch Presidents, &c. 301 Letter from the North...... 194 To the Presidents and Distributors...... 159 Letter to President Phillips...... 290 To the Welsh Presidents...... 34 Letter to Presidents W. S. Phillips and John Translators of the Bible...... 126 Davis...... 259 Treatise on the Duty of Parents to their Letter to the Editor...... 129 Children...... 184 Mercy of God...... 402 Truth and Salvation...... 213 Minutes of a Special General Council Unity and Division...... 277 in Wales...... 336, 344 Verse...... 183 Minutes of the General Conference Verses...... 80, 163, 178, 291, 354 in Salt Lake...... 21, 239, 248, 262 Warning...... 178, 401 Minutes of the Special General Council in Welsh Psalm...... 70 ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 1.] JANUARY 10, 1852. [Vol. IV.

SIXTH GENERAL EPISTLE Of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from Great Salt Lake Valley, to the Saints scattered throughout the earth. Greeting:—

Beloved Brethren,— When the Savior was upon the Earth, and his disciples questioned him concerning the signs of his coming, referring to the Latter days, Jesus answered them on this wise: There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders: saying, Lo here! And lo there! so that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect: go not after them, neither believe them; for as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Many of the signs and wonders, and false Christs and false Prophets referred to, have already been exhibited, insomuch that many have declared the day when the Son of man would make his appearance; and many have believed on their testimony, and been disappointed; while those who have been filled with the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands, having repented of their sins, and received remission thereof by baptism in water, have been watching the gradual progress of the work of the Lord, which has been like the light of the morning, as it first gilds the eastern horizon, and continues to grow brighter and brighter, and spread farther and farther from the East even unto the West, and so will continue until the whole horizon is illuminated with the clear effulgence of the noonday Sun; and the Son 1 6 ZION’S TRUMPET. of Righteousness shall make his appearance in the midst of his people, according to his own declarations. The first light of the morning in this age, and the time referred to by the Savior, was the Angel, who had the everlasting Gospel, which was to be preached to all people, preaching and ministering to Joseph Smith, jun., and commanding Joseph to preach and administer to others even as he had received of the angel: and the light continued to shine and spread, as others believed on the testimony of Joseph; for they repented of their sins, were baptized by him; and he having received the holy priesthood from the angels, conferred the same priesthood on the believers; and they in turn went forth proclaiming the same gospel, administering the same ordinances, calling on all the faithful to gather themselves together, to the upbuilding of Zion, until the light has already been seen in the four quarters of the earth, and is fast being reflected over every nation and people; and this, the Gospel, the plan of salvation, is the true light that must shine from the East to the West; that is, to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, on the earth, before the end will come; and the faithful, the Saints, must be gathered together in holy places, and build Temples and do all necessary works to open up the way of life and salvation to the dead as well as the living, before they can complete the work which is given them to do in this dispensation and probation. When the Saints in Zion are sowing and reaping, and building, according to counsel, they are causing the light to shine, as emphatically, as though they were abroad in foreign nations, preaching and baptizing for remission of sins. All things needful to be done, are but parts of the great whole, which must all be accomplished before men will be prepared to be restored back again into the presence of the Father; and while we again have the pleasing privilege of communicating with our friends scattered among the nations, we know not how we can with more interest, or render our Epistle more useful, than by devoting a portion to a continuation of the history of things as they do exist and have existed since our last letter; which is only a reflection of that light which eventually must illuminate the world; for the works of the righteous, like gold and silver, and precious stones, will remain when time is swallowed up in eternity. The Railway from this City to the mountain, was surveyed early in the season, and partly graded; and a considerable share of the timber and rails are on the ground. When the harvest approached, the work was suspended for want of laborers, but will be resumed as early as possible. The walls of the basement story of the Seventies’ Hall are in progress, and the walls of the Tithing Barn are completed; also the walls of the joiners’ and paint shop, and planing and slitting machine, an ZION’S TRUMPET. 7 hundred and forty by forty-five feet, on the Temple Block, preparatory to building a Temple; though all the public works have been hindered for the lack of lumber, materials, and laborers, and the lack has been occasioned by a majority of the brethren’s neglect to pay their tithing, both at home and abroad. It mattereth not where the Saints reside, in relation to this principle; it is their duty to devote one-tenth of their property, when they come into the Church, and afterwards one-tenth of their income, for the support of the public works; for the building of Temples, and other necessary purposes; and if they do not tithe themselves they have no claim to the blessings, and endowments that will flow to the faithful through that medium. A tithe of the tithing due from the Saints would have enabled us to enclose the Temple Block, as we had anticipated, preparatory to commencing the Temple another season; but for lack of means, the plat remains open, and the commencement of the building must continue to be suspended. It is time that the Saints understood, and it is the duty of all Elders and officers, and especially the Bishops, to instruct the Saints, that the paying of their tithing is a prominent portion of the labor which is allotted to them, by which they are to secure a future residence in the Heaven they are seeking after. To be prepared for a celestial Heaven, they want the blessing of a Terrestrial Temple, built to the name of Israel’s God, and without these blessings they cannot be prepared for the greatest glory: and should anyone succeed in passing through the Temple, and receive all the blessings and endowments offered to any, that person never having tithed for the building of the Temple, or other public good, would have to hear the words of Jesus, “Enter in at the door, and he that entereth not in at the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and robber”; and the House of the Lord is the door to those who help to build it, but those who have the opportunity and do it not, the words of the Savior remain true, if they enter therein; and from henceforth the living may not expect the blessings of the Temple, unless they help to build it. Your tithing we value not, only as it affects your salvation, and the salvation of the dead. The Council House is completed. The Tithing Store House is in progress of finishing, and will be ready to be occupied the coming winter, for the several purposes designed, instead of joiners’ shop as hitherto. The foundation of a Tabernacle, on Temple Block, one hundred and twenty-six by sixty-four feet, is nearly completed, and we expect the building will be completed this fall. The Deseret Pottery is in successful operation; some good light yellow ware was drawn from the kiln on the 27th of June, and white ware is soon expected. It is anticipated that the Valley materials for making crockery and china 8 ZION’S TRUMPET. ware, will be equal to any other place, and that the Pottery will soon be able to supply this market. Good potters are wanted. A carding machine is in operation, and doing extensive business in this Valley; also one in Utah, and others in progress. There are four grain and five saw mills in operation, or nearly completed in Great Salt Lake County; also two grain and two saw mills in Weber County; one grain and two saw mills in Davis County; two grain and three saw mills in Utah County; one grain and two saw mills in San Pete County; one grain and one saw mill in Iron County; and one saw mill in Tooele County; and an increasing desire and exertion to promote domestic manufactures prevails throughout the territory. We have visited the various counties and settlements generally, this season, and found the Saints industrious and prosperous, extending their farming operations as far as possible, and preparing food for the brethren who are coming hither. The harvest will be abundant for all who will have occasion to eat thereof, though many fields have suffered by the drought; the mountain streams having been unusually low this season, and help scarce at the time most needed for it. Harvesters are much wanted, and more thrashing machines, and labor-saving machinery of all kinds, could be used to great advantage in our midst. A High Council was organized at Manti, San Pete County, on the 30th of April; and Isaac Morley is Patriarch of that stake of Zion. Chalk, stone-coal, salt, and iron ore abound in the region of Iron County; also a substance resembling white clay, which answers a good purpose, as a substitute for soap. We decided on locations for settlements on Salt Creek, in Jewab Valley, and Corn Creek, in Parowan Valley, between this and Iron County; and companies will leave immediately after conference to form those settlements. The birthday of the nation, the 4th of July, was celebrated by the citizens of this Valley in a most patriotic manner, on the banks of the Great Salt Lake, about twenty-four miles from the City, attended with every expression of joy and gladness that could flow from the hearts of a free and virtuous people. The 24th of July was celebrated as the Anniversary of the entrance of the Pioneers into the Valley of the Mountains, and in this much interest was added over former celebrations, by the appearance of the Pioneers in the procession, each carrying the tools, or emblems of tools, &c., used by them on their route, and after their arrival, even to sheaves of grain, the products of their labor. The remembrance of this day is sweet to the Saints, as was the Passover to ancient Israel; and the demonstrations of gratitude and thanksgiving on the anniversary were pure, virtuous, holy, and without alloy. ZION’S TRUMPET. 9

Several depredations have been committed by the Indians during the summer, mostly in Tooele Valley, where it is computed that more than five thousand dollars worth of cattle and horses have been stolen, and mostly killed or destroyed. So great was the destruction of property, that annihilation of the settlement seemed inevitable, unless the savages were met and resisted; which resulted in the death of one white man and a few Indians, which produced a cessation of thefts for a season. Some minor thefts have been committed in other settlements, though, in general, the Indians about the settlements, have neither the disposition or courage to fight the settlers. A band of Indians, living on the Muddy, between Iron County and San Diego, appear more hostile of late, and no doubt killed brother Isaac Brown when on his return from California last Fall. The Indians on St. Mary’s River have committed many depredations on travelers the past year and, as is supposed, killed eight emigrants about one hundred and fifty miles north of this, a few weeks since; and the California mail, which was expected here ten days since (Sept. 4), has not been heard from. Elder Orson Hyde arrived in the Valley on the 17th of August, direct from Kanesville, accompanied by Elder Carrington and a few others, all of whom were robbed and plundered by the Pawnee Indians. During the great amount of emigration from sea to sea, through the mountains, the Indians have received some insults and abuses, which they are sure to resent; and the Saints and others who may have occasion to pass through these tribes referred to, will do well to be prepared to act on the defensive. Doctor John M. Bernhisel and the Hon. A. W. Babbitt, returned to this place on the 19th of July, accompanied by several officers of the United States Government for the Territory of Utah, which was chartered last September; and the General government having now received this territory into their fostering care, the citizens will be relieved of many burdens, hard to be borne by them in a new country, to which they were compelled to immigrate, while destitute of many of the comforts of life. Dr. Bernhisel was appointed by the President of the United States, special agent, to expend an appropriation of five thousand dollars, granted by Congress for the purchase of a Library for Utah; which appropriation he expended by selecting books in the eastern cities, during the past winter, and the library is now on the way to this place. Many gentlemen in the States, through the solicitation of the Doctor, have donated books, magazines, pamphlets, maps, and papers, which will add greatly to the value and interest of the Utah Library, and elicits our warmest thanks. Dr. Bernhisel was unanimously elected delegate to Congress, by the Territory, on the 4th of August, and on the 1st of September, left in the mail coach 10 ZION’S TRUMPET. for Washington City; the same day that a commencement was made to lay the foundation of a State House, on Union Square in this city, towards the erection of which Congress has appropriated twenty thousand dollars. The Valley is well supplied with a general assortment of merchandise at the present time; but the exportation of cash having been far greater than the importation, the past year, it is to be feared that many articles will remain unsold, which might be used to advantage, were the circulating medium suited to foreign markets in the possession of those who would like to purchase. Shingles are now extensively manufactured, and would be very extensively used, could nails be procured, but it is not supposed that one-half, and probably not one-fourth enough of shingle nails, will be brought this season to supply the market; and the present prospect is, that many buildings will have to be delayed, before another market season, for lack of assorted nails. If a company of brethren could be formed in England, Wales, Sweden, or any other country, to come and make Iron from ore (magnetic ore of the best quality), and machinery for rolling, slitting, and cutting nails, and drawing off wire, it would be one of the greatest auxiliaries for advancement in building up the Valleys of the mountains; and the presiding Elders in those countries are instructed to examine this subject and forward such a company with the least possible delay. Schoolhouses have been erected in the wards generally, and schools have been in operation the present season. The Parent school has been suspended a few weeks, for lack of a commodious room; but a house is in progress of erection for its accommodation, and the school will be resumed the coming winter. A portion of the wall around the University land is completed, and a portion has been delayed for want of laborers, a difficulty we often meet with, and which might be avoided, if a few score of thousands of the Saints who are abroad, would rise up in the name of Israel’s God and come home, and help us to do what is required at our hands; and it is as much the duty of the Saints to gather, as it is for sinners to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins; and every Saint who does not come home, when he has an opportunity, will be afflicted by the Devil. And why? If you will stay on the enemy’s ground after you have had a chance to escape, that enemy will claim and exercise power over you; while your faith will fail, because you have been disobedient to the counsel to gather yourselves with the faithful, unto holy places, where the Holy One of Israel presides in the midst of his people, and where the power of Satan is destroyed, or brought in subjection; therefore, if you shall tarry, after a way has been made for your escape, and lose your life, or the lives of your household, or your property, whose fault will it be? And whose loss? You must bear it. ZION’S TRUMPET. 11

Seth M. Blair, Esq., and President Joseph Young, are each preparing mills and presses in our City, for the purpose of extracting the juice of the beet, of which many have been raised this season; and although we wish them success, and anticipate that they will do much to abate the scarcity of saccharine matter, for culinary purposes; yet we know of no one in our midst who is sufficiently versed in refining the beet juice to make a perfect article of sugar; but we expect this lack of information will soon be overcome by their experience, and also by the early arrival next season of a company of manufacturers from France, as we are informed by letter from Elder Taylor. We are also informed from the same source, that a large company of woolen manufacturers will come at the same time, from the same country, bringing all the necessary machinery, and the best of sheep, all of which are much needed here; and we hope that nothing will interfere to hinder the arrival of those companies against our next beet and wool crop. A small woolen factory is already in progress of erection in our Valley, and there are many sheep here, but thousands more are wanted. Experiments at tanning hides and making leather have, as yet, been very limited in the Valley. Much leather is needed in this country, and many thousands of the best hides have rotted or been wasted, for want of sufficient help to erect tanneries and convert those hides into leather. There are plenty of materials for tanning, to prosecute the business to advantage, and prevent the necessity of heavy importations at an enormous expense; and if some of the brethren who are tanners, would come home, and attend to their calling here, they would receive the blessing of many souls. Some attempts are now being made at this business, but more help is wanted. Brethren, the harvest here is great, but the laborers few. We have made arrangements, during the past year, with a gentleman in Wisconsin, to come hither for the purpose of manufacturing paper. Report says that he is on the way, and we hope to see him here this fall. Books, papers, and every medium of intelligence through the press, are unusually high at this place, owing, in a great degree, to the heavy transport; but that will be remedied to a great extent, when the rags in the City can be converted into paper. A large printing press has recently arrived, and all necessary materials for a respectable newspaper, and a small bookbindery, all of which will probably be brought into requisition the coming winter. The Warm Bath House has been open to visitors through the season. Excellent salt is made by boiling three to one of the Lake water. Good lime is burned in Red Butte Canyon, and plaster of Paris is dug within two miles of the City, and is much used at the Pottery, and for finishing houses. The Saleratus from the lake, four miles east of Independence Rock, is much used in the Valley, and the Saints will 12 ZION’S TRUMPET. do well to bring what they can when they come; and the borax from the Lake, west of Independence Rock, would be much used by our mechanics if they could get it. The church pasture on the north of the City is fenced; and the farm for the benefit of the poor on the west of Jordan, is nearly surrounded by a ditch. Many houses and other buildings have been erected in the city and country this season, and many more would be if materials and laborers could be procured. Ogden, Provo, Manti, and Parowan cities have been organized under their respective charters,— and they are governed by municipal law. The nights have been warmer than usual the past three months; winds more frequent and stronger than common in the Valley; and there was a frost on the lowlands on the night of the 28th of August. The United States mail leaves Great Salt Lake City, and Independence, Missouri, on the first of each month, exchanging at Fort Laramie. Also the mail leaves Sacramento and this place on the first of each month; and a mail is exchanged between this place and Dallas in Oregon once in two months. We have a weekly mail from hence to San Pete, and a semiweekly from hence to Brownsville. A post office is established at Parowan, Iron County, but no mail route is yet established between Payson and Parowan; though at the next session of Congress we anticipate the establishment of a post route from hence to San Diego, passing through Parowan, which route will be passable at all seasons of the year. A post office is established at Honolulu, Oahu, Sandwich Islands, and letters post paid to San Francisco, will be forwarded every opportunity. A letter from Elder Hiram Clarke, President of the Sandwich Mission, dated Honolulu, January 27, contains our latest intelligence from those islands. Elders Clarke and Whittle were stationed at Oahu; Elders H. W. Bigler and Thom. Morris at Molokai; Elders John Dixon and Wm. Farrer, at Rannai; Elders Hawkins and Blackwell at Hawaii; and Elders Cannon and Keeler at Maui; having entered on their respective labors about the 20th of December. There are many whites on those islands, but they have little regard for gospel privileges. The natives generally can read and write, and are under the influence of missionaries, whose policy it is to keep the natives in subjection to their theories by personal influence, and by means of the press, which issues a weekly paper. Three or four editions of the Bible have been issued in native Sandwich, which in the end will prove a blessing to that people. No special and direct communications have been received concerning Elder Addison Pratt, and the mission at Society Isles, since his return thence or from the other missions, in and about the Pacific, though report says the work is very prosperous in Australia, and other places in that region. ZION’S TRUMPET. 13

By the “Star” of July 1st, we learn there were 42 conferences, composed of 642 branches, of the Church in the British Isles; and 3874 elders and priests, and more than 32,000 members, and the gospel is continuing to spread, and believers to multiply faster than ever. Near 1000 have emigrated the past season, and fifty were baptized on board the ship Olympus, on its passage from Liverpool to New Orleans; Elder William Howell, presiding. Elder William Burton, of this city, died at Edinburgh, last March. This is the third death among the American Elders while on the British Isles. Elder Flannigan died at Birmingham at a previous date, and Elder Barnes some years since; and the fourth of all that have died on foreign missions, in this dispensation, was Elder Hanks, who died at sea, on his passage to the Society Isles, in the year 1843. The London conference numbers over 3000, and is receiving more than 100 per month by baptism. In Italy the work is gradually progressing under the presidency of Elder Lorenzo Snow, and the deep-rooted tradition of ages, is beginning to give place to sober reflection and the light of truth. Elder Snow is translating (if not already completed) the Book of Mormon into the Italian language. The Waldenses are beginning to look after the truth, and Switzerland is becoming glad in the hope of Eternal Life. Elder John Taylor is in France, preaching, and translating the Book of Mormon into French, though probably the translation is complete before this, and the prospect is flattering in that country. Elder Erastus Snow continues his labor in Denmark, and has translated the Book of Mormon into the Danish language, so that, that most important of all books to this generation may now be read by the greater portion of the inhabitants of the earth, in some language with which they are familiar. Much opposition has been manifested towards the Gospel in Denmark and adjacent countries; yet the truth has triumphed, and will prevail, and Satan will continue to oppose, and fight, until he is bound; and that opposition is good to prove the faith and integrity of the Saints; and that is one reason why it is necessary there should be a Devil, even to prove men, and make manifest who the righteous are. Miracles are wrought, the sick are healed, the lame leap, the poor have the Gospel preached to them, and God is with his Saints. The Gospel has recently gone from Germany to Iceland. At no time since the proclamation of the Gospel in this age, has the Church been in a more prosperous state than at the present. At no time have the Saints been more ready to follow counsel, and do those things which are required of them, and God is blessing them on account of their obedience; and yet there is room for improvement, or advancement in everything that is good; and that man who does the best he knows how today, should so continue to live in the exercise of faith and intelligence, which will produce good works, that he shall 14 ZION’S TRUMPET. know more, and be ready to carry that knowledge into practice, so as to be better and more useful tomorrow; and so on, from day to day, till he is prepared to enter into the presence of the Father. If men would be great in goodness, they must be intelligent, for no man can do good unless he knows how; therefore, seek after knowledge, yes, all knowledge, and especially that which is from above, which is wisdom to direct in all things; and if you find anything that God does not know, you need not learn that thing, but strive to know what God knows, and use that knowledge as God uses it, and then you will be like him; you will see as you are seen, and know as you are known; and have charity, love one another, and do each other good continually, and forever, even as for yourselves. But if a man have all knowledge, and does not use it for good, it will prove a curse instead of a blessing, as it did to Lucifer, the Son of the Morning. If a sinner is advised to repent, and be baptized for remission of his sins, and does it not, it will prove to his condemnation instead of a blessing, and he cannot receive the laying on of hands of the elders for the reception of the Holy Ghost. If a Saint who has received the Holy Ghost, is counseled to gather with the Saints, to come home, and he neglects to come, he has no further claim to the blessings promised unto the faithful, who obey all the commandments; his light becomes darkness, and remaining in this state, where God is he cannot come; for the ordinances in the house of the Lord, in Zion, and her Stakes, are as necessary for a full salvation, as baptism is for a partial salvation; and the voice of the good Shepherd is to all Saints, even to the ends of the earth; “Gather yourselves together, come home;” and more especially to the Saints in Pottawatamie, the United States, Canada, and the British Isles; “Come home! come home!!” O ye Saints in the United States, will you listen to the voice of the good Shepherd? Will you gather? Will you be obedient to the heavenly commandments? Many of you have been looking for, and expecting too much; you have been expecting the time would come, when you could journey across the mountains in your fine carriages, your good wagons, and have all the comforts of life that heart could wish; but your expectations are vain, and if you wait for those things you will never come; you will leave your carcasses to rot in the midst of the Gentiles, and your faith and hope will depart from you. How long shall it be said in truth “the children of this world are wiser in their generation, than the children of light.” Some of the children of the world have crossed the mountains and plains, from Missouri to California, with a pack on their back to worship their god— gold. Some have performed the same journey with a wheel-barrow; and some have accomplished the same with a pack on a cow. Some of the Saints, now in our midst, came hither with wagons or carts made ZION’S TRUMPET. 15 of wood, without a particle of iron, hooping their wheels with hickory, or raw hide, or ropes, and had as good and safe a journey as any in the camps, with their well wrought iron wagons; and can you not do the same? Yes, if you have the same desire, the same faith. Families might start from Missouri river, with cows, handcarts, wheelbarrows, with little flour, and no unnecessaries, and come to this place quicker, and with less fatigue, than by following the heavy trains, with their cumbrous herds, which they are often obliged to drive miles to feed. Do you not like this method of travelling? Do you think salvation costs too much? If so, it is not worth having. Sisters, fifty and sixty years old, have driven ox teams to this valley, and are alive and well yet; true they could have come much easier by walking alone, than by driving a team, but by driving the oxen, they helped others here; and cannot you come the easier way? There is grain and provision enough in the Valleys for you to come to, and you need not bring more than enough to sustain you for 100 days, to ensure you a supply for the future; and let those who are coming with teams and have the means, bring nails, glass, paints, oils, wire no. 9, osage, orange and other choice seeds, and such articles as are most needed in a new country, to exchange with the brethren here for bread; and start earlier than usual, even as soon as wagons can possibly be supported on the prairie, so as to avoid the spring rains and floods, and be here to assist in harvest. Dispense with all useless rubbish on the journey, and provide young stock of the best quality, so far as you are able to bring any; and bring silver instead of gold, for change is scarce, and silver will be more useful. The funds for the emigration of the poor are continually increasing, by the exertion of the Saints in the Valley; and it is the duty of Saints in the States, and other places, to add to those funds according to their ability. President Orson Hyde will return to Kanesville this fall and make preparation to remove his family to this place the ensuing season. Elders Ezra T. Benson and Jedediah M. Grant will repair to Kanesville, immediately after Conference, and superintend the emigration the coming season. They are sent expressly to push the Saints to the Valley. Elder Woodruff will remain at this place at present; and also Elder George A. Smith, unless circumstances shall occasion his return to Iron County. Nothing definite has been heard of Elders P. P. Pratt, Amasa Lyman, and Charles C. Rich, since they passed Little Salt Lake last spring; though the papers report their arrival in California with 140 wagons, and it is supposed that elder Pratt is pursuing his mission on the islands and coasts of the Pacific; and that Elders Lyman and Rich are making a settlement in California, between this and San Diego, and gathering the Saints thereto, and that they will appoint missions to the elders as the Spirit shall direct. They are also instructed to extend settlements towards Iron County, at every desirable point, with as little 16 ZION’S TRUMPET. delay as possible. Elder Orson Pratt is on the way from the States, and about 500 wagons, mostly of the Saints, who are emigrating to this place; but they started too late, were hindered by heavy rains and floods, and it will be very late before the last camp will arrive. By recent communication of President F. D. Richards, of England, we learn that the prospect of immediate immigration of the European brethren to San Diego, as we had anticipated, is in no wise flattering, there being no regular shipping from England to that port; therefore Elder Richards will continue to ship the Saints by way of New Orleans to Kanesville, as hitherto, only be particular to start them earlier in the season, so that they can be at Pottawatamie in season to build their handcarts, and walk or ride over the mountains, as they may have means, before snow falls. Many of the English brethren and sisters think it a trifle to walk 15 or 20 miles to hear preaching on the Sabbath, and return home at evening, and then stand at their labor the remainder of the week: and can they not walk 20 miles per day, for 50 days, for the sake of getting to their Father’s house, to the home of the Saints, in the Valley of the mountains? Some may have teams, some cows; they can kill buffalo, and other game, by the route, and when weary, rest a day, if the Sabbaths are not long enough; and cannot they fare as well as ancient Israel, when journeying toward Canaan? They were traveling 40 years, but the Saints can walk from Kanesville here in twice 40 days, and harm no one. Now is the time for the Saints to come, except such as are counseled to tarry and preach, and the like; and they who can come, will never find a better time. If some of the Saints would bring shepherd dogs, they would be of great use in the Valley, and shepherds are needed here also. Elder Richards will also appropriate so much of the Emigrating Fund in his possession, as may be necessary to forward two shiploads of the Saints to Kanesville, where they should be in April, ready to prepare for their journey over the mountains. Let your selection be made in wisdom, having regard to those who are faithful, and have borne the burdens in the heat of the day; and also, in some measure, to their professions or trades, according to our need of the various mechanic arts, as we have suggested, and your information of circumstances here shall prompt: committing them to the care of agents, wise men, who will receipt for all monies, and will take receipts, before landing, of every individual, of the amount he has been helped by the funds, with a promise to refund the same as soon as he can procure the means; and let each company remain together until they arrive at this place, when it shall be told them what to do. Start no more Saints on account of the Poor Fund, than you forward ZION’S TRUMPET. 17 means by the agents in charge, to see their respective companies safe through to the Valley. And let no funds go into the hands of those who are helped, but let all monies expended be paid out by the agents, for passage, provision, and such things as are indispensable; taking receipts of all in the harbor of New Orleans, and also at Kanesville; and let all those receipts, funds on hand vested in oxen, cows, or other property in the hands of the agents, or in use of the company, be reported at our office immediately on arrival. It is expected that every person assisted by the Fund for the emigration of the poor, will help themselves to the utmost of their ability, and not one bring stores of merchandise, to the expense of another’s tarrying behind. No! let him who has chests of goods, or money, pay his own passage, and let those be helped who cannot help themselves, or, but in part; and many can furnish every necessary thing but their passage money, and many, a portion of that. If those assisted by the Poor Fund expect to ride in carriages and wagons over the mountains, the number you can forward will be very small, but if they have faith to walk through, a few teams loaded with flour will make a multitude comfortable, and many can be removed at little cost. The funds now on hand amount to more than 13,000 dollars, raised almost entirely in the Valley, and if the Saints in England and other places shall be as diligent the coming year, in donating to the Fund, as have the Saints here, a great ingathering may be expected to follow. The semiannual Conference of the Church commenced at the Bowery in this City, Sunday, on the 7th of September, at 10 in the morning, and continued from day to day, till Wednesday, the 10th of this month, when it adjourned to the 6th of October next, to meet at the same place. President Brigham Young presided during the Conference, which was composed of a vast assembly of the Saints, from all the settlements: and the various proceedings were marked with strong feelings, in preachings, teachings, testimonies, and in sustaining all the general authorities of the Church, as they were last April, except Lewis Abbott, deceased, and Elisha H. Groves, removed to Iron county, and William Snow and Winslow Farr, were appointed to fill the vacancies in the High Council. Nathaniel H. Felt and John Banks were appointed Presiding Traveling Bishops, to travel in the Church, and among the branches, counseling the Bishops, and seeing they are faithful in their calling, in gathering tithing, and causing it to be forwarded to the general office, and in keeping correct accounts, and they settle with the several Bishops, from time to time, and report the same to the Presiding Bishop. E. T. Benson, and Jedediah M. Grant were appointed agents to 18 ZION’S TRUMPET. gather the poor, and President Orson Hyde’s agency was continued. Elders Samuel W. Richards, Willard Snow, Abram O. Smoot, Dorr P. Curtis, and Vinson Shurtleff, were appointed missions to the British Isles, and Daniel Carn, to Germany. President John Young, received a mission to Ohio, to preach the gospel and gather the Saints, and Elder John L. Dunyon to preach the Gospel in the States. The conference voted to observe the word of wisdom, and particularly to dispense with the use of tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco; and in this thing as well as many others, what is good for the Saints in the mountains, is good for the Saints in other places: and if all who profess to be Saints, would appropriate the funds lavished on luxuries, and articles unwise to use, to the benefit of the public works, we would soon see another Temple of the Lord. The conference also voted to commence anew the tithings and consecrations: and that within 30 days, each Saint should make a consecration of one-tenth of his property, and one-tenth of his interest or income ever after, and that all who will not thus tithe themselves be cut off from the Church. A fire is kindled in the earth, and who shall quench it? A light is shining, and who shall extinguish it? The nations of the earth are fearing and trembling; the fire burns and the light dazzles, but they know not what to make of it. God has set his hand to restore Israel, and save the remnants of Ephraim, but they know it not. The oldest and most powerful governments are shaken to their center, and kings know not the cause. The way is fast preparing for the introduction of the Gospel into China, Japan, and other nations, which for ages have sat in darkness, and stood aloof from celestial science, and foreign intercourse; and it is the business of the Twelve Apostles to fill every open door, and push to the right and left with the horns of Joseph, until every heart shall feel; and blow the trumpet of salvation, till every ear shall ring with the glorious intelligence, that there is a God in the heavens, who guides the destinies of all men, and who would that all men should come to the knowledge of a crucified Savior, and be saved. Brethren, pray for us! Sisters, pray for us! Be humble, prayerful, watchful, diligent, and persevering, in every good word and work, and in the end you shall overcome all evil, and sit down with us in our Father’s kingdom. Elders of Israel, lift up your voices like trumpets, open your mouths wide, and proclaim salvation to all the meek of the earth, and you shall bring many souls to Zion. It is our wish to see all the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at the General Conference in this city, on the 6th of April 1853. And we hope the brethren will be able to arrange the affairs of ZION’S TRUMPET. 19 their various missions in such a manner, that no injury will be sustained by the Saints, while they shall spend a little season with us in council. And we pray God, the Eternal Father, to bless the Saints throughout the earth, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards.

STATISTICAL REPORT FOR THE CONFERENCES IN THE BRITISH ISLES, FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDING DEC. 1, 1851. Conferences...... Br. Sev. H.P. Eld. Pr. Tea. Dea. Cut. Died. Emi. Bap. Tot. London...... 69 1 0 227 171 158 86 139 13 4 690 3729 Manchester...... 32 1 0 125 187 105 44 140 23 8 225 3031 Birmingham...... 17 2 0 99 102 81 33 124 8 0 195 2295 Sheffield...... 36 2 0 62 131 64 44 164 12 0 93 1877 South Conference.28 0 0 43 76 58 46 61 5 0 176 1257 Liverpool...... 10 0 0 49 54 30 19 47 2 2 91 1125 Bedfordshire...... 29 2 0 60 60 35 30 38 6 0 72 1000 Norwich...... 19 1 0 62 60 35 20 37 1 0 132 911 Herefordshire...... 29 1 0 75 62 49 24 15 2 0 53 907 Cheltenham...... 19 0 0 52 44 36 20 32 5 0 111 902 Bradford...... 19 0 0 62 70 47 16 28 7 0 80 861 Warwickshire...... 29 1 0 75 56 29 19 36 4 0 32 763 Preston...... 13 0 1 65 46 36 11 75 14 0 79 708 Worcestershire...... 14 0 0 39 37 18 18 20 2 0 30 685 Newcastle-on-Tyne.17 1 1 59 48 17 18 49 15 3 168 632 Staffordshire...... 17 0 2 52 44 29 15 40 4 0 60 561 Southampton...... 15 0 0 18 24 25 11 30 4 0 115 541 Lincolnshire...... 19 0 1 32 45 28 11 11 3 11 41 532 Derbyshire...... 13 1 0 31 30 19 8 26 2 0 63 383 Leicestershire...... 9 1 0 23 19 12 10 29 3 0 39 379 Hull...... 6 0 0 19 16 19 4 19 3 0 37 310 Shropshire...... 10 1 0 20 15 6 7 22 3 0 52 277 Dorsetshire...... 6 0 0 7 12 11 10 4 4 0 14 263 Carlisle...... 6 0 0 18 9 9 5 5 0 0 13 154 East Glamorgan.... 32 0 3 243 130 128 97 119 17 0 300 2572 Monmouthshire.... 18 0 0 90 40 41 41 42 6 0 88 740 Carmarthenshire... 18 0 0 80 22 25 19 19 5 0 28 528 West Glamorgan... 16 0 0 70 36 34 23 29 4 0 35 486 Breconshire...... 8 0 0 24 8 14 6 7 1 0 24 158 Pembrokeshire...... 11 0 0 21 11 7 6 15 2 0 19 150 Denbighshire...... 5 0 0 12 11 7 4 8 0 5 30 127 Cardiganshire...... 6 0 0 16 14 4 2 5 2 0 15 126 Flintshire...... 4 0 0 16 10 4 1 9 0 0 4 90 Merionethshire...... 6 0 0 20 3 2 1 6 0 0 9 78 Anglesey...... 6 0 0 16 9 4 1 22 0 0 3 77 North Pembroke..... 4 0 0 12 3 3 1 3 0 0 35 56 Dyffryn Conway..... 3 0 0 9 3 3 2 7 0 0 5 56 Glasgow...... 29 1 0 131 95 104 29 48 6 19 154 2217 Edinburgh...... 14 0 0 35 50 33 17 16 4 2 73 693 Dundee...... 7 0 0 14 17 18 10 26 3 0 50 381 Belfast...... 6 0 0 9 8 3 4 5 1 1 35 106 Isle of Man...... 3 0 0 13 8 3 2 1 0 9 6 116 Dublin Branch...... 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 3 0 1 15 30 Londonderry ditto.... 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 2 0 0 6 24 Total...... 679 16 8 2211 1899 1393 797 1583 196 65 3625 32894 20 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Names of the Presidents.—Eli B. Kelsey, London; C. H. Wheelock, Manchester; I. C. Haight, Birmingham; Lewis Robbins, Sheffield; George Halliday, South Conference; Glaud Rodger, Liverpool; John Spiers, Bedfordshire; C. V. Spencer, Norwich; H. W. Church, Herefordshire; J. D. Ross, Cheltenham; R. C. Menzies, Bradford; J. W. Corsby, Warwickshire; J. W. Johnson, Preston; John Lyon, Worcestershire; J. S. Higbee, Newcastle-on-Tyne; James F. Bell, Staffordshire; W. C. Dunbar, Southampton; Moses Clawson, Lincolnshire; George Kendall, Derbyshire; Jacob Gates, Leicestershire; J. T. Hardy, Hull; Joseph W. Young, Shropshire; E. Frost, Dorsetshire; J. Carmichael, Carlisle; Thomas Pugh, East Glamorgan; Thomas Giles, Monmouthshire; Abednego Jones, Carmarthenshire; Henry Evans, West Glamorgan; John Roberts, Breconshire; John Price, Pembrokeshire; John Parry, Jr., Denbighshire; John Evans, Cardiganshire; William Parry, Flintshire; William Richards, Merionethshire; William Simms, Anglesey; Philip Sykes, North Pembroke; John Davies, Dyffryn Conway; R. Campbell, Glasgow; James Marsden, Edinburgh; James M’Naughtan, Dundee; Gilbert Clements, Belfast; John Kelly, Isle of Man; E. Sutherland, Dublin Branch; R. G. Frazer, Londonderry.

BOOK DEBTS FROM THE CONFERENCES, BRANCHES, AND OTHERS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 7, 1852.

Conferences.—Monmouthshire, £39 16s 2½c; Breconshire, £6 2s 8½c; Cardiganshire, £5 13s 2c; Carmarthenshire, £21 4s 2½c; West Glamorgan, £44 12s 6½c; Flintshire, £12 0s 1¾c; Caernarvon, £16 7s 11½c; Merionethshire, £6 12s 10c; Denbighshire, £12 0s 11¾c; Pembrokeshire £1 17s 6c; Dyffryn Conwy, £2 4s 3¾c. Branches.—Dinas, £1 2s 6½c; Llanilltyd, £5 0s 9c; Pontypridd, £7 16s 0c; Llanfabon, £1 3s 0c; Cwmbach, £3 14s 0c; Pendeulwyn, £1 15s 7½c; Twynyrodyn, £1 13s 3c; Llandaf, £1 19s 3c; Gog, £1 7s 10c; Cardiff, £10 8s 5½c; Aberdare, £11 14s 4½c; Dowlais, £4 12s 3c; Hirwaun, £4 11s 1½c; Rhymney, £3 18s 6c; Cwmnedd, £1 13s 9½c; Georgetown, £6 19s 7c; Merthyr, £5 13s 8½c; Pendaren, £4 18s 6½c; Pontfaen, £1 19s 2c; Cefn, £1 17s 2c; Ynysgau, 8s 3½c; Eglwysnewydd, £1 0s 11c; Liverpool, £5 0s 7½c; Gwernllwyn, £3 12s 3½c; Ffynon Tydfil, £5 10s 0½c; Aberaman, £2 14s 8c; Gostwng, 9s 4½c; Persons.—David Davies, Clynmil (now Cwmbach), 3s 4c: Joseph Rogers, 2s: D. Edwards, formerly from Tongwyrddlas, 6s 5c: David John, Carmarthenshire, 9s 6c; Jonathan J. Thomas, £1 19s 8½c.—Total, £274 9s 4½c. (Errors can be corrected).

Payments from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.—Breconshire, £1 5s; West Glamorgan, £1 18s; Merionethshire, 10s; Pontytypridd, £2 5s 6c; Llanfabon, 14s; Cwmbach, £3 12s 10c; Dowlais, £1 11s 8c; Cwmnedd, 6s 7c; Georgetown, £1 19s 10s; Merthyr, £3 10s; Cefn, £1 2s; Ynysgau, 12s 6c; Aberaman, 7s 10c. Total, £19 15s 9c.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 2.] JANUARY 24, 1852. [Vol IV.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, Sept. 7, 1851. [From the “Frontier Guardian.”]

Present of the First Presidency—Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards. Patriarch—John Smith. Of the Twelve Apostles—Orson Hyde, Wilford Woodruff, G. A. Smith, and E. T. Benson. Presidency of the Seventies—Joseph Young, B. L. Clapp, J. M. Grant, A. P. Rockwood, H. Herriman, Levi Hancock, and Zera Pulsipher. Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer, and Willard Snow. High Priest’s Quorum—John Young, and Reynold Cahoon. The High Council of the Stake. Presiding Bishop—Edward Hunter. Clerk of Conference— Thomas Bullock. The Conference was called to order by President Kimball, who stated that if the people have paid their tithing, the Spirit of God will be on this Conference; and notified the brethren, that another person would not get his endowment until his tithing was paid in full. The Choir sung a hymn; prayer by Elder Orson Hyde, and singing. President Young then addressed the people on the business of the Conference, and the experience that this people had passed through, and showed that Mormonism circumscribes all truth, whether in heaven, on earth, or in hell, and will continue to revolutionize this world, until all the kingdoms of the earth 2 22 ZION’S TRUMPET.

are subject to the kingdom of Jesus Christ; and testified that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and was as good a man as ever walked on the earth.—Adjourned. At two in the afternoon, opened with singing and prayer, followed by discourses from Elders E. T. Benson. O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, Levi Hancock, President Young, and Willard Richards, each bearing a powerful testimony to the work of the Lord in the last days, and testifying that Joseph was a Prophet of God. Adjourned, until the 8th, at 10 in the morning. Monday, September 8th, ten in the morning.—Conference called to order by President Young; singing; prayer by elder Joseph Young, and singing. President Young then introduced the Hon. Perry E. Brocchus, Judge of the Supreme Court, for Utah Territory; who thanked the people of the Territory for their hospitality and kindness, in attending him in his sickness, when he was a stranger. He bore testimony of the peacefulness of the inhabitants, their fellowship, peace and love one towards another; their submission to the tribunals of their own choice, and prayed God to grant that the time may soon come, that all the United States may soon have such tribunals as are in this Territory, and then it always would bring peace to the hearts of those who had to be judged. He expressed his indignation and abhorrence of the scenes which transpired, in driving the Latter-day Saints from Missouri and Illinois. He then presented a description of the monument intended to be built to the memory of Gen. Washington, and finished his discourse by saying, that he should always remember with deep gratitude, and respect, his interview with the Latter-day Saints in their mountain city. He was followed in his remarks, by President Young, and the congregation was dismissed with benediction by Elder Wilford Woodruff. At two o’clock, after an intermission of one hour, the Conference was called to order by President Young; singing; prayer by Elder John Young, and singing. President Kimball, then rose, on the business of the Conference, to bring before the people the authorities of the Church, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 23 presented Brigham Young as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout all the world, and also as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator; which was carried unanimously. Heber C. Kimball was then presented as First Counselor to President Young, and Willard Richards, Second Counselor; who were severally sustained in their office. John Smith was sustained as the Presiding patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Willard Richards was sustained as the Historian of the Church, and General Church Recorder. Orson Hyde was sustained as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and P. P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and F. D. Richards, were severally sustained as members of the same Quorum. Daniel Spencer was sustained as President of this Stake of Zion, and David Fullmer, and Willard Snow, as his Counselors. Henry G. Sherwood, was sustained as President of the High Council, and Eleazer Miller, John Kempton, Heman Hyde, Wm. W. Major, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldridge, John Vance, E. D. Wooley, and John Parry, were sustained as members of the same, and Winslow Farr, and Wm. Snow were voted to be members of said Quorum. John Young was sustained as President of the High Priest’s Quorum; and Reynolds Cahoon, and George B. Wallace as his counselors. Joseph Young was sustained as Senior president of all the Quorums of the Seventies; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Benjamin L. Clapp, and Jedediah M. Grant were sustained as his Counselors. Edward Hunter, was sustained as Presiding Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John Nebeker was sustained as President of the Elder’s Quorum: and James H. Smith, and Aaron Sceva as his counselors. Joseph Harker was sustained as President of the Priest’s Quorum; and Simeon Houd, and Lewis White as his Counselors. McGee Harris was sustained as President of the Teacher’s Quorum; and John Vance, and Reuben Perkins as his counselors. 24 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Return R. Hill was voted as President of the Quorum of Deacons. Brigham Young was sustained as Trustee in Trust, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Edward Hunter as an Assistant Trustee. D. H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of the Public Works. The President, and Assistants, of the Perpetual emigrating Company, to gather the Poor, were next presented, when Brigham Young was sustained as President of said Company; and Heber C. Kimball, W. Richards, W. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, W. Snow, E. Hunter, D. Spencer, T. Bullock, J. Brown, W. Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, L. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and F. D. Richards, were sustained as his assistants. President Young said, there would be travelling Bishops, to visit the Bishops in their respective wards, to see that they do their duty, and if they do not do it, they will be removed out of their place and others put in; when Nathanial H. Felt, was nominated as one of the travelling Presiding Bishops, under Bishop Edward Hunter.— Carried. John Banks was nominated as another of the travelling Bishops, and carried. Ezra T. Benson, Jedediah M. Grant, and Orson Hyde, were voted as agents of the Perpetual Emigrating Company to gather the poor to this place. Samuel W. Richards, Willard Snow, Abraham O. Smoot, Dorr P. Curtis, and Vincent Shirtliff, were voted to take missions to England. Daniel Carn was voted to take a mission to Germany. John Young was voted to take a mission to the States to preach, and gather up the Saints. John L. Dunyon was voted to take a mission to the States, and preach the Gospel. A manifest of the affairs in the Tithing Office were read; also a manifest of the Perpetual Emigrating Poor Fund Company. Adjourned to 10 in the morning. Benediction by George A. Smith. Tuesday, September 9, ten in the morning.—Conference again ZION’S TRUMPET. 25 called to order; singing by the Choir; prayer by H. G. Sherwood, and singing. The forenoon was occupied by President Young preaching a funeral sermon on the occasion of the death of brother Lewis Abbott, was followed in his remarks by Elder H. G. Sherwood, Levi Gifford, John Young, and H. C. Kimball, and benediction by Elder Hyde. At two in the afternoon, conference being called to order, and opened in the usual manner, The Patriarch John Smith, said he had been through the whole scene of persecution, of mobbing, and murders, from 1832 to the present time; and alluded to the night of the murder of Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage jail; and then he called on the people to pay their tithing, that it may be said of us, Well done, good and faithful servants; and he was followed in similar remarks by President Kimball, Edward Hunter, W. W. Phelps, Isaac Chase, and Zera Pulsipher. The Patriarch again arose to speak on the Word of Wisdom, and urging on the brethren to leave off using tobacco, &c. President Young rose to put the motion, and called on all the sisters who will leave off the use of tea, coffee, &c., to manifest it by raising the right hand; seconded and carried. And then put the following motion, calling on all the boys who were under ninety years of age, who would covenant to leave off the use of tobacco, whisky, and all things mentioned in the Word of Wisdom, to manifest it in the same manner, which was carried unanimously. The Patriarch then said, may the Lord bless you and help you to keep all your covenants. Amen. President Young amongst other things said he knew the goodness of the people, and the Lord bears with our weakness. We must serve the Lord, and those who go with me will keep the Word of Wisdom; and if the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, and others will not serve the Lord, we will sever them from the Church. I will draw the line, and know who is for the Lord, and who is not; and those who will not keep the Word of Wisdom, I will cut off from the Church. I throw out a challenge to all men and women: have I not always counseled you right? 26 ZION’S TRUMPET.

I would rather you would cut me into inch pieces, than to finish from my duty, the Lord being my helper. I would rather live with a few men who will serve the Lord, than live with ten thousand hypocrites. He then exhorted the men and the women never to quarrel, to cease all contentions. If a man abuses you, settle with him with kind words, but never go to law. Let every head of a family gather their family together night and morning, and wait on the Lord, until his spirit rests on you like a cloud; and I say unto you in the name of the Lord God of Israel, Be you blest. Adjourned until Wednesday, at ten o’clock in the morning; ended with a benediction by George A. Smith. Wednesday, September 10, ten in the morning.—Conference called to order, and was opened with singing by the choir. Prayer by President Young, and singing. E. D. Wooley bore testimony of the work of the Lord, that Joseph was Prophet of God, and that Brigham is just as good a man as Joseph was, and he was as good a man as ever lived on the earth, &c. President Young spoke on the subject of the Mormon Battalion, and why they went the journey. General Doniphan said in St. Louis, that, “if he had one thousand Mormon boys, the same as the Mormon Battalion, he could do more good than all the United States soldiers that were there:” I say, if he had been a Mormon he would have been charged with treason, although the government is good, and the Constitution is as good as could be framed. He then exhorted the Presiding Bishop to settle with the First Presidency, and all the bishops, and require their tithing, the one-tenth of all their real estate, of the value of their farms and possessions, and all they have got; and then see that the Bishops settle with every man, and that he pays his tithing or we will disfellowship him from the Church. I will sell every particle of my property, if a man can be found who will pay the cash, and I will put it all into the hand of Bishop Hunter, and I will begin anew, and in five years God will so bless me that I shall be richer than any man in this community. He then called on the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, High Priests, Seventies, and every person to know if they were willing to ZION’S TRUMPET. 27 do as he told them, when all hands were immediately raised. He lifted his hands on high, and with all the powers of the holy Priesthood vested in him, he blessed the Saints in the name of the Lord God of Israel, when all the people cried, Amen. On the motion the Conference was adjourned to the 6th October next, at ten o’clock in the morning. Benediction by President H. C. Kimball. Thomas Bullock, Clerk of Conference.

EPISTLE TO THE SAINTS IN POTTAWATAMIE. [From the “Frontier Guardian.”] Great Salt Lake City, September 21, 1851.

Beloved Brethren,—We send unto you our beloved brethren, Ezra T. Benson and Jedediah M. Grant, for the special purpose of counseling and assisting you to come to this place; and we desire you to give heed to their counsel in all things, and come to this place with them next season; and fail not. Come all ye officers in the Church, and all ye officers in the State, or county. There is no more time for Saints to hesitate what course they will pursue. We have been calling to the Saints in Pottawatamie ever since we left them to come away; but there has continually been an opposing spirit, whispering, as it were, “Stay another year, and get a better fit out,” until many who had means to come conveniently have nothing left to come with, even as a former Prophet said, “If a man will not gather when he has the chance, he will be afflicted with the Devil, his property will go to waste, his family fall by sickness, and destruction and misery will be on his path;” even so has it been with some of you, and soon will it be with more of you, if you do not hearken to this call and come away. What are you waiting for? Have you any good excuse for not coming? No! you have all of you, unitedly, a far better chance than we had when we started as Pioneers to find this place; you have better 28 ZION’S TRUMPET.

teams and more of them. You have as good food and more of it; you have as much natural strength as we have had to come; our women and children have walked here, and been blessed in walking here, and barefoot, too, only as they could occasionally get a skin from the Indians to make a moccasin; and can you not do the same? You can. And we say again, Come home! And if you can get one good wagon and team to five families, and five teams to one hundred souls; or no teams at all, more than cows and calves to your handcarts, you can come here with greater comfort and safety than the Pioneers came here, who had nothing to come to; while you will have everything; and here is the place for all the Saints to get their fit-out for Zion, even from all nations; therefore we say again, Arise, and come home. Elder Hyde will return to your place, with Brothers Benson and Grant, and act in his calling as usual; but you must not depend too much on him, for he has his private affairs to settle, and prepare to bring on his family, and come with you; and we have sent Brothers Benson and Grant to bless you, and counsel you, and relieve Brother Hyde. Therefore, we wish you to evacuate Pottawatamie, and the States, and next fall be with us all ye Saints of the Most High, and it shall be well with you if you will keep all the commandments. Oh ye Saints, give not your heritage to reproach, neither sell your improvements in Pottawatamie to strangers for nothing. No! rather sell your improvements for their value, or give them into the hands of those you shall be counseled to, for the benefit of the poor Saints who are coming after, as consecration for the benefit of the poor. It is a day of sacrifice, and those who are ready to sacrifice and do their duty, and come home, they may save being burnt. How long will the Saints in St. Louis, remain where they are? Arise and come with the Saints of Pottawatamie, and you shall be blessed. We remain your brethren in the New Covenant,

Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards. ZION’S TRUMPET. 29

address OF PRESIDENT F. D. RICHARDS. From the “Millennial Star,” Jan. 15, 1852.

The Sixth General Epistle, contained in the present number of the “Star,” will be found by all the Saints to be of vast interest and importance, not only as containing accounts of the great prosperity of all the settlements of the Saints in the Valleys of the mountains and elsewhere, but as setting forth the designs of the Church in future, in reference to the advancement of its interest in Zion, as well as among the Saints abroad, especially those in the British Isles. The bold, extended, and energetic spirit breathed forth through every sentence of it, is none other than the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, clothing with power, the counsels of his servants, for the welfare of his people, the gathering of his elect, and the establishing of Zion. Happy will it be for every Saint on this side the Atlantic, who keeps pace with the work of God, and walks in the light as it continues to shine forth with increasing strength and glory from Zion’s Hill. And we take the present opportunity to advise some of our brethren to brush up their ideas a little, particularly those to whom we are obliged to write once, twice, or three times before we can obtain the cooperation or information which we publicly call for in the “Star;” as for instance, last June, more than six months ago, we called for the names and addresses of the various Branch Treasurers of the Perpetual Emigration Fund, and have not got them all yet; again, twice a year we give due notice in the “Star,” to the Presidents of Conferences, to send in their semi-annual reports by a specified date, the latest proper hour for the paper designed to contain them to go to press; but instead of receiving them all promptly when the time arrives, we are deficient of several, and must write again for them, which detains our business other two days; and then not infrequently do we get a report which contains items not wanted, and which does not contain the items needed, although each particular item required was specifically stated in the published instructions. These circumstances are merely mentioned as a few of the instances which too often occur. It is the duty of every officer of the Church throughout the British Isles to know, as soon as he can read the “Star,” what instructions are contained in it that have any bearing 30 ZION’S TRUMPET. upon his duties, and if there is anything which is not quite clear, he should communicate immediately with his President, and come to a proper understanding of it, that he may be able, as a minister of righteousness, to perform his duties to the Saints, and not wait till an emergency requires counsel, and behold, he has no counsel to give; such are like bruised reeds for the people to walk with, and often those who lean upon them are thrust through with sorrows. Such can never become pillars in the Temple of the Lord. Let those who make their duties to the Church secondary, and matters of convenience, be removed from their stations, whether they are President, Secretaries, or Treasurers; and let men be appointed who can and will make it their first business from the heart, to magnify their callings by faithfully performing the duties of their office. Upon such the people of God can lean with security for support, and find them a tower of strength in the hour of need, and like springs of living water in the desert to quench the parching thirst of the fainting pilgrim. When general counsel is given upon any matter through the “Star,” the Saints should apply to the President of their branch, if anything unusual occurs relating to the subject; and if the matter is too difficult for him, he can apply to the President of the conference; and if he is not prepared to give an answer, he can refer it to the Presidency in Liverpool. We know full well by our own experience the diffidence that exists in the mind of a man to give counsel upon important matters, when he sees and feels that his fellow beings hang upon his words for life and salvation; but, brethren presidents, this is according to the order of your calling, and the power of your ordination, that you should bear a part of the vast responsibilities connected with the building up of the Church, and the gathering of the righteous; therefore, shrink not from your duty, but seek diligently the counsels of the Spirit, and you will find that your words will be sanctified of God, to the best interest of his people, over whom you are called to preside; your confidence in the dictates of the Spirit will increase, until the spirit of revelation will so abound in you, that nothing shall be too difficult which shall be laid upon you to perform. Therefore, let every man stand in his lot and place, and be faithful in all that is committed to him, that he may bring forth fruits of praise, and be able to endure unto the end. ZION’S TRUMPET. 31

As will be seen by the General Epistle, but more especially by the Epistle to the Saints in Pottawatamie, the special counsel of the First Presidency to the Saints in that region, and in St. Louis, is to leave forthwith, and get themselves to the Valley; therefore, none of the Saints in Britain are counseled to go to America, except such as have money and faith sufficient to take them through to the Valley the same season. All persons who have families associated with them on this journey, and who design to go this year, should have not less than £20 apiece, when they leave their homes, to secure their passage through; but young and single men, if they have £10 to start with, may go to Pottawatamie, and work their way through with the companies, from that place. All persons and families having £20 each, and intending to go this winter, should be ready to leave in the ship which will sail in the early part of February, in order to have time at the Bluffs to prepare teams, wagons, provisions, &c., for the trip over the plains. Although emigration is again opened on the old route, it is not opened on the old plan. Let those only leave England who can go through, either by their own means, or by the means of the Emigrating Fund. St. Louis is a very unhealthy place in the summer time, and there are many there who might have gone on, but thought to stop and get prepared to go more comfortably, and have either lost their lives or some of the members of their families; or what is still worse, lost the Spirit, and denied the faith. St. Louis is also the residency of many, yes, very many, who have become reprobate concerning the faith at different times, who finding themselves unable to practice their wickedness among the Saints in Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, Pottawatamie, and some even from England, who have been cut off for their transgressions while crossing the sea,—have naturally enough concentrated in that city, until it has become as the slop pail, receiving that refuse portion of the human family, of whom the Savior said, having lost their savor, they were good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. For these reasons the Saints should no longer make that the place of their rendezvous. The British Conferences have contributed about one thousand pounds sterling to the Perpetual Emigration Fund, about one- 32 ZION’S TRUMPET. third as much as the Saints in the West have given; but sufficient, however, to make a commencement which will make all the Saints glad, and send forth a new ray of light and hope to all the poor of God’s people. Now is the day of choosing, we have furnished each President of a Conference with the number he is to choose from his Conference, according to the amount donated by the various Conferences; and they will, according to our instructions and the spirit of the General Epistle, select those most advisable to go, for the several reasons assigned. Let none feel uncomfortable if they are not selected first, for but a very few can go this winter, as the Fund is small. As soon as the President have made their selections, they will immediately forward their names, ages, occupations, and deposits, (£1 each), with their addresses distinctly written, to our office, and the parties will be duly notified of the time they should be in Liverpool, with all necessary instructions for the passage. It must be distinctly understood by all, that no person will be chosen to emigrate by the Fund, except such as will give bonds to the Company’s agent in Liverpool, that they will continue under the care of the agent who shall be appointed to take charge of the company of passengers, until they arrive in the Valley (illness and death excepted), and that on their arrival in the Valley, their time and labor shall be subject to the appropriation of the Perpetual Emigrating Company, until they have paid the Company the amount expended in their emigration from England to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

F. D. Richards.

ARRIVAL OF BRETHREN FROM THE VALLEY.

We have particular pleasure in being able to announce the arrival of Elders Samuel W. Richards, Willard Snow, Abram O. Smoot, and Vincent Shurtleff, in our midst; they are appointed on missions to the British Isles, as stated in the General Epistle, and arrived on the morning of the 29th of last month, in good health, except slight inconvenience from the motion of the sea, and with spirits fervent with the fire of the Lord. These brethren will spend a short time with the various American Elders, and Presidents of Conferences, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 33 of them obtain a knowledge of the organization of the Church in these islands, and the many subjects of interest and importance now before the Saints; while at the same time, by their reviving influence and savory communications, they will impart virtue and vigor to the work of the Lord in every portion of the kingdom. These brethren will teach the Saints in this land the spirit and purpose of the Church in the Valley concerning emigration, and tithing for the building of the Temple. Thus they will bless and be blessed by the society and ministrations of each other. Our American brethren will learn of the welfare of their families, and the work of God in Zion, while all the Saints will be exhilarated by their presence and teachings in this land. They will soon receive appointments to the particular fields of their future labors. Concerning our American brethren now in the European nations, the First Presidency say, “Far be it from us to bind heavy burdens on the shoulders of the Elders, or confine them long at a time from their families in foreign countries, while peace prevails and the road is free; but the distance is considerable that separates us, and much time is required to travel the distance, and as wisdom is profitable to direct, we leave the return of the American Elders now in Europe to the direction of the Spirit in council with their respective Presidencies, which you will please communicate to them the first opportunity.” To the American Elders laboring in the British Isles, we take the present opportunity to state that we had, with them, made up our mind to labor in this country another year; but as the last paragraph of the Epistle contemplates the return of the Twelve during 1852, it is the more particularly desirable that so many of the Elders as can, should stay, that stability and power may be maintained in all the work of the Lord in these Islands, and we have the fullest assurance that the interest which our brethren feel in the welfare of Zion’s cause, will lead them to do so most cheerfully.

F. D. Richards. 34 ZION’S TRUMPET.

TO THE WELSH PRESIDENTS.

Dear Brethren,—Having explained many times to you concerning your duties, with respect to the book debts, and other things, I now take the opportunity to write to you again. In a particular manner I call your attention to the Epistle of President F. D. Richards in Number 26 of the Trumpet for last year, regarding to book debts, &c.: that which is said there has to do with us in Wales, and has a connection with the Welsh books, as well as with the English books. All Conferences and Branches are required to do their best to clear their debt always, especially at this time, when there is so much call for money to print the Book of Mormon, not only for those who have given their names now, but for the hundreds who will yet give them in years to come. The East Glamorgan Conference has come to the unanimous decision to clear its entire debt; and the majority of the branches have already cleared all of the old debt as well as the new, yes, and the branches which have received more than any other in Wales, have provided a good example, by clearing their debts before the others. Monmouthshire also intends to do the same thing. Some are fasting as often as once each month for this purpose, and others are organizing other measures; and may you, presiding brethren, organize everywhere the plans you see best to pay your Welsh and English book debts, so there will be no such fetters obstructing the work of God in your midst. If you obey this counsel, you will see great blessings in your labor. Take care also that all the Epistles from the Valley, and from the British Presidency, together with those from the Welsh Presidency, are read in the meetings of the Saints, so that all the Saints will know their contents, and so they will receive renewed life through them. No meeting can be better spent, than by reading epistles from the First Presidency, and others, the aim of which is to instruct the people about those things that pertain to their salvation. Yours in the Lord, W. S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr Tydfil, Jan. 22, 1852. ZION’S TRUMPET. 35

CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE SON AND HIS MOTHER.

Son. My mother, my dear mother, I am happy as I live, Having subjected myself to the order of my God; I have been baptized in the name of the Son, I have given obedience to the true ordinance. Mother. My dear, sweet boy, do not be a fool, Renounce the Saints, and come back; You have been charmed, deceived, and immersed in water, Which was not necessary, I am quite sure. Son. My mother, do not murmur, but come without refusal, Give obedience to the baptism of our Father; His counsel will continue while there is a world— Why do you scorn his baptism so long? Mother. My boy, renounce the fools of our world— I reared you lovingly, I have kept you warm; Renounce the Saints, do not stay longer, Come with your parents to the church of your parish. Son. How has your mind been deceived so completely? Open your eyes, lest it become too late; And search the true scriptures of our God, And then you will see the place for us to live. Mother. My dear, sweet boy, truly renounce The hypocritical lie that is now across our land; Join correctly the sects of our country, Those which believe in God without refusal. Son. Belief, says James, in and of itself, Has no power to save a man, Unless his deeds to support it are alive, And one of the first of those is the baptism of the Son of God. Mother. Farewell now, my son, I hope When we meet next time, that we are closer. Son. I myself wish that you will have a blessing to live, So that we can meet again as two Saints to God.

Hirwaun. Morgan Evans. 36 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Appointments.—John Parry, Denbighshire, is called to travel throughout the Conferences of the North, in place of brother Eliezer Edwards, (who has been released to emigrate), as well as to continue presiding over the Denbighshire Conference.—Also Robert Evans, from Liverpool, is called to preside over the West Glamorgan Conference, in place of brother Henry Evans, who has been released to emigrate to Zion. Conferences of the North.—The Flintshire Conference will be held, on the 15th of February; Denbighshire, on the 22nd; Dyffryn Conwy, on the 29th; Anglesey, on the 7th of March; and Merionethshire, on the 14th. Book of Mormon.—If any of our brethren have seen errors in our translation of the Book of Mormon, we wish for them to let us know, so that we may correct them at the end.—Number 21 will come out with the next Trumpet, which will be sold for a penny each, together with each one after it. He who receives a kindness, should never forget it; and he who does a kindness, should never remember it. Great merit and high praise are like a strong wind and a full sail, which often sink the vessel.

Payments from Jan. 8 to Jan. 22.—Monmouthshire, £18; Breconshire, £1; Cardiganshire, 9s; Anglesey, £1; Denbighshire, £3; Dyffryn Conway, 15s; Dinas, 11s; Llanilltyd, £1 9s 6c; Pontytypridd, £7 16s 9c; Llanfabon, 16s 3½c; Cwmbach, £3 14s; Pendeulwyn, £1 15s 7½c; Twynyrodyn, £1 13s 3c; Llandaff, 11s 8c; Cardiff, £2 4s 6c; Dowlais, £2; Hirwaun, £4 11s 1½c; Rhymney, £3; Cwmnedd, 11s 10½c; Georgetown, £6 19s 7c; Merthyr, £4 19s 3c; Pontfaen, 7s; Cefn, £1 17s 2c; Eglwysnewydd, 15s 7c; Gwernllwyn, £3 12s 3½c; Ffynnon Tydfil,£ 5 10s 0½c; Aberaman, 15s.—Total, £79 15s 6c.

We will satisfy our correspondents as soon as we can, according to their merit. Other things now fill our publication. We wish to encourage the distributors and the presidents to have all the verification done with respect to the book accounts, so that if there are mistakes, they may be corrected. After finishing the Book of Mormon, we ourselves will have a second look at our books, and determine that there are no mistakes in our accounting. Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 3.] FEBRUARY 7, 1852. [VOL. I V.

THE MORMONS IN UTAH.

[From the “New York Daily Tribune,” Jan. 13, 1852.]

We have published the statements of Judges Brocchus and Brandeburg and Secretary Harris, accusing the Mormons of sedition as well as immorality, and stating reasons why those officials could not consistently remain in the Territory. These statements have been flatly contradicted by Mr. Bernhisel, the Delegate of Utah, on the floor of Congress, who challenges and demands the strictest investigation of the whole matter, so far as it concerns the Government of the United States. We find also in The Republic an article on the Mormon side, which comes from a responsible source, and which we copy as follows:—

“The news of the passage of the bill establishing the government and the appointments under it of officers, executive and judicial, reached great Salt Lake City about Christmas last, and was greeted by the firing of cannon, and every other demonstration of enthusiastic joy. The Governor took the oath of office soon after, but the Territory was not fully organized until August. The last 4th of July was celebrated at the city with great éclat. The officers not residents of the Territory, reached the scene of their duties a fortnight after, with the exception of Judge P. E. Brocchus. “The officers were all respectfully and hospitably received. They were pleased with the condition of the Salt Lake settlement, and the comforts 3 38 ZION’S TRUMPET. which the industry of its inhabitants had gathered round them in their alpine home; although they found the California prices which prevailed there, and the expenses of living under them, incommensurate with the rate of salary granted them by the United States. A petition to Congress, praying for an increase of the salaries, will be presented during the winter. Up to the first of September last, the harmony and peace prevailing between the different officers of the Government and the people, continued undisturbed. “The only statements that I have seen to the contrary, appeared to be based upon a letter published in the papers, and dated Salt Lake City, September 20, 1851. This letter declares that ‘not only were the officers sent here treated with coldness and disrespect, but that the Government of the United States, on all public occasions, whether festive or religious, was denounced in the most disrespectful terms, and often with invectives of great bitterness,’ and proceeds to mention two instances to substantiate this statement. Now, I deny that the writer alluded to was present at the celebration of the 4th of July. Judge Brocchus did not arrive in the Territory till the 17th of August, but I was present at the celebration. I had the privilege of listening to Governor Young’s remarks attentively, and therefore I know that he made no reflections injurious to the public services or private character of the late President Taylor, or in fact any allusion to him whatever that I can remember. The writer’s statement, there, is so far untrue. “Another statement is, that the writer being commissioned by the Washington Monument Society to procure for them a block of marble, apprised Gov. Young of the trust committed to his hands, and expressed a desire to address the people on the subject when assembled in their greatest number; that the Governor, in order to accede to his request, upon the Monday following, ‘respectfully and honorably introduced’ him, for the purpose, to a meeting of three thousand people; that he spoke for two hours, during which he was favored with the unwavering attention of his audience; but that he then by his own statement, incidentally thereto (as the Mormons supposed) attacked the Governor and the people; and concluded by the wanton insult, that ‘if they would not offer a block of marble on full fellowship with the people of the United States as brethren and fellow citizens, they had better not offer it all, but leave it unquarried in the bosom of its native mountain.’ The effect of this conduct may be imagined, and to comment upon it is unnecessary. “The letter the writer alluded to, moreover, states that at the celebration of the 24th of July, ‘the orator of the day spoke bitterly of the course of the United States toward the Church of Latter-day Saints, in taking a battalion of men from them for the war with Mexico, while on the banks of the Missouri, in their flight from the mob at Nauvoo; that the Government had devised the ZION’S TRUMPET. 39 most wanton, cruel, and dastardly means for the accomplishment of their ruin, overthrow, and utter extermination; at which time, also, Gov. Young denounced, in the most sacrilegious terms, President Taylor.’ I again repeat that the writer of this extract was not present at the celebration to which he refers. There were some ten or twelve orators on that occasion, and the whole day was occupied by their speeches; but I heard no such language as I have quoted, nor any other which could be construed into the slightest disrespect toward the Government of the United States. All the officers of the Government, who were then in the Territory, dined with the Governor on that day. I am not aware that a single incident occurred to mar its gaiety and good fellowship. “Again, the Government did not take from us a battalion of men; but one of its most gallant officers made a call for volunteers, and Mr. Young said, in reply: ‘You shall have your battalion at once, if it has to be a class of our elders.’ More than five hundred able-bodied men promptly responded to the call, leaving their wives and children on the plains, and five hundred teams without drivers, and rendered efficient service in the war with the Mexican Republic.”

We subjoin an extract from a letter addressed by Hon. John Wilson, Indian Agent in California, to Hon. Truman Smith, of the Senate of the United States. Gen. Wilson passed through Utah on his way to the Pacific. He is in every way a reliable man, and says of the Mormons:—

“A more orderly, earnest, industrious, and civil people, I have never been among than these, and it is incredible how much they have done here in the wilderness in so short a time. In this city, which contains now, as I believe, about from four to five thousand inhabitants, I have not met in a citizen a single idler, or any person who looks like a loafer. Their prospects for crops are fair, and there is a spirit and energy in all that you see, that cannot be equaled in any city of any size that I have been in, and I will add, not even in ‘Old Connecticut.’”

The above should be enough to hold public opinion in suspense on the whole question, and to prevent hasty action either by Congress or the Executive. Clearly the only fair course is a public investigation, such as is courted by Mr. Bernhisel, in behalf of his constituents. At any rate, there is not a shadow of reason for the policy into which, as we are informed, these ex-judicial functionaries are trying to lead the Government. Why should Judge Brocchus, or Judge Brandeburg, 40 ZION’S TRUMPET. or Secretary Harris, or anybody else, be sent across the Plains with a military force to back him, like a Roman Proconsul, to expel Brigham Young from office and inaugurate himself in his stead. We cannot find a line in the long manifesto of those gentlemen which indicates special qualities, moral, mental or martial, that would fit all or either of them for such an expedition, to say nothing of the graver task of pacifying the Territory after they have conquered it; indeed, judging from their own statements only, we should say that they were, all and singular, signally unfit even for the duties they have now thought proper to flee from, and that the public service generally would be advanced by their continuing in a state of retirement. But even supposing that the Mormons of Utah are not patriotic toward the Federal Government, and do not want it to take any trouble about their affairs—which their Delegate utterly denies, and the fact that they have a Delegate would seem to sustain the denial,— we submit that there is nothing in it all to justify the expense and waste of an armed expedition to reduce them to subjection. The peace and good order of the country will not be disturbed by their governing themselves as they choose; the foreign goods they consume pass through the seaports of the Republic, and pay their share toward the revenue, and must continue to do so. Let the Mormons, then, form a wholly separate community if they wish, and as long as they wish. All that would be necessary in that case would be an agent at Salt Lake City, to look after the interests of travelers, and a man of the right kind would need no military force to help him in that office. It would be infinitely better to repeal the act organizing the Territory and appoint such an agent, than to send out an army to punish Mr. Young for seditious speeches, and do police duty over the people generally. This, we say, is infinitely better than the martial alternative which certain parties are urging. But it does not appear that the Mormons desire to separate from us, and if they do not, they should remain and be treated fairly, according to the Constitution and laws of the Union. ZION’S TRUMPET. 41

THE “WORD OF WISDOM.”

We have not yet expressed all of our opinion about the Word of Wisdom, in the Trumpet, even though that has been on our mind many times. We are glad now to have the opportunity, for even though we have said much to our brethren in Merthyr about it, we feel the need to say more about it to all the Saints throughout Wales. Ever since we first understood anything about the Word of Wisdom, we considered it to be something of great importance for all the Saints to give attention to, and act on it according to their judgment: but ever since we saw what President Young said about it, in the account of the General Conference, we considered it something even more important, and the sooner the Saints strive to keep it, the better. As for ourselves, we can say that we have kept it, according to our understanding, since we first received clarification of it; and at present we can say that we have received a great benefit by so doing; yes, we can testify that we have received unusually good health in the observance of it. We have believed from the beginning that the Word of Wisdom comes from God, and therefore that it is good for all men to keep it, as with every other word that comes from Him, whether as a commandment or as counsel. Indeed, we do not see much difference between counsel and commandment: if all obeyed counsel, there would be no need to command them. Counsel to a child often turns into a commandment for a man, because of disobedience. The Church received the Word of Wisdom in its boyhood, as counsel; but now, when it is more than twenty-one years old, no wonder it is about to be commanded concerning it. But if it receives a commandment concerning it, it will not be any more binding than other commandments; and every commandment should receive the same respect. It is the duty of all in this Church to keep the Word of Wisdom, and it is the duty of every officer, from the apostle down to the deacon, to teach it. Keeping the Word of Wisdom is necessary for our salvation, if we wish to have complete salvation; and we do not know what kind of salvation those who do not keep the counsel of God in this matter will receive. We would have given an example of keeping it sooner, had we known that “hot drinks” were tea, coffee, cocoa, &c.; but we always thought that hot drinks were meant, instead of “warm drinks.” Now, drinking all kinds of hot drinks is very harmful 42 ZION’S TRUMPET. to the belly, and does not suit it for digesting the food for the body; therefore, one should abstain from them completely, and drink clean water or milk, &c., in their place. There is no need to present reasons at present for people who believe that God has revealed the things his people should avoid. It is sufficient to say, Be consistent with yourselves, and do not fear to show that to anyone. God will keep to his word with this people, and will bless them in view of all. It is only a very few of the Saints who do not admit that they should keep the Word of Wisdom, but many refrain from keeping it because of some empty reasons they teach among themselves. Some say that they should drink whatever is set before them, as the apostle Paul used to do, but that is a very weak excuse; Paul was not likely to drink anything that is harmful to his constitution, although he drank what was set before him. The majority of the things that are forbidden now, were not in use at that time, and it is not likely that he would ever have used them, or that he would have known about them. It is not likely that Paul would have eaten poison, knowingly, any more than he would have eaten stones; and one might as well ingest those things, trying to follow Paul, as drink “hot drinks that are not for the body or the belly.” But, others say, there is no way to travel without breaking the Word of Wisdom. That all depends on the traveler: if an Abstainer can travel, most certainly the Saints can travel, at least we can; and on our latest travel for a week among the world, we did not see a single obstacle to keeping the Word of Wisdom. Yet, there are some traveling elders who say that they drink whatever is put before them among the world, in order not to put obstacles on their way; but, listen, brother, turn to page 217 of your “Doc. and Cov.,” and read the following:—“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation,” &c. Now, perhaps, when the traveling elder has been speaking about the signs that will follow, “conspiring men” will take him to have a cup of poisonous tea, in order to see if he will live after drinking something deadly in his ignorance! ZION’S TRUMPET. 43

In the midst of the world, then, we would think, that the Saints should be more careful to keep the word of God; and we think there is more danger in not keeping the Word of Wisdom in this land, than even in Salt Lake City, since our enemies are not there, rather here. If a man does not keep the word of God, and happens to be poisoned in liquor, beer, tea, coffee, &c., he cannot expect to be spared; and if someone is keeping the word of God, he should not boast and say that he is safe, because that one can go sooner than the other. Let us be wise, and let us not defy the powers of darkness in any way, lest God permit them to overcome us, as an example to others. Our intention is to strive to keep the Word of Wisdom in every circumstance, especially when it is at our own expense; and if we are refused a cup of cold water with our meal somewhere, let us eat thirsting, and thanking God; and if such a small thing is taken as an offense, we will be no worse off, and neither will the one who offends be one bit better getting baptized, according to anything we understand. Nevertheless, we intend to be wise and cautious, and let all judge for themselves. If the occasion arises, let us be ready to explain the harm of hot drinks through experience; and let us talk with the world, in the manner of the world, and with the Saints in the manner of the Saints; and if someone knows better, let him teach us, if he wishes. It is not wise to hurt feelings, rather to convince everyone in love, by putting a good example before them, telling them the great promises given to the Saints in the Word of Wisdom, page 218 of the “Doc. and Cov.:”—“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; and I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” We trust that we shall see the Welsh distinguishing themselves in the kingdom of God by being desirous of keeping the Word of Wisdom, together with all the commandments, so they may receive the above blessings. 44 ZION’S TRUMPET.

REMARKS OF W. GIBSON ON THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[Continued from Vol. III.] I shall now turn to the late discoveries in America by Stephens and others, and also to the traditions of the Indians themselves, as corroborative evidence of the truth of what has been already advanced, and of other things contained in the Book of Mormon. The following is from a work on the origin of the American Indians, by C. Colton, published by him in London, in the year 1833:—“They assert that a book was once in the possession of their ancestors, and along with this recognition they have traditions that the Great Spirit used to foretell to their fathers future events, that he controlled nature in their favor; that angels once talked with them; that all the Indian tribes descended from one man, who had twelve sons; that this man was a notable and renowned prince, having great dominions; and that the Indians, his posterity, will yet recover the same dominion and influence; they believe by tradition, that the spirit of prophecy and miraculous interposition once enjoyed by their ancestors will yet be restored to them, and that they shall yet recover the book, all of which has been so long lost.” Here, then, is Ephraim at the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, where his seed has become a multitude of nations; here in the middle of the earth, shut out for ages from the rest of mankind, he has been as a wild ass, alone by himself; and here God has revealed unto him the great things of his law, “but they have been counted as a strange thing.” How beautiful and plain the prophesies of the Bible are, and how exactly fulfilled, if we believe in the Book of Mormon; and how dark and mysterious must many of them for ever be to those who reject it. If it takes two witnesses to establish a thing, then here we have them, the one giving the prophecies, and the other their fulfillment. Before the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the American Indians were looked upon by men in general, with the exception of a very few writers, to be a race of savages, who being shut out from the rest of this civilized world, had continued from age to age without a knowledge of the arts and sciences, without any means ZION’S TRUMPET. 45 of transmitting to posterity their history as a people except by tradition, and therefore when the Book of Mormon was first published, declaring that the American Indians were a remnant of Israel, of the seed of Joseph; that they had once been a civilized people; that the arts and sciences had flourished among them; that they once had a knowledge of the true and living God; that they had built great and mighty cities, and even gave the location where some of these cities once stood; that they used to engrave their records on plates of gold or brass, and thus hand down their history to posterity, and that the language they used in writing was called by them the reformed Egyptian, and known to no other people; the wise men laughed at these absurdities, as they called them, and wondered that any could be found foolish enough to believe them. But time rolls on, and at length Mr. Stephens astonishes the world by publishing his discoveries of the ruins of large and mighty cities, magnificent temples, and statues, covered with hieroglyphics; some of them found on the very location pointed out years before (their discovery) in the Book of Mormon, as the place where great and mighty cities once stood. Hear the remarks of Mr. Stephens, on viewing the ruins of Copan, “We sat down on the very edge of the wall, and I strove in vain to penetrate the mystery by which we were surrounded. Who were the people who built the city? In the ruins of Egypt, even in the long lost Petra, the stranger knows the story of the people whose vestiges are around him. America, says historians, was peopled by savages, but savages never reared these structures— savages never carved these stones. We asked the Indians who made them, and their dull answer was, Quien sabe, (who knows)? There were no associations connected with the place, none of those stirring recollections which hallow Rome, Athens, and the world’s great mistress on the Egyptian plain. But architecture, sculpture, and painting, all the arts which embellish life, had flourished in this overgrown forest, orators, warriors, and statesmen, beauty, ambition, and glory, had lived and passed away; and none knew that such things had been, or could tell of their past existence. Books, the records of knowledge, are silent on this topic, and the city was desolate.” How fitly do the 46 ZION’S TRUMPET.

words of Isaiah in chapter xxix, apply to them, “And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust.” The history of that people lies inscribed on these fallen ruins; it speaks to men from the ground, and whispers from the dust, but none can understand it till the sealed book comes forth, to declare their origin, their history, and their fall. The Book of Mormon is the history of that people. In the second European edition, which is the one I will use on this occasion, page 515, we are told that the ancient inhabitants of America used to engrave their records on plates, and that the language they used in doing so was called by them the reformed Egyptian, and that it was known to no other people. Let us now look at the testimony of some recent discoveries, corroborative of these two things; first, then, for proof that the ancient inhabitants of America did engrave their records on plates; read the following testimony of the discovery of other plates by people not one of whom belonged to the church of Latter-day Saints, about sixteen years after those discovered by Joseph Smith. “To the editor of the Times and Seasons.—We, citizens of Kinderhook, whose names are annexed, do certify and declare, that on the 23rd of April, 1843, while excavating a large mound in this vicinity, Mr. M. Wiley took from said mound six brass plates of a bell shape, covered with ancient characters, the plates were very much oxidated, the bands and rings on said plates mouldered into dust on a slight pressure. The above described plates were handed to Mr. Sharp, for the purpose of having them taken to Nauvoo. Robert Wiley, G. W. F. Ward, Fayette Grub, George Dickenson, J. R. Sharp, W. P. Harris, W. Longnecker, J. S. Curtis, W. Fugate.” The Quincy Whig, after recording this discovery, remarks, “The plates above alluded to were exhibited in this city last week, and are now, we understand, in Nauvoo, subject to the inspection of the Mormon Prophet, and if Smith can decipher the hieroglyphics on the plates, he will do more towards throwing light on the early history of this continent than any man now living.” Again, we find their ancient monuments covered with hieroglyphics. Is it then an unreasonable thing to believe that a people ZION’S TRUMPET. 47 who could engrave their history on their monuments, will not do the same on plates of gold or brass; seeing the discoveries made, show us they knew the use of various metals with which the country abounds? It is certain that the unreasonableness would lie in believing the contrary; thus we see the subsequent discoveries have corroborated this part of the testimony of the Book of Mormon. Again, the language they used in engraving was said to be the Egyptian, altered by them, and called the reformed Egyptian; and that no other people knew it. I well remember some ten years ago, the Rev. C. J. Kennedy, in Scotland, using this as one of his strongest arguments to prove the Book of Mormon false, that it was said to have been engraved in Egyptian characters; but recent discoveries have proved this wise man wrong. I take the following from the Edinburgh Evening Courant, of October 16, 1848; in an article on the discoveries in America, the writer says:—“We shall here simply remark, that whoever looks at the able drawings in Stephens’s book on central America, will perceive them to be covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics and Hamyaratic letters, such as those lately discovered in Southern Arabia, and at once perceive that the figures and lineaments are those of superior Asiatic nations.” Again, we see the testimony of the book of Mormon is true, for men are forced to admit that these hieroglyphics are Egyptian, yet still no man can read them. No, their language is lost, their cities are desolate,—their prophets—their rulers—their seers—are gone, and the vision, the history of all, is a sealed book, the words of which are delivered to the learned, but he cannot read them; he saith it is sealed, and the book is delivered to the unlearned, saying, read this; but he saith, I am not learned, wherefore, the Lord will do a marvelous work and a wonder, in making the unlearned to understand and read the words of the book, and thus making the wisdom of the wise to perish, and the understanding of the prudent to be hid. How beautifully does the testimony of the Bible, Book of Mormon, and discoveries now being made agree together.

(To be continued.) 48 ZION’S TRUMPET.

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE RELIGION OF THE SAINTS OVER ALL OTHER RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD.

The children of men I see—readily believe, In hundreds of ways they worship together, And yet all of them are truly ignorant Of the plan of Jesus to save the world. The ignorant worship some beautifully carved Statue of stone, or metal, or wood; But their religion is nothing, and their expectations are vain, They have not the powers to save a single one. But why do I bother to name the gods, And notice all the different religions, I shall comment a little on the religion of the Saints, This is more excellent than the religions of the world; This one came from the beginning, from the land of light, To the pure in heart (’tis the gospel); It revealed how a race in misery Is to live eternally in greatness and renown. This one was taught by Jesus the Redeemer When he was on the earth clothed in flesh; This one was mocked by every persecutor, And this one was always given to the poor; Yes, this one was presented in the last days, And no other religion will do in its place; It is unchangeable and very powerful, I say, It was given to Joseph by an angel from heaven. It is full of blessings given from heaven, Its gifts are enjoyed by the obedient and the virtuous; Its saving virtue will be praised by thousands, And all are received through the love of our Father: And also delivered from the midst of the Babylonians, To a land that is flowing with virtue and honey, Where all of the Saints can come out of their captivity To comfortable freedom and delight without hiding.

Welshman Blackjaw.

CHARITY.

There is much said about this quality or passion, with respect to its essence and other passions, together with the effects that it brings. This instinct is original in every man, but it does not focus with the same intensity on all objects in one man as in another, neither does it have ZION’S TRUMPET. 49 the same potency. I do not believe that objects are what give existence to the instinct, yet objects are what bring it into prominence, together with the power of its effects; and it would be impossible for anyone to prove its existence, or the size and power of the instinct, unless circumstances were to bring to bear opportunities for it to be tested in every man; for example, a man can be very powerful in the instinct of mercy; but before he can test it in its proper effects (benevolence and compassion), circumstance must force the need to act, which will be an occasion to prove to the man his power in benevolence and the size of the passion of mercy. We see by this, that this circumstance does not give existence to the merciful instinct, rather it gives to the man an opportunity to prove his power in generosity. I believe that charity is what thrusts into action every instinct which has effects that cause happiness; such as mercy, truth, justice, &c. Charity in its effects brings about delight: charity suffereth long, and is kind—charity envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, unseemly, or thinketh evil—it rejoiceth not in iniquity, but it prefers to suffer injury. When charity suffers, it does not enjoy as much delight as it does when the thing has passed. With regard to suffering injury, sorrow and bad thoughts naturally lend themselves to injury, unless charity, in its beneficent effects, in its long-suffering patience and kindness, outweighs the trial. Not only is happiness connected with the effects of charity when it is accomplished, but it continues after it is done, and each time it is remembered by its doer, and all who knew about it as well; and were a hundred million to know and remember about it every day, they would receive a good influence from it, as power to whoever is delighted by it to do more of the same, to distinguish themselves, and to benefit all around them. In connection with the effects of charity, are honor, glory, and riches; and behold the goodness of the world is enjoyed, if this is enjoyed: again, all the effects of charity are controlled by law. It is possible for a man to act unlawfully according to the passion of charity, and for the deeds to cause great affliction, sorrow, shame, and poverty. The only thing that gives acceptance to the deeds of charity is the lawfulness of the deed, together with its worthiness in every service. Men may act 50 ZION’S TRUMPET. according to the feelings of charity, and the deed may be bad, because it is not according to the law by which charity should be carried out: consequently, the benefit and good of charitable acts depend on their lawfulness in the one service as in the other; yet it is possible for a man to act according to the law of charity, without the deed’s being effected by charity. This again is not approved, any more than the one that is executed unlawfully. The acts which bring benefit and delight, must be according to the law and love. Again in connection with the effects of charity, and the effects of other passions which are stimulated by it, such as mercy, truth, justice, &c., they are the greatest of the Spirit of God. The words produced by charity and other passions, are spirit and life (if according to the law), with a tendency in them to bring delight to the man who says them, and a benefit to the man or men about whom they are said. May all our words which require obedience, then, be pickled in love, and all our deeds produced from this passion, then we shall achieve happiness. Amen. Georgetown. Lover of Keeping Counsel.

A GOOD TIME IS COMING.

Tune—“Fair Morning.” O! Welshmen, dear Welshmen, awake, And give an ear of listening To a word of comfort I have for you— A good time is coming. The angel came down from heaven, This was his voice and his loud cry* — Listen to his word and fear Him, A good time is coming. God has sent the gospel of peace Down from heaven to mankind, Every kindred and tongue, every image and color,— A good time is coming. To mount Zion you will come in droves,† O Babylon, my people, Her great plagues which are hanging above, And her time is about to come. When the sun darkens, when it hides the moon,‡ When the stars fall, when the sea roars, ZION’S TRUMPET. 51

These will be the last signs of the Lord, That a good time is coming. Come to reign with His Saints, Without any more sin, or plague, or pestilence, But only the peace of God—great will be their honor,— A good time is coming. God will pour out His Holy Spirit ∏ On every kind of flesh, from great to small, According to the words of the holy writ,— A good time is coming.§ Every creature in its kind Wants to receive revelation of the sons of God, And wants a safe place to live,— A good time is coming. Peace will reign through the whole world,¶ The wolf and the lamb will be seen together, The kid and the leopard of the same mind,— A good time is coming. The cow together with the bear will graze, And her calves will be in great peace, For this let all now sing— A good time is coming. The lion will forget his vicious cruelty,** Like an ox he will feed on the grass of the field, He will lie with the fat animal,— A good time is coming. A vain work will it be for black hell To war any more with dear Zion, A more valiant man is now on her side, And a good time is coming. No more war is expected according to this,†† Putting an end to the sword, The peace of God will be on Zion’s mount,— A good time is coming. Every kind of man will be seen Under the beautiful fig tree, With its long vines and its white flowers, And its time has come. St. Bride’s Major. William Jones. * Rev. xvi, 6, 7. † Rev. xviii, 4. ‡ Matt. xxiv, 29. ∏ Joel ii, 28. § Rom. viii, 19. ¶ Isaiah xi, 6, 7. **Isaiah xi, 6, 7. †† Micah iv, 3, 4.

THE TEMPLE.

