rafru^ 
 
 University of California Berkeley 
 
 Gift of 
 
 FRANK S. RICHARDS 
 
LETTERS 
 
 EXHIBITING THE MOST 
 
 PROMINENT DOCTRINES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Christ of ^atfer~ 
 
 ELDER ORSON SPENCER, A,B,, 
 
 IN KEPLY 
 
 TO THE REV, WILLIAM CROWEL, A,M,, 
 
 Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. A. 
 
 "THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND." Dant 
 
 SIXTH EDITION. 
 
 LIVERPOOL: 
 
 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM BUDGE, 42, ISLINGTON. 
 1879. 
 
ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 * 
 PAGE 
 
 The Author's Preface, 
 
 Letter from the Rev. W. Crowd, A. M., 1 
 
 LETTER I. 
 General Introductory Remarks, 5 
 
 LETTER II. 
 Immediate Revelation, 34 
 
 LETTER III. 
 On Faith, 41 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 On Water Baptism, 48 
 
 LETTER V. 
 The Gift of the Holy Ghost, 55 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 Apostacy from the Primitive Church, 63 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 The Re-Establishment of an Apostolic Church, 72 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 The True and Living God, 84 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 PAGE 
 The Priesthood, M ... 94 
 
 LETTER X. 
 On Gathering, ... 103 
 
 LETTER XL 
 The Latter-day Judgments, ... L14 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 On the Restitution of All Things, 124 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 Miscellaneous Remarks on Restitution, ... 130 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 Summary and Final Appeal, 152 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 The Patriarchal Order, ... 191 
 
 Night of Martyrdom, 228 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO THE THIRD EDITION. 
 
 THE AUTHOR lias, for some time, felt desirous 
 to see the most prominent subjects of the faith 
 ol the Latter-day Saints brought before the 
 public in continuous order, in one volume. 
 
 This series of Letters was called forth by 
 the letter of inquiry prefixed, from the pen of 
 the Rev. William Crowel. This gentleman 
 was at the time, and still is (for aught I know), 
 Editor of " The Christian Watchman/' Boston, 
 Massachusetts, U. S. A. a leading paper of 
 the Baptist denomination in the United States. 
 
 The Editor was also a clergyman of high 
 repute for learning and piety in that denomina- 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 tion of people, and missionary elect to a foreign 
 land. From the elevated standing of this gen- 
 tleman, and the nature of his inquiries, being 
 such as have come from many other distin- 
 guished acquaintance, relative to the author's 
 change of views, it seemed wisdom, after con- 
 sultation with the Prophet and Patriarch (since 
 martyred), to publish a brief reply to his minute 
 and interesting inquiries. 
 
 The Author was extensively known in the 
 New England and Middle States, as a Preacher 
 of the Baptist denomination. Eeference for his 
 character is given to his Excellency George N. 
 Briggs, Governor of the State of Massachusetts, 
 by whom lie was once invited to take the pas- 
 toral charge of the church where his Excellency 
 resided, and of which he was a member ; also 
 to G. Reade, Esq., Connecticut ; and Eliphalet 
 Nott, D.D., LL.D., President of Union College, 
 New York, under whose Presidency he gradua- 
 ted in 1824 ; and also to N. Kendrick, D.D., 
 President of Hamilton Literary and Theological 
 College, from whence the Author graduated in 
 1829. The records of both these institutions 
 
PREFACE. Vii 
 
 will show that the Author held the FIRST grade 
 of honorable distinction at the time he left 
 them. 
 
 These references are not given from vanity, 
 but from the fact that almost every man's 
 character is traduced and vilified, the moment 
 he embraces the FAITH once delivered to the 
 Saints. 
 
 The present volume constitutes the third 
 reprint. Several thousand copies having been 
 exhausted in a tract form, the present edition, 
 in book form, was repeatedly inquired after. 
 
 The edition has been got out in the midst 
 of multiplied engagements. Truth in studied 
 brevity has been aimed at, without seeking the 
 least embellishment of diction. 
 
 If there has, in part of the volume, been 
 the appearance of severity towards the religions 
 of modern Christianity, it has been prompted 
 solely by the impulse of truth, in order to 
 demolish error, before the Destroyer of the 
 Gentiles should expose iniquity with irretrieva- 
 ble loss to its victims. 
 
 Scripture references have been studiously 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 omitted, believing that honest minds would 
 readily find ample support from the Scriptures 
 for all that is contained in this little volume. 
 It is, therefore, commended to the faith and 
 cordial reception of all who desire the salvation 
 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in sinceri- 
 ty and truth. 
 
 OESON SPENCER. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, January 1st, 1848. 
 
