| 514 put forth his hand to stop the work of the Lord or persecute the saints. In the name of Jesus we entreat the people of this nation to pause before they reject the words of the Lord, or his servants: These, like all flesh, may be imperfect; but God is pure, hear ye Him!
"While we ask peace and protection for the saints, wherever they may be, we also solicit the charity and benevolence of all the worthy on earth, to purchase the righteous a holy home, a place of rest, and a land of peace, believing that no man who knows he has a soul will keep back his mite, but cast it in for the benefit of Zion; thus, when time is no longer, he, with all the ransomed of the Lord, may stand, in the fullness of joy, and view the grand pillar of heaven, which was built by the faith and charity of the saints, beginning at Adam, with this motto in the base: 'Repent and live;' surrounded with a beautiful circle sign, supported by a cross, about midway up its lofty column, staring the world in letters of blood: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand,' and finished with a plain top, towering up in the midst of the celestial world, around which is written, by the finger of Jehovah: 'Eternal life is the greatest gift of God.'
"Although we may fail to show all men the truth of the fullness of the gospel, yet we hope to be able to convince some that we are neither deluded nor fanatics, but, like other men, have a claim on the world for land, and for a living, as good and as great as our venerable fathers had for Independence and liberty: That though the world has been made to believe, by false reports and vague stories, that the saints (called Mormons) were meaner than the savages, still God has been our help in time of trouble, and has provided for us in due season; and to use the language of Pope, he has let the work 'spread undivided,' and 'operate unspent.'
"For the honor of our beloved country and the continuation of its free Government, we appeal for peace; for an example of forbearance, and the diffusion of the everlasting gospel, we appeal to the humanity of all nations; and for the glory of God, before whom we must all answer for the deeds done in life, and for the hope of holiness hereafter, we mean to remain faithful to the end, continuing to pray to the Lord
(page 514) |
