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Show - . 1 ' attracted' the attention of the world, and cfused thousands to' join the standard of truth.' As to bur" religious' principles, we have iiothing to. disguise, but on the contrary wish them to be known, that they may be judged of correctly. Saints have always been acThe Latter-da- y cused ;by the world of denying the Old Bible a new one, which they were pleaded to call "Joe Smith's Golden Bibler I will here mention one circumstance: a cousin who, .lately paid me a visit from the States, seemed very .muck surprised at seeing upon my table the old family ,tfible, which happened to be her Uncle Heber's. I merely-speaof this to show how little the Gentile world know about us, or can understand the faith and doc-trines of the people whom they arc so ready to and-substitutin- ; g : gotten. judge'.: Notwithstanding the life of the Prophet wras sought and his enemies were ready to cut him d ofl .vet. 't he jaJways had some e frie&ah who plead his cause. The following extract from a letter written by James Arlington' Bennett' to the N.' Y. Herald, dated Ar- lirfgton House N. Y., Oct.' 16, 1842, concern- 'ink the' Mormons,' am sure will.be read with interest' by the Saints. His words were warm-hearte- . . . ' I ; e: ' Why should I not be Joseph Smith's friend? Hef has done nothing to injure me, nor do I be-liere he has done anything to injure nor Boggsr of Missouri. The Governor, no doubt, under strong feelings may have thought and believed that Smith had preconcerted the plan for his assassination, but there is no legal evidence whatever of that fact, hone by which an, .unprejudiced jury would convict any man; yet; to send this man into Missouri, under the present requisition, would be an act of great injustice, as his ruin would be certain. IIow ooud ojr jnAa, against whom there ia a prejudice, escape ruin, being in the circumstances of Joseph Smith? Loot'aV the history or past ages seo the force of fanaticism and bigotry in bringing to the stake some of the best of men; and in all theae cases the persecutors had theii pretexts, as well as in the case of the Mormon chief. Smith, I conceive, has just as good a to right establish a church, if he Can do it, as Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Fox, or even King Henryhe Eighth- - All these chiefs in religion ex-Gove- 1 r- hitter-religiou- . s ' had', their opponents, and their . ' ;x their Elders said to me, when convening - this subject, that they were like a mustard- plant 'if you don't disturb it the we'WHl fall and multiply; and if you kick, it "Pn;ef on abouti'you Qnly give the seed more soil, and it will multiply the more.' rjVwhatl" know of the people, I fully believe that all the really sincere Mormons woW4 ,die sooner than abandon their faith and ; . . - retfnoo.,' ., tUeU J, C. Bennett has stated that, to conquer ;ihe Mormon Legion it would require five to One agaijost them, all thine? taken into consideration, and that "they will die to a man sooner. thaAs give up their Prophet. Now, ia this man worth such a sacrifice of life as must neceasarilr fnUnw n with tus people? The loss of v fmm Ui nn t inousana lives will no doubt follow 'in the at. tempt, to' accomplish an object not iu the end worth' a hutton. Persecute them, and you are aire to multiply them, .) Thi is fully proved since, thcIisT oun;persecution, as, since that affair they have tMwt.of - . JL m. A W shall be offered freeh" I Dr. John C. Bennett was expelled comes; then - Car-linw- people,-'thei- r X . Shortly after this circumstance, the true feelings, of John C. Bennett were made manifest to the world, as the Prophet had predicted. According to Joseph's own words, his time had not yet come; for said, he, "I understand my God Almighty Is my shield; mission. I shall not be sacrificed, until my time or rereecutoW Just so it will be w$i the Mormons. They may kill one prophet; and confine in chains half his followers, but another will take his will still place, and the Mormons ' ' goheAd. deed?"i Prophet Joseph would do this, millions would flock to his standard and join his cause. I.e could then make his own laws by the voice of revelation, and have them executed like the act of one man. "With respect to myself, I would just repeat that I am the Prophet's friend, and a friend of his people, merely from sympathy, as my arm. has ever been lilted on the side of the persecuted and oppressed. n By inserting this communication, it is presumed that no one pill hold the Herald responsible for the sentiments it contains; yet I have no doubt that there are men thousands of independent, liberal-minde- d in this country who think as I do. 'Neither the Mormon Prophet nor his people can add anything to my fortune or reputation. I expect nothing from them; they are a poor and industrious people, and have nothing to give. I am influenced in my conduct towards them: by a spirit of benevolence and mercy, and hope the Governor and State of Illinois will act in like manner. It is true, I was commissioned in their Legion, through the instrumentality of their enemy, Gen. J. C. Bennet an act entirely of their own, without my agency; but I was as much their friend before as since. The Missouri persecution fixed my attention and commiseration on the people. "It must be recollected, too, that the Mormon Prophet and his people are the most ardent friends and promoters of literature and science. These are elementary principles in their social system; and this, certainly, is contrary to every thing like despotism. I hope, therefore, that Boggs will withdraw his demand