LETTER 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 EEY, WILLIAM CBOWEL, A,M, 
 
 TO 
 
 OESON SPENCEE, A.B. 
 
 BOSTON, October 21, 1842. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, On the confidence of an old ac- 
 quaintance and kindly intercourse, I have long wished 
 to address a friendly line to you ; for, I am sure, you 
 have not forgotten the pleasant, though brief, inter- 
 views, which we enjoyed at Middlefield. Since I saw 
 you there, a great change has taken place, as I have 
 been led to believe, in your religious views, and a cor- 
 responding one in your relations and circumstances ; 
 still, I trust, that you have not forgotten the claims of 
 friendship and acquaintance. 
 
 I need not tell you how much I became interested 
 in your family, so young and so full of promise, nor of 
 the strong confidence which I reposed in your piety and 
 B 
 
2 LETTER BY WILLIAM CROWEL. 
 
 conscientious regard for the will of God. I would not 
 allow myself to believe that you would profess what you 
 did not sincerely believe, nor that you would believe 
 without good reason ; still the change in your views 
 excited in me no little surprise. I have, therefore, been 
 desirous to receive from yourself an account of your 
 views, and the reasons of your change. I am also de- 
 sirous to obtain from one in whom I can confide one 
 who is acquainted with the facts and one who is not 
 prejudiced against it at the outset, some account of the 
 faith which you have embraced ; of the personal char- 
 acter, doctrines, claims, and influence of him who fe 
 called the leader I mean Joseph Smith. 
 
 Does he claim to be inspired 1 ? Is he a man of 
 prayer 1 a man of 'pure life 1 a man of peaee ? Where 
 is he now '1 Does he appear at the head of his troops as 
 a military Commander 1 What is the nature of the wor- 
 ship among you, and wherein does it differ from that of 
 religious people with whom you have been acquainted 
 elsewhere 1 
 
 How many inhabitants has the city of Nauvoo ? 
 What is their condition, occupations, and general char- 
 acter! What are the dimensions of the Temple, now 
 in course of erection ? Do the Mormons suffer much 
 persecution 1 if so, from whom ] Are the children in- 
 structed in learning and religion 1 ? It would give me 
 great pleasure to learn, also, how you are employed 1 ? 
 whether your family are with you? and also your present 
 
LETTER BY WILLIAM CROWEL. 3 
 
 views of truth and duty, and in what respects they 
 differ from the views which you formerly entertained 1 
 
 Excuse the number and minuteness of these in- 
 quiries. I take an interest in all that affects the welfare 
 of my fellow-men, and especially in what is so import- 
 ant as their religious views and hopes. I am aware that 
 the people, and the views which you have adopted as 
 your own, are peculiarly liable to misrepresentation ; but 
 from you I may expect something more impartial. Now, 
 if you do not find the task too great a tax upon your 
 time, I should be much gratified in receiving as full and 
 as speedy an answer to the queries above proposed, with 
 any other information in your possession, as may be con- 
 venient to yourself. 
 
 It may be gratifying to you, to learn that a power- 
 ful revival of religion has been enjoyed in Middlefield, 
 within a few weeks past, an account of which, Mr. 
 Bestor, the" present pastor, has sent to me for publica- 
 tion in The Christian Watchman, a copy of which I send 
 you. I visited the town in the summer, and found your 
 old friends well. I also attended a ministers' meeting 
 at Brother Bestor's, and enjoyed a very pleasant inter- 
 view. Several of the brethren spoke of you in terms of 
 kindness. 
 
 My best -wishes attend you. Present my regards to 
 Mrs. Spencer, and 
 
 Believe me, Very truly yours, 
 
 WILLIAM CKOWEL. 
 
4 LETTER BY WILLIAM CROWEL. 
 
 P. S. You will understand that I ask for informa- 
 tion for my private benefit and satisfaction, I do not 
 ask for anything to be published, unless you see fit to 
 give it for that purpose. I wish you to write as an old 
 friend. W. a 
 
LETTERS 
 
 BY ORSON SPENCER, A. B. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 GENERAL INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 NAUVOO, November 17, 1842. 
 
 My Dear Sir: I received yours of the 21st ult. 
 about a week since, but many engagements have pre- 
 vented a more early reply. 
 
 Your inquiries were interesting and important, and 
 I only regret that I have not more time and room to 
 answer them as their importance and minuteness de- 
 mand. 
 