We are pleased to notify the Saints that they now have the opportunity to bring their offerings in toward building a Temple to God in 52 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Great Salt Lake City. We do not think there is reason to urge the Saints to faithfulness concerning this, since they know there will be no place for them to receive their endowments, unless they do it themselves, by paying their tithing, and offer up their gifts. Those who know something of the power of God can appreciate this privilege of having the opportunity to build a House unto God in the top of the mountains, where blessings will be received which will make our hearts rejoice, and fit us in the end to receive the heavenly glory, and be with God, and be like him.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

From the Valley.—Inasmuch as Judges Brocchus and Brandeburg and Secretary Harris have retreated from the Territory of Utah, Governor Brigham Young has appointed a secretary (temporary), so that he will have no hindrance, and Judge Snow will be able to complete all the work.—With regard to the accusations that fill the papers of the land, our readers can see a defense by the Editor of the “New York Daily Tribune,” in this issue, so that we need not say more. We also have another article in our possession from the “Missouri Republican,” that defends the Saints in the same way. The Church.—The Church of Christ must suffer while the “great whore” reigns; and it will be fair for the great whore to suffer when the government under all of heaven is given to the people of the Saints of the Most High.

Payments from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5.—West Glamorgan, £5 3s; Flintshire, £1 5s; Llanfabon, 19s 7c; Georgetown, £2 4s 6c; Pendaren, £2 10s 5c; Liverpool, £5; Aberaman, 7s 6c.—Total, £17 10s. Let not our bards despair, because their work has not appeared; we intend to publish several of them in their turn. We urge those who are slow in coming to request books to be bound for them, to make all the haste they can, since books worsen as they are kept, besides needing space, and needing the money for them to pay the binder. “W. P.”—We notify him, together with all the distributors of the North, that the packets are sent from here on the Saturday the “Trumpet” is published, every fortnight. Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 4.] FEBRUARY 21, 1852. [VOL. I V.

Reviewing Books. Reviewing books against the Saints has become a very tedious task for us lately, because our detractors write things for which they have been provided answers before. They are unwilling to look into our principles or our history, rather they heap up old nonsense from books of the enemies who have written before them. There is a pamphlet before us now, entitled “Deceit of Mormonism, together with an Account of the Life and Death of Joseph Smith,” by the Rev. William Rowlands, curate, Merthyr; which shows clearly that its author has made no effort to search out anything about the principles of the Saints, or the history of Joseph Smith, except only in the books of our detractors, which had been proved false before Mr. Rowlands ever saw them. Would it not be appropriate for a man like him to read that which has been published in his own town, in answer to the majority of his own pamphlet, before going to the trouble to write it? There was already an answer to his pamphlet, before it went to press, and perhaps before it was written. Let whoever wishes to see a review of his book, call on us, and we shall sell him various treatises, which contain answers to the majority of the deceptive reasons found in the pamphlet in question, together with a correct history about Joseph Smith by an eyewitness. It is utterly shameful that Mr. Rowlands attaches his name to so much senseless rubbish that is in his pamphlet, not to mention the barefaced lies that speckle its pages. 4 54 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The best way for the Saints to defend themselves in the face of the pamphlets of our enemies, is to strive to distribute the tracts that we have written, for these answer all the empty reasons of our opponents, and lead the reader to the root of every topic, so that he can judge for himself. If we can get the Saints to do as we have taught them, there is no cause for us to fear pamphlets, such as the one by Mr. Rowlands, even if they were as numerous as the stars: there is ample strength in Mormonism to wend its way, if the Saints bring it to the attention of their compatriots. It is time for the Saints to understand that the press is the most effective preacher in these days, for our enemies, as well as for ourselves. Therefore, whenever our brethren wish for us to answer the contrary arguments brought against us, let them remember that we have tracts published on the majority of our topics, which to the present time have not been reviewed by our enemies. It is a sign, if anyone writes against the Saints, having not read any of their books, that he aims to blind the minds of his readers, and keep them from knowing anything about the reasons the Saints have to give for the hope that is in them. It is absurd that the reverends in this country must go to America for Joseph Smith, before they can get anything to write against Mormonism, while there are plenty of books in their own homeland that deserve more of their attention. The publications that we publish here, and the sermons that our brethren preach, are what prosper Mormonism in Wales; and therefore, if our enemies (for enemies are those who call others by nasty names) care about the welfare and salvation of the Welsh, why do they not come to the root of the evil, namely the various tracts which we distribute in every corner of the country—why do they not show the deceit of that which they can see here, instead of the deceit of a man who lived and died in a distant land, who in every sense is out of their reach? The reason is available: it is easier to shout “deceiver,” than to show the deceit. The deceit of Joseph Smith is available in Wales; and why is it not shown to the people, instead of showing the deceiver, who is dead? It was easier to say that Christ was a winebibber and was possessed of a devil, than to show the deceit of his doctrine; and so it is in this age, it is easier to say all manner of evil about Joseph Smith, than to show the deceit of the principles he preached throughout his life. The opponents of Mormonism know that, and this is the reason ZION’S TRUMPET. 55 they are so silent about the books of the Saints. But leave them be, they have chosen their path; the work of God must go forward, and it is going, despite everyone; and the more the priests and preachers write against it, all the more will come to join the Saints, if we stick to our task of spreading our books and our principles. The pure in heart are bound to see the light, if it shines on them; but if it does not shine, there is not so much advantage. You Saints, do not be angry with those who spread lies through the press and the pulpits about us; for this will hasten the period of the dispensation of the fullness of times. All will come to know more about this in the end. Now, brethren, spring into action, your time is short; make use of the materials that we put within your reach. Spread the books, and go from house to house full of love and good wishes, and pray for the Spirit of God to be with you, and you will triumph in winning over multitudes as Saints. We ourselves, as soon as we finish the Book of Mormon in Welsh, will return to our old task of writing tracts, and striving to make them effective weapons in the hand of God to pull down the castles of ungodliness, and to build the kingdom of his beloved Son: and after we have gathered our sheaves together, we shall hurry home, to inherit our portion in Zion, and the sweet communion of the Saints.

FLEETING THOUGHTS.

May we be excused at once for writing our fleeting thoughts; for although striving an hour ago to write an article to put in our publication, we discovered that we could not easily keep to our subject, because our mind kept wandering: therefore, we decided to write something at random. Now, therefore, welcome to you, fleeting thoughts; come to us from everywhere, and we shall write you down as soon as we can, beginning with 1. There is trouble with all things, and there is trouble with fleeting thoughts, especially if too many come at the same time. 2. Before we can say much that makes sense, we must occasionally say something foolish; and before we can please everyone, everyone must please us. 3. The easiest and shortest way to heaven, is the way that Jesus 56 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Christ showed; and if anyone wishes to take hold of it, let him renounce the ways approved by men, and let him search for the narrow gate. 4. There is nothing more loathsome than those who do not admit to being ill-informed; no matter what they are told, they hasten to declare that they knew that already, and thus they deceive themselves as they try to deceive others. Such very often betray themselves. 5. It is humorous to hear a man asking questions, in order to have the opportunity to answer them himself, in order to show his knowledge. It is more praiseworthy for a man to keep his knowledge until a call comes for it, than to give it out in an untimely fashion. 6. We ought to be careful not to tell the worst to the sick person, if we wish to keep him alive. Belief kills as well as it enlivens. We say the worst only when there is danger in saying otherwise. The doctors who reveal all their thoughts, kill more than they keep alive. 7. If a man receives health miraculously, let him thank God, and let him not use that in trying to convince unbelievers. If they are not convinced by the word of God, leave them alone. It is not good for the sick to go out to show themselves, and stir up animosity. 8. He who stores up knowledge, stores it unto himself, and he who stores up riches, stores them for others. Knowledge is a companion that goes with us to the other world, while riches leave us, and go into the hands of others. 9. Godliness is not judged by the appearance, rather by the heart. That is the reason the world did not recognize our Lord and his disciples; they measured them through the view of hypocrites who were considered godly persons, for they did not know about the pure in heart. 10. He who shaves on the Sabbath is no more a sinner than he who rides his horse, or makes a pie for the minister’s lunch. The commandment is not to refrain from shaving, rather to refrain from riding animals, preparing food, &c., as is seen in the scriptures. Some are so pious that they cannot crack a nut, without considering that a sin, while at the same time they break the clearly defined commandment, by riding their animals, instead of allowing them to rest. ZION’S TRUMPET. 57

11. It is not good manners for a priest to call himself “Rev. William Rowlands,” while calling another man, far better than himself, “Joe.” 12. It is so easy for a man to believe the same thing as his parents with respect to religious subjects; but it is difficult work to bring a man to believe principles that are new to him. Blessed is the man who was reared not to believe heresy, but is ready to receive the truth in its simplicity. 13. It is not fine clothes that truly adorn a man, rather a good character, and great knowledge.

KNOWLEDGE.

It is said frequently that the glory of creation is man, and that the glory of man is his mind, and that the glory of the mind is knowledge. Nevertheless, the Saints are harshly opposed, because they say they know they are right, and that they have the true religion of our Lord Jesus Christ; their opponents have not a single argument against knowledge, except to say, “It is not needed,” &c. Now, reader, consider, leave aside your prejudice, and put your senses to work, and then you will see that knowledge is beneficial and useful, in a temporal as well as a spiritual sense. One of the wise men of God says, “That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good;” and since it is not good for the soul to be without knowledge, it must be bad; then we see that knowledge is good, and if so, it is clear that it is needed, and he who says otherwise, says in his behavior, that he is wiser than Solomon, which I cannot believe. Now, we can comment in a very clear way, that all may understand, on the usefulness of knowledge, in a temporal sense. Imagine, reader, that you have received a special call of import to go to some distant city, and that you have been warned to arrive there by some determined time, and that your absence would be such that your life would be in danger; and that you have received a description of the way that will lead you there, and that there is frightful danger in being led along some other way. What would be your feelings in the face of such an important circumstance? If you did not have in your possession a knowledge of the path that leads 58 ZION’S TRUMPET. there, would not your feelings be fearful and nervous? if you turned to a relative or friend, and if such did not have knowledge, there is no comfort for you to obtain it; if you were to take your journey to search for the right path, and see scores of different paths, each one a different direction from the other, and hundreds of travelers going along each of these paths, everyone saying, “We are the ones who are on the right path!” perhaps you would remember having heard that every path except the right one is dangerous to travel on; and if you could not get on that one, that your life would be in danger of being lost. Then, poor thing, you would be more fearful still, until you would be ready to shout out, with a baleful tone, “Oh, that I could know the right path; Oh, that I could know the way!” What is the matter? “Oh, my life is in peril for not knowing the way!” When travelers of these various paths are asked, if they know they are going along the proper path? they answer, “No, we do not know, but we hope that we are going to that place to which you want to go.” If we ask them if any in their midst know, they will answer, “There is no one.” Reader, in all seriousness, what would be your feelings in this condition? what would be the greatest blessing you could obtain? Not gold or silver, not houses or lands; no, no, “My life is worth more than all of that,” would be your answer, would it not? yes, without a doubt. Well, while in the midst of your distress and your horror, what if you heard a man shouting out to everyone, saying, “Whoever comes to me, and does what I tell him, I will put him on the right path, and I will provide for him a guide to escort him to the city to which he wishes to go, at which place he shall have an answer, which will provide knowledge that I speak the truth.” Would not your heart rejoice greatly on hearing such a valuable promise? would not your distress and horror begin to be driven away? Would you not be willing to do whatever he commanded you, for coming to know the way; and after you obtain the answer from the city as a witness that you are on the right path, you could say, “Now I know that I am on the right path,” and it would not make any difference who said otherwise, for you would know better. Who could describe the transformation that would take place in your mind?—When you were first weeping for the lack of knowledge, you had no comfort from within the world, from gold or silver, houses or lands, relative or friend; but now all discomfort is cleared away, for knowing the right ZION’S TRUMPET. 59 path, which knowledge would fill your heart with comfort and true joy, yes, in short it would save your life from death. Therefore, who says that knowledge is not good? Also, a guide who is destitute of knowledge is not good, nor are his intentions of any comfort, lest he be guilty of leading men to walk along the wrong path, and lest those rise up against him in some future time, saying to him, “You are a liar, for you have set us on the path that leads to destruction.” But if he has knowledge, he will have peace of mind, and his conscience will be clear toward God and men. What is more valuable to the craftsman than knowing or understanding that his craft is good? he is enabled to do more work with less material, and to serve better purposes, than the one who has no understanding or knowledge that his craft is good; consequently, we see that knowledge is good. What if we were to ask the farmer, “Are you sowing wheat,” and if he were to answer, “I hope so, but I do not know for certain!” would we not be ready to say that he is a foolish man, not knowing what he was sowing? Has there ever been such a foolish farmer? We do not think so. Furthermore, what parents would be so imprudent as to send their children to school to learn to read, if the schoolmaster did not know the alphabet himself ? No one. Thus, from what we have observed, together with many other things we could set forth, we see that knowledge is good and useful in a temporal sense. (To be continued.)

THE GOSPEL IN SOUTH AMERICA.

LETTER FROM ELDER P. P. PRATT. Valparaiso, Chile, South America, Nov. 24, 1851. Dear Brother,—Alone as it were in this dark corner of the earth, I feel to apply for light, comfort, and edification to that land from whence I sprung, and where I have so many dear friends and acquaintances, and to that luminous orb which was first put in motion by myself as Editor. Please send the Star as often as it is published, directed to P. P. Pratt, Valparaiso, Chile. I will call for it at the English steamer’s office in this city. Please also to send by the same conveyance a package of the back numbers, and whatever else 60 ZION’S TRUMPET. may be interesting. I will also thank you to make up a small package of Books of Mormon, and forward by the same conveyance, if they will bring them. I will pay the freight and duties, if the office of the Star can afford a lone pilgrim such a present. Please also write me a letter, announcing that which you forward, and by whom forwarded. Perhaps it will do as well to consign the package of books to the office of the steamer in this city; but, however, you will readily learn what can and should be done by applying to the office of this line of steamers in your town. Write a good long letter to me, for of course you have something to write about. I am a year behind the age as to information. I have lived four or five years in the mountains, travelled three months in the desert, and sailed sixty-four days on the lone ocean, and then landed here on the 8th of this month, among a people of another tongue; and as if this was not enough to crown the mist of obscurity and of long darkness, behold, a civil war is raging here, and none will speak, write, or print much light on any subject. You may have read of a famine for the word of the Lord; well, add to that a famine for news, and a famine for the word of our fellow creatures, and you can form some idea of our situation. Elder Rufus Allen accompanied me here, and Elder Philo B. Wood is soon to follow. We are studying the “Lengua Espanol.” We are already beginning to understand and speak it a very little. We also read and partly comprehend the Spanish prints, together with the Spanish Bible. I hope, in the course of a year or two to give Spanish America, the Book of Mormon in their own language, if the Lord will. Having the presidency of the Islands and Coasts of the Pacific Ocean under my charge, I have already appointed missions in several places. Elder John Murdock is in charge of the mission to Australia, including New Zealand, New Holland and Van Dieman’s Land. He sailed from San Francisco for Sidney, more than two months since, accompanied by Elder Charles W. Wandell. Elder Philip B. Lewis has charge of the Sandwich Islands ZION’S TRUMPET. 61 mission, assisted by some half dozen young men. Elder Addison Pratt is still at Society Isles, and so are others; but the Church there is much oppressed by the French. In San Francisco, California, the work is prospering. The church there is in a good spirit, and numbers upwards of fifty members. Dear brother,—I beg to be remembered in England by the Saints, and wish their most earnest daily prayers for our success in this vast field of our gospel labors. Please represent the islands and coasts of the Pacific in your next general Conference, and the conference of Spanish America in particular. This conference is bounded as follows—on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by Cape Horn, on the east by the Atlantic, and on the north by the United States of North America. It includes an area of about 6000 miles, from north to south, and 3000 from east to west; is composed of the Empire of Brazil, the Republics of Buenos Aires, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Guatemala, Mexico, and many smaller states, tribes &c., probably containing forty millions of inhabitants, a vast majority of which understand the Spanish tongue. When the keys of the fullness of the Gospel are turned in the Spanish language, this is the vast field that opens on the astonished vision; and the best of all is, more than two-thirds of this number are descendants of Lehi, and are included in the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Nephi, &c., &c. This vast Conference at present has but one branch of the Church, located at Valparaiso, Chile, and consisting of three members, viz., myself, wife, and brother Allen: this is more than the whole Welsh Conference contained, when first represented by Elder Dan Jones in the General Conference of the British Isles, which consisted of himself and wife, as the records of the Millennial Star will show. Dear brother F. D. Richards (I suppose I am addressing)—If among the tens of thousands of Saints in the British Isles, who are rejoicing in the truth, there are some few who still remember me and the day of small things, please give them my very warmest respects, 62 ZION’S TRUMPET.

remembrance, and affection; and the same to those who love the truth, whom I have not seen in the flesh. O, how I should like to visit England and Scotland once more, and also Wales; but time is precious, the harvest is great, and laborers few. Our visitings, our leisure, and the fullness of our joy must therefore be adjourned till the end of the harvest, till the last sheaf presses the cart, and is stowed snugly in the barn, and the stubble together with the chaff and the tares are burned. God bless you all, and also the laborers on the continent, now and in the world without end. Amen. I am your brother and fellow laborer in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ, P. P. P ratt

NEWs FROM GREAT SALT LAKE CITY.

LETTER FROM RICHARD BALLANTYNE TO ELDER JOHN TAYLOR. Great Salt Lake City, September 23, 1852.

Elder J. Taylor—Dear Sir,—It is with much pleasure that I embrace the present opportunity of communicating with you through this medium. It seems a long time since you left, and I have not written to you as often as I might have done, although we generally have excuses enough to justify, in our own estimation, any delinquency. This I am purposely sending to you by brother Samuel W. Richards, who, in connection with brothers Shurtleff, Carn, Willard Snow, and some half dozen more, are about to start on a mission to Europe. During the last Conference, which commenced on the 7th of this month, and continued a few days, we had a glorious revival. There was a great deal of preaching by many of the old Fathers, by the Twelve and the First Presidency. President Young, with more power and decision than I ever before witnessed, asked the people if they would obey his counsel. They universally voted to do so. He ZION’S TRUMPET. 63 then told them to commence anew, and pay tithes of all which they possessed, just as if they never had paid a cent before, to keep the word of wisdom in its full extent and to lay aside all contention and evil speaking; and this, he said, he would give the people to begin with. During the Conference, Judge Brocchus, one of the United States Associate Judges of the Supreme Court, made a speech to the people, and it was full of insult. He talked throughout as if he was addressing a people ignorant of religion, of justice, of history, of politics, of common sense and virtue—chastised the Presidency and others for their religious sentiments relating to departed spirits, &c., and manifested a self conceit and pomposity throughout, that was alike full of insult and disgust to this enlightened and virtuous community, and he was treated with patient forbearance and courtesy throughout his lengthy harangue, but when he sat down, the Governor arose and chastised him with a just and scrutinizing severity. This has, it appears, had the effect to unite in hostile feelings against this community, pretty much all the United States officers who were sent here by the government. Most of them are about to return to the States, and what the effect of this collision will be, is yet partly in futurity, but it is to be hoped that the United States will have the good sense to judge righteously in the case, and not heap censure upon a people, who have only resented in mild justice an insult to the noblest feelings of an intelligent people. Dr. Bernhisel has been sent as our representative to Congress, and I believe brother Jedediah M. Grant has power to act as our agent there. In regard to politics, religion, domestic society, and everything else, the people are united. They have this season complied with counsel almost universally. I am well satisfied that the brethren and sisters are increasing in faith, knowledge, obedience, and every Christian virtue. A great deal has been done on the public works. 64 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Our colonies are extended and increasing in strength. Peace reigns in our midst, and if the world never beheld an example of a people living in union, free from strife and litigation, in these peaceful valleys they may behold it. Truly this is Zion—the pure in heart— millennial principles have been embraced, and are acted upon, and hope animates the bosoms of the Saints. Yours, in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant, Richard Ballantyne.

FAREWELL ADDRESS OF ELDER ELIEZER EDWARDS.

The time has come for me to leave the land of my birth, of my own free will, in obedience to the commandment of God, namely “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins (Babylon), and that ye receive not of her plagues,” to go to Zion. “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north” (from Jerusalem). In “the land of Joseph,” in the midst of the everlasting hills,” in the depths of the distant west, is where great Zion of the last days will be, says the Bible; and Micah says that “in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it, and many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we shall walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Remember that Zion has obeyed the commandment, “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain,” so that it may be able to prepare a house to the Lord, in the top of the mountains, as a place to which the peoples may gather. Isaiah says that there would be “ships” as a means of “bringing the sons of Zion from far, and their silver also, and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God.” It is in a ship I shall go, in the midst of over 300 dear brothers and sisters; and we shall sail toward Zion; and we shall go in happiness and beauty, as the prophet foretold precisely about us, “And the redeemed of the Lord will come with songs of everlasting joy upon their head;” “they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” May the Lord ZION’S TRUMPET. 65 prosper us to reach the end of our journey in safety, so we may build the kingdom of God more than ever. By the goodness of the Lord, I had the privilege of preaching the gospel in the fullness of its blessings, as it was restored to Joseph, the great seer of the last days, for more than eight years, along the south and north of Wales. I preached the gospel at my own expense for a time; I preached the gospel also at the expense of the world, by going into their midst without purse or scrip, in the name of the Lord, to tell them that God had established his kingdom on the earth for the last time in this age, through the ministering of angels, and by his voice from heaven, and through the spirit of prophecy, namely the Holy Ghost, which those who believe, and repent, and are baptized for the remission of their sins, and receive the laying on of hands of the elders, will obtain; and then he will be able to participate in the spiritual gifts. All who have obeyed with their whole heart the teachings of the Saints, in response to their prayers, have obtained assurance for themselves, from the Lord, through receiving the gifts of the Holy Ghost, that their work in joining with the Latter- day Saints is approved by the Creator; and all will obtain the same certainty upon their obedience to the religion of the Saints with their whole heart. I know in truth and soberness, through receiving the Holy Ghost in response to my prayers, that the only church of the living God on the earth, is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints; therefore, may all obey the teachings of the Saints, so they may prepare themselves to meet the second coming of the Son of Man. The nations and their kings will see the signs of his coming, but they will be deceived and blinded by their wise men and their learned ones, that the events are the signs of Christ’s coming. O ye, inhabitants of the earth, remember that it is the work of your wise men, and your priests, and your preachers, who tell you that, “Peace and safety,” are one of the signs of Christ’s second coming. This generation shall not pass away until Jesus is seen coming on the clouds of heaven (upon the disobedient nations, like labor pains on one who is pregnant), in glory, “with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let all remember that the Latter-day Saints will not be annihilated from off the earth, but they will increase more and more, until they fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord; for God has said that through the mouth of 66 ZION’S TRUMPET. his ancient prophets, and He has repeated it from heaven in this age. Therefore, peoples of the earth, consider what you are doing, lest you are found fighting against God. I have preached the gospel at the expense of the Saints, to the Saints and to the world; and because I have followed the counsel that was given me, the Lord has prospered me in all things. I shall never forget the great kindness I have received from the dear Saints, and from lovely friends; I shall pray for you in the high places of Zion. I wish for everyone in the priesthood to flee from evil, and be an influence on one another, and lift one another up, not in each other’s presence, rather in each other’s absence. He who wishes to be lifted up, let him let up his brother; and let no one think that he will lose his own influence, by giving influence to his brethren. He who lowers himself, shall be lifted up; and he who lifts himself up, shall be brought down. Let all listen to the voice of his president in the true priesthood, especially to the President of the Welsh Conferences and his counselors; follow their counsel in the face of all things, and the Lord will prosper you spiritually and temporally, in his own good time. Dear Saints, be eager to follow all the counsel given you by the true priesthood; do your best to roll forth the work of God, in the midst of all distress and poverty, and you will be delivered from Babylon in the good time of our God, and may you be rewarded an hundredfold in this world, and with eternal life in the world to come, if you continue faithful to the end. Dear Saints and friends, farewell to you now, I am going to sail across the great ocean, To go to Zion, where my God says, The righteous will be kept safely alive. O farewell, I go, expecting some day, To see you in Zion as a family together. Dear Saints and friends, I bid you a hearty farewell, O follow the counsels you have been given; And diligently perform your duty always, And come to Zion in great hosts; O farewell, I go, expecting some day, To see you in Zion as a family together. Yours in Christ, Liverpool, Feb. 9, 1852. Eliezer Edwards. ZION’S TRUMPET. 67

DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING FOR THE PRESS. [From the “Caledfryn Grammar.”]

When writing for the Press one should refrain from putting the lines too close together. And where haste is required, on the part of the Printer, it is better to refrain from writing on both sides of the paper; thus it will be easier to divide the copy among the Typesetters to get the work out sooner. To better facilitate cutting the paper from moderate sizes; namely, each four-fold sheet to four pieces; and the long sheet to eight pieces. Put the number 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., either in the upper left corner, or at the bottom. Some prefer the number at the bottom of the paper, and string can be put through the upper corner at the left to keep the pieces together. If the young student does not understand the punctuation system well, leave that to the Printer. But it must be remembered that each sentence should begin with a capital letter; also with every quotation from the work of some other author. Take particular care to write clearly all words pertaining to the arts and sciences; also all names of men and places. Draw a line under each word that is to be in Italics—and if it is wished to have words in capital letters, draw two lines to have the words in small capital letters, and three lines to have the larger capital letters. But the fewer of them to be used the better it is for the author himself as well as for the printer. If it is wished to make two or three Paragraphs from one that may be written rather long, put at the end of the sentence, where the separation is to be, back-to-back Brackets like this ] [ . Then the change can be made without additional trouble. Avoid putting many reference notes at the bottom of the leaves, although they are used by authors of renown. Besides making the work of the Printer more costly, they are annoying to the reader. If lengthy and detailed explanations are needed for some things that are in the body of the work, put them at the end of the book with each other. If the Typesetters are not well acquainted with the manuscript, the author needs to make considerable effort to write clearly. Clarity is all that is required. 68 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Draw a line around everything that is not to be printed; that will save much confusion and trouble. If one wishes for his name to appear through the press, write it carefully to avoid mistakes.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Do not marry except for love; but see that you love only someone who is comely. The three things a wife should be, and the three things a wife should not be— A wife should keep her time, similar to the way the town clock does, But she should never allow all to hear her as they do. The wife should, like the snail, stay close to her home, But she should not carry it on her back, like the snail, day or night. She should be like the echo stone, answering when asked something, But she should not insist on having the last word, as does the echo stone without fail. t. h.

Payments from Feb. 6 to Feb. 19.—Monmouthshire, £4; Carmarthenshire, £19; West Glamorgan, £1 18s; Pembrokeshire, £1; Dyffryn Conwy, £1 11s; Dowlais, £1 6s 0½c; Aberaman, £1 13s 6c; Pontytypridd, £1 11s 2c; Cwmbach, £1 10s; Georgetown, £1 3s; Merthyr, £2—Total, £36 12s 8½c. Book of Mormon.—We wish to notify the distributors of the Book of Mormon that the profit of the 20th segment to the last, will be the same as for the Trumpet; and on the whole, the profit for the Welsh Book of Mormon, for all the distributors, will be more than that for the English one. “E. J.”—It is better for him to pay twopence postage for his orders, and send his full name, before waiting for answers. “T. D.”—We know of no better Welsh newspaper than the Star of Wales, which is published in Carmarthen; if you wish our advice, subscribe to that one. “Short of Understanding.”—Asks for an explanation of Acts iii, 22,— “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” (See also Deut. xviii, 15.) The prophet that is meant is Jesus Christ, and no one else, as is seen from Acts iii, 20—22. We hope that there is no one so dull as to think that it refers to Joseph Smith; for he was not raised up “from your brethren” (namely the Jews), rather from the gentiles. Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 5.] MARCH 6, 1852. [VOL. I V.

OFFICE OF COUNSELOR.

[From the “Millennial Star.”]

Inasmuch as the following question has been asked us, we have answered it in this public manner, that all who are interested in it may avail themselves of the information given. “What is the office of a Counselor? If a Counselor in a Branch or a Conference does not agree with the President and the other Counselor, concerning some things, is it lawful for them to be passed without his consent, provided he is called responsible in part for what is transacted by the Presidency thereof ? Ought the case to be decided by higher authorities, or not?” Answer.—The office of a Counselor to a President in the Church is to stand united with him in all the affairs of the Church which he is called to preside over, that they may be one—The Presidency; to confer with him and impart to him any and all information which can have a bearing upon the interest of the work entrusted to his charge, that he (the Counselor) may be in possession of; to suggest any and all measures to the President which may appear profitable or advantageous to the cause; and to render him such aid as may be necessary to carry out his decisions by counseling, preaching, writing, printing, and all other proper means. It is sometimes the case that a President, after hearing the views and feelings of his Counselors upon the subject or subjects which they may have under consideration, receives the word of the Lord by the Holy Spirit, and altogether differs from either or 5 70 ZION’S TRUMPET. both of them, and presents the subject in a far more exalted point of view than had been previously contemplated; then, if his Counselors are one in the spirit of the Gospel, they hail with gladness the heavenly counsel, and feel that in deed and in truth he is as much their President as he is the President of the people. This is the nature and power of the calling of a President in the Holy Priesthood,—he is to preside over himself, his Counselors, and his people. He is the head: his Counselors, like the arms, administer aid, nourishment, and support, that the head may be in the best possible condition to receive the revelations of the Spirit, and thereby know what is for the salvation of the whole body; then the arms and hands can extend abroad, and administer those blessings to any and all parts of the body, as the nature of the case may require, that all the members thereof may abound in life and health. If any Counselor should feel unwilling to bear the responsibilities of his calling, he can, of course, decline to serve; and should he feel the decisions of his President to be unrighteous, he could appeal to higher authority in the Church for a decision thereon. It is, therefore, lawful for a President to decide as the wisdom of the Holy Spirit shall dictate to him, if one of his Counselors should dissent from his views.

WELSH PSALM. O, Lord, guide my mind in thoughts of thy great goodness, and thy matchless love for the inhabitants of the earth. Lift my heart above the transient things of the earth, to feel those things that are the text of the angels’ songs. Thou, my soul, will be obedient to be guided along the paths of righteousness, and not to give too much of thy attention to the things that are going by. The world and its present majesty will end; therefore, my soul, consider the glory of the world to come, and the happiness of those who do the will of the Lord. O, how foolish are men to position their mind to obey the devil, and neglect the commandments of God, which bring continual peace to their bosoms. ZION’S TRUMPET. 71

O Lord, and my Father from above, guide me to value thy words, and to delight in the fulfillment of thy will; let the fear of men be far from me, and let thy fear cling to my breast. Let the light of thy gospel shine before my eyes, like the white through the mist of darkness of the world, and I shall direct my footsteps towards Zion, the dwelling place of the pure in heart, and the city of God. The glory and splendor of Babylon are loathsome to my soul, and I long for a better land, which comes out of her midst. I weary of her society, and I prefer to leave her borders. Therefore, O eternal Father, reach out thy arm to the feeble, to the poor and the troubled, and bring them safely across: for who like thee will keep us as we traverse the sea, and in the midst of the dangers of the rivers. Thou dost govern all things, and all the elements delight in obeying thee, and bringing to pass thy purposes. O Lord, save thy people to a place of safety, where they may be hidden from the tempest that is about to beset the wicked. Stand on the right hand of thy children, and reveal thine arm in their behalf, so the Gentiles may see and marvel. I shall keep thy word of wisdom, and I shall await thy promised blessings: I know that the Lord fails not to fulfill his word, to those who keep his commandments. Teach wisdom to thy servant, so that he may be wise to do good; and increase his knowledge, so that he may show others the clear way to God. Do not permit, O Lord, thy Spirit to be absent from my temple, rather let my soul be guided continually, and do not permit the darkness of the world to have place in me. I delight to write thy word, and proclaim the good news of Zion in the land of my birth. Pearls of great price has the Lord given to me in my hands, and through his help I have shown them in a new color. The Lord be praised for remembering us in time, before the evil day. O, Saints, sing melodious praise, for the Lord has been merciful to our nation: he extended brilliant light in the day of the blackest darkness; and he has redeemed thousands from the kingdom of the devil, to the freedom of the inhabitants of Zion. Let my soul rejoice eternally in the salvation of my God, and let all join to praise the Almighty. 72 ZION’S TRUMPET.

THE HIDDEN GOSPEL. “If our gospel be hid,” says the Apostle Paul, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. iv, 3). It is not a common thing for the gospel, to be accused of being hidden. The majority in every age have failed to find satisfaction in it, because it does not make itself sufficiently evident to the world. The gospel is the power of God, and because the power of God is completely different from the power of men, the gospel is hidden to multitudes, and they cannot discern it. How many men have been blinded by the god of this world, so that it cannot lead them to the light of the gospel of Christ! Millions of people are groping in the darkness, in the kingdom of the devil, and consequently know nothing about the nature of the light of the gospel; and when something is mentioned to them about the gospel of Christ in its simplicity, it appears to them to be a hidden gospel. They think that there should be no secrets associated with the gospel of this age, or no power of God; and when the gospel of the power of God is preached to them, they say that they should be able to see signs, because such a gospel is hidden. Now, the gospel is hidden, but it is not hidden to those who are in the light, rather to those who are lost, and they have been blinded by the god of this world. Had men not been blinded to such an extent, the gospel would not be so hidden to them. They judge everything by the forms of religion which they have embraced; and if everything that pertains to the gospel of Christ does not meet their expectations, they condemn it as a hidden gospel, professing that which has never been revealed, or given proof of. But thanks be to God, there is no reason for anyone to despair of ever receiving the hidden gospel. All who wish to do the will of God, can come out from the midst of their darkness, for God is sending out his servants to instruct such as to how they can come to the hidden gospel, so they may perceive the radiance of the kingdom of light, where the gospel is not hidden to anyone. The world cannot receive the Spirit of God until they enter in through the strait gate like little children, namely through baptism for the remission of sins; and thus they cannot comprehend the power of God, which is the ZION’S TRUMPET. 73 hidden gospel. But to whoever comes with integrity of heart seeking the truth, the straight path is open before him, and he will be led into the kingdom of light, and into possession of the gospel of the power of God, which will not be hidden to him as long as he continues in faithfulness to the end. To him is the promise of the “manifestation of the Holy Ghost,” which will testify the truth of religion more effectively than all the miracles of the world. No wonder that the gospel of Christ was persecuted in ancient times, and in modern times, for it is lost to all who are lost, who do not want the truth. No one can find the truth, except he be honest in his heart; and without this honesty, it is impossible to take hold of the light, or of the hidden gospel. Therefore, whoever wishes in his heart to possess the truth, let him repent with haste, and let him receive his baptism for the remission of sins, and then he will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will manifest to him the power of God, or the hidden gospel, so that his soul may rejoice in the salvation of his God.

EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN WALES.

Beloved Saints,—I have had a great desire to be with you myself in the Districts and Branches, and no doubt you long to see me and hear my voice, but not more than I long for your association. The work of God is great and the time is short. I have been so busy lately with various things pertaining to the Church, that it has hardly been possible for me to get out of my house, because so many letters have come from various places, namely from America, Liverpool, &c., together with the various Welsh Districts, letters which need to be answered at once. May the will of God be done; if he sees that in this manner I should do most of the work and serve at the present time, let my brothers and sisters say Amen. I hope that the Lord will open my way to get to see you all before the end of next summer. Brother Davis has also been very busy translating the Book of Mormon; and this glorious book will be finished by the 25th of next April; and we invite all the Welsh Conference Presidents to Merthyr by that time 74 ZION’S TRUMPET. if their conditions allow. Brother Pugh is also up to his ears in work, and is going along successfully. Brothers Eliezer Edwards and Henry Evans have gone to Zion with a small company of Welsh Saints; and may these good men enjoy the land, with the eternal songs in their minds, together with all the faithful who have gone with them. There are 57 Saints from Wales who have emigrated this year through the help of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. You can see by this that the prophecies of our enemies have been proved false; and next spring we intend to send a few of the faithful poor from each Conference in Wales; but how many, we cannot say as yet. That depends on the faithfulness of the Conferences, and by their fruits they will be known. Oh, you who are rich and have been enlightened by the light of the Gospel, and have come to a knowledge that the Kingdom of God has been established for the last time on the earth, listen to the sighs of the widows and the orphans, the poor and the needy, &c., who night and morning pray to God to deliver them from their troubles and gain redemption in Zion; and listen to the voice of God who tells you to lay up your treasures in this Fund; and if you do so, an even better treasure awaits you in heaven; and you will be blessed forever in the Kingdom of Emmanuel. Listen to the voice of the Spirit which tells these things to you. Hundreds have already begun at the expense of this Fund, and they bless the name of God today, for arranging such an excellent plan as this fund to transport them over to Zion; therefore, strive, rich and poor, and everyone in this church to accomplish the purposes of God in this matter, and in every other matter. Strive, brethren. Great persecutions are rising up on every side of us, and the judgments of God also are drawing nigh, and may you all keep the “Word of Wisdom.” I do not have faith that even one officer in this Church can be successful if he opposes all the important instructions which are on this matter. There has been much debate among the Saints concerning the Word of Wisdom; one says that it is a commandment; no, says another; it is something between a counsel and a commandment (and which ZION’S TRUMPET. 75 it is, I do not know); I judge that it is a counsel, says another: and there is another in the tavern, his pipe in his mouth, with one leg crossed over the other, and his pint of beer in front of him, who says, “I judge that it is not even a counsel.” And in the face of all these things, God has come to end the debate, and has said that it is a commandment; and now let that be the end of all idle talk in your midst. Summer is coming, and this is an opportunity for the priests to resume their work in connection with preaching outside, &c., in places where there are no rooms; and we wish for all the Elders whose circumstances permit, to go out to the towns and the villages, and to the land round about, to save the souls of their fellowmen, and to establish Churches; remember that this is the best season we can get in Babylon, and may the Conference Presidents see to it that this is carried forth. A few counsels yet on the duties of the various offices:— Duties of the Deacons.—They are to assist the Teachers, and look into the circumstances of the Saints, such as poverty, &c.; and they have the right, on the other hand, to see that no one wastes, &c., and take care that all the poverty is justifiable poverty, and worthy of assistance. The Duties of the Teachers are to visit the homes of the members frequently, and take care that no evil is being carried forth in their midst, to teach them to be godly, and to show righteous deeds before the world. The Duties of the Priests are to visit the homes of the members, to ask them if they are praying in public and in private, and bring to their minds the principles of the Gospel, so that they can see that they are in the faith, &c. The Duties of the Elders are to visit the homes of the members, remind them that by the laying on of hands of the elders they can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, &c., and to leave home to preach, and let the Priests preach around home; and when anything is out of place between the members, let the Elders and the Priests recognize that it is not their office to settle the matter, rather they should leave 76 ZION’S TRUMPET. that to the Teachers, and the Deacons to help them if there is a need. And may you strive to minister in your offices, so that God will be glorified through you, and that the Church will be benefited and edified; and may God bless you to this end, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. W. S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr Tydfil.

REMARKS OF W. GIBSON ON THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[Continued from page 47.] I shall now take a look at some other things recorded in the Book of Mormon. On page 46, we are told that the ancient inhabitants of America were acquainted with the writings of Moses and the prophets, for Nephi says:—“And I did read many things unto them, which were written in the Books of Moses, but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer, I did read unto them that which is written by the prophet Isaiah.” On page 11, we read that these writings were taken with them from the land of Jerusalem, and contained the five Books of Moses, and the writings of the prophets, till the days of Zedekiah. Compare this with the following. Mr. C. Colton, in the work already referred to, speaking of their sacrifices, says, “On certain occasions the victim must not only be white, but a single colored hair, or a blemish of any sort would be sufficient to condemn it.” He also says that while they sing and dance around the sacrifices, the Hebrew sacred name of Je-ho-vah can be plainly distinguished, and they have also the Hebrew A-la-heem, in substantial forms, applicable to the Great Spirit, and in their sacred songs Ha-le-lu-jah is often heard as perfectly as in any Christian choir; they have also a sacred vessel, or Ark of the Covenant, which is employed on some occasions, and is regarded with the most religious veneration. In the discourse of M. Noah, on the evidences of the American Indians being descendants of the lost ten tribes of Israel, published in New York, in 1837, we find him quoting among others the ZION’S TRUMPET. 77 following authors. Mr. Adair, who after giving a number of Hebrew words in use among them, says:—“The Indians have their prophets, and high priests, the same as the Jews had, not hastily selected, but chosen with caution from the most wise and discreet; and they ordain their high priests by anointing, and have a most holy place in their sanctuaries like the holy of holies in the temple. The chief magician, or the high priest, wears in resemblance to the ancient breastplate, (a white conch shell), ornamented so as to resemble the precious stones in the Urim, and instead of the golden plate worn by the Levite on his forehead, the Indian binds his brow with a wreath of swans feathers, and wears a tuft of white feathers which he calls Yatira. The Indians have their Ark, which they invariably carry to battle with them, well guarded. It is also worthy of notice that they never place the Ark on the ground; on hilly ground, where large stones are plenty, they rest it thereon; but on level prairies, on short logs, on which they also seat themselves.” This statement of Mr. Adair in relation to the Ark, is corroborated by several travelers. Major Long, a more recent traveler, in his expedition to the Rocky Mountains, says in relation to the Ark, “it is placed upon a stand, is never suffered to touch the ground. Tradition informs them that curiosity induced three different persons to examine the mysterious shell, who were immediately punished for their profanation with constant blindness.” This, then is corroborative testimony that the Indians were acquainted with the law of Moses, and to show that they had also some knowledge of the New Testament, I quote the following from a work printed in London 200 years ago, by one Matthew Costerden, entitled Christianographie—“It seemeth that the Americans had some knowledge of Christ before the coming of the Spaniards. Francis Lopez de Comora writes, that the people there honored the cross. I read also in Postel that a certain Quezel Covatsian, clothed with white garment, covered with red crosses, preached the fear of one God, and that there should be a retribution of everlasting punishment and reward after this life.” Gomora, in his history of the Indians, describing the conference of Nicaragua with Gil Goncales, introduced this chief as putting a 78 ZION’S TRUMPET. variety of questions to the Spaniards. He inquired if the Christians were acquainted with the great deluge which had swallowed up the earth, men, and animals? Whether the earth was to be revolutionized, or the firmament to remove, what was the honor due to the triune God, where souls go after death, and what would be their occupation? The next thing I shall notice is that the Book of Mormon gives an account of the two distinct races of people who inhabited the American continent; the first a people who came from the Tower of Babel, and the other a part of the seed of Jacob, who came from Jerusalem, in the days of Zedekiah, king of Judah. M. Noah, in his discourse on the origin of the American Indians, after endeavoring to prove the present Indians descendants of Israel, declares that some of the ancient ruins found there must be the work of another people; he says:—“But who were the Tultequans and Azeteques, the founders of this empire in America? Who built the Pyramids of Cholula and city of Palenque? Not the Jews. Here we have a most singular diversion from the path on which we originally set out, (that was to prove the Indians Israelites); another most extraordinary discovery, marked too by events no less extraordinary than amazing.” Here, again, the testimony of the Book of Mormon is corroborated. In the Book of Mormon, from page 503 to 509, we have an account of a wicked and idolatrous race, who sacrificed women and children unto their idols, and of the destruction by them of an entire nation, from the earth by war. In corroboration of this I will give an extract from the “New York Sun,” of June 8th, 1848. “Yucatan is the grave of a great nation that has mysteriously passed away, and left behind no history. Every forest embosoms the remains of vast temples, sculptured over with the symbols of a lost creed, and noble cities whose stately palaces and causeways attest, in their mournful abandonment, the colossal grandeur of their builders. They are the tombs of an illustrious race, but they bear neither name nor epitaph. The particular awe with which the Indian avoids them, as he relates the confused tradition of the whole people extinguished in blood and fire by his forefathers—a ferocious and cannibal race, delighting in human sacrifices—are all ZION’S TRUMPET. 79 that even conjecture can say of the manner in which the ancient occupants of Yucatan were blotted, en masse, from the page of existence.” In the Book of Mormon, page 501, we find that the place where the cities stood, and where this people were exterminated, is said to be the narrow pass that led to the land southward (or that divides North and South America); now look to your maps, and you will there find Yucatan, where the ruins of these cities still are found, and where according to this extract from the New York Sun, Indian tradition still confirms the truth of the Book of Mormon, on the 346th page of the Book of Mormon, we find an account of their manner of fortifying their cities. “And it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites, for he caused that they would commence digging up heaps of earth, round about all the cities throughout all the land possessed by the Nephites.” By reading the next page, you will find that the cities here spoken of, as being thus fortified, were in North America. I shall now give an extract from a work on American antiquities, by Josiah Priest, who, in speaking of these mounds, quotes the testimony of Mr. Breckenridge, who says, “These tumuli, as well as the fortifications, are to found at the junction of all the rivers along the Mississippi, in the most eligible positions for towns, and in the most extensive bodies of fertile land; their number exceeds, perhaps, three thousand; the smallest not less than twenty feet in height, and three hundred in circumference.” At the base, he says, further, “I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousand, have existed in this western country.” Thus, another part of the Book of Mormon is corroborated. On page 141 of the Book of Mormon, we read of a portion of the Nephites, (who were white) leaving their brethren, and going away by themselves; so that they were not destroyed, when the rest fell by the hands of the red men, the Lamanites. In an extract from the American Sun, of November 26, 1846, we are told that a work has been recently published, in which there is 80 ZION’S TRUMPET. a full account of a race of white savages, called Munchees, who are said to be actually in existence, in a valley among the Sierra Los Mimbors. Here, again, it is confirmed. The reader will perceive that a great number of these discoveries have been made and published after the Book of Mormon was in print; and every discovery that is made is another proof of its truth; and not one discovery has been made that contradicts a single statement that it contains; it agrees with them; it agrees with tradition; it agrees with reason; it agrees with the Bible; its prophecies are being fulfilled; its doctrines are pure; and thousands can testify that the Book of Mormon is true. For the benefit of the Saints, I may say that they will find many of the foregoing extracts more fully given in some of the former volumes of the “Millennial Star.” (To be continued.)

VERSES.

You, dear Welshmen, O come in peace To the kingdom of God, and we shall have a divine feast; To glorify the King of Heaven, We must become subjects unto Him. He calls on all mankind, Saying, Come to the kingdom of God, That is through his servants; thus he Undoubtedly gives revelation. O come to His kingdom quickly, You will be completely released for free; The Holy Ghost will be given you, In the same way that we have him. We speak with tongues, We have an interpretation through the same Spirit; The gift of Prophecy we have from Him, Our Father gives it to us from heaven. He imparts his word to us from heaven, From the earth also his voice has come, ZION’S TRUMPET. 81

For a long time this was hidden; But the time for it to be revealed has come. Let us all join in sounding praise, Our salvation has come; God is calling—hear his voice, For all to come into his kingdom. Let us all strive to be of the same mind, To bring all of the world to his kingdom; God wishes to see the world happy, Coming to follow Him openly. Magnify, O Saints, our privilege completely, By striving in this Church; Until we reach the end of our journey, We shall be rewarded according to our work. George Watkin.

KNOWLEDGE.

[Continued from page 59.]

Since knowledge is good in a temporal sense, it is much more so in a spiritual sense. Men have been taught that God exists, and that he is unchangeable, without a shadow of turning, and that they have souls that have coexisted with him throughout eternity, either in blessedness or in adversity, and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has been on the earth preparing the path or way, so that men can, by following it, reach the blessed heaven, and be redeemed from eternal misery, that unchangeable Jesus has testified of this path, that it is strait, and that there are few that find it, and of the other path that leads to destruction, and is wide, and there are many that walk along it. Now, when man sees his sinful state, he feels a desire to search for the strait path, which leads to life; and since he has heard that there is but one path, and that if he does not find it, that his life is in danger, what would be more of a blessing to the man, in this situation, than knowledge? I imagine seeing him on a Sabbath morning taking his journey to a nearby town, for the purpose of obtaining a guide to get him on the strait path. There he is drawing 82 ZION’S TRUMPET.

near to the door of some chapel, where he hears the preacher telling the sinners, “It does not make all that much difference which path you take, or which sect you join, to go to heaven, but go forth as you are guided by your conscience.” The poor fellow remembers the phrase, “Strait is the way,” turning away in sorrow. Hush, there he is listening to another preacher now, who says, “I believe and hope that sprinkling babies is proper, receiving the believers with the vote of the association into the kingdom.” Well, well, the poor fellow stands in surprise! and his face turns pale, for he remembers that which Jesus taught, “He who believes and is baptized,” and not, “He who is baptized and believes.” Where is he now? O, he is listening to a well-known man now, who is shouting frightfully, saying, “Some are chosen for blessedness, and others for suffering, unconditionally.” If the man was worried before, he is even worse now; but to his comfort he remembers Jesus’ invitation, “Come unto me, ye heavy laden.” Now, he listens to someone else, and who is the opposite of the previous ones, and who stands at the river’s edge, saying, “All must be baptized by immersion by us, to be saved;” and after asking the preacher and his followers, they do not know whether they are on the right path; and thus he is disappointed still more, until he is ready to sing like the old bard, “O for true religion, On the path as I go forward.” There is no need to describe his troubled feelings for the lack of knowledge, for every thinking man is, or has been tested in that regard. He is now coming near to some wretched-looking preacher, who is misunderstood by everyone, and he hears these words frequently in his sermon, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, now as in ancient times; and whoever becomes a disciple of Christ, will have knowledge of the teaching.” By this time, there is the man leaping for joy at hearing such glorious promises. There he is obeying; and by the laying on of hands, behold him receiving the Holy Ghost, yes, and receiving the knowledge that he and his brethren have the religion of God, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 83 that the whole world is lying in darkness. Now, the song has changed; instead of “O for true religion,” it says “Rejoice for true religion,” &c. O my soul, appreciate knowledge, for it is good. And those who argue against knowledge, argue against reason, against the scriptures, yes, and even against the Omniscient God. Georgetown, Merthyr. Thomas Harries.

GREETING.

Tune—“Men of Harlech.”

O that it were in my power To bring my old, dear friends, Together to worship together In the name of good Jesus, With one another without trouble, According to the manner of the perfect plan, And travel the waste lands together Toward the lovely land; Without any contention, Or perverse, stubborn arguments, Come without fear, and give a hand, Come with me doubting not; O if only you wished to inherit The Spirit of God, which is light; That would make you happy, Says our God and our Father. The pure in heart will receive Through the Spirit sweet blessings, In the true church of Christ continually, According to the worthy promise; May you believe correctly The sincere and pure words of Jesus, And give them your obedience, So that you may live; Then you will no doubt receive Lovely, sweet pleasures: Life is the Spirit of God, Which gives several gifts. O may you seriously consider What was given by our Savior, So that wretched and destitute men, Can come under the protection of God. David Evans. 84 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Le Livre de Mormon.—Elder J. Taylor has just presented each of the Presidency of the Welsh Conferences with a copy of the Book of Mormon in the French language. It has been brought through the press remarkably splendid, and it is divided into chapters and verses, similar to the Bible, but they are not as small and disconnected as they are in the Bible. There will be an opportunity to obtain the above soon from President Phillips, and no doubt many will wish to obtain it.

Emigration.—In the two shiploads of Saints that have just sailed from Liverpool, there are two hundred and fifty souls sent out by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund; and through the blessing of God, they are being taken across directly to the Valley and Great Salt Lake City. We are happy to see so many delivered to Zion, through the first effort of this fund; and this is only a few of the firstfruits. The latest ship to go out, namely the “Ellen Maria,” has carried Saints before; and it is going out this time under the presidency of Elder Isaac C. Haight, who is guiding the Saints to Kanesville, and then will return back to his labor in this land. Someone else will lead them from there to the Valley. With this company brother Eliezer Edwards and brother Henry Evans sailed, together with some of the Conference Presidents in England. The same afternoon the “Ellen Maria” went out, nine Saints from Denmark and Switzerland arrived, on their way to America, in hopes of being in time to go with the above ship. At present we can see that the nations of the earth are beginning to go up to Zion, on the sides of the north, to worship God. English, Welsh, French, Danes, Swedes, Germans, and others, have begun their journey toward the far west, to share in the blessings of the Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains.

Conferences.—There will be a Conference of the Breconshire Conference, in Waunhelygen, on the 4th of April; Monmouthshire, in Tredegar, on the 11th; West Glamorgan, in Swansea, on the 18th; East Glamorgan, in Merthyr, on the 25th; Carmarthenshire, in Llanelli, on the 2nd of May; Cardiganshire, on the 9th; North Pembroke, on the 16th; South Pembroke, on the 23rd. Payments from Feb. 20 to March 4.—Monmouthshire, £2; Breconshire, £1 12s 6c; Cardiganshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £3 1s; Anglesey, 14s 6c; Denbighshire, £1 5s; Dinas, 13s 7½c; Pontytypridd, 11s; Gog, 3s 6c; Rhymney, 16s; Merthyr, £1 5s; Pendaren, 19s 3c; Ynysgau, 2s 6c; Gostwng, 6s.—Total, £15 9s 10½c.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 6.] MARCH 20, 1852. [VOL. I V.

SAINTS OF GOD VERSUS THE WORLD. BY F. D. RICHARDS.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.—Jesus Christ. Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”—James IV, 4.

The most cursory student of the history of the people of God, must be aware of the unceasing hostility that ever has been manifested towards them by the world. This is one of the most prominent traits by which the Saints of God can be distinguished from the multitudinous religionists by whom they may be surrounded. If an hundred kinds of religion are taught, the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err in regard to which is the right one. It is that religion which is least fashionable—least popular. Seek not the true religion and the true servants of God amongst the giddy multitude. “That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God,”—Luke xvi, 15. So said the Savior. Again, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,”—Matt. vii, 13, 14. The 6 86 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Saints of God and the true religion have ever been exiles from the fashionable world. They have never been popular since Satan has had dominion upon this earth, and they never will be popular until wickedness is swept off the face of the earth, and Satan is bound that he cannot tempt the children of men. The Church of God is then that people who are “every where spoken against.” St. Paul said, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,”—2 Tim. iii, 12. The godly of all ages and dispensations can testify that this is true. They know from bitter experience that the world hates them even unto the death. A man greater than Paul once said to his disciples, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. * * * The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”—Matt. x, 22, 24, 25. Again, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent me,”—John xv, 18–21. The above are sayings and prophesyings upon principle. But suppose we come to matter of fact. We can give Asiatic Scripture facts, and American Scripture facts, and facts from personal experience, in illustration of the principle in question. Two witnesses are better than one, but by the mouths of three witnesses shall every word be established. We will have the Bible as first witness. The Lord had respect unto Abel for his righteousness, and this excited the enmity of his brother Cain, who being a wicked man, rose up in anger and slew Abel. Gen. iv. ZION’S TRUMPET. 87

The soul of righteous Lot was vexed from day to day with the filthy conversation of the wicked, and so exceedingly hostile were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah to God, truth, revelation, and righteousness, that angels could not stay one night in those cities without an attempt to maltreat and abuse them. Gen. xix. The pure-minded Joseph, because he obtained knowledge from God by dreams, &c., was cruelly exiled from his native country, and his father’s house, and sold into the hands of strangers; and because he would not yield his body to licentiousness, he was thrown into prison, and narrowly escaped with his life. Gen. xxxvii, and xxxix. David was hunted by king Saul like a beast of the forest. 1 Sam. xix to xxvii. The Benjamite princes cast Jeremiah into a loathsome dungeon, and withheld food from him. Jer. xxxvii and xxxviii. The ungodly Chaldeans sought to take away the life of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Dan. iii. The proud Medo-Persian presidents and princes endeavored to overthrow Daniel, and by a wily stratagem caused him to be cast into a den of lions. Dan. vi. The wicked Haman sought to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews that feared God. Esther iii. v, and vi. John the Baptist was rejected by the Pharisees and lawyers, imprisoned by Herod, and finally beheaded at the instigation of Herodias. Mark vi. Jesus Christ was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” When near two years old, Herod gave commandment that he should be slain. But he escaped unhurt. Matt. ii. He was continually watched by long-faced Pharisees, high priests, and elders, who eagerly sought every opportunity to make him an offender for a word. They charged him with casting out devils. Matt. xii. 24. Respectable and devout people, generally speaking, refused to associate with him. He was under the necessity of mixing with the lower class of society, and for this he was termed “a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” Matt. xi. 19. Frequently he had not where to lay his head, passing the nights in the open air. At length he was 88 ZION’S TRUMPET.

betrayed by a kiss, apprehended, arraigned before Pontius Pilate, and falsely accused of various real or pretended crimes. No fault was found in him. But the people cried—“Let him be crucified.” He was then scourged and delivered to be crucified. The Roman soldiers stripped him, arrayed him in a scarlet robe, platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and in mock submission bowed their knees, and cried, “Hail, King of the Jews!” After this, they stripped him of the scarlet robe, spat upon him, smote him, gave him vinegar mingled with gall to drink, and crucified him under the accusation—“This is Jesus, The King of the Jews.” Matt. xxvii. Stephen was taken before the elders and scribes, charged with blasphemy and treason, cast out of the city and stoned to death. Acts vi. and vii. Paul was imprisoned and arraigned before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. Acts xxiv. to xxvi. He was stoned once, beaten with rods thrice, and scourged five times. 2 Cor. xi. The ancient Saints were persecuted very severely. They were tortured, mocked, scourged, bound, imprisoned, stoned, sawn asunder, and slain with the sword; they wandered about in deserts and mountains, took refuge in caves of the earth, dressed in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented. Heb. xi. The Book of Mormon, second witness. The prophet Ether was esteemed as naught by the people, and was cast out from among them. He hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, where he finished his record. At night he used to go out to view the destructions which came upon the people in consequence of their wickedness. Page 543, second European edition. Nephi’s brethren conspired against him, and bound him with cords, that he might be left in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts. By the power of God he burst his bonds, and the hearts of his brethren were softened for a time. Page 13. But they hated him for his righteousness, and finally sought to take away his life, insomuch that he was obliged to flee with his family and friends into the wilderness. Page 65. ZION’S TRUMPET. 89

King Noah caused Alma to be cast out, and sent his servants after him for to slay him, because he pleaded for the prophet Abinadi. But Alma escaped. Page 179. Abinadi was bound and cast into prison, for declaring a Messiah would come. He was scourged with faggots, led to the stake, and suffered martyrdom, because he would not recant. Page 179. The aged Gideon was slain with the sword for the word of the Lord. Page 210. Alma and Amulek were bound with cords, stoned, smitten, imprisoned, and denied sufficient sustenance, whilst many of their brethren and sisters were most cruelly cast into the fire and burned to death. Page 249. (To be continued.)

KEY TO THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN.

BY JOSEPH SMITH.

Question.—What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, in the fourth chapter, and the sixth verse of the Revelation? Answer.—It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state. Q.—What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse? A.—They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing heaven, the Paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created. Q.—Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders? A.—They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity. 90 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Q.—What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had? A.—Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, &c. Q.—What are we to understand by the four and twenty elders, spoken of by John? A.—We are to understand that these elders whom John saw, were elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the seven churches,—and were then in the Paradise of God. Q.—What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A.—We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence. Q.—What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed? A.—We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh. Q.—What are we to understand by the four angels, spoken of in the 7th chapter, and 1st verse of Revelation? A.—We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness. Q.—What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse? A.—We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their hearts. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather ZION’S TRUMPET. 91 together the tribes of Israel and restore all things. Q.—What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished? A.—They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousand years, or the opening of the sixth seal. Q.—What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe? A.—We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn. Q.—What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelation? A.—We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years;—the preparing of the way before the time of his coming. Q.—When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelation? A.—They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ. Q.—What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation? A.—We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things. Q.—What are we to understand by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation? 92 ZION’S TRUMPET.

A.—They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers. [Out of the “Pearl of Great Price.”]

COUNSELS ABOUT SINGING.

For quite some time now we have been thinking about giving a few bits of counsel to the Saints about singing, and at present we shall offer them as we write them. 1. Remember always to be directed in singing, as well as in all other things; and even though not every director is a good singer, yet he has the Spirit which is to govern all things the Saints do under his care. 2. Remember as you sing to give the glory to God, instead of taking it for yourself. 3. Take care to sing for the edification of one another, and the edification all who hear you; “give with the tongue understandable speech,” and do not drown the sense, by trying to sing too many voices. If there is too much singing of different things at the same time, it is difficult to understand what is sung; therefore, all the better the simpler the tunes are, so that all may understand. 4. Take care that the hymn to be sung is read out loud, or at least be sure to say where it is in the book, and read the first line, so that all may unite in the song. It is a pity to see more than half the congregation failing to get hold of what is to be sung. 5. Remember that singing is not something that belongs only to a handful of brethren. It is the duty of all who have a tongue to praise the Lord; therefore, all should endeavor to sing their best, in such a way as not to keep the leaders from singing. 6. Remember that the hymnals have been prepared for all the Saints, and all should bring them to the meetings, instead of leaving them at home idle. That would be a blessing for many, if for no other reason than learning to read. Looking at the hymnals each time there is singing, is far more effective than morning Sunday school, for learning to read. ZION’S TRUMPET. 93

7. Do not make too much use of tunes that are unfamiliar, especially those that generally cause the congregation to laugh when they hear them: see that the praise fulfills its purpose, so that all receive benefit, and not amusement. 8. Do not assume that because general singing is encouraged, that no one is encouraged to sing on his own; no, let whoever has an ode or a psalm, sing it at the appropriate time, so that by doing so the church may be edified. 9. If you have some musical instrument, it would be very helpful; but see that it is not too loud, drowning out the words that are sung. Another thing that drowns out the words, is for the singers to sing across each other, and across the hymnals. 10. Make use of the foregoing until you receive more.

THE WORD OF GOD.

The word of God, how important is it? It is so important, that the human race must keep it in order to be at peace with God, as the Lord Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” When the Lord speaks his word to man, he expects to receive complete obedience to it. Men of this age say that the word of God is important, but that it is a great task to get them to believe that it is by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God that men shall live.” But I understand, when I read the scriptures, that the Lord has a broad view on every word that he speaks. Looking back as early as our father Adam, the Lord spoke his word to him, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” There God has spoken his word, and if he were to speak like that to the believers of this age, they would explain his word, as the devil did, saying, “It is not reasonable to think that God intends to condemn man, if he were to do something as inconsequential as just eating the fruit of the tree; God is a merciful being, &c.” But how was it? was God indifferent concerning the word he spoke? Oh no, as surely as Adam transgressed, God kept his word: “God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of 94 ZION’S TRUMPET. man, that he should repent.” God frequently spoke his word to the children of Israel; and when they lived according to this word, the blessing of Most High was on them; but, on the other hand, when they refused to live and keep the word of God, famine, pestilence, and death reigned in the midst. When God gave a commandment to build the ark, we can see that he expected Noah to make the ark completely according to the pattern he gave him. He did not tell him to make the ark however Noah wished; Oh, no, totally different. What, could not Noah choose the wood? On, no, “Make thee an ark of Gopher wood,” said God. But of course Noah could make his own plan, could he not? Oh, no, “rooms shalt thou make in the ark.” What else? “and thou shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” Well, could Noah choose the length of the ark, its breadth, and its height? None of that either. “The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits;” and he even said, “A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above;” and he could not put the door except in the place God told him, namely “the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof.” And God told him to take with him to the ark “fowls, cattle, and creeping things after their kind; not the number that Noah chose, but “two of every sort.” “Thus did Noah;” you see, “according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” And then God was so pleased with him, that he told him, “Thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Now, we see, since God does not speak vain words, that he expected to have complete obedience to his word in all that he spoke; and by Noah’s keeping all God’s word, he “became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Neither the servants nor the children of God get their own plan, but as the Lord directs them; “for he will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” If only God would speak his word in this age to many men, as he spoke anciently to the leader Moses, they would be ready to shout, “This is an hard saying, and who can bear it?” Well, what was that? We can answer, in order to show the importance of the word of God, together with the manner in which he carries his work forward in every age and dispensation, so that no one will feel a burden in hearing the law, or the word of the Lord, being declared. God wished for the sons of ZION’S TRUMPET. 95

Israel to make an ark (namely the ark of the covenant), and for that purpose he spoke the word to Moses, which was, to “take an offering of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart,” which was “gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” What if the Lord were to speak like that in this age to the churches of men, what reception do you, reader, think these words would have from them? Whatever of that, they had to be fulfilled, before God would be pleased; and if you read Exodus xxv, and xxvi, you will see greater details of that; the success of the children of Israel depended on their obedience to all of these commandments. We could note hosts of blessings that were for the children of God in connection with their obedience to the word of God, and the curses that came by breaking it. When God revealed his word to Jonah to go to Ninevah to preach, Jonah thought the word was too much to fulfill; he thought the word was not all that important; Jonah decided to go to Tarsus according to his own will, instead of to Ninevah, according to the word of God. But what was the result? Oh, poor Jonah saw, to his sorrow, that it is a terrible thing to go against the word of great God, because, “the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” And Oh, who can describe the feelings of Jonah when he awoke from his sleep. This was a witness to him and to the others, that it is a terrible thing to go against the word of the Almighty God. Now, dear reader, how much importance do you attach to the word of God? have you begun to obey his word? His word is not the thoughts or the ways of man; for he says, “My ways are not your ways,” as if speaking to learned men or theologians, “and your thoughts are not my thoughts.” Well, what is his word to me? First, believe in Jesus Christ; second, repent of your sins; third, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. What is that? It is the word of God. Oh, those words are not all that important; God is not so unmerciful as to condemn me for failing to obey things so small. So small, is it? How 96 ZION’S TRUMPET. much smaller are they than eating the fruit of the tree? The one and the other are the word of God. “I cannot believe,” says one man, “that I need to believe before being baptized, &c.” There is as much need as there was for Noah to build the ark according to the pattern God gave to him. “Well, I shall go to some sect that is different from that, anyway.” Go, if you wish; but remember that by going you liken yourself to Jonah, poor thing, by going to one place, when God is directing you to another place; and remember that the consequence is important. “Is fulfilling the words you have indicated sufficient for me to be acceptable before God?” That is but the beginning of the sayings of God; not by part of God’s word shall man live, but by every word, not that has proceeded, but that will proceed out of the mouth of God. “Does he speak now as he did anciently?” Yes. “It is strange that I do not hear him.” You will hear him, as men anciently heard him. Men did not commonly hear the voice of the Lord directly, but “he revealed to his servants the prophets,” like Noah, Moses, &c.; they received the word, and they transmitted it to others. Thus it is also in this age. Remember, dear reader, that the word says, “I the Lord do not change.” “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” My wish is to have the privilege of striving with all the Saints to listen to the word of God, which is a thousand myriads more valuable than refined gold, and to be a faithful doer of that word. Georgetown, Merthyr. Thomas Harries.

THE WORD OF WISDOM.

Tune—“Rise of the Lark.” O hark, pure Saints, To this topic in song,— It is a word that all of us should remember; It is a warning to every level; The world tries to kill us, By deadly poison of every kind: Oh refuse tobacco, harmful, Loathsome to every kind of man, Fire-waters, fiery spirits, Strong liquors, lacking goodness; And coffee, tea, and wine, They are not good for man, says God. ZION’S TRUMPET. 97

Do not eat meat at every meal, For the sake of precious salvation, And strength and health for all the Saints: Each of us can walk, And run without wearying, Without any pain, or feeling faint; We shall have wisdom with ease, With God, keeping us together; We shall have treasures, understanding, Some that are very hidden from the world; Still for the benefit of the Saints; And also for their exalted privilege. And the angel, he shall see, Immediately when he comes, To cause a plague on mankind; Away, away shall he go, He will not do us any harm, He shall remember the commandment of God: Oh, therefore, let us remember to respect, All his requests together; To keep properly, not just in name, This word of wisdom still; And God by his grace in time, Will carry us all to his worthy Zion. Craig-ddu. John Richards.

LECTURES ON MIRACLES.

Perhaps many of our readers are aware that the Rev. J. Jones, Llangollen, has been delivering a number of lectures on the above topic in several places, and latest in Merthyr Tydfil, where we had the pleasure of listening to him, on the 25th of February, and on the 3rd and the 17th of March. The first lecture was reviewed, in Cymreigyddion Hall, by President W. Phillips, on the 2nd of March, and the second lecture by ourselves, in the same place, on the 9th and the 11th of March, before large congregations. Mr. Jones, in his lectures, attempted to gainsay the majority of the principles of the Saints, and as he delivered them he received every approval the world could give him; for the world loves its own. Among other things, Mr. Jones tried to prove what a miracle was—that God is its only author—that the magicians of Egypt did not work miracles—that no prophet was to come after the Great Prophet, namely Christ—that 98 ZION’S TRUMPET. the calling of the apostles was miraculous—that there were not more than twelve apostles, and that Paul, not Matthias, was in the place of Judas—that the miracles of Christ and the apostles were to prove their mission, and that miracles are not to be secret—that there were not more than two baptisms of the Holy Ghost, namely on the day of Pentecost, and in the house of Cornelius—that the baptism of the Spirit happens whether men were baptized or not—that there is no account of anyone ever praying for the spiritual gifts—that the Holy Ghost of the laying on of hands is not available now—that men who were guilty of special sins were to be anointed with oil and receive the laying on of hands—that if all could be healed, Trophimus would not have been left sick—that those special sins were condemnatory sins, namely deadly sins—that the man who was delivered to Satan (1 Cor. v, 1—5) called for the elders of the church,—that there is no one now, or after the destruction of Jerusalem, who is to be struck with judgment, and therefore does not need anointing, &c.—that the signs were not to follow except until the end of the world, namely the destruction of Jerusalem, which is the same “end of the world” in Heb. ix, 26—that Jesus Christ promised to be with his disciples until the destruction of Jerusalem, and that from that point forward the Holy Ghost was to be with them, and that Christ appeared to them until the destruction, and that the signs and miracles were to cease at that time;—that 1 Cor. xiii, 8—13, and Eph. Iv, 11—14, are definite verses for the ceasing of miracles—that that which is perfect is the scriptures, and consequently that that which is in part has ceased, &c. Now, these are the most particular things that Mr. Jones has discussed; and all of them, except the definite verses, have been disproved by the Saints. The definite verses under scrutiny will be the next thing for the Saints to focus on, if we dare to come out, for Mr. Jones threatens to treat us roughly if we come out again to oppose him. Mr. Jones boasts that he has conquered hosts before us, and that “it must be something in order to fell him.” We see that he is Goliath, and that we are little David the shepherd boy, who depends on his God, and on his sling. If we have support, we intend to publish a number of pamphlets on the above topics, as a way of reviewing the Lectures of Mr. Jones, together with the observations on the booklet of the Rev. J. Davies, Llanelli, on Miracles; but we must finish the Book of Mormon first; and we are happy to say that it will be finished toward the end of April. ZION’S TRUMPET. 99

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Journey to Great Salt Lake by way of New Orleans.—Liverpool to New Orleans, 5,000 miles, by sailing vessel, 8 weeks, 65s to 80s. New Orleans to St. Louis, 1,200 miles, by steamboat, 8 days, 8s. to 10s., provisions, 5s. to 10s. per head. St. Louis to Kanesville, Iowa, 900 miles, by steamboats, 12 days, 21s., provisions 20s per head. Kanesville to Great Salt Lake City, 1,031 miles, from 45 to 90 days; much depends on the strength of the team, and the weight of the load. A good four-wheeled wagon, and a pair of oxen, capable of taking a man and a woman and three or four children, with a load of from ten to fifteen hundred pounds across the great plains, together with plenty of provisions for the entire journey, will cost about £55.—H. Smith Evans’s Guide to Emigration Colonies. The Egyptians, in their feasts, in order to deter gluttony and drunkenness, would put the skeleton of a man up in the room, with these words above his head,—“Remember this is what you will be before long!”

An Appropriate Response.—As our brother Dr. L. Richards, a few days ago, was traveling on one of the South Wales railways, in the company of some responsible reverend, the reverend asked him, “Wasn’t Joseph Smith a fortune teller?” “Well, yes,” replied the Doctor; “for I myself heard him tell the fortune of people, by saying that if they would repent of their sins, and be baptized, they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Time, patience, and diligence are the three chief masters of the world,— they bring man all he wishes; but a murmuring and imprudent word often turns him from the path before reaching his objectives.

Visit to Merthyr.—The Saints here had the honor of the presence of President F. D. Richards in their midst Sunday and Monday nights the week before last. He arrived here by six Sunday night, and we had a most excellent meeting in the Cymreigyddion Hall, where Dr. Richards and he preached to the Saints. He said he did not intend to leave the country, without paying a visit to the Welsh Saints, which he considered such a good people. We had another meeting in Georgetown Monday night, and the next morning he returned back. The brethren in Merthyr are sorry they could not publicize his coming sooner, so that the distant Saints could have the opportunity of coming to hear him.

Book of the Church.—“J. R.” asks the following question:—“There is in the Book of the Church, ‘To which Branch’ persons are transferred; and since the letters of recommendation release them to join with the branch they wish, what shall I do, for I do not know to which branch they are going?” We answer, if upon leaving the persons who are moving cannot say to which branch they are going, ask them to be so kind as to send a letter immediately after they have joined some other branch, stating which branch 100 ZION’S TRUMPET. it is, so that may be noted in the book.—Furthermore, it appears that some scribes have misunderstood concerning the blue line; instead of writing on it, they write above it, or below it. When someone is baptized and confirmed in the church, that information, together with his name, occupation, residence, age, and all other things concerning him, to his cutting off, should be entered on the blue line; and if such has been rebaptized, &c., there is a place to write that, together with the third baptism, &c., under the blue line, before coming to the next blue line, which pertains to someone else. The Foreword explains this quite understandably, and all one needs to do is to notice in order to understand everything. Great care should be taken with the Book of the Church, that everything should be written neatly.

There is nothing in which men are more deficient, than they are in knowing their own character. We spend much of our time in learning vain and useless things, but we do not take the trouble to ponder about ourselves, and to open the chambers and alcoves of the heart. PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT. OH, my soul, do not be silent, About the blessing thou hast received as a gift, Which the Messiah promised When he went home to his Father; The firstfruits were in Jerusalem, When they were of one accord; The promise is of the fullness At the coming of the Son of Man. R. H.

Payments from March 5 to March 17.—Monmouthshire, £2 10s; Carmarthenshire, £2 6s 11½c; Merionethshire, £4 9s 6c; Llanfabon, 6s 6c; Aberdare, 10s; Ynysgau, 3s; Pontytypridd, £1 6s; Cwmbach, £1; Hirwaun, £1; Georgetown, £1 2s 6c; Merthyr, £2 10s; Cefn, £1 15s.—Total, £18 19s 5½c. We intend to publish the “Pearl of Great Price,” in Welsh, as soon as we can. We wish to publicize that every kind of books can be sent through the post from now on, for 6c. per pound prepaid; but if they are over weight, another 6c. is added on.  If anyone knows about some number of issues 10 and 11 of the Trumpet for 1851, for sale, we would like to buy them back. Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 7.] APRIL 3, 1850. [VOL. I V.

Patriarchal.

TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED ABROAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, GREETING. [From the “Deseret News.”]

Beloved Brethren and Sisters,—The Spirit of God moves upon me to write an epistle, and give you some fatherly counsel at this time. I pray God, my Eternal Father, to enlighten my mind, and give unto me words and principles which will be unto you as balm to a wound, or water to a thirsty man. It is now upwards of twenty-one years since the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with six members,—most of whom are numbered with the dead. Soon after its organization I heard the Gospel through my nephew, Joseph Smith, jun., and obeyed the commandments of the Lord by entering in at the door, which is baptism. Since that period many scenes have passed, in which I have participated; some of which caused me to rejoice, and many to bow me down with sorrow. To take up the subject of the travels, persecutions, and the sufferings of the Saints, since I first became acquainted with the work, would fill volumes; and I find, that although my spirit is willing that I should enter into these things, and add my testimony to the many who have already preached and published it to the 7 102 ZION’S TRUMPET. world, yet the flesh is weak, and my aged fingers cramp with the pen; suffice it to say, what has been published by the Elders, is true; and the rest is written in the books which shall be opened in the day when all men will be rewarded according to their works, and all secrets shall be made known on the house tops. I have witnessed the steady progress of the work, combating against ignorance, tradition, and priestcraft. Like leaven, it has spread itself, until it is heard in the east and the west, the north and the south, trampling under foot, as it were, all opposition, and showing unto saint and sinner that the great God is at the helm. Twenty years ago it was a mustard seed; now a mighty forest, where the birds of the air can rest under. We were then plundered of everything, and left without a home. Thanks be to God, we have now a resting place for our feet. We can here worship Him under “our own vine and fig tree,” and none make us afraid; and under such favourable circumstances as we are now placed, if we do not enjoy the Spirit of God, it is because we are not obedient to His commandments; and I can bear my testimony, that the Saints never enjoyed more of the Spirit than they do at this time; and I feel confident that if they will adhere to counsel, we will receive more and more, day by day, until we come within the sphere to walk with angels, and be their constant companions; and when we want to learn aught from God, they will teach us, and heaven will be as near to us as Boston is to New York by telegraph. To the Saints in these Valleys I have a word of counsel:—If you have the interest of the work at heart, be always ready to obey counsel. If the President wishes to settle the valleys, build Temples, preach the Gospel, or any other thing that is required of you, be ready as minute men, with all that is required of you, be ready as minute men, with all that you have and possess. Let no excuse be found in your mouths; but arise and say, I will do thy work, O God; and you will see his salvation made manifest in the preservation of his Saints. If the Presidency and Twelve who are now living, had not been ZION’S TRUMPET. 103 servants to the cause when Joseph lived, they would not have been worthy to fill the exalted stations which they now occupy; and always remember, “That he who is the greatest among you must be the servant of all.” Bring up your children in the way they should go, that they may be ornaments to the society, and a blessing unto you in your old age; and remember that God will not hold you guiltless if you should neglect to attend to this matter. Remember also to teach them to pray; and cause your sons to take part in the family prayer; and beware what company they keep, for “evil communications corrupt good manners.” Let not your daughters mix with the sons of the stranger, whom you know nothing about, and who are not of the house of Israel; but gather your children together, and teach them the principles of truth and righteousness, and teach them to obey the laws of God, and the day will come that they will arise and bless you. Teach unto them every truth which God has revealed. Instill into their young minds every principle that will make them a noble race, and remove from their paths every thing that is contrary to God and His commandments. Beware that they do not imbibe the traditions of the Gentiles, and keep them where they cannot have recourse to their doctrines; you will then have a race of children who will arise in the might of Israel, and will break the shackles of tradition, and be fit beings to carry on the work which their fathers commenced; and the Spirit of God will assist you in doing these things, provided you put forth all your energies with your might. To the Saints abroad I wish to say, Hasten to the Valleys of the Everlasting Hills. Come where you can learn from the fountain head. Gather where your children can mix with ours, and where you will enjoy the sweet communion which is felt with us, and that I may lay my hands upon you and give you a patriarchal blessing before I go hence. Bring with you your machinery, your gold and your silver, your brass and your copper, with all the seeds and precious things of the earth; and last, not least, the poor of God’s household,—to beautify 104 ZION’S TRUMPET. the place, and make it a fit sanctuary for the Lord to dwell in. Let the rich remember that the poor must be gathered; and as the rich can at any time come to Zion, the poor have to come when the way opens for them; and it is a duty devolving on the rich to bring them along. Pray to God to turn the hearts of the Gentiles that they may convert their riches to the upbuilding of His kingdom, and that kings and queens may become nursing parents, that Zion may flourish, and her Temples be reared to His holy name, that we may do the work devolving upon us in redeeming the dead. Lift up and strengthen the hands of the Elders who are among you. Let your prayers ascend to the God of Sabaoth for their success, and that they may never be confounded; and in return they will bless, counsel, and pray for you, and the prayer of the righteous availeth much. Children, be subject to your parents; wives, to your husbands; Elders, to your Presidents,—each obeying as they expect obedience from those whom they are placed to govern, always remembering it is better to govern by love than by oppression. Avoid lawsuits. Pay your tithing. Remember your covenants in the House of the Lord. Let the Perpetual Fund prosper, and the poor rejoice. Pray for the redemption of Zion; for the Heads of the Church; for the gathering of the Saints; for the Elders who are abroad preaching; for their families who are left at home; for the saints scattered abroad throughout the world; for the rolling on of the work; for the frustration of the designs of our enemies, and for health, peace, and prosperity to dwell in every habitation of the saints of God. By doing so, blessings will shower on your heads; your minds will expand; the Spirit of God will rest upon you, and your years will be many upon the earth. Let every Elder of Israel put on the garments of righteousness, teaching by precept and example, the true principles which exalt the mind, expand the understanding, and make man a fit companion for his Creator; and never dishonor the high and holy calling which has been placed upon him, by teaching and suffering to be taught ZION’S TRUMPET. 105 in his house, or anywhere that he has influence or power to control, doctrines which are not of God. Let the true principles which God has revealed in these last days, be taught in their simple purity, bearing with them their own worth, having the Spirit of God to back them, and I know that every true Saint will welcome them with open arms. Avoid the company or the house of those who hold the doctrines of God in derision, for God dwells not there; the blood will not be found on the lintels of their door posts, in the day when the destroyer passes by. To the Elders who are out preaching, I wish to say,—Cease not your cry. Warn the nations of the wrath of God on the wicked. Preach faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gathering of the Saints; bearing your testimony without fear, and the Lord will bless your labours with many sheaves, which will be an honor to you in the great day of accounts. Your families shall not want, your limbs shall not be wearied, if you are faithful in all things, and your tongues shall not fail to declare truth both new and old; and the angels of God shall guard your footsteps, and His spirit will be with you to enlighten your way, and be both mouth, matter, and wisdom unto you; and when you return unto your homes, you will meet with smiling faces, who will greet you with a blessing for the good you have done in other lands. I must conclude, for I feel the infirmities of age creeping on, and knowing not when the Lord shall require me hence, I wish to take this opportunity of adding my mite to the testimony of the thousands who are scattered throughout the globe, and of those who are gone beyond the veil, and who sealed theirs with their blood. In Kirtland, Ohio, four brothers sat in the patriarchal seat in the Temple of God, and I only of that number am left to tell the tale; and as I am now past the time allotted to man to live, it is reasonable that I also will be gathered unto my fathers in the time appointed of God. I therefore bear my testimony, which I wish translated into every language, read to every Saint, and printed wherever the type 106 ZION’S TRUMPET. is used; that the world may see and hear what I have to say; for if I was young I would visit them, when they should hear from my lips that God has again spoken from the heavens; that he has again condescended to send his angels to visit fallen man, and point out the way whereby he can be saved. He appointed Joseph Smith a prophet, and revealed unto him his commandments. I testify to all men in words of soberness, that the Book of Mormon is true; that Joseph Smith, jun., translated it from plates by the Urim and Thummim, and by the power of God. I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet, seer, revelator, and a man of God; and what was revealed through him will prove life and salvation to those who believe and obey, or death and condemnation to all who count it as naught, and harden their hearts against the truths he preached and practiced. I knew him when at his mother’s breast, and I watched and counseled him in his youth; but when God spoke and taught him, I bowed to his superior knowledge; and although he was a boy, and I an old man, and his uncle, yet I was not ashamed to learn true principles from him, and like Paul at the feet of Gamaliel, drank in the truths which flowed from the prophet’s lips. I was in jail with him and his brother Hyrum a few hours before they were killed; and I can testify before God, that they died innocent of any crime, and that they sealed their testimony with their blood. I testify to all men, that I know, that the angel has appeared which John the revelator saw, who had the Everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come. And I call on all men, priests and people, kings, potentates, and rulers, to cease their strife; come and obey the Gospel, gather with Israel, obey the commandments of God, that you and your dead may be saved and brought up in the first resurrection. And I say to the Saints, that by the power of the holy Priesthood vested in me, as Patriarch, I bless you; and I say unto you,—Be ZION’S TRUMPET. 107 faithful, and you shall be blessed in your basket and your store; you shall have all blessings which were promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the Lord will preserve you as in the hollow of his hand, and no power shall stay the work, for everything that shall be brought against it will fail. The way shall be open for every Saint to come to Zion. Health, peace, joy, prosperity, and the Spirit of God, shall dwell in your habitations, and the angels of God shall watch over and counsel you all your days; your minds shall expand to realize every principle of truth and righteousness, and you shall build Temples and go through the ordinances for your dead; your names shall be held in everlasting remembrance among the people of God; and your children shall arise and call your blessed. The riches of the Gentiles shall be converted to establish the Kingdom of God; every prayer of the righteous shall be heard and answered by our Father in heaven, and every blessing that can be heaped on man, will be heaped upon those who keep His commandments. And I pray God, my Eternal Father, to hear this, the prayer and blessing of thy servant, and answer it upon the heads of thy servant, and answer it upon the heads of my brethren; which I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. John Smith, Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Great Salt Lake City, Nov. 8, 1851.

SAINTS OF GOD VERSUS THE WORLD.

[Continued from page 89.]

