Show 4 I 1 patriarchal to saints scattered abroad throughout the id GREETING SD D BRETHREN AND e S spirit 1 atit of god moves upon me to write 1 e epistle and give you some fatherly counsel id this Is time I 1 I 1 pray god my eternal father enlighten my iii mind iiii and give unto me words d principles which will be unto you as balm to a wound or water to a thirsty man it is now upwards of 21 years since the organization of the church of jesus christ of aap latter day saints with six members most of whom are numbered with the dead soon after its organization I 1 hoard heard the gospel through my fay nephew joseph smith junior and a obey bayed edthe the commandments of the lord by entering in at the door which w aich is baptism since that period many scenes have passed I 1 in which I 1 have participated some of which caused me to rejoice and many to bow me down with ith sorrow to take up the subject I 1 of the travels perse cautions and the sufferings of the saints since I 1 first became acquainted with the work would fill volumes and I 1 find that although my spirit i is willing that I 1 should enter into inta these things and add my testimony to the many who have already preached and published it ts to the world yet the flesh is weak and my aged fingers cramp with the pen suffice it to say ehst has been 1 bubli published ched by the elders is true and aad the rest is I 1 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 tons I 1 have witnessed the steady progress of the work combating ag against ignorance superstition and priest craft cac 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 wore 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 m mighty I 1 forest where the birds of the air can rest under we were then mobbed and plundered ed of everything r and left a home thanks be to god we have now a rawa place iwo for our oar feet 1 we leoan can here aoa shih ap jin der our own I 1 vine and fig treed tree 1 and aad Ci aake e us afraid aar aid I 1 and under such ie vor aaa as 88 we are naw pi placed aced it if ejoy the spirit of god it is because w capie not obedient to his commandments and t ean at bear my testimony I 1 that h the saints never enjoyed more mar e of the diat spirit ahn they do at this time and I 1 feel confident 1 6 et th tatt t if they will adhere to counsel we will receive deceit mare and more day by day until we come the sphere to walk wa with angels 11 and be their constant companions and when we wo want nt to learn lern aught from god they will teach us and heaven will be as near to us as aa boston is to new york by telegraph to the saints in these vallies I 1 have a word of counsel it if you have the interest of the work at heart be always ready reada to obey counsel inthe if the president de nt wishes wads to ta settle the vallies build ter temples aples preach the gospel or any other thing that i is ff required r 0 I 1 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 1 1 will do thy work 0 god and you will see his salvation made manifest in the preservation of his saints i I 1 if the presidency and twelve who are now living ang had not been servants to the cause when joseph lied they would not have been worthy to fill the exalted stations which they now occupy and always remember that he who is the greatest gre adest among you must be the servant of all bring B ina up bour children in the way they should go thai that they them may be ornaments to the society and a messing unto you in your old age and ana remember thit god will not hold you guiltless i I 1 if you should neglect to attend to this matter remember also to teach them to pray and cause your our sons to take part in the family prayer and mare beware what company they keep for evil communications corrupt good manners let not your daughters mix with the sons of the stranger whom you von know nothing about and who are not of the house of israel but gather your chil children dien together and teach them the principles of truth and righteousness and learn them to obey the laws of god and the day will come that they will arise and bless you I 1 teach unto them every truth which god has revealed into their you young ng minds ml nde every principle that will make them a noble race and remove from their paths everything that is contrary to god and his commandments beware th that at they do not imbibe the superstitions of the Get gentiles tiles 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 I 1 tion 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 1 wish to say hasten to the vallies tallies 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 communion which is felt with us and that I 1 may I 1 lay my hands upon you and give you a patriarchal blessing les before I 1 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 i gods god household to beautify 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 pooi have to come when am the way 0 opens P ens for them and it is a duty devolving on the ie rich to bring them along pm pray t to i god to turn the hearts of the gentiles tiles lat t that the they may convert conver t their riches to the ucb up building a aldin g 01 of his kingdom and that kings and queens may become nursing nursing parents arnts that zion may nourish flourish and he ton temples a P 8 be reared to his holy name that we may do the work devolving upon us in in redeeming the dead lift up and strengthen the hands of the elders who ar are among you you let your prayers ascend to the god oy of 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 avail ava ileth th much children be subject to your parents wives to your husbands elders to your presidents each aas as they expect obedience from those I 1 w h om t ey are placed to govern always remembering it is better to govern by love than by oppression avoid lawsuits law suits pay your tithing remember your covenants in the house of the lord let the perpetual fund prosper and the poor r rejo ej wee ce pray for the redemption of zion for it the h 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 lo 10 blessings will shower on your heads tie your a minds