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John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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Some of the brethren arrived from the State of , & ; who were prospered on their Journey. The disciples increased daily, and miricles were wrought daily such as healing the sick casting out devils, and the church grew and multiplied in numbers, grace, and knowledge.
one of the diciples, who was formerly a shakerquaker, he was anxious that some of the elders should go to his former brethren and preach the gospel. He also teased to be ordained to preach himself, and desired that the Lord should direct in this and all matters & thus saith the Lord:
Given at March 1831. Published in the first edition at , page 191. insert the revelation.
The above named brethren went and proclaimed according to the rev[e]lation given to them, but the shakers hearkened not to their words, and receivd not the gospel at that time; for they were bound up in tradition and priestcraft, and thus they are led away with foolish and vain imagianations.
For a perpetual memory, to the shame and confusion of the devil—permit me, to say a few things, respecting the proceedings of some of those who were disciples, and some remain among us, and will, and have come from under the error and enthusiasm, which they had fallen.
Some had visions and could not tell what they saw, Some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragoon, some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping, some would slide or scoot and [on] the floor, with the rapidity of a serpent, which the[y] termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish manoeuvers that are unseeming, and unprofitable to mention. Thus the devil blinded the eyes of some good and honest disciples. I write these things to show how ignorant and undicerning children are [p. 26]
Some of the brethren arrived from the State of , & ; who were prospered on their Journey. The disciples increased daily, and miricles were wrought such as healing the sick casting out devils, and the church grew and multiplied in numbers, grace, and knowledge.
one of the diciples, who was formerly a shakerquaker, he was anxious that some of the elders should go to his former brethren and preach the gospel. He also teased to be ordained to preach himself, and desired that the Lord should direct in this and all matters & thus saith the Lord:
Given at March 1831. Published in the first edition at , page 191. insert the revelation.
The above named brethren went and proclaimed according to the revelation given to them, but the shakers hearkened not to their words, and receivd not the gospel at that time; for they were bound up in tradition and priestcraft, and thus they are led away with foolish and vain imagianations.
For a perpetual memory, to the shame and confusion of the devil—permit me, to say a few things, respecting the proceedings of some of those who were disciples, and some remain among us, and will, and have come from under the error and enthusiasm, which they had fallen.
Some had visions and could not tell what they saw, Some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragoon, some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping, some would slide or scoot and [on] the floor, with the rapidity of a serpent, which they termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish manoeuvers that are unseeming, and unprofitable to mention. Thus the devil blinded the eyes of some good and honest disciples. I write these things to show how ignorant and undicerning children are [p. 26]
Page 26