Every Latter-day Saint feels that he is in a measure a proscribed being. So powerfully does Satan work in the hearts of the children of disobedience that the strongest ties are sundered, the tenderest relationships forgotten, and oftentimes a Saint’s worst foes are those of his own household. The world, and especially the religious portion of it, evinces a most uncompromising hatred towards the Latter-day Saints. Indeed, the very name of Latter-day Saint fills the bosoms 108 ZION’S TRUMPET. of the people with indescribable sensations, and seems to rouse up every malignant feeling of their souls. If an individual only goes to hear the Saints, he becomes thenceforth a marked character. He hazards his good name. His pious friends are perfectly surprised to hear of him setting his feet within a Mormon meetinghouse. They are thoroughly shocked at the thought of him listening to a discourse from a Mormon Elder. They are thunderstruck if he should chance to speak in approbation of what he has heard. They dissolve all connection with him if he becomes convinced of the truth, and essays to render obedience to the same. They would rather he would become a drunkard, or a whoremonger, than a Latter-day Saint. Many persons have declared they would prefer following their relations to the grave, to the misery of knowing that they would embrace the faith of the Saints of God. Roman Catholicism, with all its priestly enormities and inquisitorial horrors, is considered comparative purity and virtue, in contrast with the supposed absurdities and blasphemies of “Mormonism.” And indeed it is doubtful whether there is a religious society existing which would not, in the event of a crisis, unite in the general cry of “Away with the Mormons, they are not fit to live.” Joseph Smith, the founder (under God) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though originally an obscure illiterate youth, was persecuted with the most heartless cruelty from the time when he first made known that he had received a revelation from heaven. And his chief persecutors were those who professed to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. They continually sought his overthrow, and endeavored to accomplish it by all means in their power. To prejudice the public mind against him, the most idle and nonsensical rumors to his injury were industriously circulated, and, of course, most eagerly believed. Divers writs and processes, founded upon these foolish rumors, were served upon him, which led to vexatious lawsuits, about forty-six in all; but in none of these, where he had a legal tribunal, was Joseph Smith once proven guilty of breaking the laws of his country. So vindictive were his enemies, that ZION’S TRUMPET. 109 they rested not until they had imbrued their hands in his innocent blood. His enemies testify that his offence and sentence was, “The law of the land cannot reach him, but powder and ball shall.” Hyrum Smith, brother to Joseph, was murdered with him, though convicted of no crime. John Taylor, an apostle, was severely wounded at the same time. And the Latter-day Saints as a people have been most vilely persecuted. They have been mobbed, plundered, and driven from their homes and possessions, time after time. Their path might have been traced by their blood. Hoary age and helpless infancy were alike disregarded by fiends in human shape. Defenseless women were ruthlessly despoiled of that which is dearer than mortal life. The leaders of this people have been cast into prison without cause, and fed upon human flesh. In the spring of the year 1846, the chief authorities of the Latter- day Saints were exiled from their beautiful Nauvoo and its splendid temple, and compelled to seek out a home for themselves in the wild fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains; far away from the abodes of civilized, but bloodthirsty Christians. They travelled westward some hundreds of miles; but they found they must halt for the winter far short of their destination. Whilst in this distressing situation, the United States officers called upon them for five hundred of the flower of their camp, to enroll themselves as a battalion, and march into Mexico. This cruel, cowardly requisition was immediately complied with. In return for this unparalleled manifestation of patriotism, the poor and infirm Saints who were unable to leave Nauvoo with the main body, were driven out of the city at the cannon’s mouth and bayonet’s point, and forced into the woods and prairies on the trail of their abler brethren, and the authorities of the Church. And after the Saints have, with the most persevering industry and admirable fortitude, crossed trackless deserts, threaded gloomy ravines, explored whole regions previously little known, located themselves in the Salt Lake Valley, built houses and cities, planted farms, and made the wilderness rejoice and the desert blossom as the 110 ZION’S TRUMPET. rose,—the United States Congress has granted them a Territorial Government in answer to their petition to the be admitted as an independent State into the Union. This done, the old game of evil reports and lying slanders is renewed with its wonted virulence. There are some characters who envy the Latter-day Saints the privilege of digging for their own bread. They envy them the ground they stand upon, and the air they breathe. They wish to overthrow fair Utah, that prodigy of virtuous enterprise. But their hopes will vanish, and their spirits fail them, their lying calumnies shall return as fire upon their own heads, and pierce their souls like a dart through their liver. For the Lord of hosts is our defense and strong tower; in Him we put our trust. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” In the fall of 1850, the United States Executive duly appointed ten persons as public officers for the Territory of Utah, to wit— Brigham Young, Governor; Seth M. Blair, U. S. Attorney; and Joseph L. Heywood, U. S. Marshall; Lemuel G. Brandeburg, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States for said Territory; Perry E. Brocchus, and Zerubbabel Snow, Associate Justices; B. D. Harris, Secretary of the Territory, and Messrs. Holman, Day, and Rose, Indian Agents. These officers arrived in Utah in the summer and fall of 1851. But they not been there many weeks, before Lemuel G. Brandeburg, Perry E. Brocchus, and B. D. Harris disclosed a cowardly inclination to desert their posts of honor, and return to the States. Having no creditable reason for this palpable dereliction of duty, they very naturally (like as truant urchins fish up excuses to their masters) scraped together a scurrilous dish of odds and ends, in the way of an “Official Report” (or rather “Reports,” for there are more than, and of course all true, however contradictory), to make their case good, and thus escape the censure-stripes of the Federal Executive. But these slanderous and highly colored “Reports” are not the only manifestations of hostility towards the Saints. Certain members of Congress evince a determined resolution to oust the ZION’S TRUMPET. 111

Utah delegate (the Hon. J. M. Bernhisel) out of his seat in the house of Representatives. This is perfectly in harmony with other proceedings. But let it be done, and the unity of the Lord’s people will surprise the hypocrites, and astonish the world. Let the American nation allow this measure to be so ordered, and the hand of God will fall right heavily upon the people. There will be weeping and mourning in high places. The proud despots of the old world will hold up the mock liberty of Columbia to scorn and ridicule. We await forthcoming events with lively interest rather than distressing anxiety; for we know that all things will work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to His purpose. It is a common practice for men who persecute the people of God, to console themselves with the idea that they do not persecute them on account of their religion, but merely render them a just reward for their extreme politics or daring blasphemies. Very fine! But let us consider. Why did the Jews persecute Jesus? For his politics and supposed blasphemies. “For a good work we stone thee not (oh dear, no!) but for blasphemy,”—John x, 33. “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation,”—John xi, 48. Why, Jesus Christ was arraigned, condemned, dressed in a scarlet robe, invested with a scepter-reed, crowned with thorns, and nailed upon the cross for his political opinions! His very accusation appeared in bold relief over his devoted head—“This is Jesus the King of the Jews!” The Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders mocked him, and ironically cried out, “If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him!”—Matt. xxvii. Stephen was stoned for his political opinions. “For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.”—Acts vi, 14. Paul was persecuted on account of his political opinions. “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world; and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”—Acts xxiv, 5. And the same subterfuge is 112 ZION’S TRUMPET. availed of now. The Rev. J. B. Lowe of this town (Liverpool) in a lecture says,—“Jackson County and Clay County were the scene of skirmishes between them (the Saints) and the county militia, who wished to expel them. The inhabitants, however, had only recourse to violence when they found they could not get rid of them quietly. I do not justify the violence; but remember it was not persecution on account of religion.* No such thing. All religions are tolerated in the United States, and the gentlemen who petitioned against them said they had nothing to say to their religious gibberish; it was their political system, with its arrogant assumptions, that they opposed, and they were determined that it should not be tolerated, as there would be no peace till they were induced to leave the place.” Joseph Smith was persecuted and slain for his political opinions. The Saints of God were driven from Nauvoo for their political opinions. And the overthrow of the Saints in Utah is now sought, on account of their political and seditious opinions. But whether the enemies of God think that Jesus, Stephen, Paul, Joseph, or any of the Saints of God, suffered persecution and martyrdom for their religion; or for their politics, or for their blasphemies; one thing is known, they suffered and died for righteousness’ sake, and consequently their reward will be great in heaven, when the wrath of an offended God will wither up their remorseless persecutors. There has yet to be a tremendous struggle between the powers of God and the powers of Satan. The prize these parties are contending for is nothing less than universal and eternal dominion over this earth. God intends to extend his government over all the face of the earth, and drive Satan from it. The kingdom of God

* Though this reverend excuser of wholesale persecution tells us that the Missourians drove the Latter-day Saints because of their politics, yet he himself reflects upon them because of their religion, as well as their politics. He speaks of Orson Pratt as a “very clever man, and a very respectable one for anything I know, but for his religious opinions!” So, in Mr. Lowe’s judgment, Mr. Pratt’s religion is a certain discount upon his respectability! ZION’S TRUMPET. 113 must be established and the will of God done here as promptly and efficiently as it is now done in the heavens. All the righteous men of God of old who have received the Priesthood when upon the earth, were engaged in this glorious work. They have all accomplished something towards it. They are still actively engaged in this work, and they have covenanted not to cease from their labors until the struggle is ended and the victory won. The question will become daily more and more momentous. All will have to choose sides. Satan and his adherents think to win the day. But they will be deceived. To hasten the end there will be a grand concatenation of the powers of all dispensations combined with the powers of Heaven. In this generation a decisive blow will be struck between the two rival powers, which will give peace and rest to the righteous for a thousand years. Then shall all the Saints be united in one, and God shall be their King and Lawgiver, and this very earth where their enemies have triumphed over them shall be given to them for their eternal inheritance. Amen.

TITHING CIRCULAR.

TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED. [From the “Deseret News.”]

As much interest is now felt by the Saints in relation to tithing; and as mistakes and misunderstandings are liable to occur, under the best regulations, and more particularly so, where business is extensive, and a general system of transactions, understood by all, is not in operation; I have thought proper to issue this circular to the Bishops, Agents, and all who are, or may hereafter be concerned in paying and receiving tithing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the duty of all Bishops and agents for receiving tithing, in all parts of the world, to keep a full and accurate account of all tithing received, of whom received, when received, at what place received; and how, to whom, and for what purpose disposed of; and forward a copy of said account to the general tithing office every year, at, or 114 ZION’S TRUMPET. previous to, the October Conference. The office at Liverpool, and other foreign offices, and agents, will not only furnish an annual copy of tithing accounts, by the emigration, or other safe conveyance; but, on the return of every such foreign agent to the place of the First Presidency, will furnish a full and complete account of all items of receipts and expenditures, during his agency, together with the names, in full, of all persons from whom he has received tithing, and their placed of residence, accompanied by a balance sheet, in full, for, and during the time of, his agency. The brethren are frequently arriving from England, Potta wattamie, and other foreign places, and different valleys of the mountains, and want to see that their tithing is settled in full, so that they can have claim to some desirable blessings; but, unless returns have been made by those Bishops and agents to whom they have paid their tithing, or the individual has a certified transcript from the books of his agent or Bishop, how can such settlement be made here? Surely it cannot be done. Therefore, if anyone wants to settle his tithing in full, let him bring a transcript from his Bishop, providing the Bishop’s books, including his account, have not recently been returned to the general office. And further, to facilitate business, and save trouble, let all the Bishops in the Territory, make a semi-annual report of their books, and doings, at, or just previous to, the general Conferences in each year. We wish it distinctly understood that it is the indispensible duty of all Bishops and agents to attend to the above suggestions, as difficulties are daily arising in consequence of such neglect. It is also the duty of all the clerks in all the different departments of the tithing office, and foremen on the public works, and all who keep daily journals and records of business and events occurring, in relation to the pecuniary affairs of the Church, to make returns of the same every day, before the close of the tithing office, and receive ZION’S TRUMPET. 115 a duplicate book for the use of the day following: and it is the duty of the presiding Bishop, and the assistant presiding Bishops, to see that all Bishops and agents do their duty, and report according to this circular. N. B.—Mistakes frequently occur in consequence of the Bishops and others not being careful to get a person’s name correctly. If a person has a middle letter or letters in his name, it ought invariably to be inserted, as there are many persons whose names are similar, and there is no distinction only from the middle letter; and this caution we strictly enjoin in relation to all records of baptisms, births, deaths, &c. Willard Richards. Office of General Church Recorder, G. S. L. City, Nov. 15, 1851.

IN PRAISE OF THE RESTORATION OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL.

O hail to the day and the hour unhidden, The angel of God was seen, Flying first in the midst of heaven, With his cry to mankind; It was the everlasting gospel, Hosts will testify together, That a blessing was restored back, To all the inhabitants of the world. God is unchangeable, His plan is the same, They who respect this can return, Easily back to his bosom; All the heavenly and merciful Promises of the Holy Ghost, The Saints who are pure in heart possess, Staunchly great and small. How sweet this gospel is, To the hosts in dire poverty, Who proclaim the full covenant, Through the atonement of dear Jesus. May the voice of the missionaries of Jesus go, Through the corners of all of Wales, And across the ends of the great earth, May every language glorify their song. Let us shout hosanna with all our might, For the offering of Calvary; 116 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Hosanna, let us repeat again the psalm, As a balm to our wounds; Hosts have been washed, In the praise of the Lamb, Amen; Let us join with one tune, To put the crown on his head. Gwilym Collwyn. [Since our correspondent has composed a tune for the above verses, we would like to see it.—Editor.]

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Elder J. Taylor.—It appears that brother Taylor emigrated on the 6th of March, on the steamship Niagara, from Liverpool to Boston, in the company of Elders T. D. Brown, J. W. Coward, and W. Collinson, and others. Brother Taylor has completed his mission, and has done a great work. Among other things he has been instrumental in organizing the “Deseret Manufacturing Company,” of four partners, with a capital of £50,000 to start with. The first operation of the Company has been to send the machinery to the Valley to refine 300 tons of sugar from the beet each season. This machinery went out on the “Rockaway” the same day as brother Taylor, at the expense of £2,500, and it will require fifty wagons to carry it from the Bluffs to the Valley. The best beet seed has been sent beforehand. Brother Taylor would have addressed the Saints through the Star before leaving, except he was so busy with the above company, and finishing his book on the “Government of God,” which is now ready for the press, and which we have the freedom, if we wish, of translating it. Eld. Erastus Snow.—Brother Snow arrived in Liverpool from Denmark on the 8th of March, together with 19 of the Danish Saints from Copenhagen. This company emigrated, together with the small company which had previously arrived, on board the Italy, on the 11th. Eld. W. Snow will go to Denmark in place of brother E. Snow.

Payments from March 17 to March 31.—Monmouthshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £3 10s; Caernarvonshire, 13s 9c; Denbighshire, £l 5s; Pembrokeshire, 10s; Rhymney, £2 2s; Georgetown, 11s; Troedyrhiw, 5s; Llanilltyd, £1 10s; Dowlais, 16s 1½c; Pendaren, 15s; Pontfaen, 10s (March 10).—Total £14 7s 10½c. Error.—At the bottom of page 90, No. 6, in place of “in their hearts,” it should read “in their foreheads.” Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 8.] APRIL 17, 1852. [VOL. I V.

FEAR OF DYING.

It appears that no fear is more common among the sons of men than the fear of dying; almost everyone fears it, the rank and the file, the old and the young, the slave and the free. It fills the breast of everyone with horror; for after death, they believe that they are going to give an accounting of their deeds while in the flesh, and receive their reward or their punishment; and when they do not know what will be their part, fear and dread possess them. It is appropriate to say that it is the valley of the shadow of death, for it is through a dark, misty night that the majority pass to the regions of immortality. But the fear of dying does not possess everyone; no, there are some few in nearly every age of the world, who receive knowledge of their destiny beforehand; and when these know they will be received, when they die, to dwell in the bosom of Abraham, that is when it can be said that the fear of dying has fled away, and the valley of the shadow of death is made light. The fear of dying is what compels the majority of mankind to practice religion, and to continue practicing religion, and not any particular willingness to obey their Creator. With many the fear of dying is the root of the matter, and the best sign of godliness, and of fitness to face judgment; but with the true followers of Christ, the fear of dying flees away, through the knowledge they receive from the Holy Ghost, who enlightens them to understand their condition in the world to come. They do not fear death; rather they fear God, and revere 8 118 ZION’S TRUMPET. his words, for they know they are words of life to them, and bring confidence to their breast that places are being prepared to welcome them within the veil; and they are the only ones who have no fear or dread to face their future condition.

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. CORRESPONDENCE FROM ELDER SNOW.

[From the “Millennial Star.”]

Dear Brother Richards,— At the time of my communication from Denmark, of December ultimo, you will remember that I was engaged in the revision and publication, in the Danish language, of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. That important work was completed the latter part of February, and forms another pillar of strength and support to the Danish Saints. About the same time was issued a new and enlarged edition of Hymns, suited to the faith and condition of the Saints; and some valuable pamphlets, illustrative of our holy faith, in addition to the regular issues of “Skandinaviens Stjerne.” The work which I was getting translated into Swedish, entitled “En Röst fran Landet Zion” (A Voice from the Land of Zion), was issued just before I left. It contains about 50 pages octavo, on the rise, history, faith, and present condition of the Saints; and I trust it will prove, in the hands of the Swedish Saints and Elders, a means of extending a knowledge of the Gospel into Sweden, and a silent messenger of life and salvation to many an honest soul, where the Elders are denied the right of lifting up their voices to proclaim the testimony of Jesus. During the last six months of my labors in Denmark, the work of the Lord in that little state has assumed a more organized and stable character, and extended its influence and power more than all the rest of the time since the commencement of the work in that land; and the young Elders and laborers in the vineyard have obtained instruction and experience, which give promise of a successful prosecution of the work and rearing of the building upon the foundation which his laid. Through the power and gifts of the ZION’S TRUMPET. 119

Holy Ghost, the work has advanced to its present position, in spite of the organized and determined resistance of the priesthood, and nearly all the influences of the country. In Copenhagen, as well as in other portions of the country, it has forced itself upon the attention of the thinking class, by the opposition of the priests, and horrid persecutions from the rabble, until from their low estate the Saints have risen to occupy one of the largest and most popular Halls in the city, at an expense of about £60 a year. One of the Copenhagen journals, in remarking upon some of the proceedings at our last Conference, says, “Who could have thought, a year-and-a-half ago, that our city would be divided, by a new and then almost unknown sect, into districts and parishes, with their Priests over Priests, and Presidents, having auxiliaries throughout the country? and that here one might listen to daily prayers, offered up for their sister Churches and persecuted brethren from Bornholm to Fredericia, and from Folster to the Skaw?” Persecution has become so common, and officers of justice and the police, when appealed to, slide over the matter with such indifference, that the Elders who now travel to preach the Gospel, take their lives in their hands, and expect to run the gauntlet ’mid mobs and floggings, relying alone upon the arm of the Lord for their preservation. On one occasion last winter, in a small town six miles out of Copenhagen, twelve Saints, including three females, were assailed on issuing from the dwelling of a brother, where they had just closed an evening meeting, and were pursued for half an hour by a mob of from forty to fifty, upon the highway and over fields, cast into water ditches, stoned and beaten unmercifully, and narrowly escaped with their lives, being maimed and bereft of much of their clothing. The proper officer took no notice of their formal complaints, except to smother the matter up, and screen the culprits. On another occasion, upon the Island of Folster, in the month of January, a mob, among whom was a priest, broke up a meeting of the Saints, in a respectable farmer’s house; and, after extinguishing the lights, fell upon four brethren, and gave them a cruel flogging. Elder 120 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Bruhn, the first man ordained to the Priesthood in Denmark, was one of the number, and the roughest handled: after being dragged through two rooms, and out of doors, beaten with heavy sticks, and trampled upon, portions of his clothes torn off, and the remainder drenched in his own blood, he would have been cast into a well, but for the pleadings of a school teacher, by whose means he escaped. These are related as samples of the reception of the servants of God in Denmark. There were many other scenes of mobbing during the winter in different parts of the country, but with less personal injury. As a general thing, the priests egged them on, and the police and magistrates winked at them; but the extent to which it was carried, began to arouse the more noble-minded and daring to speak out in defense of right, and rebuke these violent measures. Through the promises of God I have escaped personal injury, though several times very narrowly. The native brethren have been the principal sufferers, but they have been filled with the Holy Ghost and great joy in the midst of it all, and every scene has brought friends and believers to our standard. With reference to these matters, we prepared, at our last Conference, a memorial to the ministry and legislature, which was afterwards sent in with nearly one thousand names; and several members had promised a favourable consideration of the subject, but it was near the close of the session, and about the time of the appearance in the Danish papers, of the report of those “unjust Judges” who had deserted their posts in Utah, and the legislature adjourned without disposing of it. We had a glorious time at our Conference, from the 20th to the 24th of February, which was my third Conference in Copenhagen, and each of them seemed to be almost like an endowment to the Saints. I appointed Elder John E. Forssgreen, to remain and preside in that country, until further instructed, and gave him Elders P. O. Hanson, and H. P. Jensen, for Counselors, and ordained the latter to the high priesthood, to preside over the mission in Norway. The number of Saints in Denmark, reported in good standing, was 600; besides a few in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, not represented. Over ZION’S TRUMPET. 121

700 had been baptized in all, since the introduction of the Gospel into Scandinavia, and 45 emigrated, including those from Sweden. As the emigration had already commenced, and the subject was rife among them, I proposed to the Conference the establishment of a Fund for the emigration of the Poor, on the principle of the Fund in America and England, to be auxiliary to the same, and under the same control, which was promptly and spiritedly responded to, and the foundation of such a Fund laid there and then with about £50. Instruction was also given to commence the same in the Branches. I received also liberal offerings for the Temple, according to their means and circumstances. An excellent spirit prevailed, and all the Saints were full of joy, except for the sorrowful thoughts of my returning to America without them. In view of the parting, they prepared a sumptuous dinner in the spacious hall of the Hotel de Nord, at which about 300 dined, including many friends out of the Church. The afternoon and evening were spent in delivering short speeches, farewell songs, &c., suited to the occasion. The Hall was appropriately decorated, and at the head of the saloon was a large evergreen wreath, enclosing the portraits of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the American Elders who brought the Gospel to that land, surmounted with appropriate banners and mottos, among which I remember “Herrens Löve” (The Lion of the Lord), which one of our Danish painters had translated from an English paper containing an account of Elder Kelsey’s party in London. The whole affair seemed to be a spontaneous effusion of their hearts, as it was of their own getting up and design. The evening was truly affecting, and until then I could scarcely have realized the depth of their affection for me; and while listening to their pathetic effusions of love and blessing upon me, and joy and thanksgiving to God, and contrasting in my mind the scene before me with the appearance of things when I landed there twenty months previous, a stranger and without the knowledge of their alphabet, I felt doubly paid for all the toils, anxieties, and sacrifices attendant upon my mission to that land. I left Copenhagen, on my return to the land of Zion, on the 4th March, accompanied by a small party of emigrating Saints, 122 ZION’S TRUMPET.

via Hamburg and Hull, and arrived in Liverpool on the 8th, from whence twenty-eight Danish Saints sailed for New Orleans on the 11th, en route for Salt Lake. Elder Willard Snow will repair to Denmark, and make himself acquainted with the language and spirit of affairs there, so as to relieve Elder Forssgreen in the ensuing fall to return to his family. In closing this sketch of the condition of the Saints in Scandinavia, I cannot sufficiently congratulate the British Saints, and give vent to feelings of gratitude to the Dispenser of all blessings, for the great and long continued peace, and quiet enjoyment of religious liberty in these islands. May the blessing of God richly abound unto all the Saints in Europe, and throughout the earth, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

March 23, 1852. Erastus Snow.

REASONS FOR BEING SAINTS.

It is often said to many of the Saints like this, “I am greatly surprised that sensible men like you have been deceived by the Mormons. In the name of all reason, what prompted you to join such a disreputable sect, which is ill spoken of by almost everyone, in every situation.” Perhaps some of the readers of the Trumpet have asked, and continue to ask the same question; and for the benefit of those, we shall strive to set before them some of the reasons for leaving the most respected denominations of our land, and joining the most contemptible of all. We are not the first to do that; therefore, reader, do not be so surprised. Moses of old was brought up in noble circumstances by a royal family, and he was considered the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter; by this he was in a situation in which he could be respected and honored by the rank and file. But Oh, to the surprise of many, behold handsome Moses refusing to be called the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter, and choosing instead to suffer adversity with some low and contemptible people, rather than enjoying the honor and wealth of Egypt. Perhaps some asked him, “Moses, why do you, a sensible and learned man, put yourself ZION’S TRUMPET. 123 so low as to associate with that people.” “I esteem,” said Moses, “the reproach of those people greater riches, than all the treasures of Egypt.” Why, Moses? “for I have respect unto the recompense of the reward.” Thus, many of us also have been brought up respectably under the influence of some religious sect or other, where we were and could still be greatly respected; but here we are now, yes, many among us, having refused to be called Reverends, &c., but having chosen instead to suffer their persecution and their scorn with the Latter-day Saints, rather than having the honorable titles of respected preachers of our country; yes, having chosen to suffer with them in being thrown out of their homes, being robbed of their possessions, and being exiled from the land of their birth, yes, hundreds of them, instead of having calm by joining with the other sects; for the Saints have respect unto the recompense of the reward. Now, we shall show the reason for our leaving the other denominations, and joining the Saints. Since all the denominations preach against the one and the other, and since the scriptures show but one way, then we saw that impossible for more than one of them all to be right; and there was not one of all these sects, which we had heard, professing to have received a knowledge of the truth; and so that, with many other things, made clear to us that they did not possess the true religion, for Christ promised knowledge to all who became his disciples, which thing the entire religious world insists there is no need of. Also, a big reason we left them was, because they match the character the apostles of Christ gave of such men who would rise up in the last days, namely that they would depart from the faith, choosing opinion instead of knowledge, and dissent instead of being in unity,—preaching their own thoughts, instead of preaching the “word,” as it is in Jesus,—embracing a form of godliness, but denying its power,—practicing religion in fear and doubt, disregarding the gospel, which is in great strength and certainty,—heaping up to themselves teachers after their own lusts, instead of being called by God as were Aaron and others,—teaching otherwise, and not consenting to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine preached by the holy apostles;— disregarding prophecies, refusing to prove all things, holding fast that 124 ZION’S TRUMPET. which is good, according to the counsel of the apostle, saying, “This is the religion of my father, and his father, and I have determined that this will be my religion also,” whether right or wrong; separating themselves, hereditarily, not having the Spirit with them, &c., &c. Now, reader, if you are an attentive man, you see that we have a host of sufficient reasons for leaving the sects of the country, with no cause to bring forth more at present. After noting some of our reasons for leaving the above sects, we shall now put before our reader some of our reasons for joining with the Latter-day Saints: first, because they preach the doctrine of the New Testament without exception; second, because they testify that they have received knowledge from God through the Holy Ghost, of their acceptance before him; third, because they promised that we ourselves could receive the same blessings they received, namely the precious gifts the saints received in the apostolic age. Men marvel greatly that we believe the Saints, when they give promises of these blessings. We must admit that it was not easy for many of us to believe them; but yet, upon reflecting that we could not judge on fair ground, without putting them to the test, and since the apostle says, “Prove all things,” then we saw it as our duty to prove the principles of the Saints, lest they be coming out through the mouths of men, who are commonly considered as the “offscouring of the world,” &c. “Yes, yes,” say our friends, “we do not marvel so much that you have been charmed to join them, for they are very clever; but the reason we marvel so greatly is that you have remained so much time in their midst.” Oh, dear friends, do not wonder that we say this to you, there is more reason for you to wonder and to marvel that we have joined with them, than that we remain in their midst. What sensible children would leave the house of their father, if their father claims them as his own? Thus, is it not reasonable for us to remain with the Saints, while our God pours out his blessings on us, which give true comfort to our soul? Earlier when we read the scriptures, and saw the account of the blessings God gave to his children, they were totally unknown to us; but after joining the Saints, we have received such blessings for ourselves, which causes us such heavenly joy, yes, more than our tongues can utter, and more than your hearts can imagine, so that we rejoice to remain in the fellowship of the Saints, ZION’S TRUMPET. 125 for we have received the Holy Ghost in great power and certainty, through which we cry out Abba, Father; when we seek we find, and when we knock it is opened unto us. Therefore, for what reason do you marvel that we remain with the Saints; we know that our association is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, and we testify of that which we have both seen and felt; before, we lived in fear and doubt, but with the Saints, we have received “perfect love,” which casts out all fear; and now, we say, Oh, how lovely it is to remain in the fellowship of the Saints; and since it is so lovely now, how much more so will it be when we can meet together in a distant country, where there will not be one enemy to hurt, or where no one will say, “I am sick.” “Well, well,” say our friends, “an even greater surprise than all the rest; here is the greatest wonder yet, for you to be so foolish as to talk about leaving the land of your birth, and going to a land and inhabitants that are so ill spoken of, not only by your enemies, but also by many of your own brethren, who have sent letters back to their relatives and friends, warning them not to come there, because they have been so greatly disappointed in the land and its inhabitants.” There is no cause for you or anyone else, to marvel so greatly at even this; and you just need to calm down a bit, and we shall show you that that is not a sufficient cause for us not to go there. We have the history of Moses sending twelve men to spy on the land of Canaan, one from each tribe, and remember that all these men were the leaders of the children of Israel; and Moses sent them to look over the condition of the land of Canaan, and he said to them, “Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain; and see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; and what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not.” They went, and there was no doubt great anticipation in the camp, to see the heads or the leaders return; they thought for sure they would receive good intelligence from their own brethren. And at the end of forty days they returned to Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran, to meet with the congregation of the children of Israel; now, all were ready to listen to the news from the 126 ZION’S TRUMPET. brethren, which was this: “The people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great. We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature: and there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” They all gave dispraise, except for Caleb and Joshua, who cried, “Let us go up, and possess the land, which is flowing with milk and honey; for we are well able to overcome it.” Such brethren can exist in this age; nevertheless, we shall go, and we shall possess the land, for we know that God calls us to it. This is for your consideration, reader, of the reasons we have for being Saints, for the time being. Merthyr. Thomas Harries.

TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE.

From the “Dawn.”

Richard Davies, D. D., formerly the Bishop of St. David’s, was born in a place called Parson’s Mansion, Parish of Gyffin, Caernarvonshire, in Gwynedd. Dafydd ab Goronwy was the name of his father, of the family of Ithel Felyn, Lord of Ial, Denbighshire; and his mother’s name was Joaneth, daughter of Dafydd ab Richard ab Cynric, of the family of Ednowen Bendew, one of the Fifteen Tribes of Gwynedd. In the year 1550 he was presented to the Burnham Parish, near Windsor, in Buckinghamshire, by king Edward VI; but when Mary came to the throne he had to give up the Parish; and then he retreated to the continent, where he was until the reign of Elizabeth, at which time he returned, and the Parish was restored to him, at the ascension of Elizabeth to the Throne. On January 21, 1559, he was elevated to the Bishopric of St. Asaph; May 21, 1561, he received the Bishopric of St. David’s; or Menyw, as the Bishopric was called at that time; and in the year 1566, he was graduated as a D. D. (Doctor of Divinity), in London. The Bishop was a godly man, a famous Theologian, and an excellent scholar; he was also ZION’S TRUMPET. 127 a Bard, and he gave his presence, together with the Verses of his composition, to the Royal Eisteddfod of Caerwys, which was held the 26 of May, in the year 1567. In the same year as the Eisteddfod in Caerwys was held the Common Book of Prayer was first printed in Welsh, from the translation of Bishop Davies. In the following year, 1568, the current translation which we have of the English Bible was published. This edition is known as the Parker Bible, for it was under his supervision, at that time the Archbishop of Canterbury, that this Bible was brought through the press. He was assisted in this work by fifteen learned men, well versed in Greek and Hebrew; each scholar was given his section; and the section that fell to the part of Bishop Davies, about which godly English folk feel respect for the Welsh were the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, and II Samuel. Bishop Davies was buried in Abergwili Church, in the year 1581. William Salesbury, gentleman, from Caedu, Llansanan, Denbighshire, endeavored to translate parts of the scriptures following the Collects, in the year 1551. And in the year 1567, he published the entire New Testament for the Welsh; and that is the first ever to be published in Welsh; and the day it was first published should be held in revered remembrance by our nation; namely, October the 7th, 1567. Dear Children, remember the day, the month, and the year; also seek to obtain the splendid Lecture, and cheap at the price of four pence! Namely, “Grave of a Man of God,” which was given at the Abergwili Church, October the 7th, 1849, on the occasion of the erection of a Commemorative Monument for Bishop Davies, by the Rev. J. Jones, A. M., (Tegid), Nanhyfer, in Pembroke; on the monument is a brief and comprehensive account of the excellent men. Also, in “The Doctrinal Topics,” pages 171, 172, by the Rev. A. Jones, D. D., Bangor, Caernarvonshire, is an interesting account of W. Salesbury and Dr. Morgan. The reason it is called as the William Salesbury Testament, is because he translated the majority of it. The parts not translated by him were translated by Bishop Richard Davies; namely, the first Epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy,—the Epistle to the Hebrews,—and the Epistle of James the Apostle. The Revelation was 128 ZION’S TRUMPET.

translated by Thomas Huett, Head Cantor at St. David’s Cathedral. Perhaps some would be pleased to see a sample of the phraseology of W. Salesbury, from the first edition of the New Testament in Welsh: namely, from the beginning of his letter. “To all the Welsh who love the faith of their forefathers the ancient Britons. Grace, and peace from God the Father our Lord Jesus Christ.” As he finished he wrote the following:— “Your blood friend according to the flesh, and your brother of faith in Christ.—William Salesbury.” Plas Isaf, near Llanrwst, is where he lived during that year; many blessings came to Wales, poor before that, with the very precious writing of this good man; the Lord is due the reverence and worship which is presented to him by godly souls, for sending us such a fruit of a labor of love, gifts, learning, time, and riches of his servants, by giving us the New Testament in Welsh. Dr. William Morgan, from Wybrnant, Penmachno, Caernarvon shire, was the Priest of Llanrhaedr-yn-Mochnant, and after that he became the Bishop of St. Asaph. In the year 1562; namely, in the fifth year of the reign of Elizabeth, a Senate Act was passed commanding the Bishops of Wales and the Bishop of Hereford to translate the New and the Old Testament into Welsh, together with the Common Book of Prayer, and the Administration of the Sacraments, by the first day of March of the year 1566. And William Salesbury was appointed by the Bishops to be an assistant to them in this task, but it was not published, nor was it ready for the press when the determined time expired, which had been appointed by the Senate Act for it to appear. It is because of that, that we the Welsh do not have a translation of the Bible that can be called an Authorized Translation, as our neighbors the English have. And it is to William Morgan, who at that time was a Minister of the Llanrhaedr-yn- Mochnant Parish, and after that Dr. William Morgan, Bishop of St. Asaph, that we are indebted for the first translation of the entire Bible. He gathered together all the parts that had been translated, and finished the translation, and in the face of much fiery opposition, and persecuting obstacles, he was the first who gave the Welsh the entire Bible published in their language. It was the work of a unique man, unauthorized by the Senate to translate it; but despite the ZION’S TRUMPET. 129 attendant difficulty, and despite the strange, old custom of opposing every good initiative, the translation was finished, and all of the holy Bible was published in its entirety for the Welsh, by William Morgan, in the year 1588. The Names, to be respectfully remembered are, Richard Davies, D. D., Bishop of St. David’s; William Salesbury, Plas Isaf, near Llanrwst; and William Morgan, D. D., Bishop of St. Asaph. The years to be remembered unfadingly; the Book of Common Prayer was published, by Bishop Davies and Salesbury, 1567; the Testament of William Salesbury, October 7th, 1567; and the entire Bible by Dr. Morgan, in the year 1588. The famous Places, where they were born; Bishop Davies, at Plas y Person, Cyffin Parish, Caernarvonshire; William Salesbury, at Caedu, Llansanan Parish, Denbighshire; and Dr. Morgan, at Wybrnant, Penmachno Parish, Caernarvonshire; three places in the same neighborhood, and their steeples like the pillars of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, preserving the memory of the blessed men who were raised up as a great light to the Welsh, in an age of darkness. O that we could published their names, the years of the publication of their translations of the Holy Scriptures, and the places of birth of the translators, in golden letters as prominent as the silvery Moon! The Word of Truth declares, Prov. xx. 7. “The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” Every aged man and woman can easily say with Psalm xxxvii. 25, 26, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not see the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” And that is how it was, and how it is with the posterity of William Salesbury and Dr. Morgan.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

Dear Brother Davis,—Many stormy days and dark nights have gone by, since R. Evans, Glan Conwy, was among the names of the Elders of Israel; but he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, says Paul; and thus, I myself have been long hidden, but I have still kept to the path. Now, I wish to be more public; and first I send an appeal to all 130 ZION’S TRUMPET.

the Welsh Saints, wishing for an interest in their prayers, and asking their forgiveness for not having written sooner to them before now. If I can make a sound in the Trumpet, I shall testify still further that I know that this is the work of God, and the whole world cannot keep it from succeeding: yes, the deceitful among the Saints cannot hold it back, nor can the officers who neglect their service, nor those who are respecters of persons, and cause the righteous to go astray after vain things, &c. All these things God will shake out of this church, and he will bless his Saints. Dear Saints, who will rise up with me against the wicked? Who will stand with me against the workers of iniquity? I can testify that I know that Brigham Young, F. D. Richards, and W. S. Phillips, are servants of God, and I am determined to do my part under their leadership, and I testify that I have never opposed any counsel I have received, nor have I neglected any, whether easy or difficult to fulfill it. Now, I call on the Saints in West Glamorgan to renew themselves in the spirit of their minds, and to be diligent, and I will do so also; for it is seen as good by the Holy Ghost, and ourselves, that there should not be placed on you any burden beyond these things—that you may come to understand your work, and receive strength to finish it, so you will have the reward; and whoever flees away without notifying the president, will be punished. Swansea, March 29, 1852. R. Evans.

BOOK OF MORMON.

We are happy to notify our readers that the last segment of the Book of Mormon, in Welsh, is being sent out with this Trumpet; and we feel gratitude to God in our hearts, for endowing us with health and abilities to complete the task which we considered so important. The Welsh nation has reason to rejoice, that they have this treasure in their own language, and that on many considerations they now stand side by side with others of their brethren in privileges. We think that public gratitude should be given to God for his goodness toward us as a nation. Since the ink in new books require time to dry, it is not wise to ZION’S TRUMPET. 131 bind the Book of Mormon too soon, unless the binder is warned to refrain from putting undue pressure on it, so it will not cause it to be printed double. We will again receive volumes of the Book of Mormon to bind, the same as with the “Doc. and Cov.,” and for about the same price; and whoever wishes to have it bound handsomely and cheaply in London, may send his volume here, and we shall endeavor to see to it. We will be required to increase the price for those who do not come to seek their volumes promptly, after we have notified them that they have arrived from London, for we will pay for them as we receive them.

MOURNFUL LAMENT OF THE DEVIL.

Alas, my kingdom is failing, And bewildered through and through, From the effects of the kingdom of Shiloh The one that succeeds at every turn; It gets worse no matter which plan I devise, To prevent this increase, There is nothing that succeeds, In any corner of this wide world. Although I form splendid stories About the prophet Joseph Smith, No one believes they are true, They say they will not ever believe them; All understand that he was not a deceiver, And that he did not walk on water; Ouch, I see that my kingdom Is becoming a ruin quite sure. I have had a full twenty-two Very bitter years, Since the restoration of the kingdom of Shiloh In its full ordinances; The strength of those ordinances Are what is shattering my kingdom, And I have failed to keep my servants Sufficiently strong against them. There is no way for my servants Not to be fatigued and lamenting, For it is the selfsame spirit Which they and I have; They and I are filled with anger, For we truly know, That there is but little time, And we shall be defeated before long. Flint. Thos. Conway. 132 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Pamphlets.—Lowering of Prices.—From now on, the pamphlets that are now sold for 7s 6c. per hundred for the branches, will be available for 7s; and those for 6s 6c, for 6s; and those for 3s 6c., for 3s, &c. A new list of prices will be published, perhaps, with the next Trumpet. All Conferences and Branches who wish may obtain the Lectures on Miracles, in about 4 or 6 numbers at a penny each; send the information by the 8th of May, so that we will not publish many more than are called for.

The Debt.—We hope that the Presidents will make every effort to collect all the book debts without delay. It is staggering to think that over £100 are unpaid for the last quarter, in a small office like this one.

BOOK DEBTS FROM THE CONFERENCES, BRANCHES, AND OTHERS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING APRIL 13, 1852.

Conferences.—Monmouthshire, £37 6s 10½c; Breconshire, £7 3s 7½c; Carmarthenshire, £27 8s 2¼c; Cardiganshire, £9 2s 1¼c; North Pembroke, £1 18s 3½c; West Glamorgan, £57 5s 3c; Merionethshire, £6 7s 9½c; Flintshire, £13 11s 2c; Anglesey, £18 16s 8¾c; Dyffryn Conwy, £2 18s 6c; Denbighshire, £14 17s 9½c; Liverpool, £1 6s 11¼c. Branches.—Dinas, £1 7s 5c; Llanilltyd, £6 1s 10c; Pontytypridd, £9 18s 9c; Llanfabon, £3 13s 9½c; Cwmbach, £3 18s 8½c; Pendeulwyn, £1 8s 6c; Twynyrodyn, £1 17s 3½c; Llandaff, £1 17s 5c; Gostwng, 11s 1c; Eglwysnewydd, £1 17s 7c; Pontfaen, £1 12s 4c; Cardiff, £12 17s 6c; Aberdare, £16 11s 2½c; Aberaman, £5 11s 5c; Dowlais, £5 16s 5¾c; Hirwaun, £2 4s 9½c; Cwmnedd, £2 2s 7½c; Rhymney, £3 10s 10½c; Georgetown, £3 17s 2c; Merthyr, £4 3s 5½c; Pendaren, £5 2s 11½c; Cefn, £1 16s; Ynysgau, 15s 2½c; Gwernllwyn, £4 11s; Ffynnon Tydfil, £4 3s 5c; Troedyrhiw, 6s 3c; Gog, £1 9s 5c. Persons.—T. Pugh, 12s; Dd. Edwards, formerly Tongwyrddlas, £1 8s 5c; David John, 9s 6c; Rees Thomas, 4s 6c; Thos. Richards, 4s; Joseph Rogers, 2s; David Davies, 3s.— Total, £310 11s 5¾c. Payments from April 1 to April 13.—Monmouthshire, £6; Dinas, £1; Pontytypridd, £1 7s; Aberdare, 13s; Merthyr, £3 16s.—Total, £12 16s. We wish to notify our Distributors that we have looked over our accounts from the beginning, and that all the errors have been corrected, until the end of this quarter which ends with the completion of the Book of Mormon. We shall endeavor to note the errors in the billings which we will send out now.  The publication of the next Trumpet will be delayed until the 8th of May.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 9.] MAY 8, 1852. [VOL. I V.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL Of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Held at 23, Ratcliffe Terrace, Goswell-street Road, Islington, London, on the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of April, 1852.

Tuesday Morning, April 6.

Officers present:—Of the Twelve Apostles—Erastus Snow, Ex-President of the Danish Mission, and Franklin D. Richards, President of the British Churches. Counselors to the President of the British Churches—Levi Richards, and Samuel W. Richards. President of the Danish Mission—Willard Snow. President of the French Mission—Curtis E. Bolton. President of the Welsh Church—William Phillips. Counselors to the President of the Welsh Church—Thomas Pugh. Pastors—Jacob Gates, Cyrus H. Wheelock, Robert Campbell, Appleton M. Harmon, and Moses Clawson. Presidents of Conferences—James Marsden, John Lyon, Abraham Marchant, John Hyde, sen., George Halliday, Claudius V. Spencer, John Albiston, Joseph W. Young, Thomas Squires, William Speakman, John O. Angus, Henry Savage, Vincent Shurtleff, James F. Bell, John V. Long, James Mc. Naughton, Robert C. Menzies, William Brewerton, William G. Mills, Job 9 134 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Smith, William McGhie, Matthew Rowan, George Kendall, Richard Rostron, John Carmichael, James T. Hardy, John W. Lewis, Edward Frost, Charles Derry, and Martin Slack. Traveling Elders—James W. Works, and Dorr P. Curtis. At half past ten o’clock, President F. D. Richards called the Council to order, and requested Elder J. V. Long to act as Reporter. The Council was opened by singing Hymn 227, “Come all ye sons of Zion;” after which President F. D. Richards offered up the following prayer:— O God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, we desire this morning to appear before thee, and with humble supplication ask for the forgiveness of all our sins and follies which thou hast discovered in any of us. We pray that thou wilt bestow upon us thy royal favor, and the approving influence of thy Holy Spirit, that we may feel that spirit copiously poured out upon us; for this purpose we come together, that we may be the better qualified to carry on thy work in this region of country, and we humbly pray that thou wilt look with mercy upon us. We sense that thou knowest us altogether. Do thou grant that we may have holy boldness in our meeting together, that our prayers may come up before thee. Wilt thou make the Holy Spirit to overshadow us while in this place, that every man who may speak, may speak in the power of the Holy Spirit, that thy blessings may be upon us and upon all our devices, that the Conferences in these lands may be strengthened through our counsels and assembling together this morning. We feel to give unto thee the glory for thy blessings already conferred upon us; thou hast given unto us many people who love us; thou hast made them to feel that our counsels are of thee, and that they have life when they abide in them. We pray that we may ever be worthy of these blessings from thee: may Thy Holy Spirit in us be as a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life; that hundreds and thousands may be brought to a knowledge of the truth through our instrumentality. We humbly pray also that thou wilt bless our brethren on foreign missions, and all those who are not with us of the Presidents of Conferences and Branches; do thou make them to feel the weight of responsibility that rests upon them, that they may seek to enjoy thy Spirit, and be sufficiently qualified to fill their ZION’S TRUMPET. 135 important stations with honor before thee, that they may not have the name of Presidents, and be incompetent to discharge the duties which pertain thereto. Do thou send forth thy Spirit into our hearts to teach us in what manner to officiate in thy work, that while the enemies of this cause are reporting slander, and heaping contumely upon it, we may be able to show that we are thy children, that we may be enabled to magnify our callings whereunto we are called. We pray that thou wilt cause those who try to frustrate thy designs, to be put to silence. Notwithstanding the anathemas that have been poured out upon them, thou hast sustained thy servants and people, and thou hast opened up the way by which they have been preserved, so that they are now gaining notoriety in the world. We pray that thou wilt pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant Brigham: we thank thee that thou hast made his voice terrible to evildoers, insomuch that those who have designed to injure thy people have fled before thy power, manifested through thy servant Brigham. Continue to bless him we pray thee, that thy mind and will may come forth; even from him whom thou in thy goodness hast placed to teach thy people in all the world. We also pray that thou wilt bless each of us now before thee with health, and spirit and power, that in all places we may, in connection with all thy servants, be a terror to evildoers, that we may rejoice together in thy goodness. We pray for thy Spirit to be more abundantly given unto thy Saints in these lands, that they may grow and increase in the knowledge of the truth. We thank thee for the liberality that thy Saints have manifested in regard to the temple, which thou hast commanded to be built, that thy Saints may enter therein and receive their blessings according to thy promises. Bless those, O Lord, who are rendering their ready responses toward establishing various kinds of manufactories in Zion; prosper them in their important and laudable undertakings. And we pray thee likewise to bless thy servants brother Smoot and brother Haight, who are on their way with a company of thy people to the home of the Saints; may they be successful in keeping thy Saints together who are under the charge, until they get to the valleys of the mountains. And now, O Lord, as we are together, and some of our families in the valleys, do thou bless them with all blessings needful, and 136 ZION’S TRUMPET. preserve them from all evil, and grant that they may live to rear up generations yet to come. We ask thee to bless thy Saints in foreign parts,—in Denmark, and in Germany. Bless Brother Forssgren, and we pray that thou wilt bless thy servant Willard Snow, who is about to repair to Denmark, to take charge of that important mission; grant that he may feel thy spirit richly to dwell with him, that he may realize the spirit of his mission. And bless thy servant Brother Bolton in his labors in France; grant, that although there are many difficulties to put up with in that land, that he may be enabled to do much towards establishing thy work there upon a safe and sure footing. We ask thee to bless brother Parley P. Pratt, in South America: wilt thou give him thy royal favor, and grant that he may be enabled to publish thy Gospel in the Spanish language, and thereby lay the foundation for a great and mighty work among the children of Joseph. Bless our brethren in Australasia, and on the South Sea Islands; may they likewise be eminently successful in bringing about thy purposes on those distant islands. We would not forget thy servant Lorenzo Snow, who has a very important mission to fulfil; preserve him from all the dangers to which he may be exposed, and may he be the means of establishing thy Church in Malta, and also among the various Hindu nations which he may visit; and may blessings be with all who are called to be coworkers with him. We thank thee for what thou hast done by Brother Willis in the East Indies, and grant that he may continue to prosper and bring many to know thee, the true and living God. We pray that thy servant Brigham, with his Counselors, Heber and Willard, may be blessed more abundantly, that success may attend their every effort for the promotion of thy truth, and the upbuilding of thy Kingdom. O Lord do thou bless me, thy servant before thee; thou hast blessed me in my weakness, and for this I feel to praise thee in the midst of these my brethren. And now, we feel to commit ourselves and our little meeting to thee; and when we separate, may we have to exclaim, It has been good to wait upon thee. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. (To be continued.) ZION’S TRUMPET. 137

THE WORD AND WILL OF THE LORD. Given at the Winter Quarters of the Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation, West Bank of Missouri River, near Council Bluffs, January 14, 1847.

The Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West. Let all the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies, with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God. Let the companies be organized with Captains of Hundreds, Captains of Fifties, and Captains of Tens, with a President and his two Counselors at their head, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles; and this shall be our covenant, that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord. Let each company provide themselves with all the teams, wagons, provisions, clothing, and other necessaries for the journey that they can. When the companies are organized, let them go to with their might, to prepare for those who are to tarry. Let each company with their Captains and Presidents decide how many can go next spring; then choose out a sufficient number of able-bodied and expert men, to take teams, seeds, and farming utensils, to go as Pioneers to prepare for putting in spring crops. Let each company bear an equal proportion, according to the dividend of their property, in taking the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the families of those who have gone into the army, that the cries of the widow and the fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord against this people. Let each company prepare houses and fields for raising grain, for those who are to remain behind this season, and this is the will of the Lord concerning his people. Let every man use all his influence and property to remove this people to the place where the Lord shall locate a stake of Zion; and if ye do this with a pure heart, in all faithfulness, you shall be blessed; you shall be blessed in your flocks, and in your herds, and in your fields, and in your houses, and in your families. Let my servants Ezra T. Benson and Erastus Snow organize a 138 ZION’S TRUMPET. company; and let my servants Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodruff organize a company. Also, let my servants Amasa Lyman and George A. Smith organize a company; and appoint Presidents, and Captains of Hundreds, and of Fifties, and of Tens, and let my servants that have been appointed go and teach this my will to the Saints, that they may be ready to go to a land of peace. Go thy way and do as I have told you, and fear not thine enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my work. Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time, and if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest. Seek ye, and keep all your pledges one with another, and covet not that which is thy brother’s. Keep yourselves from evil, to take the name of the Lord in vain, for I am the Lord your God, even the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. I am He who led the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and my arm is stretched out in the last days to save my people Israel. Cease to contend one with another. Cease to speak evil one of another. Cease drunkenness, and let your words tend to edifying one another. If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt return that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not repay, then go straight way and tell thy neighbor, lest he condemn thee. If thou shalt find that which thy neighbor has lost, thou shalt make diligent search till thou shalt deliver it to him again. Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward. If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your soul may be joyful. Fear not thine enemies, for they are in mine hands, and I will do my pleasure with them. My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion, and he that will not bear chastisement, is not worthy of my kingdom. Let him that is ignorant ZION’S TRUMPET. 139 learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear, for my spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly. Thy brethren have rejected you and your testimony, even the nation that has driven you out; and now cometh the day of their calamity, even the days of sorrow, like a woman that is taken in travail; and their sorrow shall be great, unless they speedily repent; yea, very speedily; for they killed the Prophets, and they that were sent unto them, and they have shed innocent blood, which crieth from the ground against them: therefore marvel not at these things, for thou are not pure; thou canst not yet bear my glory; but thou shalt behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you from the days of Adam to Abraham; from Abraham to Moses; from Moses to Jesus Christ and his Apostles; and from Jesus Christ and his apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did call upon by mine Angels, my ministering servants; and by mine own voice out of the Heavens, to bring forth my work, which foundation he did lay, and was faithful and I took him to myself. Many have marveled because of his death, but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored, and the wicked might be condemned. Have I not delivered you from your enemies, only in that I have left a witness of my name. Now, therefore, hearken, O ye people of my Church; and ye Elders listen together; you have received my kingdom, be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you.—So no more at present. Amen, and Amen.

EPISTLE OF A CONFERENCE PRESIDENT TO THE SAINTS UNDER HIS CARE.*

Dear Saints,—Allow me to call your attention to some things that pertain to you in the present days. Since our God is the author of order, and it is necessary to keep all things that are taught by his

*The substance of this Epistle was taught by President Phillips at the General Conference of Officers on the 26th and 27th of April; and we thought it better to leave out the name of the Conference, and apply the Epistle to the Saints of every other Conference.—Editor. 140 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Spirit through his servants, it is proper that you be aware of the measures established through the unanimous voice of the Priesthood on your behalf. Therefore, I shall strive to cause the Trumpet to give an extraordinary sound, so that you may prepare (1 Cor. xiv, 8); for we hope to have the cooperation of every one of you, for you know that this is the work of God; therefore, remember that this is the work of God, believing in the one he has sent, and since it is to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that Christ was sent, and the apostles were sent to the Gentiles, so it is also that we have been sent to you; consequently, we shall teach to each one his own lesson, and no one has time to search and find fault with other work, and leave his own work behind. First, the branch President: this person must be humble and obedient to every call he may have, being ready to accept everything that may be given to him to do, with neither anger nor argument. He must also govern over his wife, and not be governed by her; for unless a man can govern himself and his wife, how can he take care of the church of God? Also every mother must govern over her children; otherwise, she cannot have part in the kingdom; for unless she can govern over her own, how can she reign? Therefore, if the wife governs the husband, and the children govern their parents, they will all be damned, and there is no redemption. Also the President must have government over the officers under his supervision, so that he may say to one, Go, and he will go, and to another Come, and he will come, and to another, Do this, and he will do it; otherwise, neither he nor they will be saved. It is not appropriate for the President to think himself a better preacher than anyone else, for he was not placed to be a preacher, rather to preside; therefore, it would be a strange thing to see a supervisor doing everything himself, with all the workers standing and watching him. It is not in public meetings that the President is recognized, rather in the council; for there he is like a chairman to keep order, and like a judge to determine important causes, and like a supervisor to send every servant to his own task. The President should be heard by all the officers as to what they are to teach to the ZION’S TRUMPET. 141

Saints, and when each one is to visit those who are under his care, for appropriate order makes all things orderly. Second, counselors of the President: these are to watch into each case, such as questioning those who bring an accusation to the council, &c., so that the accused may have justice, and that nothing will be done impulsively or partially; the counselors also are to teach the officers how to carry out their respective tasks. You see that it is the Father who is the President of all the work of our salvation, but it is the Son who is the Wondrous Counselor, and it is he who has taught us to organize all things. Also it is the Holy Ghost who takes from the Son and shows it unto us (Isaiah ix, 6; John xvi, 15). Therefore, when counselors are under the Spirit of their offices, they can teach the elders how to visit the Saints every month without fail, and teach them what are the gifts of the Holy Ghost, so the young Saints can recognize its effects; and that is how the elders can know of what spirit the member is, for the gift of discerning spirits shows the difference between the work of God and the work of men. Prove the spirits whether they are of God; but the elders who neglect these things, cannot see the glory of their calling; and he who does not learn his own lesson, will not be able to stand. Third, the scribe of the Branch. His task is to keep correct records of all things, such as each one who is baptized, and who is received by letter, every child who is blessed, &c., also, the departure of each one, or the death, or the cutting off. Although these things are so clear, some are negligent, and do not keep a record of them. He also needs to be particular with the council minutes, so that important things are written understandably, and so that things that are decided there, will be put into action afterwards. Also, he needs to write in a book suited to the purpose an account of every meeting the Saints hold, whether it is a prayer or a testifying meeting; not recording what each one says, but noting what kind of meeting it was; and if something special is taught, to note what it was, and not how it was taught, such as, “The President taught the Priests to preach—the Teachers to feed the Saints—the Deacons to take care of the collections—the members to practice cleanliness, and to come to the meetings.” Each member should also keep his own 142 ZION’S TRUMPET. record of the most noteworthy things in his life, and the place he was born, and when, where and when his parents were married, and where and when his ancestors were buried. If these things are necessary according to English law in order to receive inheritance, how much more so among the tribes of Israel? He who does not do this, will regret it. Fourth, the book kept by the branch distributor. He is to counsel with the President as to what books are needed, and to make sure that all who ask for books receive them, and that they should not receive them without paying for them; for the money for books is not a debt to the publisher, rather a debt to the Church; therefore, whoever is deceitful with this money, shall not escape unpunished, for he is robbing God as to the things God has organized to build his kingdom. And not so much as one book is to stay in anyone’s hands, or to be given as a present to anyone, unless care is taken to pay for it; and whosoever spends book money for something else, will be punished, and he cannot gain forgiveness until he makes restitution to the church for that. If books are on hand, it is better for the members to purchase them, even if they are worth only a shilling each, and sell them to their neighbors and their acquaintances. And may the blessing of God the All-wealthy Father be on every faithful Saint, Amen. R. Evans.

LETTER FROM GREAT SALT LAKE CITY TO THE EDITOR OF THE “TRUMPET.” Great Salt Lake City, January 31, 1852.

Dear Brother Davis,—With delight and pleasure I write to you again from the far west, hoping that this little paper will reach you safely, and that you are enjoying health and temporal and spiritual success, which is the wish of your old friend. The earlier time in Llanybydder comes to mind often, when we were small babies newly born in the fold of the good Shepherd. Great was the joy we felt at that time, when there were but four of us holding our meetings in my old home (Glantrenfawr), and asking for great things from our kind Father; and greater was our joy when we would get an answer to that ZION’S TRUMPET. 143 which we had requested, and that we also knew at the time that our closest neighbors, and our relatives whom we loved so dearly, were bereft of those truths about which we had already come to know. We had not been there long before some others enlisted under the same banner as we, ourselves. Some of our neighbors complained at that time that old Captain Jones (as they said) had deceived us, that we had promised all we had to him, &c., which neither they nor anyone else could prove one word of truth in it until this day. At that time several faithful brethren came to us, namely, brothers Abel Evans and Thomas Harries, and others, who were of great benefit to us through their valuable counsels, and the greater experience which they had had in the Church of Jesus Christ. When in that condition, and increasing gradually, the father of lies and his children raged greatly against us, until we came to be the target and scorn of some nearby reverends; but all worked out to our good. You will remember that letter that I received from Capt. D. S. Davies, Dolau, threatening me so greatly because of the religion I professed, calling the Saints, poor things, “The damned night deepers that leadeth the people away down to hell;” but the Lord saw fit to bless us in proportion to the persecution we suffered. It would be too lengthy for me now to mention old Dark Daniel, and other cruel persecutors, for I know that they all shall receive justice in the day to come, when the secrets of all hearts will be examined. Forgive me, dear brother, for writing that which you know already; it is a pleasure for me to write and remember former times. Now, I venture to give some of our story here to you. Several of the nation of the Welshmen came here last fall, and all of them are enjoying excellent health. Shortly after they came here, I had the honor of baptizing about 18 of them the same day; they were confirmed in my own house; after baptizing them, the Lord poured out his Spirit on them in abundance, and on us also in an extraordinary manner as we administered. No wonder we feel good, for love and joy dwell in every heart. The ordinance of baptism is necessary for all of the Saints to obey after coming here. Our revered president Brigham Young and his counselors, and the twelve, gave obedience to the above ordinance when they came here, renewing 144 ZION’S TRUMPET. their covenants to the Lord to live faithfully, &c. Everything is going along well here; the storehouse of the Lord is being filled quickly; we anticipate more and more blessings continually, because the promise is on our side. The Lord said through the prophet, “Will I not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it?” Hosts of the Saints last year received their endowments, and they continue to be given again this year. Several of the Welsh had the extremely high honor of receiving it also. I say to you, brother Davis, blessed are those humble and faithful (and I fully believe that you are one of those), for there are many blessings for them which they have not hitherto had. I do not possess the words or expression to describe the excellence, glory and wisdom of the holy order that my Master, my goodly Father, has established to bring his children to receive an inheritance of eternal life. Several large houses were built here last year by the Church, and preparations are now being made to make large walls around the Temple Block; soon no doubt an excellent temple will be seen here, the like of which has not been seen in this dispensation, if the Saints continue as faithful as they are at present. Their diligence and faithfulness, and their success, are a matter of wonder for the world, and they do not really know what to say or what to think about us; but they admit that there is something wondrous about us. Oh, that they were wise, that they understood that the invisible hand of the Lord is protecting and keeping his children daily, although he suffers the enemies of the Saints to persecute them from place to place, from city to city, until finally they persecute them to the wilderness, about a thousand miles from all settlements of white people. This is good that we are so far from them; we may have calm here to worship our God, “with no one to hurt us or to make us afraid,” for the mobs of Missouri and Illinois are too far away. We do not hear in this quiet city here the cruel blasphemies, namely deceivers, satanists, and false prophets, &c., &c. Oh, how lovely is the dwelling of brothers together, far from the Pharisees and hypocrites of this age; but no matter how far we are, several of the Gentiles come past us, who are sick from yellow fever. They are desirous of gathering before their golden god in Lower California; they stay here but a short time. ZION’S TRUMPET. 145

Why? Because the Spirit of the living God reigns here; for sinners in Zion are filled with fear, terror, and horror. Yet, we baptize a few of the honest in heart of the blood of Ephraim who come here in their midst. Such are happy and rejoice with us in the salvation of our God. When will I see you here, dear brother? Doubtless you would like to be in the great source of light and knowledge, which with its crystalline waters goes quickly to the four corners of the earth; but yet, perhaps duty calls you to stay there for a while; if so, you lose nothing, but it is a loss to those who refuse to come here when the way is open to them to come. How sweet it is to listen to the counsels of our president Brigham and his counselors, together with the Twelve in their turn: they show so clearly our duties in this Church, and the great reward that comes from fulfilling them. What is the wisdom of the Colleges of the world compared to God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and the powerful works of the Holy Ghost? I answer, nothing; for their wisdom is carnal, earthly, for they do not believe the things from above; they oppose godly wisdom, and the power of God in our age, just as they did in every age when the priesthood was on the earth. I must end; and if you see this letter as worthy of appearing in your Trumpet, it is at your discretion; and if it appears in the Trumpet, I say again to those of the Saints who read it, Flee, flee to Zion, according to the counsel of the servants of God, the presidency in Wales. I wish very much to hear from my relatives, my Father, and David, my brother, and my sister Sarah, if they have not started toward here. I wish for the family of Cefncrwth, Meidrim, to send a letter to me; I would very much love to see them here, and I hope that what I have said to them will stay in their minds. I wish for my mother-in-law to send a letter to me frequently. My wife joins with me, together with brothers Benjamin Jones, Sadler, and Richard Jones, in sending fond regards to you and brother Thomas Harries. Farewell for a while, dear brother, Your humble servant, Thomas Jeremy. 146 ZION’S TRUMPET.

FALSE SPIRITS.

The Lord, through his prophet Joseph Smith, declared that many false spirits had gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world; and just so it is. It appears to be one of the most difficult tasks imaginable, for the world to speak the truth about the marvelous and wonderful work of God, and his servants. If an individual goes to hear our Elders preach, or lecture, it seems almost impossible for him to return to his friends and render them a correct version of what he has heard. If the people report things to our evil, they invariably overshoot the mark. If a few speak in favor of us, they often laud us to the skies. A truthful equilibrium is the last point obtained. A recent number of a respectable journal informs us that “The Mormonite population of the Territory of Utah is credibly estimated at 300,000.” We know not on what authority this journal obtained its “credible estimation,” but we certainly believe it to be a long way outside the truth. This item of intelligence would lead us to suppose that the Latter-day Saints from all the nations of the earth had simultaneously poured themselves into the Territory of Utah; or, that Joseph Walker, the celebrated Indian Chief, had prevailed upon the multitudinous tribes of his red brethren to amalgamate and fraternize with the Saints. One thing, however, we are sure of; much as they are despised, the world will have to look through “Mormon Spectacles,” ere it finds out the undisguised Truth.—Editor of the Star.

EISTEDDFOD OF THE SAINTS.

An Eisteddfod of oratory, recitation, and singing, was held on the 26th of April, in Merthyr Tydfil, toward paying the debts of the Conference; and the occasion was presided over by brother Dewi Elfed Jones. The meeting was spent in a pleasurable fashion, and to the general satisfaction. Among other things that took place at this Eisteddfod, we can specify that we had the honor of presenting President Phillips with a handsome copy of the Book of Mormon in the Welsh Language, which had a moving effect on all of those present. The scene will be long remembered. On the occasion we spoke only the impromptu language of our hearts, which will always travel far; and the revered President Phillips answered us in a similar fashion. Each one was glad to take hold of this excellent book, considering that we had had the privilege of being instruments of the Lord in bringing it forth to the nation of the Welsh. And after our brother Phillips took his seat, brother R. Evans, Glan Conwy, arose, to recite the following verses:— ZION’S TRUMPET. 147

True, sweet rejoicing, public and deserving, Was had appropriately and truly refreshingly; The treasure that was hidden in Cumorah was obtained, It has been translated into the language of the sons of Gwalia. Praise be to God for showing the treasure, And for giving permission for the chest to be opened; And the labor in translating it will be remembered, Among the feats accomplished in Wales. The work was finished through labor and toil, And given as a gift to the President, a happy man; Long live the Translator, and the President to guide us, And praise for the book in the dialect of the Welshman.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Common Law in Utah.—“The man who seduces his neighbor’s wife must die, and her nearest relative must kill him.” So do the Saints put away wickedness from their midst.

The “Star.”—In a Special General Conference, which was held lately in London, it was determined that the “Millennial Star” will come out every week from now on, in the same size and for the same price as before. This is yet another sign of the success of Mormonism. Over twenty-three thousand of this valuable periodical will be published weekly, which will have a strong effect in shattering the kingdom of the enemy and lifting up the name of Christ.

Defense of the Mormons.—A correspondent in Philadelphia of the Manchester Examiner says:—“I have noticed the utterly untrue and vain accounts of the tumult of the Mormons in Salt Lake, and their unwillingness toward the federal government, &c. Many of these that are mentioned are erroneous and exaggerated, and inappropriately tend to cast undeserved insult on that deceived and misguided, but diligent, frugal and successful society; for it has clearly been shown through more recent information, and through being able to hear the two sides of the controversy, that the judges and the other officers who were sent out by the government in Washington, have behaved in an arrogant and improper manner, and are more to blame than are the Mormons. It is beyond argument that the Mormons have been highly successful, and on the whole contented and happy, in their new settlement, and their numbers are rapidly increasing.—Liverpool Journal.

The bill regulating the wages of the Territorial Officers becameengrossed in the United States Senate yesterday (March 23). The Bill repeals the Act 148 ZION’S TRUMPET. that prevents officers from withdrawing their wages when they are away from their stations for over sixty days; rather it requires that their absence, from now on, must be approved by the President. It is likely that this measure was intended for those gentlemen who deemed it wise, for their own personal benefit, to leave Utah suddenly.—New York Herald.

Book of Mormon in Italian.—We have just seen a volume of the Book of Mormon in this above language, translated and published under the supervision of Elder Lorenzo Snow. We are happy to see this book coming forth in different languages.

J. Taylor.—Elder John Taylor and his company arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 17th of March, all healthy and in good spirits.

Congress.—The “New York Herald” gives an account of two members of Congress fighting with one another in the house, because one said the other was telling a lie. There was considerable commotion, but it appears that the two asked forgiveness, which was given them.

Letters have been received from Elders Eliezer Edwards, Henry Evans, and others, reporting they have reached New Orleans, and that they had a very comfortable voyage.

Conferences of the North.—The Flintshire Conference will be held on the 16th of May; Denbighshire, on the 23rd; Dyffryn Conwy, on the 30th; Anglesey, on the 6th of June; and Merionethshire, on the 13th.

Payments from April 14 to May 5—Monmouthshire, £4; Breconshire, £1 11s; Cardiganshire, £1; Pembrokeshire, 12s; West Glamorgan, £6; Flintshire, £1; Anglesey, 12s; Dyffryn Conwy, £1 12s 6c; Denbighshire, £6 0s 7½c; Llanilltyd, £2 6s 8c; Pontytypridd, £2 11s; Llanfabon, £2 7s 7c; Cwmbach, £1 11s; Pendeulwyn, £1 8s 6c; Twynyrodyn, £1 17s 3½c; Llandaff, 9s 8c; Gostwng, 3s 9c; Eglwysnewydd, £1 17s 7c; Aberdare, £2 12s 3c; Aberaman, £2; Dowlais, £1 8s 0½c; Hirwaun, £2 4s 9½c; Cwmnedd, £1; Rhymey, £3; Georgetown, £1 5s 6c; Merthyr, £4 3s 5½c; Pendaren, 16s; Gwernllwyn, £4 11s; Ffynnon Tydfil, £2 0s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 6s 3c.—Total £62 8s 7½c. If anyone has segments 2, 7, and 9 of the “Doc. and Cov.” for sale, we would like to purchase them; also issue 14 of the “Trumpet” for 1851. Numbers 7, 8, and 28 of the Prophet of the Jubilee are also needed; and whoever can spare them, we shall pay full price for them. Send all correspondence, orders, and book payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 10.] MAY 15, 1852. [VOL. I V.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL

Of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Continued from page 136.] The congregation sang the fifth Hymn, “Great is the Lord,” &c.; after which, President Richards delivered the following address:— I feel very happy that we have so full a number of the Presidents of Conferences, and the leading authorities of the Church in these lands, present with us, that we may be enabled to come to a definite and clear understanding of the state of the Churches. My particular object in calling this meeting is to bring out your feelings freely, and I will promise that you will feel, before you leave, that you have friends, and that your friends are here in this meeting. If any of the brethren feel to differ with me, or if any of my brethren have suggestions on any of the subjects that may come before us, they must speak out, for they can do it here. If we can get rid of our imperfections and be united in all things, we shall be greatly refreshed by our assembling together. I shall take this opportunity of laying before you the general business which is to be considered during this Council. There are two or three Conferences without presidents, and I shall endeavor, before we close, to find out some of the best men in the kingdom 10 150 ZION’S TRUMPET. to preside over them. Some of you have applied to me for Traveling Elders; this will be the most favorable opportunity of making known your minds in relation to these things; and whatever we are agreed upon, will be pleasing in the sight of God. Another very important item that will come before us, is the appointment of my successor to the Presidency of the Churches in these lands, and, brethren, I wish you to exercise the privilege which you have of expressing your feelings upon this highly important question. We want also to know if there are a number of brethren to be found who can form themselves into a company to go to the Valley, and commence the manufacture of Iron. We must also take into consideration the propriety and expedience of enlarging the “Star!” This is a subject of the highest importance to you and to the British Churches. The life of the Prophet Joseph is coming out in the “Deseret News.” We have quantities of it in the office at Liverpool, and Elder Willard Richards has promised to give us continuous pieces on this subject, and I am of opinion, that this matter will take well among the Saints generally; and unless the Star be enlarged, we shall not be able to publish it. But I did not feel to enlarge the pages of the paper, but instead of a sheet in each number, I thought to publish a sheet and a half; and therefore I name the matter here for your consideration, and brethren this is the place where you can speak freely upon this, and all other subjects that may come before you: therefore, speak out upon this important subject when we come to it, in order that we may ascertain what will best suit the Conferences generally. Another item is this, during our sitting I shall endeavor to have every President and every Pastor to represent the condition and the prospects of their respective fields of labor, not only as regards the work of the Lord, but the work of the devil also, that we may be prepared to stand against every thing which may come in opposition to the work of God. And when you are called upon to do this, I wish you to be as brief as possible, and yet feel that you can do it in the ZION’S TRUMPET. 151 dignity and strength of your calling. And in order that all business pertaining to this Council may be done the more profitably, I shall call upon Elder Erastus Snow to throw in his wisdom and intelligence, that we may be blessed more abundantly; also Elder Levi Richards, who has been traveling among you as a Counselor to the Presidency, and my Brother Samuel, who has been with me in the office of late, more particularly to assist in the business of this day. There is another thing, brethren, to be brought before you, and for which I called you together. When Brother Joseph was alive, he used to submit himself to the brethren, and say, “Do you feel that my way is right, and that I am what I ought to be?” Well, brethren, I feel to take your expression, and see if you are satisfied with me, and the course I have taken during my Presidency in the British Isles, for you are the men, in connection with my Counselors, to feel after me, to know my course, and to say what you really feel about it. Although Brother Joseph was under no obligation to the people, because God, and not they, appointed him, but when he had their confidence, he felt that his brethren supported him; and if I can feel this, I shall go to Zion rejoicing before the Lord. If any of you differ from me in your views, make that difference known, and your feelings and views shall be regarded in my bosom as mine would be in yours. And I feel to pray that the blessings of the Lord may be with us while we are here. And if you feel desirous to have bread and wine brought in, and partake together, you shall, and we will rejoice together, and not go away until we feel disposed. I shall give way for the brethren to express their feelings upon the subject. Erastus Snow said—I shall not take from the Presidents of Conferences their prerogative of supporting President Richards, because they know his course, and will desire to express their feelings in relation to him; but it is a pleasure, and imparts feelings of great satisfaction, to be with him, and to hear his counsels and instructions. There is no man in the room that does, more than myself, despise empty puffing; but although President Richards is 152 ZION’S TRUMPET. the youngest member of the quorum of the Twelve, yet, from the commencement, I have derived much pleasure and comfort from his counsel, and have derived much benefit from him. I have felt, while in Denmark, a measure of strength and support in consideration of Brother Richards standing so near me. Would it be the pleasure of the Conference here to express their feeling in regard to his manner and course (I don’t know that it would be agreeable to Brother Richards), in a motion that would convey the real and spontaneous feelings or expressions of your hearts? And if you are not prepared now, you will be before you separate, to present it in such form as you would like the best. Elder Jacob Gates rose and said,—My heart has been made to rejoice in the course that has been taken by President Richards. Every movement, so far as I can recollect, has been delightsome to my soul. I have known him for some time, and his course has always been the same. I had the privilege of being associated with him some years ago, on a mission to the State of Indiana, and I saw then that he was upward; and although he has outstripped me, yet I rejoice that I am right by his side; and I feel that what he has been deficient of, the Spirit of Revelation has made up. * * * I feel that some brethren should be appointed to draw up a memorial to be presented to President F. D. Richards, as an expression of our esteem and high regard for him. I pray that the Spirit of Revelation may rest upon those who draw up the memorial. Amen. Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock said,—I have pleasure, and feel thankful for the privilege of speaking for myself, and the Conferences over which I have the honor of presiding. As President Richards wished to know their minds, I believe that there has been no man in England who has had more of the feelings of the people than Franklin D. Richards. I recollect crossing the sea with him in time gone by, and although I had no idea of him being in this position, yet I saw his faithfulness, and when he thought no eye saw but the eye of God. And since he has been set apart to the quorum of the Twelve, I have prospered by adhering to his counsels and instructions; and so ZION’S TRUMPET. 153 it is with the Conferences over which I preside; and it is a satisfaction to me, and to him, to know that I have never heard a man, woman, or child offer prayer without naming him. I have heard many speak of him in different parts, both in public and private, and they all express their sorrow at his having to go. He is a man that I have ever found deep and refulgent in counsel, sharp in reproof, when needed, and it has been for my good. I pray that heaven’s choicest blessings may rest upon him, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Elder John Hyde, sen., said,—If you will permit one so young as I am to make a few remarks, I will say a few words in reference to this subject. I recollect hearing Elder Banks speak of the prophecies of Elders F. D. and Samuel W. Richards, delivered some years ago in this city, with reference to the future prosperity of the work of the Lord in the London Conference; and I have seen those prophecies fulfilled. I have loved Elder Pratt, and when I have read his pamphlets, I have felt that he taught us deep, yet glorious principles of truth. And I have loved F. D. Richards; I feel, brethren, that he has taught us practically the principles of life and salvation, and my feelings are those already expressed by my brethren, namely—that the Lord has greatly blessed us through the instrumentality of Elder Richards. Elder James Marsden said,—Brethren, I feel anxious to express my mind on this subject. I have been acquainted with the career of Elder Richards ever since he first came to this country. I have labored for years in the Liverpool Conference, and in the Bradford Conference; I have also labored in Scotland; and now I have traveled through the London Conference, and it is a pleasure to me to say that I have never heard any man say a word against our beloved President, either in or out of the Church. For my own part, I should like us to get up a suitable memorial, and have it written on velum, or something of a neat, durable character. Many others verbally adopted the sentiments already expressed, only they stated that words could not sufficiently express the deep regard for President Richards; in short, this was the spontaneous feeling of every heart. 154 ZION’S TRUMPET.

On motion of Elder Gates, it was unanimously resolved— “1. That this Council express their unqualified approval of the course and conduct of Elder Franklin D. Richards, during his Presidency over the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Isles, and as Editor of the Millennial Star. “2. That Elders Marsden, Lyon, and Hyde constitute a Committee, for the purpose of inditing a Memorial, expressive of the above sentiment. “3. That Elder John Lyon compose a piece of Poetry, to be attached to President Richards’ Memorial.” President F. D. Richards arose and made the following remarks:—Dear brethren, there is nothing upon earth that could create in my bosom more lively feelings of gratitude to God, than to hear the expressions of my brethren. I feel when I hear my brethren approve of my course of procedure, that it is approved of God, and I feel to approve of it too. It is natural to me, brethren, to shrink from public life, and I have perhaps injured myself by giving way to my natural inclination for retirement; for always when I am speaking or writing, I feel that I am speaking to those who are inspired by the Holy Ghost. I am glad to find that what I have done is acceptable in your sight. I can now go home to the Presidency with this satisfaction, that I have the prayers of my brethren in this land; and the Presidency, if they do not say, will think—“Well done, good and faithful servant, sit down and rest a little, and counsel with thy brethren.” I will then enjoy a short season in the genial air of the mountains in Zion, with my family and friends; but I do not expect to be there long; and that Elder who thinks of resting will be stirred up, for the Lord will bring circumstances together to stir him up; for we have a great and mighty work to accomplish in this generation, and there is no time to be lazy. If any good has accrued to the Churches in these islands, it is through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. It is not all attributable to me; there have been Elders Wallace and Levi Richards, they have been with me in the work, and we have been one, although separate. ZION’S TRUMPET. 155

After hearing your expressions of approval and entire satisfaction, I feel that I can now, more than ever, spend and be spent for this Gospel. You have said that your people are in love with my teachings and Presidency. Well, brethren, this is your power and your privilege in the holy Priesthood. And you will always find that the feeling which is enjoyed by you, will be reciprocated by the Saints. I have this confidence by the hearty response to the call made for the Temple, and other things which I have put to the Conferences. Let me here put a solid question to all of you: From whom do you get your honor? It is from those over whom you preside. I have mine from you over whom I preside; and what I want is, that you may be enabled to do your duties, and be worthy to receive honor and blessings from your brethren, and keys and powers and the blessings of exaltation and eternal life in the presence of God; and that I may be more efficient in presiding and ruling in time to come. The Saints love you because you have loved them, and just to the extent that you love them will they love you. Thus, your constant uprightness and purity before them, will cause them to love you as themselves, and it will be the means of cementing you together so strongly, that nothing shall harm you, but you shall be like a threefold cord which cannot be broken. This is the principle that the world has not found out. If they had this principle among them, they would not have to keep a standing army in order to preserve peace. When you see men put forth laws to terrify and intimidate, that is not done by the Spirit and power of God. Then, brethren, seek to govern in love, and the Saints will love you. Seek to be good, for you may yet become great, and have to stand in high places; and then if you are not good you will be sure to fall. Every man who wants to be great in this Church must lay a solid foundation, and have every part well cemented together; and if you have a good foundation, the rest of the building will sit firm upon it, and there will be every prospect of it standing; though the storms may beat furiously upon it, all will be right. I am talking to men who 156 ZION’S TRUMPET.

are learning to build up kingdoms; but you must learn to do it in a wise and proper manner, for if you meddle with mortar that you do not understand, you will find it crack in the wall, and your building will give way, and your prospects will be blighted. Never seek to be great, but to be good! I never tried to be great, but many times have I cried mightily to the Lord, when alone, that he would support me in my weakness. Your prayers have held me up—your faith and prayers before the Lord have greatly supported and sustained me. I feel to hang on to you, brethren, and if you will hold on, I will, if I get up, pull you up also. This is the principle on which we shall all be saved, if we ever are saved, by holding on to each other: the lesser being lifted up by the greater. I did not think this morning, when I asked for an expression of your feelings, that you would get up a memorial, neither did I desire one; but as you have felt to act as you have, why it is right. The Lord bless you all. Even so. Amen. The Council was dismissed for one hour by Elder Erastus Snow. (To be continued.)

INTELLIGENCE FROM GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY.

[From the “Millennial Star,” for May 22, 1852.]

We have received files of the Deseret News, up to the 21st of February, with letters, and rejoice to learn that the course of the Saints of God in the lovely valleys of the mountains is succeeding in every way. Honorable business of all kinds, as far as introduced there, was exceedingly brisk. Explorations, settlements, buildings, and various kinds of enterprises, particularly required by the necessities of the young and flourishing Territory of Utah, were occupying the most earnest and lively attention of the Saints. Home manufactures of all kinds of goods requisite for a new country were receiving a gratifying amount of consideration; some departments were being prosecuted with considerable success, whilst vigorous measures were in operation or in idea in other departments. The brethren in Iron County, and also in Pauvan Valley, had succeeded in manufacturing ZION’S TRUMPET. 157 cut nails. On this point the Deseret News remarks,—“We are told that forty of these nails are now made in a minute, which is at the rate of 2,400 per hour, or 24,000 per day, of ten hours each. What is the use of bringing nails from foreign countries, if we can make them so fast at home? Allowing sixty nails to the pound, the little factory at Iron County can now make 466 pounds every day, or ten hours; this multiplies by 300 days in a year, leaving sufficient for Sundays and holidays, and we have 139,800 pounds, or 1398 kegs of nails, of 100 pounds each, per annum.” Molasses, leather, knives, and crockery, were also being manufactured by the brethren. A sawmill was erecting at Fillmore City. In the exploring tours, one delightful and fertile valley after another was discovered, and cottonwood, and red and white pine timber in abundance. The tithing business was vigorous: 14,000 bushels of grain, as tithing, were in hand; the general storehouse was not large enough, and it was resolved to add eighty feet to it, and also to build other storehouses in the settlements. Education was also engaging the attention ofthe Saints, both in building, and teaching of schools for the young, and in delivering lectures for the adults. Four of the series of twelve lectures on Astronomy, &c., had been delivered by Professor Orson Pratt, and were numerously attended. Professor G. D. Watt was also teaching and lecturing on Phonography. The brethren engaged on the public works, with their families, enjoyed two days of festivity and rejoicing on the 25th and 26th day of last December. The winter had been very mild and pleasant, and the health of the Saints remarkably good. Truly the Lord is favoring Zion, and His people are endeavoring to serve him, and establish his kingdom and government upon the face of the earth, in place of the kingdoms and governments of men. The valleys of Ephraim are resounding with the hum of industry, and the glad songs of praise and thanksgiving which are daily offered up before the great Father of mercies, by a once persecuted and afflicted, but now (temporally) redeemed and exalted people, fill 158 ZION’S TRUMPET.

the vault of heaven, and render the very atmosphere of those secret hiding places of Israel, holy unto the Lord. O ye poor and oppressed Saints, and ye rich ones too, in this land, do not your bosoms burn with the good spirit of God, which fills his Saints always with a desire to congregate together, and become a holy and peculiar people? Do you not long to gather to your brethren and sisters in the heights of Zion, where sinners cannot dwell? Do you not fondly wish to assemble with the Elders of Israel in the sacred resting places of the excellent of the earth, and there inherit the earth, and enjoy the bountiful blessings of a munificent Creator? If you do, listen to the voice of the Spirit—the word of the Lord from Zion:— “There have never been means wanting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to accomplish anything God wanted, if the Saints had been, one and all, ready to do the thing required at their hands. Do you believe this? No matter to us whether you do or not, we have done our duty in telling you the truth. “If the 50,000 Saints now in England, felt as we feel, there is no need of one of them being absent from us, one year from this date. No! There is money and means enough in the Church to accomplish all that God requires of his people. And what does he require? That they gather, as soon as they hear the commandment. But what are those about who have means? They are thinking how they shall keep them; and those Elders who have charge of the flock, are afraid to tell them their duty, and fail to thunder the word of the Almighty to them, to arise and come to Zion, lest some of the rich should apostatize; but if they would think twice, they would know, that those concerning whom they fear would apostatize, the best they can do; and the sooner the better; just like Arthur Burroughs, of Preston, and many more we could name; whose money and wives are their gods, and they cannot be saved; and the quicker they are out of the Church the better; it will relieve the individuals of their hypocrisy, and the Church of a load it is poorly able to carry. “But let every Saint in England, unite their means, under the direction of their Presidency, and no one soul need be absent from us one year; therefore, the responsibility of gathering rests upon ZION’S TRUMPET. 159 the rich, in a great degree; and because they will not give heed to counsel, they will be destroyed, and that without remedy. And just so with the Saints who have gathered, and are in Deseret; if they will not open their purses to help the manufacturer, and producer, and mechanic, to bring forth the things that are wanted, needed, and just be had speedily, for the salvation of this people, they will go down to the pit, and no power on earth can stop them. They may keep their money and means, but it will prove a moth, and canker, that will eat their vitals; and they will call for help, like William and Wilson Law, when it is too late. Their Prophet will be in the pit where they cast him, and he cannot reach them. “Why? Because they have neglected the voice of the Spirit, and treated lightly the warning voice of the servants of the Most High. Designedly? No; but through carelessness, apathy, and doubt whether these things be so. This has been the destruction of the Saints in all ages, in all dispensations; but we say to all Bishops, and all Elders, and all presiding officers, and all who possess the holy Priesthood— Raise the warning voice; cry aloud and spare not; if the Saints will not go to work and help themselves, God will not help them, and they must take their chance, whether to starve, or go cold or naked; but such as will help themselves and others, with such means as they can command, God will help; and they shall prosper, no matter what their avocation, if it be useful in building up the kingdom of God and promoting the salvation of his people.”

TO THE PRESIDENTS AND THE DISTRIBUTORS.

We wish to notify our brethren the Presidents that it is on them we depend most to carry forth the work of God in our midst as a nation. It is they who have the ability to assist the press to bring out the printed word of God, and to fulfill the most special work in the churches; and they have not yet comprehended the great power they possess over the Saints. It is they who are the heads of the various churches; and it is according to their wish that many things take place. We perceived long ago that the Branches and Conferences 160 ZION’S TRUMPET.

can do but little, if the Presidents do not decide to do a lot. It is the presidents who have the keys of the heart and purse of every Saint; if he is generous and faithful, so the people will be. Now, we wish to call the attention of all Presidents to the “Address to the Saints,” by the Presidency of the Welsh Church, on page 267 of the second volume of the Trumpet. We are sorry that that Address was turned aside so heedlessly, for we know it contains priceless instructions. Read it, brethren, and ponder it; read it with your Saints, and take note of the valuable principles it contains, and put them into action; so that it will yet be said of you, in relation to all things, “Good servants, good and faithful.” The old way of getting information as to how many of the various books the Saints would receive, was to send the Distributors around to gather their names. That trouble could have been spared, had we asked the pastor of every Conference or Branch; for the Saints act according to the faith of their pastor. Whenever one of the apostles asks President Phillips how many of the various English books are to be sent, he can always answer through his faith. Thus, we expect every President under his leadership, to imitate him in this as in all other things. In this manner we can know how many copies of the “Pearl of Great Price” will be received; and we receive many more names in this manner, than we received according to the old system. We wish to know further in the same manner how many of the Lectures on Miracles will be received. This Conference has ordered more than 1200 of each number: the presidents of small branches have order 100 of each number, and are determined to sell them according to the direction of the “Address to the Saints,” to which we previously referred, and they will do so at the end of a meeting, and receive payment for all that are sold. We need to know from the other Conferences without delay the required number, as we do not intend to print an excess. It is quite likely that the first Number will come forth with the next Trumpet. The way to sell them to the Saints, is for the President to stand up at the end of the meeting, and request that all who are determined to act according to the Address, to come forward, and purchase copies for themselves and ZION’S TRUMPET. 161 also for the world, and then in full faith sell them to the world again. Thus it can be done with books of every kind, such as hymn books, &c. Many of these could no doubt be sold to the world, as well as every other book. Remember that all books that are sold, are a benefit to everyone, and especially to the Church in Zion. Let the Distributors understand that we will send bills with every packet from now on, unless exceptions are made for those who receive books through the post; and every quarter we will send a bill for the remaining debt. We shall print papers containing book prices, as soon as we can. Remember that it is necessary for book orders to be here Friday morning, before the publication of the Trumpet; otherwise, they cannot be received until the time after that, unless it is a call for an abundance of books, which can always be received. May the Distributors remember this guideline, for it will avoid many misunderstandings.

DEATH OF THE WANDERER. (TRANSLATION.) “Alas! Hope is not prophecy. We dream, But rarely does the glad fulfillment come— We leave our land, and we return no more.” L. E. L. In the dark woods of the far west A grave was dug for the exiled. Above the place No stone was placed to tame the wildness of the sight— To the side of a babbling brook the field was consecrated For his narrow grave, and high-topped pines, Spreading their branches in several ways, Provided shade for him from the sun’s hot rays. He weakened from the first day Of his longing vision that he would vanish from his Native land; also when he was alone in the Solitude of nature, his unsettled mind Which surveyed the early scenes of his age,— His former home, and his friends in his happy boyhood, And the green hills and valleys, where He amused himself as a lad: but then he experienced his vision Of the scene that was before him, and his weak heart, Was chilled by this reality, Which failed completely. And away from everyone He turned and wept; O! for that 162 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Do not blame him. There is within his breast A continual attachment to the days of yore, When trouble comes to our chapel, and to our mind That raises the beautiful illusions of what was, As if to mock what is now; And thus it was with the poor wanderer; And though his wife cushioned on her breast His tired head, and though she wiped the perspiration From his pained brow, she could not His strength revive. He died; And his friends—a brave and powerful host— Stood at his grave, in sincere sadness, And they sang his funereal sorrowful song:—

Oh! a loved one of the earth fades quickly; He continued on but a little; Our fellow jester many times, At last has gone—along; He—the one who was our dear friend, Here now he sleeps! We watched his long illness— For a long time, indeed, he suffered; And one day after another His strong spirit wasted away— He faded like a leaf of October Under the agonies he felt! The brave and the faithful will die Quietly and beautifully! In our arms he took The last breath of life; Yet there was no sound of a bell, Giving a sigh for him. O no! but every green tree will have The sad song of his elegy— And the wind will give its hissing song While on its forest path; And near the place, those who loved him Will be there continually! Quietly quietly in his grave He lies today, And across his dear breast each day The beautiful pines wave— His soul, have been released, May it live together with his Father! Carmarthen, September 25, 1847. J. D. ZION’S TRUMPET. 163

VERSES.

It is an engaging and lovely association to be among the Saints, The world cannot know about, or ever have such a privilege: Therefore let us be happy, not fearing scowl or scorn, For we have been called to freedom, from the affliction of poor Babel. Lift up your heads, is the counsel of dear Jesus; Do not be sad but cheerful, in the face of black hell; He has conquered the enemy, with his armed host, We shall conquer also through the arms of esteemed heaven. Therefore let us put on the arms of the great chief Warrior, Even the true holiness of life, while we are on the ground; And let us carry the sharp sword, even the word of pure life, Which will completely conquer every enemy before long. John Parry, Jun.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

The way to read in a steam-engine, is to hold a card or a piece of paper all the time under the line you are reading; by so doing the eyes are freed from the disturbance caused by the movement of the vehicles, and one may read with pleasure.

Fat men can swim more easily than thin men, because their fat is lighter than the water, while the bones of the thin men are heavier.

A poor spirit is poorer than a poor purse.

Lectures on Miracles.—We intend to publish from four to six Lectures on Miracles, price one penny each, or 6s. per hundred for the conferences, and 7s. per hundred for the branches. They will contain a Review on the Lectures of J. Jones, Llangollen, on the same topic. Their size will be 12 pages each, the same size of the “Trumpet.” Read again on page 159 of this number, and there you can learn more.

He who gets a good man for his daughter, wins a son; but he who gets a bad one, loses a daughter.