 I am not at all surprised that my old friends should 
 wonder at my change of views ; even to this day it is 
 marvellous in my own eyes, how I should be separated 
 from my brethren to this (" Mormon") faith. I greatly 
 desire to see my Baptist brethren face to face, that I 
 may tell them alt things pertaining to my views, and 
 this work ; but, at present, the care of my wife and six 
 children, with the labors of a civil office, forbid this pri- 
 vilege. 
 
 A sheet of paper is a poor conductor of a marvellous 
 
b LETTERS BY 
 
 and controverted system of theology; but receive this 
 sheet as containing only some broken hints upon which 
 I hope to amplify in some better manner hereafter. You 
 have expressed confidence in my former conscientious 
 regard for the will of God. I thank you for this, because 
 the virtues of many good men have been disallowed 
 upon some supposed forfeiture of public esteem. I 
 thank God that you, and many of the churches where I 
 once labored, are more liberal. 
 
 You, more than common men, know that it is in 
 accordance with all past history, that men's true charac- 
 ters suffer imprisonment, scourging, and death, as soon 
 as they become innovators or seceders from long-estab- 
 lished and venerated systems. Many have suffered 
 martyrdom for literary and also religious improvements, 
 to whom after ages have done better justice. "Which 
 of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted, and 
 slain them which told before the coming of the Just 
 Onef 
 
 It was the misfortune of many of the former prophets, 
 that they were raised up at a period of the- world when 
 apostacy and corruption rendered their efforts indispen- 
 sable, although such efforts proved unacceptable to those 
 who w r ere in fault. Ancient prophets, you know, did 
 not merely reiterate what their predecessors had taught, 
 but spoke hidden wisdom, even things that had been 
 kept secret for many generations ; because the spirit by 
 which they were moved had knowledge of all truth, and 
 could disclose and reveal as it seemed wisdom in God. 
 
 The spirits that were disobedient, while once the long- 
 suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, doubtless 
 despised the prophet that taught a universal deluge. 
 But Noah had a special revelation of a deluge, although 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 7 
 
 the religious people of his day counted him an enthusiast. 
 The revelation given to Moses to gather an oppressed 
 people to a particular place, was equally one side of, and 
 out of, the usual course of former revelations. John 
 came to the literal followers of Abraham and Moses ; 
 but he escaped not persecution and death, because he 
 breathed an uncharitable and exclusive spirit towards 
 the existing sects of the day. Still he was a revelator 
 and seer approved of God. 
 
 And is it a thing incredible with you, brother, that 
 before the great sabbatic era, world's rest, or millen- 
 nium, God should raise up a prophet to prepare the peo- 
 ple for that event, and the second coming of Jesus Christ] 
 Would it be disagreeable to those who love the unity of 
 Saints, or improbable or unscriptural to expect such a 
 prophet to be possessed with the key of knowledge, or 
 endowed, like Peter, with the stone of revelation 1 ! If 
 the many hundred religious sects of this age should here- 
 after harmonize into one faith and brotherhood, without 
 the aid of special revelations, it would constitute an un- 
 paralleled phenomenon. Should they become a bride fife 
 to receive Jesus Christ at his coming, it could not be 
 according to Paul's gospel. For six thousand years, 
 apostles and prophets have constituted an essential part 
 of the spiritual edifice in which God dwells. Paul says 
 it is by them the church is perfected and brought to 
 unity of faith. 
 
 I know that you and I have been taught from our 
 childhood, that the church can be perfected without pro- 
 phets ; but where, I ask, is the first scripture to support 
 this view ? 
 
 As you kindly say, I have always been accustomed 
 to offer a reason for my faith ; but be assured I was con- 
 
8 LETTERS BY 
 
 founded and made dumb, when asked why I taught ano- 
 ther gospel than what Paul did why I taught that 
 revelation was ended, when Paul did not or why I 
 taught that prophets were not needed, when no inspired 
 teacher ever taught such a doctrine. Error may become 
 venerable by age, and respectable from the number of 
 its votaries, but neither age nor popularity can ever 
 make it truth. 
 
 You give me credit for a conscientious regard for the 
 will of God. It was this that gave me the victory where 
 many others, I fear, are vanquished. The Spirit of God 
 wrought mightily in me, commending the ancient gospel 
 to my conscience. I contemplated it with peaceful 
 serenity and joy in believing. Visions and dreams be- 
 gan to illuminate, occasionally, my slumbering moments ; 
 but when I allowed my selfish propensities to speak, I 
 cursed " Mormonism " in my heart, and regretted being 
 in possession of as much light and knowledge as had 
 flowed into my mind from that source. When I preach- 
 ed or conversed according to my best convictions, peace 
 Teigned in my heart, and truth enlarged my understand- 
 ing. Conviction and reverence for the truth, at such 
 times, seemed to reign in the hearts of those that heard 
 me ; at times, however, some were ready to gnash their 
 teeth, for the truth that they would not receive and 
 could not resist. 
 
