May 1842 Epistle
Times and Seasons. 1842. "AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE." May 2: 767-769.
AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE, To the Saints in America Greeting:
Beloved brethren, we have whereof to congratulate you at the present time, as we have the opportunity from day to day to witness the progress of the building of the Temple of the Lord in this city, and which is and must be accomplished by the united exertions of the labors of the brethren who reside here, and the tithings and contributions of those who are scattered abroad in the different states.
In this glorious object the hearts of all the faithful are united, the hands of the laborer are made strong continually, and the purse strings of the more opulent are unloosed, from time to time, to supply those things which are necessary for upraising the stones of this noble edifice; and it may truly be said that the blessing of the Lord is upon his people; we have peace without, and love within the borders of our beautiful city;--beautiful, indeed, for situation, is Nauvoo; the crown of the great valley of the Mississippi, the joy of every honest heart.
Although all things are more prosperous, concerning the Temple, than at any former period, yet the saints must not suppose that all is done, or that they can relax their exertions and the work go on. It is a real work that God has required of his people, and it will require long and unwearied diligence to accomplish it; and redoubled diligence will be necessary with all, to get the building enclosed before another winter, so that the joiner can be employed during the cold weather; and we would again call upon all the saints abroad to unite in making their deposits in banks known to be good and safe, and forward their certificates to the Trustee in Trust, as speedily as possible; when trusty men are not coming immediately to this place who can bring your offerings. All will want the privileges and blessings of the sanctuary, when it is completed; and all can have their wishes: but they can obtain them only by faithfulness and diligence in striving to build.
We praise our God for the liberality which has hitherto been manifested; many have given more than was required of them, many have given their all, but they have done it cheerfully; they have done it voluntarily; and they shall have a great reward; for the blessings of heaven, and earth shall be multiplied unto such; even the blessings of that priesthood which hath neither beginning of days nor end of life. While there are those who of their abundance have built unto themselves fine houses, and who ride in carriages and on horseback, and regale themselves with the good things of the land, and at the same time they have left the Lord's House untouched, or, if touched at all, have touched it so lightly as scarce to leave the print of their little finger: their reward will be according to their deeds, and unless they speedily repent, and come up with their abundance to the help of the Lord, they will find in the end that they have no part nor lot in this matter; their gold and silver will become cankered, their garments moth eaten, and they will perish in their own slothfulness and idolatry, leaving none to mourn their absence.
But brethren the Temple will be built. There are hundreds and thousands who stand ready to sacrifice the last farthing they possess on earth, rather than have the building of the Lord's House delayed, and while this spirit prevails no power beneath the heavens can hinder its progress: but we desire you all to help with the ability which God has given you, that you may all share the blessings which will distill from heaven to earth through this consecrated channel.
This is not all. It will be in vain for us to build a place where the son of man may lay his head, and leave the cries of the widow and the fatherless, unheard by us, ascending up to the orphan's God, and widow's friend. It is in vain we cry Lord, Lord, and do not the things our Lord hath commanded; to visit the widow, the fatherless, the sick, the lame, the blind, the destitute, and minister to their necessities; and it is but reasonable that such cases should be found among a people who have but recently escaped the fury of a relentless mob on the one hand, and gathered from the half starved population of the scattered nations on the other.
Neither is this all. It is not sufficient that the poor be fed and clothed, the sick ministered unto, the temple built:--No! when all this is accomplished, there must be a year of Jubilee; there must be a time of release to Zion's sons, or our offerings, our exertions, our hopes and our prayers will be in vain, and God will not accept of the doings of his people.
On those days of darkness which overspread our horizon; when the wolf was howling for his prey around the streets of Kirtland; when the burglar was committing his midnight and midday depredations in Jackson county: when the heartless politician was thrusting his envious darts in Clay—and when the savage war whoop of Missouri, echoed and re-echoed through Far West, and Zion's noblest sons were chained in dungeons, and her daughters driven by a horde of savages naked and defenseless, from their once peaceful homes to seek a shelter in a far distant land. Many of the brethren stepped forward to their rescue, and not only expended all they possessed for the relief of suffering innocence, but gave their notes and bonds to obtain more means, with which to help those, who could not escape the overwhelming surge of banishment from all that they possessed on earth.
Deaths, wounds, and sickness, from the mob, and the cold and shelterless situation of the brethren followed in quick succession; and all the means which could possibly be obtained from each other, in addition to the noble charities of the citizens of Illinois, were brought in requisition to sustain a remnant of the Saints, who now mostly inhabit this place. To accomplish this the president and bishops loaned money and such things as could be obtained, and gave their obligations in good faith for the payment of the same; and many of the brethren signed with them at different times and in different places to strengthen their hands and help them carry out their designs; fully expecting, that, at some future day, they would be enabled to liquidate all such claims, to the satisfaction of all parties.
