Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 15 Aug. 1842, vol. 3, no. 20, pp. 879–894; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 15 August 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons was the twelfth JS oversaw as editor. The issue reprinted a letter from the Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star detailing the Saints’ “first Foreign Mission” to Great Britain, which lasted from 1837 to 1838. The issue also continued the serialized “History of Joseph Smith” and reprinted the conclusion of an account from the Bostonian of a “Great Discussion on Mormonism” that had recently taken place in between Latter-day Saint missionary and Methodist minister George Montgomery West.
In addition, the issue included editorial content created by the staff of the paper. These items included an account of the history of persecution endured by the ; a short treatise on the spiritual power of knowledge; a note about unwelcome “loafers” in , Illinois; and an obituary for , a in the church. The issue concluded with a notice asking those indebted to JS’s deceased brother to pay their debts to his widow, . The extent of JS’s involvement in the creation and oversight of the issue’s content is difficult to ascertain, especially since he spent early August preoccupied with attempts to extradite him to and had gone into hiding by 10 August to avoid arrest and possible extradition. Regardless, as editor of the paper, JS assumed responsibility for all published content.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
dependent minister at Walker fold, Chaidgley, whom she had found at , and what she had done, and requested him to send for to preach in his chapel; Mr. Richards complied with his daughter’s request. arrived at Walkerfold, Saturday eve, August 12th, and the day following preached three times in Mr. Richard’s pulpit to crowded assemblies; also twice during the week, and twice the Sunday following, being most kindly and cordially entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Richards for nine days, during which time several in the neighborhood.
After a short visit to , where continued to preach and baptise, returned to Walkerfold and continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richards’ house for some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood, and from thence the work went forth to Clitherow, Waddington, Downham, Chatburn, Thornly, and Ribchester, through the labors of brothers and .
Goodson and arrived in Bedford on the 2d of August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R. Matthews, from brother , (Mrs. Matthews’ brother,) they immediately waited on Mr. Mathews, who expressed great joy at their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm with the elders through the streets of Bedford, calling on the members of his church, and inviting them to attend the lecture of the elders, at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews had previously been apprised of the Saints in , through the medium of the Rev. James Fielding, of , and the letters from before referred to. In the evening, his church assembled in the vestry, and elders Goodson and continued to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three following evenings in the same place, with the entire aprobation of Mr. Matthews, who at the close of the lectures publicly bore testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in return wished to know why he did not set them the example.
After this, Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood for the elders to preach in, under the pretence that some of the proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the elders occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the preaching of the elders, and also spent a great share of his time, from day to day, in conversation with them.
Mr. Matthews told the elders that he had received two ordinations, one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an imposter; and another from the church of England, which he acknowledged to be descended from the church of Rome, and he further acknowledged that he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of God’s house.
On the 10th, Mrs. Braddock and four others were baptised by elder Goodson. Soon after this, Mr. Joseph Saville, member of Mr. Matthews’ church, being very desirous of receiving baptism at the same time with Mr. Matthews, waited on him at his house in company with elders G. and , and Mr. Matthews and Mr. Saville mutually agreed to meet the elders on the bank of the river Ouse, at a specified hour in the afternoon, and attend to the ordinance of baptism.
At the hour appointed, Mr. Saville met the elders at the pla[c]e previously designated by Mr. Matthews; but as he did not make his appearance according to promise, after waiting for him an hour, Mr. Saville was baptised, when the elders repaired to Mr. Matthews’ to learn the cause of his not fulfilling his engagement, and were informed by Mr. Matthews family that he had gone out in the country to preach.
In a day or two it was currently rumored that Mr. Matthews had baptised himself, and this rumor was afterwards confirmed by Mrs. Matthews, who stated to , at , that Mr. Matthews had baptised himself, reasoning upon this principle within himself, “If I have authority to administer the sacrament to my people, why not have authority to baptise myself,” &c., and all this after Mr. Matthews had acknowledged to elders Goodson and that he had no authority to administer in the ordinances of God’s house; and altogether regardless of the words of the Apostle, (Heb. v. 4) “No man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron.”
By the foregoing it is plainly to be seen that Mr. Matthews has attempted to take that upon himself which was never con [p. 881]