278 HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH. to do much good in whatever sphere or capacity I may be called to act in the kingdom of God; that I may be instrumental in bringing many of my fellowbeings to a knowledge of the truth, in overthrowing Satan's dominion and establishing God's kingdom upon the earth, and that I may have strength to prove faithful to the covenants I have made with God and my brethren, so that I may be associated with you and all the faithful in the celestial mansions of our Father. May God bless you, preserve you in the truth and enable us to attain to that salvation and glory we have set out to obtain, is my earnest prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Elder Shipp then made a few remarks and read the Financial Report for the past half-y f-year, after which President Cannon presented the Authorities of the Church in Zion and throughout the world, who were unanimously sustained, including Elder Thomas O. King as successor to Elder Bull in the Bedford Conference. President Cannon then occupied the afternoon with a highly interesting and edifying discourse. In the evening, Elders Bramall and Farnsworth briefly addressed the congregation, followed by President Cannon, who gave much pointed, plain and practical instruction to the Saints, who felt greatly comforted and blessed by the peaceful and pure influence of the Holy Spirit which accompanied his words. The day was one long to be remembered by the Saints of Bedford, who separated to their homes with glad hearts and joyful countenances. M. B. SHIPP, M. F. FARNSWORTH,} Clerks. HISTORY OF JOSEPH We feel as though we could take brother Rigdon in our bosom along with us; we want such men as brother Rigdon. He has been sent away by brother Joseph to uild up a kingdom; let him keep the instructions and calling; let him raise up a mighty kingdom in Pittsburgh, and we will lift up his hands to Almighty God. I think we may have a printing office and a gathering there. If the Devil still tries to kill us he will have enough to do. The next is President Marks. Our feelings are to let him stand as President of the Stake, as heretofore. We can build the Temple, &c. You did not know who you had amongst you. Joseph so loved this people that he gave his life for them; Hyrum loved his brother and this people unto death. Joseph and Hyrum have given their lives for the Church. But very few knew Joseph's character; he loved you unto death-you did not know it until after his death: he has now sealed his testimony with his blood. If the Twelve had been here we would not have seen him given up-he should not have been given up. He was in your midst, but you did not know him; he has been taken away, for the people are not worthy of him. The world is wide. I can preach in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Ger SMITH. many, &c. I can preach in all the world, You have There is much to be done. men among you who sleep with one eye open. The foundation is laid by our Prophet, and we will build thereon; no other foundation can be laid but that which is laid, and we will have our endowment, if the Lord will. As the authorities do not want us to do military duty, don't do it. If it is necessary, my neck is ready for the knife; as for myself, I am determined to build up the kingdom of God: and by-and-bye there will be a gleaning of grapes, and it may be said, To your tents, O Israel.'. We can build on the foundation that was laid by the Prophet. Joseph has finished his work, and all the devils in hell and all the mobbers on earth could not take his life until he had accomplished his work. God said, I will put a veil over his eyes and lead him up to the slaughter like a sheep to be killed, for the people are not worthy of him, though God loves this people. Let no man suppose that the kingdom is rent from you; that it is not organized. lf all the Quorums of the Church were slain, except the High Priests, they would rise up with the keys of the kingdom, and have the powers of the Priesthood upon HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH, them, and build up the kingdom and the Devil cannot help himself. You can go to a healthy country, buy the land, and don't let a cursed scoundrel get in your midst. Let there be good men, good women, and whenever a man comes with a wheel-barrow-full of goods don't sell him land, don't let him a house, nor buy of him. 279 dictate and see to other matters. There will be a committee for the Temple; and. now let men stand to their posts and be faithful." Adjourned to Oct. 6, Conference. Thus closes the History of Joseph Suppose we had ten thousand such Smith, the great Prophet, Seer and places, and increasing in greatness, per- Revelator, whom God has chosen to lay fectly free from these poor devils, we the foundation for the establishment of should feel better than we do now. Let his Church and kingdom upon the usall be humble and get our endowments-earth in the last dispensation and fulall be humble, industrious and prudent, ness of times. wwhat sort of a kingdom would it be. The foundation is laid for more than we can - think or talk about to-day. Is it the will of this congregation that they will be Tithed until the Temple is finished, as they have hitherto been? If so, signify it by the uplifted hand. (The vote was unanimous.) The men will act that have never acted before, and they will have the power and authority to do it. Is it the mind of this congregation to loose the hands of the "Twelve, and enable us to go and preach to all the world? We want to know the feelings of the people. Is it your will to support the Twelve in all the world in their missions? (The congregation sustained this question by a unanimous vote.) Will you leave it to the Twelve to dictate about the finances of the Church? and will it be the mind of this people that the Twelve teach what will be the duties of the Bishops in handling the affairs of the Church? I want this, because twelve men can do it just as well as calling this immense congregation together at any -other time. (A unanimous vote.) We shall have a Patriarch, and the right is in the family of Joseph Smith, his brothers, his sons, or some one of his relations. Here is