That which a man wins by lying and deceiving, is not to be believed when he tells the truth. LAMENT OF THE LAZY. I complain, and also I groan,—woe is me! I do not have any more of the easy life; I work—the same work all the time, Until I spend all my leisure. 164 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Since we see men who are happier when they have nothing to lose, than those who lose what they have, we should not lust after wealth, or fear poverty.

Keep carefully your good word; if once you lose it, you will be like a scrap of deleted writing, completely worthless.

It is better to have an endowment in a wife, than with a wife.

Payments from May 5 to May 12.—Carmarthenshire, £20; Caernarvonshire, £1 15s; Cardiff, £3 1s; Rhymney, 14s; Georgetown, £1 4s 8c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 5s 5½c; T. Pugh, 6s.—Total,£ 27 6s 1½c. We need a small number of segments 25 and 26 of the Book of Mormon; and if there are any of the brethren who need more of the other segments, they may be obtained by sending word or calling here. We can supply many segments 1 and 2.—Remember that when we call for some segments to be sent in, we do not mean just one copy, but as many as we can get. We still need segments 7 and 9 of the “Doc. and Cov.,” and number 14 of the Trumpet for 1851, unsoiled; and also numbers 7, 8, and 28 of Prophet of the Jubilee. All who wish to have their Book of Mormon bound in London had best make haste, for we intend to send them out within about a fortnight, and there will be no chance after that. Persons who live far away who request licenses, &c., through the post, should send money beforehand, if they wish to have them without going through the distributor of their conference, and then they shall have them easily. We pay no attention to the orders of anyone, except the regular distributors, if they do not send sufficient money at the same time; and if they happen to send too much, the extra will be sent back with the books ordered.  Let the Distributors understand that the Book of Mormon, Doc. and Cov., or the Hymn Books, will no longer be sold unbound, except for the smallest Hymn Book, which will be sold as usual. We can supply everyone now with the two Hymn Books bound together, price 1s 4c. Those who write treatises to be printed, should write clearly, correctly, broadly, and briefly, and then they will be more acceptable. There are many good writers among the Saints who hide their talents, and we would be glad to see them rectify this. The reason this number is coming out within a week after the last, is because we delayed the publication of the last number. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 11.] MAY 29, 1852. [VOL. I V.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL Of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Continued from page 156.]

Tuesday Afternoon, April 6, 1852. At three o’clock the Council met pursuant to adjournment, and was reopened by singing the 18th Hymn, “Beloved brethren, sing His praise,” &c.; after which, Elder Erastus Snow engaged in prayer. President F. D. Richards, after a few preliminary remarks, said,—I shall present the business of appointing a President to take charge of the Churches in the British Isles when I leave, and to give you a clear idea of the subject, I shall read a letter signed by President Brigham Young, containing instructions on this subject. But before doing so, I shall for my own satisfaction call over the names of the Presidents, &c. [It was ascertained, by calling over the names, that all the Presidents of Conferences, &c., were present, expect the President of the Isle of Man Conference, and the Presidents of the Church in Ireland.] In presenting this question before you, brethren, I shall read to you a portion of this letter from President B. Young, so far as it is connected with your public duties. 11 166 ZION’S TRUMPET.

[President Richards then read from President Brigham Young’s official letter.] I have read you this, brethren, that you might know all that the Presidency have said in their letter concerning the appointment of my successor, and also the instructions that I have to go home this season. This is all the instruction I have received, except what is contained in the sixth General Epistle. I wish to leave you in such a position as to enable you to carry on the work, and then if I come back I shall be sure to find you all right. I have endeavored to introduce brother Samuel into all the business affairs of the office, according to the instruction of the First Presidency, and now the question is open for your consideration. Elder Erastus Snow arose, and made the following remarks:— Beloved brethren, as it has been said by one of the speakers this morning, so I feel, i.e., that the wisdom of the Lord has controlled, and His Spirit guided the helm of the ship in the British Isles in times past; and that each President who has been appointed, has seemed to have a special duty to perform, and that the Spirit has seemed to be preparing the way for brother Franklin’s successor. I take the liberty of expressing my mind upon this subject. I feel that the Spirit of the Lord signifies to us all who it shall be, and I presume that if each were left to vote in secret we should all vote one way. Well, when the Lord speaks who can help but prophesy. When the Spirit assures a thing to every one, that is right, for the unanimous voice of His servants is the voice of God. Whatever the people of God are, or have been, united in, has been for their good. It has been properly remarked, that whoever may be appointed to the Presidency of the British Churches, it is necessary that you should be united in all things, and that Spirit of union will rest upon the one who occupies the Presidential chair. It is the work of the Lord, and it has been built up, not by men, but by the Lord. I feel that brother Samuel W. Richards is prepared by the Holy Ghost to tread in the footsteps of brother Franklin, i.e., to take the oversight of the work in these islands. And although the Presidency have left the question open for the authorities in this land to decide, ZION’S TRUMPET. 167 yet the Spirit seems to dictate wisely, and has dictated to our hearts who it shall be, it does to mine at any rate; and with all my heart I feel that there is no man, after the Twelve have left, upon this island who is more fitted to the task than brother Samuel W. Richards. And I feel this, if Brother Richards will allow me, to propose that he be sustained by this Council, &c. I feel full of the Spirit of prophecy respecting brother Samuel, and inasmuch as you support this, I feel full of the Spirit of prophecy towards you, my brethren, in regard to the good work that shall be accomplished in these lands. I have been acquainted with brothers Samuel and Franklin for a long time, and have watched their course onward and upward in the Priesthood, and it is a source of great joy to me and to their friends, that they have been blessed of the Lord so very abundantly, and that brother Samuel enjoys to so good a degree the same Spirit that rests upon brother Franklin; and I must say, that while I have been in Great Britain, I have been pleased to see the Spirit and power of the Lord, which is with brother Samuel, and I feel sure that it is the mind and will of the Lord that brother Samuel W. Richards should fill the important place which Franklin has filled; yes, as sure as if the Lord had spoken from the heavens. They have been like Brigham and Heber from boys, and ever since they entered the Church they have been up to the mark!—always in the right track!—always in their proper places! Although all these, my brethren, are good men, and calculated to perform a great and mighty work in the earth, yet I feel that brother Samuel is the man whom the Lord has chosen to fill this important office. Several of the brethren spoke in the highest terms of respect, brotherly love, and esteem of brother S. W. Richards, all expressing their desires that he should be their President. Elder Samuel W. Richards arose and said,—I feel, my brethren, to make a few remarks, because I am particularly interested in the subject that is now before you. I was also particularly interested in that which transpired in the forepart of the day, for I realized that brother Franklin was soon going to leave, and his absence would be felt much, whoever might be called upon to fill his place. When 168 ZION’S TRUMPET. my name was presented, I felt that I had done but little to merit such confidence among my brethren, yet I feel to do that which is required of me; and with the blessing of God, to seek to carry out that which brother Franklin has begun. Although I was the bearer of the instructions sent to brother Franklin, yet it did not even enter my heart for a moment that I should be the one appointed to preside; if it had, I should have wished to have stayed at home; but I felt that brother Franklin was an Apostle, and I should be instructed by him. I have never thought myself equal to him—never thought that I had the understanding which he has, but I ever felt willing to be instructed by him. Inasmuch as I have been once appointed to follow him in the Presidency of the Scottish Saints, I hope God will give me grace to follow him in this capacity, that I may discharge my duties aright in his sight, if it be the feeling of my brethren that I should occupy this position. And I should now feel to shrink, were it not that I am sensible of the duties which are laid upon us by the authorities of this Church. If we do not attend to those duties which are laid upon us, we shall most assuredly become dishonored before God and the world. But I have decreed in my heart that whatever positions I may be placed in, I will pursue that course in which I can be justified before God and my brethren. I know that I have ever been blessed in times past by submitting to their counsels, and therefore this gives me confidence for the future. And if I have the confidence of my brethren, I shall have the confidence and blessings of God and of angels! These are my feelings! I am not alone; but have men around me who are appointed to be coworkers with me, and blessed of God to that end. Truly the Lord is doing a great work in the earth, and it is He that is doing it, and not men, for were it not for the power of God, men could not accomplish his purposes. My brethren, it is because of these things,—it is because of what I know of the things of God,—it is because of the obligation which I owe to God, that I am willing to take this responsiblity. President Franklin D. Richards said,—Brethren, I rise to speak a few words in favor of brother Samuel. I have known him ever since ZION’S TRUMPET. 169 he was a boy; and since we came into this Church, I do not know that ever I heard so much as a breath of opposition, but we have been of one heart and of one mind; and a principle has been in his mind which is necessary for all men to enjoy. Brethren, I have learned that no man is fit to rule, until he is to be ruled in this Church. When you see a man sway the power with omnipotence which is put into his hands, you may choose him and such like men to preside, and the people will be subservient to their counsels. Brother Samuel has ever manifested this Spirit; and this is not all, brother Samuel has the Spirit of revelation with him, and that too, to a great extent. You recollect our being in England at the time brothers Hyde, Pratt, and Taylor were here; and that at the General Conference, held at Manchester, we were appointed to preside over the Churches in Scotland. We had not been there long before he dreamed a dream, and said to me in the morning, “Brother Franklin, I dreamed that you were ordained into the quorum of the Twelve.” Well, when we went over to America, we found that the same thing was under consideration by the First Presidency at that time. Although I had no faith in the dream, not even considering it worth remembering, yet when I got home, it was, with other important dreams, brought very forcibly to my mind. [The following resolutions were then moved, and unanimously carried:—1. That this Council, as the representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Britain, recognize and sustain Elder Samuel W. Richards, as the successor of President F. D. Richards, in all business of his office, and as President of the British Churches. 2. That Elder Levi Richards be recognized and sustained as Counselor to Samuel W. Richards.] Brethren, you must have bowels of compassion toward the children of men, and particularly toward your brethren who are on foreign missions, and let them have your faith and prayers, that the Lord may prepare the way before them, for truly the human family are in a degraded condition. I contemplate it, and I ask myself,—Are these our brethren and sisters? are these the children of God? And if we can have such feelings of sympathy and compassion towards 170 ZION’S TRUMPET. them, what must be the feelings of our heavenly Father? Brethren, the work that you are engaged in is worthy of the best exertions which you are capable of making, that you may be the means of bringing men from degradation, and that you may be the deliverers of many people. I never have been acquainted with the Saints of the British Isles, when I have been more satisfied than at the present time with the corps of Elders who have the management of the Churches in this land, and I could not find the same number of men in any other part of the world with whom I could labor with greater satisfaction at the present time. I do not profess to prophesy, but I feel that the work of the Lord will increase more abundantly than heretofore. I felt rather uneasy when I looked over the returns, and found that although we had baptized over eight thousand during the past year, yet the increase in the aggregate was only a few hundreds; but when I inquired into affairs in the different Conferences, I found that some Presidents had heretofore been representing hundreds of Saints who had not an existence; and hence when these ceased to be counted, a material difference was made in our numbers. Presidents, generally, should stir up their Secretaries to a sense of the duties in relation to this matter, and where the records are incomplete, let them be attended to immediately. I want the Presidents of Conferences to have their members in such order, that they can at any time send a letter of particulars to any part of the world, and give a plain statement of their Conferences. Have your sheep well shepherded, and be able to lay your finger upon any of your members, and then you will have much less trouble than if you allow them to be in an indifferent state with reference to their several duties. The upper class have their eyes upon us, watching our proceedings and our increase, and I can tell you that the work of the Lord does not make such rapid strides without being noticed by those who hold important stations in society. The summer season is the time for you, brethren, to push your Tracts forward, and speak the truth, for I tell you that in every class of society there is some of the seed of Israel, and we are called upon to gather them out from among ZION’S TRUMPET. 171 the Gentiles, and therefore we must embrace every opportunity to accomplish the work. What shall we do about enlarging the Star? About this I want to say a little. Brother Pratt accomplished a great work in the quadrupling of its circulation. The issue was increased to twenty thousand! Since then we raised it from twenty to twenty-three thousand five hundred. The Editor of the Deseret News has promised to publish the History of Joseph, which the Saints in this country will doubtless feel great interest in; but as the Star at present is too small for our increasing stock of information relative to the spread of the work of the Lord in foreign climes, we cannot publish it unless we increase the size of the Star; therefore if you consider it best to publish a sheet and a half instead of only a sheet, we will have the history of Joseph coming out continually. Therefore, I want to know, whether the Saints would rather have the Star of 24 pages, or continue it as at the present time. Several brethren spoke in favor of either increasing the size of the Star or publishing it weekly; after which President Richards proposed closing for the day, and meeting again on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. The brethren then sang, “Hark! Listen to the trumpeters,” &c., benediction by Elder Levi Richards.

Wednesday Morning.

The Council assembled at the hour appointed, and sang the Hymn on the 189th page “Now we’ll sing with one accord,” &c. Prayer was then offered by Elder Levi Richards, after which, the Council sang “There is a land beyond the sun,” &c. President F. D. Richards arose and said,—Dear brethren, I am very happy with another opportunity this morning, to consider together those important subjects which pertain to the work of God in this land. I hope every brother has come up with his heart full of the Holy Ghost, that we may be instructed and further prepared for the duties of life now before us; and however much we may realize it now, the time is not far distant when important duties and responsibilities will be laid upon us to perform, for great events are 172 ZION’S TRUMPET. to be brought about in this generation. And we are the individuals on whom the Lord will lay the responsibility of carrying out these things. Now, it is an easy matter with us, while the work of the Lord is in a stable position, and while we are not in Zion, but are engaged in proclaiming, as it were, the miniature principles of the Gospel in this land, increasing our knowledge and power in all good gifts, exercising ourselves in the duties of our calling; but this is only an earnest of what we have in future to bear. If any of you have felt, when called upon to preside over Conferences, that it was a task to perform your duties, you must bear in mind, that we must grow with this work, or it will outgrow us and leave us behind, and then we shall get into that way in which we shall not be able to discern between truth and error. Every man who does not grow as this work grows, will lose the spirit, and become dark in relation to the things of God. We want to be alive to the work of God, and to spread the truth far and wide, on the right hand and on the left; but our object in coming together this morning is, that we may be refreshed, and go home to our various fields of labor strengthened and prepared for those important duties which devolve upon us. The subject that was before us last night was “the propriety of publishing the Star in an enlarged form.” And you must understand the question is not whether we shall put two Stars into one, but whether we shall increase its size one-half, and publish the same number. The question is now open again. Twelve of the Elders then delivered short speeches upon this subject. President F. D. Richards said,—Brethren, I feel glad to hear you upon this subject, and also upon all others. I will present the subject as it appears to me:— 1. Shall we increase the number of pages in each Number of the Star, or shall we publish it weekly with the present number of pages? 2. Shall we put a cover upon it for the purpose of better preservation, and also for the insertion of advertisements? This last idea was presented objections to me in this way: every person in this land who publishes a paper containing advertisements, ZION’S TRUMPET. 173 has to give bonds to the crown. I think he has to find two sureties to the amount of five hundred pounds each; and if he advertises anything illegal, he is liable to be fined very heavily, and of course, I wish to avoid everything which has a tendency to bring us in contact with the law of the land. I am really satisfied that it will be well to either increase the Star by eight pages, or to publish it every week. ‘What do you say brethren? I am in favor of just that which you think best. Elder J. Marsden said,—President Richards, I say publish it every week. Whereupon, “Hear,” “Hear,” and “That’s it,” reverberated through the room again and again. President F. D. Richards said,—I want to make a few remarks, to excuse myself from what may appear to you and the Saints delinquencies in me; I have been busily engaged with the reprinting of the Hymn Book, and the “Voice of Warning,” and also the reprinting and stereotyping of the Book of Mormon. I have had to read them over and over, and correct them. I have begun to reprint the “Doctrine and Covenants” too. This book will be stereotyped also. Elder Samuel W. Richards will finish it, and then, when these things are finished and off his mind, he will have the opportunity of visiting more among you than I have done. Several times the Star has not been issued so regularly as it ought to be; I hope you will excuse any shortcomings in this matter, which I may have been chargeable with, for I assure you, press of business has been the cause of them. I feel that we have come to a period when the Star can be issued once a week, for the work of the Lord has increased with such rapidity, and it is spreading itself abroad on every hand, insomuch that we are weekly receiving intelligence in relation to its progress; and all things in connection with the work seem to require this of us—to issue the Star every week! It was then resolved that the Star should be thenceforth published weekly instead of semimonthly. President F. D. Richards said,—Brethren, I will now present 174 ZION’S TRUMPET.

before you another item. I want to know which of you have men in your Conferences, who have means, and minds to use it, for the building up of Zion. Upon this subject I shall request Elder Erastus Snow to rise and speak to you. Elder Erastus Snow arose and said,—When I was here last June, Brother Franklin, D. Richards and I had some conversation on these topics; and when we have had time to turn our attention to anything of that kind, our minds have been more or less occupied with the subject of the manufacture or iron in Deseret. Brother Lorenzo Snow and I talked upon the subject somewhat; but we all seemed to have our hands so full with things pertaining to our missions, that we could not give our minds to it. But when we saw the last General Epistle of the First Presidency, in which they urge that subject upon our attention so particularly, it has been more impressed upon our minds; and we have felt that we shall hardly do our business right, and finish our missions, without accomplishing that object which was so strongly recommended by the First Presidency. The subject of manufacturing in Zion, was presented before the General Conference in Manchester, although I had not the pleasure of being present, and I was sorry for it; yet I saw by the minutes which were printed, that Elder Taylor and Elder Pratt, and others, entered into it largely. Well, we feel that Zion is our home, and that we are only pilgrims here, and we want to lay a foundation for our families and children in the place which God has appointed for the refuge of his people. Every particle of our means that we use in Babylon, is a loss to ourselves; and it is so much means expended upon Babylon that shall perish. And every man that has been baptized into this kingdom, and has become an adopted child of God, and a partaker of the things of God, is running right away from his duty, to expend his means in Babylon, and he never comes to drink in freely of the Spirit of God until he expends his means in the building up of Zion; for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Nothing in Zion is so much wanted or needed, as the manufacture of iron! Iron seems to be the main principal ingredient for the prosperity of a settlement in Zion. We have ore and coal; only the men and means to bring it ZION’S TRUMPET. 175 out want to be concentrated. I could wish that the presiding officers of Conferences would examine and preserve in their minds the teachings given at the General Conference in Manchester, for those teachings will apply with double force to the manufacture of iron. And so long as we are destitute of these things (the duties on which are double to what they are upon clothes and other things), we shall be paying money into the hands of the Gentiles that might be kept in Zion, providing we had those manufactures established. Now, to illustrate it, I will mention the simple article of nails, named in the last Epistle. Those are wanted, and will be, in the building of a Temple, and they cannot be had under considerable percentage over what they cost in St. Louis, for they will purchase them in St. Louis for two pence half-penny a pound, and they must be sold in the valley for one shilling and three half-pence; and then they (the merchants) think they are not well paid, for they not only want the profits on the original sum, but on the money expended in transportation of them to the mountains; for the amount expended in transportation, is about three times the amount expended in St. Louis to purchase the article with. They must have their profits in such a place as that, and they calculate on profits according to the length of time they give credit, and where they have a year’s credit, they must have greater profits than those who give three month’s credit; and all this comes out of the people; it is like sucking the heat’s blood of people. And while it is so in the Valley,—that we have to pay such a heavy percentage, those men are sucking our money, which, if we had the article manufactured in the Valley, might still remain with the Church, instead of its going into other people’s hands. The manufacture of wire was also alluded to in the 6th General Epistle; and those instructions apply here, for wire is needed for fencing, and for tools of various descriptions, and for many other purposes. And how much more profitable will it be to have those things made on the spot, than having to purchase them at such enormous prices as at the present time we are compelled to submit to. I was much pleased with the success which attended Elder Taylor’s labors in the organizing of companies to manufacture sugar 176 ZION’S TRUMPET.

and cloth, and my prayer is that they may prove successful, and that benefits may accrue, not only to the people in Zion, but to those who have laid out their means. But when I compare these with the manufacture of iron, I feel that iron is of greater importance. And every year that this matter is delayed, it is thousands of pounds out of our pockets. Brethren, you keep laboring in Babylon, when you might be of more service in Zion; some of the brethren will stay toiling, and spending the best of their days, and wasting their strength in Babylon. The subject cannot be too strongly urged; particularly upon such characters as those which I have named. In the first place, it is important that there should be furnaces set in operation. The Presidency have it in their mind (and had before we left, but they cannot do all at once,—they do all they can, and they reach out a helping hand to us, and they expect us to do all we can), to establish a furnace, and form a company to bring the ore from the mountains. And the next thing is (to my mind), to have a rolling mill; but, in the first place, we want twenty-five blast furnaces, (and probably they will soon have one in the Valley). Cooking stoves are wanted very bad there; in fact, no man can tell how much it would save that community in cooking stoves, if they had them. It would save, at the very least calculation, sixteen pounds a year to each family. A cooking stove will cost twenty pounds in the Valley, that can be bought in St. Louis for three pounds. And there are numbers of men (brethren in the Church), spending their strength in Babylon, where they might be in Zion, assisting to build up the kingdom of God, and save the Saints in the Valley, who have done much, from paying for the transportation of iron across the mountains. I am not an orator to portray these things in a flourishing style; but every man who understands them, can understand by these few hints. A rolling mill, in my opinion, although I do not profess to be acquainted with them, will be required in the first place. Nails and wire, and a great many other things, cannot be made until we have a rolling mill; and the rolling out of sheet iron for many purposes; and the small bars for drawing out wire, and many other uses. Have these things, and the iron stoves and railroad irons, and nail factories, and machinery of various descriptions, and all the rest ZION’S TRUMPET. 177 of those things necessary for the permanent establishment of iron works; and our people will save thousands of pounds, which, if those manufactories are not established, must necessarily be paid out of the community. Well, I believe we have both the men and means in the British Conferences, providing all could use it, to accomplish all these things with. At this late season of the year, it is not probable that anything can be done, more than to set the thing in operation for next year, so as to take a company, &c., in the earliest part of the season, although I believe that something could be done towards establishing furnaces; for I do not think that much machinery would be needed to bring ore from the mountains, and melt it down into pigs. But some of the brethren will be able to give some information on this branch of business. I want to find out the feelings of the brethren upon this subject, and the means they have in their Conferences. I have learned while I have been here, that there are brethren who are engaged in superintending nail factories and furnaces, but I have not heard of any who are practically acquainted with the business of rolling mill, but I hope, before we separate, to receive some information on this point. I will now leave the subject in the hands of the brethren. The remaining part of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning, were occupied in considering the subject of iron manufacture, &c.; and also the condition of the various Conferences in the British Isles. During this time, the flowing resolutions were passed:— 1. That a company of monied and faithful men be organized and sent from this land, next season, to the Valley, for the purpose of building furnaces, erecting the machinery, &c., necessary for the smelting and manufacture of iron. 2. That the Saints constituting the Galloway Union Conference, be united with the Glasgow Conference.

(To be continued.) 178 ZION’S TRUMPET.

WARNING. Aberamman, May 15, 1852.

Dear Brother Davis,—Be so kind as to notify through the Trumpet that W. T. Tonkins, sinker by occupation, who was also an Elder in the English Aberdare Branch, has retreated secretly from the above place, with three pounds of Church money in his possession, together with thirty pounds, or more, from the poor families of the Saints, and others who worked for him. I hear that he is in one of the Offices of England, and lest he oppress the Saints, I would like for you to publish in the Trumpet that he was cut off from the Church, on the 24th of April, for such a shameful transgression as noted, which has caused renewed persecution on the Saints in this place. Yours in the New Covenant, Thomas Pugh, President of the East Glamorgan Conference.

VERSES. (To be sung to the tune “Lukeconia.”)

Why are we hated by parents? Why does a brother become an enemy? Why are our best friends Now the objects of scowl and scorn? We would like for our descendants To know the will of God with confidence, But they do not believe our testimony, Then, who is to blame?

The delight of the world is to despise The people of God, for saying the truth, They killed our prophets, Over on the land of America; But the light was not killed, It is yet in our land, And those who are honest delight, When they can enjoy it. ZION’S TRUMPET. 179

Wicked men hate light, They wish to live in darkness; The brightness of Heaven reveals Their deeds of every kind; And for that they become agitated, They are ashamed to see their work, But justice will govern Over them all before long.

Dear Saints, awaken without delay, Let us remember where we live, That it is in a land full of enemies To the true priesthood of God: Let us go boldly across the billowy seas, All in the name of good Jesus, And let us climb the Rocky Mountains To possess the land of our country. Clynmil. John Wilkins.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Steamboat Explosion.—On the 9th of April, a lamentable misfortune occurred on the accursed Missouri river, when the steamboat “Saluda” exploded into pieces, on its departure from the town of Lexington. There were about 175 on board, among which were several Saints. The “Missouri Republican” says that it can be about a hundred were injured or killed; but by our count of the names of those killed, we cannot get more than 32, and 31 wounded. The greater part of the deckhands were killed, and a few of the Saints, namely Mrs. Dunbar and her child, two children of Mrs. Rollins, and two of Miss Bailey’s, from England. No one else is named, except three children of Rachel Rowlands, (from Hirwaun we think). Rachel Rowlands broke her leg, and she and her two daughters, one 5 years old and the other 13, are being cared for in Lexington. Brother W. C. Dunbar, and others, are named among those who were injured. The full account appears in the Star for May 29, 1852; and therefore there is no need to expand on it here.

Departure.—Apostles F. D. Richards and Erastus Snow departed on board the steamship “Africa,” from Liverpool to New York, on Saturday, the 8th of this month, with prospects of a comfortable voyage. A pleasant journey to them to reach the end of their travels. 180 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Gathering in Earnest.—We were informed that Elder Ezra T. Benson has ordered (and it is likely that it is under way by now), 1000 wagons, 2000 handcarts, and 1000 wheelbarrows, for the poor Saints to travel this season from Council Bluffs to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. That is the way for the poor to immigrate to Zion! Health, strength, and success to them.—Star.

Decisions.—It was decided on the 27th of May, 1852, by the First Presidency of the Welsh Church, that the Carmarthenshire Conference is to be divided into two, and that the Branches of Carmarthen, St. Clears, Wern, Brechfa, Llanpumsaint, Pencader, and Newcastle, are to make a conference, named the Carmarthen Conference, and that Thomas C. Martell is to be president, and Thos. Jenkins his counselor: also, that all the branches on the other side of the River Towy are to be another conference, named the Llanelli Conference, and that Abednego Jones is to be president: also that the Llansawel branch is to be transferred to the Cardiganshire Conference.

Produce in Utah.—Mr. Mendenhall, in Springville, Utah Valley, broke 38 acres of new ground, and raised thereon, this season, 600 bushels of wheat, 250 of (Indian) corn, 260 of beets (some single ones weighing 22 pounds), 275 of potatoes (some of them weighing 5½ pounds each), 20 of onions, and 11 of peas; 11 wagon loads of pumpkins and squashes, many of them weighing from 95 to 100 pounds each; and a variety of other articles.—Deseret News.

Deaths in the Great Salt Lake City.—Looking over the books of the sexton, we find an account of 2 deaths in 1848, 26 in 1849, 54 in 1850, and 64 until December 15, 1851. Of these there were males, 14 under 1 year, 18 under 10, 10 under 20, 5 under 30, 4 under 40, 8 under 50, 6 under 60, 4 under 70, and 1 under 80; total, 146. From the above, 6 are from drowning, 1 from falling, 1 from a bale of hay, and 3 from being poisoned by eating roots. It is not supposed that this is all the deaths that have happened, rather that is all that are shown by the sexton; very few illnesses are named. We would wish for the sexton to be more detailed in giving an account of each death, as far as he knows, noting the disease, the physician who attended, &c., &c.—Deseret News.

Payments from May 13 to May 26—Carmarthenshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £4; Pontytypridd, £1 13s 8c; Dowlais, 12s 3c; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, 9s; Pendaren, 14s 6c; Cefn, 4c, Rhymney (English), 1s 3c.— Total, £9 14s 3c.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 12.] JUNE 12, 1852. [VOL. I V.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL

Of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Continued from page 177.]

Wednesday Afternoon, April 9.

closing address of president f. d. richards.

Beloved Brethren,—I arise before you this afternoon in much weakness, to address you upon the condition of the work in the British Conferences, and to offer for your consideration, those items of instruction which appear to be for your good, and which will serve as a criterion for you in the conferences over which you are called to preside. The work of the Lord has already attained a position of strength and influence in these lands, and is, year by year, growing and increasing, if not so much in its numbers and in its external form, still it is growing in other respects, and hence requires more wisdom and energy than when it was in its infancy. A man in one part of his life, sometimes grows up very slender until he acquires the stature of a man, and then when he has acquired the external shape or appearance of a man, he begins to thicken up, and to gain that stamina which is so essential for the necessary exertions of future life. Whatever the period of his growing life may be, during that time great caution has to be used, lest his 12 182 ZION’S TRUMPET. physical constitution should be injured. It is very much so with the work of God. Take the work as it has been growing up and coming into notice before the people; it could not have accomplished those great and powerful undertakings, as Branches and as Conferences, to the extent that it is now doing. It has for years past been living the period of its growth, and consequently has been young and tender, incapable of withstanding the storms and fury of the enemy; and hence the necessity of enlarging, as it has done heretofore; and now it will continue to grow and become well grown, like the sturdy oak, and be able to withstand the storms and tempests of the adversary. The loosening of the soil around the roots will only make the tree grow and thrive more abundantly. And this Church has arrived at a period when a new epoch has begun, which has so ordered things that the work of the Lord must take a rather different stand to what it has done heretofore. We have been teaching spiritual things; now we have to teach temporal things; and while we shall extend to the world spiritual things as before, we shall have to talk more about temporal things to the Saints. I must inform you that the Saints in the Valley are growing more than those in this land, in relation to the interests of this work, and you know it, those of you who have been there at any rate, for they are full of spirit and energy. And brethren, the Saints have to be taught something here, which is necessary for them, or they are not fit to enter immediately into the society of the Saints in the Valley. The Presidency will, perhaps (when a company of Saints reach the Valley), inquire who has had the teaching of those Saints? It is an important work (to perform it faithfully) to instruct and govern the people of God. As I value my standing, and as I feel for yours, brethren, I want to prepare you for the rest that is there for the people of God. If we are baptized for the remission of our sins, the moment that we step beyond our instructions in teaching those things which we have not been sent to teach, we walk right away from the Lord, and every day we walk further and further away from the path of duty in which alone there is safety. We must see to our course, and not suffer ourselves to be drawn away, but live in strict obedience to the requirements of heaven, and rid ourselves of those abominations and corruptions, by which the Gentiles have ZION’S TRUMPET. 183 become debased, and be prepared for that glory which is for the children of God in Zion. You must still continue to preach to the world faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and faith in Joseph Smith and Brigham Young; and then confer upon them the Holy Spirit; and the more you continue from this time to impart to the Saints in this land the spirit that is in Zion, the more you will have of it yourselves. And just as fast as you disseminate that spirit among the people, will you increase your influence and power among them, and you will be enabled to give such counsel to the Saints, as will greatly increase their faith, and build them up in the work of the Lord. And although you may not bring in so many, yet you will effect as much good; for those who do come in will be of the right kind, and one will do more towards the building up of the kingdom of God, than two of another sort. They will be better prepared to endure the slander and reproach of the world, and to receive the instructions of the Priesthood, for mankind have so much to learn before they can see God. This work carries with it, and always will, a stumbling stone, and the more it is so, the more the minds of the people will have to expand in proportion to the growing strength of the work of the Lord. In the days of the Lord, the Apostles and the people generally, had to believe that Jesus was the Son of God. In these days, they are required to believe, in addition to that, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and that Brigham Young is also a Prophet of the Lord; and this faith is indispensable. (To be continued.)

VERSE. O Lord, give thy Spirit, When we are before thee, To pray for blessings Which will make us all happy: Stay Thou in our midst, Having Thy gifts, To pour out to our hearts, According to our needs. Merthyr. Elizabeth. 184 ZION’S TRUMPET.

TREATISE ON THE DUTY OF PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN.*

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,”—Selyf the Wise.

Kind Parents,—I shall note briefly some of your duties to your children, with respect to the things that pertain to the world and this life, and some to prepare them to go to the other world. “Whoever reads, ponder,” and consider carefully each thing. The first duty I bring before you is, you should take care that they have an abundance and a variety of clean and healthful food, and it should be available each time that nature calls for it: also, that there be every courtesy, simplicity, and silence every time they partake of it at the table. 2. Cleanliness: you should take care that they are always tidy, that their faces, their hands, and their whole bodies are clean, especially when partaking of the necessaries of nature. 3. You should put warm clothing on your children, lest they catch cold (which is the cause of the greatest part of our illnesses), and so that worms cannot have long shelter in their constitutions, lest infirmity and feebleness, and many troubles and expenses follow. 4. You should love them and revere them as gifts of the Most High, and take care that they do not have fears when young; for fears have caused many to be mute. 5. You should take care that your children do not keep bad company; for such corrupt good morals, despite how deep they are impressed on them. 6. You should take care that your children are not allowed to tell lies to anyone, or deceive anyone in any way; and that they are not talkative, by cursing, swearing, or blaspheming; and that they do not imitate anyone, in words, in gestures, or actions. 7. You should watch that they are not guilty of that which is commonly called, “gossip persecution,” and through that causing quarrels between neighbors. 8. You should watch that your children do not go frequently to the houses of neighbors, without an errand; especially when they are at their mealtimes, or when visitors or strangers happen to be at such houses. *This treatise was submitted to the Cymmer Eisteddfod, and at the request of the author, it was sent to us to be published.—Editor. ZION’S TRUMPET. 185

9. You should take care that your children do not go to fields, orchards, gardens, or in front of the doors of anyone to play or cause a stir. 10. You should remember to question them when they have been out of the house for a long time, where, and with whom they have spent their time like that. 11. You should take care that your children do not spend your money on trifles, or walk proudly and haughtily, according to their own whims. 12. You should keep them from using unbeneficial things; such as tobacco, snuff, &c., and many drinks, and strong spirits, &c. 13. You should forbid them from saying, “No, no” (i.e., I won’t do it), or talking back in any way to you, or to anyone else, who may be older than they; for this is repugnant and very unreasonable. 14. You should reprimand them when there is need for it; but do not vow and then fail to keep the vow, remember, or keep it somewhat, or partially; not by kicking them, pulling their hair, cuffing them with a fist or hand, or the closest thing at hand; never in an agitated spirit (wild nature), but take a birch switch, in a calm manner, and before hitting, take care that the sufferer understands the purpose for which he is being punished, then strike him; but not on his head or his face, or his hands, neither on his feet, rather on his back (“the rod of correction to the back of the fool”), and that until he promises not to do the bad thing for which is he being punished anymore. “Foolishness,” says Solomon, “is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” 15. You, the mother, should take care not to embrace the sufferer when he is punished by his father; if you say at this time even a small word in his favor, the punishment will be completely ineffectual, and will but harden him, and cause him to be angry with his father; therefore, before striking, come to an agreement one with the other. 16. 1 Sam. v, 13—14, says that “the curse of God was on the house of Eli, for he had not restrained his sons from doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Remember that nothing stands in his way to prevent him from doing the same again, in these days; but whatever concerning the curse, this I know, that to the negligent in this matter will come shame, sadness, and desires to have been buried when they were young. Many lenient mothers have been sent 186 ZION’S TRUMPET. to their graves before their time, because of the wickedness of their children. 17. The advantage associated with forbidding the children from doing evil, and punishing them properly: they gain for themselves peace and happiness, delight and rejoicing; they can say as did Israel of old, “Our children are our glory.” They can be instruments in the hand of the Most High to save their children to eternal life; and at the judgment they can give their account happily, and O how wonderful that will be! 18. You should be gentle with your children, and not drive them to anger. “Well,” says someone, “how in the world can I punish my children, without making them angry? my children become angry and revile me, when I punish them.” Perhaps they do, but take counsel: the next time, take care that your words and your reasons may make as much an impression on the heart of the sufferer, as does the rod on his back, then he will not be angry though you strike him severely. 19. You should take care that your children do not grow up lazy and useless; for it is difficult to get those who grow up like this into any work other than commerce. 20. You should take care not to set bad examples before your children. If the little girl hears her mother tell a lie, through this perception she learns; if the mother steals something, the daughter will probably do so also when covetousness comes. So it is also, if the father uses liquor and becomes intoxicated, curses and swears, &c., it is very likely that his son will follow his example; for the feet and the hands preach more loudly and more effectively than the tongue; therefore, if children have bad examples set before them, all the counsels, punishment, &c., will be vain and useless. 21. The New Testament says that parents should lay up treasure for the children, and not the children for the parents; but this is a very difficult task these days, for all the world is in a sorry state; Mr. Adversary and his tribe affirm that the government is theirs; and indeed, they have remarkable success; they have brought man down to a low station, and the creature as well, to groan together, and to await the revelation of the sons of God; hasten the day. Again, it is not enough to keep children from doing that which is wicked and improper; rather it is your responsibility to teach good ZION’S TRUMPET. 187 morals to them, and to do so as soon as they come to understand and comprehend, that which is taught them. 1. I need not say that it is your responsibility to teach them to speak, given everyone’s willingness to do so; but you should teach them to be quiet whenever you, or others are already speaking. It is improper (in my opinion) for children to have their mouths open at the same time their parents are speaking. Well, teach them, then, to be always anxious to listen, but slow to speak. 2. You should teach them to be completely obedient always, and to be ready to do everything when first asked, uncomplaining and without answering back. Remind whatever parents who have to tell their children twice to do the same thing, that they are forgetting or neglecting the words of the scripture, “Train up a child,” &c. 3. You should teach them to greet all whom they meet pleasantly, with good morning, good day, or good evening. 4. You should teach them to come back right away from their errands, and to remember to do everything as instructed; also, to refrain from loitering at gateways or entrances that are frequently traversed; and to close the doors, and the gates of these places. 5. You should teach them first and foremost to take care of their own tasks, without bothering about other matters, or asking or questioning anyone about unimportant things. 6. You should teach them to always tell the truth to everyone; but not to confirm unimportant things with an oath. Yes, and no, are sufficient without adding, indeed, on my soul, by God, to every word. There is by now light on the horizon, and it is nearly day; therefore, send the above oaths and their like, to the darkness from whence they came; and may we enjoy the privileges of the children of light, untainted by the products of blackest night. 7. You should teach them, and get them used to being honest always with everyone. 8. You should put your children in schools for them to learn to read and write, Welsh and English at least; and it would be all the better for them to learn the contents of the Grammars, &c., if this is appropriate for them. Again, although they refuse evil, and practice good morals, they cannot make a living with that, rather they must have some calling or occupation; and such things do not fall from heaven in lumps 188 ZION’S TRUMPET. on children or men, but they must be taught little by little. Thus, then, you, parents, should teach your children; and before venturing to put your children in schools, or apprentice them to learn some occupation, it would be good for you to know their inclinations, which is what those who know the rudiments of phrenology say; thus, those in the midst of you fathers who do not know these rudiments, insist on knowing from those who do know, before setting your children to learn any particular vocation; that will cost less for you, than it costs your children to learn those things for which they have no aptitude. It has cost children dearly to learn occupations; but after all the expense, it was all in vain, because “nature triumphs over education.” Some are seen as blacksmiths, carpenters, stonemasons, merchants, lawyers, preachers, and priests, &c., the one a farmer, and the other a goldsmith, the one a peddler, and the other a miner, or collier, and those are the things they insist on being, although they know and can do better, with higher callings; consequently, it is better for all parents to know all the natural inclinations of their children first, before setting them to learn one particular occupation; and as they learn to do that which is natural to them, they will learn sooner, at less expense, and also it will serve the purpose. Yet, furthermore, although we refuse wicked and corrupt things, practice good morals, learn to live in this world, all that is not enough, for there is a world after this one, and we must live there also. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves, and our children also, to go there. This preparation is called religion; so, you parents should teach your children to be religious. The salvation of the souls of your children to eternal life, rests to a great extent on you parents. Solomon gives the promise that a child who is trained up in the way he should go, will not depart from it. Also, it was the custom among the old pious men of yore, to teach their children to be religious. “For I know him (said the Most High about Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” We also understand that this is commanded them in Deut. iv, 9. Thus, we see that it is a special duty for all in Israel to carry out. Furthermore, in the dispensation of the New Testament, we are ZION’S TRUMPET. 189 not exempt from a similar commandment, through the mouth of Paul in Eph. vi, 4. “Ye fathers (he says), provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Anyone who scrutinizes the above quotations, will see concerning the way of the Lord, that it is one; the Teaching of the Lord, is one; but the ways of men, are many, and their doctrines are as numerous as the hairs on their heads. Now, without expanding on these things, because they are controversial things, I shall end by giving a word of counsel to all parents, to read much in the Bible, and give sober consideration to what it said of those of old, what did they profess? what did they enjoy from being religious? Those things which they taught to their children, of course. The scripture says, that “they spoke of them, when they sat in their houses, when they walked by the way, when they lay down, and when they rose up.” And by so doing, they gained for themselves good names, and honor, and eternal life as a reward in the end; and their history has been preserved, their virtues indicated to us as an example, so that we can emulate them. Therefore, dear Welshmen, let us all live the same way, so that we may inherit the same privileges. Now, we must end, for “too much of anything is not good,” nor about anything. Yours faithfully, Earthworm (i.e., John Richards, Dinas).

FALSE ACCUSERS OF THE SAINTS.

Our readers may recall those letters sent recently by two Welshmen from St. Louis, falsely accusing the Saints of unkindness, deceit, polygamy, &c., which were printed in all the papers of the country. Now, the following letter exposes everything; and we are printing it in English, so the Saints may show it to the persons who read the English newspapers. We have sent a copy of it to the “Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian,” and also to the “Welshman.” The letter is as follows:— Rolling Mill, Bremen, St. Louis, May 3, 1852. Dear Brother Davis,—I feel strongly impulsed to write a few lines to you, in order to inform you of the true state of affairs in this 190 ZION’S TRUMPET. city. Through the kindness of some of our friends at Aberdare, we hear of several false and erroneous impressions, which the people in general have (at Merthyr and Aberdare), relative to the Mormons in this city, caused doubtlessly by the false and malicious statements of apostates. Brother Richard Palmer received a “Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian,” lately from his father, in which I saw a letter from W. Davies (Abercarn) and Evan Howell, now residing near St. Louis. I was truly disgusted with its contents, and I fearlessly assert that it is nothing but false and exaggerated accounts, which could not emanate from any but wicked, designing apostates, infuriated by their deep-rooted hatred to the Mormons. They (Wm. Davies and E. Howell) state that the Saints are very unkind to them, &c. This statement I boldly deny; and to the reverse, I say that the Mormons have been very kind to them (considering circumstances), especially to Wm. Davies; and nothing but ingratitude of the blackest kind, could have obliterated from their memory the obligation they are under, even to the Mormons. In order that you may know these men, I shall relate how they became so exasperated against the Mormons; and I shall also exemplify a little of the “unkindness” of the Mormons to them. Wm. Davies and E. Howell joined the Saints a week or two before they left Wales. Davies had been a Mormon before that, but by some means or other he got cut out of the Church. After we entered the ship in Liverpool, we had to wait a day or two in the river Mersey, in order to have a fair wind to take us on. While we were there, Wm. Davies fell into a great rage, because the provisions were not distributed (according to his ideas), fairly, or at least quick enough: his rage was so unbounded that he really had the appearance of a madman; he cursed and swore most terrible, and used the most obscene language, calling Orson Pratt and others the most infamous names. His eyes fairly appeared to start from their sockets with the intensity of his passions. He had all his boxes, &c., lowered to a boat, and ordered his trembling wife and children onto the same, and paid the waterman to take him ashore, which he did; but as they reached the shore, Davies’s paroxysm having subsided by this time, he repented of what he was doing, and he desired the waterman to row him back to the vessel again! All this passed by, and the Saints were counseled to be careful and kind to him, for we all looked on him as a man who could not bridle his passions, and we all felt pity and commiseration for him, considering it a peculiar failing in his nature. Throughout the length of our voyage to New Orleans, we had great trouble in cooking our food, the galley not being big enough to cook for so many; consequently, each family had to cook in their ZION’S TRUMPET. 191 turn, which was only twice a day: but for fear of offending Wm. Davies, and causing another disturbance, we all consented to give him the privilege to cook whenever he liked. Davies continued to be very outrageous and unruly, and having some influence over Evan Howell, he soon led him astray also, Evan being naturally of a weak mind, and as ignorant as he was weak. These two were cut out of the church, in a public meeting one Sunday morning, on board ship, for their misconduct. When we arrived in New Orleans, there were several of the Brethren, who had not sufficient money to take them up the river to St. Louis; consequently, they must have had to abide in New Orleans, had not the charity and kindness of the Saints provided for them. They made a collection before we arrived in New Orleans for the poor, in order to defray their expenses up the river; thus they gave the chance to all the passengers (rich and poor) to go as far as St. Louis, New Orleans being a very unhealthy place, and by far too hot a climate for Europeans. Wm. Davies was one of the number who had not enough money to take himself and family up to St. Louis; well, we offered money to him, that he might come along with us; but I suppose that he was ashamed to receive so much kindness from those whom he had abused so much. So he stayed in New Orleans; and while there he was taken very sick, and almost lost his life through his temerity: he also buried his youngest child while there; and having got means somehow, he embarked from there to St. Louis. While on the river, his wife was taken severely in the Cholera, and in this state they arrived here; and undoubtedly they must have had to go to the hospital, or poorhouse, had it not been for the kindness of Brother John Phillips, of Pontypridd, who took them (sick as they were) unto his house, and provided them with food, and found William work; and in all he proved to him kinder than a brother. But Davies soon forgot this; and because John was favoring and defending the Saints, he (Davies) threatened to give him a thrashing, not long after this. So you see a few specimens of the unkindness of the Saints to him. E. Howell came up with us from New Orleans; and when he arrived here, he was taken with the Welsh Saints over to the Illinois coal diggings, where they found work for him and several of us strangers; they also helped them to remove their luggages. Evan says in his letter, that he had to dig his own wife’s grave; this, undoubtedly, is true: but we must consider circumstances before we impute this as unkindness in the Saints. The Illinois coal diggings is an exceedingly unhealthy place in the summer, and it was to an unusual extent last summer; and when Evan’s wife died, I don’t think there was one of the Saints there but what was sick with the ague, and he being well, there was no one more fit to do it; besides, they did not reside in 192 ZION’S TRUMPET.

the immediate vicinity of the Saints, and they might have died all without their knowledge. But Evan Howell did not state in his letter that his wife was over here in Missouri, staying a month in one of the Saints’ houses, on purpose to change the air; he also forgot to state that poor Rachel Price (of Cwmbach) laid his wife out when dead, when she (Rachel) was unable to stand on her feet with sickness, caused by the ague. But just for an illustration to the fact that the Saints in St. Louis are really kind to one another, I shall only state that over 2000 dollars were distributed amongst the poor in St. Louis the last twelve months, as reported at our last General Conference. The letter also states that the Saints, ere they leave Wales for this country, are promised some land “gratis” in St. Louis. This assertion of his I need not deny, only merely state that it betrays his ignorance and a certainty that all that believe him have nothing on their shoulders but a wooden head! Evan states that Brigham Young has twenty-four wives. I wonder how he (Evan) found out the definite number, for it has been rumored here that he has about ninety; some say fifty, and others thirty, varying from ninety down to a cipher. And a respectable-looking Welshman called lately on us, stating that he came from California through the Valley, and that while there he saw Mr. Young, and he had two wives; so I cannot think what foundation E. H. had to state that he (Brigham) had twenty-four. He had no foundation, only his desire to do harm to the cause in Wales; for I have so firm a foundation to say that he has no more than one as he has got to say that he got twenty-four, for we are over a thousand miles distance from the Valley; consequently we know as little about it as you do in Wales. He also states that about 200 of the Saints that came along with us in the “Ellen Maria,” are dead: this is a most swollen exaggeration, for if he had said thirty, I would believe him to be over the mark. His stating that the heads of the Church in St. Louis go out on the Sabbath a-shooting, &c., is, in fact, nothing else but a falsehood. But he might have seen some of the “Jack” Mormons, who are neither Saints nor Gentiles; for it is a general practice in St. Louis for people to go a shooting, fishing, &c., on a Sunday. I would have noticed some other statements of Evan Howell’s, only that this sheet again is full; and I am afraid that it will not be intelligible to you. Please to give my love to all the Saints, especially to those of Aberdare, Cwmbach, Merthyr, and Pendaren, not forgetting your consort and yourself. Your affectionate brother in the everlasting covenant. Alfred J. Wood.

P. S.—If anybody should inquire about us, say that we are quite well, and that I am delighted with this country, especially in this ZION’S TRUMPET. 193 season of the year, and that I rather live here than in Aberdare. I must say that Wm. Davies has told me that he only joined the Saints this last time on purpose to have his passage cheaper to America than he otherwise would. If anybody should like to hear further from me, I will answer any inquiries, relative to this country, and relative to the Saints; let them write, and I will answer them. My address is, “Alfred J. Wood, Rolling Mill, Bremen, St. Louis, Mo., N. America.”

THE YELLOW FEVER,

OR ITCHING FOR THE GOLD OF AUSTRALIA.

Mr. Editor.—This disease, as you know, is evil, and is the root of all evil; and thus it is assuredly fatal; and so I am sad to inform you, that several have been afflicted with this disease in these parts, and it is catching; therefore, there is danger that some of the Saints will contract it; which is why I have organized the following directions as a remedy, for anyone who may sense the itching coming close to the location of his heart. Perhaps not everyone is acquainted with the herbs to which I will refer; therefore, I shall set down a few notes in connection with their names. Give to the sick person half a dram of the herb known as “Gold dust;” it grows in dry, barren ground, almost too barren for anything else to grow there; and a dram of the herbs known as “Woes of the Rich;” to come into possession of this, take the spectacles of Matthew of old, and look straight ahead of you, and you shall see them growing on the backs of Ananias and Sapphira, and Demas, and a host of others, without naming them. Grind into powder half an ounce of the root of the virtuous herb called “Benefit of gold to the dead.” That grows around the houses of noblemen, and blooms in the place where the nobleman dies, so it is easy to recognize. Further, take an ounce and a half of the juice of that wholesome perfume called “Contentment;” that always grows on good land. The smell of it is priceless; but it is better enjoyed from the juice. Further, a dram of the flour of “Hope.” Be careful as you gather this herb, for it comes in two kinds; the bad kind grows on the old 194 ZION’S TRUMPET.

trunks of barren ignorance; but the good one grows on the rock called “Certainty.” Mix together all the above drugs, and make the mix into little balls the size of garden peas. And even though you are completely healthy, you must take three or four of these each day, and first off be sure to take a small grain of the herb called “Faith,” (one of the seeds, remember); it is easy to recognize this, for it grows with the top down, and the root up. Swallow one of the seeds in order to open the way for the pills to go under the root of evil to the heart. Now, reader, you know that there are no doctors who can heal the sick unless they take their drugs; I take the same position with these drugs; looking and thinking seriously about these excellent herbs, are certain to soothe somewhat the sick person. Further, all wish to have cheap medicine; well, here are pills that have no duty; buy them without money and without price. Yours faithfully, Graig-ddu. John Richards.

LETTER FROM THE NORTH.

Mr. Editor,—Be so good as to publish the following letter in the Trumpet. Perhaps it will be of benefit to many, in order to create in them better behavior. “St. George, May 20, 1852. “Dear President W. S. Phillips,—I send you this letter, notifying you that I was in the Flintshire Conference last Sunday. We had a very good conference, in which two sisters were confirmed, and one priest was ordained. The officers are in better unity than I have ever seen them before, and are determined to put all measures into action. “Also they are having better success than they have had for a long time. They have been preaching outside within the last fortnight near Wrexham; and the Methodists came there to sing, for the purpose of disrupting them; and irreligious people came there also with rotten eggs to throw at the Saints. But as they threw the rotten eggs, one of them hit the forehead of one of the Methodists, who went to sue the other because of it. After going to court, the Methodist was asked by the judge, why he was troubling the Saints? and he declared that it served him right, and that the Saints had the authority to preach and have peace, as well as any other sect. ZION’S TRUMPET. 195

“They, with the other sects, were a means of keeping us from using rooms, even though brother William Parry had rented some in which to hold the Conference, by going to the Stewards; but after everything, we obtained an ample, empty house, which served the need very well, and we preached out to a large congregation of people. “I am, your brother, in the Gospel, “John Parry.” The Methodists have been showing their tricks for some years, in the north, and also in the South, namely by coming to sing at the meetings of the Saints, for the purpose of keeping them from holding their meetings. To the shame of the Methodists we say this: I hope that this time will be a warning throughout the land, lest irreligious people come to them with rotten eggs; and I think I shall be in the frame of mind to shout, Amen, when I hear the news. W. S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr Tydfil.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Officers of Utah.—Orson Hyde (Mormon) has been nominated to the Senate by the President, as associate Judge in the Territory of Utah, in place of Brocchus, resigned; and Mr. Willard Richards (Mormon), has been nominated Secretary for Utah, in place of Harris. Judge Brandebury, of Utah, resigned yesterday (May 7). We have not yet learned who is to be his successor.—New York Tribune. News from Utah.—Some late and interesting news from Utah will be found in another column. The Mormons appear to be getting along joyfully and prosperously. Brigham Young, the head of Church and Territory, is an admirable tactician. Whatever may be said against his spiritual doctrines, some of his earthly ones are decidedly good. He is a worker—mentally, and physically, and none of his faith can live in his dominions unless they toil for their bread.—New York Herald. Disappointment.—Those who wished for a complete destruction of the territory of the Saints have been greatly disappointed, to the point of silence. Instead of receiving soldiers to destroy them, the Saints have received Judges from among their brethren: and those “judges of injustice” who desired to lower the Saints, have lowered themselves, and have been greatly disapproved of. Earthquake.—A little before eight o’clock, on the morning of the 1st day of June, we and the greatest part of the inhabitants of Merthyr, felt the 196 ZION’S TRUMPET. tremor of an earthquake for the space of half a minute, or more, which caused no small fright to many. Also a strange sound followed the tremor. There is no account of any injury, although the tremors were quite strong; yes, so strong that we thought that our office was coming down.

For everything you may purchase, sell, or hire, make a fair and correct agreement beforehand; and do not neglect to do so by hearing anyone say to you, “There is no need for us to disagree about small and unimportant things.”

Man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife; or anything that is worse than a bad wife.

If idleness is the root of all evil, then marriage is worth something, for it puts many poor women to work.

Emigration.—There will be no shipload of Saints to Emigrate from here before next January. Let everyone remember this, so there will be no need for further inquiry.

Conferences.—The Breconshire Conference will be held in Brecon, on the 27th of June; Monmouthshire, in Tredegar, on the 4th of July; East Glamorgan, in Merthyr, on the 11th; West Glamorgan, in Swansea, on the 18th; Llanelli, in Llanelli, on the 25th; Carmarthen, in Carmarthen, on the 1st of August; Cardiganshire, on the 8th; North Pembroke, on the 15th; and South Pembroke, on the 22nd.

 Treatises on Miracles.—The Second Number or Treatise will come out with this Trumpet. The call for these Treatises is more than our expectations, and generally speaking the brethren are deserving of their praise. We know of one branch that sold 300 of them in one meeting; and we received the money the next day. Remember that subscriptions to the Emigrating Fund are to be paid to President Phillips by the 24th of this month.  Brother Richard Morris wishes for the Saints who bring books to him for binding, not to be long without sending for them.

Payments from May 27 to June 9.—Monmouthshire £2; Cardiganshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £2; Flintshire, £1; Pontypridd, £1 4s 2c; Llanfabon 6s 5½c; Cwmbach, 1s 2½c; Aberamman, £1; Dowlais, 4s 4c; Hirwaun, 4s; Merthyr, £1 1s; Pendaren, 7s; Cefn, 17s:—Total, £12 5s 2c. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 13.] JUNE 26, 1852. [VOL. I V.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL Of the Chief Authorities of the British Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Continued from page 183.]

closing address of president f. d. richards (continuation). The Apostles had much to contend with in consequence of their profession; and so it is now; we have much to bear, and many things to meet. As the principles of truth become more potent and brilliant, we have more stumbling blocks in the way; and so it will be all the way through. And in order that my successor might be the better able to take hold of matters, and rightly carry out all measures for the advancement of the cause of God, I have called you together to give you some instructions in relation to your duties and future course. Inasmuch as you are the principal men, I wish you to be particularly careful whom you call to the Priesthood. Do not call those whose circumstances prevent them from being useful; but call such as will be of service to the Churches in this land, and know that you call them by the Spirit. Brethren, when you call men to the Priesthood, let me give you a rule—choose not men of learning, or of great talents or attainments merely, but those 13 198 ZION’S TRUMPET. that desire to do the will of God; and this is the mind of the Lord. If there be men of this description who possess the advantages of a good education, so much the better. If they have gigantic minds, they will become eminent in their turn, by strictly adhering to the counsels of the Priesthood; such will become strong in the Lord, and do much towards accomplishing his purposes in the last days. Don’t call a man to the Priesthood, because you want to show him a favor, for if you do, you will be doing more harm than good; and a man is far more potent to do the will of God without office than with it, unless he has a mind and determination to magnify the office; if a man dishonors the Priesthood, it will prove a curse instead of a blessing to him. I speak the mind of God to all present; therefore, see to these things, and the Lord will give you wisdom to act righteously. It is not that Traveling Elders should be allowed to go rambling about anywhere without any restraint. And I should not give counsel for them to be sent out into a field of labor without any limits, unless it was to accomplish some specific object; but let them have their respective fields of labor, and let them feel just as independent as you, or any other authority in their sphere, so as to use their authority in a proper manner. No man is above growing independent, let him be placed in what position he may. A man will take a greater interest in the work, when he has a field appointed him, because he will feel that he will have the honor for what may be done in the particular part of the country. Let not those who are willing (I speak of all who are in your Conference, whose conduct is consistent,) be kept back by your examples, but let your light shine to all around. This is of the utmost importance. I feel the Spirit resting upon me at this time. This is it, brethren,—the people will be what the Priesthood are. You may apply this rule, and it will never fail. When I call a brother to the Priesthood, I don’t look so much at a man’s abilities, but if he has the interest of the work of God, he is right; if he has an eye single to the glory of God, that man is right, and all qualifications are comprehended in that. If he be so, flatteries cannot decoy him, ZION’S TRUMPET. 199 and threats cannot hurt him, but he will do all to the honor and glory of God. Again, you are called to be Masters. Then, brethren, be liberal, and those who are below you will bless you, and the more you bless them, the more they will bless you, and seek to do you good in every respect. But if any of you feel like narrowing the spirits of your brethren, bear in mind the time may come when those over whom you now preside, will preside over you: then love to be liberal to your brethren, and they will roll it back into your bosoms, and you will be conscious that you have done your duty. This is a time when the Conferences feel their pecuniary calls to be rather heavy. The calls for the Temple, the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, together with their current expenses, seem to be rather hard for those who have families, and my heart has been led to consider their pecuniary circumstances, and I feel that those who have given their mites according to their means, shall be rewarded in this world, and be crowned, if faithful, with eternal life in the world to come. Brethren, if those who are traveling with you have families, let them have your blessing. And I will here say that it is impossible for the Presidency to fix the particular fields of labor to all those who are traveling; but if the Presidents of Conferences can mutually agree about making changes in their traveling Elders, let them do so, and inform the Presidency in Liverpool. This is a nursery for Priesthood; and it may not be more than ten years until those whom you now preside over may be put to preside over you; and therefore, act so as to be able to meet them in the coming day. I am glad that I have this to say, that I have never acted in any way to cause me to be afraid of meeting my brethren again, over whom I have presided, even if the scale had turned and they preside over me. Next is the keeping of good Records! I wish you to have your attention directed to this subject immediately. Some of the Conferences have good records, and some have not; but I want you to have your Records kept in such a style that you can lay your hands on all your members, and then you won’t have to complain that 200 ZION’S TRUMPET.

you cannot find them; and have secretaries who will attend to these things. Seek out the most punctual men to fill the office of secretary. These things have been lost sight of in a great measure by the world at large, but they must now be attended to. If the human family was in proper order we could trace our lineage right back to father Adam, and know from whom we sprang, or from whom we have descended, and who among our forefathers had received the holy Priesthood, if any. The Jews are very particular in these things, so far as their scattered condition will allow of it. Well, let us imitate the Jews in this particular. And when you baptize any persons, put down the day of their birth, where born, and all the particulars, and then when they go home to Zion, they can take all those items with them. I was in the Lord’s House, and took the names of the brethren who came in there for some time; and there were some who did not know where they were baptized, nor the date, nor anything else connected with their admission into the Church. These are items of great importance, brethren, and I hope you will see that your clerks are attentive unto them. O, what a glorious thing it would be if we could have the dates and ages of our forefathers and friends, who are gone into the world of spirits. There is a system of keeping Records (and it is the best I have ever seen) in the Glasgow Conference, and if you wish to get a transcript of the particulars, write to the Secretary of that Conference. There cannot be anybody go from there without it being known, and it is because their Records are kept in good order. There are some strong reasons why this should be attended to, for the time will come when the people will be willing to give all they possess in this world, and half of what they expect in the next, to be in the fellowship with the Saints in the Valley, when peace and safety shall be in Zion alone. And the day will come, and it is not far distant, when nobody will be received unless they bring their proper credentials. Then let us have our Records complete, and know who are worthy of our faith and confidence, and of being ZION’S TRUMPET. 201 recommended to the Priesthood and Saints in Zion. I must offer a few suggestions upon the subject of the gathering, do that you may know how to lay it before your Conferences. The instructions to the Presidency at Liverpool are, that the Saints gather by the old route until it is practicable to send them by the new one, and that we be upon the lookout for an opening. We have ceased sending the Saints to St. Louis, for many of our brethren have gone there and died; some have lost the Spirit and apostatized, and many, when they get there, become lukewarm and indifferent. We have been at work these twelve years, trying to gather the Saints together in America, and have not been able to do it as yet; but now, all the Saints are about to leave St. Louis, and the counsel from the First Presidency to the Saints in this country is, to remain here until they can go through to the Valley. Those we send by the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund,” we shall not send to feel their way, but shall send some faithful men with every load, so that they may be taken care of; and as it is not our intention to have any stop in St. Louis, we shall book them through. Every one will have to give bonds for the payment of the money expended in their transportation to the Valley. Were we not to be thus particular in our arrangements, the Fund would suffer great losses in consequence of sickness, death, and apostasy; for some, doubtless, will turn away from the truth; and unless some provision is made for such like changes, the finances of the Fund would be reduced instead of augmented. Well, we do not expect to send any but good Saints, but still it is necessary to have such arrangements as these. I rejoice, brethren, that I have been able to send out the first number by the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund!” I have sent about 250 for a commencement, and laid out about £2400. This is more than has been received in favor of the Fund, but by borrowing a few hundred pounds, we managed to sent out so many. We sent out with them two of the best men we had; I mean the best for that business; 202 ZION’S TRUMPET. men of experience, calculated to do business, having a natural tact for business. Yes, the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund” has begun to work, and it is destined to become one of the most powerful agents for the gathering of the Saints in the last dispensation. I know you have good men over in Zion who are studying your welfare, and I know that they have it in their hearts to do you and all mankind good, and hence they have counseled the Saints to remain here until they can go through to the Valley. Considering all circumstances you will say it is better for the Saints who cannot go right ahead, to stay here a year or two longer, than to go to St. Louis, and probably deny the faith, or lose their lives among the wicked. In consequence of this change, the months of January, and February will be the time of emigration instead of September, October, &c., as heretofore. A question was asked by Elder Marchant, in relation to the fare from here to the Valley, if it will require £20 per head. I beg to say, that this amount will not be required in future, in consequence of the Saints having left the States. This sum has been required up to the present time, because of the great demand for cattle and teams; but this will not be the case any more, and consequently the expenses between this country and the Valley will be considerably less. Notice will be given by the Presidency here with reference to the emigration by the Perpetual Fund; but that Fund is solely at the disposal of the First Presidency, and will be appropriated according to their order. We wish the Presidents of Conferences to have it particularly impressed upon their minds, and upon the minds of the brethren in their respective Conferences, that it is the duty of each man to pay his Tithing before leaving this country, and not to make arrangements to take people to the Valley without the counsel of the Presidency in Liverpool. It is not wise to counsel, or sanction husbands going to America without their wives. There is no knowing what temptations a wife or a daughter may be led into while the husband and father is not in the way. Therefore, take every opportunity to frustrate the machinations of the adversary. ZION’S TRUMPET. 203

Books, Stars, and the accumulation of debts, will form my next subject. The debts of the various Conferences for books, amount to something like £2,500; and those debts are on the increase, and hence it is time for you to stir yourselves, and endeavor to get these debts rubbed off. I find that most of the Conferences have about as much as they can do, and some feel it to be rather burdensome, to meet their contingent expenses, but I would say to such, Be patient and full of faith, and the Lord will give you power to do all that is required of you. And every man that gives in his influence, and lets his whole soul be in the work, shall be able to do it, and nothing shall prevent him. Then let it be one of the most absorbing topics in your Conferences, to preach up the books and Stars, and the necessity of keeping straight with the office. I must impress this upon your minds, for it is necessary that some plans should be immediately adopted to get in the money for those books and Stars standing out in your Conferences. But I know you are willing to do it; and therefore, embrace every opportunity to lay the matter faithfully before the Saints. Send out your Elders and local officers to preach the first principles of the Gospel; but when you go before the Saints do not mind so much about preaching the elementary principles of the Gospel, but talk to them about temporal things, and tell the Saints that the way to get the Holy Spirit is to do whatever is wanted. The Spirit will enlighten you to speak to the Saints at one time, and to the world at another. Act up to these instructions and then you will be able to do much towards establishing manufactories in Zion, in addition to clearing off your Book debts at the office; and the Saints will be blessed, and when they get to Zion, they will rejoice exceedingly in the blessings which the Lord will pour out upon them. Now there is another little matter which we have to handle, i.e., the auditing of the Treasurers’ and Book Agents’ accounts. This is sometimes a delicate matter, but still we have it to do in order to do our duty; and we have many things to do of an unpleasant nature among the children of men in order to do our duty in all things. There is a proper way of doing business; and it is the duty of every 204 ZION’S TRUMPET.

President of Conference to see that things are looked after, and kept in proper condition. It is your duty to enter into the accounts of your agents, and have their accounts audited, at least every time we publish our quarterly balance-sheet, and when there is found an error in our balance-sheet, do not wait three or six months before you write to the office about it. If in auditing your agents’ accounts there is anything that is not plain enough to be clearly understood, see to it; and then you will keep the Presidency of your Conferences with honor, and perhaps prevent the man who is so situated, from embezzling Church money, and perhaps from apostatizing and going down to hell. Such is the present stage of this work which is entrusted to our care, that the Conference Presidents, of the large Conferences in particular, cannot devote their time to going to preach in new places, so much as they have done heretofore. I wish to speak to you upon this subject. I know that many of you are well skilled in setting our doctrines before the people, and sometimes it is necessary; but I have often thought this, that a person just come out of the world, and who feels a desire to spread the truth, and is willing to come out, and help those from whom he hast just received knowledge and blessings, is the right kind of man to send to preach to the world. The man has just been born into the kingdom, is filled with the Spirit, and is ready to take hold by the aid of those arguments which have just convinced him; and such an one will generally prove successful. You are full of arguments and the principles of government, and, if you are faithful, you will be able to select men right to preach to the world, and therefore you should adapt yourselves to preaching to the Saints more particularly, and the Saints will go and preach to the world; and the sisters, too, and as has been said, they will “flog the best clergyman in this country.” Study to send those out to preach to the world who will be capable of putting forth the words of life in such a manner as will bring the honest to see and obey the truth. If any of their converts are moneyed men, teach them their duty in relation to tithing, and the building up of Zion. Show men how to use their money for the honor and glory of God. I would not ask a ZION’S TRUMPET. 205 man to do anything that I did not believe would be for his good as well as mine. It is your duty and right to give counsel in relation to the use of money, or anything else pertaining to the salvation of the Saints; in fact, brethren, it is your duty to see after the welfare of the Saints, and preach about those things which most concern them. We who have come from the other side, have heard some of our most spiritual men preach about oxen, teams, pine lumber, nails, &c. I do not know that I need say much about tithing, but the first and leading item is, that every person of property should pay a tenth of all he or she possesses before leaving Liverpool, for the benefit of the work of the Lord; and that money is subject to President Brigham Young’s order. That which is being collected through these islands is not tithing; but inasmuch as there is not sufficient tithing to commence building a temple with, this is a call from the First Presidency upon the Saints in Great Britain to contribute their mites towards building a house to the name of the lord, wherein He will pour out His blessings upon the faithful. These, brethren, are the most important items which I desired to lay before you. There are many others, but I have from time to time published them in the Star, and therefore it is unnecessary to speak upon them now. I pray that your members, over whom you preside, may have a disposition to emulate your good example in every good word and work. There has been a great deal of trimming up and cutting off during the past year, and it is a good thing, for it will save us the trouble of gathering many. We have plenty of such characters there, and we have no desire to gather any from this country to increase their numbers. As you trim up the tree, it will flourish the more abundantly, and the roots will strike down, and the tree thrives and prospers, growing stronger and stronger, until the perfect day. May the Lord bless you in wisdom and influence to govern His people in all righteousness, is the earnest prayer of your humble servant and fellow laborer in the cause of our Redeemer. Amen. [In addition to this, the Star contains a copy of the “Memorial” which was presented to President F. D. Richards, in memory of his 206 ZION’S TRUMPET. tireless labor in every way while he has presided over the British Isles; this was signed by all the brethren who made up the Council.— Editor of the Trumpet.]

EPISTLE OF PRESIDENT S. W. RICHARDS TO THE SAINTS IN THE BRITISH ISLES.

Beloved Saints,—Many are the interests connected with the building up of the kingdom of God among the nations of the earth, which are calculated to bring into lively exercise every energy of that soul to whom is committed, to any considerable extent, the watch care of the Saints. Because of this, we feel it a duty which we owe to those who look to us for counsel, to offer such reflections, in this, the morning of our administration, as shall be calculated to increase and protect those interests, in their general bearings upon the present and future welfare of the Saints, that the kingdom of God may continue to rapidly extend its influence, power, and dominion upon the earth. Every individual who has been baptized into Christ, by virtue of the new and everlasting covenant, has duties to perform, works to do, which, if left undone, will prove a sure seal of condemnation. A prompt and faithful discharge of these duties, or requirements, is the only thing that can justify, or wash the children of men clean from the stain of guilt, and entitle them to the merits of the Atonement; that their robes may become white through the blood of the Lamb. Every honest soul that has covenanted with its God, will have a desire to learn the will of God; and enjoying much of his Spirit, will ever be found walking in the line of his duty, in the path of wisdom, which is peace, and leads to life. The daily exercise of the body is consistent with its organization, to provide for this mortal life, and the continued exercise of the mind is essential to its proper development, that it may be capacitated for every enjoyment which intelligence can impart; but the exertions of either should be wisely directed, that the best possible results may follow; and while the one is calculated to supply the wants of the present, the other will also as amply provide for the endless future. Our present object is to direct the mind to some of those duties which immediately demand the attention of the Saints in the British Isles, and upon which the prosperity of the work depends. It is the duty of all members of the Church of Christ to pray often to the Lord, that they may have much of his Spirit to lead them into all truth; for he has said that his Spirit should be given in ZION’S TRUMPET. 207 answer to prayer; to cease all evil speaking, which is calculated to justly give offense to your neighbor, brother, or sister—for woe unto them through whom offenses come; to cease all your wrangling, and contentions, one with another; hatred, strife, and divisions are not admissible among Saints, they are of the spirit of the devil, and not of God; therefore, shun every appearance of evil; be kind one to another, seek to build each other up; be cleanly, virtuous, and good, patient in well-doing; and, finally, seek to be clothed with, and in constant exercise of, every virtue that belongs to godliness, which will adorn and make lovely its possessor. Thus let everyone by their own exemplary conduct, and upright course of life, become a living witness to those around them, of the power of God, through the Gospel of His Son, living in all the ordinances and counsels of God. It is the duty of the head of every family, to see that every member of his or her family, is properly instructed in all those duties which are consistent with their age and position in life: and inasmuch as marriage is an institution of God, it is the duty of the husband to love his wife, and treat her with all tenderness, even as Christ loves his Church, over which his arm of mercy is ever stretched out to save; but it is his duty to love his God supremely, more than his wife, his children, or even his own life, otherwise he is not worthy of a family. It is the duty of the wife to love her husband, and manifest the same with all that willing obedience, to his righteous counsels, that Christ requires of his Church; that as Christ is the Head of the Church, so also may the man be the head of the woman, that in them a worthy example of holiness and piety may be set before their children, and their children be taught to walk in the same. It is the duty of parents to teach their children, when young, the right ways of the Lord; to teach them to pray; to love each other, and their parents; that the fear of God may be upon them; that they may be prepared, when eight years old, to be baptized, and grow up in the ordinances of God, having a knowledge of the ways of life, and sharing in the privileges and blessings of his kingdom; that every family may exhibit a pattern of the order of heaven, in organization, government, obedience, and every virtue which characterizes the heavenly order, and the will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thus let every one walk in the path of their duty, and honor the character of a Saint, and know assuredly that God has provided means for your perfection; hence, it becomes the duty of every one to avail themselves of the benefit of those means. Do you ask what they are? We answer, they are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, and Deacons, given for the perfecting of the Saints, and the work of the ministry; that the wicked may be converted and 208 ZION’S TRUMPET. brought to the knowledge of God, through the labors and exertions of that ministry. The performance of the duties belonging to these several offices will materially affect the condition of not only Saint, but sinner; not one soul can be perfected without them, otherwise God hath wrought folly, and bestowed vain gifts upon men. But who shall charge God with folly? or say unto Him who hath performed his own will, Why do ye so? If he has ordained the officers of his Church to be the channel through which perfection should come unto the Saints, as well as to promote the work of the ministry, the blessings of either cannot be found elsewhere, hence they are in Christ’s stead, who being made perfect, became the author of salvation. We will now refer to the duties of some of these officers, in their respective fields of labor, as at present assigned to them under our Presidency. The Pastors and Presidents of Conferences occupy an eminently responsible position, and it is their duty to watch over the flock which is committed to them with a father’s care, to rule with all tenderness and affection, yet with integrity, dignity, and honor; to see that every man under their Presidency stand in their lot and place, and fills the calling with which he is honored in the Priesthood, discharging faithfully, yet wisely, the duties of the office which he holds, that he may be able to render, at all times, a good account of his stewardship to his superior in office. Let the Presidents of the Conferences honor the Presidents of Branches under them, if they are worthy; and if they are not worthy, let them repent and become so, or be removed, and their placed filled by men who are worthy; and let each one be required to bear the burden which belongs to him, or in other words, answer to the responsibility of the trust reposed in him; and let it be known that his garments are clean, and his conduct unpolluted with hypocrisy. It is the duty of every President of a Conference to see that there is not only a Conference Record faithfully kept, but to see that each Branch has a record of every important event connected with that Branch; whether of deaths, births, marriages, additions or removals of members, or whatever circumstances can effect the interests of the Branch, giving all proper information with each item, which, when reported and embodied in the Conference Record, will constitute a concise history of the Conference. It is also the duty of every President of Conferences to see that the book agency of his Conference is wisely conducted, and all exertions used to promote its interests both in and out of the Church; and from henceforth it is expected that he will personally acquaint himself with the fact, that the cash forwarded to this office, and the stock in the hands of the agent, at the office price (branch ZION’S TRUMPET. 209 debts included), is sufficient to balance his account with this office at the close of each quarter. Not only the interests of the office demand this at your hands, but the people over whom you preside demand of you that you protect them in their rights. Further delinquency on the part of Presidents cannot be excused. The people should not, through your neglect, be called upon to pay an amount of money which has been embezzled by the agent, simply because your feelings have been so delicate, as to esteem it a breach of common courtesy, to do your duty in examining his books; as has been the case heretofore. Such courtesy as this does not belong in our religion; hence we must be excused for not administering it in others. Some of the Conferences are making noble exertions to free themselves from such unjust burdens; and if their Presidents are wise, we expect they will be relieved from them in the future. All agents whose accounts exceed fifteen pounds per quarter, are expected to make semimonthly remittances to this office, and those under that amount, once per month. The Presidents of Conferences are expected to devote their time to watch care of the Saints, and the work of the ministry, and not be encumbered with the selling of books, or any other business calculated to divert their attention from the immediate duties of the Presidency. Because of this and other like evils that have existed, the system has been adopted of introducing Traveling Elders, for the purpose of taking charge of some few Branches of Conferences. Some of the Conferences are sufficiently numerous to justify this arrangement, but they are few. If every officer in the several Branches of the Church would stand forth in the spirit of his calling, many Traveling Elders might be relieved from their present labors, and go among those who have not yet heard the Gospel preached, but are anxiously waiting for the dawn of that happy day when salvation shall come unto them; and thus the kingdom would be extended abroad, and its dominion increased. It is the duty of the Elders to prove the world, and to do it in the way that God has appointed, that they may witnesses for those who shall be justified, and against those who shall be condemned;—and by this shall ye know His disciples, if they feed you, and clothe you, and give you money, and receive your testimony. But while a Traveling Elder goes out to preach to the world only on Sunday, and then retreats to the midst of the Saints, he neither proves the world, nor gives them a chance to prove him; and while he thus fails to do his duty, many of the world fail to come under condemnation, and the work is lengthened out, in some instances, to years of indifferent service, while months might have accomplished the same work. 210 ZION’S TRUMPET.

In some cases there is not intimacy existing between the Presidents of Branches and the Presidents of the Conference, that there should be, which renders his labors difficult, and sometimes even unpleasant. This, brethren, should not be. It is the duty of every officer in the kingdom of God to turn his heart, his feelings, and his affections to his President; and as you seek after the spirit of the Lord to enable you to do his will, so with the same fervency of soul seek after the spirit, the will, and the views of your President, to do the same with all lowliness of heart, and so much the more as you occupy an exalted and responsible station. If you will be like your Master, never seek to do your own will, but the will of him who is greater. That man who will not turn his heart altogether to his President, as his immediate counselor, cannot have power to wield an influence for the salvation of the people; the Priesthood of God recognizes no other principle of government, because it is perfect, and perfect obedience is required of every subject, whether high or low, rich or poor; otherwise, responsibility cannot rest where it belongs; and when a man assumes the right to differ from his ruler, he assumes the right to betray the government of God, and lay it open to the deadly influence of opposition, which is the power of the devil. If evil should exist in the administration of government, the high power has a right to interfere. All are not perfect yet, therefore let everyone look about him, and know his position. Are Presidents losing their power and influence among the people? If so, what is the cause of this evil? Search it out, and put it far from you. You must not expect, brethren, more from those over whom you rule, than you give to those who rule over you. If you take the liberty to withdraw your feelings from, and differ with, your President, you must expect to give the same liberty to those over whom you preside, and who look to you for an example. In this, as in other things, the measure you mete shall be measured to you again; and if you rule with a heavy hand, and will not bear the burden of the flock, you must expect the same measure from those who rule over you. It gives us great pleasure to know that such cases, within the limits of our acquaintance, are very few; and where they do exist, wisdom we trust will dictate the better way, and restore that harmony of feeling, with that united effort which ever ought to characterize the family of God, and always was an effectual way of preaching the Gospel to a contending world. (To be continued.) ZION’S TRUMPET. 211

INVITATION TO THE SAINTS.

All faithful Saints of Jesus, I hereby counsel you, In a most urgent way, To come from the oppression, Where we experience injustice, To the land given us cheaply, Where we can praise, And reign forever In the presence of Jesus, Upon reaching the end of the journey; And marvel forever at the love, Into the long eternity: How happy we shall be before him, After coming home from the wearisome plagues, And the oppressions which now tire us completely,— Shortly we shall bid an eternal farewell to Babylon. My heart yearns, To be among the family Which is there praising, And singing Hallelujah, In sweet sounds of Hosanna, For delivering them from the hateful Wilderness of Babel, From among the persecutors, And all the maligners, Which now tire the children, But hail to the happy morning We shall go from their midst to a valley, To the place which God has set apart, Where we shall praise for over a thousand years, In the midst of hosts, which sing aloud a tune, Repeating the lovely anthem in blessedness with the Lamb. Rhymney. William Charles.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Baptismal Font.—President Young has given an order to build a baptismal font on the Temple Block this summer. We are happy to be able to report that Elders Franklin D. Richards and Erastus Snow, who left Liverpool on the 8th of May, on board the Niagara (steamship), have arrived safely in New York on the 19th of the same month. It is said in the Deseret News that the family of Governor Brigham Young wove 500 yards of cloth during last winter. 212 ZION’S TRUMPET.

It was expected there would be a hundred wagons leaving the Valley in July, loaded with flour, potatoes, &c., with animals to be slaughtered, to assist the immigrating poor on the plains,—we mean the poor who walked, and those who were sent through the instrumentality of the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund.” It was thought that the rich could help themselves. We have an idea in our heads that it is the walkers—namely those Saints with their wheelbarrows and their handcarts, who will have the best of the journey after all.

Festival.—Members of the Government held a Festival on the 4th of March, in the Territorial House, Great Salt Lake City, in which the Governor, and other special persons, were present. The feast was furnished with excellent nourishment for the body, and with singing, dancing, oratory, &c. Governor Brigham Young’s speech can be seen in the Star. The printers also had a festival in the schoolhouse of the fourteenth ward of the City, on the 24th of February. The First Presidency were present, and a good time was had.

Hindustan.—From letters written by Elder W. Willis, it appears that the work of God is prospering in that land. About 50 have already been baptized, with very hopeful prospects for multitudes more. The eleven natives baptized on the 6th of April, have been named with the following names: Orson, John, Parley, Thomas, Wilford, Amasa, George, Lorenzo, Erastus, Franklin, and William. Orson was ordained a priest, John a teacher, and Parley a deacon.

Payments from June 10 to June 24.—Monmouthshire, £3; West Glamorgan, £4; Merionethshire, £2 6s. 1½c; Flintshire, £1; Anglesey, £1 8s. 1c; Dyffryn Conwy, £1 10s; Pontytypridd, 15s. 6c; Cwmbach, 11s. 7½c; Cardiff, 18s; Aberdare, 14s. 6c; Hirwaun, 10s; Georgetown, £1 8s. 2c; Merthyr, £1 1s; Pendaren, 13s. 4c; Ynysgau, 7s.—Total, £20 3s. 4c. We are supplied with the numbers of the Trumpet, Doc. and Cov., and the Book of Mormon. The numbers of the Book of Mormon are again for sale here, and the sooner the better they are requested. “Sound Doctrine” is out of print. It is better for our correspondent Phillip Davies, if he likes to look into the affairs of other men, to ask the president of the branch. May our correspondents be patient, and let us strive to make use of everything we see for the general welfare. No one should be put off, because he does not see his first writing published. Read “The Hero and the Spider” in the first volume of therumpet T .

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 14.] JULY 10, 1852. [VOL. I V.

TRUTH AND SALVATION. [From the “Deseret News.”]

Our subject is Truth; our object Salvation. Disinterested benevolence constitutes no part of the composition of the righteous; but they have an interest in all they see, hear, feel, taste, or handle. And what is that interest? To shun the evil, and grasp the good. For what purpose? That in the end they may attain to salvation. Many ignorant and self-righteous persons, who know not God, and obey not his Gospel, think they must be so holy as not to have any interest in benevolence, faith, hope, charity, obedience, and consequently in salvation. With such, at present, we have little to do; for if one person can be so benevolent as not to have any interest in the object of his pursuits and exertions, another, yes, every other person may be equally benevolent, on the same principle; and no person that ever did, does now, or ever will live on the earth or in the heavens, will ever receive a particle of good through a universe filled with such benevolence; it is disinterested, and no one can have any interest in it, either for good or evil. This, then, is the object and design of truth—to promote salvation. Give men every other good that can be named, and deny them salvation, and what would be their situation? Miserable, 14 214 ZION’S TRUMPET. miserable in deed, and in the extreme! What is salvation? Happiness! Can a man truly be said to be saved, while he is perfectly miserable? On no other principle, only that he is saved from happiness. Who possesses such a salvation? Lucifer and his followers. Who desires such a salvation, and would rush to its embrace for its own sake? No one; the devil himself despises it, and is sorry that he ever enlisted in it, and so will be everyone who joins his standard. But of what consists the salvation that the Saints are seeking after? Happiness, here and hereafter. But if happiness is the great object and end of their desire, and their existence, why do they look so earnestly after truth, and seek so ardently to become holy, even as God is holy? Because our Heavenly Father has wisely ordained that truth, made manifest through a holy or God-like life, is the only means by which true, enduring, and celestial happiness can ever be attained by intelligent beings like men, in a state of probation and agency. What is it that the Saints want saved? Their souls. What constitutes the soul of a Saint? His spirit and body. But cannot the spirits of the Saints be perfectly happy, and be saved without their bodies? No! If they could, why did they ever condescend to agree and covenant with their Eternal Father in the heavens to come to this earth for the sake of getting a body? For if the spirit, when it leaves this mortal body at death, for a little season, could secure a perfect salvation, without a resurrection and reunion with the body (as Mr. Andrew Jackson Davis, the clairvoyant, represents), that same spirit might have been equally happy without ever having a body, just as it was when it came from the heavens to get a body; and this would prove that a spirit can be just as happy as a soul, and that the creation of this earth, for the purpose of originating bodies for the spirits before born in the heavens, was a work of supererogation and folly of the Eternal Father, which we do not choose to attribute to the God we worship. God made man in his own image. What constitutes that image? A spirit and body; just what was manifest when God walked, talked, and ate with Adam, Enoch, Abraham, and others; and as God had ZION’S TRUMPET. 215 got his resurrected body, the Saints, to continue their likeness to their Heavenly Father, must go on to perfection, even to the getting of their resurrected bodies, or they will never be prepared for a celestial residence with the resurrected body of their Heavenly Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ, who has also risen and taken his body, and with him the Saints who died before him, and had received of the Holy Priesthood. But why is it that all the clairvoyants and mesmerizers of the nineteenth century deny the resurrection of the body? Because their vision is obscure, dark, and limited, and they have not the power or ability to look into the dwelling of the Gods and resurrected Saints; and when a clairvoyant sees and converses with a spirit from “the spirit world,” he sees a spirit only, for the spirits he holds converse with, have never received their resurrected bodies, neither can they for a long time yet to come; they must wait their turn after the first resurrection; for they received not the Holy Priesthood while on the earth; consequently, they are not entitled to its blessings and privileges, a portion of which consists in having a part in the first resurrection. Those who attained unto the Holy Priesthood on the earth, in different dispensations, from the days of Adam to Jesus, are the ones who have, with Jesus, received their resurrected bodies, and like him are dwelling in their own dominions, and are governed by the laws specially designed for them, and such as are appropriate to their spheres of action; which laws forbid their manifesting themselves to men on the earth, only to such as have received of the like Priesthood; with the exception of the opening of a dispensation, after the Priesthood had been taken from the earth, as it was shortly after the death of Peter, who, in process of time, manifested himself to Joseph Smith, for the purpose of conferring on Joseph the same Priesthood; that the blessing thereof might again be realized by all the inhabitants of earth who were willing to receive it, as in former dispensations. Since the Priesthood has been fully restored, it is the business of men who have received that Priesthood, to minister therein for the 216 ZION’S TRUMPET. children of men; consequently there is no need for the ancients, who held the same Priesthood, to continue to minister in their office on the earth; they have done their work, and have retired behind the veil, and are resting in the enjoyment of their resurrected bodies, which it is not their privilege to show to wicked men; and if a wicked man should once behold the glory of a resurrected body, he would die in its presence. And if a clairvoyant, or mesmerizer, or any man not having the Holy Priesthood, should say that he had seen the glory of a resurrected body, and yet lives, his assertion would be a contradiction of truths; but as no clairvoyant is permitted by the celestial law to converse with or see a personage who held the Priesthood on the earth, and who has got his resurrected body, he very naturally concludes there is no resurrection of the body, and consequently publishes his false conclusions for certain or special truths. And this is prominently one of those items referred to by an ancient Apostle, when he gave the intimation that deceivers would arise in the last days, who would, if possible, deceive the very elect; but this cannot be, for the Saints who have received of the Holy Priesthood know of the power of the resurrection of the body, which is to be reunited with the spirit, to constitute an endless soul; and they are exerting themselves to prepare baptismal fonts and temples, wherein to administer for the living and the dead, that the blessings of this power may not be lost to those who are and who have been on the earth, with honest hearts. We did not commence to write for or against clairvoyance or mesmerism; it is a subject we think little of, and care less for; and any person who can be deceived by such a mess of truth and falsehood, as we have seen combined in the authors we have noticed, is not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven; and if anyone chooses to believe a lie, and inherit thereby a lower kingdom, after we have had the privilege of telling him the truth, he is just as welcome to his low place as he would have been to a high one, if he would but have believed the truth and accepted it; our garments are clear of his blood; he is his own agent for life and death. ZION’S TRUMPET. 217

EPISTLE OF PRESIDENT S. W. RICHARDS TO THE SAINTS IN THE BRITISH ISLES. [Continued from page 210.]

