History, 1834–1836

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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You desire to remain in the church, but to forsake your Apostleship This permit me to tell you is a stratigem of the evil one. When he has gained one advantage, he lays a plan for another; but by rising up and maintaining your Apostleship and by making one tremendious effort, you may overcome your passions and please God. And by forsakeing your apostleship, you say that you are not willing to make that sacrafice that God requires at your hand. And by so doing you <​will​> incur his displeasure, and without pleasing God, do not think that it will be any better for you. When a man falls one step he must regain that step, or fall another[.] he then has still more to regain or eventually all is lost.
I desire that you would humble yourself. I feel for you, and freely forgive you all; and you know my unshaken and unchangable disposition, I know in whom I trust, I stand upon the rock, the floods cannot, no they shall not overthrow me. You know the doctrine I teach is true, and you know that God has blessed me, I brought salvation to my s house, as an instrument in the hand of God, when they were in a miserable situation. You also know that it is my duty to admonish you when you do wrong. This liberty I shall always take, and you shall have the same privilege,— I take the privilege to admonish you because of my birthright, and I grant you the privilege because it is my duty to be humble and receive rebuke, and instruction from a brother or a friend.
As it regards what course you shall persue hereafter I do not pretend to say; I leave you in the hands of God and his church. Make your own decision, I will do you good although you marr me, or slay me; by so doing my garments shall be clear of your sins. And if at any time you should consider me to be an impostor, for heavens sake leave me in the hands of God, and not think to take vengance upon me yourself.— Tyrany, userpation, and to take men’s rights, ever has been, and ever shall be, banished from my heart.— And now may God have mercy upon my s house; may God [p. 161]
You desire to remain in the church, but to forsake your Apostleship This permit me to tell you is a stratigem of the evil one. When he has gained one advantage, he lays a plan for another; but by rising up and maintaining your Apostleship and by making one tremendious effort, you may overcome your passions and please God. And by forsakeing your apostleship, you say that you are not willing to make that sacrafice that God requires at your hand. And by so doing you will incur his displeasure, and without pleasing God, do not think that it will be any better for you. When a man falls one step he must regain that step, or fall another. he then has still more to regain or eventually all is lost.
I desire that you would humble yourself. I feel for you, and freely forgive you all; and you know my unshaken and unchangable disposition, I know in whom I trust, I stand upon the rock, the floods cannot, no they shall not overthrow me. You know the doctrine I teach is true, and you know that God has blessed me, I brought salvation to my s house, as an instrument in the hand of God, when they were in a miserable situation. You also know that it is my duty to admonish you when you do wrong. This liberty I shall always take, and you shall have the same privilege,— I take the privilege to admonish you because of my birthright, and I grant you the privilege because it is my duty to be humble and receive rebuke, and instruction from a brother or a friend.
As it regards what course you shall persue hereafter I do not pretend to say; I leave you in the hands of God and his church. Make your own decision, I will do you good although you marr me, or slay me; by so doing my garments shall be clear of your sins. And if at any time you should consider me to be an impostor, for heavens sake leave me in the hands of God, and not think to take vengance upon me yourself.— Tyrany, userpation, and to take men’s rights, ever has been, and ever shall be, banished from my heart.— And now may God have mercy upon my s house; may God [p. 161]
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