for the Prophet, and let these poor people rest in peace. Both he and Governor feel much more at leace with themselves by quashing the whole proceeding:" The following historical incident of the Prophet's life, which I distinctly remember, cannot fail to be of interest to many, particularly the ones who witnessed the scene: "Saturday, April 7, 1842, the Nauvoo Legion was on parade, by virtue of an order of the 25th of January, 1842, and was reviewed by Lieutenant-Genera- l Joseph Smith, who commanded through the day. The weather was very fine. In the afternoon the Legion was divided into cohorts, and fought an animated sham battle. At the close of the parade. Gen. Smith delivered a most animating and appropriate address, in which he remarked that his soul was never better satisfied than on this occasion.', It will be remembered that on that day Gen. John C. Bennett betrayed his designs upon the life of the Prophet, by him repeatedly to take part in the sham battle, and even urging;him to command thefirst cohort in person, without his staff. Dr. Bennett's treachery, it seems, was made own to Joseph by the Spirit, for he said- "If General Bennett's true feelings towards me are not made manifest to the world in a very short Ume then it may be possible that the gentle of that spirit, which breathing whispered me on parade that there was mischief concealed in hat sham battle, were false. A short time will determme the point. Let John C. Bennett answer at the day of judgment Why did you request me to command one of the cohorts and also to take my position without my staff' tyIf i k pro-phetf- during the sham ' battle xm ther 7 th'of "April, 1842 jihere my lite might have been the forfeit, and no man have known who did the kunWi-or- t ""Tniri lr TT TUB increaseuJ unc uuuuxv. both of MisswrTanoTIIhnois, to let policy V A- ,- ; 4V,qw i rlritrpn vw further tnem aione; aui west, they may set up;an independent governAlment, under which they can worship the I mighty as may suit their taste. Indeed, would recommend to the Prophat to pull up stakes and take possession of the Oregon Terinderitory in his own right, and establish an from pendent empire. In one hundred years this time no nation on earth could conquer such a people. Let not the history of David be for- r, JThfiJiiiiniliatiDa ofUhaBaintsonlyiacreaaed their union. Abuse never injured a cause, and persecution has never stopped the progress pf this work, but only added fuel to the flame and ill - . ng - ' , , from the Church in: the following July ' for unvirtuous conduct. It was well known tliat he was a notorious hypocrite, and by his artful cunning under the cloak of religion deceived and led captive artless and unwary women. It should be explained to the reader that James Bennett and Dr. John C. Bennett were not in the least related, except they bore the same name. To be continued. R. S., Y. L. M. L A. AND PRIMARY REPORTS. Minutes of a special meeting of the Manti R. S. and Y, L. M. I. A., held Sept.; 23, 1881, Mrs. R.; Wareham presiding. Singing, "Once more we come before our God," &c. Prayer by Elder James Wareham. Singing. Present on the stand, Prest. M. A. Hyde and. Counselors, of Sanpete Stake Relief Society; also Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith and Sister E. B. Wells, of Salt Lake City, and Sister Amelia H. Goldsbrough, of Nephi,. President of the Relief Society of Juab Stake. Sister Hyde was the first speaker; was pleased to have the privilege of again meeting with the sisters of Manti; also felt thankful for the presence of our visiting sisters, and Jioped we were prepared to receive their instructions. Sister Wells then addressed the meeting. Said it is the desire of each and every one of us to do good as opportunity offers, to minister to the sick and provide for the poor and needy; we should not sit and hold our hands like the fashionable women ef the world, when there are Temples to be erected, and it is highly necessary that we should assist in their erection, if we expect to enjoy the privilege of performing: a work for ourselves and our dead after their completion. Spoke very encorirag-ingl- y of the labors of the sisters of Sanpete, also and, of the Lamanite sisters of Thistle Referred to the great good which had Valley. been accomplished by the Relief Societies, and exhorted the mothers in regard to the proper training of their children. Advised the sisters always to avail themselves of the privilege conferred by the elective franchise; hoped. all who were not legal vott rs wou Id seq the necessity of becoming so at once. She also advised them to inform themselves, so as to be able to vote intelligently. Sister Snow Smith felt happy to meet with the sisters of Manti, and felt thankful to see so many of the brethren present'; as she knew that they were equally interested with us in forwarding the Work'-Sh- e wished them to know how the sisters spent their time in their meetings, and that they had no time to be faultfinding and gossiping, of which they were sometimes accused. Said we should find much more happiness in improving ourselves and occupying qux time to advantage, than if we took the opposite course. We are called upon to make silk, to store grain, to assist the needy and care "for the sick, all of which: ia outside of our household duties. We can do, all of these things if we will seek unto the. Lord, for strength. Exhorted the sisters to rise and bear testimony when occasion required it and they would be blessed accordingly. - We should go forward and. not backward, and our reward will be in proportion to our works. Urged ; , . , |