In order to maintain the harmonious exercise of the government of God, and produce the happy results which are ever associated with its administration, we would say to Traveling Elders who are called to preside over districts, Give honor to whom honor is due. When a man is called to preside over a Branch, seek to assist and sustain him in that Presidency, by teaching him the duties of his calling, and counseling him in the performance of those duties, that he may indeed preside over the Branch, and have the honor and blessing which belong to him. Never condescend to rob your brother of that which justly belongs to him. Let every President of a Branch preside over the council of his Branch, unless circumstances demand your interference. It is then your duty to preside over him, while the President of the Conference will preside over you. And when everyone knows his place, and keeps it by attending to his own business, there is no confusion in the administration of government; but, like all other organization of God, the exercise of every function in the body, or Priesthood, produces life as its legitimate fruit, and thus salvation flows unto the people. In consequence of the yearly emigration of the Saints to Zion, and other circumstances, the Presidents of Branches are frequently being changed, and inexperienced persons called to fill the places of those who are removed. This makes it necessary that the Presidents of Conferences should devote their time to instructing the Priesthood and Saints in the many duties which severally belong to them, that darkness and ignorance may flee away, and that the young, fervent, and zealous Elders may preach the first principles of the Gospel to the world. Even to this day we sometimes hear presiding Elders say they do not understand their duties, and have not been properly taught them. Because of this, we would here remark, that if you are fathers, and understand the duties you owe to your children, you will understand the general features of those duties which you owe to a Branch of the Church. Should your children go hungry, while you have power to feed them? or, should they go naked while you have power to clothe them? should they grow up in ignorance, and misery be entailed upon them forever, while you have a store of knowledge at your command with which to bless them? Certainly not. It should be the pride of every father to see his children rising in the scale of intelligence and greatness, qualified in every respect to tread in his footsteps, when his grey hairs shall have gone down to the grave; that 218 ZION’S TRUMPET. he may rejoice in his children, as they gather around him and call him blessed, with that attachment which shall assure him that the work which he may have but just begun will by them be finished, and his name be honored to his eternal glory. So it should be the study of every President to take that course which will simply provide for the happiness of those committed to his care, that in the end of his administration he may have blessing, and honor as his reward. If you would make good people happy, make them wise, and feed their souls with the intelligence of heaven, even the knowledge of God; for this alone will satisfy. Bless those over whom you have the watch- care, and you shall be blessed in turn. No man of true principle will swerve from his duty to gain the favor or affection of any; neither will he be intimidated by any presentment of evil that enemies of truth can offer. The straightforward path of rectitude, and integrity to God, is the only one in which we can walk with any assurance of His power to sustain and deliver us. In expressing our views so freely upon the general administration of government among the Saints at the present time, it is not because they are new, or because the Saints have not been taught them before; but we feel the importance of their being kept constantly before the mind, and, as the work is continually increasing, we wish to attract the attention of those who may not have had an opportunity of becoming familiar with the organization of the Church, and the principles to which they have subscribed. No persons should be baptized into the Church of Christ without first being properly taught the principles upon which they will be required to act, that they may understand the nature of the covenant they make with God, when they receive that holy ordinance. Elders have not in all cases been sufficiently careful in this respect, but have been too anxious to increase the number of baptisms, without regard to the consequences; this should not be. Where persons consent to be baptized into the Church of Christ, they should understand that, in doing so, they act upon their own agency; and when they have once subscribed to the laws of God, they must expect to abide by them, for they are absolute, and will never conform to the caprices of men. They must yield from thenceforth to the requirements of those laws; submission is demanded, and nothing else can be approved; the will of God from thenceforth must be their will; otherwise, this is their condemnation, that they have covenanted to keep the laws of God, and by turning away, they break that covenant, and have become liars before God, and must have their reward with their father the Devil. Far better would it be for all such never to have heard the ZION’S TRUMPET. 219 way of life, than, after having covenanted with God, to turn away altogether from that covenant. Let the Elders in all these things, do their duty, that their labor may not be in vain in the Lord, in baptizing scores into the Church, who have no just conception of the things of God, nor relish for them, who, after having been a source of trouble and annoyance to others, are cut off from the Church, and whose last state becomes worse than the first. We might write extensively upon the duties, and portray the responsibilities of the Elders of Israel, which they owe to God, to each other, to the Saints, and to the world; and yet we are sensible that it would be in vain, unless they seek to live in the spirit of their calling, and have the oracles of God within themselves. A man may have a knowledge of all the laws that are written, and deposit them safely in the archives of his memory; yet he will frequently find cases to which no written law is adapted, which will demand the decision of his better judgment; and if he is not full of the Spirit of God, to discern where the evil lies, and sever it from the good, he will be barren and unfruitful in his labors, and dishonor will be the result of his ministry. Therefore, we feel to say, Let every one go to and learn his duty, and the laws of God, as they are written. The Saints have had the Bible before them from their childhood, and they are now instructed to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and they will become more familiar with those laws of God which immediately concern them. Get wisdom by study, and by the Spirit of God, which leadeth into all truth. Read the Star, for it will reflect light upon your path, and enable you to treasure up the counsels which are given for your salvation, that your light may be that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Some have united with the Church because they admired the principles of the Gospel, and are very precise in the performance of their spiritual duties, yet reserve to themselves the right of controlling their temporal affairs exclusively, as though God had nothing to do with temporal things. To all such we would say, You are deceiving yourselves if you think you can withhold anything from the Lord, and be accepted of Him. The Lord has to do with temporal things, as well as spiritual, with the earthly, as well as with the heavenly; he will not be responsible for the salvation of any but those whom he controls, not only in their spiritual, but in their temporal interests. Jesus died to redeem the body from death by the power of resurrection; the spirit alone was not enough. And those Saints who can commit their soul’s salvation to the Priesthood of God, but 220 ZION’S TRUMPET. cannot commit their money, are making a mock of their profession, and fooling away their time. To all such we would say, Go, sell what you have, and contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of God; pay your tithing into the Lord’s storehouse, that you may not come under the condemnation of this Eternal Law, from which you have no hope of ever being set free, so long as the Aaronic Priesthood is known to administer in the tithes of the people, unless by being consumed in the burning. The Lord has but little to do with those who think more of their money than they do of His counsels; and he that is not faithful over his earthly stewardship, to make it subserve the purposes of God, need not expect to have committed to him the true riches. We wish it understood, therefore, that those who dispose of their property, preparatory to gathering with the Saints, and have more than they require for their emigration, are expected to pay their tithing to this office, that the blessing of the Lord may be upon them and their substance forever. We do not wish to cover up the truth in relation to any of these vital principles, for the sake of bearing other men’s sins; we have enough of our own to attend to, after we have told the truth to those who may feel disposed to receive it, and become innocent before God. A principle of that importance to the children of men, that God should deign to give a special revelation upon, cannot be passed over as a matter of small moment; but claims the attention of every Saint who seeks to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The subject of emigration is one which we deem worthy of notice at the present time, because of its results to the Saints either for weal or for woe. It is a subject which God, angels, and holy men on earth, have contemplated, and without which the purposes of Jehovah cannot be accomplished, nor the Saints be saved. This subject has attracted our attention more particularly as we have considered the condition of some of the older Conferences of the Church in these Islands, which have settled down in such a state of lethargy, and unconscious stupor, that it seems almost impossible to arouse them to a sense of their condition, which we look upon as the result of not gathering to Zion. When men receive the principles of the Gospel, and are baptized for the remission of their sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, their love is warm, their joy is great, their faith is strong; and their zealous works bear testimony of their sincerity; their hopes are bright, and their whole souls seem lit up with the intelligence of heaven, while their very countenances declare that God dwells within them. Such are the happy results of receiving the ordinances of ZION’S TRUMPET. 221

God, to the humble and devoted followers of Jesus. Notwithstanding all this, many will bear us witness, that, after a lapse of time, they lose the fervency of that love, and their energies become weakened, their spirits droop, and their ambition dies away. Why all this? It is because they have not gathered with the Saints, either for the lack of disposition, or for the want of means. If mankind will live in the power of the Spirit of God, they must live in the ordinances of God, and they cannot live in the ordinances of God, unless they can receive them, and the ordinances of Zion cannot be had out of Zion. Thousands of those who have been cut off from the Church in these islands because of their slothfulness, and indifference to the work, have seen the day when they might have gathered with the Saints, and been associated with the holy ordinances of God, which would have opened a field for their ambition as wide as eternity, and as exalted as God; but because of their neglect in this thing they are weltering under the disgrace of a broken covenant, and when they are awakened to the sense of their condition, by the wrath and indignation of the Almighty, they will see what they have lost; and we are sensible that such will soon be the condition of many more, unless they speedily gather home, where their strength can be renewed. The very means of safety which God has ordained for His Saints, is to go out from the midst of wickedness, if they would escape its deadly influence; and, notwithstanding all the views or hopes that may have been cherished to the contrary, we do, in all humility, bear our testimony that there is no other hope of salvation for the multitude of God’s people. It is the duty of all Saints, after having received the Gospel, and been taught the purposes of the Lord, to turn their attention to the subject of gathering, as the next requirement of God at their hands; and if they have the means so to do, to gather without delay, in the time and season appointed. Those who have not the means, should make it no less their prayerful desire, and, inasmuch as they do, they will have the watchful care of God, and of angels, to keep them in the way of life, and their light will not become darkness. We are aware that, as a general thing, those who have not the means to go, are the most fervent in their desires. To all such we would say, that the whisperings of the Spirit to us are, that the Lord has espoused your cause; and that the emigration of the poor Saints from this country, who now think they cannot go, will be greater the coming season than it has ever been before; and such measures will in due time be proposed, as the wisdom of God shall direct, that his saints may gather in flocks to their homes. Be not overanxious, 222 ZION’S TRUMPET. but be ye ready to respond to God’s call, and the counsel of God’s servants, who control the destinies of His people. There is a time coming, as predicted by the Prophet, when it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth that brought the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt, but, The Lord liveth that has gathered His people from among all the nations whither they have been scattered; and if ten thousand of the Saints now in this land would rise up and go home to Zion, as they might, it would do more toward preaching the Gospel to this nation, and the world, than all the Elders could do for a year to come. It would give a name and an influence to Zion and her sons, that would be felt to the remotest corners of the earth. Must it be, that the Saints shall ever despise to journey, as did the children of Israel to their promised land? or as did Lehi when he went out of Jerusalem, in search of a land that he knew not of, only by the promise of God? If so, God will despise to give them the promised rest. Let the Saints be wise, and let the Elders teach wisdom to them. Save your hundreds of pounds that are being thrown away uselessly, in pleasure excursions, in drinking, in smoking, and in many other worse than useless habits, upon which your means and life are vainly lavished to please the eye, and gratify the lusts of the flesh. Hundreds of the Saints might be gathered every year, if the money thus uselessly spent was thrown into the Emigration Fund. Brethren and sisters, shall these things continue? Can you not forgo some of your pleasures for a short time, that you may be planted upon an inheritance in Zion? Remember that your reward will be commensurate with your toil; and if you esteem the greater blessings, only by your exertions can they be obtained; therefore let not the rich forget their duties they owe to the poor, in sustaining that important Fund. Our feelings are warm upon this subject, and we do not expect they will be less so, so long as our labors can be spent to gather the scattered remnants to their promised fold, that Zion may arise and shine, clad in garments of praise. Much instruction has been given, and the duties of the Saints have been plainly taught to them by our predecessors in office, with such lucid and emphatic language, that it seems little else but a recapitulation to dwell upon them. We would therefore recommend a frequent review of the instructions and epistles, which have been addressed to the Saints through the Star, the two years past. If those instructions are borne in mind, and acted upon, it may relieve us from the necessity of renewing them from time to time. In items of business belonging to this office, we sincerely hope ZION’S TRUMPET. 223 that the Presidents of Conferences will bear in mind the necessity of stepping forward to our relief, by seeing that the heavy debts due, are speedily reduced. The present year, before a heavy emigration reduces your number, is the time for you to give your attention to this matter, for we earnestly desire that it may not be our lot, to hand down to our successor, such an enormous amount of debt as is now found in our books. Brethren, give your attention to this immediately, and let some disposition be made of the stock in your hands, that shall be approved of by the Conferences, and let the money be forthcoming that we may pay our debts, and be relieved from the importunities of our creditors. We like to be free, and we like to see all others so, as far as they can be, by walking in the liberty which the Gospel gives them to do right. The world is enslaved by priestcraft and superstition, which darken the mind, and destroy the capacity of the soul, and a just sense of the obligations men are under to one another, both in their temporal and spiritual relations. Natural affection has almost vanished from among men, and misery, corruption, and woe are looked upon with all that indifference, and even complacency, that more justly belong to the regions of the damned, but are now associated with the daily walks of men. The poor are spurned at and oppressed by the rich. Licentiousness, with all its evils, stalks abroad unmasked, without the blush of shame, and only requires a license to legalize its respectability, and make it a virtue in the eyes of law. Thus sin reigns triumphant, from the palace of the prince to the house of the peasant, while the ordinances of God are trampled upon with indignant abhorrence. Such are the elements with which the Saints are surrounded while in the world, and the influences with which they have to contend. Truly happy is the Saint whose garment is unspotted— whose character is not blackened by the shades of guilt, for such are they who shall find favor with God; while those who have sacrificed virtue and integrity to lust, shall wail for the loss of that priceless gem. O ye Saints of God, walk worthy of the high calling whereunto you are called, and shun every evil way, lay aside every unholy feeling or desire, and let your frown be a terror to the evil doer, let your examples be such as precept shall approve, and God admire. Finally, we would say to all Saints, Gird on the whole armor of God, that you may stand invincible to the powers of the evil one; be united in the organization of the Holy Priesthood, and none shall prevail against you. Many are the inducements which lie before the Saints for their comfort and encouragement; the favor of 224 ZION’S TRUMPET.

God is upon this people, and prosperity attends their labors in the mountains. Those who would do them evil are brought to shame, and their folly is made manifest before men; when the wicked have sought to destroy, the Lord has shown forth his power, by exalting his people, and they have triumphed over their enemies. The oppressor’s arm has been lifted in vain, and has fallen discomfited by its own deadly thrust. The Lord has given his people rulers after his own heart, and he that shall dare to offend will find justice in the way: because of this, the weak have become strong, and the small one a great nation. Surely it is the Lord’s doing and marvelous to behold; therefore let the earth favor Zion, for the Lord is her friend; let every Saint conspire to build her cities, that they may have an interest within her gates; let them bring their gold and their silver, to rear and beautify her Temples, that they may partake of the glory to be revealed in them; and if they do these things, walking humbly before the Lord, they shall not fail to inherit Eternal Life. May the Lord God of Israel bless his people everywhere, even all who seek to establish heaven’s laws upon the earth, and keep them to inherit the peace and favor of God for ever. This is the prayer of your devoted servant, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. S. W. Richards, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Isles.

This continuation of the Epistle was translated by brother Thomas Job, and the beginning by ourselves. We hope that all the Saints will make good use of this Epistle, for we know that it contains very valuable observations; and we also hope that it will be read publicly in every Branch.—Editor.

HONOR.

Honor was won through good deeds, And it required some costly efforts; But any bad deed can cause all its Lofty distinction to vanish like mist. What good are the most sincere efforts of a man, If he turns back before reaching the end of the journey? There will be nothing more than self-contempt, Second only to Judas and his treacherous words. What man does not remember his tiresome labor, And his serious contemplations many a long night? It drives away sleep—he stays awake, And his mind wanders on its journey: ZION’S TRUMPET. 225

He looks forward through a crystal image of the mind, Yonder to the beautiful Valley of the Mountains of Ephraim, Perceiving all the splendid buildings, The diligence of the Mormons at every turn. Those who earlier were the objects of scorn of the world’s nobility, To the forest like beasts they had to flee; But now for all their disgrace and scorn, The wilderness has become an Eden. The transformed wilderness was the refuge for a host of savages, Like a luxuriant flower garden it smells sweet, And the fruits of innocence, beloved labor, Are theirs, under the protection of their heavenly Lord. Like Christ, an object of the hate of his contemporaries, For his righteousness they scorned Him; His words were as sharp as arrows of steel, Biting the unrighteous with his voice. His sad groans ascended on high To the hearing of his Father, and his great disregard; Intrepid, he was forced to flee from his enemies, And wander without a place to lay down his head. The more he did the work of his Father, The unrighteous burned like embers, Until the green grass was colored red with his blood, In which the lawful court found no blame. Where had these men placed their reason? Cultivators of deceit, and its wicked deeds, They asserted blatant lies, swearing black was white, On violent thrones of prejudice with hideous mien. Despite placing his bloodstained body in the cold earth, With Greek soldiers to stand watch at his grave, The Lord rose triumphant, And today he is on his throne in glory. Those who follow after our good Jesus, By the narrow path which He trod; His footsteps are as on the driven snow, Walking on the golden dust of the third heaven. Sadly and earnestly he prays before his Father, That he may be a safe refuge for his Saints, Those who remain behind in an awful country, Like the place where we are may they all be; Who can discern His honor now, Who once was lower than the animals of the field? May we always emulate Him, To attain our great honor by grace. Clynmil. John Wilkins. 226 ZION’S TRUMPET.

STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN THE BRITISH ISLES, For the Half year ending June 1, 1852.

Conferences Br. Sev. H.P. Eld. Pr. Tea. Dea. Cut. Died. Emi. Bap. Tot. 1 Manchester...... 33 1 0 140 102 111 54 102 22 40 208 3048 2 London...... 35 1 0 159 121 98 67 92 15 31 373 2359 3 Birmingham...... 18 2 0 105 122 85 43 141 6 17 196 1957 4 South...... 29 1 0 49 84 75 46 79 10 12 116 1173 5 Liverpool...... 10 1 0 55 47 45 25 48 5 62 75 1056 6 Norwich...... 24 1 0 59 58 36 27 38 9 16 189 1003 7 Sheffield...... 21 1 0 42 75 42 24 77 6 11 74 963 8 Herefordshire.... 29 1 0 75 62 49 24 907 9 Nottinghamshire 16 0 0 46 44 41 22 50 3 0 105 905 10 Cheltenham...... 20 0 0 67 52 39 26 61 6 8 87 902 11 Bradford...... 19 0 0 59 70 48 19 35 6 22 88 874 12 Warwickshire..... 29 0 0 76 52 36 16 27 11 15 45 725 13 Preston...... 13 0 0 60 44 33 13 20 6 17 19 688 14 Worcestershire... 17 0 0 41 36 21 14 53 4 22 52 647 15 Newcastle-on-Tyne 16 0 0 69 47 23 15 76 6 17 77 614 16 Southampton..... 15 0 0 24 30 22 10 37 6 3 121 611 17 Bedfordshire...... 17 1 0 45 41 24 20 81 3 14 49 608 18 Staffordshire...... 15 0 2 57 44 28 17 48 2 6 58 571 19 Reading...... 17 0 0 44 36 24 13 21 2 16 141 558 20 Kent...... 16 0 0 39 35 25 14 14 1 0 85 523 21 Lincolnshire...... 20 0 1 37 37 26 8 26 3 6 39 518 22 Derbyshire...... 14 1 0 34 34 23 10 39 5 4 71 423 23 Leicestershire.... 9 1 0 27 22 15 12 26 3 3 65 402 24 Hull...... 6 0 0 20 12 21 5 20 0 7 31 311 25 Essex...... 12 0 0 28 14 13 10 21 3 6 57 308 26 Cambridgeshire 11 0 0 20 29 17 10 14 1 8 56 296 27 Dorsetshire...... 6 0 0 9 14 9 11 20 1 0 28 256 28 Shropshire...... 9 0 0 20 16 9 8 31 3 3 21 248 29 Land’s end...... 6 0 0 9 11 7 3 3 1 0 60 192 30 Carlisle...... 6 0 0 16 7 9 6 6 1 3 6 142 31 Glasgow...... 30 1 0 118 83 111 37 149 7 52 146 2044 32 Edinburgh...... 20 0 0 53 46 40 15 36 6 18 25 763 33 Dundee...... 7 0 0 14 15 16 10 26 3 3 28 347 34 East Glamorgan 32 0 3 249 137 136 109 119 32 15 180 2385 35 Monmouthshire 20 0 0 90 36 44 32 42 2 7 78 747 36 Carmarthenshire 18 0 0 84 21 25 20 8 5 5 41 536 37 West Glamorgan 17 0 0 71 34 28 21 57 5 11 44 477 38 Breconshire...... 9 0 0 35 9 9 8 8 3 1 19 166 39 Pembrokeshire... 11 0 0 28 9 17 5 11 1 0 22 160 40 Denbighshire...... 6 0 0 14 7 8 3 4 0 5 18 145 41 Cardiganshire..... 6 0 0 19 6 3 2 1 0 0 11 128 42 Flintshire...... 4 0 0 16 9 3 1 2 1 0 18 105 43 Merionethshire... 6 0 0 20 5 2 1 4 0 2 3 78 44 Anglesey...... 6 0 0 13 9 4 1 0 0 0 0 77 45 North Pembroke 4 0 0 13 3 4 2 2 0 0 9 73 46 Dyffryn Conwy... 3 0 0 9 2 3 2 4 0 0 3 54 47 Belfast...... 5 0 0 8 7 5 3 12 1 1 13 102 48 Dublin (Branch) 1 0 0 5 0 0 1 3 0 0 3 33 49 Londonderry ditto 1 0 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 27 50 Isle of Man...... 3 0 0 13 6 3 2 1 0 10 11 105 Total...... 717 14 6 2406 1935 1516 867 1795 216 496 3265 32340

Notice.—The Editor of the Star says that the total is 1312 less than it should be, if the last report was accurate, and he wishes to know where the error is. ZION’S TRUMPET. 227

THE PRESIDENCIES.

PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH IN THE BRITISH ISLES. president. Samuel W. Richards. counselor. Levi Richards. PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH IN WALES. president William S. Phillips. counselors. John Davis, Thomas Pugh. AREA PRESIDENCIES. president. area. C. H. Wheelock, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston Conferences. Jacob Gates, London, Reading, Kent, and Essex Conferences. Isaac C. Haight, Birmingham, Cheltenham, South, Worcestershire and Bedfordshire Conferences. A. M. Harmon, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Hull, and Carlisle Conferences. Moses Clawson, Lincolnshire, Bradford, Derbyshire, and Warwickshire Conferences. Robert Campbell, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee Conferences. PRESIDENTS AND SCRIBES OF CONFERENCES.

presidents. scribes. presidents. scribes. 1 Jonathan Midgely, James Johnson 26 J. V. Long, G. Bramwell 2 James Marsden, T. C. Armstrong 27 Edward Frost, Joseph Pring 3 Abraham Marchant, Charles Jones 28 Charles Derry, D. James, jun. 4 George Halliday, Henry Fulstone 29 W. G. Mills, Samuel Francis 5 A. F. McDonald, John R. Winder 30 A. M. Harmon, 6 C. V. Spencer, John Harriss 31 John Lyon, Patrick Lynch 7 John Albiston, 32 T. W. Brewerton, Geo. P. Waugh 8 Vincent Shurtless, 33 J. Mc. Naughton, James Mair 9 Henry Savage, John Wigley 34 Thomas Pugh, William Jones 10 John Hyde, sen., William Clarke 35 Thomas Giles, G. W. Davis 11 Robert Menzies, Robert Menzies 36 Abednego Jones, Isaac Jones 12 Wm. Speakman, Richard Tilt 37 Robert Evans, Geo. Bywater 13 J. W. Young, John Foley 38 John Roberts, Thos. Morgan 14 Matthew Rowan, John Kelly 39 John Price, Dan. Williams 15 William Mc Ghie, Robert Hazon 40 John Parry, H. C. Morris 16 Richard Rostron, Chas. Kemish 41 John Evans, David John 17 Job Smith, Jas. Pembroke 42 William Parry, William Parry 18 James F. Bell, J. O. Walker 43 William Richards, David Roberts 19 Thomas Squires, Henry Kendall 44 William Simms, Dd. Needham 20 John W. Lewis, Stephen Hare 45 Philip Sykes, Thomas Evans 21 John Carmichael, Edward Weaver 46 John Davies, William Davis 22 George Kendall, John Bush 47 Gilbert Clements, Samuel Ferris 23 John O. Angus, Thos. Hauald 48 Edward Sutherland, H. E. Bowring 24 John T. Hardy, A. S. Green 49 R. G. Frazer, H. Sheppard 25 Martin Slack, S. Forsdick 50 John Kelly, T. B. Bourne 228 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

France.—From a letter received from Elder Curtis E. Bolton, from France, it appears that the work of God in that country, is as if beginning for the second time quite successfully, despite the numerous obstacles. Permission has been obtained at last to preach publicly, which was begun last month in Paris, and fifteen have already been baptized, with prospects for great success. Brother Bolton has suffered much and has prayed much, before being able to see as much as this; but his heart is rejoicing at present, and he feels more than ever to spend all his strength in the work of his Lord.

Hindustan Again.—It appears from a later correspondence received from Elder Wm. Willis, that the Saints are quickly growing in number in that distant part of the world, and that the Church there, on May 2, 1852, is represented as follows:—Three Elders, 8 Priests, 9 Teachers, 8 Deacons, and 122 Members; a total of 150 (since last Christmas).

Prepared Drink.—5 ounces of white powdered sugar; 5 drams of carbonate of soda; 1 dram of powdered ginger. Mix the ingredients, and separate them to 24 blue papers. Further, 6 drams of tartaric acid, separated to 24 white papers. Then put the contents of one of each of the papers, in a half glass of well water, and drink it straight away. Everything but the sugar can be obtained, by dividing them yourself, for about 3c. Pour the contents of the white paper into the water first, and then the other. If you wish to have a different flavor, add 40 drops of essence of spruce, and 1 ounce less of sugar.

Payments from June 25 to July 8.—Pontytypridd, £2 0s 5c; Dowlais, 10s 11c; Hirwaun, 10s; Georgetown, 16s; Merthyr, £3 3s 7¼c; Gwernllwyn, 8s 6c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 5s 11c; Troedyrhiw, 4s 6c; T. Pugh, 2s 6c.—Total, £8 2s 4¼c. We wish to notify the Presidents and the Distributors that the last quarter ended on the 3rd of July, and that the balance is being sent to every Distributor. This quarter ends on the last day of September, and all the other quarters afterwards on the last day of December, March, and June.

Treatises on Miracles.—The 4th Number is being sent out with this Trumpet, and the 5th is at the press now. Then there will be just one more. We are grateful for the support we have received, and we believe that good will be done through them. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 15.] JULY 24, 1852. [VOL. I V.

SEVENTH GENERAL EPISTLE OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER- DAY SAINTS, FROM THE GREAT SALT LAKE VAL- LEY TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD,

GREETING:—

Beloved Brethren,—Since the date of our last Epistle, of September 22, many things have transpired to cheer our hearts, and encourage the labors of the faithful; and we improve the present moments in presenting our annual salutations to you, that you may be conversant with the welfare of Zion, and rejoice in all her rejoicings. The past winter has been one of unusual mildness in these valleys, insomuch that our flocks and herds, so far as they have been free to range, have fed sumptuously, needing no hay; much wheat has been sown, and at an earlier date than is common in this country; and many buildings have been erected, or finished, since the usual time of closing Fall business. The first “bent” of our New Tabernacle was raised on the 21st of November, and the whole shingled and enclosed Jan. 16. One hundred and twenty- six feet in length, and sixty-four in breadth, with three-foot walls; the whole in one entire arch sprung from the base. The pulpit is situated near the center of the west wall, to be entered by an anti- 15 230 ZION’S TRUMPET. court or vestry; the slips are ascending on three sides from the pulpit, so that the prospect for all is equal; and about 2,200 can be pleasantly accommodated; the whole completed and dedicated on the 6th of this month, it being the opening of the General Conference; and never were the Saints of Latter-Days so conveniently and numerously assembled on any previous occasion. A considerable portion of the earth has been excavated, ready for the reception of the wall around the Temple, and many stones are on the ground. The brethren generally have been prompt in paying in one-tenth of their property according to their vote of last September Conference; and never before has the Lord’s storehouse been so well supplied with wheat, meat, butter, eggs, vegetables, and other useful articles, and his pasture with cattle, as at the present time. There has been very little cash in circulation among us the past year, it having been previously vended in foreign goods, which were necessary for our comfort; but of late, the want of cash to purchase importations, has induced the people to enter into domestic manufactures as fast as possible. A small woolen factory in this valley, commenced last year, is expected to go into operation about mid- summer; and another in Utah Valley will be ready for this year’s wool. Many handwheels and looms have been in operation in families, and several thousand yards of cloth have been manufactured, beside carpets, mittens, stockings, &c. Besides the Deseret pottery in this city, another is open at Provo, in Utah county, and another is expected to commence this summer at Fillmore, in Millard county. A machine for manufacturing combs is nearly ready for operation. There is a nail factory in operation in Iron county, another in San Pete, and another is being built in this city. Building has been materially hindered for want of nails hitherto, which we trust will soon be prevented, by the use of domestic machinery. Most of the principal settlements are comfortably supplied with flouring mills, and where there is a deficiency, mills are being built there. The number of sawmills is increasing. The country is supplied with wooden bowls, from a factory at Provo. ZION’S TRUMPET. 231

Tanneries have been commenced at most of the principal settlements, and at some two or three, and, after another season for peeling bark, the prospect will be good for a supply of domestic leather. The iron ore at Coal creek, in Iron county, has been tested, and proved to be of an excellent quality, though but little has been done for want of coal, an abundance of which is on the mountain nearby, but inaccessible to teams, until a road can be made, for which there have been some public appropriations. The Deseret News, which was suspended for lack of paper, commenced its second volume, November 15th, on an enlarged sheet, and has exerted a salutary influence on the subject of domestic manufactures, and there is a general exertion among the people, to produce the various articles needed for their consumption; and chairs, tables, stands, pails, tubs, barrels, knives, and many other useful articles, are becoming more common in our markets. The territorial Legislature assembled in this city on the 22nd of September, and after a short session, having located the seat of government at Fillmore city, in Millard county, and appointing commissioners to select the site for the capitol, &c., adjourned to the first Monday in January, when they reassembled, and after enacting many general laws for the benefit of the territory, (which are now in press,) and memorializing Congress for appropriations for the construction of a national road, railway, and telegraph, from Missouri river to the Western coast; a road to run from north to south through the territory; for a hospital and penitentiary; for establishing a mail route from hence to San Diego; a weekly mail to the States; a distributing post office; and other great public improvements, adjourned on the 14th of February. President Orson Hyde left this city for Kanesville, on the 23rd of September; Ezra T. Benson followed the next day for the same place, accompanied by Elder J. M. Grant for Washington, and Samuel W. Richards, and others mentioned in our last, for England, Germany, &c. September 25, 1500 pounds of sugar beet seed was received from Elder Taylor in France; and we learn that the machinery for 232 ZION’S TRUMPET. sugar and woollen factories, before referred to, are at Kanesville, and will be here this season. Elder Orson Pratt arrived on the 4th of October from England, bringing with him an excellent telescope, and also a microscope, globes, chemical tests, and mineralogical specimens; all of which are most valuable acquisitions, in promoting scientific research. The books of the Utah Library have been unpacked, and found in good order, great variety, and of a choice selection. The September Conference, which was adjourned to the 6th of October, was held and closed on that day. The Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the capitol at Fillmore, left this city October 24th, accompanied by brothers Young, Kimball and others, who visited Fillmore, Manti, Nephi, Provo, and other places, and returned November 7th. The Legislature accepted the report of the Commissioners, confirmed the location of the site for the public buildings at Fillmore, 38 deg. 58m. 40s. N. L.; 4,789 feet altitude; and men are engaged for their erection. The Legislature will continue to meet at this city till the new capitol is prepared for their reception, having purchased the Council House for that purpose. The last company of the immigrating Saints arrived October 24th; the mountains and table lands were covered with snow, for the first time, last fall, November 10th, followed the next day by the severest gale of wind ever known in our Valley, where but little snow had fallen during the winter, and that remained but a short time. Schools have been common in the various Wards and districts, and well attended. The parent school has been continued under the tuition of Chancellor Spencer, and others. Professor Pratt has given a course of lectures on Astronomy, and every exertion possible has been made for the promotion of the arts and sciences. But one mail has been received from Oregon since last fall, and that on the 10th of this month. The November mail from Sacramento was cut off and lost, and the carriers doubtless killed by the Indians of Mary’s river, though the body of Mr. Woodward has been found thirty miles beyond Bear river. No mail had been ZION’S TRUMPET. 233 received from the States since the one which left Independence on the 1st of December, until the 3rd of this month; consequently, we have been poorly advised of the state of foreign missions. From last accounts we may reasonably suppose that Elder John Taylor, and F. D. Richards are on their way home; Elder Erastus Snow is in Calcutta (where missions have been established the past year), expecting to return by the Pacific. The work had been prospering in France, England, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, and all places around, so far as the Gospel had been preached; and in many places great opposition has been manifest, which proves that Satan is not bound; and the Book of Mormon has been translated in Welsh, French, Danish, and probably before this into German, and Italian; and is acquiring general circulation. The only intelligence from the West, of late, was by the Sacramento mail of February, containing but little information of any kind; yet we are pleased to learn that Elder P. P. Pratt arrived at Valparaiso, Chile, in November, accompanied by Elder Rufus Allen; that he had commenced forming acquaintance, and was preparing to proclaim the Gospel. It was reported that Elders Hawkins, Cannon, and Farrar, had baptized upwards of 400 at the Sandwich Islands, previous to the 20th of November. Elder Woodbury was at the Island at the time; and several Elders had called there on their way to the Society Isles. We have not heard from Elder Addison Pratt since September 13th. Elders A. Lyman and C. C. Rich were on the western coast, having established a settlement at San Bernardino, Los Angeles county, California; but we have few particulars concerning them or their settlement; their principal letters having miscarried, or not arrived. Elders John Murdoch and Charles W. Wandell, are supposed to be at Sidney, New South Wales. The new year, the first day of 1852, was ushered in as a day of humiliation, praise and thanksgiving, by proclamation of Governor Young; and thus far the year has never been equaled by the Saints in their willingness to pay their tithing and to do as they are counseled; and joy of heart, through a greater flow of the Holy Spirit unto them, has been made manifest in a manner not to be mistaken, that 234 ZION’S TRUMPET.

when the children of the kingdom do their duty, God is ready to fulfill his promises unto them, and pour them out blessings, until there is no room to receive. Notwithstanding the spacious Tabernacle we occupied at Conference, many hundreds waiting without, could gain no admission and all felt the necessity of a larger building; yet all was peace, union, love and the Holy Ghost appeared to have the Presidency in every heart. Brigham Young was sustained by the unanimous vote of the Conference, as the President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in all the earth, and Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as his counselors, and the authorities of the Church generally, as hitherto organized, were sustained in like manner. Conference continued until Sunday, the 11th of this month, and much of the time was spent in teaching and revealing things new and old; and the hearts of the Saints were filled with joy, praise, and thanksgiving. The report of the financial affairs of the Church, by the trustee in trust, showed that, from the commencement of tithing in the Valley on the 6th of November, 1848, to March 27th, 1852, there had been received at the office, on tithing, mostly in property, dol. c. Valued according to price ...... 244,747 03 Received in loans, &c...... ______145,513 __78 Total ...... 390,260 81 Expended, during the same time, on council house, storehouse, stores rented, old bowery, blacksmith’s, carpenter’s, and paint shops, Church Barn, Tabernacle, Bath house, trench round Temple lot, railroad, farms, city lots, paper factory, pottery, water ditches, the poor, houses for Elders on missions, superintendents, clerks, public labor, grain, hay, provisions, assisting immigrants, cattle lost by Indians and wolves, stationery, &c...... ______353,765 __69 Remainder 36,495 12 Now on hand in grain, vegetables, merchandise, cut stone, lumber, shingles, printing press, ZION’S TRUMPET. 235

obligations, horses, mules, and stock of various kinds ...... 74,512 50 From which take ...... ______. 36,495 12__ Remainder ...... 38,017 38 Profits to the Church, in the management of the funds. It appeared also, that the Trustee in trust, was responsible for some cash liabilities, for glass, nails, clothing, and various articles of merchandise, which were necessary to rear the public buildings, and sustain the public hands, which cost cash; that little had been received in cash, and though there was abundance of property on hand to pay all the debts, leaving a handsome surplus, yet the property could not be immediately converted into cash; and as the merchants were wishing stock to drive to California, it was proposed that those having extra oxen, horses, or mules, should bring them to the tithing office, to help liquidate the cash debts of the Trustee. The proposition met with a warm response from the entire Conference, and many cattle have already been received; and if others do as some have done, which we doubt not, old debts will be canceled, and a handsome sum will remain in the hands of the trustee to prosecute the public works this season; it is contemplated that we shall be ready to commence the Temple next spring, and that fonts and other preparations will be made ready the present season on the Temple block; but cash will be wanted from all who have, to purchase such articles as demand cash, and such as cannot be produced in the valley. We hear a good account from the Saints in England, and trust they will continue in good works, and others follow their example. The subject of the Saints walking over the prairies with handcarts and wheelbarrows, was presented to the Conference, when ninety- three brethren volunteered to go with teams and provisions to meet them, and assist them on their journey, as a free donation to the kingdom of God. It was voted that Thomas Margetts and Alfred Smith take a mission to Italy; William Fotheringham to Calcutta; John C. 236 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Armstrong, Edward Bunker, David B. Dille, Samuel Glasgow, T. B. Broderick, John Dalling, John Barker, and George Fenn, on foreign missions (probably to or through England). Edward Hunter was ordained presiding Bishop of the whole Church, who proposed Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball as his Counselors, with the entire approbation of Conference. Seth Taft, David Pettegrew, Abraham Hoagland, David Fullmer, and Daniel Spencer, were unanimously chosen assistant Presiding Bishops. A few were disfellowshipped, and sixty-seven ordained to the Priesthood. The last day of the Conference, Sunday afternoon, was devoted to administering the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and social observations by the assembly; after which a contribution was made for the purpose of procuring the furniture for the communion service in the Tabernacle, when 149 dollars was presented in silver coin, besides several pounds of watchcases, spoons, rings, and other silver ornaments. Conference adjourned to the 6th of October next. Also a special Conference was appointed for the last Saturday in August, for the purpose of transacting business relative to the appointment of Elders on foreign missions. And now, breather, having given you a brief history of the situation of the Church in the Valley, which is altogether more prosperous than we could hitherto communicate, we have a word of counsel, which we hope you will give heed to, that you may become partakers of the rich blessings of Ephraim with us; and first, as far as possible, live in peace with all men, even as it was agreed at our last Conference to cease all contentions and lawsuits, one with another, and if possible with all men. When you are sick, call for the Elders, who will pray for you, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands; and nurse each other with herbs, and mild food; and if you do these things in faith, and quit taking poisons and poisonous medicines, which God never ordained for the use of men, you shall be blessed. Sustain the government of the nation wherever you are, and speak well of it, for this is right, and the government has a right to expect it of you, so long as that government sustains you in your ZION’S TRUMPET. 237 civil and religious liberty, in those rights which inherently belong to every person born on the earth; and if you are persecuted in your native land, and denied the privilege of worshiping the true God in spirit and in truth, flee to the land of Zion, to America—to the United States, where constitutional rights and freedom are not surpassed by any nation—where God saw fit, in these last days, to renew the dispensation of salvation, by revelations from the heavens, and where all, by the constitution and laws of the land, when executed in righteousness, are protected in all the civil and religious freedom, that man is capable of enjoying on earth; and our national institutions will never fail, unless it be through the wickedness of the people, and the designs of evil men in brief authority; for those rights were ordained of God on this land, for the establishment of the principles of truth on the earth; and our national organization originated in the heavens. Let all the Elders of Israel sound the trumpet of salvation with a loud voice, knowing that the time is short, in which a great work is to be done; and fear not what men can do, who can only kill the body: but fear God, who will destroy the souls of the fearful and the apostate in hell. If the Saints have more gold and silver than they need to bring all the poor, bring it along with you, but help one another,—do as you would be done unto, and not leave the poor to perish at home or by the way. Those in the western Islands, New Holland, the East Indies, and the warm climates generally, will do well to come to San Diego, in California, and receive the instructions of the Apostles or Presidency at San Bernardino; while those of England, and northern Europe will do well to take a more northern route, by New Orleans, Kanesville, and the South Pass; and when you come, bring models of the most approved machinery for manufacturing all useful articles ever wanted by man, and choice seeds of all kinds. The world is full of labor-saving machinery; and models thereof, with such articles needed in the manufactory of the machinery, as cannot be obtained here, and will be worth more to the Saints than their weight in gold and silver. Finally, brethren, fear God; work righteousness, and come 238 ZION’S TRUMPET. home speedily. Prepare, against another season, to come by tens of thousands; and think not that your way is going to be opened to come in chariots, feasting on the fat of all lands. We have been willing to live on bread and water, and many times very little bread too, for years, that we might search out, and plant the Saints in a goodly land. This we have accomplished, through the blessing of our Heavenly Father; and we now invite you to a feast of fat things, to a land that will supply all your wants, with reasonable labor; therefore, let all who can procure a bit of bread, and one garment on their backs, be assured there is water plenty and pure by the way, and doubt no longer, but come next year to the place of gathering, even in flocks, as doves fly to their windows before a storm. When a people, or individuals, hear the Gospel, obey its first principles, are baptized for the remission of their sins, and receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, it is time for them, to gather without delay to Zion, unless their Presidency shall call on them to tarry and preach the Gospel, to those who have not heard it; and generally, the longer they wait the more difficult it will be for them to come home; for he who has an opportunity to gather, and does not improve it, will be afflicted by the devil. When Jesus was on the earth, he said to his people, “How oft would I have gathered you, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not; therefore, behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” And if the Saints of this dispensation do not listen to the call of the good Shepherd, and gather according to the holy commandment, the time is not far distant, when the representatives of the Savior now on earth, may have occasion to say, as he said, “Your house is left unto you desolate;” for plagues, famine, pestilence, and death are beginning to circumscribe the earth; and where will safety be but in Zion—the land of God’s appointing—the home of the Saints; a land choice in products and government above all other lands; therefore, we say unto you, Arise and come forth, and tarry not, for the great day of the Lord is at hand, and who shall abide His coming? ZION’S TRUMPET. 239

O Lord God of Abraham, our Father, pour out thy Spirit upon thy people throughout the earth, even that Spirit which thou dost bestow upon thy servants; that all thy children may be obedient in all things, and speedily become one with us in the valleys of the mountains of Ephraim; that thy will may be done on earth as in the heavens; which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards. Great Salt Lake City, April 18, 1852. [Translated by Thomas Job.]

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the New Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1852, at ten o’clock in the morning, President Brigham Young presiding. [From the “Deseret News.”] Present—the First Presidency, namely Brigham Young, President, and Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, Counselors. Patriarchs—John Smith and Isaac Morley. Of the Twelve—O. Pratt, W. Woodruff, and G. A. Smith. Presidents of the Seventy—Joseph Young, Zerah Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, and Henry Herriman. Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, President, and David Fullmer, Counselor. Presidency of the High Priests Quorum—John Young, President, and Reynolds Cahoon, Counselor. Presiding Bishop—Edward Hunter. Scribe of the Conference—Thomas Bullock. Reporter—George D. Watt. Conference was called to order by the President, who stated that at the last Conference, we adjourned to meet in a new Tabernacle on the Temple Block; and we will now proceed to dedicate this hall, and take up the business of the Conference, as the Spirit shall manifest itself on us. He then read the 201st hymn, “Lord in the morning thou shalt hear,” which was sung by the choir, under the direction of James Smithies, chorister. President Richards offered the following DEDICATION PRAYER Great and all-wise God, our Heavenly Father, who dwellest amid the cherubim, and art clothed with light as with a garment, 240 ZION’S TRUMPET. in the name of Jesus thy Son, and by virtue of the holy and eternal Priesthood with which thou hast endowed us, we come before thee upon this occasion, invoking thy rich gifts and blessings to rest down upon us. Pour out, we pray thee, of thy Spirit upon each and every soul now waiting before thee, that our hearts may be united as one, and that we may approach thee in a manner acceptable in the sight. May every emotion of our souls arise in unison unto thee in humble praise and adoration for all thy mercies, unto the creatures of thy creation. We remember, our Father and our God, that we are indebted unto thee for our existence, for having been sent to the world in this day and generation, in which the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ thy Son has been made manifest, in which the celestial messenger from thy presence has again proclaimed the way of life and salvation to the children of men upon the earth, saying “Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come;”—shadowing forth the restoration of all things that have been spoken by the mouths of all thine holy Prophets since the world began—establishing the pure principles of the eternal Heavens, which constitute the laws of the kingdom of our God upon the earth; opening up anew the great principles of revelation and communication with the Gods of Eternity—principles which have been hid in the heavens for many centuries, while many generations have lived and died, looking for the blessings and promises of this day, desiring that they might have a part in the great preparatory work of the coming of the Son of Man, in power and great glory, to reign upon the earth. We remember before thee, O our Father, that we, thy servants, now in thy presence, having heard the heavenly message, and yielded obedience to its holy mandates, have become the happy recipients and partakers of this holy ministry; and that we have ofttimes been delivered from the power of the devil, and the devices of wicked and designing men, who have sought our overthrow, and conspired against our lives, to destroy us from the face of the earth. But thou, O our Father, hast even been mindful of us, overruling all seeming evil for our greater good; until by thy mighty power thou hast brought us to a glorious inheritance of this goodly land, choice above all other lands, far from the retreats of mobbers and murderers who have slain thy Prophets, and from the land where their blood yet cries from the ground for vengeance to be poured out from the Heavens. Mercifully hast thou dealt with us, our Father; for through all the scenes which thy people have been called to pass—all the perils, and sufferings we have had to encounter, thine angels have watched over and protected us, and the gentle and refreshing influences of thy spirit have comforted us, and we have been spared as monuments of thy mercy. Multitudes of our brethren and friends have fallen by mobocracy, violence, disease, and death, and their bones have been left to molder upon the prairie, and in the wilderness, while we are ZION’S TRUMPET. 241 again permitted to gather ourselves together in this goodly place, and bring into requisition all the powers of body and mind with which thou hast clothed us, for the advancement and building up of thy kingdom upon the earth. When thy people have called upon thee in their extremities, thou hast not been slow to hear, but hast exerted thine Almighty power, and encircled them in the arms of love and of mercy, until thy people have been permitted and enabled to build and inhabit, to labor and enjoy the fruits thereof; and to come forth from our comfortable habitations, this morning, to worship and praise the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jesus, and Joseph, in this commodious edifice, erected for the assembling and worship of thy people. Oft-times have our hearts rejoiced together in councils, and meetings, and in Conference; yet never have we met when the manifold mercies and blessings of our Heavenly Father called for more ardent praise and thanksgiving to his holy name, than at the present in this spacious and commodious room, which thy Saints are now permitted to occupy. Here, in this place appointed for the assembly of thy Saints, on this the anniversary of the birthday of thy Church and Kingdom upon the earth, in this last dispensation from the heavens, and in the midst of the congregation of the Most High God, we, thy servants, O our Father in heaven, in the name of thy Son Jesus, dedicate and consecrate this house unto thee, and unto thy cause, for the assembling of thy Saints to worship before thee, and to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; for prayer, for praise, and thanksgiving, for transacting business relating to thy Church and kingdom, or for whatever purpose thy people shall assemble themselves together in thy name. We set apart and dedicate this house as a holy sanctuary for thy people unto the Lord forever; and we consecrate the ground upon which it stands, and dedicate it unto the Lord our God. May the floor upon which we walk be holy under our feet; may the covering which protects us from the snow, the rain, and the sun be holy over our heads; may the walls which protect us from the chilling blasts of winter be holy round about us, and may the doors, and the windows, and the slips, and the fastenings, and the trimmings of this house, together with all the various materials of which they are composed, be holy unto the Lord, for the meetings, the Sacraments, and the transaction of the business of thy people. We dedicate and consecrate that portion of this house, where thy Prophet and thy servants now are, to be a holy and sacred place in the name of the Son, and before thee, O our Heavenly Father. May every part and portion thereof, be holy unto the Lord our God; may no unclean thing be permitted to enter into any part of this Tabernacle, but may it be preserved with the vestry thereof, and the doorkeepers thereof, and with everything pertaining thereunto or round about, a holy and sacred sanctuary wherein the pure in heart may rejoice forever, and no foul spirit ever be permitted to disturb their worship. 242 ZION’S TRUMPET.

May the angels from thy presence be within and round about this habitation. When thy servants shall stand in this sacred place to minister unto thy people, may they feel the blessed influences of thy heavenly messengers; may they be filled with the Holy Ghost, as with manna from heaven, and be clothed in robes of righteousness; may the visions and revelations of the eternal worlds be open before them continually, and may thy Saints ever have the listening ear and the understanding heart, to receive and improve upon the instructions of thy servants, that they may grow unto the stature of perfection that is in Christ Jesus, that they may be one with him forever. If thy people shall sin and repent of their sins, and call upon thee in the name of Jesus from within these walls, then hear thou in heaven, thy holy dwelling place, forgive thou their sins, and give them answers of peace. May thy fear and thy dread be upon the heathen that may enter into this sacred place, and may thy spirit rest upon the honest in heart, who shall hear thy word from this stand, that they may believe, obey, and be saved with thy people. And now, O Father, be pleased to accept the dedication of this house, which we now present unto thee, in the name of thy Son, as a tribute of gratitude from thy people, and listen to the voice of our supplications, that it may be preserved from the rage of the elements, and the pollution of ungodly men, and that thy glory be upon it, and abide therein, forever; so that when thy Saints shall call from hence upon thy holy name, in righteousness, then thou wilt hear in thy holy habitation and grant an answer of peace. Bless all those who have assisted in the erection of this edifice. May they ever rejoice in the labor of their hands, and have the glory they desire in the presence of their God. Bless those also who have contributed of their substance for its erection, with all those who have desired to contribute, and have not had the means or opportunity; may they also partake of the rich inheritance of a celestial glory, and habitations of comfort and delight among the children of men. Bless all those who profess thy name, and have had the means to contribute for the upbuilding of this house, and have neglected their privilege and their duty; may thy spirit rest upon all such, that they may humble themselves, repent of their shortcomings before thee, and in the sight of their brethren, and arise and do their duty from this time henceforth and forever, that they lose no more blessings through slothfulness in thy service. Bless thy servant Brigham with health and strength of body and of mind, with long life, and peaceful days; may he be endowed with thy spirit, and the revelations of eternity continually, and may thine angels visit and sustain him, and ministering spirits from thy presence attend him in all his ways. Guard him, O Lord, from the malicious designs of wicked men; turn aside every shaft that is aimed for his injury; fit and prepare him with every necessary qualification to lead and guide this thy people; may his strength and ability be according to his duties, and the burden he is required to bear; may the rich blessings of heaven and earth be poured out upon him, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 243 upon his household; may they, individually and collectively, enjoy the communion of God, and his Saints, and have bestowed upon them every desirable gift that shall promote their peace, comfort, health, and happiness. Bless his habitation, and all therein, his flocks and his herds, the ground that he cultivated, his fields, his garden, and his vineyards; bless him in basket and in store, and in all that pertains unto him. Bless his Counselors, thy servants Heber and Willard, with the same blessings. May they always live in the unity of the faith, and preserve those bonds of love and union which dwell in thy presence. Continue to strengthen their faith, their power and their influence, until their voices shall reverberate thy word in tones of thunder throughout earth’s remotest bounds, resounding in every ear, “make ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb,” his kingdom has come: prepare to receive the Lord! Bless the aged Patriarch, O our Father. May his days continue to be multiplied, and his faculties be strengthened, and may he be filled with the Holy Ghost to bless thy children as he approaches the dawning of a brighter day; that amid the exaltations of a celestial glory, he may seal blessings upon the heads of the faithful, until thou shalt receive him into thyself, to rest with his brethren, in thy presence. And may the like blessings rest upon all the brethren of his quorum of the Patriarchs. Remember the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with their President, Orson Hyde. Grant, O, Lord, that thine angels may go before them, and preserve them from all evil. Wilt thou give them power to overcome all the designs and purposes of wicked men, and all the devices of Satan; may they be enabled to carry the Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people upon the face of the whole earth; may they have, in connection with, and under the direction of the First Presidency of thy church, power to roll forth thy work upon the earth, like a mighty torrent that no barriers can resist. Wilt thou bless them, Father, in the good things of this world, that their families may be provided for during their absence, while on missions of thy will to the nations, and among all people. Wilt thou encircle them in thine arms of mercy, and preserve them, one and all, to the accomplishment of their several missions, and safe return to the bosom of thy Church, and to their families in the valleys of the mountains. (To be continued.)

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Happening.—In the banquet after the latest Conference in Newport, when the hall was overflowing with Saints, the ceiling fell on them, from above the platform; but we are happy to report that no one received any injury, which caused surprise through the whole town. 244 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Prepared Drink.—With regard to this drink, we said in our last issue, “If you wish to have a different flavor, add 40 drops of essence of spruce:” but since hardly anyone likes this flavor, it is better for them to put a halfpenny or a penny’s worthy of essence of lemon instead, which will make a drink like lemonade. Conferences of the North.—The Flintshire Conference will be held on the 8th of August; Denbighshire, on the 15th; Dyffryn Conwy, on the 22nd; Anglesey, on the 29th; and Merionethshire, on the 5th of September.

BOOK DEBTS OWED BY THE CONFERENCES, BRANCHES, AND OTHERS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JULY 3, 1852. Conferences.—Monmouthshire, £40 0s 2¾c; Breconshire, £7 9s 9½c; Llanelli, £13 7s 4½c; Cardiganshire, £7 15s 7¼c; North Pembroke, £2 5s 5½c; West Glamorgan, £54 2s 2¼c; Merionethshire, £7 8s 1½c; Flintshire, £11 14s 6c; Anglesey, £15 19s 9¼c; Dyffryn Conwy, 14s 2c; Denbighshire, £10 10s 4¾c; Liverpool Welsh Conference, £3 13s 4¾c; Carmarthen, £1 19s 1½c. Branches.—Dinas, £1 19s 9c; Llanilltyd, £4 9s 8c; Pontytypridd, £6 13s 3c; Llanfabon, £2 3s 3½c; Cwmbach, £4 6s 4½c; Pendeulwyn, 9s 5½c; Twynyrodyn, 10s 10c; Llandaf, £1 11s 1c; Gostwng, 7s 4c; Eglwysnewydd, 7s 6c; Cowbridge, £1 14s 10c; Cardiff, £11 15s 10c; Aberdare, £15 5s 9½c; Aberamman, £5 6s 5c; Dowlais, £4 17s 5¼c; Hirwaun, 10s; Cwmnedd, £1 14s 1½c; Rhymney, £2 6s 3½c; Georgetown, £2 2s 2½c; Merthyr, £3 11s 5c; Pendaren, £4 17s; Cefn, £2 13s; Ynysgau, £1 9s 2½c; Gwernllwyn, £1 19s 2c; Ffynnon Tydfil, £3 4s 8½c; Troedyrhiw, 16s 7½c; Rhymney (English), 4s 3c; Gellifaelog, 9s; Gog, £1 9s 5c. Individuals, £3 15s 2c.—Total, £268 11s 1½c. Payments from July 9 to July 21.—Monmouthshire, £4; Cardiganshire, £2; North Pembroke, £1; Anglesey, £1 7s 10c; Dinas, 15s; Llanilltyd, 13s 6c; Llanfabon, 16s 3c; Cwmbach, 3s 9c; Pendeulwyn, 9s 5½c; Twynyrodyn, 10s 10c; Llandaf, 4s, Eglwysnewydd, 7s 6c; Cowbridge, 5s 4c; Aberdare, £1; Aberamman, 10s; Hirwaun, £1 0s 3c; Cwmnedd, 7s 9c; Rhymney, £2; Georgetown, 2s 5c; Pendaren, 11s 4c; Gwernllwyn, £1 9s; Ffynnon Tydfil, 18s; Troedyrhiw, 9s; Rhymney (English), 4s 3c; Pontypridd, 18s 7c.—Total, £24 6s 7½c. Treatises on Miracles.—The last number will be sent out with the next Trumpet; and whoever requests the “Treatise on Miracles” (which we published last year), to bind at the end of the six current numbers, let us know in time, before all are sold. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 16.] AUGUST 7, 1852. [VOL. I V.

ADDRESS TO THE SAINTS.

BY PRESIDENT S. W. RICHARDS.

The Seventh General Epistle of the First Presidency, published in the last number of the Star, contains counsel and instruction of the utmost importance to the Saints scattered abroad, and we wish to call the particular attention of those in the British Isles to it. Nothing has ever gone forth to the Saints in this dispensation more suited to their condition than the document to which we refer, and never have the people of God been better prepared in their feelings to receive such a godly message, than they are at the present time. In this Epistle we behold the condition of a people portrayed, of whom it may almost be said—they know not want; a people who feel the power of God in their midst, imparting to them, according to their capacity, a fullness of enjoyment of heavenly and earthy blessings. Peace and plenty abound with them; therefore, with propriety the call is renewed for the Saints to gather home by tens of thousands. This call applies more especially to the Saints of the British Isles, and they must respond to it. We are satisfied that they do respond to it in feeling already, but something more must be done; they must respond to it in action also, the work itself must be performed, or the Saints in Babylon will never be delivered from bondage. 16 246 ZION’S TRUMPET.

How great the contrast between the glorious echo of salvation that is heard from yonder mountains, and the cry of the world for gold that has drowned the nobler qualities of men, and exposed their cupidity and avarice in bold relief. The Lord’s anointed ones who have prepared all things ready, cry for the souls of men, especially those of the humble poor, that they may go to the valleys of the mountains, and there obtain the blessings of the earth, and the riches of eternity. They ask not for the gold and the silver to be brought to Zion, until all the faithful poor are first presented there as an offering to the Lord. In this we recognize the fervent breathings of holy men, under the inspiration of the Almighty, pleading the cause of the poor and the needy who seek after the beauty of Zion. It is a manifest indication of the care they have for the salvation of a degenerate world, and is calculated to fill the hearts of the upright and the faithful with joy, peace, and comfort, and the hopes of future blessedness. Who is to do this work, and how are the poor to be gathered, if those who have gold and silver will not consent to appropriate their riches for the accomplishment of these things? When Jesus was upon the earth, his language was, “How oft would I have gathered you together, &c., but ye would not.” Now is the day that the rich among God’s people can do the work that Jesus sought to do, if they will, for the people are now willing and anxious to receive the temporal deliverance which it is in the power of the rich to grant them; and now, O ye rich Saints, the poor begin to look upon you as capable of being their temporal saviors, and they will consider you as such in proportion to the blessings you bestow upon them. Where is the heart, not dead to pity, that has the power, and will not follow the example of his Savior Jesus Christ, and seek to gather the Lord’s people, when so emphatically called upon as at the present time? The spring of 1853 will furnish an answer to this question, and proclaim abroad who is on the Lord’s side; for the secrets of men’s hearts will be revealed by their actions. This call of the First Presidency is timely to the Saints in Britain; and all who have property, and feel inclined now to work righteousness, should make it their first great work to prepare by ZION’S TRUMPET. 247 another season to gather to Zion, and to commence in time to dispose of their property, converting it into money, and to wind up all their business in this land, so that they may without fail have all their means under their own control before this present year closes. It is far better to commence in suitable time to wind up business, than to do it in haste at a great sacrifice of means, which might be used to bless the poor. We expect the Presidents of Conferences will turn their attention to this subject, and let no man under their Presidency feel that he is walking in the commandments of the Lord blameless, if he will not from henceforth set his face toward Zion, and use all just means to rise up and go out of Babylon. We do not expect men who are constantly in the ministry to leave their posts without permission from the respective Presidents, or from us. But we wish all the Presidents of Conferences to make themselves acquainted with all the Saints under their watch care who have a desire to gather to the mountains, and who can be in Liverpool next January with £10 per head for themselves and families; and we wish the Presidents to report to us by the first of November next, the number of such Saints in their respective Conferences, and the true amount of their means, where it exceeds £10 per head. By forming the Saints into companies, and placing their collective means in the hands of a wise and experienced man, so that they can be expended to the best advantage, and for the general good of the respective companies, we anticipate the £10 per head will suffice to remove to the Valley next season all who are thus prepared, and who are willing to do it. But we do not recommend the Saints to think of starting with that amount of means only, if they purpose to control the expenditure of it themselves individually. Much can be accomplished by a unity of means and effort which individual enterprise would fail to perform. Let all who can, arise and go forth next season, and tarry no longer in these lands; for the day has already come when the Saints have to go up to Zion amidst that pestilence and the desolating scourge, and these difficulties will increase peradventure, until none shall be able to go but the pure in heart, those who have kept all the commandments of God, and can in the full assurance of the Holy 248 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Ghost claim the protection of heaven. The great day of the Lord is near at hand, and let the Saints haste to prepare for that day, for it is a day in which the cry shall be heard, Woe, woe, unto the inhabitants of the earth; a day in which shall be heard wailing and lamentation because of the fierce anger of Him that shall sit upon the throne to execute judgment among men, when the time of his tender mercies shall be past, and when He will laugh at the calamities of the wicked, and mock when their fear cometh. In consideration of what is so near at hand we would exhort all the Saints to live near to their God, and know that they possess his favor. Let the poor who cannot see their way open before them, pray unto God in much faith, that He will soften the hearts of the rich to appropriate of their means for the gathering of those who have not means, and also that he will give influence and wisdom unto his servants, to provide for the salvation of his people in all their temporal as well as spiritual interests; and while the poor plead earnestly their own cause before God, who can turn the hearts of the children of men to favor His sons and daughters, others in higher courts will also plead in their behalf, and fervently espouse their cause. Let the Saints be diligent in keeping all the counsels of the Lord, being full of blessing and not of cursing. Seek to build each other up, and not to pull each other down; let envyings and jealousies be done away, that the love of God may abound to the good of all.

Bless with the same blessings all thine Elders of every quorum who are absent upon foreign missions to the nations and islands of the sea afar off. May the quickening power of thy Spirit rest upon them, and their words be like fire, sinking deep into the minds of their hearers; may their testimony be as the sea that is broken up, roaring and rolling with no rest, until the voice that spake as never man ZION’S TRUMPET. 249 spake, shall say, Peace, be still; when all the honest in heart shall have listened to the whisperings of the spirit of our God, and learned the way of life and salvation. Bless all the families of thine absent servants. O, Lord bless the High Priests quorum, and the quorums of the Seventies of thy people; yes, the Presidents thereof, with their Counselors, and all the members that are striving in their warfare to overcome the world and its evils, and are endeavoring to roll back the curtain which has enshrouded the earth in darkness, and the minds of the people in bigotry, superstition, ignorance, and sin, until wickedness covered the face of the whole earth, and there was none found thereon to walk in righteousness before thee, but all were walking in the precepts of men, and in the vain imaginations of their own hearts. O Lord God Almighty, we pray thee in the name of Jesus, to inspire thy servants, the High Priests, and Seventies, with the influence of thy Holy Spirit; pour it out upon them to great effusions; may they gird up their loins, and renewing their strength from the fountain of light and intelligence, which thou art spreading forth, come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and wax strong in the cause of our God, to the utter overthrow of all his enemies, even to the downfall of Satan’s dominion; that the kingdom of our God and His Christ, may be established upon an everlasting foundation, never more to be taken from the earth. Bless, O Father, the Elders quorum, and awaken them to a sense of their great responsibilities. May they all partake of like blessings with their brethren. May they arise in power, and walk forth in the strength of Israel’s God to the faithful performance of their duties, and qualifying themselves for the work of God, putting on the armor of righteousness, may they be prepared to fight the good fight of faith, and wield the sword of the spirit to the convincing of multitudes, who shall become partakers in this holy ministry, and be ready to go forth in their time and season, and labor in the vineyard. Bless the Presiding Bishop, with his Counselors, assistants, and all the members of the Bishop’s quorum. O Father, thou knowest their labors, and the faithfulness which they have manifested in thy cause, and in the discharge of their duties. The overflowings of thy storehouse speak in their behalf, as well as the liberality of thy Saints; and as they have manifested by their labors, a willingness and desire to observe the counsel of thy servants, and to build up and roll forth thy kingdom, we pray thee to acknowledge their ministration, and bless them with every blessing pertaining to thy faithful servants; and may they have every enjoyment emanating from a faithful and acceptable performance of their several duties before thee and thy servants, that they and their household may never lack for any good thing. 250 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Regard in tender mercy, O our Father, thy servants of the Priests quorum, with their President and his Counselors; and thy servants of the Teachers quorum, with the President and his Counselors; also the President and Counselors and members of the Deacons quorum; that they all in their several callings may lift up their heads like men of God and work righteousness, instructing thy Saints continually in their several duties, and ministering in those things pertaining to their high and holy callings. May they be filled with the Holy Ghost, and perform a great and glorious work in the midst of thy people Israel. Grant that thy blessings may be propitious toward this Stake of Zion; its President and his Counselors, and the High Council thereof. May they be men after thine own heart, quick to discern between good and evil; filled with the spirit of the Presidency, and of counsel, of justice and judgment, that the hearts of the people may be made glad, and that they may rejoice in all the administrations of thy servants. And may all the Presidents, Counselors, High Councils, and Stakes of Zion, in all the valleys of the mountains, be partakers of like blessings. Have mercy upon thy servants who labor upon the public works, and are striving continually to build up thy kingdom, whether in the various offices and shops, or by the wayside. Bless them with the refreshing effusions of thy Spirit, that they may have joy of heart continually; bless them in their bodies, that they may have health and strength; bless their tools, and their shops, and everything that they put their hands unto, and that is round about them, even all that pertains to the general welfare of thy people. May the ground of this block be preserved holy unto the Lord, and the time be hastened when its walls and gates shall preserve it from all unhallowed intrusions; when fountains shall come forth thereon, for the cleansing and purifying, and healing of thy people; and when a house shall be reared unto thy name, from which the ordinances of eternal life shall flow forth to the living and the dead, and the whole shall become a paradise in Zion, even as the garden of the Lord. Bless all thy people in these valleys of the mountains; may thy Spirit dwell richly within them; and may they serve thee in spirit and in truth; may they cleave unto thee with full purpose of heart, never failing to acknowledge thee in all things, and give thanks and praise unto thy holy name. Wilt thou multiply their posterity, that they may become a great people, and increase their flocks and their herds, and their farms, and their gardens, and their orchards and vineyards, and houses, and shops, and factories, and everything they shall stretch forth their hands to do. May the earth yield its increase without measure unto thy people, that there may be abundance in store for all who shall come hither, to learn more fully the way of life and salvation, and for the sustaining of the public works. Wilt thou grant this rich blessing unto thy people, even that they may never be slothful, or grudgingly tithe their increase, for the upbuilding of thy kingdom, and the spread ZION’S TRUMPET. 251 of thy Gospel on the earth. Bless and preserve thy people from all evil influences, from all untimely and false judging, from all evil thinking and speaking, from all enemies within and without; may their enemies have no power over them, to prevail against them, or to injure them in their persons, families, or property. Bless thy servants who have gone to gather up thy people in Pottawattamie, and lead them to this place; give them wisdom and power to accomplish their mission to thy divine acceptance. In an especial manner would we remember before thee, O our Father, thy children who may attempt to walk across the prairies this season, with handcarts, and wheelbarrows, pitching their tents by the way, or having naught but the heavens for a covering. Be very merciful unto all such, and increase their faith; may thy strength be their strength, and may they be invigorated continually by thine almighty power, that every bone, and sinew, and nerve, and every part of their bodies may be renewed, day by day, that their strength fail not. May they have such a power given unto them, that nothing but thine angels can go before them. May no enemy have any dominion over them, or any accident befall them. Provide food for them by the way, even if it needs be manna from heaven, as thou didst unto our fathers in the wilderness. May disease and death have no power over them, but may every soul arrive safely in our midst, to unite with us in songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God for his great and merciful kindness unto them. Have compassion upon thy people, O Lord, who are scattered among the nations, and desire to gather according to thy word, but have not the means. Open the hearts of those who have, to impart unto those who have not, that the rich and the poor may journey together, according to thy will. And may all who are now on their way, or may be coming this season, whether by land, or water, with horses, or mules, or oxen, or wagons, or chariots, or by any means whatever, experience thy blessings, that they may be delivered from all evil, and arrive in safety, that the rich valleys of the mountains may be filled with the Saints of the Most High. Bless the Governor of this Territory, with the Legislators, Judges, Marshals, Sheriffs, and all in authority among the people; and may the spirit of love, obedience, union, and peace prevail. May the lawyers not have power to stir up strife and contention, and lawsuits in our midst, and may the spirit of peace and conciliation be cultivated by all in authority. May the Delegate from Utah, now in the Congress of the nation, be clothed upon with the spirit and the power of Elijah’s God, that he may put to silence the tongues of evil men; may all the enemies of our God be confounded before him; may the wisdom of heaven be his, to lead and guide him in every emergency; may he never be confounded or put to silence or fear, but may he feel that God is with him, and that he will bring him off conqueror over every foe. May 252 ZION’S TRUMPET. he stand forth triumphant in the midst of the nation, clothed with the principles of eternal truth and rectitude; may his daily walk be an example to the world, and all with whom he associates, so proving himself a friend of God, and a man after his own heart, seeking diligently to know thy mind and will, and yielding humble obedience thereunto. We pray for the President of the United States, for the heads of departments, for the members of Congress, and all those in authority over us. May they have wisdom to discern the signs of the times, and administer in righteousness in their respective callings, in their high and responsible stations; may they love mercy, deal justly, and seek knowledge, wisdom, and judgment from Him whose right it is to rule, and become subservient to His holy teachings. O Holy Father, may no evil spirit be suffered to prejudice their minds against us, thy servants, or thy people, or cause them to seek our injury; buy may the good influences of thy Spirit control them in all their acts towards thy people, and towards all thy people over whom they preside, or for whom they legislate, that the pure principles of our national institutions may be perpetuated forever. Bless all the governments and rulers of the earth, who bless thy people and protect thy servants; and overthrow all thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, and governments that fight against thy cause and thy servants; that the way may be opened for the spread of eternal truth, even the Gospel of salvation, to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that dwell upon the face of the whole earth; and that thy servants may have access to the honest in heart everywhere. Vouchsafe unto thine ancient covenant people, O Lord, the renovating spirit of thy grace, that they may be prepared to receive their promised inheritance, and be gathered from among all nations, whither thou hast scattered them, and may they become polished even after the similitude of a palace, and become fit temples for the reception and indwelling of thy Holy Spirit. Remember, O Lord, in mercy, thine ancient covenant people who inhabit this land, even the seed of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. Give unto thy Saints the spirit of patience and forbearance, that they may act wisely, and justly in all their intercourse with them. Be merciful unto them, O our Father, in their ignorant, degraded, and miserable condition, inflicted on them as a living witness of thy righteous judgments; yet remember, we beseech of thee, our Heavenly Father, that they are of thine ancient covenant people, and to them pertain the promises made unto their fathers; and we pray thee, that their past experience in drinking of the cup of thy displeasure may suffice, and that thou wouldst now stretch forth thine arm for their deliverance from the darkness, superstition, and ignorance that reign in their souls. Give unto them dreams ZION’S TRUMPET. 253 and visions, and revelations by thy Spirit, that they may see their degraded condition, and the blessings which are in store for them through the obedience of their fathers, that they may search after thy servants, and receive their teaching, and the teachings of thy Spirit; that they may be enlightened in principle, in doctrine, and in duty, and learn the way of life and salvation, which their fathers knew and loved, but lost through transgression; that they may again become a white and delightsome people in the midst of the nations, and find salvation at last in thy presence. Bless all men, everywhere, who love and obey thy laws, and bless and do good unto thy people; let their days be lengthened and multiplied upon the earth; multiply their joy, and increase their posterity, that peace may prevail, and righteousness spread abroad among the nations. We present before thee, our Heavenly Father, all men who have had the privilege of thy Gospel, who have heard the teachings of thy servants, and felt and beheld the manifestation of thy Spirit, and have turned away from the testimony of Jesus, and persecuted and mobbed thy Saints, and slain thy Prophets, even thine anointed ones, and done despite unto thy mercy and thy love, and have waxed old in iniquity, and changed thine ordinances, have rejected the testimony of thy servants, and sought to destroy them from the face of the earth, whose days of repentance and salvation are past, and who are unmindful of thee, and will fight against thy cause and kingdom, and have shed innocent blood. We pray thee, our Father in the heavens, that thou wilt divest them of all power to injure thy people, that they may fall in the pits, and be taken in the snares which they have spread for their neighbors; that they may go backward and not forward, and fall and rise not again. May the plagues which thou hast instituted come upon them, that they may perish from the face of the earth, and their generations after them, that their names be blotted out from henceforth, that the posterity of the righteous may fill the earth. And now, our Heavenly Father, we beseech of thee to listen to the voice of our supplication, and give us an answer of peace. Accept, we pray thee, of this, our dedication of this house, of ourselves, our wives, our children, our houses, our flocks and our herds, and all that we possess, unto thee, and to thy cause forever. Praying that thy good Spirit may be poured out upon us, thy people, while we remain together at this Conference; that thou wilt dictate all things pertaining thereunto, that we may be enabled to accomplish thy righteous will in all things, and grow up in perfection through the gift of thy Spirit, that at last we may rest in thy presence with all thy sanctified ones; and we will ascribe all praise, glory, and honor unto God, and the Lamb, forever and ever. Amen. 254 ZION’S TRUMPET.

President Young read the hymn, “The morning breaks, the shadows flee,” which was sung by the choir, concluding with, “Hosanna in the highest,” like a choir of heavenly angels. A hymn composed for the occasion by W. W. Phelps, was sung by John Kay, accompanied by instruments. President Young addressed the congregation in the most animating speech, after which the choir sang, “Ere long the mount of God in latter days shall rise.” Benediction by Partiarch John Smith. At two, in the afternoon, Conference opened in the usual manner by singing and prayer. Elder Orson Pratt addressed the Elders on the responsibility that is resting upon them to prepare for the morning of the resurrection, and for celestial glory, referring to the work of God in England, Denmark, &c. He was followed by Elder Orson Spencer, who felt to rejoice in the thrilling accounts that had been presented this afternoon, and realized that they were true. The people of the earth may as well attempt to stop the progress of the rays of light as to stop the power of truth. Choir sang, “Before Jehovah’s awful throne.” Benediction by President H. C. Kimball. Adjourned to April 7, at 10 in the morning. At 6, in the evening, the Seventies assembled to hear instructions from President Joseph Young, and to take into consideration the continuation of building of the Seventies’ Hall of Science. Wednesday, April 7.—When the doors of the Tabernacle were thrown open at 9 in the morning, the people rushed in as if the floodgates of a mighty reservoir had given way, and in a very few minutes all the seats were occupied, so great was the desire of the Saints to hear the teachings of the servants of the Lord. The eight doorkeepers used every exertion to seat the dense throng of anxious souls, so as to give room for all, but it was impossible; all the alleys were crowded by men standing, and many could not even be admitted at all. Several pieces of music enlivened the vast audience with their sweet strains of heavenly harmony until the Presidency arrived, when the congregation was called to order by President Kimball. ZION’S TRUMPET. 255

Choir sang, “Once more my soul, the rising day,” &c. Prayer by Elder H. G. Sherwood. The choir sang, “Lift up your heads, ye scattered Saints.” President Young then stated that the first business would be the presentation of all the Authorities of the Church. Brigham Young was then presented as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; also as our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and our Leader in Israel; also Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards, as his Counselors, and as Apostles of Jesus Christ. They were all unanimously sustained. John Smith was sustained as the Presiding Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Orson Hyde was sustained as the President, and P. P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to all the world. John Young was sustained as the President of the High Priests Quorum; also Reynolds Cahoon, and George B. Wallace, as his Counselors. Joseph Young was sustained as the First President of all the Quorums of the Seventies; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, and Jedediah M. Grant, as his Associate Presidents. Benjamin L. Clapp having expressed many feelings which are opposed to the truth, and having been in the background for some time, his standing was laid over for the present, until he makes a humble confession of his folly before the Conference; and a letter was sent to him to appear accordingly. John Nebeker was sustained as the President of the Elders Quorum; also James H. Smith, and Aaron Sceva, as his Counselors. Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop to the Church; also Nathaniel H. Felt, John Banks, and Alfred Cordon, as Assistant Presiding, and Traveling Bishops among the people. Lewis Wight was sustained as the President of the Priests Quorum; also John Groves, and George Deckstader, as his Counselors. McGee Harris was sustained as the President of the Teachers Quorum; also John Vance, and Reuben Perkins, as his Counselors. 256 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Return R. Hill was sustained as President of the Deacons Quorum; also Andrew Burt, and Oswell Barlow, as his Counselors. Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Edward Hunter as Assistant Trustee. Willard Richards was sustained as the Historian and General Church Recorder. Daniel H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of the Public Works. Brigham Young was sustained as the President of the Perpetual Emigrating Company to gather the poor; also Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, G. A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Jedediah M. Grant, Daniel H. Wells, Willard Snow, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and Franklin D. Richards were severally sustained as Assistants to President Young. Daniel Spencer was sustained as President of this stake of Zion; also David Fullmer, and Willard Snow, as his Counselors. Henry G. Sherwood was sustained as President, and Eleazar Miller, John Kempton, Herman Hyde, William W. Major, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldridge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, and William Snow, as members of the High Council. President Young remarked that this is the best hall on one floor he had ever seen in his life, as there are 2500 persons present this morning, and every one can see the face of the speaker. President Young continued to address the assembly, followed by G. A. Smith, and W. W. Phelps. Singing. Benediction by President Young. Opened as usual. President Young laid before the Conference the amount of Tithing received, and expenditures, which was then read by William Clayton. President Young occupied the remainder of the afternoon in preaching. Singing. Benediction by Elder H. Herriman. At 6, in the evening, the House was crowded by the Officers of the Church, when Elder G. A. Smith, Z. Pulsipher, and President Young ZION’S TRUMPET. 257 addressed the Elders. Thursday, April 8.—Conference opened in the usual manner at 9 in the morning, when the Saints were edified with a lecture on Education, by Orson Spencer, Chancellor of the University of Deseret, followed by Z. Snow, and W. W. Phelps. President Young spoke during the remainder of the morning service, which will be hereafter published in full. Adjourned for one hour. Then Conference was again opened, after which a song, composed by Miss Eliza R. Snow, was sung by John Kay. President H. C. Kimball pleaded in behalf of the Saints who were coming over the plains with wheelbarrows and handcarts, when 93 persons volunteered to go out with their teams to carry provisions and assist them on the road. President Young followed on the same subject; then the persons who had volunteered to go, voted to donate their services. Thomas Margetts, and Alfred Smith were voted to take a mission to Italy; William Fotheringham to Calcutta, and John C. Armstrong, Edward Bunker, David B. Dille, Samuel Glasgow, T. B. Broderick, John Dalling, and George Fenn, to go on foreign missions. Choir sang, “The prodigal son.” Adjourned to April 9, at nine in the morning. At four in the afternoon, the Seventies were convened, and were seated by quorums. Several persons were disfellowshipped, and sixty-seven persons requested ordination, who were sustained in their applications. Preaching by Joseph Young, Wilford Woodruff, G. A. Smith, and others, until half-past nine in the evening. (To be continued in the next.)

ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS TO THE SAINTS IN WALES.

Dear Brethren and Sisters,—I have not had the privilege of greeting you for a long time through means of the Trumpet, because 258 ZION’S TRUMPET.

so many excellent Epistles have filled it, some of which contained glad tidings from Zion. I feel thankful to have this opportunity of giving a word of counsel to the Saints under my presidency. I have been visiting the greater part of the districts in the South, and I testify with joy that I have never before seen the Saints in such good condition as they are now in; and the Churches in Wales have taken hold in the Kingdom of God in faith, with all their heart, and all their soul, and all their strength, which causes me great joy to see all the Body working, as if the dreadful day were at hand; and they are all like the ant gathering in the summer for the winter, while all the religions of this age are shouting, “Peace, peace, blissful peace,” building, planting, &c., and trying to trample the servants of God under their feet: Alas! a dreadful day awaits the ungodly and all the workers of lies! Woe, woe, woe unto all the unbelievers of Wales! those who have refused the prophets who have been born in their midst; they will suffer for this in the coming years. But let us go forward, leaving that between God and the unbelievers, recognizing that it is our calling to redeem the Saints from among them, and take them to that country which God has hidden with water until these last days, so that the wise men could not give any notice concerning its existence. And let all the Saints thank him for his goodness and his preparations in their behalf, for having kept the mountains of Ephraim hidden from the nations; and that the children of Ephraim can be gathered home, from among every nation, to rejoice in the land of their fathers, a land which has been given to them and their children as an inheritance forever and ever. And now we proclaim through the Trumpet, Flee homeward, yea, Saints, flee, for our home is not here; this is a place where the Priesthood of God is scorned. Let those who have wealth flee; yea, and everyone who has ten pounds, flee. Let the poor prepare; be ready, for in the hour you do not suspect will you be called. We cannot answer yet which of you will get to emigrate next time; but be ready so that you all can go, as the end will be but a few years. We wish for all the Presidents and all the Saints to work diligently for the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and we hope that all the Saints throughout the country will have the ZION’S TRUMPET. 259

Spirit that is presently here, and in this letter. Appoint good men in each Branch to collect each week for the Perpetual Emigration Fund; we intend to get hundreds of pounds in each quarter from Wales, instead of about thirty pounds which has come in before. We counsel those brethren who have money, to put it into this Fund to gather the poor home. There are many of the wealthy who intend to contribute to this Fund when they begin their journey to Zion. But please notice, that we need them to contribute now; it will be too late then, for we need to arrange for the poor to go the same time they do to Zion. I now intend to visit the counties of the North; and I desire an interest in the prayers of the Saints, in order to open the closed hearts throughout the country. And I pray to God, the Eternal Father, to bless the Church throughout this principality, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. William S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr, August 1, 1852.

LETTER TO PRESIDENTS W. S. PHILLIPS AND JOHN DAVIS. Pottawatomie, June 22, 1852.

Dear Brothers Phillips and Davis,—I take the present opportunity to write to you from Pottawatomie. The Welsh Branch has begun its journey toward the Great Salt Lake Valley, with some of the English and the French in the company. Fifty wagons make up the camp, and are divided into five groups, namely 10 wagons in each group, and a captain over 10 wagons; also, there is a captain over the entire camp: I shall name the ones I know,—Capt. D. Evans, Llanelli, the first; John Rees, blacksmith, formerly from around Pont Haiarn, Merthyr Tydfil, the second; H. Evans, the former president of West Glamorgan, the third; Coward, fourth; the fifth, I do not know. William Beddoe, Brickman, formerly from Pendaren, the scribe of the camp, and Abel Evans as captain of the Guards, and the writer is the servant of the entire camp. I have written three letters, and according to what I heard from Brother Evans, they have not reached the end of their destination. All the Saints are in good health, each one with his canvas house as white as snow; and we would be glad if our brothers and our 260 ZION’S TRUMPET. sisters, many of whom we know, were closer to us to be able to see the truth of the proverb which is like this:—“A land flowing with milk,” &c. There is plenty of milk in our camp that is being thrown out as casually as is the water, which three or four of the colliers in Merthyr have bathed in, for we have more than we can make use of, or than anyone needs that is close by. Rachel Rowlands, Hirwaun, is improving well; she and William’s two daughters are in the camp on their journey to the Valley, together with Thomas Morris and my sister Ann; thanks to you for sending them over. I shall close now; you shall have more of our story after we have crossed the river. I am in haste, William Morgan.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Likeness of President W. S. Phillips.—We are happy to report that the Image of President Phillips is ready. It is carved on steel, and not on stone, as is common. We think that it is more handsome than any image we have seen among the Saints, and is excellent in its likeness. The price of the best images is 1s. 6c. each; but the others will be sold, when they are ready, for 1s. each. Now is the time to obtain the best ones, before they are all sold; for we think that all are desirous of having an image of their President.

Fools should never get to see a job that is half finished.

Move an old tree, and it will wither.

Just as the light of day is seen through the smallest holes, so also the most unimportant things show a man’s character.

Sleep without supper, and you will not awaken in debt.

Of all the virtues, Zeno chose silence, for through that he could discern the ignorance of others, and hide his own.

Friends abound when the purse is full.

Payments from July 22 to August 4.—Llanelli, £8 15s; West Glamorgan, £3; Carmarthen, £1 17s 6c; Pontypridd, 14s; Dowlais, 14s 6c; Hirwaun, 10s 9c; Georgetown, £1 2s 9c; Merthyr, £1 6s; Pendaren, 17s; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c.—Total, £19 0s 8c. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 17.] AUGUST 21, 1852. [VOL. I V.

A LOOK AT THE CHURCH.

Behold a moment’s leisure to cast a brief look at the course of the Church of the Most High. O, how it spreading across the face of the earth, and how the mention of it is piercing the ears of every nation. Just a while ago it was nothing more than a mustard seed, but now it is a great tree, and its branches are shooting out over the breadth of the world. Over in the Valley of the Mountains, its large trunk is seen as being planted in a good and fruitful land, and its branches are extending their delicious fruits among nearly every nation under heaven. O how the Gospel has succeeded, and how the truth has prospered. No doubt this quick work is of the Lord; for where can its like be found? If we look at the gospels of men, they lack wings, and cannot fly: their dwelling place continues in Babylon, where they receive the glory of the world, which vanishes like a mist. But the Gospel of Heaven is on the rise, and will soon gather the elect of God to Zion, to the bosom of the Church. The habitation of the Church is surrounded by the mountains, where there is safety for the heirs of the Lord, when the inhabitants of Babylon are swept with destruction by God. The diligent missionaries of Zion are seen scattered over the earth; their warnings are earnest, and their invitations are welcoming. They do not fail to do good: they search for the pure in heart as if for riches of gold; and the poor are moving to Zion 17 262 ZION’S TRUMPET. as the firstfruits to the Lord, to adorn his dwelling place. What is the sound we hear? The elect of the Lord are gathering from all the nations, and are working their way to the valleys of Ephraim, to dwell in the midst of Zion. The call, “Come,” is being obeyed quickly; some from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, rejoice at the sound of the word, and hasten to the gathering. The end draws nigh, and the coming of the Lord is at the door. Suddenly the ungodly are restrained; their destruction comes in the midst of their prosperity. They are visited with plagues to harden them, and with wars to make them fearless; and they will not take warning from the signs of the times. But the Son of Man, in his coming, will humble them to the extremes of misery and woe, and will make them to feel his matchless wrath, when he avenges the blood of his Saints. The hills and the mountains will leap, but they will not hide a single one of the guilty ones in the presence of the Lamb. Woe unto those who know not God, and those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord. O then, ye nations of the earth, flee for protection to the Church of God; ask for revelation, and do not sleep until you receive it. The Church is about to depart from your borders, and each will go to his own country. The fishermen and hunters of God are hastening their work, and Zion grows stronger by the day. The Lord is hastening his work, and his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. His kingdom will quickly fill the earth, and his people will receive their inheritance; and there will be no end to His kingdom or theirs. O, Lord, come quickly. Amen.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the New Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1852, at ten o’clock in the morning, President Brigham Young presiding. [Continued from page 257.] Friday, April 9—Conference opened in the usual form, when Phineas H. Young spoke of the different siftings in this Church. President Brigham Young addressed the Saints on the subject ZION’S TRUMPET. 263 of their endowments, and poured forth revelation after revelation on the subject. A most heavenly influence prevailed. He closed by shouting Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord. Elders John Banks, and John Young also addressed the Saints. Choir sang, “The Spirit of God like a fire is burning.” Sister Bybee spoke in tongues, when President Young declared it to be a proper tongue, and enquired, what the nations would do if they were here; and said, if he was to give way to the brethren and sisters, the day of Pentecost would be in the shade in comparison to it. Adjourned for one hour. At half past one, the conference opened as usual, when Patriarch Isaac Morley, elders H. G. Sherwood, William Hyde, and President Kimball severally addressed the assembly. Choir sang a hymn; benediction by President W. Richards. Adjourned till nine o’clock tomorrow. The Elders and brethren assembled in the Tabernacle, which was completely crowded. After the usual introductory exercises, President Young preached several sermons on various subjects, the Holy Ghost resting upon him in great power, while he revealed some of the precious things of the kingdom. Choir sang a hymn. Benediction by Elder Sherwood. April 10.—The brethren commenced assembling outside the Tabernacle by seven o’clock in the morning, so great was the desire to hear the teachings of the Lord. When the doors were opened at nine, the house was crowded in a few minutes. Conference opened as usual, when President Heber C. Kimball, and Joseph Young instructed the Saints, in many great and precious principles, followed by a most admirable lecture by Professor Albert Carrington, on the subject of medicine, and the different medical societies, and their theories, and the contradictory opinions on the philosophy of disease, and on medicine. President Young bore testimony in the truth of the remarks, and returned thanks on behalf of the congregation. Benediction by Patriarch John Smith. Adjourned at two o’clock. 264 ZION’S TRUMPET.

