History, 1834–1836

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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Whether it has been well improved or not; whether the principles emenating from HIM who “hallowed” it, have been observed; or whether, like the common mass of time, it has been heedlessly spent, is not for me to say—one thing I can say—it can never be recalled!—it has rolled in to assist in filling up the grand space decreed in the mind of its Author, till nature shall have ceased her work, and time its accustomed revolutions—when its lord shall have completed the gathering of his elect, and with them enjoy that sabbath which shall never end!
On Fryday, the 5th, in company with our brother Joseph Smith Jr. I left for this place (,) to attend the conference previously appointed. To be permited, once more, to travel with this brother, occasions reflections of no ordinary kind. Many have been the fatiagues and privations which have fallen to my lot to endure, for the gospel’s sake, since 1828 with this brother. Our road has frequently been spread with the “fowlers snare,” and our persons saught with the eagerness, of the savage’s ferocity, for innocent blood, by men, either heated to desperation by the insenuation of those who professed to be “guides and way marks,” to the kingdom of glory, or the individuals themselves!— This, I confess, is a dark picture to spread before our patrons, but they will pardon my plainness when I assure them of the truth, In fact, God has so ordered, that the reflections which I am permited to cast upon my past life, relative to a knowledge of the way of salvation, are rendered “doubly endearing.” Not only have I been graciously preserved from wicked and unreasonable men, with this our brother, but I have seen the fruit of perseverance in proclaiming the everlasting gospel, immediately after it was declared to the world in these last days, in a manner not to be forgotten while heaven gives my common intellect. And what serves to render the reflection past expression on this point is, that from his hand I received baptism, by the direction of the angel of God—the first received into this church, in this day.
Near the time of the setting of the sun, sabbath evening, April 5th. 1829, my natural eyes for the first time beheld this brother. He then resided in , susquehanna county Penn. On monday the 6th. I assisted him in aranging some business of a temporal nature, and on tuesday the 7th. commenced to write the book of Mormon. These were days never to be forgotten—to <​sit​> assist under the voice sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to [p. 47]
Whether it has been well improved or not; whether the principles emenating from HIM who “hallowed” it, have been observed; or whether, like the common mass of time, it has been heedlessly spent, is not for me to say—one thing I can say—it can never be recalled!—it has rolled in to assist in filling up the grand space decreed in the mind of its Author, till nature shall have ceased her work, and time its accustomed revolutions—when its lord shall have completed the gathering of his elect, and with them enjoy that sabbath which shall never end!
On Fryday, the 5th, in company with our brother Joseph Smith Jr. I left for this place (,) to attend the conference previously appointed. To be permited, once more, to travel with this brother, occasions reflections of no ordinary kind. Many have been the fatiagues and privations which have fallen to my lot to endure, for the gospel’s sake, since 1828 with this brother. Our road has frequently been spread with the “fowlers snare,” and our persons saught with the eagerness, of the savage’s ferocity, for innocent blood, by men, either heated to desperation by the insenuation of those who professed to be “guides and way marks,” to the kingdom of glory, or the individuals themselves!— This, I confess, is a dark picture to spread before our patrons, but they will pardon my plainness when I assure them of the truth, In fact, God has so ordered, that the reflections which I am permited to cast upon my past life, relative to a knowledge of the way of salvation, are rendered “doubly endearing.” Not only have I been graciously preserved from wicked and unreasonable men, with this our brother, but I have seen the fruit of perseverance in proclaiming the everlasting gospel, immediately after it was declared to the world in these last days, in a manner not to be forgotten while heaven gives my common intellect. And what serves to render the reflection past expression on this point is, that from his hand I received baptism, by the direction of the angel of God—the first received into this church, in this day.
Near the time of the setting of the sun, sabbath evening, April 5th. 1829, my natural eyes for the first time beheld this brother. He then resided in , susquehanna county Penn. On monday the 6th. I assisted him in aranging some business of a temporal nature, and on tuesday the 7th. commenced to write the book of Mormon. These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to [p. 47]
Page 47