Many of these claims have already been settled; many have been given up as cancelled by those who held them, and many yet remain unsettled. The Saints have had many difficulties to encounter since they arrived at this place. In a new country, destitute of houses, food, clothing, and nearly all the necessaries of life, which were rent from them by an unfeeling mob—having to encounter disease and difficulties unnumbered, it is not surprising that the church has not been able to liquidate all such claims, or that many individuals should yet remain involved, from the foregoing circumstances; and while things remain as they are, and men remain subject to the temptations of evil as they now are, the day of release, and year of Jubilee can not be; and we write you especially at this time, brethren, for the purpose of making a final settlement of all such claims, of brother against brother; of the brethren against the presidency and bishops, &c. &c.—claims which have originated out of the difficulties and calamities the church has had to encounter, and which are of longstanding, so that when the Temple is completed there will be nothing from this source, to produce jars and discords, strifes and animosities, so as to prevent the blessings of heaven from descending upon us as a people.
To accomplish this most desirable object, we call on all the brethren, who hold such claims, to bring them forward for a final settlement; and also those brethren who have individual claims against each other, of long standing, and the property of the debtor has been wrested from him by violence, or he has been unfortunate, and languished on a bed of sickness till his means are expended; and all claims whatsoever between brother and brother, where there is no reasonable prospect of a just and equitable settlement possible, that they also by some means, either by giving up their obligations, or destroying them, see that all such old affairs be adjusted so that it shall not give occasion for difficulties to arise hereafter. Yes brethren, bring all such old accounts, notes, bonds &c. and make a consecration of them to the building of the Temple, and if any thing can be obtained on them it will be obtained, and if nothing can be obtained when the Temple is completed, we will make a burnt offering of them, even a peace offering, which shall bind the brethren together in the bonds of eternal peace and love, and union; and joy and salvation shall flow forth into your souls, and you shall rejoice and say it is good that we have hearkened unto counsel, and set our brethren free, for God hath blessed us.
How can we prosper while the church, while the presidency, while the bishops, while those who have sacrificed every thing but life, in this thing, for our salvation, are thus encumbered? It cannot be—arise, then, brethren, set them free, and set each other free, and we will all be free together, we will be free indeed.
Let nothing in this epistle be so construed as to destroy the validity of contracts, or give any one license not to pay his debts. The commandment is to pay every man his dues, and no man can get to heaven while he justly owes his brother or his neighbor, who has or can get the means and will not pay; it is dishonest, and no dishonest man can enter where God is.
We remain your brethren in the Gospel of Peace.
B. YOUNG Pres't.
HEBER C. KIMBALL,
ORSON PRATT,
WM. SMITH,
JOHN E. PAGE,
LYMAN WIGHT,
WILFORD WOODRUFF,
JOHN TAYLOR,
GEO. A. SMITH,
W. RICHARDS, Clerk.
AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE, To the Saints in America Greeting:
Beloved brethren, we have whereof to congratulate you at the present time, as we have the opportunity from day to day to witness the progress of the building of the Temple of the Lord in this city, and which is and must be accomplished by the united exertions of the labors of the brethren who reside here, and the tithings and contributions of those who are scattered abroad in the different states.
In this glorious object the hearts of all the faithful are united, the hands of the laborer are made strong continually, and the purse strings of the more opulent are unloosed, from time to time, to supply those things which are necessary for upraising the stones of this noble edifice; and it may truly be said that the blessing of the Lord is upon his people; we have peace without, and love within the borders of our beautiful city;--beautiful, indeed, for situation, is Nauvoo; the crown of the great valley of the Mississippi, the joy of every honest heart.
Although all things are more prosperous, concerning the Temple, than at any former period, yet the saints must not suppose that all is done, or that they can relax their exertions and the work go on. It is a real work that God has required of his people, and it will require long and unwearied diligence to accomplish it; and redoubled diligence will be necessary with all, to get the building enclosed before another winter, so that the joiner can be employed during the cold weather; and we would again call upon all the saints abroad to unite in making their deposits in banks known to be good and safe, and forward their certificates to the Trustee in Trust, as speedily as possible; when trusty men are not coming immediately to this place who can bring your offerings. All will want the privileges and blessings of the sanctuary, when it is completed; and all can have their wishes: but they can obtain them only by faithfulness and diligence in striving to build.
We praise our God for the liberality which has hitherto been manifested; many have given more than was required of them, many have given their all, but they have done it cheerfully; they have done it voluntarily; and they shall have a great reward; for the blessings of heaven, and earth shall be multiplied unto such; even the blessings of that priesthood which hath neither beginning of days nor end of life. While there are those who of their abundance have built unto themselves fine houses, and who ride in carriages and on horseback, and regale themselves with the good things of the land, and at the same time they have left the Lord's House untouched, or, if touched at all, have touched it so lightly as scarce to leave the print of their little finger: their reward will be according to their deeds, and unless they speedily repent, and come up with their abundance to the help of the Lord, they will find in the end that they have no part nor lot in this matter; their gold and silver will become cankered, their garments moth eaten, and they will perish in their own slothfulness and idolatry, leaving none to mourn their absence.
But brethren the Temple will be built. There are hundreds and thousands who stand ready to sacrifice the last farthing they possess on earth, rather than have the building of the Lord's House delayed, and while this spirit prevails no power beneath the heavens can hinder its progress: but we desire you all to help with the ability which God has given you, that you may all share the blessings which will distill from heaven to earth through this consecrated channel.