At half past one, the House was filled to overflowing, and Conference was opened, when Elders D. H. Wells, William I. Appleby, G. D. Watt, William Clayton, and President Kimball, occupied the afternoon, by introducing many interesting topics of discourse. John Kay sang “The Seer.” Doxology by the choir. Benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley. At six in the evening, the Elders in Israel were again assembled in the Tabernacle, and heard addresses by G. A. Smith, S. M. Blair, Richard Cook, Edward Hunter, and David Fullmer. The Saints convenanted they would not have another lawsuit with each other. Benediction by David Fullmer. Congregation was dismissed at nine. Sunday, April 11.—At nine in the morning, the conference was called to order by Elder G. A. Smith, and opened by singing. Prayer by Elder W. Woodruff. President Kimball preached to the Saints on dealing with each other as they would be dealt by, exhorting the Saints not to rob the dead. He then presented the case of Bishop Hunter, who had not been ordained to his calling as Presiding Bishop, and he was accordingly ordained under the hands of Presidents Kimball and Richards. Bishop Hunter then presented Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball, as his Counselors, who were unanimously sustained by the Conference in that office. President Kimball then presented Truman O. Angel, to be continued as the Architect of the Public Works for the Church, and he was accordingly sustained. He gave notice that the giving of endowments to the Saints would be postponed until the return of President Young from his intended exploring expedition to the south. Seth Taft, David Pettegrew, Abraham Hoagland, David Fullmer, and Daniel Spencer, were then voted to fill the office of Assistant Presiding Traveling Bishops in the valleys of the mountains. President W. Richards gave notice to the congregation, that after partaking of the Sacrament in the afternoon, it was intended to call for a contribution of silver, to make the plate for a sacramental ZION’S TRUMPET. 265 service for the Tabernacle; and he urged on the brethren to bring in their cattle, so that the debts of the church might be liquidated the coming week. Singing by the Choir. Benediction by President Joseph Young. At half past one, the conference was called to order by President Young, and opened as usual. Presidents Young, Kimball, and Richards, and Bishop Hunter, proceeded to administer the Sacrament, assisted by the various Bishops, during which many persons bore testimony to the truth— speaking in tongues, and prophesying; after which the collection was taken up, when 149 dollars were collected in silver coin, besides several pounds of watchcases, spoons, rings, and other silver ornaments. President Young then gave notice that from henceforth we should hold meetings regularly each Sabbath, at 10 in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon, and in the evening the several Quorums of the Priesthood would assemble to receive instructions. On Thursdays, the brethren and sisters would come together at 2 in the afternoon., for prayer; and on the first Thursday in each month at 10 in the morning, for purpose of fasting and prayer, calling on the Saints to observe that day. He then notified the Saints that the raised seats on the right and left of the stand, were set apart for those Bishops who attend to the ministration of the Sacrament, for the day on which they officiate. They had this day seen an example of the administration of the Sacrament. The Bishops will hereafter take turns, having the lesser Priesthood to assist them. This stand and the vestry are designed for those persons who speak to the congregation, and attend to the governmental affairs of the Church, and it is expected that no person will come into the stand without being first invited. After this Conference is dismissed, it is expected that the alleys and the vestry will not be crowded as they have been at this Conference. The Bishops will be advertised of their respective days of working, through the medium of the Deseret News. Elder John Barker was voted to go on a mission to England, to 266 ZION’S TRUMPET. preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was motioned and seconded, that when Conference was adjourned, it should be to the sixth day of October, at 10 in the morning. President B. Young then gave notice that on the last Saturday in August, at 10 in the morning, there would be a Special Conference held in the Tabernacle, for the express purpose of transacting business, so that the brethren who are sent on foreign missions can travel across the plains in September, instead of going in the inclement season of the year. On the first Saturday in July will be held the Quarterly Conference of the Seventies, in this place, at 10 in the morning. The High Priests Quorum will meet here next Tuesday, at six in the evening. Professor Orson Pratt will deliver his last lecture on Astronomy, in this place, next Wednesday evening, at six o’clock. Choir sang a hymn. Benediction by O. Pratt. The Saints then shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb, Amen and Amen, three times. President Young then blessed the Saints in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in him, and said, Be you blessed from this time henceforth and forever; blessed be the Saints in their health, and in their families, their flocks, their herds, their houses, their farms, and all that pertains unto them, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen, and Amen. Thus ended the most glorious Conference of the Saints of the Most High in these, the latter days. Revelation upon revelation has been poured out from time to time; the spirit of God has rested down upon the Saints in every meeting during this Conference,—peace, goodwill, joy, and harmony have been in the breast of every person; not a jarring sound, not a discordant voice, nor even a thought, has been manifested in all the transactions of the past happy and glorious week. The heavens have smiled propitiously upon us, and the Saints have had such a season of rejoicing as can never be obliterated from the memory of those who have been the happy partakers; they enjoy a foretaste of what is in store ZION’S TRUMPET. 267 for them, and all are steadily preparing themselves for the day of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Thomas Bullock, Scribe of the Conference. [The foregoing minutes are very brief, only presenting a general view of the plan and order of the exercises during the Conference. Sermons, addresses, reports, &c., may be anticipated hereafter, as we have space to insert them.—Editor of the Deseret News.]

REMARKS OF W. GIBSON ON THE BOOK OF MORMON. (Continued from page 89, and the beginning of the Translation of T. Job.)

I shall now take up a few of the most popular objections urged against it by some of its greatest opponents; first, as to its origins. Mr. Heys, Wesleyan minister, Isle of Man, gives the following account of it:—He says it is written in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, by Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery, from the mouth of Joseph Smith, as he sat with his hat on his face, and a transparent stone in his hat, while the plates were hid away in the woods. The Rev. Richard Levesey in his book, entitled “Mormonism Exposed,” says it was written in Conneaut, Ohio, by one Solomon Spaulding, as a religious novel, and afterwards altered by Sidney Rigdon, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, in a tract published by them on religious impostors, on the authority of the “Athenaeum,” say, that Joseph Smith was a man scarcely capable of inventing or writing even the ravings of the Book of Mormon, but the Rev. Solomon Spaulding having left his ministry, and entered into business in Cherry Vale, New York, became bankrupt there in the year 1809; and to relieve himself from his distresses, he wrote a novel, connecting the sepulchral mounds of North America with the lost ten tribes of Israel, supposed by some to have peopled that continent, and intending to name the work the “Manuscript Found,” he wrote it in the style of the old Hebrew compositions. The work was taken to a printer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; but the author dying before 268 ZION’S TRUMPET. it could be published, the printer lent the manuscript to Sidney Rigdon, who, in connection with Joseph Smith, palmed it on the world as a New Revelation. Again, in a pamphlet by John Thomas, M. D., entitled “a Sketch of the Rise, Progress, and Dispersion of the Mormons,” page 1, we are told that Mr. Spaulding never intended to publish his work; that he did not send it to a printer for that purpose, but that he wrote it for his own amusement; and so far from Sidney Rigdon’s having anything to do with the bringing out of the Book of Mormon, he was then in connection with Mr. A. Campbell, and did not join the Latter-day Saints till the Book of Mormon had been in print, and the society established some considerable time; but Mr. Spaulding having lent his manuscript to a friend, it fell into the hands of a Bookseller in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who either wrote a copy of it, or retained the original manuscript; and having found that Joseph Smith was a fit tool, being of a soft semi-daft or impressible nature, he was made to pretend that an angel had appeared to him, and revealed the existence and whereabouts of the plates, from which the Book of Mormon, was said to be translated. Again, in a book by Mr. A. Campbell, the same gentleman, Mr. Thomas, speaks of, entitled An Analysis of the internal and external Evidences of the Book of Mormon,” he says, page 18, “If I could swear to any man’s voice, face, or person, assuming different names, I could swear that this book was written by one man; and as Joseph Smith is a very ignorant man, and is called the author on the title page, I cannot doubt for a single moment but that he is the sole author and proprietor of it. Here, then we have the testimony of two Methodist parsons, of Mr. Campbell, the leader of a religious society, of Dr. Thomas, a man of high standing in the religious world, of the “Athenaeum,” a publication that I believe is the organ of a religious society, and of a work from such men as the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, all giving us what they say is the origin of the Book of Mormon; and as we cannot expect that lies ZION’S TRUMPET. 269 will come from such a source, or that such men will bear false witness against their neighbors, it is no wonder that the Latter-day Saints are despised, and the Book of Mormon considered a fable by those who do not investigate for themselves, but take it for granted that it must be so, for the Parsons say it. But I will now compare these various statements, and then we shall see what amount of credit can be given to the testimony of even such holy and pious men when their craft is in danger. First, then, as to where it was written. Mr. Heys says it was written in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania; the Rev. Richard Livesey says it was written in Conneaut, Ohio; while Messrs. Chambers and the “Athenaeum” give us to understand that it was written in Cherry Vale, New York. Next, by whom it was written. Mr. Heys says it was written by Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery, from the mouth of Joseph Smith. Mr. Livesey contradicts him, and says it was written by Sidney Rigdon, from a novel by one Solomon Spaulding. Dr. Thomas declares they are both wrong, for it was written or stolen by a bookseller in Pittsburgh, and that Sidney Rigdon had no connection with Joseph Smith, and the Latter-day Saints, till some time after it was printed. The Rev. Alex. Campbell makes them all three wrong; he says it is the work of an ignorant man, and of course that could not apply to a Parson, and since Solomon Spaulding was one, he could not be the author of it; and as Joseph Smith was ignorant, he is ready to swear that he is the sole author and proprietor of it; while Chambers and the “Athenaeum” declare that Joseph Smith was incapable of writing even the ravings of the Book of Mormon. Again, I ask who are we to believe? Would such testimony be received in any court of justice, as evidence upon which any man should be condemned? Certainly not. Then why is Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon condemned upon it? I suppose it will be for the same reason that Jesus Christ and the New Testament were 270 ZION’S TRUMPET. condemned by the Jews, viz., the priests and holy men would have it so. I shall next look at the objections raised against the contents of the Book. First, it is ungrammatical in its construction. I grant it, but does that prove it false? it only proves that those who wrote it were unlearned men. But suppose, for instance, that someone had written the words of Peter and John, just as they uttered them at the beautiful gate of the Temple, as recorded in Acts iv. 13, would they have been according to grammatical rules? Surely not; for we are told that their hearers perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. If they had clothed their ideas in words fitly chosen, and according to grammatical rules, how could their ignorance and want of learning have been perceived? or, if Peter and John had written the same words to the people which were uttered by them, would the writing have been grammatical? Certainly not; and yet it would have been scripture, for they were inspired men. The Spirit of God gives the ideas, and allows men to clothe them in the language with which they are most familiar; and thus their testimony has been to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. Is the Bible grammatical? if not, after all the labor bestowed on its translation, what would it have been if the words of the ploughmen, shepherds, and fishermen that compose it, were recorded just as they were uttered by them? and yet they would have been scripture. I shall next look at some objections brought against the historical part of it. One portion often objected to is the account of the death of Laban by Nephi. The Book of Mormon says that Nephi was constrained by the Spirit to cut off the head of Laban, and this is looked upon by many as a strong proof against it, because (as they say) it would make God to sanction murder. If those who say so, ever read their Bibles, they surely do not believe what they read; and if they have read it, perhaps they have forgotten what the Bible contains; I will therefore refresh their memories by quoting a few ZION’S TRUMPET. 271 instances recorded in the Bible, where men have been put to death with the approbation of God. In Num. xxv, 7, 8, we find that Phineas the priest took his javelin and thrust it through a man and woman, and killed them both; and for so doing the Lord blessed him and his seed forever. In Judges iv, 15, we are told that the Lord raised up a deliverer for Israel, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite; and how did he do it? We are informed that he made a dagger with two edges, a cubit long; he then went to the king of Moab, and told him that the Lord had sent him with a message unto him; and when the king caused his attendants to go out that he might hear the message in private, he thrust the dagger into his bowels, and killed him. In 1 Samuel xv, 33, we read that Samuel, the Prophet of the Lord, after Saul had spared the life of Agag, king of Amalek, took Agag and hewed him in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. In 1 Kings xviii, 40, it is written that Elijah said, Take the Prophets of Baal, let not one of them escape; and they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. These are only a few instances recorded in the Bible of men being killed with the approbation of God; and if one proves the Book of Mormon a fiction because of this, what will so many prove the Bible to be? Men who reason thus, to be consistent, ought to deny them both, and come boldly forward and declare their infidelity. Another great objection to the Book of Mormon is the account it gives of a director or compass that they had to guide them on their journey. Mr. Alexander Campbell, to his book before referred to, page 17, says, “The mariner’s compass was only known in Europe about 300 years ago. But Nephi knew all about steamboats and the compass 2400 years ago.” Now in what part of his Book of Mormon he finds anything said about steamboats, I know not; but one thing I do know, it is not in the Book of Mormon believed in by the Latter-day Saints; and if men are to be judged now by the same rule as that by which Christ judged the pious Pharisees in his day, then Mr. Campbell, and others like him, may find out their relationship by reading John 272 ZION’S TRUMPET. viii, 44. But as to the Compass, Mr. Campbell says that Nephi knew all about the compass 2400 years ago. But in this he is contradicted by Chambers and the “Athenaeum;” when speaking of this compass, they say, that the writer (Nephi) evidently misunderstood the use of the compass altogether; while Dr. Thomas, in his book already quoted, page 4, says that it was a sort of wheel made to roll on before them on itself, as their guide in the way they were to go. Now, as it was the same compass they had on board the ship, it would have to run before them on the water also. Thus you have the testimony of Mr. Campbell, the “Athenaeum,” and Dr. Thomas, and you can take your choice. If you believe Mr. Campbell, then you will believe that Nephi knew all about the mariner’s compass 2400 years ago; if you believe the “Athenaeum,” you will believe that he knew nothing about it, but misunderstood the use of the compass altogether; while if you believe Dr. Thomas, you will believe that the compass they had was no more like the mariner’s compass than three honest men are like three contemptible promulgators of falsehood; for he says it was a sort of wheel that ran before them, but where did he get such an idea? I know not, unless it came from the same fruitful source from which he got the rest of the falsehoods with which his book is filled, and from which Mr. Campbell got his statement of the Steamboats. I would advise them to claim kindred, for the works of their father they will do: for when they utter such falsehoods, they speak of their own; they are lies, and they the fathers of them. I shall now give the account of it from the Book of Mormon, page 314, “And now my son, I have somewhat to say, concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball or director; for our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it; and, behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship; and, behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course that they should travel in the ZION’S TRUMPET. 273 wilderness, and it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way that they should go, behold, it was done; therefore, they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God.” Is this anything like the mariner’s compass? or is it like a sort of wheel that ran before them of itself ? Poor creatures, you need our pity more than our anger. But, again, it is said by objectors, if we believe this account we must believe that God made or prepared this ball or compass, and that is rather too much for us to do. Why, my friends? should it be too much if you can believe the Bible? Does it not say in Gen. iii, 21, that God prepared coats of skin for Adam and Eve, (I wonder who skinned the animals)? and in Exodus xxxii, 16, we read of God’s hewing two tables of stone, and then engraving the law upon them; and I think the man who can believe the one statement has little cause to reject the other, because it says the compass was the work of God. (To be continued.)

FOOLISH PRACTICES.

Mr. Editor,—Allow me to briefly address my fellow Saints on this plentiful topic, confident that it will cause some to leave the bad, and cling to the good. Dear Saints,—The first foolish practice to which I call your consideration, is staying up late at night, and sleeping too long in the morning. Is there anyone who does this, who would not be better off, by going to bed early, and by getting up early? By so doing he could keep from taxing his eyes, and could use the tax money for something else, and it would be for his benefit and edification: also, he could enjoy better health, and live longer, and honor the Governor of the elements, rather than dishonoring him. “What?” says the one who stays up late, “am I dishonoring my Lord by staying up late?” Yes, you are: and you are also loudly proclaiming, that you prefer to pay for lamp oil, than to get the light of the sun for free! 274 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The sun rises and sets in its proper times; and by staying up late, and sleeping too long in the morning, you are proclaiming more loudly than can your tongue, that the great Ruler does not cause the sun to rise and set in the best way; and thus, of course, you dishonor him. “Well,” say some of the sisters, “we have no way of doing our work, without staying up late, because we are responsible for our children, sometimes until one or two o’clock Saturday night; and if we get up early, the children will get up with us.” Well, perhaps the children will get up with you; but, pray tell, what time do you get up? the “still, small” voice whispers that you sometimes get up at eight or nine o’clock; if so, what wonder is it that the children get up with you? Children need more sleep than adults; therefore, this is a chance for the sisters to get up as much as three or four hours before they do in the morning; and if the smallest child happens to wake up at the same time as his mother, despite that, of necessity he is bound to make up the sleep at sometime during the day: and the mother at that time can work with all her energy, praying at the same time that God will keep all the evil spirits, and grumbling from her baby. Whoever does this with all her might, and with a sincere purpose of serving her family and her God, will see that she will be able to go to bed before ten o’clock, for the sake of her children and her work, every night; and also, she will have candle money to donate to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, so that through this she will be able to be delivered from captivity sooner. I can notify those who stay up late, that daylight comes at 4 o’clock in the morning, this time of the year: perhaps he did not remember. The next foolish practice is chewing, and smoking tobacco. By using this poisonous drug, a man not only spends his money frivolously, but also pays for that which makes him loathsome, unhealthy, and too repulsive for the spirit of God to dwell in him, and he puts himself in such a pitiful condition, that he does not have God’s promise on his side, temporally or spiritually; and is not the man foolish who is content to be a slave to an addiction, and who desire to live in darkness with his addiction for a while, rather than living in indescribable glory in Zion! The next foolish practice is drinking, or consuming intoxicating liquids. No one drinks because of any benefit the drink will be to him, but because of an addiction for it, or the company. O tippler! do you not see your foolishness more than anyone else: you get up early, and work hard until late, to earn money to give to the tavern keepers to live idly; and you are uneasy among them, because they ZION’S TRUMPET. 275 know not what to eat, or what to wear, because of their abundance; and all you get through this is a headache, a sick stomach, a sore body, a guilty conscience, a short life, and you will end up in hell. O foolishness and stupidity! The next foolish practice is taking snuff. Pray tell, what do the sisters gain by taking snuff? Is there any among you that can let me know of anything? No, I do not suppose that anyone can, unless they are feeding an addiction again. What! is anyone more honorable, more acceptable, more healthy, living longer, more likely of obtaining happiness in the end, by taking snuff ? No, there is no one who believes so. Well, what is the enjoyment, then, of taking snuff ? A damaged sense of smell, bad breath, clouded vision, an upset stomach, and its use leaves one open to apoplexy; as one reputable doctor testifies, a hundred times as many as previously die from this sickness now, before the practice of taking snuff came to the world. Well, let all who wish a long life leave the snuff in the shop, then, and donate the money to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and together with having health and living a long life regarding apoplexy, they will have salvation, and a good word from the men of God. The next foolish practice is drinking tea made of leaves of India. “What,” says the reader, “I am surprised that you consider drinking tea a foolish practice.” Perhaps, gentle reader, if you but consider my expression, you will then be more surprised that anyone is so foolish as to give a penny of their earnings for it, to drink it with food, anyway. “What! is there any nourishment in the tea from the shop?” No, I have not heard any knowing person testify to, or profess any such thing; but the most renowned doctors say the opposite. An old doctor says this:—“All brewed drinks, except for a few thin, clear drinks, are bad, as are strong tea and coffee.” Some testify that it is a poison that kills slowly. But whatever that may be, I know that several leaves and herbs of our country make tea that tastes just as good, and is more healthful, and more nutritious for our bodies, than the leaves of distant India, and it can be obtained very cheaply, unlike the tea from the shop. If our sisters are quite fond of tea, let them make tea of agrimony; nettles, balm gentle, bomgelia, betony, garden parsley, or pudding grass (organs), penny royal, peppermint, or spearmint, or of some other herbs that are good for the constitution, nutritious and healthful for the body. Make tea or a clear drink of some of these herbs and their like; but do not hold to one kind only, rather mix them. And the money that you normally use to purchase tea apply to something that will be of benefit to you from now on, 276 ZION’S TRUMPET. instead of giving it to the shopkeeper; and remember that this will be change, and not robbery. The old proverb says, “Blood is thicker than water.” Thus, dear Saints, no matter how much good you do for others, do not forget about yourselves, in the things I have pointed out in this little article. Not wishing to say more at present, I hope that all will agree with me that it is foolishness to spend money on worthless things. “Why do we spend money for that which is not bread (or nutritious), and our labor for that which satisfieth not?” unless we are foolish, yea, and little children. Therefore, take a word of counsel from the song:— Do not enjoy staying up late at night, Or sleeping too long as long as you live; To the smoke of tobacco be opposed, And its loathsome and unhealthful meals; Do not enjoy intoxicating things either, Or snuff, or tea of far off India; And the grace of my God will be on your work, And his blessing on your descendants. Graigddu. John Richards.

Payment from August 5 to August 18.—Minersville, America, £5; Monmouthshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £3; Anglesey, £1 11s; Liverpool Welsh Conference, £1 10s; Pontytypridd, £1 1s 6c; Cwmbach, 10s 6c; Hirwaun, 10s 3c; Rhymney, 12s 3½c; Georgetown, 19s 1½c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 4s.—Total, £17 1s 10c. We wish to report that there are no more of the Bilingual Hymn Books for sale, and there will be no more; but we have a great abundance of the Two Welsh Books bound together, and we would be pleased to see more of them sold. “J. E.”—Asks us whether smoking some herbs, instead of tobacco, is breaking the Word of Wisdom? We answer that “the brother of smoking is choking:” if anyone wants smoke, come to Merthyr, and leave the herbs for the sick. Half keeping the Word of Wisdom, is mocking God.

Address—Mr. Thomas Giles, near the Post office, Tredegar, Monmouthshire. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 18.] SEPTEMBER 4, 1852. [VOL. I V.

UNITY AND DIVISION. [From the “Deseret News.”]

God hath made of one blood all nations, kindreds, and tongues that dwell upon the face of the whole earth. He gave also one language to all men, so that they would understand each other in their own tongue; but when men had corrupted their ways before the Lord, by shedding innocent blood, and committing all manner of abominations, the heavens were displeased, and the inhabitants of the earth were cursed—some with the skin of blackness, some with darkness, and all with confusion of languages: and that as a punishment, so that their evil deeds might be manifest to themselves, and each other; that they might carry the marks thereof in their faces, and hear the sound thereof in their ears continually, that if it were possible they might be led to repentance, whereby they might obtain forgiveness for the past, and be restored again to their original oneness and original purity, through the redemption there is in Christ Jesus. But how far have these judgments had their desired effect? is there any more a oneness of color amongst men now, than there was thousands of years ago? Are not the languages and dialects of men and nations increasing instead of diminishing? And if this increase in diversity of color and language continues, how long will 18 278 ZION’S TRUMPET. it take to restore the inhabitants of the earth back to their original oneness? Jesus said, “if ye are not one, then ye are not mine;” and the true, extended meaning of this is, one in all things—one in language, one in color, one in faith, and one in act; for when all are of one faith, the one faith will produce oneness of action, and all will keep the commandments and receive a like reward by restoration back again to the presence of the Eternal Father in the heavens. These diversified appearances among men, arose through giving heed to the temptations of the devil. Eve was tempted, and deceived, and sinned. Adam was tempted, though not deceived; yet he sinned that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. If Adam had not sinned, men might not have been, and earth and joy might have remained strangers to each other; for the earth is joyful, when her children rejoice; and when all her children become one again, the earth will rejoice with her offspring in celestial glory. But all this cannot be brought about in a moment. The citizens of the world have had six thousand years to learn to do better, to do well; but instead of learning wisdom by experience, they grow worse and worse, and more and more foolish and wicked; and instead of being more united, go further asunder: neither can man restore himself wholly, by his own acts, from the degradation into which he fallen; hence the Holy Priesthood is committed unto man on the earth, to lead him in the right way, and enable him to do that which he alone cannot accomplish; and through obedience to this Priesthood, all man may, in the end, arrive at the greatest degree of glory and exaltation it is possible to seek for. But at best, it will take some time to accomplish the object; and with man, and in many things, it will take a long time. For instance, the descendants of Cain cannot cast off their skin of blackness, at once, and immediately, although every soul of them should repent, obey the Gospel, and do right from this day forward. The mark was put upon Cain by God himself, because Cain killed his brother Abel, thereby hoping to get the birthright, and secure to himself the blessings which legally belonged to Abel. But Cain could not obtain Abel’s birthright by murder, as Jacob obtained Esau’s by ZION’S TRUMPET. 279 purchase, by contract, paying a mess of pottage, the same as buying a farm, and paying a stipulated price. By such mutual agreement, the farm changes owners; but if one man kills another for the sake of getting his farm, the farm does not change owners, though the owner be dead; it descends to his heirs. Cain did not obtain Abel’s birthright and blessings, though he killed him for that purpose; the blessings which belonged to Abel, descended to his posterity; and until the blessings of Abel’s birthright are fully received, secured, and realized, by his (Abel’s) descendants, Cain and his posterity must wear the mark which God put upon them; and his white friends may wash the race of Cain with fuller’s soap every day, they cannot wash away God’s mark; yet, the Canaanite may believe the Gospel, repent, and be baptized, and receive the Spirit of the Lord; and if he continue faithful, until Abel’s race is satisfied with his blessings, then may the race of Cain receive a fullness of the Priesthood, and become satisfied with blessings, and the two become as one again, when Cain has paid the uttermost farthing. The Lamanites, through transgression, became a loathsome, ignorant, and filthy people, and were cursed with a skin of darkness, which they cannot throw off at pleasure, or in a moment, though they should all embrace the Gospel at once; yet they have the promise, if they will believe, and work righteousness, that not many generations shall pass away before they shall become a white and delightsome people; but it will take some time to accomplish this, at best. Again, when men set themselves at work to take heaven by storm, they were all of one language; and while they remained of one language, they were united in their efforts at building a tower, up which they might travel to salvation; but the effect of disunion was quickly manifest, when God confounded their speech, so that every man (except Jared and his brother), had to talk for himself, to himself, and in his own tongue, no one else understanding him; and we have not heard of the first job since that day, in which all the inhabitants of the earth have unitedly engaged to labor for its accomplishment; and we do not expect to hear of universal man’s 280 ZION’S TRUMPET. engaging in building another tower to reach heaven, or in any one great enterprise, until the Lord shall restore a pure language, which shall be spoken by all the inhabitants of the earth. It will take some time to accomplish this; for the Lord will not restore a pure language till he has a people pure enough to receive it with joyful hearts, not abusing it as did the Babelites. For the spread of the Gospel the gift of tongues is given to the Elders of Israel; and this in part answers the purpose of a pure language; but when the pure language shall come, and be received by all, then that which is in part may justly be done away, having accomplished the purpose for which it was sent. This is not yet, but by and bye. God works by means, as well as man, although these means are unseen ofttimes by man, consequently thought to be miraculous; but the agents of the heavens are all around and about us, and use the means necessary to accomplish the missions on which they are sent, according to the law by which they are governed; but as the eyes of the corruptible body are not capable of seeing the acts of spirits and spiritual bodies, many of the works of Jehovah appear miraculous; but this is all owing to man’s short sight, and ignorance. While cursings were poured out of the heavens, on those who wrought wickedness, in ancient days, blessings were bestowed on those whose works pleased the Lord, as was the case with Abraham, whose blessings were to descend to his posterity through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, &c., to the latest generations; of whom are the Saints of the Last Days; and Ephraim, though younger than Manasseh, obtained the great blessing of Jacob, secured the birthright, and was declared the first born, and legal holder of the Priesthood; and in his descent has the Priesthood been restored in this dispensation. Through this Priesthood the Gospel has gone forth to many nations; many have heard the sound thereof; many have embraced it with joyful hearts, have repented, and been baptized for the remission of their sins, and are coming forth to the gathering, in the Valley of the Mountains, in accordance with the holy commandment which ZION’S TRUMPET. 281 has been given in this and other dispensations of the Gospel,—as said the Savior, “How often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not; and now your house is left unto you desolate;” so will it be in this dispensation, to those who do not gather themselves together as they have the opportunity; they will be overthrown in the midst of the nations, just as Lot would have been overthrown with the surrounding wicked, had he not fled out of the city, and gathered himself and family to the mountains. But why may not the Saints be saved abroad among the nations just as well as at home, and among themselves? Because God has not so ordained it. We might ask, in return, and with the same propriety, why may not the people be saved by believing and acting upon as many different faiths and creeds as there are saints to act, just as well as for all to believe and act alike? Because God has not so ordained it. Jesus says, “If ye are one, then are ye mine;” and Satan says, “If ye are not one, then are ye mine.” For the Saints to be one, it is necessary they should be together, be instructed in the same principles, initiated into the same practices, live under the same laws, become familiar with the same ordinances, so as to be prepared for the same admission into celestial glory. Can this be done while the Saints live in different nations, speak different and unknown tongues, are unacquainted with each other’s habits and customs, and while many are obliged to yield obedience to the government where they are, which may not even allow the Gospel to be preached in its dominions, much less admit the ordinances of life and salvation to be administered? And if this is impossible, there are reasons sufficient why the Lord has commanded His people to gather into one fold, where they can be instructed in their several duties, and become one in all things. But here the Saints are together, that they may become one; and how shall they accomplish it? By each loving his neighbor as he does himself, and doing as he would be done unto, in thought, in word, in deed. Here we are in Zion, gathered from a great variety of nations, of different languages, habits, manners, customs, propensities, 282 ZION’S TRUMPET. occupations—good, bad, and indifferent, just as we learned them from our cradles: therefore let us gather all the good of all nations, and save it, throw the bad away, and improve the indifferent as far as possible, that everything may be saved that is worth saving—and leaving the things that are behind, pressing forward unto perfection. Now let each do as he would be done unto, not only by imparting of his substance, in gold, silver, merchandise, or any other commodity of a like kind, but in paying his debts, and that promptly to the utmost of his ability, and imparting freely all information that may tend to the upbuilding of Zion. But, says one, “I have served seven years’ apprenticeship to learn to be a joiner, and do you suppose I am going to give the knowledge I have acquired, at a great expense of time and money, to anyone, without a reasonable compensation? no, by no means; I can never do that. If my brother wants to learn the trade, let him do as I have done—pay fifty pounds sterling money to me or some good master, and give me seven years’ labor.” While the joiner is telling his story, the blacksmith, the cabinetmaker, merchant, tailor, doctor, hatter, lawyer, saddler, cooper, harness maker, miller, sawyer, gardener, farmer, shoemaker, baker, bootmaker, millwright, tanner, currier, matchmaker, distiller, and the whole et ceteras of professions, are attracted to the spot, and all unite in the decision of the joiner; their knowledge cost them too much, and they cannot afford to give it away. The principle here involved is in accordance with the custom of the world, generally, and if it be correct and right among Saints, it surely ought, and we want to see it, prevail. What are all the little particulars, and great sum total with the Saints, but the building up of God’s kingdom? And what have the Saints which they have not received? and from whom have they received all good things, but from God? and will someone well versed in the subject tell us what is the difference between spiritualities and temporalities in God’s kingdom, or where one ends and the other begins. While waiting for an answer, we will suppose the joiner (personifying all the various professions) meets the Prophet, the ZION’S TRUMPET. 283 leader of Israel, and says, Will you please to tell me how I can distinguish between an angel of light and an angel of darkness, or between a good and bad angel; for I understand that Satan sometimes transforms himself into an angel of light, and I am afraid I may be deceived; or the mechanic might enquire by what key he should unlock the door into the celestial kingdom, or the presence of the Father (for the Prophet has more keys than all these mechanics, when put together); and the Prophet should reply, I have spent three times seven years to learn these things, and know how to build up the kingdom of God, and get salvation therein, with fastings, and prayers, and travels, and research, and weariness, and watching; and have paid out thousands of dollars beside, to gain the information you desire; and do you think I am going to give that away which has cost me so much? by no means; if you want to know what I know, you must learn the trade as I have. What would you think of such a Prophet? Would not every Saint exclaim, I would think the Prophet had three times the reasons for talking thus, than the joiner or mechanic had, for he has spent three times as much time and means to get his profession? But stop a moment, and consider that neither has spent his own time, for they had no time to spend; it was all the Lord’s, and he lent it to them to gain intelligence, so that they may have a stock to impart to others, freely as they received. Then, as the Prophet has three times the chances for making excuses for not imparting information, when asked, on account of his expense in time and money; and as neither has the least ground for such excuse, the whole belonging to the Lord, we shall not expect to hear any mechanic or professional among the Saints making apologies for not communicating all the intelligence he has received, whenever he can be any benefit to his fellow man, until he first hears the Prophet making such excuses; and when he says, I served my apprenticeship in England, in Germany, in France, in Italy, in Spain, in Denmark, in Russia, in New England, or China, or anywhere else, and cannot give my knowledge away, it will be quite time for mechanics, doctors, lawyers, and priests to make 284 ZION’S TRUMPET. such apologies; and the banishment of such false ideas from among the Saints, will destroy one source of unpleasant feelings, and tend to forward the Kingdom of God on the earth. Every child should learn and practice that trade or profession to which he is by nature adapted. The boy that has a natural genius and taste for blacksmithing, will scarcely ever make a good cooper; and many first-rate mechanical geniuses have been obliged to learn their trade, at odd hours, by their own exertions, while supporting themselves by their industry, and perhaps at the same time sustaining a decrepit parent or orphan sister; therefore, let all, no matter from what country, impart freely of their knowledge, and do all the good they can; and not hide their talent in a napkin, lest they be found unprofitable servants. Let all national distinction be done away from among the Saints, for God is doing his part to roll on the time when those who remain shall feel that they are of one blood—shall treat each other as brethren, and talk a pure language; and one shall not say, I am for Paul, another for Apollos, and another for Cephas; and I am of England, and I am of France, and I am of Germany; but all shall say, I am from the earth, and for Jesus Christ, and the kingdom of God, and all my labors shall be for its advancement; and what I know, ye may know also. Knowledge, like money, rightly improved, increases continually; but, secreted, rusts, and diminishes in value. It is sometimes said, that the Presidency and the Elders have prejudices against the Saints who are of another nation,—English, Danish, Dutch, &c., because they make mention of their follies, which they imbibed in their childhood, arising out of their national peculiarities, and which they have brought with them among the Saints; this is a mistaken idea. The nations have their peculiar nationalities, and national prejudices; and Saints, like others, before they heard of the Gospel, indulged in these same prejudices, that their nation was more refined, more powerful, more intelligent, had more picturesque scenery, less ZION’S TRUMPET. 285 poverty, or greater nobles than any other. But such things should be done away among Saints; they have no place in the minds of their presidency, and when they revert to national characteristics and follies, it is that those follies may be done away among Saints; for they remember continually our text, and regard him well who doeth well, and the best that doeth the best; and all who have tasted of the good word of God, and the glories of the world to come, will have little regard whether a brother or a sister has been born in Kamtschatka, or the New Jerusalem, if their life and conversation are as pure as they are capable of making them. The world is the Saints’ final home; and with Saints, so with nations—those that do the best are the best; and the way for every Saint who would keep up the credit of his nation is to improve on all instructions and reproofs emanating from the proper source, and never more suffer jealousy, to suggest that their teachers have prejudices against their nation, because they refer to their national follies and errors. Trans. Thomas Job.

REVIEW OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Perhaps our readers would like to see the review which the Editor of the Star of Wales wrote about the Welsh translation of the Book of Mormon, a copy of which we sent to him for that purpose. This review can be seen in the Number for the 8th of July, 1852, in the aforementioned newspaper, which we copy herewith as follows:— “We cannot be expected to give any approval whatsoever to this work, or praise the superstition of the Welsh people for supporting its publication in Welsh; and there is no composition set up as equal to the Word of God which deserves any more than the most definitive condemnation. Whatever of that, there is no danger that anyone who reads it attentively will be deceived by it, so as to become one of the Latter-day Saints; for it appears to us to be nothing but a pack of foolish lies, composed deceitfully to imitate, to some extent, the scriptural account, and the names of persons have been changed, and many fables have been added. Whatever of that, the work has been printed well, with clear letters and excellent paper, as is all the work of Mr. Davis. The translation also is fluid and intelligible.” 286 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Now, that is the opinion of the above Editor about the Book of Mormon; and we feel grateful to him for speaking his mind; for he could not say anything that would give any more approval to the Book of Mormon, than what he said. If the world were to speak well of this book, it would be proof to the children of God that it is of the world, for they love their own products; but since it is said that it “deserves the most definitive condemnation,” it is obviously of God, which we have known for a considerable length of time. The world believes the Bible because it is old; the Pharisees believed the same thing about the writings of Moses and the prophets. In the world’s opinion the devil is just as good for old scriptures as anyone, since he succeeds in misleading men to their destruction. He quoted scriptures when he tempted our Lord; and all his children make use of them to prosper the cause of their devil father. If the Saints are of God, the religious sects of the country are of the devil, despite their great respect for the Bible. But they respect the scriptures as did the Pharisees; otherwise they would believe in the Book of Mormon; for the two books were written under the guidance of the same spirit, something that all who have received the Holy Ghost know clearly for themselves. Little do the sectarian editors and preachers know that their reviews and their sermons against the Book of Mormon speak more in its favor, than their hearts ever imagined. In the face of all the beating it takes, it is working its way into the midst of all the nations of the earth, and it is already published in six or seven of the chief languages of the world; and by now there are about two and a half thousand Welsh copies of it in the hands of the sons of Gwalia, not to mention several hundred English copies, and other languages. It has not been a year since all these translations made their appearance; and what can we expect in the coming years? We can expect that there will not be one nation under heaven that has not been warned that salvation comes through obedience to the Gospel, and destruction through not obeying it. Indeed, the Lord is completing his work, and nothing can hinder it. ZION’S TRUMPET. 287

LETTER FROM CAPT. D. JONES. Manti City, May 1, 1852.

Esteemed Brother Phillips,—After a long delay, I write again to remind you and the dear Saints in Wales, that I am still alive, and continue in the enjoyment of many privileges and blessings, both temporal and spiritual. What caused this delay was President Young’s counsel to me last October to prepare for a mission to Wales; and thus I expected to carry my own letter; but, he and scores of other brethren came through here yesterday, to visit the southern settlements, and he commanded me to prepare to search further for the “Madocians,” in the coming Fall; he said that lately he had heard a great many interesting accounts about them, which would be too lengthy to relate in this letter: according to his counsel I shall do. Dear Brother, you and your important mission constantly have a place in my mind, and in my prayers, and it causes no small joy for me to hear through letters, &c., that the Lord is keeping you, and enabling you through his Spirit, to lead the church there with success—I say, that unity and charity are thriving, to the point of drawing sinners to the gospel of Christ; and no doubt if the Welsh could only understand what is being enjoyed here, and the things that await them there, they would as a nation give hasty obedience; but God’s plan is that “by the foolishness of preaching those that believe are saved;” thus, they must believe your testimony, before they can see through the veil that is between them and their future fate, the one denomination and the other. You no doubt expect a few accounts from me again this time; the best of which is, that the inhabitants of all these valleys are enjoying general health and peace: the smile of their Father is on them and theirs, and their labors of a temporal nature, and they continue to enjoy more privileges, blessings, enlightenment, and knowledge of God our Father, and the great plan of salvation. And never before in this church have there been such unanimous devotion, and unshakeable and widespread determination to build the kingdom of Jesus, as there currently are throughout these valleys; this unity, and enthusiastic zeal, brought down in the last conference, more 288 ZION’S TRUMPET. blessings and knowledge than ever before. The natives surrounding the settlements are now peaceful. The kingdom has come into our midst here, the coming in which our forebears wanted so much to have part in. Farming has been so fruitful that all the storehouses of the country are overflowing with corn, and plenty of wheat can be obtained for between two and four shillings per 60-pound bushel. Cheese is from 6c. to 10c.; butter from 10c. to 1s; horses here are cheaper than ever before; horned animals are at their previous prices; clothes are about double the American prices; but at present there is a scarcity of money, which causes the Merchants, for the most part, to take their goods from here to the gold mines. There are heroic efforts being made here toward independence from the whole world and its merchandise, by expanding home production; and already the majority of the inhabitants make their own clothes and are becoming more self-sufficient, as far as the climate facilitates the growing of the raw materials; and the settlements are extending further south, where all will be produced that any climate can produce. While we have the civil peace and protection that cover these valleys at present, neither you nor we need be troubled regarding the envy and the anger that is shown against us in the States, or in any part of our Father’s footstool. With respect to the immigration here this year, there is no room for further doubt, but what it will far exceed any previous year throughout the States. Preparations are being made here to send scores, if not hundreds of wagons, to meet the immigrants on foot, which will be on the path by the thousands; supplies, &c., will be taken to them when they are about half way between here and the States. With respect to the immigration from Wales, you no doubt have all the pertinent counsels from the Presidency in Liverpool; yet I will add this for the consideration of the immigrating Saints from there,—They should strive to keep the Spirit of God with them, so they do not lose the spirit of gathering, and they should not forget their motivating purposes there, or the final option after arriving here. This gathering is a strong winnowing fan, and blessed is he who assiduously keeps his eye on the objective. I am sorry to understand ZION’S TRUMPET. 289 that several of the Welsh who arrived in Great Salt Lake last year, are starting, or have started for the gold mines contrary to counsel, to die of the “yellow fever,” as the lust for gold is called; of the two options, it is better for the Saints to live and die faithful in Wales, and go to paradise, than to lose their future glory by trying to gather and failing. I received a letter from Thomas Giles lately, which caused me great joy; give him my thanks for it, and I shall strive to pay him back soon by writing to him. I have received but one letter from you since I last saw you; and the pleasure of seeing your name in your own hand on the desirable gift of fruit pits; I have received about half of what you have sent, and thank you very much for them. I have not heard from Brother Davis for a long time; what is the reason? and I have not received the Trumpet, except for the first volume, and a few numbers practically two years old after that, from H. Evans. Have almost all my old contemporaries died, or are they on their way here? My family is well, and all the Welsh I have seen. Please greet all the dear Saints lovingly for me; may the gracious Lord bless them and you, and Brother Davis, Pugh, &c. I bless you all. Amen. I am yours, &c. D. Jones. [We are sorry that so many letters and books we have sent to our dear brother Capt. Jones, have not reached him. But perhaps, after the present companies reach the end of their journey, he will have received several of them. We quote the following from a letter brother Jones sent to us, on the same day as the above,—“Thank you very much for the letters you sent a long time ago, and the books; there is nothing more than I would rather have than to hear the course of the gospel in dear Wales, and I would be glad to hear more frequently. May the wise God bless you all with love, with wisdom, and with everlasting success, is my earnest and daily prayer. My wife and children are enjoying good health, (for which I am grateful), and join with me in sending their regards to you and your family, and to Brother Phillips and his family, kind Pugh, and all our acquaintances, especially all the Saints; soon we shall meet you all here like wheat gathered to the barn before the calamities of the world. * * * I hope to hear lots of news from you before I start off for the south in the Fall to search out the Welsh Indians, after which I shall pay back the news, I suppose! I heard that you are publishing the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon, in Welsh. O how glad I would be to see them; may their Author endow you with wisdom for the important task, I say.” 290 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The rest of the letter is personal, and entirely for ourselves. How glad we are to hear from the one who first of anyone told us about the power of God in the last days.—Editor.]

LETTER TO PRESIDENT W. S. PHILLIPS. Winter Quarters, July 8, 1852.

Dear Brother Phillips,—I am now watching over animals, along the location of the town of Winter Quarters. There is no one who lives here, neither is there a house left standing; just the old remains of a forest fire; here and there the pasture nearly covers everything. In some future time the name of this town will be mentioned to the eternal scorn and shame of the United States of America, because about 700 of my dear brothers and sisters died here in a short time, and children constituted the majority of them, because they were driven to the frigid desert, from Nauvoo, without cause, except for their religion, by the bloodthirsty sectarians of the States. The camp I belong to is far ahead by this time, namely the thirteenth. A few of the old enemies of the Saints in Missouri, and other places, furious with indignation at the Saints, because the President of the United States elevates some of the Saints to be high civil officers now and again, despite the lies that are told and published about the Saints. Because the enemies of the Saints failed to raise up a party to persecute them without cause, they are threatening to go across the Missouri river to the land of the Indians, to do harm to brother E. T. Benson and others, supposing that they could do that easily, because brother Benson is staying until the last, before going toward Salt Lake; thus he would be without anyone to assist him, for all the Saints have gone on before him. Lest they take the initiative to harm someone, from 3 to 5 men from several companies were counseled to wait until the last ones have come across the Missouri river; that is the reason that I am here. We have horses, we shall drive and overtake our various companies before they are 500 miles away. The last of the Saints for this season will cross the river tomorrow; the Apostles O. Hyde, J. Taylor, E. T. Benson, E. Snow, and F. D. Richards, are on each side of the river at ZION’S TRUMPET. 291 present. All are healthy and happy, and we will get underway before the end of this week. Ten thousand Saints are going toward Salt Lake this year, taking with them one thousand oxen and cattle, one-and- a-half thousand wagons, ten thousand sheep, a thousand horses and mules; there are thousands of those who started toward California and Oregon, who intend to go to live among the Saints. Everything is going forward extremely well in this country with regard to the Saints; it is a noble country: the glory be to God. Everything is going forward especially well in Salt Lake, &c. It is much easier to say in Wales, “Why do they not write back from America,” than it is to write to the old country after coming here, for lack of time, because one is busy doing one thing or the other nearly all the time on his journey. I shall write to you, boys of North Wales, from Salt Lake; be patient, all is well. Work the gospel forward with all your might. I am healthy and my heart is happy, thanks be to God. My regards to all of you, and the same to the sisters. I do not have anything of importance to tell you further; the Saints are in very good unity here, and may the Saints in Wales remember to be at one with the Priesthood, and God will prosper you in all good things. My best regards to you, dear Brother, and to your Counselors, and your families, and all the Saints. O hasten, hasten all to come to Zion quickly as counseled. I am yours in great haste, Eliezer Edwards.

VERSES.

Still I give heartfelt Thanks to my Father, For ever hearing The gospel of good Jesus; By my being obedient To this calling, I have received, instead of hope, True certainty in my breast. This is something foreign To the sad and false religionists, 292 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Namely knowledge of the certainty That is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; O, believe now his servants, You wise men of every kind, I am sure you will receive blessings Immediately from our God. And here is my wish, To see all mankind Giving true obedience To all the commandments of God; If so they will act, And hasten to come along, They will receive from Jesus, The true gifts of the Holy Spirit. Llansawel. Joseph Davies.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

There are no men who are more often at fault, than those who pretend that they are always in the right.

There are but few who envy the merit of others, if there is any merit in themselves.

I fear unbridled passions more than the arrows of the enemy; and being enslaved by them, more than the fetters of the conqueror.

He who governs himself, also governs the world; and the more authority you have over others, all the more government you have over yourself.

Many of the afflictions in families arise from the useless way in which the women spend their time; they do nothing but satisfy their eyes and their ears, instead of improving their powers of reasoning and understanding.

Payments from August 19 to September 1.—Breconshire, £4; Dyffryn Conway, £1; Denbighshire, £2; Pontytypridd, 15s; Aberdare, 15s; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, 18s 11c; Merthyr, £1 4s 6c; Pendaren, 8s; Cefn, £1 1s 4c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 5s 6c.—Total,£ 12 14s 8c. Saints who have relatives in St. Louis, may send letters to them in care of “William Gibson, Box 333, Post Office, St. Louis, Missouri.” Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 19.] SEPTEMBER 18, 1852. [VOL. I V.

PROCLAMATION!

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, OF EVERY NATION, KINDRED, AND TONGUE.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT, An Apostle of Jesus Christ. (From the Australian Edition, by Elder C. W. Wandell.)

A NEW DISPENSATION. An Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the people of the coasts and islands of the Pacific, of every nation, kindred, and tongue—sends greeting:—

It has pleased the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who died on a Roman cross at Jerusalem, near one thousand eight hundred and fifty years since, and who arose from the dead on the third day; and, after giving commandments to his Apostles, ascended into the heavens, thenceforth to reign till his enemies are made his footstool,—to send forth his angels in this present age of the world, to reveal a New Dispensation; thus restoring to the earth the fullness and purity of the Gospel, the Apostleship, and the Church of the Saints, with all its miraculous gifts and blessings; which Gospel, thus restored, with its Apostleship and powers, must be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people under the whole heavens, with the signs following them that believe: 19 294 ZION’S TRUMPET. and then shall the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Messiah and King, descend from the heavens in his glorified, immortal body, and reign with his Saints, and over all the kingdoms of the earth, one thousand years. Having obtained a portion of this ministry, and being appointed and set apart by our brethren of the Apostleship, to take the Presidency and especial charge of a mission to the countries mentioned herein— which include nearly one-half of the globe—we have, in pursuance of these responsibilities, commenced our mission by sending forth this Proclamation; first in English; and to be translated and published by especial messengers, in due time, in every language and tongue included within the bounds of this mission. First of all, having declared our object, purpose, destination, and commission, we hereby invite, and most earnestly plead with all men to repent, to turn away from their sins, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and come with humble hearts, and contrite spirits, and be baptized (immersed in water) in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and they shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, in the name of Jesus Christ, of the Apostles and Elders, who are sent forth by the Church of the Saints. And the Holy Spirit shall bear witness of the truth of this message, and of the remission of the sins of all them who obey the same with full purpose of heart; and shall fill their minds with joy and gladness, and with light and intelligence; and shall also open to their understanding many things which are to come. While some shall be blessed with visions, with the ministry of angels, with the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and others, with the gift to heal the sick, or to be healed, by anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, accompanied with prayer, or the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus. The dumb shall speak, the deaf shall hear, the lame walk, and the eyes of the blind see, inasmuch as they have faith sufficient to receive the same. And not many years hence, as faith, knowledge, union, and power increase, the dead shall be raised in some instances; the violence of fire be quenched; the prisons rent, if necessary; and the very elements controlled by the servants of God, in the name of Jesus. ZION’S TRUMPET. 295

All these gifts are included in the New Dispensation, and are to be bestowed upon man in due time, as faith shall increase. The Church is yet in its infancy; its members have not yet attained to all these gifts; but they have progressed with astonishing rapidity, and are in many instances enjoying many of these gifts in various countries. We are aware that the astounding declarations contained in this Proclamation, of necessity come in contact with the traditions of this and former ages; and also with the various priesthoods, organizations, and ordinances of the world called Christian, as well as with the various religions of the Pagans, Mahomedans, and Jews; but with all kindly feelings and respect for our fellowman, we cannot avoid this contact. We are the friend of man, and the friend of truth. We therefore, feel ourselves bound to bear witness of the truth as it is, and was, and is to come. The Christian minister will inquire, “What need of a New Dispensation, where the old has been perpetuated by an apostolical succession?” To which we reply, “That we know of no succession of the kind; we acknowledge none; but, for the satisfaction of others, we will point out the way to determine the negative or affirmative of that all important question.” Search the sacred writings of the Apostles of old for any other order of Apostles, ministers, ordinances, gifts, or powers, as constituting the true Church, or connected with it, than the order set forth in the foregoing pages, and you will search in vain. The New Testament system was a system of inspiration, apostolical powers, miracles, healings, revelations, prophesyings, visions, angels, and all the gifts recorded in that book. It was a system of ordinances—such as baptism for remission of sins, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ; the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Spirit; the laying on of hands for healing the sick; also, anointing with oil for the same purpose; also, the administration of bread and wine, in remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ, and the blood of atonement. 296 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Such was the New Testament system. Peter himself had no right to alter it, neither had Paul: in so doing, they would have forfeited their apostolic powers, and their Christian standing; and would have been accursed, as it is written by Paul, “Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, let him be accursed.” This being an undeniable fact, which no man can successfully controvert or deny; the question of apostolical or church succession resolves itself thus:— Has the foregoing order of things been handed down in purity and power to this day? its Apostleship, its powers of vision, revelation, prophecy, miracles, gifts, ordinances, and powers unaltered, unimpaired, unperverted? If so, we have Apostles, Church, &c., now; without a New Dispensation, or a new commission. If not so, then there is no Apostleship, no Church, no Christian ministry and gifts here on the earth, except commissioned by a New Dispensation. In the latter case, we would inquire, by what Standard shall the Millennium, the age of peace, and universal truth, and knowledge, be ushered in? By what Standard shall the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea? By what Standard shall there be one Lord, and his name one, and he be the king of all the earth, as say the Prophets? To what Standard shall the Jews and the other tribes of Israel be restored, when the fullness of times is come in? When their times are fulfilled; when the full time arrives for the restoration of the things spoken of by all the holy Prophets since the world began? In which, of all the branches of the so-called Christian church, shall the power and miracles of God be manifested, when he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in the restoration of all the tribes of Israel and Judah? Will his power and wisdom be displayed to restore them to a broken Covenant? to doctrines corrupted? to ordinances perverted? to a Church divided, and destitute of the miraculous powers and ZION’S TRUMPET. 297 gifts? in short, to Christendom, who have ruled all nations with a rod of iron, and made the nations and their rulers drunken with the wine of their abominations? No, we boldly answer, no! What then! Shall the words of the Prophets fall to the ground unfulfilled? No, never! Hence the unavoidable necessity of a new dispensation, a new apostolic commission. Such commission is now restored; such dispensation is now committed, and is held by the Apostles and Elders of the Church of the Latter-day Saints. Such the cause in which martyrs have bled, and a whole people been disfranchised, robbed, plundered, dispersed, slandered in every possible way, and driven to the mountains and deserts of the American interior. Honest, pious, and well-meaning Christians! (for such there are in every sect under heaven), we hereby solemnly warn you, and entreat you, in the name of the Lord, to come out of every sect, and from all the Christian “Babels;” yea “come out of her my people,” as saith the ancient Apostle, “for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Come out, then, and unite with the Church of the Saints, and henceforth devote your faith, your prayers, your strength, and your means to the work of God. This same invitation is meant for all sincere, well-meaning, and devoted clergymen, whether Roman or Protestant, as well as the other members, and the sincere, zealous, and devoted missionaries and their supporters, who bear the Bible to foreign lands, and who toil amid fields of ice, or burning sands, amid deserts, mountains, or in the solitude of the wilderness, or in the lone and distant isles, surrounded by the infinite expanse of air and ocean, because of their love for Jesus and their fellow man. To you we bring tidings of great joy! The latter-day glory has dawned upon the world! 298 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The prayers of the faithful of all ages are heard! The heavens have been again opened! Angels have descended, bearing a Dispensation to man! The Holy Ghost has been again shed forth! The fullness of the Gospel is revealed! The sick are healed! Demons are cast out! The Kingdom of God has come! The Standard of Truth and Freedom is reared! And to those who are in darkness, a light has dawned! And ere long, darkness, ignorance, and oppression shall cease from the earth! Open your hearts, then, and receive and learn the way of God more perfectly; return fully to the system of that Bible which you publish, and to that God whom you serve. And to those who are only Christians by nation, by birth, or by profession, and not by conduct, we would say, by the commandment of the Lord, and also by way of invitation,—Turn from all your iniquities and abominations, your lyings, deceivings, whoredoms, blasphemies, drunkenness, gambling, idleness, extravagance, pride, and folly; and from your murders, theft, and robbery, and from all sin. Cease to take the name of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, in vain. Pledge yourselves by a covenant and a fixed purpose to serve the Lord, and come and be baptized in His name, and you shall receive remission of sins and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And then, if you endure to the end in keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, you shall be saved in the celestial kingdom of God. You shall also have part in the first resurrection, which will come in a few years, and shall reign, in the flesh, on the earth, with the King, the great Messiah, one thousand years.

ADDRESS TO PAGANS. To those who are not Christian, but who worship the various gods of India, China, Japan, or the Islands of the Pacific or Indian ZION’S TRUMPET. 299

Oceans, we say—Turn away from them, they are no Gods, they have no power. Open your ears and your hearts, and hear the Apostles and Elders of the Church of the Saints. Learn of the true God, and of His Son Jesus Christ, who was dead and is alive, and shall live for evermore; and who is your King, and will soon come down from the more glorious planet where he dwells, and reign as the King of all nations; and your eyes shall see him, your acclamations hail him welcome, while he is crowned Lord of all. Open your houses and your hearts, and receive and feed the Elders who come among you; give them means, and aid them in their travels; and verily your sick shall be healed, the evil demons which trouble you shall be cast out, and you shall have good dreams and visions of the Lord, and angels shall minister to some of you, and your hearts shall swell with love and gladness, and you will feel to forsake your sins, and be baptized by the Elders; and in so doing, they shall lay their hands upon you, the Holy Spirit bearing witness in your hearts of the truth, and enlightening your minds in the same.

ADDRESS TO THE JEWS. To the Jews we would say—Turn from your sins, and seek the God of your fathers. Search the Prophets; for lo, your Messiah cometh speedily, and all the Saints with him. Yea, he will descend upon the Mount of Olives, near your ancient city, disperse your enemies, defend Jerusalem, and establish his kingdom over your nation and city, and over all the earth. But what will be your astonishment, when gazing at him, and falling at the feet of him as your great Deliverer, you discover the wounds in his feet, in his hands, and in his side, and inquire, “What are these wounds in your hands and in your feet?” And he will exclaim, “These are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom your fathers crucified. I am the Son of God, your deliverer, and your eternal King.” 300 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Who can describe the mingled feelings of joy and gladness, and gratitude, and shame, and remorse, and repentance, and amazement, and wonder, which will then fill your bosoms! O how you will repent, and flock to the water, and be baptized in his name for the remission of your sins. With what power the Holy Ghost will fall upon you, when the Apostles shall lay their hands upon your heads in the name of that Jesus, who will stand in your presence. The big tears of joy will gush forth and stream upon the ground, while many of you will fall upon his neck, or kiss his feet, and bathe them in your tears. Blessed is he that has seen him and believed; but more blessed are they who have not seen him and yet believed. If any of you can so far overcome your prejudices and traditions, as to admit the probability, or even possibility, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, and that when your Messiah comes to fulfill your national redemption, and to establish his kingdom over all the earth, it will not be the first time that he has appeared among men, or even to your own nation—why, then, search diligently on the subject, and earnestly pray to the Jehovah that you may understand the truth of a subject of such thrilling and vital importance. After you have carefully reviewed your own Prophets, search the New Testament with the same careful and prayerful attention, and then obtain a copy of the Book of Mormon, and search that with the same degree of candor and earnestness; and I think your minds will expand, and you will be constrained to say, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. If so, then come to the standard of the New Dispensation—to the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints; for you will readily see that there is no other system now extant, which even resembles, or will compare at all with the system established by him and his former Apostles. Yea, come to them, repenting and turning from your sins, and go down into the waters of baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Receive the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. You will then know the truth, and be prepared for less surprise and a more glorious triumph on the Mount of Olives, in the day of your returning King. ZION’S TRUMPET. 301

We have now shown you the door of admission into the kingdom of God, into which you would do well to enter; and after entering therein, it will be required of you to keep the commandments of Jesus, and to look earnestly and daily for the fulfillment of the Prophets which speak of the restoration of Israel and Judah, the downfall of Gentile rule, and the prevalence of that kingdom which shall be universal, and have no end. You would also in the meantime do well to contribute liberally of your means to the Elders and Missionaries of the Church, for they are your brethren; they verily believe the Prophets, and they look, and pray, and labor earnestly for their fulfillment. (To be continued.) Cefn. Trans. Morgan Jenkins.

TO ALL CONFERENCE AND BRANCH PRESIDENTS, &c .

Dear Brethren,—In your midst here and there throughout the country I have encountered great joy; and sometimes my spirit has been saddened through hearing Hymns being sung, which are not in our books, nor have they been approved by us. Through its ministry, singing is very edifying to the Churches, if things are carried out properly. I have been in meetings when the Spirit of God was very strong, and have also heard improper singing, and through that the Spirit of God faded, and the spirit of the world came in its place; and therefore, brethren, you see that this is important; and therefore teach all the Churches. Also, it is a lovely thing to see all the Saints with Hymn Books in their hands, and all of them striving to sing praise to God. Perhaps those who cannot read have an excuse, but no excuses can free anyone from counsels. Many have come to be able to read well by becoming familiar with the hymnals, and obeying the counsels. There are still here many Hymn Books on hand, and it would be much more appropriate for them to be in the possession of the Saints, instead of being here piled on top of each other. They will be a glory to God, 302 ZION’S TRUMPET. and a benefit to the Church. Now, brethren, have faith and send for them for the Saints. One other thing in particular; we wish for you to send the correct information as to how many families under your Presidency intend to emigrate next Spring, and who have the £10 each; and if there are some who have more than that, give us an accurate report of the number, and send a list of their names here by the 20th of next October. Take care to do this with precision. Everything is going along well here as far as we know pertaining to the “Emigrating Fund.” All the Saints wish to emulate their Master, that is to make a short stay in Babylon. Remember that the end of the quarter for the Fund is on the 24th of this month. Questions are frequently being asked in these days among the Saints, in some places, as to whether there is harm in making a habit of going to taverns to drink liquor, &c.; and it has reached my ears that some are saying that there is no harm, but to do it quietly. Well, let us go to the law and to the witness:— “That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. And behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. And again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies,”—Doc. and Cov., page 217. The following is a quote from a letter which I received from Bro. Eliezer Edwards from Council Bluffs:—“Bro. Taylor addressed the congregation, and related his troubles in Europe, and also exhorted the Saints to go to Utah, and for all of them to be virtuous, leaving aside strong drinks, and all manner of arrogant and filthy speech. President Hyde arose to confirm the necessity for everyone to leave aside completely all use of swearing, and intoxicating liquors, &c.” We have heard some of the Apostles counsel the Saints to abstain from the above habits; and I myself have taught this several times, and the examples I have given to this end, are teaching in every ZION’S TRUMPET. 303 place where I have been, and there is no man or woman who can say to the contrary. I have traveled thousands of miles back and forth through the counties of Wales, and I have never wished to go to taverns, except when there was no other choice; and I feel very grateful to all my brethren in every place for their kindness to me, but I wish to give one bit of counsel to all of you together now, because you are so numerous; and it would take too much time for me to tell each of you personally. I hope that no one will feel that this counsel is unkind, for I am responsible for you, and you are presently my sheep. Well, now to the point. From now on may no one of you believe that it is a kindness to Brother Phillips to take him to the Taverns to sleep among the drunks, &c., for he at no time feels happy in such a place; and he would three times rather sleep in the most humble place among the Saints than to go to such places. In the homes of the Saints I can have the privilege of praying to God without being under the influence of drunks, or the old stinking odors next to me; for it grieves the Holy Spirit, saith the Lord. Brethren, you must continue stronger in the things which you have read and in those which you will yet read, lest you some time allow them to become lost. I have a fatherly spirit now as I write these counsels, and I hope that I shall not hear of or see such things again, and I ask that God, the Eternal Father, may bless you with his Holy Spirit to keep these counsels, and to remember them. I am, your brother and your servant in the gospel, W. S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr Tydfil, September 13, 1852.

[In connection with the Hymns which have been composed by the Saints, we wish for everyone to send without delay as many New Hymns as they have, either to brother Phillips, or to us, so that we can have a look at them, and approve them; and we invite the poets to compose more, and the good ones will appear in print in some way or other.—Editor.] 304 ZION’S TRUMPET.

THE LIVING GOD.

(From the “Times and Seasons.”)

There is no subject among men, that engrosses so much time and attention, and at the same time is so little understood, as the being, knowledge, substance, attributes, and disposition of the living God. In the first place, Christians, and believers in Christianity, with a few exceptions, believe in one God; or perhaps we should say in their own language, that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are one God. But to be obedient unto the truth, we will not thus transgress upon reason, sense and revelation. It will then be necessary to treat the subject of the “Living God,” in contra-distinction to a “dead God,” or one that has, “no body, parts, or passions,” and perhaps it may be well enough to say at the outset, that “Mormonism embraces a plurality of Gods,” as the apostle said, there were “Gods many and Lords many;” in doing which, we shall not deny the Scripture that has been set apart for this world, and allows one God; even Jesus Christ, the very eternal Father of this earth; and if Paul tells the truth, “By him the worlds were made.” It was probably alluded to by Moses, when the children of Israel were working out their salvation with fear and trembling in the wilderness, at the time that he spake these words: (Deut. v, 23—26,) “And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness (for the mountain did burn with fire), that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory, and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?” The facts embraced in the foregoing verses, destroy the belief of all christendom without remedy. The divines, or in deference, ZION’S TRUMPET. 305 we will say the “learned clergy,” publish to all people, that “no man hath seen God, at any time, that no man can see God and live;” and that John the Evangelist said,—(John vi, 46), “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” Again, Moses in the before mentioned quotation uses our text, the “living God;” and who will undertake to say that he meant any other person than Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel? “Before Abraham was, I am.” “Oh,” say the learned world, “the Scripture is a mystical matter, and we must let it remain, till some commentator fathoms the mystery.” In all probability, that meant Christ, for there is but one God. It has been said that troubles never come single, and mysteries in like manner, rarely meet us one at a time. We learn in Matthew xvi, 13—16, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Now, two facts, making two worldly mysteries, meet the mind in the foregoing passages. Jesus says he is the “Son of Man,” and Peter says, he is the “Son of the living God.” O, ye great men and wise men, and ye who wear the sacerdotal robes; how can Jesus have two fathers; or how can the Scriptures be true without he has two? Again, how could Moses use the term “Living God,” as the Holy One of Israel, and Peter, declare that Christ was the Son of the “Living God?” This makes two “Living Gods,” because the Savior never once said that he begat himself, or came into the world of his own accord, or upon his own business; but, to the contrary, he came to do the will of his Father who sent him. What shall we say then, to make Moses’, Jesus’, and Peter’s words true? We will say that Jesus Christ had a father and mother of his Spirit, and a father and mother of his flesh; and so have all of his brethren and sisters: and that is one reason why he said, “Ye are Gods;” 306 ZION’S TRUMPET. or that Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah xli, 23), “Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are Gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.” In fact, “the Gods,” in old times, was common intelligence. Satan, in his first sectarian sermon to Adam and Eve, told them, if they would eat of the forbidden fruit, they should become as “the Gods,” knowing good and evil. This is not all: the first line of Genesis, purely translated from the original, excluding the first Baith (which was added by the Jews) would read:—Rosheit (the head) baurau, (brought forth) Elohim (the Gods) ate (with) hah-shau mahyiem (the heavens) veh-ate, (and with) hauaurates (the earth). In simple Welsh:—The Head brought forth the Gods, and made heaven and earth. The “Head” must have meant the “Living God,” or Head God. Christ is our head. The term “Elohim,” plural of Elohah, or Ale, is used alike in the first chapter of Genesis, for the creation, and the quotation of Satan. In the second chapter, and fourth verse, we have this remarkable history:—“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were brought forth, in the day that the Lord of the Gods made earth and heavens.” The Hebrew reads so. Truly Jesus Christ created the worlds, and is Lord of Lords, and as the Psalmist says, “judges among the Gods.” Then Moses might have said with propriety, he is the “Living God,” and Christ, speaking of the flesh could say,—I am the son of man; and Peter enlightened by the Holy Ghost,—Thou are the Son of the Living God, meaning our Father in heaven, who is the Father of all spirits; and who with Jesus Christ, his first begotten son, and the Holy Ghost, are one in power, one in dominion, and one in glory, constituting the First Presidency of this system, and this eternity. But they are as much three distinct persons as the sun, moon, and earth, are three different bodies. And again the “Twelve kingdoms” which are under the above mentioned Presidency of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are governed by the same rules, and destined to the same honor; ZION’S TRUMPET. 307

(Book Doc. and Cov. page 93, par. 13) For “Behold, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field to dig in the field; and he said unto the first, Go ye and labor in the field, and in the first hour I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance: and he said unto the second, go ye also in the field, and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance; and also unto the third saying, I will visit you; and unto the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.” Without going into the full investigation of the history and excellency of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this article, let us reflect that Jesus Christ, as Lord of Lords, and King of kings, must have a noble race in the heavens, or upon the earth, or else he can never be as great in power, dominion, might, and authority as the scriptures declare. But hear; the mystery is solved. John says (Rev. xiv, 1), “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” “Their Father’s name,” bless me! that is god! Well done, “Mormonism;” one hundred and forty four thousand gods, among the tribes of Israel, and two Living Gods and the Holy Ghost for this world! Such knowledge is too wonderful for men, unless they possess the spirit of Gods. It unravels the little mysteries which like a fog hides the serene atmosphere of heaven, and looks from world to world, from system to system, from universe to universe, and from eternity to eternity, where in each, and all, there is a Presidency of Gods, and Gods many, and Lords many; and from time to time, or from eternity to eternity, Jesus Christ shall bring in another world regulated and saved, as this will be when he delivers it up to the Father; and God becomes all in all; “And,” as John the Revelator said (xxii, 3—4), “there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” “His name in their foreheads” undoubtedly means “God” on the front of their crowns; for, when all things are created new, 308 ZION’S TRUMPET. in the celestial kingdom, the servants of God—the innumerable multitude, are crowned, and, are perfect men and women in the Lord, one in glory, one in knowledge, and one in image; they are like Christ, and he is like God: then, O then, they are all “Living Gods,” having passed from Death unto Life, and possess the power of eternal lives! Georgetown, Merthyr. Trans. Thomas Harries.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Someone boasted to Aristotle of the greatness of his land,—“O,” said Aristotle, “that’s nothing; rather how is it that you are worthy of that great land is the question.” Just as the light of day can be seen through the smallest holes, so also the most unimportant things show the character of man. There is not one man who is satisfied with his own condition, although it may be the best; nor is he dissatisfied with his mental ability, although it may be the worst.

Conferences.—The Breconshire Conference will be held, on the 26th of September; East Glamorgan, in Merthyr, on the 3rd of October; Monmouthshire, in Tredegar, on the 10th; West Glamorgan, in Swansea, on the 17th; Llanelli, in Llanelli, on the 24th; Carmarthen, in Carmarthen, on the 31st; Cardiganshire, in Aberystwyth, on the 7th of November; North Pembroke, on the 14th, and South Pembroke, on the 21st. Appointment.—Elder Richard Roberts is appointed as president of the Dyffryn Conway Conference, in the place of brother John H. Davies, who has been released to prepare to emigrate the next time. Brother John Evans, President of the Cardiganshire Conference, wishes to notify that William Evans, Pantyrescer, who was an elder in the Cellan branch, has been cut off from the Church. Payments from September 2 to September 15.—Monmouthshire, £2; Cardiganshire, £1; West Glamorgan, £4; Merionethshire, £3 5s; Llanfabon, 7s 1c; Aberamman, £2; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, 7s 3½c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 1s 4c.—Total,£ 13 7s 1½c. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 20.] OCTOBER 2, 1852. [VOL. I V.

PROCLAMATION!

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, OF EVERY NATION, KINDRED, AND TONGUE.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT, An Apostle of Jesus Christ. (From the Australian Edition, by Elder C. W. Wandell.) [Continued from page 301.] ADDRESS TO THE RED MAN.

To the Red Men of America we will next address a few lines. You are a Branch of the House of Israel. You are descended from the Jews, or rather, more generally, from the tribe of Joseph, which Joseph was a great Prophet and ruler in Egypt. Your fathers left Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet—being led by a Prophet whose name was Lehi. After leaving Jerusalem, they wandered in the wilderness of Arabia, and along the shores of the Red Sea, for eight years, living on fruits and wild game. Arriving at the sea coast, they built a ship, put on board the necessary provisions, and the seeds brought with them from Jerusalem; and setting sail they crossed the great ocean, and landed on the western coast of America, within the bounds of what is now called “Chile.” In process of time they peopled the entire continents of North and South America. 20 310 ZION’S TRUMPET.

They were taught by Prophets from age to age. They were also favored with a personal visit from the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, after he had risen from the dead. His own mouth taught them the Gospel, and his own hand ordained twelve Apostles of their own nation, and endowed them with the same powers as the other twelve at Jerusalem. His own teaching opened to them the events of unborn time, and more particularly the future events pertaining to the American continent. His Gospel and prophetic instructions were written by his commandment, and by the inspiration of his own Spirit. In after ages your fathers sinned against all this light and knowledge, and lost the Gospel privileges. Their Apostles were destroyed, or taken away and hid from the world. The workings of miracles ceased because of iniquity. Civil government was broken up. Terrible and desolating wars ensued, which finally resulted in the darkness, ignorance, divisions, and subdivisions in which the white man from Europe found you, upwards of three hundred years ago. Mormon was one of your fathers. He lived about one thousand four hundred years ago, in North America. He wrote an abridgment of your history, prophecies, and Gospel, from the records of your more ancient Prophets and Apostles; engraved the same on plates of gold, which records, at his death, descended to his son Moroni. This Moroni, was the last of the ancient Prophets of America. He completed the records of Mormon on the plates, and made a sacred deposit of the same in a hill called Cumorah, which hill is now included within the limits of New York, United States. This deposit was made about the year four hundred and twenty of the Christian era. The plates, thus deposited, were taken from their place of deposit, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven of the same era, by Joseph Smith, and were by him translated and published to the world, in English, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty; the records and their contents having been revealed to him by an angel of God. ZION’S TRUMPET. 311

Many others saw and handled the plates and the engravings thereon, and have solemnly given their names to the world in testimony of the same, which testimony is published in full in said book. There were also three other men, who in open day saw the vision; saw the angel of the Lord descend from heaven; heard his voice bear record of the plates, and of their correct translation, and were commanded by him to bear testimony to the world. Their testimony is also published in full in said book. Red Men of the forest—Peruvians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, descendants of every tribe and tongue of this mysterious race: your history, your Gospel, your destiny is revealed. It will soon be made known to you and to all nations—to every kindred, tongue, and people. It has come forth as a Standard—a Sign of the times of restoration of all things spoken of by all the holy Prophets since the world began. Turn then from your drunkenness, idolatry, murders, wars, and bloodshed,—yea, turn from bowing down to images, the work of men’s hands, which have no power to do either harm or good; turn from adultery, fornication, filth, and all manners of abominations; and seek the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who was once dead, and is alive, and behold, he lives for evermore. Seek peace with each other, and with all mankind. And when the Elders of the Church of the Saints come among you, receive them, feed, lodge, and assist them; and hearken to their voice, for they bring glad tidings of great joy. Put away your sins and be baptized (buried in the water) in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of the same, and receive the laying on of the hands of the Apostles and Elders of this Church, for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And you will be filled with joy and gladness, with light and knowledge. You will know and bear witness of the truth. Some of you will be able to speak by the Gift of the Holy Ghost, in great power. And by signs, and by visions, and by dreams, and by divers healings and miracles, will God confirm His word among you; for, behold, He purposes your restoration as a righteous Branch of Israel. 312 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The Book of Mormon—the Record of your fathers, will soon be published among you in English, in Spanish, and in every written language in use among your various tribes and tongues. Messengers will also be sent among you to read, recite, and interpret the contents of said book, as far as necessary, to those who cannot read—so that, to say the least, you may have the Gospel of your forefathers, and some knowledge of their history and prophecies.

GENERAL ADDRESS RESUMED.—ANCIENT RECORDS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

Having addressed ourself in turn to pious Christians, Christian sinners, Pagans, Jews, and the Red Men of America, we will now return and again address the whole of the people within the bounds of our mission. The Book of Mormon is destined to be published as fast as possible to every nation, and in every language and tongue. Its contents more deeply interest the world, and every intelligent, accountable being therein, than that of any other book (save the Jewish Scriptures) which is now extant in the world. Its history penetrates the otherwise dark oblivion of the past (as regards America) through the remote ages of antiquity; follows up the stream of the generations of man, till arriving at the great fountain head—the distributor of nations, tribes, and tongues—the Tower of Babel, where it ceases, or is lost in, and sweetly blended with, the great Adamatic river, whose source is in Paradise, the cradle of man: whose springs issue from beneath the throne of the Eternal city, and whose secret fountains comprise the infinite expanse, the boundless ocean of intellect, fact, and historic truth, as recorded in the archives of eternity. Its prophetic vision, separating from its history at that definite point, which by its authors might be called the present, opens the events of unborn time, and gives a view of things to come with all the clearness of history. The Ten Tribes of Israel, the Jews, the white nations of Europe, the red tribes of America, even the proud states of the American ZION’S TRUMPET. 313

Union, may each see themselves and their actions in the prophetic telescope of that book. Their destiny is there written; and much of it from the mouth of him who spake, and Jerusalem was deluged in blood,—wrapped in the flames of desolation and death, and trodden down for eighteen centuries—who prophesied, and that holy structure, the temple of God, the pride and confidence of a nation, was thrown down, and “not one stone left upon another”— who uttered his voice, and a nation withdrew before him, ceased to be, and its fragments were made wanderers among the nations, till “the time of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.” The fate of nations—the restoration of Judah and Israel—the downfall of corrupt churches and religious institutions—the end of Gentile superstition and misrule—the universal prevalence of peace, and truth, and light, and knowledge—the awful wars and troubles which will precede those happy times—the glorious coming of Jesus Christ as king over all the earth—the resurrection of the Saints to reign on the earth—are all predicted in that book; the time and means of their fulfillment pointed out with clearness, showing the present age more big with wonders, than all the ages of Adam’s race which have gone before it. Its doctrines are developed in such plainness and simplicity, and with such clearness and precision, that no man can mistake them. They are there as they flowed from the mouth of a risen Redeemer, in the liquid eloquence of love, mingled with immortal tears of joy and compassion, and as written by men whose tears of overflowing affection and gratitude bathed his immortal feet. All men are invited and instructed by its doctrines to turn from their sins and live; to believe on his name; to go down into the waters of baptism in his name, and arise to newness of life, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, enjoying the gifts of the same, and keeping his commandments to the end of their lives. On these conditions they are promised eternal life and exaltation in his presence, where is fullness of joy. 314 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Such is the Book of Mormon, that Book of books, that Ensign to the nations, which in twenty-one years, has, by the aid of apostolic powers and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, diffused its light over half the globe. We are aware of the prejudice of “Christians” in favor of the Bible, and against all other books claiming to be of divine origin; but we also know perfectly, and bear record, that their prejudice is founded in ignorance, and is without any real or reasonable foundation. Such traditions and such prejudices grow out of the same narrow views which, in the days of Columbus, would not let the geographical knowledge of man expand, or his aspirations or thoughts reach beyond the boundaries of the old world, lest the very thought should be blasphemy,—lest a world should be discovered where the Jewish Apostles had not been, and thus render their commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, an inconsistency. We would ask such narrow minds the following questions:— Are there more countries than one? Are there more nations than one? Did the Great Father of all create those several countries? Did He people them with intelligent beings, candidates from immortality and eternal life? Did He love those beings without respect to nation or country? Did His Son Jesus Christ shed his blood for all? Did all partake of death, and mourning and sorrow? Did all stand in need of the knowledge and comfort brought to light by his resurrection, and triumph over death, hell, and the grave? Is it reasonable, right and consistent, that all nations should have the good news of so glorious an event, and be comforted and taught? Was Jesus Christ in his resurrected body, capable of overstepping the physical barriers of ocean and desert, and of paying a personal ZION’S TRUMPET. 315 visit to the other hemisphere? Were his angels capable of overcoming the waves and winds, and of bearing the glad tidings to the remotest lands? Did they mean it when they said to the shepherds of Judea, “We bring glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people?” We think a candid man will answer all these questions in the affirmative. If so, we would still inquire whether a risen Savior and his angels, in visiting the Western hemisphere, had a right to command the people there to write the facts of their ministry, and to record their doctrines? Whether his Spirit had a right to inspire and indite those writings? And after being so written, they would constitute a book—a holy scripture—a volume or volumes of the word of God? We would further inquire, whether the risen Jesus and his angels, have not the right and the power to reveal such records to the world; when, where, and by whom it seemeth them good? If so, when should we look for them to come to the knowledge of the world, if not in the dawn of the restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouths of all His holy Prophets since the world began? We beseech you dear reader, whoever you are, to ponder well these questions, and they will swell and enlarge your heart. (To be continued.) Cefn. Trans. Morgan Jenkins.

REMARKS OF W. GIBSON ON THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[Continued from page 273.]

The next objection to which I will advert, is the account given in the Book of Mormon, of the barges with a hole in the top and another in the bottom. This part has always been held up to derision, and our enemies have made the most of it for this purpose. 316 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The Book of Mormon says, “they were tight like unto a dish;” and from this it is declared that they were in the form of a dish; and I well remember hearing the Rev. C. J. Kennedy read this passage, and then compare them to saucers with holes in the bottom; and ask the audience could such a vessel swim? but how a boat the length of a tree and peaked at the ends, could be like a saucer, he forgot to say. Any unprejudiced man who reads the account of them in the Book of Mormon, will see that it was not in regard to their form that they are said to be like a dish, but in regard to their tightness; and we are told on page 526, that they were tight, like the Ark of Noah; and as for a hole in the top and bottom, it must be evident to everyone that both would be needed for air and cleanliness on such a voyage; and in reading the account, you will find that the Lord showed them how to prevent the water from coming in upon them, although the way it was done is not recorded; yet seeing it is declared that it was done, I would ask my wise friends is there anything impossible or even very strange in the idea? True, if the hole in the bottom had to be stopped with a plug, like a beer barrel, as some wise men would have it, it would be rather strange for them what use could be made of it, except in case of the boat overturning, and even then it would need to be somewhat larger that the bunghole of a beer barrel to do much good. But I would ask, do you think that a good shipbuilder would think it an impossible thing to build a boat so tight that no water could get in, and then leave a hole in the top, so constructed, that it could be opened and shut at the pleasure of those within, and have another hole in some part of the bottom, and by means of such a simple thing as a hollow cylinder or common pipe, or some such thing of either wood or iron, carried to a certain height, according to the depth of water the vessel drew, prevent the water from coming in, and yet make it serve for the purpose of cleanliness. I well remember asking a gentleman in Scotland, who was a leader in a religious society, and well known for his scientific acquirements, if he thought a boat could not be constructed with a hole in the bottom, and by means of some such simple contrivance as I have stated, the water be prevented from coming in, while, at the same time, the aperture so left, be made most useful to those within? ZION’S TRUMPET. 317

He said he believed the thing could be easily done, but as the Book of Mormon gave no account of any such contrivance, he had therefore to conclude that there was none, and therefore to say that such vessels could float was an absurdity, unless they were to be upheld by a constant miracle. As he professed to believe the Bible, I begged the privilege of asking him a question or two concerning a boat spoken of in it, namely, the Ark. We are told that Noah was commanded to build an ark, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high,—that he was to divide it into first, second, and third stories,—that he was to pitch it within and without, that he was to make a window in it of the size of one cubit, and that he was to make a door in the side of the ark; he was furthermore to take the clean animals and fowls by sevens, and the unclean by pairs into the ark, also himself and family, and then both door and window were to be shut upon them. I asked the gentleman if the inmates of the ark could live without air? he answered, no! I then asked how were they to receive it, when the only door and window in all this vast building was closed upon them, and every seam and crevice filled with pitch? Oh, he said, there must have been some contrivance, that is not recorded for this purpose; but I told him, to be consistent, he ought to say, that as the Bible gave no account of any such contrivance, he should therefore conclude that there was none, and to say they could live without air was an absurdity, unless they were upheld by a constant miracle; and if our friends, Messrs. Chambers, the Athenaeum, &c., were to apply the same reasoning to the account of the ark given in the Bible, that they apply to the account of the barges given in the Book of Mormon, if they were consistent men, and rejected one on this account, they would reject them both; for in reading the account of the ark given in the Bible, we must either say that there was some contrivance for giving them air that is not recorded, or have recourse to what the Athenaeum (speaking of the Book of Mormon) calls getting rid of a difficulty, through the easy and arbitrary medium of a miracle: and if you say that there must have been some plan or contrivance which is not recorded, to prevent them from perishing for want of air in the ark, it is not unreasonable to say that there must have been some 318 ZION’S TRUMPET. plan or contrivance which is not recorded, to prevent them from perishing by an overflow of water in the barges. The next objection I will notice is that which is taken from the language of the Book of Mormon. The Athenaeum and Messrs. Chambers say, “Through all we find one signal proof, not merely of imposters, but of the ignorance of the imposter, repeated with pertinacity. Every successive prophet predicts to the Nephites the future coming of Christ. The writer has fallen into the vulgar error of mistaking an epithet for a name. The word Christ, as all educated persons knew, is not a name, but a Greek title of office, signifying ‘the anointed,’ being in fact of translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. Now, the use of a Greek term in an age when the Greek language was unformed, and by a people with whom it was impossible for Greeks to have intercourse, and moreover, whose native language was of such peculiar construction as not to be susceptible of foreign admixture, is a mark of forgery so obvious and decisive, that it ought long since to have exposed the delusion; unhappily, however, we are forced to conclude, from the pamphlet before us, that the American Methodists, who first undertook to expose the Mormons, were scarcely less ignorant than themselves. “A second Nephi takes up the history of a period contemporary with the events recorded in the New Testament, and the words attributed to him bear still more conclusive evidence of the ignorance of the imposters. ‘Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.’ And again, ‘I am the life and the light of the world; I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.’ In addition to the former blunder respecting the same ‘Christ,’ we have the name Jesus in its Greek form, and not as the Hebrews would have called it, Joshua; we have, furthermore, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, given as a metaphorical description of continued existence to a nation that had never heard of the Greek language. It is quite clear that the writer mistook Alpha and Omega for some sacred and mystic sounds to which peculiar sanctity was attached, and wrote them down without perceiving that they were an evidence of forgery ZION’S TRUMPET. 319 so palpable as to be manifest to schoolboys.” So then, according to this, the believers in the Book of Mormon are fools, and the American Methodists no better for not having made this discovery before it was made by such a learned and wise man as the editor of the Atheneum, or such talented and far famed gentlemen as Messrs. Chambers, of Edinburgh. To those who have read Elder P. P. Pratt’s reply to this, in the first number of the second volume of the Millennial Star, I need say nothing. But as this is made much of by our enemies as an argument to prove the Book of Mormon a forgery, and many have not seen Elder Pratt’s reply, a few words on it might do good. The “Athenaeum” says that those Greek words, according to the Book of Mormon, were given to a nation that had never heard of the Greek language. Now this is a lie to begin with. There were no such names on the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. What the names were that were applied to the Redeemer in the language of the ancient American Indians,—how they were pronounced by them,—or how they would appear if an idea of the original was to be conveyed by the English alphabet we know not, for we have only got the translation; but those wise men forget this, and went to make men believe that these Greek names were in the original. The English tongue is a mixture of many languages, Greek amongst the rest; and, therefore, if even Messrs. Chambers, or the learned editor of the “Atheneum” were to translate a book from any other language into English, and in that book had to speak of the Redeemer of mankind, how would they name him? Suppose they were translating from the Hebrew, would they call him Joshua? if they did, they would next have to tell the people that Joshua meant Jesus Christ, or some might perhaps imagine they meant Joshua the son of Nun, and yet these wiseacres find fault with the translation of the Book of Mormon, because it does not name the Redeemer Joshua, a name by which he is not known in the English language. Now that the Book of Mormon is about to be translated into other languages, such as French, German, Italian, &c., if the wise men there are like the wise men here, the fault in France will be that 320 ZION’S TRUMPET.

French words are put in the mouth of Nephi, and in Germany that Nephi uses the German language, and if such a thing as a Latin term should be in common use among any people, into whose language it is translated, then (according to the “Atheneum”) if that word be in the translation, it will be an evidence of forgery so palpable as to be manifest to school boys. Oh, folly, thou art now seen in high places! How truly did Isaiah in his 29th chapter, when speaking of the book’s coming forth, declare,—“the wisdom of the wise should perish, and the understanding of the prudent be hid!” (To be continued.)

A LETTER FROM CALCUTTA. Calcutta, June 25, 1852.