Uncle John, he has been ordained a Patriarch. Brother Samuel would have taken the office if he had been alive; it would have been his right; the right is in Uncle John, or one of his brothers (read sec. 3, par. 17, Doc. & Cov.). I know that it would have belonged to Samuel. But as it is, if you leave it to the Twelve, they will wait until they know who is the man. Will you leave it to the Twelve, and they dictate the matter. (A unanimous vote.) I know it will be let alone for the present. I feel to bring up brother Rigdon; we are of one mind with him and he with us. Will this congregation uphold him in the place he occupies by the prayer of faith and let him be one with us and we with .him. (Unanimous.) The Twelve will He performed as great and mighty a work as any man that ever tabernacled sion lasted nearly seventeen years; from in the flesh, save Jesus only. His misthe time he received the plates from the angel Moroni on the 22nd day of Sept., 1827, to the 27th of June, 1844, when he was martyred in Carthage Jail, under the pledged protection of the Governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford. The History of Joseph Smith is now before the world, and we are satisfied that a history more correct in its details than this was never published. To have it strictly correct, the greatest possible pains have been taken by the historians and clerks engaged in the work. They were eye and ear witnesses of nearly all the transactions recorded in this history, most of which were reported as they transpired, and, where they were not personally present, they have had access to those who were. Moreover, since the death of the Prophet Joseph, the history has been carefully revised under the strict inspection of President Brigham Young, and approved of by him. We, therefore, hereby bear our testimony to all the world, unto whom these words shall come, that the History of Joseph Smith is true, and is one of the most authentic histories ever written. We were, much of the time, associated with him in his travels and ministry since he organized the Church of Christ upon the earth. He labored diligently for the salvation and benefit of the human family. He ever taught and practised, in public and in private, virtue, holiness and truth. His brother Hyrum was martyred at the same time with him. He, also, was a great and good man, a wise counselor to his brother Joseph and a Prophet and Patriarch in the Church, and the spirit | fulfilled upon their heads, even in speedy of his office was with him up to the time of his death. They were slain for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the people and nation who have persecuted them unto death and shed their blood will assuredly find their words and certain destruction, as were the Historians. THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1863. AN ATTEMPT TO RENEW ACTIVE HOSTILITIES AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The very interesting news we publish in our columns this week, will give the readers of the Star some idea of the condition of things in the Valleys of the Mountains. As will be seen by extracts from the Deseret News, the enemies of the Work of God are not idle, and are endeavoring, as of old, to annoy the servants of God and to interfere with the progress of his Work. There is no room to doubt that a plan was concocted by the Governor of the Territory (S. S. Harding) and the Judges (Waite and Drake) and Colonel Conner, commander of the California Volunteers encamped close to Great Salt Lake City, to surprise and kidnap Presidents Young, Kimball and Wells. The plan failed in its execu tion only through the vigilance of the servants of the Lord and the readiness of the people to respond to any summons which had for its object the deliverance of the First Presidency from the violence of these wicked men. When these officers saw that their plans were discovered, they changed their tactics, and suddenly became very desirous to take only legal measures to accomplish their purposes, strongly denying any intention of using violence. The Lord has given them another instance that his wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. The steps taken by his servants have completely frustrated their designs and brought their well-planned schemes to nought. Thus will it ever be in the contest which was commenced thirty-three years ago between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. The powers of darkness may gain what may appear as a temporary success, but they will find, as they have ever found thus far, that every step they take, every measure they inaugurate for the injury of the Work and the servants of God will result in the triumph and success of that Work and of those whom they seek to destroy. We have felt very strongly led for some time back, and before we were aware of the probability of anything occuring to disturb the peace of the people in the Valleys, to urge the Saints throughout these lands to be diligent in the discharge of their duties, and to live so near the Lord that they could have his Spirit constantly with them. The Adversary, we felt, was beginning to arouse himself and to stir up those who would yield to his influence to active enmity against the Work of God. He cannot bear to see the people of God prospering and enjoying uninterrupted peace, while the rest of the nations are distracted with war and the calamities which tread in its footsteps. He will, undoubtedly, exert every power he can command to bring about the destruction of the people of God. As Latter-day Saints, we may calculate upon this. As long as he has power over the hearts of the children of men we, as a people, will have difficulty and embittered hatred to contend with. The dominion which he has obtained on the earth enables him to wage a deadly warfare; and the words of Jesus to his Apostles, when upon the earth, will be found verified now,-"The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." While the Latter-day Saints contend for virtue and purity, and seek to practice them in their lives and to extend the love of them to others, they will have the hatred of the world to contend with. The doctrine of celestial marriage, or, as it is popularly