This is not all. It will be in vain for us to build a place where the son of man may lay his head, and leave the cries of the widow and the fatherless, unheard by us, ascending up to the orphan's God, and widow's friend. It is in vain we cry Lord, Lord, and do not the things our Lord hath commanded; to visit the widow, the fatherless, the sick, the lame, the blind, the destitute, and minister to their necessities; and it is but reasonable that such cases should be found among a people who have but recently escaped the fury of a relentless mob on the one hand, and gathered from the half starved population of the scattered nations on the other.
Neither is this all. It is not sufficient that the poor be fed and clothed, the sick ministered unto, the temple built:--No! when all this is accomplished, there must be a year of Jubilee; there must be a time of release to Zion's sons, or our offerings, our exertions, our hopes and our prayers will be in vain, and God will not accept of the doings of his people.
On those days of darkness which overspread our horizon; when the wolf was howling for his prey around the streets of Kirtland; when the burglar was committing his midnight and midday depredations in Jackson county: when the heartless politician was thrusting his envious darts in Clay—and when the savage war whoop of Missouri, echoed and re-echoed through Far West, and Zion's noblest sons were chained in dungeons, and her daughters driven by a horde of savages naked and defenseless, from their once peaceful homes to seek a shelter in a far distant land. Many of the brethren stepped forward to their rescue, and not only expended all they possessed for the relief of suffering innocence, but gave their notes and bonds to obtain more means, with which to help those, who could not escape the overwhelming surge of banishment from all that they possessed on earth.
Deaths, wounds, and sickness, from the mob, and the cold and shelterless situation of the brethren followed in quick succession; and all the means which could possibly be obtained from each other, in addition to the noble charities of the citizens of Illinois, were brought in requisition to sustain a remnant of the Saints, who now mostly inhabit this place. To accomplish this the president and bishops loaned money and such things as could be obtained, and gave their obligations in good faith for the payment of the same; and many of the brethren signed with them at different times and in different places to strengthen their hands and help them carry out their designs; fully expecting, that, at some future day, they would be enabled to liquidate all such claims, to the satisfaction of all parties.
Many of these claims have already been settled; many have been given up as cancelled by those who held them, and many yet remain unsettled. The Saints have had many difficulties to encounter since they arrived at this place. In a new country, destitute of houses, food, clothing, and nearly all the necessaries of life, which were rent from them by an unfeeling mob—having to encounter disease and difficulties unnumbered, it is not surprising that the church has not been able to liquidate all such claims, or that many individuals should yet remain involved, from the foregoing circumstances; and while things remain as they are, and men remain subject to the temptations of evil as they now are, the day of release, and year of Jubilee can not be; and we write you especially at this time, brethren, for the purpose of making a final settlement of all such claims, of brother against brother; of the brethren against the presidency and bishops, &c. &c.—claims which have originated out of the difficulties and calamities the church has had to encounter, and which are of longstanding, so that when the Temple is completed there will be nothing from this source, to produce jars and discords, strifes and animosities, so as to prevent the blessings of heaven from descending upon us as a people.
To accomplish this most desirable object, we call on all the brethren, who hold such claims, to bring them forward for a final settlement; and also those brethren who have individual claims against each other, of long standing, and the property of the debtor has been wrested from him by violence, or he has been unfortunate, and languished on a bed of sickness till his means are expended; and all claims whatsoever between brother and brother, where there is no reasonable prospect of a just and equitable settlement possible, that they also by some means, either by giving up their obligations, or destroying them, see that all such old affairs be adjusted so that it shall not give occasion for difficulties to arise hereafter. Yes brethren, bring all such old accounts, notes, bonds &c. and make a consecration of them to the building of the Temple, and if any thing can be obtained on them it will be obtained, and if nothing can be obtained when the Temple is completed, we will make a burnt offering of them, even a peace offering, which shall bind the brethren together in the bonds of eternal peace and love, and union; and joy and salvation shall flow forth into your souls, and you shall rejoice and say it is good that we have hearkened unto counsel, and set our brethren free, for God hath blessed us.
How can we prosper while the church, while the presidency, while the bishops, while those who have sacrificed every thing but life, in this thing, for our salvation, are thus encumbered? It cannot be—arise, then, brethren, set them free, and set each other free, and we will all be free together, we will be free indeed.
Let nothing in this epistle be so construed as to destroy the validity of contracts, or give any one license not to pay his debts. The commandment is to pay every man his dues, and no man can get to heaven while he justly owes his brother or his neighbor, who has or can get the means and will not pay; it is dishonest, and no dishonest man can enter where God is.
We remain your brethren in the Gospel of Peace.
B. YOUNG Pres't.
HEBER C. KIMBALL,
ORSON PRATT,
WM. SMITH,
JOHN E. PAGE,
LYMAN WIGHT,
WILFORD WOODRUFF,
JOHN TAYLOR,
GEO. A. SMITH,
W. RICHARDS, Clerk.