 I counted the cost, to myself and family, of embra- 
 cing such views, until I could read it like the child his 
 alphabet, either upward or downward. The expense I 
 viewed through unavoidable tears, both in public and 
 private, by night and by day ; I said, however, the Lord 
 He is God, I can, I will, embrace the truth. 
 
 When I considered the weakness of the human 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 9 
 
 mind, and its liability to be deceived, I re-examined and 
 held converse with the most able opposers to " Mormon- 
 ism," in a meek and teachable spirit ; but the ease with 
 which many, wearing a high profession of piety, turned 
 aside the force of palpable truth, or leaned on tradition 
 or inextricable difficulties, that they could not solve into 
 harmony with their professions, was very far from dissu- 
 ading me from my new views. What could I do 1 Truth 
 had taken possession of my mind plain, simple, Bible 
 truth. It might be asked if I could not expel it from my 
 door ; yes, I could do it ; but how would that harmonize 
 with a sincere profession to preach and practise the truth, 
 by way of example to others'? It was a crisis I never 
 shall, I never can forget. I remember it as an exodus 
 from parents, kindred, denomination, and temporal sup- 
 port. Has any one ever passed such a crisis, they will 
 say, at least, be careful of Brother Spencer's character 
 and feelings. 
 
 Little as I supposed that I cared about popularity, 
 competence, or the fellowship of those who were sincere- 
 ly in error, when I came to be stretched upon the altar 
 of sacrifice, and the unsheathed blade that was to ex- 
 scind from all these hung over me with perpendicular 
 exactness ; then, then, brother, I cried unto the Lord to 
 strengthen me to pass through the scene with his appro- 
 bation. 
 
 While I was enquiring to know what the Lord would 
 have me to do, many brethren of different denominations 
 warned and exhorted me faithfully; but their warnings 
 consisted very much in a lively exhibition of evils to be 
 endured, if I persisted ; or, in other words, they appeal- 
 ed to my selfish nature. But I knew too well that truth 
 should not be abandoned through the force of such 
 
10 LETTERS BY 
 
 appeals, however eloquently urged. Some, with whom I 
 conversed, gave glowing descriptions of the obnoxious 
 character of Joseph Smith, and of the contradictory and 
 unscriptural jargon of the Book of Mormon, but it was 
 their misfortune usually to be deplorably ignorant of the 
 true character of either. 
 
 Of the truth of this statement many instances might 
 be furnished, if the limits of my sheet would allow. My 
 own solicitude to know the character of Mr. Smith, in 
 order to judge of the doctrines propagated by him, was 
 not so great as that of some others. My aversion to the 
 worship of man, is both educational and religious ; but I 
 said boldly, concerning Mr. Smith, that whoever had 
 arranged and harmonized such a system of irresistible 
 truth, has borne good fruit. Some suggested that it 
 would be wisdom to make a personal acquaintance with 
 Mr. Smith, previous to embracing his doctrines ; but to 
 me the obligation to receive the truths of heaven seemed 
 absolute, whatever might be the character of Mr. Smith. 
 
 I read diligently the Book of Mormon from begin- 
 ning to end, in close connection with the comments of 
 Origen Bachelor, Laroy Sunderland, and Dr. Hurlbut, 
 together with newspapers and some private letters obtain- 
 ed from the surviving friends of Mr. Spaulding, the sup- 
 posed author of that book. I arose from its perusal with 
 a strong conviction on my mind, that its pages were 
 graced with the pen of inspiration. I was surprised that 
 so little fault could be found with a book of such magni- 
 tude, treating, as it did, of such diversified subjects, 
 through a period of so many generations. It appeared 
 to me that no enemy to truth or godliness would ever 
 take the least interest in publishing the contents of such 
 a book ; such appeared to me to be its godly bearing, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 11 
 
 sound morality, and harmony with ancient scriptures, 
 that the enemy of all righteousness might as well pro- 
 claim the dissolution of his own kingdom, as to spread 
 the contents of such a volume among men ; and from 
 that time to this, every effort made by its enemies to de- 
 molish, has only shown how invincible a fortress defends 
 it. If no greater breach can be made upon it, than has 
 hitherto been made by those who have attacked it with 
 the greatest animosity and diligence, its overthrow may 
 be considered a forlorn hope. On this subject I only ask 
 the friends of pure religion to read the Book of Mormon 
 with the same unprejudiced, prayerful, and teachable 
 spirit that they would recommend unbelievers in the 
 ancient scriptures to read those sacred records. I have 
 not spoken of the external evidence of the truth of the 
 Book of Mormon, which is now worthy of much con- 
 sideration ; but the internal evidence, I think, will satisfy 
 every honest mind. As you enquire after the reasons 
 that operated to change my mind to the present faith, I 
 only remark that " Stevens' Travels " had some influence, 
 ,s an external evidence of the truth of the Book of 
 Mormon. 
 
