History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 1295
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16 March 1842 • Wednesday
<​March 16​> Wednesday 16. I was with the Masonic Lodge, and rose to the sublime degree.
17 March 1842 • Thursday
<​17​> Thursday 17. The High Council withdrew the hand of fellowship from Elder for setting himself up as a Prophet and took his Licence.
I assisted in commencing the organization of “The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo” in the “Lodge Room” Sister President, and Sisters , and Counsellors, I gave much instruction, read in the New Testament, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants concerning the Elect Lady, and shewed that Elect meant to be elected to a certain work &c and [HC 4:552] that the Revelation was then fulfilled by ’s election to the Presidency of the Society, she having previously been ordained to expound the Scriptures. was blessed, and her Counsellors were ordained by Elder .
18–19 March 1842 • Friday–Saturday
<​18.​> 18 and 19 at home, and at my engaged in business temporal & Spiritual
20 March 1842 • Sunday
<​20.​> Sunday 20. I preached to a large assembly in the , near the , on the West. The body of a deceased child of Mr. being before the assembly changed my design in the order of my remarks, a brief synopsis of which was reported by Elder as follows
“President Smith read the 14th. chapter of Revelations and said, we have again the warning voice sounded in our midst which shows the uncertainty of human life; and in my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, Why it is that infants, innocent children are taken away from us? especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting? and the strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these:— This world is a very wicked world; and it is a proverb that the “world grows weaker and wiser” if it is the case, the world grows more wicked and corrupt. In the early ages of the world, a righteous man, and a man of God, and of intelligence, had a better chance to do good, to be believed and received, than at the present day; but in these days such a man is much opposed and persecuted by most of the inhabitants of the Earth; and he has much sorrow to pass through here, the Lord takes many away even in infancy that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore if rightly considered instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again. What chance is there for infidelity when we are parting with our friends almost daily? None at all. The infidel will grasp at every straw for help until death stares him in the face, and then his infidelity takes its flight, for the realities of the Eternal world are resting upon him in mighty power; and when every earthly support and prop fails him, he [HC 4:553] then sensibly feels the eternal truths of the immortality of the soul. We should take warning and not wait for the death bed to repent, as we see the infant taken away by death, so may the youth and middle aged; as well as the infant be suddenly called into eternity. Let this then prove as a warning to all, not to procrastinate repentance, or wait till a death bed; for it is the will of God that man should [p. 1295]
16 March 1842 • Wednesday
March 16 Wednesday 16. I was with the Masonic Lodge, and rose to the sublime degree.
17 March 1842 • Thursday
17 Thursday 17. The High Council withdrew the hand of fellowship from Elder for setting himself up as a Prophet and took his Licence.
I assisted in commencing the organization of “The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo” in the “Lodge Room” Sister President, and Sisters , and Counsellors, I gave much instruction, read in the New Testament, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants concerning the Elect Lady, and shewed that Elect meant to be elected to a certain work &c and [HC 4:552] that the Revelation was then fulfilled by ’s election to the Presidency of the Society, she having previously been ordained to expound the Scriptures. was blessed, and her Counsellors were ordained by Elder .
18–19 March 1842 • Friday–Saturday
18. 18 and 19 at home, and at my engaged in business temporal & Spiritual
20 March 1842 • Sunday
20. Sunday 20. I preached to a large assembly in the , near the , on the West. The body of a deceased child of Mr. being before the assembly changed my design in the order of my remarks, a brief synopsis of which was reported by Elder as follows
“President Smith read the 14th. chapter of Revelations and said, we have again the warning voice sounded in our midst which shows the uncertainty of human life; and in my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, Why it is that infants, innocent children are taken away from us? especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting? and the strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these:— This world is a very wicked world; and it is a proverb that the “world grows weaker and wiser” if it is the case, the world grows more wicked and corrupt. In the early ages of the world, a righteous man, and a man of God, and of intelligence, had a better chance to do good, to be believed and received, than at the present day; but in these days such a man is much opposed and persecuted by most of the inhabitants of the Earth; and he has much sorrow to pass through here, the Lord takes many away even in infancy that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore if rightly considered instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again. What chance is there for infidelity when we are parting with our friends almost daily? None at all. The infidel will grasp at every straw for help until death stares him in the face, and then his infidelity takes its flight, for the realities of the Eternal world are resting upon him in mighty power; and when every earthly support and prop fails him, he [HC 4:553] then sensibly feels the eternal truths of the immortality of the soul. We should take warning and not wait for the death bed to repent, as we see the infant taken away by death, so may the youth and middle aged; as well as the infant be suddenly called into eternity. Let this then prove as a warning to all, not to procrastinate repentance, or wait till a death bed; for it is the will of God that man should [p. 1295]
Page 1295