My Dear Elder Ellis,—I feel great pleasure in sending you a short account of myself and mission, at the same time not forgetting to acknowledge past kindnesses from you and the dear Saints in Wales, who I shall ever remember with prayerful gratitude. I sailed from London on the 3rd of September last, on board the Queen East Indiaman, Captain Donald McLeod; and after one of the finest passages ever known, arrived in Calcutta on Christmas Day. When I landed, I found six members, and now we are 200 strong in Calcutta and the surrounding parts; 180 natives, and 20 Europeans; with many on the water’s edge. The hireling clergy and the papers are full of scorn, scandal, and misrepresentation; but the papers have inserted many of my letters, a thing unknown in Britain, but Mormonism is a new thing in India, and therefore they have indulged me, in order that the public may be able to judge of both sides of the question. The kindness shewn me here by the brethren, is far far above what poor purseless Elders meet with in general, for which I ought to feel, as I do, the deepest gratitude to the Saints and my Heavenly Father. Captain Meik, late of the Queen’s Regiment of Foot, is my kind host; but I have several other homes among the Saints, and also ZION’S TRUMPET. 321 among enquirers: and one day a large piece of land was given me in one of the villages, by one of the brethren, to erect a house upon, that I might go and live with them. May Jehovah bless them and all good Saints. It is so hot here that Europeans cannot walk out in the day; and they are obliged to ride in carriages, which is my hard lot, when I have to go from one place to another. The most delicious fruits are grown here: food is cheap and plentiful, and everything goes on quite swimmingly, Mormonism included. I often think of my journeyings, and dear brethren and sisters in Wales, and very often amuse myself by comparing the Hindustani language with the Welsh, which I have not forgotten. For instance you call dinner, cinio; they call it konner, and karner. Again, twenty in their language is beas, the name for fingers in Welsh, and just the numbers in toes and fingers on a perfect human, &c. O Babylon! It is the general impression among Hindus that the end of the world is near, which they have learned from their Fakirs, a class of mendicant priests, who say that the time is very near at hand when the whole world will be all of one religion. In presenting my kind regards to Presidents Phillips, Davis, and Pugh, and all the Saints in Wales, both known and unknown, I desire an interest in their prayers, and in return will pray earnestly for them; and if there be anything in the few lines I have herein written worthy of insertion in Udgorn Seion, I shall feel much gratitude to have it so; and believe me to remain most affectionately, Yours in Jesus Christ, Wm. Willes. P. S.—I would mention the names of many in kind remembrance, but as I might forget others, it is wisdom to send a general salutation; but there are many when I think upon them, for whom my heart burns with brotherly affection, who have ministered to my wants, have cheered me, and made me forget my poverty, &c.

“THE PERPETUAL EMIGRATING FUND.”

Tune—“Long time ago.”

Hail to the splendid “Perpetual Emigrating” and “fund,” For through it our God Succeeds in his objective; 322 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Namely, to gather his children, as a hen Gathereth her little chickens together, To protect them from the bitter plagues That are coming on the world: The fund gathers the distant nations From the four corners of the earth, To the splendid cities of fair Zion, To rejoice together.

It brings them by the thousands on the sea, In ships, from the persecution, And guides them all happily To the most splendid of all valleys: This is the true effect of Unity, And the strength that comes from God, To gather the labor of the soul of Christ, Who died and who is alive; His power and his sweet counsel Is this Emigrating Fund, To carry the captive poor Away from Babylon.

The favorite theme of the dear Prophets’ song, And of the Patriarchs of God, Was the work of this splendid Fund, Which was the gathering of mankind: By this fund hosts of people flow To the mountain of the house of our God, Saying, Come, let us go boldly, To teach his worthy paths; And the wealth of the nations will come To this splendid fund, To take the poor, captive Saints From the affliction of Babylon.

This fund will bring the numerous, moving masses From the far extremes of the world, Like a number of great clouds, Or like a flock of doves; They come singing on the water, In sounds of jubilant joy, Singing praise to God, their Father, For this Emigrating Fund: The brave and revered President Phillips will come, And his thousands with him, To mount Zion, the fair land, Singing with the happiness of their voices. ZION’S TRUMPET. 323

God’s path to the wise fugitives Is this Emigrating Fund, Assistance for them to completely escape From the plagues of Babylon: This will give safe passage, Like the rod of Moses of old, For the poor to have a ready exit To Zion on their way: Let all gird up their loins quickly, And flee now steadily, For this fund will give welcome deliverance To the sincere and brave Saints. Let all take their melodious musical instruments To follow them home, To sing of their blessed escape, Which has come through the powerful Fund; Especially the dear Saints of Wales, Sing sweetly to your God, Of the faith of your beloved head Presidents, Even Phillips—Davis—Pugh; These through great faith and bravery, In the midst of Babylon, Gave a very speedy increase To this fund. By faith they have obtained and still do, A good word among the Saints, Because of their empathy for them, To deliver them from pestilence: May our Almighty Father bless These our three presidents, With faith and all full knowledge, To rescue us from our tight bonds: I hope that in my Heavenly Father, That I shall have complete deliverance With Saint Phillips, dear President, Before it becomes too late. Flint. Thos. Conway.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Beauty without virtue is like a whited sepulcre; pretty on the outside, but full of corruption from within.

Drunkard.—While the drunkard swallows wine, the wine swallows him; God will disregard the drunkard, the angels will scorn him, men will mock him, virtue will leave him, and the devil will destroy him. 324 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Despite however innocent pleasures may be, he who follows them to excess becomes sinful.

It is wiser to look past small transgressions, than to quarrel over them; by doing the latter you are equal to the transgressor, but by doing the former you are far above him.

BOOK DEBTS FROM THE CONFERENCES, BRANCHES, AND OTHERS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1852. Conferences—Monmouthshire, £42 11s 10¾c; Breconshire, £5 13s 6½c; Llanelli, £11 12s 5½c; Cardiganshire, £7 2s 8¼c; North Pembroke, £4 4s 5½c; West Glamorgan, £54 16s 11¾c; Merionethshire, £6 9s 7½c; Flintshire, £11 5s; Anglesey, £12 11s 10½c; Dyffryn Conwy, 16s 9c; Denbighshire, £11 18s 11¾c; Liverpool Welsh Branch, £2 10s 1¾c; Carmarthen, £3 8s 9c. Branches—Dinas, £3 0s 10½c; Llanilltid, £4 15s 11c; Pontypridd, £5 13s 7c; Llanfabon, £2 5s 11½c; Cwmbach, £5 5s 4½c; Pendeulwyn, 8s 6c; Twynyrodyn, 15s 3c; Llandaf, £1 11s 1c; Gostwng, 7s 4c; Eglwysnewydd, 9s; Pontfaen, £1 12s 6c; Cardiff, £13 2s 8c; Aberdare, £16 0s 7½c; Dowlais, £4 8s; Hirwaun, £0 0s 0c; Cwmnedd, £1 19s 1½c; Rhymney, £1 9s; Georgetown, £1 16s 9½c; Merthyr, 18s 11¾c; Pendaren, £4 18s 8c; Cefn, £2 15s 6c; Ynysgau, £2 10s 2½c; Gwernllwyn, £2 4s 8c; Ffynnon Tydfil,£ 3 6s 10½c; Troedyrhiw, 16s 7½c; Rhymney (English), 4s 3c; Gellivaelog, £1 0s 6c; Gog, £1 9s 5c; Aberdare (English), 2s 6c; Aberamman, £5 3s 7½c; Persons, £2 0s 3c.—Total, £267 16s 9½c. Payments from September 16 to September 30.—Monmouthshire, £1 10s; Flintshire, £1 10s; Anglesey, £1 1s; Cwmbach, £1 4s; Cardiff, £1 10s; Dowlais, £1 14s 8½c; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, £1 11s 7½c; Merthyr, £4 5s; Cefn, 13s 2c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 10s 11c.—Total,£ 16 16s 10c. Binding of Books.—We would counsel all the Saints to bind their books with their brethren, rather than with the world. Brother Isaac Jones, Carmarthen, is set up to bind books in the Carmarthen and Llanelli Conferences, and brother Richard Morris, Merthyr, in the East Glamorgan Conference; and we know that they bind as well as and more cheaply than anyone else. Because of an unavoidable happening, we must postpone publishing the article about the “Emigration,” by President S. W. Richards, until the next issue. There are several pieces of correspondence on hand which we intend to publish as soon as we can. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 21.] OCTOBER 16, 1852. [VOL. I V.

THE EMIGRATION.

The season of Emigration for the Saints is fast approaching; many are exerting themselves in preparing to leave their homes, their kindred, and their native land, to join those who are more dear to them, in a far distant region. The invitation of the First Presidency of the Church is by no means unheeded; the tidings that go forth from Zion seem to carry to every honest soul, the very peace that dwells within her borders; and a desire is kindled that cannot be satisfied until they become dwellers in her habitations, and heirs to an inheritance that shall secure to them her eternal glories. Some of the conferences, we learn, are anticipating the removal of more than half their numbers in the coming Emigration season, which indicates that the spirit of gathering is the prevailing influence at the present time. On this subject we would therefore offer a few suggestions. Many have thought they would willingly sacrifice all they had, and undergo almost any hardship that they could endure, if they could only be gathered with the Saints; and were it not for the watery deep that lies between, we have thought many could scarcely be persuaded from starting on foot, to follow the example of Israel when they went out of Egypt in search of a promised land;— believing that “what man has done man may do.” The time, however, has not yet come for the great waters to be 21 326 ZION’S TRUMPET. rolled back to the north, and the continents and islands to be united, that a highway may encircle the earth for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, as will yet be the case when Zion and Jerusalem shall receive the homage of all people that dwell upon the earth. The perils of the deep, as well as trials on land, now lie in the path of the Saints as they journey Zion-ward; and because they first have to ride the billowy deep, they need not suppose that they must necessarily be deprived of the pleasure of walking the desert plains, or climbing the rugged pathway of the mountain range, by which the peaceful, lovely vales of Zion are hid from a tumultuous world. We have proposed that all who can furnish £10 per head emigrate the coming season to the valleys of the mountains; and because of the encouragement given by naming this small sum, many are exerting themselves to go who otherwise would not have thought of going. But we would remind all such as purpose to emigrate with £10 per head, that they cannot expect to go as comfortable as those who go with £20; for while the amount of means is reduced, the conveniences are necessarily reduced in proportion. They cannot expect to have so many horses, cattle, and wagons to haul themselves and luggage over the mountains; and this will open up the way most effectually for many of the Saints to enjoy that anticipated, and, with many, long-desired privilege of walking over the plains. They cannot expect to take so much luggage with them, if they have not the cattle and wagons to haul it for them. Upon this subject we have a word of counsel for the Saints, and they will do well to pay heed unto it, inasmuch as by the experience of those who have gone before, those who remain may be benefitted, if they will be wise:—It has been the cry of very many who have emigrated heretofore, that they took far too much luggage with them; that it was not only a great expense to them, but a great source of trouble and anxiety; and after they had suffered bitterly the evil, of which they were timely advised, they have written advisedly to their friends, that they might not be caught in the same snare for the future. Let the Saints be wise in this respect; foresee the evil and shun it. Dispose of your old iron-bound chests, that have been ZION’S TRUMPET. 327 handed down from generation to generation; and in place thereof, get light boxes, well made, not exceeding 40 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 20 inches deep; such as you can conveniently handle upon ship-board, or lift in and out of your wagons upon the plains. Dispose of your antiquated picture frames, that were bequeathed to your great-great-grandfathers and grandmothers by their sires from time immemorial, and are still handed down from father to son, peradventure the only legacy he has to confer upon his posterity, and used to adorn some horrifying design, representing some hideous monster of the infernal regions of the damned, or some other of the thousand and one designs, too vulgar to be excused except by an adulterous generation who have but little regard for the conception of the human species. And to those who take more pleasure in reflecting their image in the old massive-cased looking-glass that their great- grandmother had had given to her on her wedding day, than to part with it and go home to Zion, where they may see themselves in the great looking-glass of Heaven, reflected by the Light of Truth—we would only say, “Good Lord, deliver us” from all such gods and vain worship. And we would just remind all those who are more strongly attached to such relics than they are to the idea of gathering, that the devil will soon invite them to gather to a region where he will not even allow them to take their bodies, say nothing of their fine clothing, jewels, and other like gods, upon which their covetous hearts are set. His invitation will not go unheeded; he will lay the body low, and release the spirit from the momentary cares and anxieties of the world, to participate in the more augmented miseries which the spirit will be susceptible of while under the dominion of him who holds the power of death. Saints should be wise; they may profitably remember the commandment given to Israel, “Thou shalt have none other gods before me,” and keep the counsels of the Lord, and live. We would say nothing against those feelings of veneration, respect, and gratitude which every man feels, or ought to feel towards his progenitors, and which prompt him to prize so highly any relics of them or their times; but those feelings should never be allowed to hinder men from keeping the commandments of God. 328 ZION’S TRUMPET.

They had better be sacrificed by the Saints, if needs be, to obtain an inheritance in Zion, where you can show your true respect for your ancestors, by doing those works of salvation which will prove to their eternal glory. Relics or interesting specimens of antiquity, to be transported so far, and at such great expense, should be such as are valuable, and can be rendered useful in Zion. Mechanics who take tools, would do well to take only those which are valuable and light, leaving many of the heavier ones behind, as most kinds of tools can be obtained in the Valley. Many kinds of professional instruments could be profitably taken. Many have thought heretofore, that they could not emigrate without taking five or ten years’ supply of clothing with them, and have laid out their money in purchasing what they thought an advantageous fit-out, till they had not money enough left to pay the freight on them, and then have had to dispose of them by the way, at perhaps half their value. This reminds us so much of the fable of “The Country Maid and her milk-pail,” that we think the Saints in future should learn wisdom by it. Leave your ten years’ stock of clothing and shoe leather behind you, and do not think it a sin to take a little money with you, that you may patronize the home manufacturer in Zion, and thus help the Saints to keep the command of God to wear their apparel plain, and of the workmanship of their own hands. It might injure a person’s reputation in this country, if he could not wear as fine broadcloth, as glossy a hat, and as fashionable a boot as his neighbor; and the lady that could not dress in as rich silks and satins, wear as many gay ribbons upon as rich a bonnet, and be adorned with as many jewels as her neighbors, might be looked down upon as not becoming fashionable or even respectable circles in this enlightened age. But Saints who gather to the mountains, are sufficiently excluded from the world to deem it both fashionable and right, for men and women not to esteem themselves above their neighbors who are just as virtuous and good; but to cultivate equality as well as economy; to do unto others as they would be done unto; to respect and provide for the poor; to have a man’s worth in society known by his good works, instead of his money; to live by ZION’S TRUMPET. 329 industry, instead of speculating to maintain an idle and profligate life; in short, it is right there to be unpopular in the eyes of the world, by abhorring pride and all manner of iniquity which is practiced in Christian society to satisfy the pride and lusts of men, and by exalting righteousness to reign supreme among the people. We remind the Saints of these things, that they may shun extremes, while it is made their duty to provide that which is necessary for them upon the journey; such as good serviceable clothing, both for cold and warm weather, sufficient at least to last them while they are traveling, which will be from six to nine months, not forgetting a suitable supply of boots and shoes for the plains; also some cooking utensils, which should be very light, and only such as are absolutely necessary for preparing food by the way. As the cooking ware used upon the plains is so different from that required upon shipboard, it can be obtained in St. Louis perhaps better than in this country. Some strong tinware is very serviceable for family use upon such a journey. Those who expect to go through to the Valley with only £10 per head, should leave all unnecessary luggage behind them, turning it into cash to help them by the way, and take no more than one hundred pounds weight to each person, and in may cases it can be considerably less where there are several children in a family. All freight over one hundred pounds per head must be paid for, when carried on the American rivers; and it is worth seven pence per pound to transport it from Council Bluffs over the plains. Let the Saints in Britain bear this in mind, and leave their cumbersome rubbish behind them, rather than pay for its transportation to the Bluffs, and then see it tumbled into the Missouri river because they cannot carry it further. But, says one, must I furnish £10 for my child which is only three months old? Yes, it is included in the estimate. Every child under one year is taken free over the ocean; but when they come to take passage upon the land, they are proportionately expensive; and that portion of the £10 which they will not consume, others of the family will be sure to find use for. It will cost just as much per pound to haul the clothing and nutriment upon which the child depends, as it will for 330 ZION’S TRUMPET.

others; and because of the child, both the mother and it will need to ride more or less by the way, and the cattle to draw them will cost money. Women with small children require upon such a journey what others do not. We have named the least sum that we feel justified in encouraging emigration upon, where companies expect to travel with teams. The expense of emigrating by the wheelbarrow, hand- cart, and foot trains, we have not yet learned. After the reports of the numbers who intend emigrating are furnished us, which should be done by the first of November, those who can only furnish £10 or £20 per head will be advised in relation to their organization, the amount of means they will require to send with an agent to procure teams, &c. All teams furnished by the funds of their company, which will be about one to every ten or twelve persons, will still be the property of the company when then arrive in the Valley, to be divided among them in proportion to what each one has paid. Those who have more than is required to emigrate with, will do well to pay the debt they owe to the Lord. Pay him your tithes, as he requires of you, if you desire his favor, and would escape being arrested on the way by a messenger from another world, and called home to settle your accounts in a higher court. It is becoming very fashionable for travelers to pay insurance money when they start upon a journey; and we can confidently recommend the tithing office at 15, Wilton Street, as the only safe insurance office for the British Saints who leave this port on their way to Zion. Many of the Saints who have more than £10 would willingly give the overplus to assist a brother or sister; but of all such we would ask, have you paid the Lord what belongs to him? If not, what right have you to give that which is the Lord’s to another? Has he said that you might esteem a friend before him? In all these things be not deceived; but remember that friendship with the Lord is more than all the world without it. After you have done this, if you have any means to impart for the gathering of others, remember for the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund,” for means which are contributed there, not only emigrate the Saints now, but return and take others again and again; thus ZION’S TRUMPET. 331 corresponding with its name, and ultimately producing considerably more good in gathering the Saints, than is accomplished by giving means where they are consumed in the present emigration, and no return made of them for others. Those who will lay aside selfish, individual motives, according to the genius and spirit of the Gospel, and consult with their Presidents upon the use they should make of their means, will bring far more salvation to the Church and themselves. For this purpose were your Presidents given to you. We do not purpose in our communications to hold out inducements not to be realized, to encourage emigration. We write for those who are determined to go, feeling that it is a sacred duty, which they owe to God, to themselves, and their children after them. Those who go for any other motive, will be ill prepared to meet the trials of such an arduous journey. Where anything less than Eternity is in view, the spirit is not sufficiently exalted to brook the difficulties that lie before the Saints, to endure the rage of persecutors, or to meet undismayed the power of the destroyer that seeks for conquest on the earth. The murmuring spirits that infested the camp of Israel anciently, brought the wrath and indignation of God upon the people, and they long weltered under his curse because of it; and all such spirits who are ready to complain at the dealings of God, are not encouraged by us to accompany the camps of Israel who journey in the last days. They are a curse to any society who would live in peace. Their proper place is in Babylon while they remain in this world, and the regions of the damned when they go to the next. The Saints who gather, have every prospect of blessing before them that can be derived from the possession of the earth, air, fire, and water; which are free to all, and are gifts of God to men with which to supply their temporal wants; yet this will only prove a snare to them if they forget their God, and do not make all things which they control subserve the building up of His Kingdom upon the earth, to the glory of God, and the immortality and eternal life of man. S. W. Richards. 332 ZION’S TRUMPET.

PROCLAMATION!

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, OF EVERY NATION, KINDRED, AND TONGUE.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT, An Apostle of Jesus Christ. (From the Australian Edition, by Elder C. W. Wandell.) [Continued from page 315.]

CONTINUATION OF THE GENERAL ADDRESS, &c. We now solemnly predict, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that in a few years, the world shall bring together and compare ancient records, as sacred and as true as the words of Jesus Christ— as holy as the Bible; records which unfold the Gospel of the Son of God, revealed, at least, to three distinct nations of the earth, by his own ministry in his glorified body. We will also name these records; as follows:— Records of the Jews, (the Bible); written in Asia. Records of the remnant of Joseph, the Nephites, (Book of Mormon); written in America. Records of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel; country not yet revealed. These three national records will be familiarly known among the nations, in a few years; will be demonstrated as to their truth; and each of them will contain an account of the ministry of Jesus Christ to their respective countries, as he did really appear to them after his resurrection. The words which he spake, the doctrine he taught, the Gospel and ordinances he set forth and commanded, will be written in each record. In Judea, he chose and ordained twelve Apostles, viz., Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot. In America, he chose and ordained twelve Apostles, viz., Nephi, Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, Jonas, Zedekiah, and Isaiah. ZION’S TRUMPET. 333

In the country of the Ten Tribes, he, of course, chose other twelve, whose names will appear in due time. Besides these records of his personal ministry, there were many of other countries and nations (which held no communication with the nations where these administrations were had, and these quorums chosen), which received a knowledge of his death and resurrection, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. They have, also, written an account of the same. Now, all these records which are saved, and which contain the word of God, will come to light and be revealed. There is nothing hid which shall not be made known: neither is there anything secret which shall not be revealed, and come abroad, in connection with the “times of the restoration of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouths of all his holy Prophets since the world began.” “The Jews shall have the words of the Nephites; and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews. And the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost Tribes of Israel; and the lost Tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and of the Jews.” And thus the word of God shall be brought together and embodied. And the nations who have written it, shall be brought together and embodied also. And the things of all nations shall be revealed; and the earth be overwhelmed with the knowledge of the past, the present, and the future; and darkness, bigotry, superstition, and falsehoods of every description, shall flee away, as the fleeting shadow of a cloud, from off all the earth. The inquiry will be, What are the evidences upon which rests the truth of the Book of Mormon? To which we answer: Search the book and learn for yourselves. You will find— First—The testimony of the witnesses. Second—The consistency, harmony, and evident truthfulness of its history and prophecies. Third—The simplicity and purity of its doctrines. And last, and best of all—The Gift of the Holy Spirit of truth, 334 ZION’S TRUMPET. which bears witness to the heart of every honest, prayerful man, who desires to know and do the truth. Truth is light. Light is spirit. Light cleaveth unto light. Truth embraceth truth. Intelligence comprehendeth intelligence. Spirit recognizeth spirit. Like embraceth like in all spiritual things. These are some of the laws of nature in the spiritual world, and are as true, and as capable of demonstration, as any physical law of the universe. Two balls of quicksilver, placed in contact, immediately recognize and embrace each other. Two blazes of fire, placed in near proximity, will immediately spring toward each other and blend in one. Two drops of water placed upon a table, will remain in a round or globular form, until they are enlarged so as to expand their circles, when, as they mutually touch each other, they will instantly mingle and become one globular form. So it is in spiritual things. There is in every man a portion of the spirit of truth; a germ of light; a spiritual test or touchstone, which if strictly observed, studied, and followed by its possessor, will witness to him, and will, as it were, leap forward with a warm glow of joy and sympathy, to every truthful spirit with which it comes in contact; while by a shudder of disgust, it will recognize a false spirit, a lie. Call this spiritual magnetism, or what you please; it is so, and is a law of nature. Herein consists the mystery of the agency of man. This is the reason why a man is under condemnation for rejecting any spiritual truth, or for embracing any spiritual error. A man’s deeds are evil; his monitor is unheeded; his good angel, and the good spirit within, are grieved; and, after many admonitions which are not heeded, they retire, and leave him in the dark; he loves his own; he cleaves to a lie; he rejects the truth; darkness still increases; the world, the ZION’S TRUMPET. 335 flesh, and the evil demons allure him onward, till death closes the scene, and ushers his spirit from the rudimental state of man, into the next sphere, when his evil demons and companions in darkness surround him, and dwell with him; each contributes his portion of the darkness, till cloud mingled with cloud, envelops the whole in black despair, obscures the vision, forbids the eye to behold, the tongue to utter, or the pen to describe. On the other hand; a man’s deeds are good—as saith the Scriptures, “He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God”—he obeys his monitor within him; he welcomes to his bosom every true and holy principle within his reach; he puts it into practice, and seeks for more; his mind expands; the field of intelligence opens around, above, beneath him; wide and more widely extends the vision; the past, the present, the future, opens to his view; earth, with its tribes; heaven, with its planets and intelligences; the heaven of heavens, with its brilliant circles of suns, and their myriads of angels and sons of God, basking in sunbeams of pure intelligence, and streams of light and love; each adding to and mingling in the light of the other, till the whole enlightens the vast universe, both spiritual and physical; and the vision loses itself in its very immensity, on the confines of its own infinitude. Let a person look back on his past life, carefully review and examine the days of his innocent childhood, his first approaches to temptation, immorality, or crime. Does he not remember to have felt a disagreeable burning in his bosom, a disgust, a trembling of nerve and muscles, a hesitation, in short, a something disapproving of the act he was about to commit? And, if he still persisted, did not this burning and uneasy feeling increase almost to a fever. Well, reader, this was your monitor—the Spirit of God within you. Had you heeded it, it would have kept you from every temptation and crime. On the other hand, do you not remember, many times in the course 336 ZION’S TRUMPET.

of your life, a fire, a warm glow of joy, a pleasing burning or sensation of pure light and pleasure in your bosom, approving of a good act, or prompting you to do the same? in short, a feeling of pure good will, kind sympathy, and boundless love to all good intelligences, and to man?—a purifying of heart and sentiment, as if you would wish to do good continually, and never sin? They were the promptings of the spark of divinity within you. They were the teachings, inspirations, and whisperings of that light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It is sweeter than honey; more harmonious than music; more pure than the drops of dew on the roses of Paradise; more tender than the apple of thine eye; and more valuable than the gold of Australia. Blessed are they who cultivate and nourish it in their bosoms, and carry it out in their lives; for it is an emanation from the fountain of eternal life; and those who follow up from whence it came, will arrive at that fountain, as surely as a sunbeam leads upward to the centre of light. (To be continued.)

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH IN WALES, Which was held in Merthyr, October 4, 1852.

Opened by prayer at half past ten in the morning, by President W. S. Phillips. Then the President proposed that R. Morris be the scribe, and seconded by Thos. Giles. Carried. Then Hymn 111 was sung, “Thy Spirit, &c.” President Phillips addressed the Council, saying, “Brethren, there are many things I have to tell you before adjourning today. One thing in particular about which we need to decide is the Trumpet, for it is a means too small to contain all the ongoing news; and it is a matter for us to consider, namely whether to publish it weekly, or else to expand it. It is a great blessing for every nation to have a publication in their own language, which is absolutely indispensable. In the way the Star and the Trumpet are coming out now, the one cancels out the influence of the other. There is great negligence ZION’S TRUMPET. 337 among the Saints, by their not reading the Trumpet, and there are many officers who are guilty of this, and there is a great need to show this to everyone, because I am aware of some who hardly ever read it. Our duty toward the Star and the Trumpet is to respect the one and disrespect the other; just as there are many, as they are in the society of high officers of this Church, such as apostles, &c., are prompt to disregard those who are in lower offices. In the Conference yesterday I intended to teach about this very special principle; the obedience of the Saints results from love, and not from the fear of those who preside over them. There has never been in the Church in Wales such obedience as there is at present, for which I am very glad.” He showed that if a Conference President were to give counsel in a Conference or in some other place, and a Branch President were to give contradictory counsel, that obedience is always to be given to the highest authorities; and if some commotion were to happen concerning that again, he explained the manner of acting properly. One should not run to the Conference President first, rather one should speak lovingly with the Branch President, and tell him that what he taught was contrary to that which the Conference President taught; and then, no doubt, that person will thank the one who has approached him in this way; then the love between them will increase. Then he described the danger, on the other hand, of taking a different approach. He said,—“Brethren, see to it that this principle is taught in your conferences to the brothers and sisters, for this is a special one, and it is impossible to come to a unity of the faith without it. And if such a thing as this takes place, it is necessary for such a one to pull back such a teaching, and to do so publicly, if there is danger in the matter; this will not cause any harm on the good influence of such; all would be glad to obey at the time of such a thing, unless it is very dangerous, if only they are determined to convince them at the end of the counsel. But no one should obey if such teaching or counsel is different from the authorities and the revelations. If I happen to teach something against that which is in the Star, or some other place by the authorities of this Church, which thing is shown to me, O how grateful I shall be; no one should fear to act in this manner; and this is not opposition to the priesthood, 338 ZION’S TRUMPET. rather it is very orderly. Let no one write to me or tell me, if a Conference President happens to say something out of place; rather speak with him first in accordance with the procedure I have already noted. And if that Conference President continues to oppose, then make a higher appear; this is necessary among the Saints. Let no one be angry if there is some brother who refuses to be convinced. I ask for obedience to———. To what? That is the point. Well, says some Branch President, there is a man, kill him—there is a shop, go in and steal—there is a woman, commit adultery with her. Things like these are very unusual, and no one should act on them, because they are contrary to the revelations of God in this age; but there are some who have so much zeal, that were their President to tell them to kill, steal, get drunk, or commit adultery, they would do so immediately. But those things should not be, as they are contrary to the authorities, and also the epistles; for we receive counsels continually from the authorities and the apostles to look to the Doc. and Cov., and to act according to such; if there is something that is not in that book or another book, ask a question. One other thing; because we are like some in the same kingdom, and open to failings, if I have a failing, I hope that no one will take that as an example; and no one should follow the example of their Presidents in any bad way, but only give example that all should follow. No one is perfect in this Church; consequently, we must look where we put our feet down. Then a hymn was sung, “It is lovely to dwell with the Saints, &c.” (To be continued.)

BLESSING.

Dear Brother Phillips,—I should like to have an explanation on one subject, if you please, by means of the Trumpet. Is it all right for the Saints to request that a brother they do not know, such as a Conference President, give them a blessing, &c.? Having an answer to this question would be a great satisfaction to many besides myself. I have heard talk among the Saints and the officers, and that is what prompted me to ask the question. R. V. M. ZION’S TRUMPET. 339

As far as my understanding goes in relation to the blessing of the Saints, that is the office of the Patriarch, and he has given permission to the Twelve, and to other special persons that preside in various nations. President Orson Pratt has written in the Star, and has declared the following,—“When I first came to this country, I observed a practice among the Saints that was completely erroneous, namely the laying of hands on them to bless them.” That should not be, except when there is a genuine need, except on persons who are being set apart for some mission. I myself observed brother Pratt refuse to bless conference presidents. Nor was President F. D. Richards willing to administer this ordinance, unless when there was a genuine need. But President Taylor was quite free in this regard; but that did not give anyone else the right. Lorenzo Snow was here, and he refused to administer to anyone. I advise the Saints to trust in the President of their Conference, and to acknowledge that he has more blessings for them than anyone else, except for those who preside over him. If a man came from heaven, I would not believe that he has more blessings for the Church in Wales, than the one who has been appointed, unless he presided over him. W. S. Phillips.

SLEEPING IN A WORSHIP SERVICE. A totally lifeless and ugly custom,—it is an unpleasant step, To sleep in a worship service; To our God, it is better to give a hearing— His will is for our benefit. In all parts it is a shame for anyone—to put himself At the door of eternity; This is also foolish, with no Modesty, rather a form of godliness. Alas! preaching is quite confining—amusing To men who sleep; They choose not the protection of Jesus,— This kills hosts of his servants. Let the unfortunate slackers who sleep—be delivered, With a vigorous pinch, To awaken them, the unproductive ones, To bear fruit today once again. Nantygwenith, Merthyr. W. R. Abraham. 340 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Let your prayers be as frequent as your needs, and your thanks as frequent as your blessings. Do not speak well of anyone who is undeserving,—that is nothing but poor flattery; do not speak well of yourself, no matter how deserving you may be, lest you are tempted to vainglorying; but may a good conscience be more valuable in your sight than the best praise. TO THE WOMEN OF THE SNUFF. Alas, snuff! this is an ugly creature,—and a completely Unsightly evil for women; The odor of her nostril is truly unpleasant, It stinks from afar. Its existence is a surprise,—for destruction, An increase in wealth;—it is shameful That young women are free Daily with no criticism of this. Cap Coch. J. P. Prosser.

Payments from October 1 to October 14.—Monmouthshire, £22; North Pembroke, £1; Merionethshire, £3 1s; Dinas, £1 1s 1½c; Llanilltyd, 10s; Llanfabon, 9s; Cwmbach; £1 3s; Pendeulwyn, 8s 6c; Twynyrodyn, 15s 3c; Llandaf, 4s; Eglwysnewydd, 9s; Cowbridge, 6s; Cardiff, £1; Aberdare, 10s; Aberamman, £1 10s; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Cwmnedd, 7s 6½c; Rhymney, £1 0s 6c; Georgetown, 9s; Merthyr, 19s; Pendaren, 7s 1c; Gwernllwyn, £1 13s 2c.—Total, £39 6s 5c. President Simms, of the Anglesey Conference, wishes it to be known that Hugh Jones, a seller of varnish, &c., has been cut off from the Church, together with his wife. We wish to notify our readers that the Pearl of Great Price is ready, price 1s 2c., and that it is by now in the hands of many of the Saints. It will be seen that it contains more than the English printing, and for close to the same price. We do not think that any of the Saints should be without a copy. Book of Mormon.—There is now a supply of this valuable book bound in handsome leather, and gilt-edged pages, and binding done in Wales. We wish for our poetic brethren, if they want us to see their Hymns, to send them here without delay; otherwise they will be sorry, when they are too late. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 22.] OCTOBER 30, 1852. [VOL. I V.

ProClamation! TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, OF EVERY NATION, KINDRED, AND TONGUE.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT, An Apostle of Jesus Christ. (From the Australian Edition, by Elder C. W. Wandell.) (Continued from page 336.)

ON LAWS AND GOVERNMENTS. Having borne our testimony, as a faithful and true witness of the Gospel, and of things past, present, and to come; we will now give some information on the subject of the laws and governments of men, and the duties we owe to them, and the duties we sustain to them, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ in all the world. Every government of man is permitted by the Lord, and is needful, until he reign whose right it is to reign; and until he subdue all enemies under his feet. We are not sent forth to revolutionize the world in a political sense; but to warn the world of approaching events, instruct the ignorant, and call sinners to repentance. The laws of every land will be our law, in a civil and political sense of the word. We are in duty bound to obey magistrates, judges, rulers, 22 342 ZION’S TRUMPET.

governors, and kings, who have the legitimate rule in the various countries where we live, or where we travel, or sojourn. If the spirit of modern European and American institutions, pertaining to liberty of conscience and a free interchange of intercourse, thought, and speech, marches onward from conquest to conquest; and thus opens the way for all nations to diffuse their light, and interchange their knowledge; then, let us rejoice in the same, and improve the opportunity to declare the testimony of Jesus, and publish the Gospel of salvation, the good news of eternal life, wherever the foot of man has made an imprint; wherever sorrow, and tears, and mourning, and death, have cast their shadows of despair. If the still advancing improvements in steam navigation, in railroad conveyance, and electric communication, follow universally in the wake of freedom’s triumphs and conquests; then, O ye Saints of the Most High! Ye Elders and Apostles of Israel,

Let fly your thoughts on the lightning car, With the speed of light to the realms afar. Mount, mount the car with the horse of fire, Outstrip the wind, he is splendidly tireless. Let the wild bird scream as he lags behind, And may the hurricane fail to fly to follow you; All the dark places of the earth, O search; With a voice of thunder the tidings tell. Proclaim the dawn of a brighter day, The King of kings will throughout the world reign, Bid pain, and anguish, and sorrow to flee, And grief and tribulation soon to cease. And open the way for the Prince of Peace, He will conquer death in power and majesty; Bid sorrow flee from the dwelling places, And give to all the nations a blessed Jubilee. Trans. Dewi Elfed.

As you travel from one nation to another, you will find their laws, religions, ordinances, ceremonies, institutions, domestic arrangements, marriages, &c., &c., widely clashing, and at variance with each other and with the laws of God. ZION’S TRUMPET. 343

But, remember that yours is a universal commission, of peace on earth and good will to man. Yours is a proclamation of universal reformation and repentance. You are sent forth, as the ambassadors of the King—the Lord Jesus Christ, to command all persons who have arrived to the years of accountability, to repent and be baptized in his name for the remission of sins. You are sent forth to administer the Gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands in the same holy name. You are sent forth to bear witness of the truth of this dispensation, and of a crucified and risen Savior. You are sent forth to prophesy, and warn the world of things to come. You are sent forth to lay your hands on the little children of the members of the Church, and bless them, and confirm upon them their Christian names, as members and heirs of the covenant of promise. You are sent forth to baptize the nations, and thus prepare the way for the coming of the Son of God. You are sent forth to lay your hands on the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the afflicted of every description, who believe in your testimony, and have faith to be healed; yea, verily, to lay your hands on them, and anoint them in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You are sent forth to command demons, devils, and unclean and foul spirits of every kind, in the name of Jesus Christ, to depart from the tabernacles of persons afflicted by them. You are sent forth to preach deliverance to the captive, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to comfort all who mourn; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. You are not sent forth to intermeddle with the civil, political, or domestic institutions, established by law, and rendered sacred by antiquity, or long established usage; except in so far as those institutions come in contact with liberty of conscience, and the commandments of Jesus Christ. When the latter is the case, you must obey God rather than man, and take the consequences, or flee to another place. P. P. P ratt, President of the Pacific Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Translated by Morgan Jenkins, Cefn.) 344 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH IN WALES, Which was held in Merthyr, October 4, 1852. [Continued from page 336.]

Then the President called for the consideration of the council to the subject, namely the Books. He said it was a pity that the Saints were not as diligent with the books, as they are with the Emigrating Fund, but that they must be so. That which President F. D. Richards said to him before leaving, was this:—“If some branch or conference refuses to pay for their books, send no more to them: that is the only way to bring them to their senses, and to have them try if they can to live without them.” Then he mentioned the rule established relating to the Star and the Trumpet—that the Star was once 2½c. each, and that the brethren in England who were taking the Star, are now taking three for 3c., a halfpenny more to get three. Further, he said he had decided to insist on clearing the book debts before the end of this year. The Emigrating Fund sermon has been taught sufficiently long by now, and it has been planted sufficiently deep in the Saints’ hearts, and now the books are the main thing. No man can succeed, if he does not strive to pay his debt for books; for they belong to the Lord, and the Lord is requesting his pay for them. Also, it is necessary for all the presidents to see that all the Saints are in possession of the books of the church. This is important, for there is a great abundance of volumes of Trumpet, Book of Mormon, Doc. and Cov., &c., still on hand; and all should purchase books for their children and relatives, for they will yet be sought after; yes, I can say that they will be sought after following the resurrection, and children will be asking their parents for books, even at that time. Therefore, the branches and the conferences which have the Trumpet, &c., on hand, should have the brethren who receive one, to receive two, and three, of each issue. There are many who ask brother Richard Morris if it is possible to stop the Stars, &c., when in fact they could distribute as many others as they are now taking, if they wished to do so. There are many who receive one, who could receive three; and those who receive three, are quite capable of receiving six. Well, ZION’S TRUMPET. 345 this is the way to distribute them, together with all other books. The old custom of selling books to the Saints is very elementary. Do not ask someone how many do you want, but say, “Now, brother, you are capable of receiving such and such; come now, take such and such.” Had I taught like this three or four years ago, you would have fled as fast as you could go out through that door. Well, there is a danger of going to extremes with every principle. Many say they cannot receive a single Star in their branch, when they can receive a dozen. President Phillips proposed, and seconded by President Pugh, that every conference president pay his book debt before the end of this year. Carried by the raising of hands. Then President Pugh spoke, as follows:—“Brethren, I feel very happy here, and I feel that that which President Phillips has said is of benefit for us all, and that this kingdom is contained not only in prayers, but in deeds according to the counsels given. He has shown the way for the Saints to receive nourishment and strength, namely by having the conference presidents tell the branch presidents, who then tell the distributors, and they tell the Saints; then everything is carried forward in an organized fashion; and the officers should not fear to carry forth the counsels. The greater a man becomes in this Church, the greater will be his reward and his glory in the world. And with a look at receiving two or three Trumpets each time, that is not too many, and it is necessary. Also, it is necessary for us to look after the book distributors, so that they do not send books to those who refuse to pay; and from now on I am determined that there will not be any branch in this conference, that will receive books if they do not pay for them, and the distributor will need to be accountable, if he allows some to receive books without payment. President Phillips proposed, and seconded by President Davis, that brother Dewi Elfed Jones meet with brothers Davis and Morris to learn from them the way to keep accounts of the books, so that he can show that to those conferences and branches where he goes. Carried. All the presidents of conferences arose to express their feelings in relation to the Trumpet, and all of them are in favor of its coming out weekly. 346 ZION’S TRUMPET.

President Phillips arose and said if that is the way it is to be, it will be required for all to have more faith. He expressed his own feelings about having it come out weekly; and if its circulation is to increase, its contents will need to be increased. Then President Phillips proposed, and seconded by President Pugh, that the Trumpet come out each week from the beginning of next year. Carried. Then President Davis spoke, and said that he was willing to have the Trumpet out each week, and on time, despite everything, as he had done theretofore; and he wished for them to have faith to sell it; also, he was glad to see the determination of the council to pay book debts. That will be a great blessing to the Church, and very satisfactory to him and Presidents Phillips and Pugh, for it will be much better for them to pay cash to the Church, in settling accounts at the end of the year, than to present debt in their place. He showed that it is faith that is needed to sell books, as with all other things. He said that he has on hand a great many Books of Mormon, Doc. and Cov., belonging to the Church, and they need to be sold, so that we can benefit the Church. Consequently, it makes no difference to whom they are sold, if they will but pay for them, and it makes no difference if they burn them after buying them, but he would prefer that each one receive benefit, enlightenment, and salvation through them. He said that the Hirwaun branch was the only one that had cleared its debt before the balance sheet was drawn up, and he showed that that is what every branch should have done. He closed by wishing God’s blessing on all present. Amen. President Phillips proposed, and seconded by President Pugh, that every branch from now on have three ciphers opposite their names like the Hirwaun branch. He requested all the Presidents to look as soon as they return to their conferences to determine how many books are on hand with the distributors, and see to it that they are sold. This will be a great relief to the Distributors. Also, in relation to the resolution made in Liverpool to receive a hundred copies of the Book of Mormon of every language, he told the presidents not to be surprised were they to see those books coming to them without having ordered them; but let them have the faith to sell them immediately to the branches. Also he said for everyone to understand that not one conference president, or traveling elder, was ZION’S TRUMPET. 347 to emigrate at the expense of the Emigrating Fund, but that every conference was to do as much as that for them: and if there are those in your conferences who have money, and are willing to render assistance to you, be sure to inform me of that, so that I may give direction in the matter. And from now on there is to be no lending, and bothering to give receipts, and making agreements, &c., about the time to pay it back. And those who wish to give such, let them give, and not expect anything back. Brother Shurtleff (from the Valley) addressed the council briefly in English. He said that he was glad to see such a good influence in our midst, and to understand that we had organized a plan concerning the Trumpet; he said that he feels the same way we do, and that it is much better to be nourished weekly, rather than every fortnight. It will be of more benefit to us, and we will feel more enthused by reading the Trumpet, and by the time we finish reading one, another is available right away, and through that we will be able to continue to maintain our enthusiasm. He said that all of us will be tried and tested as was Abraham of old; consequently, no one should have too much of his mind on anything that is in this world; otherwise, it is quite likely that we will fail to endure the test. He said that he knew of some who kept their entire focus on their temporal matters, and when seeing a brother or sister in need, and not helping, they were forced to suffer because of that. He said a little in relation to governing, and about the obedience of the wife to her husband; and there is no need to govern those who keep the commandments of God, because such govern themselves. He counseled all to strive to understand everything, without going through the test themselves; and all who cannot do so, will have to put themselves in the harness, to learn by experience; and all who are not willing, will have to be governed, &c. President Phillips arose, and said the time was gone, and that it was time to close, and he said he was very grateful to all for their kindness and their good comportment. Several songs were sung by Brother Thomas Edwards, and then the meeting was closed with prayer by President Davis. W. S. Phillips, President, Richard Morris, Scribe. 348 ZION’S TRUMPET.

REMARKS OF W. GIBSON ON THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[Continued from page 320.]

I shall now turn to the doctrines taught in the Book of Mormon, and look at some objections raised against them. The Rev. Alex. Campbell, in his “Analysis of the Evidences of the Book of Mormon,” page 14, says, “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 an high priesthood; and priesthood he gave to Levi, and the high priesthood to Aaron and his sons for an everlasting priesthood; then, says God, Moses shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office, and the stranger (the person of another family) who cometh nigh, shall be put to death.” (Numbers iii, 10). In the 18th chapter of Numbers, the Levites are again given to Aaron and his sons, and the priesthood confirmed to them with this threat, “The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Yes, even Jesus, says Paul, were he on earth, could not be a priest, for he was of a tribe concerning which Moses spake nothing of priesthood. (Heb. vii, 13). Thus, so irrevocable was the grant of the priesthood to Levi and the high priesthood to Aaron, that no stranger dared approach the altar of God which Moses established. Hence Jesus himself was excluded from officiating as priest on earth, according to the laws. Joseph Smith overlooked this, in his impious fraud, and makes his hero, Lehi, to spring from Joseph, and just as soon as his sons return with the roll of his lineage, ascertaining that he was of the tribe of Joseph, he and his sons acceptably “offer sacrifice and burnt offerings to the Lord.” “They build a Temple in the New World, and in 55 years after they leave Jerusalem, make a priesthood, which God approbates. A high priest is also consecrated; and yet they are all the while teaching the law of Moses, and exhorting the people to keep it (pages 146, 209). Thus God is represented as instituting, approbating, and blessing a new priesthood from the tribe of Joseph, concerning which Moses gave no commandment concerning priesthood. Although God had ZION’S TRUMPET. 349 promised in the law of Moses, that if any man, not of the tribe and family of Levi and Aaron, should approach the office of priest, he would surely die; yet he is represented by Smith as blessing, approbating, and sustaining another family in this appropriated office. The God of Abraham, or the God of Joseph Smith must then be a liar; and who will hesitate to pronounce him an imposter! and this lie runs through his records for the first six hundred years of his story.” It is really wonderful to see the ignorance of Mr. Campbell, concerning what is recorded in the Bible; and he at the same time the leader of a religious society. He commences by telling us that the Book of Mormon is based upon a false fact: the wise man said there was nothing new under the sun; but I think, when Mr. Campbell discovered a false fact, he found something that the wise man never dreamed of; and therefore, he may justly claim to be the discoverer, if not the author and sole proprietor of the same at the same time; unless, indeed, it may be a necessary ingredient in his religious views; in that case, he will have others to share the honor with him. And what is this false fact? it is clearly this; he says that God gave the priesthood to Levi and Aaron for an everlasting priesthood, and so irrevocable was the grant of this priesthood, that any stranger of another family who should dare to offer sacrifice should die. Hence, Christ himself was excluded from officiating as a priest on earth, according to the law, and, therefore, if God did approbate the offering of one of the house of Joseph, when he officiated as a priest, as the Book of Mormon says, it would make God a liar. And so Mr. Campbell has discovered that Christ could not be a priest on earth, and yet in the same chapter, (Heb. vii, 15), we are told he is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek; so, then, he was a priest on earth, but after a different order from that of Aaron, and what is the difference of these priesthoods? The priesthood of Levi and Aaron belonged to a certain family and tribe, who could claim this priesthood by descent through father and mother, but the priesthood which Christ had, Paul tells us in Heb. (vii, 3), does not come by descent, for it is without descent, or without reference to 350 ZION’S TRUMPET. father or mother: therefore, although Christ sprang from Judah, to which tribe Moses promised no priesthood, yet still he was a priest, but of another and more exalted order than that of Aaron, the order of Melchizedek. And would it make God a liar, if he should approbate the priesthood of one belonging to the tribe of Joseph? Mr. Campbell says so; let us see what the Bible says in Judges (vi, 11); there we are told that an angel came with a message to Gideon; but who is Gideon? What does the angel tell him to do? In the 15th verse we are told that he belongs to a poor family in Manasseh, and from the 25th to the 28th verse, we are told that he is commanded by God to build an altar, and offer “burnt offerings, or sacrifices to the Lord.” What a pity that Mr. Campbell was not there to put the Lord right, and prevent him from making himself a liar; for you know, Mr. Campbell, this was after the days of Moses; and he gave no commandment concerning priesthood to the seed of Joseph, you say; and if, according to your logic, his approbating the priesthood, or accepting the sacrifice offered by one of the seed of Joseph in America, either proves God to be a liar, or the Book of Mormon false, for saying he did so, will not the same rule apply to the Bible? why, sir, by your own rule, you are bound to do one of two things, either declare God to be a liar, or the Bible a fable. Mr. Campbell calls Joseph Smith an ignorant and impudent liar; but I think the man who could make assertions like the above, can be left to be judged by every honest man, who will not rob him of his right, but give him the honor of the titles he has conferred on Joseph Smith. But to show his utter ignorance of the scripture on this point, I will quote a passage or two. Paul, in Heb. v. 4, speaking of the Aaronic Priesthood, says, “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” From this passage we learn first, that no man has a right to take this honor on himself, and secondly, that if God should call any man as he did Aaron, viz., by revelation, that he has a perfect right to that which God had called him to perform. ZION’S TRUMPET. 351

God made a covenant with Aaron and the tribe of Levi, so that if a man could prove he sprang from them, he could claim the Priesthood by descent, and no stranger of another family had a right to administer in the priest’s office, except he was called of God as Aaron was; and if God did call a man of the seed of Joseph, as he did Gideon, of the seed of Manasseh, or Manoah of the tribe of Dan (see Judges xiii, 2, and 16), and others in the land of Canaan, or Lehi and Nephi in the land of America, it neither makes God a liar, nor yet the Bible or the Book of Mormon false. On the 16th page of his book, Mr. Campbell says he (Joseph Smith), has more of the Jews living in the New World than could have been numbered anywhere else, even in the days of John the Baptist, and has placed them under a new dynasty; the scepter with him has departed from Judah, &c., a lawgiver from among his descendants hundreds of years before Shiloh came; and king Benjamin is a wiser and more renowned king than king Solomon. He seems to have gone upon an adage which says, “The more marvelous, the more credible the tale, and the less of fact, and the more of fiction, the more intelligible and reasonable the narrative.” We have here another specimen of the ignorance of the Rev. Alex. Campbell; how does he know how many of the children of Israel were on the earth in the days of John the Baptist? One would think he had got a revelation concerning the lost ten tribes—of their numbers, revelations and dynasty; and if the taking away of one family, and setting them up into a separate government or kingdom, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, made the scepter depart from Judah, and a lawgiver from his descendants, what would the taking away of ten tribes from the son of Solomon, and setting them up as a separate kingdom, as recorded in the Bible, do? why, prove God a liar, by Mr. Campbell’s logic. Trans. Thomas Job. [We wish to inform that these are the last remarks of Elder Gibson, and it is a pity he did not write more. But since Elder Orson Pratt has published so much on the same topic, our readers can be further edified by using his work.—Editor.] 352 ZION’S TRUMPET.

LETTER FROM POTTSVILLE, AMERICA. Pottsville, August 14, 1852.

My Dear Brethren,—I take this present opportunity to greet you from America, hoping that you receive this in your happiness and good health, as we continue to have, through the kindness of our Heavenly Father. I hereby inform you that I have had the privilege of obeying the holy laws and ordinances of the eternal God. I was baptized into the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday evening, the 18th of July. I am happy and pleased to be able to testify that I know that I am in the only true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth, and there are many temporal and spiritual things that prove clearly to me that this is it; and I am determined, in the strength of my God, to continue in it to the end; and I wish to receive from you, O Saints, the assistance of your prayers in my behalf, and for my part I shall seek to remember you in my prayers to our Heavenly Father. I would love to speak with you face to face to tell you of my troubles, and to testify to one another of the remarkable grace and blessings of our God. But I hope that it will not be too long before we can meet in Zion, never to be separated again, but rejoicing together and glorifying Christ our eternal head. This is my wish and my prayer in Jesus Christ, Amen. There are around ten or twelve brethren and sisters gathering together in this place to worship our God, through his Son, and we have the presence of his face strengthening us with the spiritual gifts, according to his promise to his Saints. We are led in this small branch by our dear brother Thomas Richards, who came from Merthyr Tydfil about five years ago. We do not get to hear any news from Salt Lake now, but what news we do receive from there comes from the letters we sometimes receive from the Saints, and occasionally the Trumpet. The coal works continue forward successfully here this summer, and there is plenty of work for all who wish it; the wages are generally from 6 to 8 dollars per week. Please give my fond regards to all the Saints, and let all of them know of this letter. Give my fond regards to my uncle ZION’S TRUMPET. 353

Lewis, and aunt Jane, his wife, and all the children, and all who may inquire about me. I wish for you to write back as soon as possible, and give a little broader account of the Church, such as how many of you there are, and who has left to go to Zion, &c. Also I wish for you, if you deem these few lines appropriate, to publish them in the Trumpet, so that my whole family throughout Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Sirhowy, Tredegar, &c., can have the opportunity to know that I am a worker in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ; and I hope that these few awkward lines will have a refreshing influence on some to come to wage war under the banner of our Lord Jesus Christ: this is my wish and my prayer in his name. Amen. I am, your dear brother and your obedient servant in the gospel, Richard Richards.

THE GATHERING.

Tune—“Denis March.”

What is the tremendous news I hear, Does the Lord in my day, Wish to get a splendid and dear host, To his house from the true faith? Is giving a generous harvest of a splendid country, In his mind and intent, For the widow and orphan, and a lift to the sad! Oh, yes, that is the purpose, And the point of the gathering; God out of his enormous love, Continually protects his Saints: To his home, from the presence of all evil, From the sight of terrible Babel, He brings them speedily, To his fold by his power: When the plagues come swarming over all lies, At that time some will experience what are the woes of God; Paying for their transgressions, their eyes will fall out of their sockets, They will wish for the release of death, but he will say “you must live!” 354 ZION’S TRUMPET.

At that time the Valleys will be, To the saints like heaven, And their flocks and their herds, And their festivals of peace and their feasts, While there are sun, moon and stars, and a pure and tender Lord, And live forever happy, in the land of the sweet muse. The gentle charm that My God has in my day, Will lure happy hosts to that land, Whose breasts now are filled with sadness; In order to be sheltered by the Savior, And receive of the fruit of his love, According to every portent, and intent of the family of faith: There we shall have our heart’s content, And fine, toothsome delicacies, Without the mixture of sour leaves, On holy mount Zion; All are fair, no one is poor, Nor will a brother have wearisome misfortune, The teaching of the heaven of heavens, And the hosts there will be one. O welcome, blessed day, a splendid long day of summer, When we shall have the wonderful bliss, of the purest in our land; Good Lord, open the heart, of each one of the gentry, To give of their yellow gold, to the faithful saints of heaven, To put it in the Emigrating Fund, To carry us from here, Across the deep to California, According to the counsel of Jehovah: As does the hen, bidding every chick, under her gentle and fair wing, To keep them from showers, and storms of every kind. Graig-ddu. John Richards.

VERSES. The blessed time is drawing nigh, Jesus will soon reign From sea to sea, in everlasting peace, From the rising to the setting of the sun. ZION’S TRUMPET. 355

The stone cut without hands, In the mighty kingdom will soon come; The idol and its great glory, Will be ground like dust to the ground. All the traditions of the world now, And the refuge of the great deceit of the enemy, The day of persecution has come for them, They dare not hide anywhere. The distant isles will come before long To possess and embrace the truth; And the deceit of places across the earth, Has expanded the day of the heavenly dawn. Like the light of day from yonder east, Becomes stronger and stronger in its radiance; May the coming of the Son of Man—amen, says my dear soul, Be in the same way. O come, blessed day, To set free the beloved of God; The brilliance of thy swift coming Will cause my heart to rejoice. Down, down Babylon will come, The thrones of the world falling before them; Violence and oppression will be no more, And the children of captivity will be set free. All the kingdoms of this earth, The proud crowns of the whole world, The empires, despite their size, Will all come into the possession of the saints. The saints will be free from the great affliction, Not one will be seen weeping now; Their sighs are now songs, And their profound sorrow will turn to rejoicing. The groans of the saints, and all their grief, Will be heard no more—all will be gone forever; Heaven and earth will be glad, And the worlds will rejoice. Dewi Elfed.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Do not develop the custom of speaking a lot, and ponder before you speak; do not suffer your tongue to run before your senses and your judgment; if the heart does not premeditate, the tongue will necessarily be rash. 356 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Let us give careful notice to the good virtues in which our enemies excel over us, and let us strive to excel over them by avoiding that which is blameworthy, and emulating that which is praiseworthy in them.

Do not disregard your inferiors in temporal things; for perhaps they excel over you in mental gifts.

It has been correctly noted, that the atheist is the most credulous man in the world in one respect, since he believes that the universe was brought into existence through the effect of an accident.

VERSES. O dear brothers and sisters, It is so lovely to meet you in peace; And those who have a pure heart, Can show a cheerful countenance.

Whosoever embraces violence and treachery, Cannot live in harmony with, Or ever please our Heavenly Father; He is a hell unto himself. Georgetown. Mary-Ann.

Payments from October 15 to October 28.—Monmouthshire, £3; Llanelli, £9 12s 6c; Dyffryn Conway, 15s 3c; Denbighshire, £3; Dinas, 8s; Llanilltyd, 10s; Pontypridd, £1; Aberamman, 17s; Hirwaun, £1; Georgetown, 15s 9½c; Merthyr, 10s; Cefn, 17s 2c; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 9c; Troedyrhiw, 1s 7c.—Total, £22 11s 0½c. Conferences of the North.—The Flintshire Conference will be held on the 7th of November; Denbighshire, on the 21st; Dyffryn Conwy, on the 28th; Anglesey, on the 5th of December; and Merionethshire, on the 12th.

Emigrating.—All who intend to emigrate at the beginning of the year, must send their deposit, their age, occupation, address, &c., to President Phillips, without delay.

Error.—On page 327 of our last number, the word “feet” escaped in place of “inch,” in some printings when describing the sizes of boxes for emigrating. We hope that no one has made boxes of the sizes noted (by carelessness of the “printer’s d——l”), lest they be tempted to insist on having masts for them, and try to emigrate in their boxes, and thus be a surprise to all the fish of the sea! Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 23.] NOVEMBER 13, 1852. [VOL. I V.

PRiesthood.

Men in their ambition have ever sought for power, to rule and to exercise a controlling influence over their fellow men; and generally but little regard has been had to the way and means by which they have come into possession of such power, neither when obtained, has it been always used with an eye single to the benefit or salvation of mankind. The desire, we admit, is a very natural one, from the fact that man is designed by God, and capacitated in his organization to be a ruler in a greater or lesser degree in the many grades that exist, from having rule over his own passions, propensities, and person, to that of a family, tribe, community or society, a state or nation, an empire or a kingdom; and even his ambition may aspire to rule the world, or like God, peradventure, to sway the scepter of unnumbered worlds. All power is not immediately derived from the same source, but all legitimate right of Government is in the Priesthood of God. Tyrants and usurpers, under the titles of Emperors, Kings, and Presidents, have dominion upon the earth, which has been obtained, and is maintained, by the sword and by blood, all of which is a usurpation of power, gained by might, and not by right. The very sound of the word Priesthood, to every man who has a correct idea of the government of God, imparts a sensation that 23 358 ZION’S TRUMPET. either elevates his soul with joy, or if he feels its influence is not within his reach, it abandons him to despair. It implies a divine right to govern and control, exercised by God, and imparted to whom He will; and when held by man under His approbation, is superior to every other power, and therefore cannot virtually be called in question by any other. This right of government is so secured that no man can take the honor or power thereof unto himself, for God calls whom He will, and confers it upon him in His own appointed way; hence no man can obtain it without believing and confessing that there is a medium of immediate communication between him and his God; and all men who are called as was Aaron, by direct revelation, and ordained unto the Holy Priesthood, are ordained for men, in things pertaining to God, that reconciliation may be brought to pass. By this we learn that the Priesthood administers in a perfect organization or government, because it is the government ordained and upheld by a perfect Being: it is a holy and just authority, because it administers in things pertaining to God, and partakes of the virtue of all His attributes. It is reasonable, then, for us to conclude that God would require obedience and respect to be paid to His government wherever found, and that those who hold the Priesthood should be recognized as His messengers. Upon a point so self-evident, we have no need to reason further to authorize us to remark, that in the administration of a perfect law, there must be perfect obedience to that law, on the part of the subjects who are governed by it; otherwise there is a violation of the law, which must be atoned for by the transgressor: if it were not so, the honor of the law would not be maintained; but the law of God, being perfect, not only provides for the salvation of all through mercy, but it is also armed with justice, that its supremacy may be maintained by meting out a just recompense to the transgressor. This Priesthood is now among men upon the earth, and is in successful operation for their salvation. The King himself, who holds all power in this Priesthood, was upon the earth more than eighteen hundred years ago, and desired to reign by virtue of it, but mankind ZION’S TRUMPET. 359 would not suffer him. He was holy, but men were so wicked they could not appreciate his goodness, nor his power; therefore they destroyed him, and would not suffer him to live upon the earth. And what was the result? That same holy power and saving influence which he possessed he conferred upon men, who were not so perfect as himself, and ordained them to be the medium of his power, that peradventure their labors and ministrations might be more adapted to the low, groveling, and degraded condition of those who were to receive them, and because of it, be better appreciated than His labors and motives were. The minds of men generally are not capacitated to receive the ministrations of perfect beings; hence each grade of intelligences is administered unto by the next above in capacity, power, and glory, like unto the way of life to a Saint, which is from grace to grace, and from faith to faith, living by that which is in part until that which is perfect shall come. When the government of God is thoroughly established upon the earth, through the immediate agency of men and angels under God’s own supervision, and has so far gained the supremacy over contending powers, that the King’s person can be safe among men, and be duly honored by them, then will he again come to reign, and bring in that which is perfect; then shall a universal day of peace and righteousness be enjoyed by those who inherit the earth; for the King has decreed that all who cannot abide and honor the perfect administration of his laws in that day, shall be destroyed from off the earth. According to examples which are recorded in sacred writ, and which have actually been witnessed by many of the Saints of the present dispensation, men are called to receive the Priesthood, and in virtue of it, perform a certain work for which they seem adapted, and afterwards they are suffered to dishonor that Priesthood by using the influence which they have gained, to lead others astray; and thereby dishonor and reproach have at times been brought upon those who considered it a duty to listen to their counsel. By being enabled thus to accomplish their covetous, lustful, and unlawful ends, they have brought disgrace and suffering upon others, incurred the wrath of 360 ZION’S TRUMPET.

God and the disapprobation of His people upon themselves, and the power of the Priesthood has altogether departed from them, for its virtue will not abide with those who violate its laws. Because of these facts, and the apparent imperfections of men on whom God confers authority, the question is sometimes asked,— to what extent is obedience to those who hold the Priesthood required? This is a very important question, and one which should be understood by all Saints. In attempting to answer this question, we would repeat, in short, what we have already written, that willing obedience to the laws of God, administered by the Priesthood, is indispensable to salvation; but we would further add, that a proper conservative to this power exists for the benefit of all, and none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the Priesthood. We have heard men who hold the Priesthood remark, that they would do anything they were told to do by those who presided over them, if they knew it was wrong: but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God, who seeks for the redemption of his fellows, would despise the idea of seeing another become his slave, who had an equal right with himself to the favor of God; he would rather see him stand by his side, a sworn enemy to wrong, so long as there was place found for it among men. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty (!) authority, have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the Saints were told to do by their Presidents, they should do it without asking any questions. When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience, as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves, and wish to pave the way to accomplish that wrong; or else because they have done wrong, and wish to use the cloak of their authority to cover it with, lest it should be discovered by their superiors, who would require an atonement at their hands. ZION’S TRUMPET. 361

We would ask, For what is the Priesthood given unto men? It is that they may have a right to administer the law of God. Have they then a right to make void that law? Verily no. When the law of God has gone forth from His own mouth, and been declared by the mouths of His Prophets and Apostles, saying, “Thou shalt not lie;” who can say by the virtue of his Priesthood, You may lie and be approved? The Lord and His Prophets have declared it as a law unto His people, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Then who can say, Thou mayest commit adultery, and it will be no sin? It is written as a law unto the Saints, “Thou shalt not kill.” Then we ask again, Who can kill and be forgiven? And in like manner it might be asked of all the laws of God, Who has the right to make them void? None can revoke the decree but He by whom it was given; neither can the laws of God be trampled upon with impunity, or revoked by a lesser power than that by which they were framed. It is written of God, that He cannot lie; then none need suppose that He will approve of it through His authority which is on the earth; neither is He the Son of man that he should repent, therefore He will maintain the law by which His kingdom is governed. Should any think that they can give counsel to gratify their lusts, or answer avaricious ends, and say, “No one seeth us,” while they indulge therein, and delight in sin as a sweet morsel, they will learn with sorrow, that an eye which never sleeps has been upon their path, and He that seeth in secret shall make manifest, and reward openly every man according to his deeds, whether good or evil. If a man could have as much authority as the Almighty, it would not authorize him to do wrong, nor counsel another to do wrong; and the man that will administer with partiality, for the sake of screening iniquity, will find his stewardship will be taken from him. In administering the government of God, there are three parties concerned, viz., the subject who is governed, the person who governs, and the person by whose permission, or under whose approbation, he governs. Should a person be required to violate a known law by his President, or if he is not satisfied with the counsel which he gives, 362 ZION’S TRUMPET. he should not openly rebel against that President, but if they cannot see eye to eye, he should appeal privately to the next higher power or President, and where three are thus brought together who have a spirit to do right, right will prevail, and harmony be maintained. While such is the character of God’s government that its genius and policy are to the end that iniquity may be swept from off the earth, persons need not think to excuse themselves for performing a known unlawful act simply because they were told to do it by another; if such an excuse as this would justify, none would ever need to come under condemnation; for men would be sure to find someone on whom to lay the burden of their sins. The day has come when everyone may expect to answer for their own sins, without attempting to cloak them with another’s Priesthood. Great is the responsibility of that man who is called to give counsel which involves the salvation of another; and when such counsel is given, it should be of that pure character, that the powers above him upon the earth, with angels and God, can approve. He will then have no occasion to destroy his own influence and power by telling others that it will be no sin for them to commit adultery, to lie, or steal, &c., &c., if they are told to do it by the Priesthood, and thereby pervert the right ways of the Lord, and bring reproach upon the honor of His cause. The Lord asks for no such confidence in His Priesthood as this, neither do good men who are under its influence. The Priesthood never demands a wrong at the hands of another, though men who hold the Priesthood may make such a demand, as has sometimes been the case, and for which they have had to suffer. Where the authority of God is, there should the confidence of all men be reposed, sufficiently to obey its laws, but not to violate them; for we have not yet learned that it has power enough to save the transgressor in his sins. Some men have been so wise as to think the little authority they had was sufficient for them to set aside law and revelation, and mete out justice and judgment upon their own responsibility. But in the end they have found that responsibility to be greater than they could bear. ZION’S TRUMPET. 363

These sentiments are not advanced with the idea of defining the limits of Divine authority, nor that anyone can find language to portray the extent of the rights and powers of the Priesthood; for to fully comprehend it, would be to comprehend God. But they are offered with the consideration that Saints may be led to see the skill and wisdom manifested in its organization; how safely it is guarded from the impositions of men, and the impossibility of sin prevailing where it is duly and wisely administered, and that none need be imposed upon if they understand the rights and privileges which it guarantees to them: then, if they do not avail themselves of those rights, they are left without excuse. Extreme exercise of power, in cases of such importance, and upon matters of such infinite moment, should be studiously avoided, when we consider that everyone must render a faithful account of his stewardship. Some have supposed that the more authority men have in the kingdom of God, the greater is their liberty to disregard His laws, and that their greatness consists in their almost unlimited privileges, which leave them without restrictions; but this is a mistaken idea. Those who are the greatest in authority, are under the greatest restrictions; the law of their sphere is greater than that of those who are less in power, and the restrictions and penalty of that law are proportionably great; therefore they are under the greater obligation to maintain the virtue of the law and the institutions of God, otherwise confidence could not be reposed in them, but distrust and evil surmisings would be the result; disaffection would be found lurking in every avenue of society, and by thus severing the cords of union, it would prove the destruction of any people. A voice from the heavens has again been heard breaking the silence of ages, with a purpose and determination to establish the kingdom of God, and introduce a celestial government upon the earth; and if mankind will respect and obey those laws when revealed to them, they shall be saved, and inherit a celestial glory. Therefore, had we a voice like the sound of the trump of the Archangel, that could be heard by all living, or had we the power 364 ZION’S TRUMPET.

of a God to penetrate and make every heart to feel and realize the truth, we would proclaim it abroad in the ears of all living,—Repent ye, repent ye, for the hour of God’s judgment has come, and the transgressor shall perish from off the earth, while the meek shall be redeemed to inherit it forever. [We have translated the foregoing treatise from the “Star” for Nov. 13, 1852, and we trust that it will be of inexpressible benefit to the Welsh Saints. We hope that there will be no Branch in Wales that does not have it read aloud in public.—Ed.]

CURRENT CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

The current condition of the world is very strange, and O how pitiful it is to look at it! It has become full of trouble, affliction, and degradation, and is filled with corruption, violence, oppression, and every kind of abomination, to the point that it has become loathsome in the sight of God and his angels; it is like a boiling cauldron that has been set on fire, and which contains every kind of herb. I liken the world to a cauldron, and the inhabitants to herbs. The inhabitants are boiling throughout the world for eternal life, as are the herbs placed in the boiling cauldron which are stirred by fire: thus presently the world is boiling for eternal life, and not two of them are in agreement as to the way that leads to life, which is of great importance to every man to come to a true knowledge of it. But there is practically no one in the world who agrees concerning the way; one goes this way, and the other that way, until all have gone their separate ways. Some say that sprinkling is appropriate, and others that baptism is the example; no, says another, “Come to us, this is the way;” and others say that their way is right; others profess that one need only believe in Jesus Christ, and rely on him, and read and pray night and morning, and noon, and give alms to the poor, to be saved. This is the way they have gone, until there are three hundred and sixty-six or more ways in our world to have eternal life, through all of which it is impossible to have life, except through one of them. ZION’S TRUMPET. 365

Well, who knows the way to have eternal life? All of them say there is no need to know before we go to the other side of the “river of death.” If you ask the Wesleyan Methodists, the Unitarians, the priests of the Church of England, and the Papists, &c., whether they have sure knowledge of the way of life, the answer they will give is, that they only believe, and hope they are on the right path. What kind of knowledge is this? The devils believe and tremble, as is the case with all the believers of our country; it is likely that these are the ones to which Paul refers, as “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” or the way that leads to life; and there has been contention in their midst with respect to the truth. Such a darkness of deceit has surrounded them, so that they will not receive any further teaching; and they are so enlightened in their own view, that they fulfill that character the scriptures mention, namely “having eyes, and seeing not; and having ears, and do not hear.” When knowledge of the truth is offered to them, they refuse it, although Solomon said, that “the soul without knowledge is not good.” If someone asks, knowledge of what did the wise man mean, we answer, that it was knowledge of God, his plan, his will, and the way which he endorses to save mankind. Well, if it was knowledge of the way that leads man to possess eternal life he meant, should not all search for that knowledge? they no doubt should. Christ said to the people of old, “Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life (as do the believers of this age); and they are they which testify of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life,” John v, 39, 40. We ourselves say, do not come to us so that you might have eternal life, or a knowledge of God; for Christ says, that “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent.” Now, we see that to know God and his Son is life eternal. How can one know these two persons, when they are in heaven? We answer, that it is through the Comforter, whom Jesus promised to send, and he would bring to our remembrance that which had gone past, and would show things to come. The believers of our age profess that they have this Spirit, and that all who love Jesus have it, and at the same time they deny all his powerful works. The work of the Holy 366 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Ghost of old was to testify that Jesus is the Son of God, and that his words are truth, bringing many other blessings to those who would obey the gospel of Christ: to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will,” 1 Cor. xii, 8,—11. Paul also gave the following counsel:—“Forbid not to speak with tongues; quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.” Further, “now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” We could indicate many blessings which God gives to his children, as it is written, “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; but God hath revealed them unto us (that is to say some of them) by his Spirit.” Whosoever possesses the Holy Ghost, has eternal life, and he knows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he knows which path leads to the life, the one which men must walk to come back into the presence of God, as man was in the beginning, and in order to enjoy all the blessings of God, if they but continue faithful in his plan. They will know also that Jesus Christ died so they can be quickened (according to their obedience to his plan), and they can be resurrected, as he was resurrected. The Old and the New Testaments testify of these things to us: but it is not on the witness of the New Testament or the Hen that we build ourselves, rather on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, which is revelation; and whosoever has built his house on revelation, is built on the rock, “and upon this rock,” says Jesus Christ, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Now, inasmuch as revelation is a rock for the church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, may you search for this rock, so that you may be safe. ZION’S TRUMPET. 367

Well, say some, how can I get hold of that rock which you mention so often? In the face of so much searching that is in our world for that rock among the various religionists of our age, they all believe and hope that they have that rock; but who of them know that that rock is in their possession? We answer, none of them knows. Let us go forward to get hold of that rock, or at least to show the way to get hold of it. We are made to understand by reading the scriptures, that John the apostle was exiled to the isle of Patmos, for a testimony of Jesus Christ, and that there he beheld a vision. In Rev. xiv, 6, 7, we read, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Few of the inhabitants of our world think about the angel, or about practically anything else that brings salvation to them. They believe that the gospel has been on the earth from the time of Jesus Christ until now; but it is clear for us to see that the gospel has not been on the earth from that time; otherwise, there would not be so much confusion in our world; for the gospel leads men to a unity of the faith; and if the gospel is on the earth from that time, it has led to hundreds of faiths, and that is contrary to the declaration of God himself. Now, we testify that that angel appeared in this age to Joseph Smith, and restored the gospel to him in the year 1829, and that the church was established on the earth in the year 1830; and all must believe that, if they are to gain eternal life. The first thing is to believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that his words are true. Also, to believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that he received the keys of the kingdom of God from the angel. One must believe also that Brigham Young is a prophet, and Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards together with him. Then, one must believe in the Patriarchs, the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, the President in Britain and Wales, and their Counselors. All must believe that God has prophets on the earth now, and that they have 368 ZION’S TRUMPET. authority to administer in the ordinances now as at first; then they must be baptized by one of them for the remission of sins, and after that they can have the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they can have a testimony of the divinity of the religion of the Latter-day Saints, and that God blesses his people in this age. May God bless every honest heart with the privilege of obeying his commandments, so they may have the Holy Ghost; and may he bless those who have obeyed to keep his commandments to the end, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Thomas Davies.

BRING TO REMEMBRANCE THAT WHICH HAS GONE PAST, AND SHOW THINGS TO COME. 1. May you keep in your remembrance the Emigrating Fund; there will be no call for the money before the end of the quarter. May all the Conferences strive their best to do as much as they can this quarter, because the contributions of the present quarter also will be used to take the poor Saints to Zion at the beginning of the year. 2. May all be informed that the Saints who are emigrating at their own expense, will not be going at the same time as the others, namely the Saints who are going with assistance of the Fund; for those will go later in the season, in companies with each other: and the men of ten pounds will begin some time in January. 3. May you remember your promises in connection with the books, and may the supervisors who have been appointed in each Conference and in each Branch, fulfill their duties, and see that every Distributor works righteousness. I consider that every supervisor who is negligent in his work, should be brought before the Council as a transgressor. This is a great blessing to keep good men from becoming thieves. I consider that there is a special blame on Branch Presidents who allow distributors to work unrighteousness with respect to books: they should insist on being informed in every council how things are going forward in their branches in regards to Books, as with all other things. W. S. Phillips. ZION’S TRUMPET. 369

TESTIMONIALS TO THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF UTAH.

(From the “Deseret News.”)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE “NEWS.”

Great Salt Lake City, July 6, 1852.

Sir,—We the undersigned, citizens of Waukegan, Lake county, State of Illinois, on our way to the gold region of California, do hereby certify that we arrived at the City of the Great Salt Lake on Saturday last, July 3rd of this month, attended Church at the Tabernacle the 4th, heard a good wholesome doctrine advocated by different speakers, and also witnessed the celebration of the Declaration of Independence on the 5th; were much edified in hearing the different speeches made upon the occasion. We, therefore, knowing the false reports concerning this people, do assert that we believe they are deserving a better name than they have heretofore received. We would recommend that all emigrants, wishing to replenish their stock in any way, to come to this City, as all things to be bought necessary for the journey, can be obtained here at reasonable prices. We would subscribe ourselves the well-wishers of this people.

Capt. George Brown, John House, C. H. Dodge, Solomon Thomas, Eli. Robert. [For the “Deseret News.”] Being an emigrant from Guernsey County, Ohio, and having oft heard the Mormons represented as an almost cannibal race, I would hereby say to the traveling public, that a more humane, honest, and chivalrous people I never saw; and that they are basely misrepresented, there remains not the least shadow of a doubt. I have not the pleasure of an acquaintance with Mr. Young, but suffice to say, the people under his administration are happy, proud, and humane, and I might add, brave. Rienzi, otherwise Newton M. Curtis. 370 ZION’S TRUMPET.

[For the “Deseret News.”] Mr. Editor,—By inserting the following, you will confer a favor on a friend, and a well-wisher of your cause:— I arrived in your beautiful Valley on the 12th of July, in good health, in Captain Brown’s company, from Fulton, Ohio. We had good luck on the road. I can say to all my old friends on Big Sandy Va., that the stories in circulation about the Mormons, are false. I was never in a better country, or among a better people in my life. Every kind of grain and vegetables grow in abundance, and not to be surpassed in quantity or quality in any part of the United States. Dr. Childs, Billy Williams, quit drinking liquor; come out here, and you will both get rich; let that old wharf boat go down stream. Bill Wilson, keep away from Dr. McGinnis. John Wilson, Big Sandy Raftsman Va. (Translation Morgan Jenkins, Cefn.)

IMPORTANT SPECIAL CONFERENCE, Held at Great Salt Lake City, August 28, 1852.

(From the “Millennial Star.”)

By late advices from Great Salt Lake City, we learn that a Special Conference was held there on the 28th of August, at which 2500 persons were present. A considerable amount of highly important business was transacted, amongst which was the appointment of one hundred and six Elders on missions to various portions of the habitable globe. We have not received the “Deseret News” containing the minutes of the Conference, but from the letters we have received, we are enabled to give the names and destinations of the numerous Elders appointed, which are as follows:— AMERICA. City of Washington—Orson Pratt, one of the Twelve Apostles. Pottawatomie, Iowa—Daniel Miller. St. Louis—Horace S. Eldridge. New Orleans—John Brown. Nova Scotia and the British N. A. Provinces—O. D. L. Buckland, Benjamin T. Mitchell, John Robinson, Joseph Millet. ZION’S TRUMPET. 371

Texas—Preston Thomas, William Camp. British Guiana—Elijah Thomas, James Brown. West Indies—Jessie Turpin, Darwin Richardson, Alfred B. Lambson, Aaron Farr. EUROPE. England and other Countries—Daniel Spencer, Charles A. Harper, Isaac Allred, John Van Cott, Mellen Atwood, Chauncey G. Webb, Charles Smith, Sylvester H. Earl, David Grant, Thomas W. Treat, Benjamin Brown, James T. Park, William Empy, Perrygrine Sessions, Osman M. Duel, John A. Hunt, Edward Martin, Levi E. Riter, John S. Fullmer, William Glover, Richard Cook, William Clayton, William Pitt, John Charles Hall, John Oakley, William Woodward, James G. Willie, Daniel D. McArthur, Moses Thurstin, John Parry, Spicer Crandell, James Pace, Elias Gardner. Wales—Dan Jones, Thomas Jeremy, Daniel Daniels, Edward Griffin. Ireland—Daniel Toner, John McDonald. France—Andrew L. Lamereaux. Germany—George C. Riser, Jacob F. Secrist, George Mayer, William Taylor. Berlin, Prussia—Orson Spencer, Jacob Houtz, Moses Clough. Gibraltar—Edward Stevenson, Nathan T. Porter. Denmark—George Perry. Norway—Eric G. M. Hogan, Canute Peterson. ASIA. Calcutta and Hindostan—Nathaniel V. Jones, Samuel A. Woolley, Richard Ballantyne, Amos M. Musser, William F. Carter, Robert Skelton, Wm. Fotheringham, Truman Leonard, Robert Owen. China—Hosea Stout, Walter Thompson, James Lewis, Chapman Duncan. Siam—Chauncey W. West, Sterne Hotchkiss, Harlow Redfield. AFRICA. Cape of Good Hope—Jessie Haven, Leonard I. Smith, William Walker. AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Australia—Augustus Farnham, William Hyde, Burr Frost, Absalom P. Dowdle, Josiah W. Fleming, Paul Smith, John Hyde, John S. Eldredge, James Graham, Noah T. Guyman. Sandwich Isles—Ephraim Green, William McBride, James Lawson, Nathan Tanner, Reddick N. Allred, Reddin A. Allred, Thomas Kairnes, Egerton Snider, Benjamin F. Johnson. 372 ZION’S TRUMPET.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Deceitful tricks are foolish practices, of those who do not have enough sense to be honest.

Truth is not only an adornment for man, but an instrument as well; this is the glory of the rich man, and the endowment of the poor man. The truthfulness or veracity of a man is his life, his acceptance, and his letter of presentation for other favors.

Earthquake.—We are informed by “R. R.”, considerable excitement was caused in the town of Conway, by an earthquake which happened there, and in other places, Tuesday morning, the 9th of November, between four and five o’clock, which continues for a few minutes. The spirit of prayer fell on the inhabitants of the town at the same time, and they have decided to reform, lest they be destroyed next time; and they have promised to loan a convenient place for the Saints to hold their next conference.

WISDOM. All are wise while they are silent; But some, when they speak, With every word from their mouth, though thought wise, They make themselves unwise.

Payments from October 29 to November 11.—Cardiganshire, £2; West Glamorgan, £4; Anglesey, £1 5s; Pontytypridd, £1 6s; Cwmbach, £1 8s; Aberamman, 16s 5c; Hirwaun, 18s 2c; Georgetown, 19s 7c; Merthyr, £2 17s; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 10c; Troedyrhiw, 1s 7c.—Total,£ 15 15s 7c. Hymn Books.—We wish to inform that the last Double Hymn Book has been sold, but that some of the small 4c. books remain on hand, which will make nice prizes for Sunday school children. Also, we wish to inform that the New Hymn Book, the size of the English one, is now at the press, and is to come out by the next Trumpet ready for binding. It will contain scores, if not hundreds of new hymns, together with the best old hymns. One can get the hymns of the latest edition by the same numbers as before, and thus those who have the old book can use it as far as its hymns extend. We intend to bind the new book in calfskin, and we shall strive to supply the emigrants before anyone else, and after that others can obtain it. Its price is yet to be announced. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 24.] NOVEMBER 27, 1852. [VOL. I V.

SPEECH OF BRIGHAM YOUNG ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 24TH OF JULY.

(From the “Deseret News.”)

I wish to make a few remarks only, to this congregation, as the time allotted to us this morning, is far spent. The remarks which have been made previous to my rising are very good, as they are also true. They are things not fresh to the majority of this assembly, though there may be some present who are perhaps ignorant of them. Suffice it to say, that five years ago this day, the Pioneers approached this valley, with their implements of husbandry, &c., which were represented by them in the procession today. We came for the purpose of finding a place to set our feet, where we could dwell in peace. That place we have found. If the Saints cannot enjoy that peace which is so dear to them here, I would say that I am ignorant of the spot on the earth where they can. Where could a place have been found where we might enjoy freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship? If not in these mountains, I am ignorant of the place. We have enjoyed perfect peace here for five years; and I trust we shall for many fives to come. If the Saints are persecuted, it is for their good; if they are driven, it is for their good; consequently, when I reflect, I have nothing to fear in all the persecutions or 24 374 ZION’S TRUMPET. hardships I may pass through in connection with this people, but the one thing, and that is, to stray from the religion I have embraced, and be forsaken of my God. If you or I should see that day, we shall see at once that the world will love its own; and affliction, persecutions, death, fire, and the sword, will cease to follow us. If the Latter-day Saints magnify their calling, walk humbly before their God, do the things that are pleasing to their Father in heaven, and walk up to their duty in every respect, I am bold to say that not five years only, but scores of years will pass away without the Saints ever being interrupted or driven again from their possessions: thus far it is for our good. I did not rise for the purpose of delivering an oration on this occasion, but to remind you of the blessings we now are privileged to enjoy. When we first approached this valley, there was not a man upon the face of the earth who ever had beheld these valleys of the mountains, or knew anything of the Great Basin, who knew that corn, or any other kind of grain could be raised here. Can you find the man who had any knowledge of the Great Basin, as it is called, that believed there could be an ear of corn ripened in it? There is not that man on the earth, when you have excepted the people called Latter-day Saints. We came here and planted our garden seeds of various kinds, five years ago this day; they grew, but they did not ripen, though the buckwheat would have ripened, perhaps, had it been properly taken care of; some other grains also would have come to maturity, so as to have assisted a small colony to live here: they, however, lived; how? Shall I say by faith? Yes, partially so; for had they not had faith, they certainly never would have come to this place: it is the faith of the Latter-day Saints that brought them here. There is a very mysterious principle that abides with this people; it is a mystery, and one of the greatest mysteries to the inhabitants of the earth that have been made acquainted by history, or by personal knowledge, with this people. And what makes it more singular, ZION’S TRUMPET. 375 say they, by all our calculations we cannot conceive of it; it is so mysterious that it absolutely amounts to a miracle. What is this great mystery? It is that these Latter-day Saints are of one heart, and of one mind. To Saint and sinner, believer and unbeliever, I wish here to offer one word of advice and counsel, by revealing the mystery that abides with this people called Latter-day Saints: it is the Spirit of the living God that leads them; it is the Spirit of the Almighty that binds them together; it is the influence of the Holy Ghost that makes them love each other like little children; it is the spirit of Jesus Christ that makes them willing to lay down their lives for the cause of Truth; and it was that same Spirit that caused Joseph our martyred Prophet to lay down his life for the testimony of what the Lord revealed to him. This mystery, the great mystery of “Mormonism,” is, that the Spirit of the Lord binds the hearts of the people together. Let the world look at it. This I say by way of exhortation, if you please. Let the inhabitants of the earth gaze upon this people, this wondrous people, for a magic power attends them; something mysterious hangs around them. What is it? It is not magnetism; it is something more wonderful; those that are present this day may truly say it is wonderful in the extreme. Who gives me power, that “at the pointing of my finger,” the hosts of Israel move, and at my request the inhabitants of this great Territory are displaced; at my command they are here? Who gives me that power? Let the world inquire? It is the God of heaven; it is the Spirit of the Holy Gospel; it is not of myself; it is the Lord Jesus Christ, trying to save the inhabitants of the earth. The people are here; they endure. Did they bring their bread with them? No. Did they bring their meat with them? No. Did they bring that that sustained them until they raised it from the earth? They could not do it, for they were obliged to bring tools, ploughs, drag chains, &c.; they were obliged to bring their wives and children in their wagons; five and six, and eight, and in some wagons ten 376 ZION’S TRUMPET. people would get huddled together, to drive a thousand miles from all sustenance, and there plant themselves in the wilderness, where nothing met the eye but snowy peaks, and parched vales; and trust in the God of Israel to sustain them. Let the world ask the question,—would the Methodists thus run the hazard of losing their lives for their religion? Would the Presbyterians, the Baptists, the Quakers, or their old mother, the Roman Catholic church, run the same risk? Would she venture thus in the wilderness? No. It is not very common to find a whole people on the earth, as in the case of the Latter-day Saints, who would do it; though single individuals might be found so enthusiastic as to sacrifice their lives, and run into a lion’s den, in proof of their faith in their religion; but where are the tens of thousands, and the scores of thousands, and the hundreds of thousands, who would lay down every principle of life and happiness, and everything that is desirable pertaining to this world, for the principles of eternal life; and would go forth into the wilderness, having no other stay but the hand of God to lead them? They are not to be found! We meet here and celebrate the day: five years we have been in this valley; and I will say to the new comers, our brethren, or those who are not our brethren, three years ago last October, the first house was reared in this place. There was not a rod of fence, nor a house, except the old fort, and a little log cabin. Here we are now, spread out from the east to the west, measurably so, but more extensively to the north and south. Travel through the valleys, and scan the houses, and the farms, and see the improvements that have been made; take the back track of the “Mormons”; follow them from here to Nauvoo; from Nauvoo to Far West; then to Kirtland; and back to Missouri again to Jackson county, and all people will acknowledge that the “Mormons” have had enough to do to mind their own business, and make the improvements that have been performed by them: they have done nothing but mind their own business. Look at the improvements that have followed this people, in all their travels up ZION’S TRUMPET. 377 to this place, for a testimony of their endurance, and unflinching industry. I say to this community, be humble; be faithful to your God, true to His Church, benevolent to the strangers that may pass through our Territory, and kind to all people; serving the Lord with all your might, trusting in him; but never fear the frowns of an enemy, nor be moved by the flatteries of friends or of enemies from the path of right. Serve your God; believe in Him and never be ashamed of Him, and sustain your character before Him, for very soon we will meet in a larger congregation than this, and have a celebration far superior: we will celebrate our perfect and absolute deliverance from the power of the devil: we only celebrate now our deliverance from the good brick houses we have left; from our farms and lands, and from the graves of our fathers; we celebrate our perfect deliverance from these. Our lives have been spared, and we are yet upon this planet; and by and by we will celebrate a perfect deliverance from all the powers of earth; and we will keep our eyes set upon the mark, and go forward to victory. I say to the aged, to the middle-aged, and to the young—all be true to your God, true to your brethren, and kind to all, serving God with all your heart; and may He bless you for Jesus’ sake. Amen. Trans. Dewi Elfed Jones.