mind will expand the spirit of god will rest refit upon you and your years will b be e 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 I 1 companion for his creator and never dishonor the high and holy calling which has wen baen placed upon him by teaching or suffering to be taught n his house bouse or anywhere that he has influence gobo or god power to control doctrines which are not af of let the true principles which god has revealed in these last days be taught in their simple purity bearing with wa it its own worth having the we spirit of gad to back it and I 1 know that ever every v true saint will welcome it with open arms I 1 avoid the company or the house of those who hold the doctrines of god in derision for god 1 EM I 1 1 I 1 I 1 i dwells not there the blood will not be found on I 1 the 1 ia els of their door posts in the day when the destroyer passes by to the elders who are out reaching preaching I 1 wish to say cease not your cry arn warn the nations of the wrath of god on the die wicked preach faith repentance baptism ford for the remission of sins the laying on of hands for the gift of the I 1 H holy oly ghost an and d the gathering of the saints I 1 bearing your testimony without fear and the lord bless your labors with many sheaves which will be an honor to you ou in the great day I 1 of accounts your famales famines shall not want 1 your limbs shall not be wearied if you are faithful in all things and your tongues shall not tail fail to declare truth both new and old and the t angels of god shall guard your footsteps and his spirit will he be with you to enlighten your way and be both mouth matter and wisdom unto you and when you return to your homes you will meet with smiling faces who will greet I 1 you you with a blessing for the good you have done in other lands I 1 must conclude for I 1 feel the infirmities of age creeping on and knowing not when the lord shall require aire me hence I 1 wish to take this 0 opportunity ort unity ra of adding my mite to the testimony 1 of odthe the thousands thode who are scattered throughout the globe and of those who are gone beyond the van vall and who sealed theirs with their blood in kirtland ohio four brothers eat in the patriarchal seat in the temple of god and I 1 only anly of that number am left to tell the tales and as I 1 I 1 am now past the timo time allotted to man to live it is reasonable that I 1 also will be gathered unto my fathers in the time appointed of god I 1 therefore bear my testimony which I 1 wiX wish translated into every language read to every 1 I 1 saint and printed where eer eber the type is ia used that the world may see and hear what I 1 have to say for if I 1 was young I 1 would visit i them when they should hear from my lips that I 1 god has again spoken from the heavens that 1 he has agila again descended condescended con to send his angels tor visit fallen man and point out the way whereby I 1 he can be saved he appointed joseph smith a prophet and revealed unto him his hia commandments command mente I 1 testify to all men in words of soberness that the book of mormon is ia true that jose joseph h smith jun translated it from plates by the arim arim and thommie Thom mim and by the power of god I 1 testify that joseph smith was a prophet I 1 seer revelator and a man of godana what was I 1 revealed through 0 him will prove life and salvation to those who believe and obey or death I 1 a and n d a condemnation a ti damn a tion A to 0 all who count them as nought and harden their hearts against the truths he and preached practiced practised I 1 knew him when at his nio mothers lers breast I 1 I 1 watched and counselled counseller coun selled his youth but when god spoke and taught him I 1 bowed to his hig superior and although he was a boy I 1 and I 1 an old man and his hi s uncle yet I 1 was not I 1 ashamed to learn true principles from him and like paul at the feet of gamaliel drank in the truths which flowed from the prophets prophet s li lips 8 I 1 was in jail with him and his hia brother broth er hyrum I 1 a few hours before they were w ere killed and I 1 can testify before God that they died innocent of any crime crime and that they sealed their testimony with wit their blood i I 1 testify to all men that I 1 know that the I 1 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 elve glory to him for the hour hoar of his hia judgment t is come and I 1 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 broudy brought 0 h t up in the first ressar rea and I 1 4 say to the saints that by the power of the holy priesthood vested in me as patriarch I 1 I 1 bless you and I 1 say unto you be faithful and you shall be blessed blesse in your basket and your I 1 store you shall have all the blessings which were promised to abraham isaac and jacob and the lord will preserve you as in in the hollow of his hand and no power pow ershall shall stay the work for everything that shall b be brought against it will fail the way shall be open for every saint to come to zion health peace joy oy prosperity 3 rity and the spirit of god shall dwell in your habitations b L and the angels of god shall watch over and counsel you all all your days your minds shall expand to realize every principle of truth and righteousness and you shall build temples and go through gh the ordinances for your dead your names shall be held in everlasting remembrance among among 0 the people of god and re your our childr children e shall ari arise se and call you blessed the riches 0 of the gentiles shall be converted to establish t the h e kingdom of god every prayer of the righteous sha i be heard and answered by our oar father in heaven and every blessing that can be heaped on man will be heaped upon those who keep his commandments and I 1 pray god my eternal father to hear bear this the prayer and blessing of thy se servant and answer it upon the heads of M my brethren which I 1 ask in the name of jesus carist christ amz JOHN SMITH patriarch to the church of jesus christ of latter tay day saints G S L city nov 8 1 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