called, polygamy,-a doctrine which, when practiced under the guidance of Heaven, counteracts and removes many of the evils under which humanity groans, is seized as the cause for great persecution. Were the people of Utah to countenance the intercourse of the sexes in all forms, however outrageous, unrestrained by laws which promote purity, they would be quite unobjectionable to Christendom. Brothels might line every street, dens of infamy and corruption be met with on every corner, their young women might be seduced and prostituted by thousands, and their young and middle-aged men might abandon themselves to every kind of vice, and all this would not prompt Congress or the Government of the United States to adopt harsh measures towards us, or to place us under a ban. We would be civilized, in the commonly received acceptation of the term, and, of course, suitable for them to associate with and recognize as brothers and fellow-citizens. This is the secret of the opposition with which we have to contend. The world hate us, because we are not of the world and have come out from the world with a full and avowed determination to forsake the evils practiced by the world. The warfare we wage is not against man, nor against Governments, but it is against the hydra-headed evils which afflict mankind and make this fair and pleasant earth of ours a pandemonium for devils and those influenced by the spirit of the Devil, instead of being a place of happiness and a fit abode for the children of God. We are pleased to see that there is every prospect of our emigration going through in peace this season. Of course this will depend, to a very great extent, upon the faithfulness of the Saints. As we have often before remarked in these columns, very much depends upon ourselves. The Adversary never yet gained any power over the Saints when they were strictly obedient to counsel; but the advantages he has gained, temporary though they have always been, have been attributable to the transgressions of those who were called, in some instances, the servants of God. Men have disobeyed counsel and indulged in wickedness, have lost the Spirit of the Lord and have rendered themselves willing servants to the Devil; he has used them in opposition to that Work with which they have been connected, and they have become the most bitter and malignant enemies the people of God have had to contend with. Every drop of innocent blood that has flowed in this generation has been shed through the direct or indirect agency of apostates -men who had solemnly covenanted to serve the Lord and who broke their covenants. The blood of Joseph and Hyrum, like the blood of our Lord Jesus, was shed through this cause, and every persecution that we, as a people, have had to endure is directly traceable to apostacy. While the people are pure, and strictly obey the counsel of God through his servants, we have no fears; we know that the eneinies of truth cannot have any power over us. But when we see men,. who have been called servants of God, in transgression-when we see the people careless and indifferent to the things of God, then we know that, unless there is a speedy and thorough repentance, the anger of God will be enkindled against his people, and his chastisements will be poured out upon them. We feel to solemnly exhort the Priesthood and Saints throughout these lands to sincerely repent of all their sins, and to seek unto the Lord with broken and contrite spirits, that they may have his favor continually resting down upon them. If you will do this, brethren and sisters, there is no power on earth nor in hell that can prevail against you; and whether you do it or not, we do know that there is a people on the earth who will do it, and who will, through their faithfulness and diligence in keeping the commandments of God, triumph over the powers of darkness, and be the chosen instruments in the hands of God of continuing to build up that kingdom which he has established, and which he has said shall stand for ever. TIMELY NOTICE.-We wish it distinctly understood by those who are about to emigrate, that in no case will we knowingly permit any person in debt to their brethren or to the world to emigrate on any of our ships, unless they have first made an arrangement and come to a proper understanding with their creditors. It should be known by this time, from what has been written on this subject before, that we do not countenance fraud or dishonesty; and that the emigration of persons who will indulge in these is utterly discountenanced by us. It is the honest, the virtuous and the meek that we wish to emigrate, and for whose emigration we are willing, as a people, to make any sacrifice within our power. We mention this matter thus plainly, because we have heard since our residence in this country, after the departure of the emigration, of some few persons having gone without having had a proper settlement with those to whom they were indebted, and we desire to prevent the recurrence of such things this year. We wish the Elders to interest themselves in this matter, and to see that this counsel is fully carried out. NEWS FROM HOME. By late files of the Deseret News, we learn that the past winter, though in some respects an open one, has been particularly severe on stock, that many of the cattle which have been running loose on the range " have died, and the prospect was that many more would die from cold and hunger. A great deal of snow has fallen in the mountains during the past few months, and many are apprehensive of a renewal of the high waters this season which did so much damage last spring. The prospect is considered excellent, however, for good crops this year. The troops still remain in Camp Douglass, and continue peaceable and orderly within their lines. They have certainly, thus far, manifested a greater regard for the rights of private citizens and the rules of decency, than is usually manifested by an army, whether volunteers or regulars. What their future course will be, time must determine; but they will probably continue very complaisant unless their numbers should be greatly increased by reinforcements. The Seventies' Lectures continue to be attended with increasing interest, |