KNOWLEDGE.

(From the “Deseret News.”)

Knowledge or understanding is increasing, here and in the world to come. Some think that it would not make much difference whether they learn much or little, whether they attain all the understanding that is within their reach, or not, while they wait in the world, believing that if they were to pay their tithing, go to meetings, 378 ZION’S TRUMPET. say their prayers, and fulfill those particular duties which were commanded, it would be well with them, and as soon as they put off this mortal body, they would see as they are seen, and know as they are known, that they would know all things, yea, as much as their brothers who sacrificed all their time and talents to attain knowledge and roll forth the Kingdom of God, paying no attention to wealth, personal aggrandizement, nor fears, scorn, or flattery of the world. But this is a mistaken idea, and all souls that embrace it and practice it will have cause to mourn, when those souls arrive in the world of resurrected bodies (if they are so fortunate as to arrive there); for they will find out, to their sadness, that God asked them in this world, not only for their obedience to his revealed will, but also a search of their purposes and their plans, such as had been revealed to those who through faith were ready and willing to consecrate all their powers, their abilities, and their possessions, to labor to bring forth benefit to his Church and Kingdom on the earth. If, on our entrance to another condition of existence, we see as we are seen, that is, as some think, that we will see and comprehend God our Eternal Father, as He sees us and comprehends us, then Gods will cease to exist, then all the glory of the heavenly kingdom will vanish; those areas of light and glory will be thrown into chaos, and the glorious objective of an eternal residence which we were seeking, will be snuffed out, as soon as all the beings in it become equal in knowledge; for the great and exalted I am is the glory of that Kingdom, and His glory is contained in the pure understanding that he possesses over and above his dependants and the creatures of his making. When they arrive at the same level of knowledge as He himself, they will know as much as he does, and He will have no further authority or government over them, and that, then, would be the furthest extreme of the greatness of heaven for men; since he would be as great as his God, he could go no higher, rather he would live in a disordered confusion eternally. Is this what the Saints are striving for? No! This constitutes the glorious beauties of the government of Lucifer; they are all disordered, and anything short of that would be hell for him and his subjects. All the hosts of hell strive for supremacy, to know how ZION’S TRUMPET. 379 they can go higher than their leader, their god, and this would cause confusion in any kingdom. But our God, the Father of our spirits, has wisely ordained the most perfect order throughout his entire governments, and in that order He himself is the head, for though there are lords many and gods many, yet for us there is only one God, who is the Father of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, and he is our older brother: and the higher we exalt them in our esteem and our deeds, all the greater will be our glory. Jesus declared to his Saints, his youngest brethren, what he desires, and when he desires, according to their faith and their obedience; for His work is to establish his Kingdom, by overcoming and subduing all things that are governed by the laws and rules of his kingdom, which were given to him by his Father and us; and when he subjects all things to himself, then the Son, our oldest brother, will be subject to his Father and us, the same way the Son asks us to be subject to him, so that he may be the God of all in all and over everyone, inasmuch as he possesses knowledge over and above all the creatures of his creation. Knowledge is power, or in knowledge power is contained; and because God knows more than any one of his creations, he will govern them according to his will; but if man could attain the same level of knowledge as his God, He could no longer govern over him, and we would encounter again that disordered confusion that makes up hell. Order governs in heaven, and confusion in hell. What, then, is to be done, if man progresses eternally, the day will inevitably come in which he will know as much as God now knows, however little the progress may be. The truth allows that man is made in the image of God, and the difficulty is immediately resolved; for if man was formed in His image, He was of course once a man, and from manhood, through continual progress, he became a God, and he has continued to progress from his manhood to the present time; and according to the same principle, he will continue to progress endlessly. And man also can continue to progress in knowledge and power, as soon as he chooses, and strive to become like God; but since God has greater experience, he can progress more rapidly; consequently, man cannot ever rise above his maker, 380 ZION’S TRUMPET. so as to acknowledge his God, as his God acknowledges him. What, therefore, is the meaning of the verse, “to see as we are seen, and to know as we are known?” The meaning is, we see everything below us, as a stage of our existence, the same way God sees us and everything below him as a stage of His existence; for if we were able to see everything as God sees, we would know as much as God knows, and God would cease to be a God to us, for Godhood signifies knowledge and power; and if man were to know as much as God, power over man would cease with God, and all heaven would become a republic of Bedlam. But God by his knowledge, has left the crown to himself, and to his own service; and wherever there is a crown, of necessity it will mean a kingdom is there; and wherever there is a kingdom, it will mean a King is there. Consequently, the government in Heaven cannot be a republic, according to the comprehension of a wicked world; and if it were, there could not be a king, for equality of knowledge on the part of the subjects would dethrone him; and he would be just as old eternally as whoever got to govern or sit on the seat of Government, or to act as mediator among his equals. What concerned person who is looking forward to a glorious and pleasant future would wish for such a state of affairs, such a structure of government in the eternal worlds, that he could go down to his grave in peace, singing Hallelujah! vox populi vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God), it is the people who reign supreme! and when we go beyond the veil of mortal existence, we will stand the same chance of being elected as Governor over everything, with the God whom we worship. Is this the glorious uncertainty that will calm the souls of the Saints, while they ponder the truths of the eternal worlds, and their resurrection to eternal life? If their hopes are vain, their faith is vain; and all their labor, trials, tribulations, and their sufferings are vain, and in the end they will reap the reward according to their labor, sow to the wind to reap a whirlwind, which will prove that they are chaff instead of wheat. But the Saints know whom to believe. Their God is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords; his government is over everything, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 381 he directs his hands so that he may do good; he has made known his purposes, and he will accomplish them. In this do the Saints rejoice, that their God knows all things that pertain to his governments; consequently, he has power to manage all things that pertain to his children, so that he may do good: and even though all creatures of his creation were to shout, vox populi vox Dei, he would say to them, I am God, and there is none other but me, to manage my works; do ye, therefore, whatsoever thing I command you; and he who does nothing more than I command, and does not seek the welfare of my kingdom with all his soul, and who does not by his own compliance formulate ways and means for the success of my family, is an unprofitable servant; such are not sons but bastard children who leave my work, and who follow after their own greed, which will cause them to run after the god of their own choosing, and allow my people to go down to perdition; or if they are all preserved, it will be so they may possess a lesser glory, and will be ruled over, instead of being rulers.

EMIGRATION.

(From the “Millennial Star.”)

In order to emigrate the Saints with only £10 each, it will be necessary to make every possible arrangement to avoid needless expense; and that none may be incurred by detention on the way, an Agent who is well acquainted with the business will be sent to the United States for the purpose of procuring wagons, oxen, provisions, &c., and whatever else is necessary for a fit-out across the plains; and to have them in readiness upon the arrival of the companies upon the frontiers. To effect this object, every person purposing to join the ten- pound companies is required to forward immediately to our office the sum of £5, to be forwarded by our agent. This amount is required over and above the deposit money, and in all cases should be forwarded to us through the Presidents of Conferences, on or before the 20th of December. The remaining £4 will not be required until the time of shipping. 382 ZION’S TRUMPET.

It is also advisable for those who do not join the ten-pound companies, but have means to fit out teams for themselves and families, to forward money for the purchase of them by our agent. This will save them detention by the way, and also a vast deal of trouble and expense, which they would be subject to in numberless ways, traveling through a strange country, trading with strangers for their preparations, and similar things. According to the prices which have been furnished us, no one should expect to procure a team suitable for the plains, consisting of two pairs of oxen, two cows, and a wagon, for less than £40; and if they wish their flour and other provisions supplied to them for the land journey, the amount of money sent should be increased for that purpose. Every person’s name should be forwarded to us with the amount of money which they send, that there may be no mistake in returning to them the full value thereof, in whatever they may order purchased. We learn that tents, and wagon covers can be supplied here to better advantage than in St. Louis; and we shall make arrangements for furnishing all that may be required by the ten-pound companies. All others who will require tents or covers would do well to inform us as early as possible, that they may be provided for in our arrangements; also the size of their tents, or the number of persons which they will be required to accommodate. It is of the utmost importance for the well being of the Saints, in the coming emigration season, that these items be punctually attended to; and if there by any who cannot furnish the amount of money required, by the 20th of December, from not having closed their business, &c., let them not fail to forward it the first possible moment after that date. As a general thing, it will be advisable for the Saints emigrating from the same Conference, to go together; should there be cases, however, where circumstances render it particularly advisable for persons to emigrate early, we should be timely advised, that we may enter their names for our first ship. Included in the passage money to New Orleans, the following amount of provisions will be furnished to each adult passenger, ZION’S TRUMPET. 383 sailing after the 16th of January, 1853; and half the amount to children under fourteen years and over one year old:— Dietary scale for the voyage to New Orleans, required by Act of Parliament of June last:— 25 lbs Bread or Biscuit, 20 lbs Flour, 37½ lbs Oatmeal, 20 lbs Rice, 5 lbs Sugar, 1¼ lbs Tea, 1¼ lbs Salt, 2 quarts Water, daily. In addition to the above, we shall furnish— 10 lbs Pork, 5 lbs Molasses, 3 lbs Butter 2 lbs Cheese, 1 pint Vinegar. The issue of provisions will be made daily. The vessel or vessels which may sail before the 16th of January, will be victualled for eighty days, and those which sail after the 16th, for seventy days, as required by law.

ELDERS INTENDING TO EMIGRATE.

Among those who are anxious to gather with the Saints the coming emigration season, and who have our approbation in so doing, are several Pastors and Presidents of Conferences, &c., whose names we here record:— Counselor to the President of the Church in the British Isles— Levi Richards. Counselor to the President of the Welsh Church—Thomas Pugh. Pastors or Presidents of Districts—Cyrus H. Wheelock, Jacob Gates, Moses Clawson, Isaac C. Haight, Appleton M. Harmon. Presidents of Conferences—Vincent Shurtleff, Claudius V. Spencer, Joseph W. Young, George Halliday, William Speakman, Richard Rostron, John Lyon, James McNaughtan, George Kendall, John Carmichael, John Kelly.—Star. 384 ZION’S TRUMPET.

THE NEPHITES AND THE LAMANITES. O, who has searched In the records that be, And has read the account Of the evil world it was? The remainder with Mormon Left with heavy hearts, They saw their entire nation Decaying in the earth. After destroying the Nephites, The Lamanites were long, In distress that is unknown, Dwelling on the land: Many generations passed, And the grievous Gentiles came Into their midst to divide their lands All for themselves. O, who has seen, On the great continent, This people wandering, Without refuge at any time, While the proud Gentiles, By constant violence and oppression, Distributed the land they considered Earlier to be their own. And who is there that believes, Who does not await the time, That sin and all oppression will Be driven completely from the world; And when the truth, Like a rainbow in the rain, Beautiful will show the promise Of the great peace that will come. O, you, sorrowful posterity And greatly oppressed, The sorrow will come to an end, And you will be fully delivered: The Lord has proclaimed you To be His remnant; From Abraham you have descended, And have received attention from heaven. Your stones will be glorious With fair colors, And the sapphire will shine Around you some day: ZION’S TRUMPET. 385

You shall have windows of agate, Within this good land; And your gates will be full of carbuncles, To welcome you happily. Come back to Zion, With your song of rejoicing; Your sadness and your woes, Will flee before you; The great powers of heaven, Will come down to set you free; Jesus will be your Judge, And will be in your midst. At that time the sentinels, Will all be in agreement, When God brings Zion again, Which was lost from the world: The wolf and the kid will lie down In complete peace together, And the lamb will be a friend to the lion, Without fearing at any time his wrath. The whole earth will be filled With the true knowledge of God, And nothing will harm, Or grieve any living soul: And these are the good tidings Which we declare to everyone; They contain great happiness, And eternal fulfillment to man.

RUINS OF AN ANCIENT AND MAGNIFICIENT CITY AT TINIAN ISLAND, IN THE PACIFIC.

(From the “Edgartown (Mass., U. S.) Gazette.”)

Captain Alfred K. Fisher, of this town, informs us that, when on his last whaling voyage, in the ship America, of New Bedford (which was about eight years ago) he had occasion to visit the island of Tinian (one of the Ladrone Islands) to land some sick men. He stopped there some days. One of his men, in his walks about the island, came to the entrance of the main street of a large and splendid city in ruins. Captain Fisher, on being informed of the fact, entered the city by the principal street, which was about three miles in length. The buildings were all of stone, of a dark color, and 386 ZION’S TRUMPET. of the most splendid description. In about the center of the main street, he found twelve solid stone columns, six on each side of the street; they were about forty-five or fifty feet in height, surmounted by capstones of immense weight. The columns were ten feet in diameter at the base, and about three feet at the top. Captain Fisher thinks the columns would weight about sixty or seventy tons, and the capstones about fifteen tons. One of the columns had fallen, and he had a fine opportunity to view its vast proportions and fine architecture. From the principal street, a large number of other streets diverged. They were all straight, and the buildings were of stone. The whole of the city was entirely overgrown with coconut trees, which were fifty and sixty feet in height. In the main street pieces of common earthenware were found. The island has been in possession of the Spaniards for a long time. Six or seven Spaniards resided on the island when Captain Fisher was there. They informed him that the Spaniards had had possession about sixty years—that they took the island from the Knackas, who were entirely ignorant of the builders of the city, and of the former inhabitants. When questioned as to the origin of the city, their only answer was, “There must have been a powerful race here a long time ago.” Captain Fisher also saw on the island immense ledges of stone, from which the buildings and columns had evidently been erected. Some portions of them exhibited signs of having been worked. Here is food for speculation. Who were the founders of this once magnificent city in the North Pacific, and what has become of their descendants? Whatever the answer may be, they were evidently a race of a very superior order. Trans. D. E. Jones.

THE EMIGRATION.

Tune—“Caerphilly March.”

The hour has come to us gladly, to depart from old Babylon, And sail to Zion, from the captivity of the land of enemies; Wicked men, full of violence, who have lifted their voices in one cry, To spill the blood of the righteous, wise men beneath the heavens; An angel of God lifts his voice, calling us home; Great Babel is falling, and all her glory is fading; ZION’S TRUMPET. 387

Her plagues are drawing nigh; the day of her collapse comes soon; For the saints there is deliverance, on the dear land of yon Zion. The great banner is before us, waving and spreading out: Across the tops of the waves of the ocean, toward the land full of blessings, Let us go with haste, great is the privilege to all the saints who are there, Beyond the reach of the conspirators’ treachery, and no sadness in any breast. “Farewell to all now,” of our friends, great and small; To Zion let us go singing praise to God, and rejoicing, With love in our heart, we shall have in this land; let us go to the happy Land of feasting, to possess eternal bliss, pure health, long, and peace. Who are these who now fly, in a great host, all far off, Like swift doves to their chambers, from the destruction? These are saints, who today, are sons of God, children of the day, Bounding from their captivity, across the course of those who are free. There will be great success, that is the mark of heaven’s gift, To the ranks of the delivered, in the valleys of mount Zion: Fields full, of every grain, we shall have there openly; Sweet vines on its meadows, pure milk, nourishment, and honey: There grow fair berries, the yield of bounteous, sweet fruits; Vineyards, lush gardens, and sweet herbs and delicacies; Full garners, abundant food, is to be had there, the best indeed, And God’s peace, like a river, will flow across our land. We will sing on our journey, over the waves of the great deep; The cities of mount Zion, have captured the desire and love of our heart; Her temples purify the splendid, happy breast unfailingly; Her pure laws will lift us all to the warmth of eternal life. Hail to a better, happy day, when pain will not exist, In Zion, where the King of heaven desires to make his dwelling place: O! such an honor, great in size, no pestilence will ever come to her; We’ll have our fill of heaven’s food, from the honor we have before him; Instead of ugly reproach’s look, we’ll go to the dear land of the feast; Beneath the vines we shall sit, under the fig trees we shall sing; Sweet wine we shall have there, hardly anyone will be in fear; And an enemy to frighten us, in his anger, will come no more; The fair maiden will step light and free; Young men, and maidens, and older men and women are now seen; Of one mind, blessed, there we shall dance together; Our sorrow turned to joy, and we shall have continual peace. 388 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The wise leader of heaven and earth, shall with his host come down, To Zion to reign with the saints for a thousand years: His great will, across the earth, will be done, as in heaven; The world will be as the Lord’s garden, with prosperity everywhere. Dewi Elfed Jones.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Virtuous men are respected publicly by every good man, and in secret even by wicked men, for the rays of virtue shine in the eyes unwilling to perceive them.

The wise renounce praise; being desirous of praise shows small merit, and a selfish mind that is the constant companion of ignorance.

Flatter not, and receive not flattery; follow the voice of your reason, and then you will be safe.

Payments from November 12 to November 25.—Monmouthshire, £4; Llanelli, £2; Flintshire, £1 10s; Anglesey, £2 16s 11c; Llanilltyd, 10s; Pontytypridd, 14s; Aberamman, 7s 1c; Dowlais, 9s 7½c; Hiwwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, 16s 1½c; Merthyr, £1 7s; Pendaren, 4s; Ffynnon Tydfil, 3s 2c; Troedyrhiw, 8s.—Total, £15 9s 2c. “J. H.”—The behavior you mention, namely going to taverns, is totally inappropriate, and something that should be put aside without delay. President W. S. Phillips wishes for those who send letters to him for answers, to remember also to send stamps; otherwise they cannot expect to receive their answer, since stamps, as was reported before, do not grow.

New Hymn Books.—The last part of the Hymns went to press last Wednesday, and the book will be sent to the binder without delay, so that some will be ready by Christmas. It contains 575 Hymns, and the same number of pages as the English hymnal. We are sorry for not having corresponded with some who have written to us lately; we have been too busy with the Hymn Books. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 25.] DECEMBER 11, 1852. [VOL. I V.

A GENERAL FUNERAL SERMON OF ALL SAINTS AND SINNERS, ALSO OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH. BY ELDER ORSON PRATT. Delivered at the Tabernacle, in Great Salt Lake City, on the 25th of July, 1852, reported by G. D. Watt.

(From the “Deseret News.”)

I have been requested to preach the funeral sermon of the wife of brother Levi Savage, who died last December; and since coming to this place this morning, I have been requested to preach the funeral sermons of several of the Saints who have died in England; and I have concluded, instead of limiting my address to any one individual case, to preach what may be considered a general funeral sermon of all the Saints that have died in all past ages and generations, with all that shall die hereafter, and the funeral sermon of all those who are not Saints, and also the funeral sermon of the heavens and the earth; and for this purpose I will take a text which you will find recorded in the 51st chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah, and the sixth verse:— “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath, for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever and my 25 390 ZION’S TRUMPET. righteousness shall not be abolished.” All things with which we are acquainted, pertaining to this earth of ours, are subject to change; not only man, so far as his temporal body is concerned, but the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the fishes of the sea, and every living thing with which we are acquainted,—all are subject to pain and distress, and finally die and pass away; death seems to have universal dominion in our creation. It certainly is a curious world; it certainly does not look like a world constructed in such a manner as to produce eternal happiness; and it would be very far from the truth, I think, for any being at the present time to pronounce it very good; everything seems to show us that goodness, in a great degree, has fled from this creation. If we partake of the elements, death is there in all of its forms and varieties; and when we desire to rejoice, sorrow is there, mingling itself in every cup; and woe, and wretchedness, and misery, seem to be our present doom. There is something, however, in man, that is constantly reaching forward after happiness, after life, after pleasure, after something to satisfy the longing desire that dwells within our bosoms. Why is it that we have such a desire? And why is it that it is not satisfied? Why is it that this creation is so constructed? And why is it that death reigns universally over all living earthly beings? Did the great Author of creation construct this little globe of ours subject to all these changes, which are calculated to produce sorrow and death among the beings that inhabit it? Was this the original condition of our creation? I answer, no; it was not so constructed. But how was it made in the beginning? All things that were made pertaining to this earth were pronounced “very good.” Where there is pain, where there is sickness, where there is sorrow, and where there is death, this saying could not be understood in its literal sense; things cannot be very good where something very evil reigns and has universal dominion. We are, therefore, constrained to believe, that in the first formation of our globe, as far as the Mosaic history gives us information, everything was perfect in its formation; that there was nothing in the air, or in the waters, or in the solid elements, that was calculated to ZION’S TRUMPET. 391 produce misery, wretchedness, unhappiness, or death, in the way that it was then organized; not but what the same elements, organized a little differently, would produce all these effects; but as it was then constructed, we must admit that every particle of air, of water, and of earth, was so organized as to be capable of diffusing life and immortality through all the varied species of animated existence;— immortality reigned in every department of creation; hence it was pronounced very good. When the Lord made the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, to people the atmospheric heavens, or the watery elements, these fowls and fish were so constructed in their nature as to be capable of eternal existence. To imagine anything different from this, would be to suppose the Almighty to form that which was calculated to produce wretchedness and misery. What says the Psalmist David upon this subject? He says that all the works of the Lord shall endure forever. Did not the Lord make the fish? Yes. Did he not make the fowls of the air? Yes. Did He not make the beasts of the field, and the creeping things, and the insects? Yes. Do they endure forever? They apparently do not; and yet David says all His works are constructed upon that principle. Is this a contradiction? No. God has given some other particulars in relation to these works. He has permitted the destroyer to visit them, who has usurped a certain dominion and authority, carrying desolation and ruin on every hand; the perfections of the original organizations have ceased. But will the Lord forever permit these destructions to reign? No. His power exists, and the power of the destroyer exists. His power exists, and the power of death exists; but His power exceeds all other powers; and consequently, wherever a usurper comes in and lays waste any of His works, he will repair those wastes, build up the old ruins, and make all things new: even the fish of the sea, and the fowls of the heavens, and the beasts of the earth, must yet, in order to carry out the designs of the Almighty, be so constructed as to be capable of eternal existence. It would be interesting to know something about the situation of things when they were first formed, and how this destroyer happened 392 ZION’S TRUMPET. to make inroads upon this fair creation; what the causes were, and why it was permitted. Man, when he was first placed upon this earth, was an immortal being, capable of eternal endurance; his flesh and bones, as well as his spirit, were immortal and eternal in their nature; and it was just so with all the inferior creation, the lion, the leopard, the kid, and the cow; it was so with the feathered tribes of creation, as well as those that swim in the vast ocean of waters—all were immortal and eternal in their nature; and the earth itself, as a living being, was immortal and eternal in its nature. What! is the earth alive too? If it were not, how could the words of our text be fulfilled, where it speaks of the earth’s dying? How can that die that has no life? “Lift up your eyes to the heavens above,” says the Lord, “and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner.” In like manner!—what! The earth and the heavens to die? Yes, the material heavens and earth must all undergo this change which we call death; and if so the earth must be alive as well as we. The earth was so constructed that it was capable of existing as a living being to all eternity, with all the swarms of animals, fowls, and fishes that were first placed upon the face thereof. But how can it be proved that man was an immortal being? We will refer you to what the apostle Paul has written upon this subject: he says that by one man came death; and he tells us how it came: it was by the transgression of one individual that death was introduced here. But did transgression bring in all these diseases and sorrow, this misery and wretchedness over the whole face of this creation? Is it by the transgression of one person that the very heavens are to vanish away as smoke, and the earth is to wax old like a garment? Yes, it is by the transgression of one; and if it had not been for his transgression, the earth never would have been subject to death. Why? Because the works of the Lord are so constructed as to exist forever; and if death had come in without a cause, and destroyed the earth, and laid waste the material heavens, and produced a general and utter overthrow and ruin in this fair creation, then the works of the Lord would have ZION’S TRUMPET. 393 ceased to endure according to the promise, being imperfect in their construction, and consequently not very good. But what was this sin, and what was the nature of it? I will tell you what it was: it was merely the partaking of a certain kind of fruit. But, says one, I should think there is no harm in eating fruit. There would not be unless God gave a command upon the subject. There are things in nature that would be evil without a commandment: if there were no commandment, it would be evil for you to murder an innocent being, and your own conscience would tell you it was an evil thing. It is an evil for any individual to injure another, or to infringe upon the rights of another, independent of any revealed law; for the savage, or that being who has never heard of the written laws of heaven—who never heard of the revealed laws of God with regard to these principles—as well as the Saint, knows that it is an evil to infringe upon the rights of another; the very nature of the thing shows that it is an evil; but not so in regard to the many other things that are evil, which are only made evil by commandment. For instance, here is the Sabbath day; a person that never heard the revealed law of God upon the subject, never could conceive that it was an evil to work on the Sabbath day; he would consider it just as right to work on the first day of the week, as on the seventh; he would perceive nothing in the nature of the thing by which he could distinguish it to be an evil. So with regard to eating certain fruits; there is not evil in it of itself, it was the commandment of the Great God that made it an evil. He said to Adam and Eve, Here are all the fruits of the garden; you may eat of them freely except this one tree that stands in the midst of the garden; now beware, for in the day you eat thereof you shall surely die. Don’t we perceive that the commandment made this an evil? Had it not been for this commandment, Adam would have walked forth and freely partaken of every tree without any remorse of conscience; just as the savage, that never has heard the revealed will of God, would work on the Sabbath, the same as on any other day, and have no conscience about the matter. But when a man murders, he knows it to be an injury, and he has a conscience about it, though he never heard of 394 ZION’S TRUMPET.

God; and so with thousands of other evils. But why did the Lord place man under these peculiar circumstances? Why did He not withhold the commandment, if the partaking of the fruit, after the commandment was given, was sin? Why should there have been a commandment upon the subject here at all, inasmuch as there was no evil in the nature of the thing to be perceived or understood? The Lord had a purpose in view; though he constructed this fair creation, as we have told you, subject to immortality, and capable of eternal endurance, and though he had constructed man capable of living forever, yet He had an object in view in regard to that man, and the creation he inhabited. What was the object? And how shall this object be accomplished? Why, the Lord wanted this intelligent being called man, to prove himself; inasmuch as he was an agent, He desired that he should show himself approved before his Creator. How could this be done without a commandment? Can you devise any possible means? Is there any person in this congregation having wisdom sufficient to devise any means by which an intelligent being can show himself approved before a superior intelligence, unless it be by administering to that man certain laws to be kept? No. Without law, without commandment or rule, there would be no possible way of showing his integrity; it could not be said that he would keep all the laws that govern superior orders of beings, unless he had been placed in a position to be tried, and thus proven whether he would keep them or not. Then it was wisdom to try the man and the woman, so the Lord gave them this commandment; if he had not intended the man should be tried by this commandment, he never would have planted that tree, he never would have placed it in the midst of the garden. But the very fact that he planted it where the man could have easy access to it, shows that he intended man should be tried by it, and thus prove whether he would keep His commandments or not. The penalty of disobedience to this law was death. But could He not give a commandment, without affixing a penalty? He could not: it would be folly, even worse than folly, for ZION’S TRUMPET. 395

God to give a law to an intelligent being, without affixing a penalty to it if it be broken. Why? Because all intelligent beings would discard the very idea of a law being given, which might be broken at pleasure, without the individuals breaking it being punished for their transgression. They would say, where is the principle of justice in the giver of the law?—it is not there; we do not reverence Him nor his law; justice does not have an existence in his bosom; He does not regard his own laws, for he suffers them to be broken with impunity, and trampled under foot by those whom he has made; therefore we care not for him or his laws, nor his pretended justice; we will rebel against it. Where would have been the use of it, if there had been no penalty affixed? But what was the nature of this penalty? It was widely ordained to be of such a nature as to instruct man. Penalties inflicted upon human beings here by governors, kings, or rulers, are generally of such a nature as to benefit them. Adam was appointed lord of this creation; a great governor, swaying the scepter of power over the whole earth. When the governor, the person who was placed to reign over this fair creation, had transgressed, all in his dominions had to feel the effects of it, the same as a father or a mother, who transgresses certain laws, frequently transmits the effects thereof to the latest generations. How often do we see certain diseases becoming hereditary, being handed down from father to son for generations. Why? Because in the first instance there was a transgression, and the children partook of the effects of it. And what was the fullest extent of the penalty of Adam’s transgression? I will tell you;—it was death. The death of what? They death of the immortal tabernacle—of that tabernacle where the seeds of death had not been, that was wisely framed, and pronounced very good: the seeds of death were introduced into it. How, and in what manner? Some say there was something in the nature of the fruit that introduced mortality. Be this as it may, one thing is certain—death entered into the system; it came there by some means, and sin was the mainspring by which this monster was 396 ZION’S TRUMPET. introduced. If there had been no sin, old father Adam would at this day have been in the garden of Eden, as bright and as blooming, as fresh and as fair as ever, together with his lovely consort Eve, dwelling in all the beauty of youth. By one man came death, the death of the body. What becomes of the spirit when the body dies? Will it be perfectly happy? Would old father Adam’s spirit have gone back into the presence of God, and dwelt there eternally, enjoying all the felicities and glories of heaven, after his body had died? No; for the penalty of that transgression was not limited to the body alone. When he sinned it was with both the body and the spirit that he sinned: it was not only the body that ate of the fruit, but the spirit gave the will to eat; the spirit sinned therefore as well as the body; they were agreed in partaking of that fruit. Was not the spirit to suffer then as well as the body? Yes. How long? To all ages of eternity, without any end; while the body was to return back to its mother earth, and there slumber to all eternity. That was the effect of the fall, leaving out the plan of redemption; so that, if there had been no plan of redemption prepared from before the foundation of the world, man would have been subjected to an eternal dissolution of the body and spirit—the one to lie mingling with its mother earth to all ages of eternity, and the other to be subject, throughout all future duration, to the power that deceived him, and led them astray; to be completely miserable, or as the Book of Mormon says, “dead as to things pertaining to righteousness;” and I defy any such beings to have any happiness when they are dead as to things pertaining to righteousness. To them, happiness is out of the question; they are completely and eternally miserable, and there is no help for them, laying aside the atonement. That was the penalty pronounced upon father Adam, and upon all the creation of which he was made lord and governor. This is what is termed original sin, and the effect of it. But there is a very curious saying in the Book of Mormon, to which I now wish to refer your minds; it reads thus: “Adam fell that man might be, and men are that they might have joy.” Says one, if Adam had not fallen, then there could not have been any ZION’S TRUMPET. 397 posterity. That is just what we believe; but how do you get along with that saying which was given previous to the fall, where he was commanded to multiply and replenish the earth? How could he have multiplied and fulfilled this commandment, if “Adam fell that man might be?” Let me appeal to another saying in the New Testament: “Adam was not deceived; but the woman, being deceived, was in transgression,” says the apostle Paul. Well, after the woman was deceived, she had become subject to the penalty; yes, after she had partaken of the forbidden fruit, the penalty was upon her, and not upon Adam; he had not partaken of the fruit, but his wife had. Now, what is to be done? Here are two beings in the garden of Eden, the woman and the man; she has transgressed, has broken the law, and incurred the penalty. And now, suppose the man had said, I will not partake of this forbidden fruit: the next word would be, Cast her out of the garden; but let Adam stay there, for he has not sinned, he has not broken the commandment, but his wife has; she was deceived, let her be banished from the garden, and from my presence, and from Adam’s presence; let them be eternally separated. I ask, on these conditions could they fulfill the first great commandment? They could not. Adam saw this, that the woman was overcome by the devil speaking through the serpent; and when he saw it, he was satisfied that the woman would have to be banished from his presence: he saw also that unless he partook of the forbidden fruit, he could never raise up posterity; therefore the truth of that saying in the Book of Mormon is apparent, that “Adam fell that man might be.” He saw that it was necessary that he should with her partake of sorrow and death, and the varied effects of the fall, that he and she might be redeemed from these effects, and be restored back again to the presence of God. This tree of which they both ate, was called the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Why was it thus termed? I will explain a mystery to you, brethren, why this was called so. Adam and Eve, while in the garden of Eden, had not the knowledge you and I have; it is true, they had a degree of intelligence, but they had not the experience, they had not the knowledge by experience as you and I have: all they 398 ZION’S TRUMPET. knew was barely what they knew when they came there; they knew a commandment had been given to them, and they had sufficient knowledge to name the beasts of the field as they came up before them; but as for the knowledge of good, they had not got it, because they never had anything contrary to good placed before them. We will bring up an example. For instance, suppose you never had tasted anything that was sweet—never had the sensation of sweetness—could you have any correct idea of the term sweetness? No. On the other hand, how could you understand bitter if you never had tasted bitterness? Could you define the term to them who had experienced this sensation, or knew it? No. I will bring another example. Take a man who had been perfectly blind from his infancy, and never saw the least gleam of light—could you describe colors to him? No. Would he know anything about red, blue, violet, or yellow? No; you could not describe it to him by any way you might undertake. But by some process let his eyes be opened, and let him gaze upon the sunbeams that reflect upon a watery cloud, producing the rainbow, where he would see a variety of colors, he could then appreciate them for himself; but tell him about colors when he is blind, he would not know them from a piece of earthenware. So with Adam previous to partaking of this fruit: good could not be described to him, because he never had experienced the opposite. As to undertaking to explain to him what evil was, you might as well have undertaken to explain to a being, that never had, for one moment, had his eyes closed to the light, what darkness is. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was placed there that man might gain certain information he never could have gained otherwise: by partaking of the forbidden fruit he experienced misery; then he knew that he was once happy, but previously he could not comprehend what happiness meant, what good was; but now he knows it by contrast; now he is filled with sorrow and wretchedness, now he sees the difference between his former and present condition, and if by any means he could be restored to his first position, he would be prepared to realize it, like the man that never had seen the light. Let the man to whom all the beauties of light have been displayed, and ZION’S TRUMPET. 399 who has never been in darkness, be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, deprived of his natural sight; what a change this would be to him; he never knew anything about darkness before, he never understood the principle at all; it never entered the catalogue of his ideas, until darkness came upon him: now he can comprehend that the medium he once existed in was light. Now, says he, if I could only regain my sight, I could appreciate it, for I understand the contrast; restore me back again to my sight, and let me enjoy the light I once had; let me gaze upon the works of creation, let me look on the beauties thereof again, and I will be satisfied, and my joy will be full. It was so with Adam; let the way be prepared for his redemption, and the redemption of his posterity, and all creation that groans in pain to be delivered; let them be restored back again to what they lost through the fall, and they will be prepared to appreciate it. (To be continued.)

SAFE ARRIVAL IN THE VALLEY OF THE EMIGRATING FUND SAINTS.

It is a joy to read in the “Star” for December 11, the letter that Elder F. D. Richards wrote from Great Salt Lake City, dated September 30, giving the account of the safe arrival of the Saints that emigrated with the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, to the Valley. The companies were welcomed in by Presidents B. Young and W. Richards, and others, together with the brass band ahead of them. After arriving in Union Square in the midst of the roar of artillery and the melodious sound of music, the new arrivals were addressed by President Brigham Young in the way of life, peace, and salvation. The arrival of the brethren from England, &c., created a general sensation throughout the city, and it will long be remembered. Eight of the Twelve were in the Valley at that time, and P. P. Pratt, A. Lyman, and C. C. Rich are expected to be there on the first of December, at which time all the Twelve will be together once again, with the exception of Orson Pratt, who has gone to Washington. The missionaries left for England and other countries, about the 15th of September. 400 ZION’S TRUMPET.

The weather has been very pleasant, and the light rain has turned the weather cooler, and some thereby have been taken down with cholera-morbus. The companies who were on the plains have been pouring in continually, and reporting that the companies of brothers Kelsey and De La Mare, which contain the sugar machinery, are together, and are near Bridger. Twenty-three yoke of cattle, and a load of flour, have been sent to meet them. This liberal accession to the strength of Zion, will be very effective in improving the various settlements. F. D. Richards and Erastus Snow intend to go after the October Conference, to Iron county, to look after the iron works and the coal mines. Brother Richards wishes to be remembered to the British Saints, and promises to write again.

THE WEEKLY “TRUMPET.”

The time is now at the door when the Trumpet will come out every week, instead of every fortnight, as at present. We trust that every effort will be made to facilitate it, so that it will also at the same time have a broader circulation. If we succeed in getting a broader circulation, we will be enabled to put much more in the Trumpet than it contains at present, and that for the same price. We have a great deal of news from the Valley in our hands, which will appear in print as soon as it is possible. There is so much news that the Star considers it necessary to cause a book to come out with the Star, in order to contain it. The Saints will get to see such things coming out that will surprise them; and we advise them to be on their guard, and to pray to God that they will have the Spirit of understanding and wisdom, so they may comprehend and believe those things that the Lord has spoken to them. We shall see at that time how many believe the Bible; for the Lord is going to show to his Church and to the world what is according to the Bible. The world cannot understand that book, and many of the Saints do not understand it completely. This will be encouragement to strive for the success of the weekly Trumpet, and to circulate it as widely as possible. May every member among the Saints feel the spirit of selling it to his friends and neighbors, and then we know that many more will be ZION’S TRUMPET. 401 sold than at present. May the Presidents of every level take this under advisement, and strive to put everyone to work in selling the Trumpet and other books, during the coming year, and may we receive information from the President or the Distributor of every Conference (and every Branch in that Conference), how many more they can sell next year; and we beg to have that information from everywhere by the 25th of December (Christmas day); and where we do not receive information, we will send the same number as usual.

WARNING.

The money for the Emigrating Fund is to be sent here by Friday, the 24th of this month; and the semiannual Report is to be sent here by the second day of January, which is to be made up until the last day of December. Required are the name of the Conference, the number of Branches, High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons; also how many have been cut off, baptized, died, and emigrated, since the previous Report was made, together with the total number of members, and the officers and the scattered members. Let every President see to it that this is sent here on time. From among the Conference Presidents emigrating next time are,—Abednego Jones, President of the Llanelli Conference; William Parry, President of the Flintshire Conference; and John H. Davies, President of the Dyffryn Conway Conference, but he is presently released in order to pay a visit to his relatives. Warning Once Again.—For all who intend to Emigrate the next time with the ten-pound company, let them send here £5 each by the 15th of this month; also their names, their occupations, and where they were born. Everyone should remember that the £5 is required in addition to the £1 deposit. W. S. Phillips. 14, Castle St., Merthyr, Dec. 6, 1852.

P. S.—Since I wrote the above, President S. W. Richards paid us a visit in Merthyr; and at the request of several of the Saints, he has permitted me to send an Emigrating Fund company, and the ten- 402 ZION’S TRUMPET. pound company, at the same time, namely in February; and it would be wise for the emigrants to strive to be ready by the beginning of that month. W. S. P.

MERCY OF GOD. PARAPHRASE OF PSALM CXXXVI. TUNE—“Swiss Boy.”

Lift up praise to the Lord God, He is good and merciful: Chorus. Praise God While we live; For he is worthy, And his mercy endureth forever. His name spread abroad without fail, He is the God of all the gods: Praise God, &c. Give thanks with one voice together To the Lord of all the lords: Praise God, &c. To him whose great wonders Make heaven and earth to tremble: Praise God, &c. To him that created above us, With great wisdom, the smiling heaven: Praise God, &c. To him who stretched up in glory The earth above the waters: Praise God, &c. To him that made in the firmament above All the great lights: Praise God, &c. The sun to give unfailingly Its lovely light by day: Praise God, &c. And the clear moon, and the light of the stars, To the darkness of the night to give pure radiance: Praise God, &c. To him that smote in his wrath The firstborn through all of Egypt: Praise God, &c. ZION’S TRUMPET. 403

And to the disgrace of the evil Pharaoh, He brought out Israel from among them: Praise God, &c. To him that caused, in a swift manner, The reddish waters to divide into two: Praise God, &c. And made Israel to pass through, between The great walls of the angry waves: Praise God, &c. Which buried Pharaoh and his strident host, In the breaking of the walls of the Red Sea: Praise God, &c. And led on their journey His people through the vast wilderness: Praise God, &c. To him that smote down, In battle, many great kings: Praise God, &c. And made fall in the field of blood, Famous kings under his feet: Praise God, &c. He overthrew brave Sihon, and his men, Who ruled over the land of the Amorites: Praise God, &c. And the king Og, the huge giant, And his mighty host, he smote down: Praise God, &c. And their vast lands, completely, As an inheritance he gave all: Praise God, &c. As a heritage to his servant— To Israel as a rich dwelling place: Praise God, &c. To him, because of his great and generous mercy, That saw us in our low estate: Praise God, &c. And released us without exception From the great oppression of the Egyptian yoke: Praise God, &c. To him who supplies us abundantly With food for all flesh: Praise God, &c. 404 ZION’S TRUMPET.

Therefore, let us unite in one voice, To praise the Lord God of heaven: Praise God While we live; For he is worthy, And his mercy endureth forever.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Rich men are, in fact, nothing but trustees over the needy, and will be viewed as such when they are called to give an accounting.

Praises would be very valuable, if they could endow us with the excellencies we are in need of.

Coal.—In a letter from G. A. Smith, we are informed that a new vein of coal has been discovered in Iron County, in Utah Territory, which is five feet thick, and about a mile closer to the iron works than the one that was found before.

Payments from November 26 to December 9.—Monmouthshire, £2; North Pembroke, £3; Denbighshire, £3; Carmarthen, £3 8s 9c; Dinas, 10s; Llanilltyd, 10s; Llanfabon, 5s; Cwmbach, £1 12s; Aberdare, 9s; Aberamman, 12s; Hirwaun, 3s. 3c; Rhymney, £1 6s 6c; Georgetown, 15s; Ffynnon Tydfil, 5s; Troedyrhiw, 5s 8c; Joseph Rogers, 2s.—Total, £18 4s 2c. Conferences.—Breconshire Conference will be held on the 26th of December; Merthyr, on the second of January; Monmouthshire, in Tredegar, on the 9th; Swansea, on the 16th; Llanelli, on the 23rd; Carmarthen, on the 30th; Cardigan, on the 6th of February; North Pembroke, on the 13th; Pembroke, on the 20th. “D. D.”—The words “new covenant” are quite correct, and hymn 25 is consequently regular. Once again we request our brethren to come to collect the books we have bound for them, before they grow too old. “I. J.”—Let our Distributors remember that we will not sell the Book of Mormon, the Doc. and Cov., or the Hymn Books, unbound. Let the brethren who promised to clear the book debts remember, that the three 0’s can be obtained, only if all the money is in our hands at 12 o’clock noon the 31st of December, at the latest. It is better if they can have it here sooner. We know of many who are certain to fulfill their promise. Send all letters, containing orders and payments, to John Davis, Printer, John’s Street, Georgetown, Merthyr.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. ZION’S TRUMPET,

OR Star of the Saints.

NO. 26.] DECEMBER 25, 1852. [VOL. I V.

In order to show you the dire effects of the fall, it is not only necessary to say that old father Adam has experienced that penalty, and laid down his body in the dust; but all generations since that time have experienced the same; and you, and I, and every man, and woman, and child, have got to undergo that penalty; it will be inflicted upon us, and thus will the law of God be magnified, his words fulfilled, and justice have its demands. It is not because of our sins, that we die; it is not because we have transgressed, that we die; it is not because we may commit murder, or steal, or plunder, or rob, or take the name of the Lord in vain; it is not these things that bring the death of the body; but it is Adam’s sin that makes the little child die, that makes kings, princes, and potentates die, and that has made all generations die from his day down to the present time. Don’t you think there ought to be some way to redeem us from this dreadful calamity? We had no hand in the transgression of Adam; you and I were not there to participate 26 406 ZION’S TRUMPET. in it; but it was our great father who did it, and we are suffering the effects of it. Cannot some of the wise medical men of the age—some of the great physicians and doctors of the day, who have studied medicine all their life—can they not imagine up something new that will relieve the posterity of Adam from this awful calamity? They have not done it yet. Dr. Brandreth recommended his medicine for all kinds of diseases, and even it was said that steam-boats were propelled by its power; but it made no man immortal; it did not save one man; and it is doubtful in the extreme—it is certain that no man in this mortality has ever discovered that medicine which will relieve us from these awful effects transmitted from father Adam to this present time. There is a remedy, but it is not to be found in the catalogue of the inventions of man; it is not to be found in the bowels of the earth, or dug out of any mines; it is not to be purchased by the gold of California, or the treasures of India. What is it, and how discovered? It was the Being who made man, that made him immortal and eternal, that Being whose bosom is filled with mercy, as well as justice, that exercises both attributes, and shows to all creation that he is a merciful God, as well as a God of justice; it was He that discovered this wonderful remedy to preserve mankind from the effects of this eternal death. But when is it to be applied? Not immediately, for that would frustrate His designs: when the body has got back into the dust, and after man has suffered sufficiently long for the original sin, He then brings him forth to enjoy all the bloom of immortality; He tells Death to trouble him no more; He wipes away all tears from his eyes, for he is prepared to live forever, and gaze upon his glory, and dwell in his presence. This great Redeemer is stronger than death, more powerful than that direful monster who has come into the world, and laid siege to all the inhabitants thereof; He will banish it out of this creation. How will He do it? If the penalty of the original sin be the eternal separation of body and spirit, how can justice have all its demands, and mercy be shown to the transgressor? There is a way, and how? It is by the introduction of his Only Begotten Son, the Son of his ZION’S TRUMPET. 407 own bosom, the First-born of every creature, holding the birthright over every creation he has made, and holding the keys of salvation over millions of worlds like this; he has a right to come forth and suffer the penalty of death for the fallen sons and daughters of man. He offered his own life: says he, Father, I will suffer death, though I have not merited it; let me suffer the demands of the law. Here I am innocent in thy presence; I have always kept thy laws from the day of my birth among thy creations, throughout ages past down to the present time; I have never been rebellious to thy commandments; and now I will suffer for my brethren and sisters: let thy justice be magnified and made honorable; here am I; let me suffer the ends of the law, and let death and the grave deliver up their victims, and let the posterity of Adam all be set free, every soul of them without an exception. This is the way that justice is magnified and made honorable, and none of the creations of the Almighty can complain of him, that he has not answered the ends of justice; no intelligent being can say, You have deviated from your words. Justice has had its demands in the penalties that were inflicted upon the Son of God, so far as Adam’s transgression is concerned. I will explain a little further. So far as that transgression is concerned, all the inhabitants of the earth will be saved. Now understand me correctly. If there are any strangers present that have not understood the views of the Latter-day Saints, I wish you to understand that we have no reference in any way to our own personal sins; but so far as the original sin of father Adam is concerned, you and I will have to suffer death; and every man and woman that ever lived on this globe will be redeemed from that sin. On what condition? I answer, on no condition whatever on our part. But, says one, where I came from they tell me I ought to repent for the original sin. I care not what they tell you, you will be redeemed from the original sin with no works on your part whatever. Jesus has died to redeem you from it, and you are as sure to be redeemed, as you live upon the face of this earth. This is the kind of universal redemption the “Mormons” believe in, though in one sense of the word, it is a different kind of universal redemption from that which 408 ZION’S TRUMPET. the nations have been in the habit of hearing. We believe in the universal redemption of all the children of Adam into the presence of God, so far as the sins of Adam are concerned. They will obtain a universal redemption from the grave. It matters not how wicked you are; if you have murdered all the days of your life, and committed all the sins the devil would prompt you to commit, you will get a resurrection; your spirit will be restored to your body. If Jesus had not come, all of us would have slumbered in the grave; but now, wicked as we may be, if we go down to the grave blaspheming the name of the Lord, we shall as sure come up again as we go down there. This is free grace without works; all this comes to pass without works on the part of the creature. Now let us pause upon another subject as we pass along. Don’t you know, my hearers, that there has been another law given since man has become a mortal being? Is it the Book of Mormon? No. After man became a mortal being, the Lord gave him another law. What was it? You have now got into a condition that you know good and evil by experience, and I will give you a law adapted to your capacity, says the Lord, and I now command you, that you shall not do evil. What is the penalty? Second death. What is that? After you have been redeemed from the grave, and come into the presence of God, you will have to stand there to be judged; and if you have done evil, you will be banished everlastingly from His presence—body and spirit united together; this is what is called the second death. Why is it called the second death? Because the first is the dissolution of body and spirit, and the second is merely a banishment—a becoming dead to the things of righteousness; and as I have already remarked, wherever a being is placed in such a condition, there perfect misery reigns; I care not where you place them; you may take any of the celestial worlds, and place millions of beings there that are dead to righteousness, and how long will it be before they make a perfect hell of it? They would make a hell of any heaven the Lord ever made. It is the second death,—the penalty attached to the commandment given to the posterity of Adam, viz., You shall cease to do evil; for if you ZION’S TRUMPET. 409 cease to do evil, you shall be redeemed from Adam’s transgression, and brought back into my presence; and if you cease not to do evil, you shall be punished with everlasting destruction from my presence, and from the glory of my power, saith the Lord. But, says one, He is so merciful, that He would not inflict such a penalty upon us. Have you ever seen a man that has escaped from the first death? Or who had any prospect of it? No; you cannot find a remedy to hinder him from going down to his grave. Has there been any escape for any individual for 6000 years past? Now, if the Lord has been punctual to make every man, woman, and child suffer the penalty of the first transgression, why should you suppose that you can stand in his presence, and behold the glory of his power, and have everlasting life and happiness, when He has told you that you should be banished therefrom, that the second death should be inflicted upon you? For the first provocation, He has fulfilled to the very letter the penalty of the law; so will he in the second, and there is no escape. Says one, is there no escape? No; not so far as you are able to provide. But I will tell you that there is a redemption for man from this second death or penalty, and the Lord remains a perfect, just Being, his justice being magnified. There is a way of escape from the effects of your own individual transgressions. But it is different from the redemption from the original sin of Adam. The redemption from that sin was universal without works, but the redemption from your own personal sins is universal with works on the part of the creature,—universal in its nature, because it is free to all, but not received by all. The salvation, or redemption from our own sins, is not by free grace alone, it requires a little work. But what are the works? Jesus Christ, through his death and sufferings, has answered the penalty, on condition that you believe in him, and repent of your sins, and be baptized for the remission of them, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands, and continue humble and meek, and prayerful, until you go down to your graves: and on these conditions, Jesus will plead for you before the Father, and say, Father, I not only died 410 ZION’S TRUMPET. for Adam’s sin, but for the sins of all the world, inasmuch as they believe in my Gospel; and now these individuals have repented, they have reformed their lives, and have become like little children in my sight, and have performed the works I have given them to do—and now Father, may they be saved with an everlasting salvation in thy presence, and sit down with me on my throne, as I have overcome and sat down with thee on thy throne; and may they be crowned, with all the sanctified, with immortality and eternal life, no more to be cast away. Don’t you think the Father would accept an appeal of this kind from His Only Begotten Son? Yes. He is our Mediator, to plead before the Father for those who will comply with his commands, and the laws of his Gospel. The way is simple, so simple and easy that many step over it and say, O, that is of no consequence, it is of no avail, it will do no good to be baptized in water. But if the Lord had not constructed it upon a simple plan, adapted to the capacities of all men, they might have had some excuse; but as it is, they have none: all you have got to do is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, turn away from your sins, cease to do evil, saying, Father, I will cease from this time henceforth to sin, and will work the works of righteousness; I will try to do good all the days of my life; and I witness this before thee by this day going down into the waters of baptism, and thus cast off the old man, with his deeds, and henceforth live in newness of life. If you will do this, you will just as sure be redeemed from your own sins, and the penalty thereof, and be lifted up to dwell in the presence of God, as you have been redeemed or lifted up from the waters of baptism. This is the Gospel, the first principles thereof, by which you can be redeemed from your own sins; and by and by death will come, and it will be sweet to you, for Jesus has suffered the penalty of sin; the pangs of sin are gone, and you fall asleep in peace, having made sure your salvation, and having done your duty well, like those we are preaching the funeral sermon of this morning; and thus you will fall asleep with a full assurance that you will come up, in the morning of the first resurrection, with an immortal body, like that which Adam had before he partook of the forbidden fruit. This is the promise to them that fall asleep in Jesus. When our spirits leave these bodies, will they be happy? Not perfectly so. Why? Because the spirit is absent from the body; it cannot be perfectly happy while a part of the man is lying in the earth. How can the happiness be complete when only a part of the redemption is accomplished? You cannot be perfectly happy until you get a new house. You will be happy, you will be at ease in paradise; but still you will be looking for a house where your spirit ZION’S TRUMPET. 411 can enter, and act as you did in former times, only more perfectly, having superior powers. Consequently, all the holy men that have lived in days of old, have looked forward to the resurrection of their bodies; for then their glory will be complete. What did Paul say upon this subject? He said, “I have kept the faith, I have fought the good fight, and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day.” Do you understand this passage? Remember that this crown that Paul speaks of, was not to be given in the day we die; but it is to be given in “that day”—the day of the Lord’s appearing; it is to be given to all those that love his appearing; then is the time that Paul will get his crown; then is the time that the Saints who fall asleep in our day, will receive their crowns—crowns of rejoicing—kingly crowns. What good would a crown do a man who is miserable and wretched? Many persons have worn crowns in this life; tyrants have had crowns of diamonds and gold; but what benefit are they? None at all, except to a being who has made himself perfectly happy by his obedience. But what are we to understand by this crown of righteousness, which is to be given to the Saints? We understand that it is actually to be a crown of glory; that they are to be kings in reality. John speaks in the first chapter of his Revelations to the Churches in his day, and represents the Saints to be Kings and Priests; he says, “Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and His Father;” and this too, while in this life. In another place he speaks of those who are dead—about their singing a new song: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou hast redeemed us by thy blood, out of every nation, people, and tongue; and has made us unto our God Kings and Priests.” Here then we find, from the first chapter, that they were made Kings and Priests before they were dead; and in the next quotation, we find that they still retained their kingly office after death, and actually had made songs to express their happy condition—Thou hast made us Kings and Priests. Now we see the reason why they are to wear crowns, for they will be made Kings and Priests on the earth: the Lord then, must have some way to give this kingly power. Do you understand this, brethren and sisters? If you were to speak, I should hear innumerable voices respond, Yes, we understand it; the Lord has revealed the ordinances; we know how the sons and daughters of God obtain this kingly office, while living here in this mortal tabernacle. We will pass over that; suffice it to say, that death does not wrench it from them; for they are to be kings, not for a day, or for this short life, but they are to remain to all eternity kings; having their thrones, and acting in the duties belonging to their kingly office. Compared 412 ZION’S TRUMPET. with this, what are all the little, petty kingdoms of this earth worth? They are not worth one snap of the finger. The kings of the world exercise a certain authority over the nations—over their subjects, issuing laws, and framing governments, and controlling them; and do you suppose that the Saints will be kings in the eternal world, and sit down upon thrones, in silence, not exercising the functions of their office? No. That is not the way the Lord has organized His creations: if there are kings you may depend upon it they will have kingdoms under their control; they will have authority and dominion; they will give laws to those subjects over whom they bear rule; they will control them by the priestly office, for it is combined with the kingly office, and neither can be separated to all eternity. Is our God so narrow and contracted in his feelings, in his views and disposition that he would limit the authority of the priestly office to this little globe we inhabit? No. God has more expansive views; his works are without beginning, and without end; they are one eternal round. What kind of works are they? They are to make creations, and people them with living beings, and place them in a condition to prove themselves; and to exercise the kingly and priestly office to redeem them after they have suffered pain, and sorrow, and distress; and to bring them up into the presence of God; that they, in their turn, may become kings and priests for other creations that shall be made, and that shall be governed and ruled over by those possessing the proper authority. We do not believe that everything has got to be limited to this little space of time in this world; but the Saints will be doing a work that will be adapted to beings that are the sons of God in the fullest sense of the word, that are precisely like their Father; and if so, they will be like Gods, and will hold dominion under that Being who is the Lord of lords; and they will hold it to all eternity. We will come back to our text. We have been talking about the funeral sermon of the earth; the earth is to wax old like a garment, and pass away. I have already proved to you the redemption of man, and how he will become immortal and eternal; now let us look after his inheritance: we will see if he is to be lifted up in space, without any inheritance to stand upon, without any land upon which to raise manna for eating, or flax for the spinning and making of fine robes and other wearing apparel. Let us see if it is to be a shadowy existence, like the god that is served by Christendom, “without body, parts, and passions,” and located “beyond the bounds of time and space.” The earth is to die; it has already received certain ordinances, and will have to receive other ordinances for its recovery from the fall. ZION’S TRUMPET. 413

We will go back to the creation. The first account we have of the earth, it was enveloped in a mass of waters; it was called forth from the womb of liquid elements. Here was the first birth of our creation,—the waters rolled back, and the dry land appeared, and was soon clothed upon with vegetable and animal existence. This was similar to all other births; being first encompassed in a flood of mighty waters, it burst forth from them, and was soon clothed with all the beauties of the vegetable kingdom. By and by it became polluted by Adam’s transgression, and was thus brought under the sentence of death, with all things connected with it; and as our text says, it must wax old and die, in like manner as the inhabitants upon the face thereof. The heavens and the earth were thus polluted, that is, the material heavens, and everything connected with our globe; all fell when man fell, and became subject to death when man became subject to it. Both man and the earth are redeemed from the original sin without ordinances; but soon we find new sins committed by the fallen sons of Adam, and the earth became corrupted before the Lord by their transgressions. It needs redeeming ordinances for these second transgressions. The Lord ordained baptism, or immersion of the earth in water, as a justifying ordinance. Said he to Noah, Build an ark for the saving of thyself and house, for I will immerse the earth in water, that the sins which have corrupted it may be washed away from its face. The fountains of the great deep, and the windows on high, were opened, and the rains came and overwhelmed the earth, and the dry land disappeared in the womb of the mighty waters, even as in the beginning. The waters were assuaged; the earth came forth clothed with innocence, like the newborn child, having been baptized or born again from the ocean flood; and thus the old earth was buried with all its deeds, and arose to newness of life, its sins being washed away, even as man has to be immersed in water to wash away his own personal sins. By and bye the earth becomes corrupted again, and the nations make themselves drunken with the wine of the wrath of great Babylon; but the Lord has reserved the same earth for fire; hence he says by the Prophet Malachi, “Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, &c.” A complete purification is again to come upon the earth, and that, too, by the more powerful element of fire; and the wicked will be burned as stubble. When is this to be? Is it to be before the earth dies? This is a representation of the baptism that is received by man after he has been baptized in water; for he is then to be baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost, and all his sins are entirely done away: so the earth will be baptized with fire, and wickedness swept away from its face, so that the glory of God shall cover it. As 414 ZION’S TRUMPET. the waters cover the great deep, so will the earth be overwhelmed and immersed in the glory of God, and His spirit be poured out upon all flesh, before the earth dies. After this purifying ordinance, there will be a thousand years of rest, during which righteousness shall abound upon the face of the earth; and soon after the thousand years have ended, the words of the text shall be fulfilled:—“Behold, the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth wax old like a garment,” &c. When the earth waxes old, and has filled the measure of its creation, and all things have been done according to the mind and will of God, he will say to the earth, Die. What will be its death? Will it be drowned? No—it is to die through the agency of fire; it is to suffer a death similar to many of the martyrs; the very elements themselves are to melt with fervent heat, and the hills are to be made like wax before the Lord. Will the earth be annihilated? No, there is not such a word in all His revelations; such a thing was never known in the bosom of the Almighty, or any other being, except in the imaginations of some of the moderns, who have declared that the globe was to become like the “baseless fabric of a vision.” It is one of the sectarian follies, that the elements and everything else are to be completely struck out of existence; the Lord never revealed, or thought of, or even hinted at such a thing. The earth will not be annihilated, any more than our bodies are after being burned. Every chemist knows that the weight of a thing is not diminished by burning it. The present order of things must be done away, and, as the apostle John says, all things must become new; and he tells us the time when: it is to be after the millennium. This passing away is equivalent to death, and all things being made new is equivalent to the resurrection. Is the new earth to be made precisely like this earth? No; but as this earth was before sin entered into it; and we shall inherit it. This is our heaven, and we have the title to it by promise, and it will be redeemed through the faith and prayers of the Saints, and we shall get a title from God to a portion of it as our inheritance. O ye farmers, when you sleep in the grave, don’t be afraid that your agricultural pursuits are forever at an end; don’t be fearful that you will never get any more landed property: but if you be Saints, be of good cheer, for when you come up in the morning of the resurrection, behold a new earth made wherein dwells righteousness, and blessed are ye, for ye shall inhabit it. “Blessed are the meek,” says our Savior, “for they shall inherit the earth,” though they have died without a foot of land. The Latter-day Saints have been driven from one possession to another, until they were driven beyond the pale of civilization into the deserts, where it was supposed they would die, and that would be the last of them; but behold, they have a firm ZION’S TRUMPET. 415 hold upon the promise that the meek shall inherit the earth, when they come here with immortal bodies capable of enjoying the earth. True, we can have plenty of the things of this life in their cursed condition; but what are all these things? They are nothing. We are looking for things in their immortal state, and farmers will have great farms upon the earth when it is so changed. But don’t be so fast, says one, don’t you know that there are only about 197,000,000 of square miles, or about 126,000,000,000 of acres, upon the surface of the globe? Will this accommodate all the inhabitants after the resurrection? Yes; for if the earth should stand 8,000 years, or eighty centuries, and the population should be a thousand millions in every century, that would be eighty thousand millions of inhabitants; and we know that many centuries have passed that would not give the tenth part of this; but supposing this to be the number, there would then be over an acre and a half for each person upon the face of the globe. But there is another thing to be considered. Are the wicked to receive the earth as an inheritance? No; for Jesus did not say, Blessed are the wicked, for they shall inherit the earth; this promise was made only to the meek. Who are the meek? None but those who receive the ordinances of the Gospel, and live according to them; they must receive the same ordinances the earth has received, and be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, as this earth will be when Jesus comes to reign upon it a thousand years, and be clothed upon with the glory of God, as this earth will be; and after they have died as the earth will die, they will have to be resurrected, as this earth will be resurrected, and then receive their inheritance upon it. Look at the seventeen centuries that have passed away on the eastern hemisphere, during which time the sound of the Gospel has never been heard from the mouth of an authorized servant of God. Suppose now that out of the vast amount of the population of this earth, one in a hundred should receive the law of meekness, and be entitled to receive an inheritance upon the new earth; how much land would they receive? We answer, they would receive over 150 acres, which would be quite enough to raise manna, and to build some habitations upon, and some splendid mansions; it would be large enough to raise flax to make robes of, and to have beautiful orchards of fruit trees; it would be large enough to have our flower gardens, and everything the agriculturalist and the botanist want, and some to spare. What would be done with the spare portions? Let me tell you of one thing which perhaps some of you have never thought of. Do you suppose that we shall get up out of the grave, male and female, and that we shall not have the same kind of affections, and endearments, 416 ZION’S TRUMPET. and enjoyments that we have here? The same pure feelings of love that exist in the bosoms of the male and female in this world, will exist with seven-fold intensity in the next world, governed by the law of God; there will be no corruptions nor infringements upon one another’s rights. Will not a man have his own family? Yes; he will also have his own mansion and farm, his own sons and daughters. And what else? Why, the fact is, man will continue to multiply and fill up this creation, inasmuch as it is not filled up by the resurrected Saints after it is made new. And what will he do when this is filled up? Why, he will make more worlds, and swarm out like bees from the old hive, and prepare new locations. And when a farmer has cultivated his farm, and raised numerous children, so that the space is beginning to be too strait for them, he will say, My sons, yonder is plenty of matter, go and organize a world, and people it; and you shall have laws to govern you, and you shall understand and comprehend through your experience the same things that we know; and thus it will be one eternal round, and one continual increase; and the government will be placed under those that are crowned as kings and priests in the presence of God. Much more might be said, for we have only just touched upon these things, only turned the key that you may look through the door and discern a little of the glories that await the Saints. Let me tell you, it has not entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God has laid up for them that love Him, unless he is filled with the Holy Ghost, and by vision gazes upon the thrones and the dominions, the principalities and powers, that are placed under His control and dominion; and He shall sway a righteous scepter over the whole. This we will consider a kind of resurrection sermon for this creation, and all the righteous that shall inhabit it. We have not time in this discourse to preach the resurrection of the wicked, nor point out the place of their location.

MISCELLANEOUS, &c .

Say only little about men whom you cannot praise without envy, or chastise without danger. Payments from December 10 to December 22.—Llanelli, 3s 9c; Cardiganshire, £1; Swansea, £14; Merionethshire, £5 3s 2c; Anglesey, £1 4s; Pontytypridd, £1 4s 6c; Dowlais, £1 4s 10c; Aberamman, 7s 9c; Hirwaun, 3s 3c; Georgetown, £1 16s 2c; Merthyr, £1; Cefn, 10s; Ffynnon Tydfil,£ 1 0s 8c; Troedyrhiw, 9s 6c.—Total, £29 7s 4c.

JOHN DAVIS, PRINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL. Index

A B Aaronic Priesthood, 348–51 Ballantyne, Richard, 62–64 Abel, 86, 278–79 baptism: call to, 294; of earth, 413–14; Abinadi, 89 education preceding, 218–19; salvation Abraham, 280 through, 82; of spirit, 98; Thomas Abraham, W. R., 339 Jeremy on, 143–44 barges in Book of Mormon, 315–18 Adam, 93–94, 278, 393–99, 405–6 beasts of Revelation, 89–90 adultery, 147 belief, 56 alcohol, 274–75, 302, 323. See also Word Benson, Ezra T., 28, 180, 290 of Wisdom Bernhisel, John M., 9–10, 63, 111 Allen, Rufus, 60, 233 Bible: justified death in, 270–71; persecu- Alma the Elder, 89 tion in, 86–88; translators of, 126–29 Alma the Younger, 89 Blair, Seth M., 11 ancestors, items inherited from, 327–28 blessings, 338–39 ancient city, 385–86 body, salvation and, 214–15 Angel, Truman O., 264 Bolton, Curtis E., 228 angels in Revelation, 90–91 book(s): announcements concerning, anti-Mormon literature, 53–55 164; anti-Mormon, 53–55; counsel antiques, 327–28 concerning, 159–61; debts for, 34, 132, Apostles: blessings for, 243; duties of, 244, 344–45; Franklin D. Richards on, 203; in Revelation, 90; in Special 197–98, 342–43; succession of, 295–96 General Conference minutes, 344–46; appearance, 56 William S. Phillips on, 368. See also Aristotle, 308 hymn books ark: of the covenant, 94–95; of Indians, book agents’ accounts, auditing of, 203–4 77; of Noah, 94, 317–18, 413 Book of Mormon: announcements audits, 203–4 concerning, 164; evidence of truth Australia, gold in, 193–94 of, 333–34; French translation of, 84; authority: obedience to, 337–38, 359–62; Italian translation of, 148; John Smith restrictions of, 363 on, 106; Parley P. Pratt on, 312–15; lxxiv INDEX

persecution in, 88–89; profits from, 68; 261–62; growth of, in Europe, 13; hos- review of Welsh, 285–86; translations tility against, 85–89, 107–13; reasons of, 13, 233, 310–11; Welsh transla- for membership in, 122–26; in South tion of, 130–31; W. Gibson on, 44–47, America, 59–62; statistical report 76–80, 267–73, 315–20, 348–51 for, 226–27; suffering of, 52; unity in, Book of the Church, 99–100 374–75 borrowing, 138 city, ancient, 385–86 branch distributors, 142, 159–61 clairvoyants, 215–16 branch presidents: conference presidents Clapp, Benjamin L., 255 and, 208, 210, 217–18; counselors of, Clarke, Hiram, 12 141; duties of, 140–41; epistle to, 159– clothing, 328–29 61, 301–3; obedience to, 337–38 Collwyn, Gwilym, 115–16 branch scribes, 141–42 commandment(s): counsel and, 41; evil Brandeburg, Lemuel G., 37, 110 and, 393–95, 408–9; word of God and, British Saints: Samuel W. Richards’s 93–96; Word of Wisdom as, 74–75 epistle to, 206–10, 217–24; statistical compass, 271–73 report for, 226–27 conference presidents: branch presidents Brocchus, Perry E., 22, 37–38, 63, 110 and, 217; debts and, 223; duties of, Brown, George, 369 208–10; epistle to, 301–3; obedience Bullock, Thomas, 262–67 to, 337–38 Bybee, Sister, 263 conferences in British Isles, statistical re- C port for, 19–20 “Conversation between the Son and His Cain, 86, 278–79 Mother,” 35 Calcutta, 320–21 Conway, Thomas, 131, 321–23 Campbell, Alexander, 268–69, 271–72, cooking stoves, 176 348–51 Copenhagen, Denmark, 119 Carmarthen Conference, 180 counsel: commandments and, 41; obedi- Carmarthenshire Conference, 180 ence to, 102 Carrington, Albert, 263 counselor, office of, 69–70 character, 100 covenant people, 252–53 charity, 48–50 Creation, 390–93, 412–13 Charles, William, 211 “Current Condition of the World,” children: counsel concerning, 103; emigration and, 329–30; parents’ duty to, 364–68 184–89, 207; sleep and, 274 Curtis, Newton M., 369 children of God, 169–70 D Christ, use of term in Book of Mormon, 318–19. See also Jesus Christ Davies, D. S., 143 church meetings, 265, 339 Davies, Joseph, 291–92 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Davies, Richard, 126–27, 129 Saints, The: beliefs of, 367–68; defense Davies, Thomas, 364–68 of, 147; duties of members of, 206–7; Davies, William, 190–93 false accusations against, 189–93; Davis, John, 3, 259–60 growth of, 3, 65–66, 102, 181–82, 228, deacons, 75 INDEX lxxv

death(s): fear of, 117–18; justified, Presidency on, 15–17; Franklin D. 270–71; in Salt Lake City, 180. See also Richards on, 31–32, 201–2; informa- funeral sermon tion on, 84, 99, 381–83; news on, 212; “Death of the Wanderer,” 161–63 Pottawatamie Saints and, 27–28; report debts: for books, 34, 132, 244, 344–45; on, 13, 399–400; from Scandinavia, Franklin D. Richards on, 203; 121; Thomas Jeremy on, 145; William Samuel W. Richards on, 223 Morgan on, 259–60; William S. Phillips “Deceit of Mormonism, together with on, 258–59, 302, 368; word and will of an Account of the Life and Death of Lord concerning, 137–39. See also gath- Joseph Smith” (Rowlands), 53 ering of Saints Denmark, missionary work in, 118–20 “Emigration, The,” 386–88 Deseret Manufacturing Company, 116 epistle(s): to conference and branch presi- diligence, 99 dents, 301–3; from Richard Richards, disagreements between presidents and 352–53; to Saints in Pottawatamie, counselors, 69–70 27–28; of Samuel W. Richards to Brit- disciplining children, 185–86 ish Saints, 206–10, 217–24; seventh Dodge, C. H., 369 general, 229–39, 245; sixth general, dream of Samuel W. Richards, 169 5–19, 29; to Welsh presidents, 34; to drink, recipe for, 228, 244 Welsh Saints, 73–76, 257–59; from Dunbar, W. C., 179 William Willes, 320–21 eternal life, 364–67. See also salvation E Ether, 88 earth, 390–93, 412–15 Evans, David, 83 earthquake, 195–96, 372 Evans, Henry, 36, 74, 84 education: of children, 186–89, 207; pre- Evans, Morgan, 35 ceding baptism, 218–19; in Salt Lake Evans, R., 129–30, 139–42, 146–47 City, 157 Evans, Robert, 36 Edwards, Eliezer: emigration of, 74, 84; Evans, William, 308 farewell address of, 64–66; letter from, Eve, 278, 397–98 290–91 evil, 223, 393–94, 408–9 Egyptian, reformed, 47 example, serving as an, 186 Egyptians, 99 “Excellence of the Religion of the Saints Ehud, 271 over All Other Religions in the World, eisteddfod, 146–47 The,” 48 elders: appointments of, 370–71; bless- F ings for, 249; duties of, 75–76, 219, 342–43; of Revelation, 90 Fall of Adam, 93–94, 393–99, 405–6 Elfed, Dewi, 354–55 false accusers, 189–93 Elijah, 271 false prophets, 5 emigration: blessings during, 251; false spirits, 146 Brigham Young on, 375–76; coun- fear of death, 117–18 sel regarding, 325–31; D. Jones on, festival in Salt Lake City, 212 288–89; Eliezer Edwards on, 290–91; Fillmore, Utah, 232 of Eliezer Edwards, 64–65; of Eliezer First Presidency: epistle from, 5–19, 27– Edwards and Henry Evans, 74; First 29, 229–39; on missionary work, 33 lxxvi INDEX

Fisher, Alfred K., 385–86 gospel: hidden, 72–73; of New Testa- fleeting thoughts, 55–57 ment, 295–96; preaching, 182–83; res- foolish practices, 273–76 toration of, 6. See also Church of Jesus Forssgreen, John E., 120 Christ of Latter-day Saints, The four angels of Revelation, 90 government: blessings for, 251–52; First four beasts of Revelation, 89–90 Presidency on, 236–37; of God, 361– frames, 327 62; Parley P. Pratt on, 341–43; priest- France, 228 hood and, 357–58 funeral sermon, 389–99, 405–16 Grant, Jedediah M., 28, 63 furnaces, 176 Greek, 318–19 “Greeting,” 83 G H Gates, Jacob, 152, 154 “Gathering, The,” 353–54 Haight, Isaac C., 84 gathering of Saints: call for, 103–4, Hanson, P. O., 120 158–59; First Presidency on, 14–17, happiness: in gathering, 220–21; in redemption, 410–11; salvation and, 214 236–38; Franklin D. Richards on, Harries, Thomas: on Church member- 31–32, 201–2; preparations for, 180; ship, 122–26; on knowledge, 57–59, Samuel W. Richards on, 220–22, 246– 81–83; on living God, 304–8; on word 47; Thomas Jeremy on, 145; unity and, of God, 93–96 280–82; word and will of Lord con- Harris, B. D., 110 cerning, 137–39. See also emigration herbs, 276 general conference: First Presidency on, Heys, Mr., 267, 269 17–18, 233–36; minutes of, 21–27, hidden gospel, 72–73 239–43, 248–58 hieroglyphics, 46–47 General Council, Special, minutes of, high priests: blessings for, 249; of Indi- 133–36, 149–56, 165–77, 181–83, ans, 77 197–206 Hindustan, 212, 228, 320–21 general epistle(s): seventh, 229–39, 245; Holy Ghost, 98, 166 sixth, 5–19, 29 “Honor,” 224–25 Gibson, W., on Book of Mormon, 44–47, hot drinks, 41–42. See also Word of Wisdom 76–80, 267–73, 315–20, 348–51 House, John, 369 Gideon, 350 Howell, Evan, 190–93 gifts, spiritual, 294–95, 365–66 Huett, Thomas, 128 Giles, Thomas, 289 humility, 139 glass, sea of, 89 Hunter, Bishop, 264 God: image of, 214–15; knowledge of, Hyde, John, Sr., 153 378–81; living, 304–8; power of, 72– Hyde, Orson, 28, 195 73; word of, 93–96; works of, 412 hymn books, 372, 388 godhood, 379–80, 411–12 hymns, 92–93, 301–3 godliness, 56 gold, 193–94, 289 I gold plates, 310–11 ill-informed people, 56 “Good Time Is Coming, A,” 50–51 illness, 56 INDEX lxxvii

Indians: blessings for, 252–53; Book of ing, 359; sharing, 56, 283–85; storing Mormon and, 44–46, 76–79; destruc- up, 56 tion caused by, 9; Parley P. Pratt’s address to, 309–12 L inherited items, 327–28 Laban, 270 “In Praise of the Restoration of the Ever- Lamanites, 279 lasting Gospel,” 115–16 “Lament of the Lazy,” 163 insurance, emigration and, 330 language, 277–80, 318–19 intelligences, 359 law(s): charity and, 49–50; of God, 358, “Invitation to the Saints,” 211 361; Parley P. Pratt on, 341–43. See also iron, 174–77, 231 commandment(s) Iron County, 156–57 “Lectures on Miracles,” 160, 163 Israel, 94–95 Lehi, 309 Levesey, Richard, 267, 269 J Lewis, Philip B., 60–61 Jensen, H. P., 120 Liahona, 271–73 Jeremy, Thomas, 142–45 literature, anti-Mormon, 53–55 Jesus Christ: knowledge of, 379; as living “Living God, The,” 304–8 God, 305–8; as Messiah, 299–300; Lot, 87 persecution of, 87–88, 111; priest- love: marriage and, 68; obedience and, 337 hood and, 358–59; salvation through, Lowe, J. B., 112 406–12 luggage, 326–27, 329 Jews, address to, 299–301 Lyman, Amasa, 15–16, 233 John the Baptist, 87 Jonah, 95 M Jones, D., 287–90 mail, 12, 232–33 Jones, Dewi Elfed, 345, 386–88 man: death and, 392–99; progress of, Jones, Hugh, 340 379–80 Jones, Isaac, 324 Manchester Examiner, 147 Jones, J., 97–98 manufacturing in Salt Lake City, 174–77, Jones, William, 50–51 230–31 Joseph of Egypt, 87 marriage: adultery and, 147; counsel con- July 24. See Pioneer Day cerning, 68; duties in, 207; government justice, 395, 407 in, 140 Marsden, James, 153 K meekness, 414–15 Kennedy, C. J., 47, 316 meetings, 265 Kimball, Heber C.: blessings for, 243; in “Mercy of God,” 402–4 general conference minutes, 21–23, mesmerizers, 215–16 264; sustained as counselor, 234. See Messiah, Jesus Christ as, 299–300 also First Presidency Methodists, 194–95 knowledge: article on, 377–81; eternal Millennial Star, 29–30, 147, 150, 171–73 life and, 365; Fall and, 397–99; First miracles, 97–98 Presidency on, 14; goodness and missionary work: in Calcutta, 320–21; usefulness of, 57–59, 81–83; receiv- counsel concerning, 104–5; of Eliezer lxxviii INDEX

Edwards, 65; in Europe, 233; First Paul, 42, 86, 88, 111–12 Presidency on, 6, 18, 33; in France, Pearl of Great Price, 160, 340 228; Franklin D. Richards on, 170–71, Perpetual Emigrating Company, 24, 256 182–83, 198, 204–5; and growth of “Perpetual Emigrating Fund, The,” Church, 261–62; in Scandinavia, 118– 321–23 22; Word of Wisdom and, 42; W. S. Perpetual Emigration Fund: counsel con- Phillips on, 75 cerning, 16–17; Franklin D. Richards Morgan, William, 128–29, 259–60 on, 31–32, 201–2; funds for, 74, 330– Mormon, 310 31, 368, 401–2; report on Saints travel- Mormon Battalion, 38–39, 109 ing through, 399–400; Scandinavian Moroni, 310 Saints and, 121; William S. Phillips on, Morris, Richard, 324 258–59, 302 Moses, 76, 94–95, 122–23 persecution: Brigham Young on, 373–74; motion sickness, 163 in Denmark, 119–20; Franklin D. mounds, 79 Richards on, 85–89, 107–13; protec- “Mournful Lament of the Devil,” 131 tion through, 240–41; in Wales, 143 Munchees, 80 Phillips, John, 191 Murdock, John, 60 Phillips, William S.: eisteddfod and, 146; on emigration and book debts, 368; N epistle of, to conference and branch presidents, 301–3; epistle of, to Welsh nails, 156–57, 175 presidents, 34; epistle of, to Welsh Nephi, 88, 270–73 Saints, 73–76, 257–59; letter from, “Nephites and the Lamanites, The,” 194–95; letters to, 259–60, 287–91; 384–85 likeness of, 260; on Perpetual Emi- new dispensation, 293–98 gration Fund, 401–2; on priesthood New Testament, 295–96 blessings, 338–39; in Special General Noah, 94, 317–18, 413 Conference minutes, 336–37, 346–47 O Phineas, 271 picture frames, 327 oaths, 187 Pioneer Day: Brigham Young on anniver- obedience: of children, 187; to counsel, sary of, 373–77; celebration of, 8 102; counsel concerning, 104; to priest- pioneers. See emigration; gathering of hood leaders, 337–38, 359–62 Saints one hundred forty-four thousand, sealing plan of salvation, 81 of, 91 plates, records engraved on, 46–47. See order, 379 also gold plates poor, gathering of Saints and, 246–47 P postal service, 12, 232–33 pagans, address to, 298–99 Pottawatamie, epistle to, 27–28 Palmer, Richard, 190 Pottsville, America, 352–53 parents, duties of, 184–89, 207 power, priesthood and, 357–58 Parker Bible, 127 Pratt, Addison, 61 Parry, John, 36, 163, 194–95 Pratt, Orson: arrives in Utah, 232; emigra- patience, 99 tion and, 16; funeral sermon given by, INDEX lxxix

389–99, 405–16; in general conference Richards, Franklin D.: address of, 29–32; minutes, 254; on priesthood blessings, on books, 344; closing address of, 181– 339 83, 197–206; emigration and, 16; on Pratt, Parley P.: arrives in Chile, 233; on hostility against Saints, 85–89, 107–13; laws and governments, 341–43; letter leaves Great Britain, 179; in Special from, 59–62; prayer for, 136; procla- General Council minutes, 134–36, mation of, 293–301, 309–15, 332–36 149–56, 165–74; visits Merthyr, 99 presidents: counselors and, 69–70; epistle Richards, John: on foolish practices, 273– to Welsh, 34. See also branch presidents 76; “Gathering, The,” and, 353–54; on Presiding Bishop, 249 gold in Australia, 193–94; on parents’ Price, Rachel, 192 duty to children, 184–89; on Word of priestcraft, 223 Wisdom, 96–97 priesthood: article on, 357–64; in Book Richards, Levi, 99, 151 of Mormon, 348–51; callings to, 197– Richards, Richard, 352–53 99; duties of offices in, 75–76, 208–10, Richards, Samuel W.: address of, 245–48; 217–19; presidents and counselors and, arrives in Great Britain, 32–33; Doc- 69–70; salvation and, 215–16 trine and Covenants and, 173; on emi- priesthood blessings, 338–39 gration, 325–31; epistle of, to British priests, duties of, 75 Saints, 206–10, 217–24; as president Proclamation of Parley P. Pratt, 293–301 of British churches, 166–69 professions, 283–85 Richards, Willard: blessings for, 243; progress of man, 379–80 dedicates Tabernacle, 239–40, 248–53; “Promise of the Spirit,” 100 sustained as counselor, 234; on tithing, prophets: false, 5; of Indians, 77 113–15; as Utah Secretary, 195. See also Prosser, J. P., 340 First Presidency Pugh, Thomas, 178, 345 Rigdon, Sidney, 268–69 punishing children, 185–86 Robert, Eli., 369 Roberts, Richard, 308 Q rolling mills, 176 questions, to share knowledge, 56 Rowlands, Rachel, 179, 260 Rowlands, William, 53, 57 R S recordkeeping: branch scribes and, 141–42; counseling regarding, 99–100; Sabbath, 56 Franklin D. Richards on, 170, 199– sacrifices, 76, 78–79, 222 201; on plates, 46–47 Salesbury, William, 127–29 redemption. See salvation Salt Lake City: blessings for, 250–51; reformed Egyptian, 47 character of Saints in, 369–70; coun- remembrance, 368 sel to Saints in, 102–3; deaths in, 180; resurrection, 215–16, 407–8, 411, defense of Saints in, 147; D. Jones on, 414–16 287–88; festival in, 212; government revelation, 366 in, 52; manufacturing in, 174–77; Revelation of St. John, 89–92 progress in, 6–12, 144, 156–59, 229– Rich, Charles C., 15–16, 233 32, 374, 376–77; Richard Ballantyne lxxx INDEX

reports on, 62–64; Welshmen in, 143. 89–92; translation of Book of Mor- See also Utah Territory mon and, 310 Salt Lake Temple, 144 Smoot, Abram O., 32–33 Saluda explosion, 179 Snow, Erastus: arrives in Great Britain, salvation: counsel concerning, 362; 116; Book of Mormon translation and, knowledge and, 57–59, 81–83; 13; leaves Great Britain, 179; on man- through Jesus Christ, 55–56, 406–12; ufacturing in Salt Lake City, 174–77; truth and, 213–16; views on, 364–67 on Scandinavian mission, 118–22; Samuel, 271 in Special General Council minutes, Sandwich Islands, 12, 233 151–52, 166–67 Satan, 391 Snow, Lorenzo, 13, 136 Scandinavian Mission, 118–22 Snow, Willard, 32–33, 122, 136 schools in Salt Lake City, 10 snuff, 275, 340 scribes, branch, 141–42 soul, salvation and, 214–15 scriptures: eternal life and, 365; gathering South America, 59–62, 233 Spaulding, Solomon, 267–69 and comparison of, 332–33; prejudice Special General Conference, 336–38, regarding, 314–15; studying, 219 344–47, 370–71 sealing of one hundred forty-four thou- Special General Council, 133–36, 149– sand, 91 56, 165–77, 181–83, 197–206 seals in Revelation, 90 Spencer, Orson, 254 sea of glass, 89 spirits: after death, 396, 410–11; false, Second Coming: Dewi Elfed on, 354–55; 146; salvation and, 214–15 earth at, 415; Eliezer Edwards on, 65; spiritual gifts, 294–95, 365–66 priesthood and, 359; signs of, 5–6 spiritual magnetism, 334–35 second death, 408–9 spiritual progress, 379–80 semiannual conference. See general con- steamboat explosion, 179 ference Stephen, persecution of, 111 seven seals, 90 stewardship, 138 Seventies, blessings for, 249 St. Louis, Missouri, 31 shaving on Sabbath, 56 stoves, 176 Shurtleff, Vincent, 32–33, 347 sugar, 11 sick people, 56 sin, 223, 361–62, 393–94, 408–9 T singing, 92–93, 301–2 Tabernacle, 229–30, 239–43, 248–53 skeleton, 99 taverns, 303 skin color, 277–79 Taylor, John, 13, 62–64, 116 sleep, 273–74 tea, 275–76 “Sleeping in a Worship Service,” 339 teachers, duties of, 75 Smith, John, 25, 101–7 teaching children, 186–89, 207 Smith, Joseph: Alexander Campbell on, temple(s): funds for, 51–52; progress on, 348–50; John Smith on, 106; L. Rich- 144; tithing and, 7, 205 ards on, 99; persecution of, 108–9; as temporal things, 219–20 prophet foretold in Acts, 68; restora- Thomas, John, 268–69, 272 tion of gospel and, 6; on Revelation, Thomas, Solomon, 369 INDEX lxxxi

time, 99 W Tinian Island, 385–86 Walker, Joseph, 146 tithing: Brigham Young on, 26; emigra- Wandell, Charles W., 60 tion and, 330; First Presidency on, 7; Watkin, George, 80–81 Franklin D. Richards on, 202, 205; Welsh: translation of Bible into, 126–29; handling and recording, 113–15; records for, 234–35; in Salt Lake City, translation of Book of Mormon into, 157, 230; Samuel W. Richards on, 220; 130–31, 285–86 voted on in general conference, 18 “Welsh Psalm,” 70–71 tobacco, 274, 276. See also Word of Wis- Wheelock, Cyrus H., 152–53 dom Wilkins, John, 178–79, 224–25 Tonkins, W. T., 178 Willes, William, 212, 320–21 “To the Women of the Snuff,” 340 Wilson, John, 39, 370 traveling elders, 198–99, 209, 217 Winter Quarters, 290 treasurer accounts, auditing of, 203–4 wire, 175 tree of knowledge of good and evil, “Wisdom,” 372 397–99 witnesses in Revelation, 91–92 trials, purpose of, 138. See also persecution wives, 68 trumpets, sounding of, 91 Wood, Alfred J., 189–93 truth: attracts truth, 334–36; as instru- Wood, Philo B., 60 ment for man, 372; salvation and, word of God, 93–96 213–16 Word of Wisdom: acceptance of, 18, 25; two witnesses in Revelation, 91–92 John Richards on, 274–75; smoking U and, 276; Trumpet’s opinion on, 41–43; William S. Phillips on, 74–75, 302 United States government, 37–40 “Word of Wisdom, The,” 96–97 unity, 277–85, 374–75 world, current condition of, 364–68 Utah Library, 9 worlds, creation of, 416 Utah Territory: common law in, 147; government of, 110–11; Mormons Y in, 37–40; news from, 195; population of, 146; produce in, 180. See also Salt Young, Brigham: blessings for, 242–43; Lake City on church meetings, 265; counsels Saints, 62–63; on fifth anniversary of V Pioneer Day, 373–77; in general con- “Verse,” 183 ference minutes, 21–22, 25–27, 254, “Verses”: by Dewi Elfed, 354–55; by 256, 262–63, 266; Mormon Battalion George Watkin, 80–81; by John Parry and, 39; sustained as Church President, Jr., 163; by John Wilkins, 178–79; by 234; wives of, 192; work ethic of, 195. Joseph Davies, 291–92; by Mary-Ann, See also First Presidency 356 Young, Joseph, 11 “Voice from the Land of Zion, A,” 118 Yucatan, 78–79 lxxxii INDEX

Z Zion’s Trumpet: directions for writing to, 67–68; publication of, 336–37, 345–47, 400–401