 My present view, after which you also enquire, ?s, 
 that the evidences, both internal and external, have 
 been multiplied. It may have caused surprise and 
 wonder to many of my respected and distinguished 
 friends in New England, how I could ever renounce a 
 respectable standing in the churches and in the minis- 
 try, to adhere to a people so odious in every one's 
 mouth, and so revolting to every one's natural liking ; 
 the answer in part is this As soon as I discovered an 
 identity in the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints and 
 the Ancient Saints, I enquired whether the treatment 
 
12 LETTERS BY 
 
 bestowed upon each was also similar. I immediately 
 began to dig deep to find the foundation and corner- 
 stone of the true church I looked at the demeanor and 
 character of those who surrounded the Ancient Saints. 
 The result of my observation seemed to be, that even 
 Jesus Christ had many objectionable points of character 
 to those who observed him. Those who were reputedly 
 most conversant with Abraham, Moses, and other pro- 
 phets of the Lord, pronounced him unfit for the respect 
 and confidence of a pious community ; and why did such 
 men find so many objectionable points in the character 
 and conduct of Jesus Christ 1 for substantially the 
 same reasons that men of high intelligence and devotion 
 find fault with Joseph Smith and his doctrines. Those 
 who bore down with heavy opposition to Jesus Christ 
 were honorable men, whose genealogy took in the 
 worthiest ancestry ; they were the orthodox expositors 
 of revealed truth. Those who now oppose Joseph 
 Smith (a person ordained and sent forth by Jesus 
 Christ), occupy the same high and respectable standing, 
 and manifest a similar bearing towards the reputed im- 
 postor of the present day. The ancient worthies were 
 the repositories of learning, and so are the modern 
 worthies. The ancients taught many things according 
 to truth and godliness, and verily believed they were 
 substantially right in faith and practice ; this is also true 
 of modern religious teachers. 
 
 But in reply to my own question, why the ancient 
 religionists opposed Jesus Christ 1 I answer : in the first 
 place, they mistook his true character and conduct ; in 
 the second place, they were palpably ignorant of the wis- 
 dom and godliness of many things in the character and 
 conduct of Jesus Christ ; they considered that there was 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 13 
 
 absolutely a wide difference in the views and conduct of 
 Jesus Christ and themselves. The same is true of many 
 distinguished opposers to Joseph Smith ; they consider 
 that there is an irreconcilable difference between them- 
 selves and Mr. Smith ; and Mr. Smith, of course, is in 
 the wrong, and they are in the right. 
 
 Now let us consider, first, wherein the ancients mis- 
 took the character of Jesus Christ, and modern opposers 
 to Mr. Smith do the same of him. The true character 
 of Jesus Christ was very imperfectly known to those who 
 opposed him in his own time. Many impostors that had 
 preceded, had guarded the public mind against a repe- 
 tition of further abuse. He was eyed with dark suspicion 
 wherever he went. It may well be supposed, that sage 
 precaution against him was vehemently urged, lest through 
 his great subtlety he might mislead even some that were 
 respectable. And what could he do to disabuse the pub- 
 lic mind ] Prejudice and calumny outran and prepared 
 a thorny reception for him in all places ; and so thick 
 and dark was the fog and cloud of misapprehension and 
 falsehood that followed him, that dark suspicions and 
 foul inferences would obtrude upon the minds even of the 
 honest, to weaken their convictions in his behalf, and 
 shake their conclusions. The tale of calumny never lost 
 in sharpness and effect by time or distance. 
 
 Those who had not the privilege of a personal 
 acquaintance with Jesus, might be supposed to have 
 no interest in favoring a personage whose pretensions, if 
 countenanced, would disturb their quietude, and impugn 
 their motives, and threaten the prosperity of a system 
 that they supposed as old as the days of Abraham, and 
 teachings as orthodox as the sayings of Moses. But 
 whatever was said or done by Jeaus that could possibly 
 
14 LETTERS BY 
 
 be construed by prejudiced minds to his disadvantage, 
 these things were heeded with readiness, and published 
 in the social circle, and rivetted by the 'butt of ridicule 
 upon every mind ; and those who loved to laugh at the 
 expense of the innocent, could furnish stock for the 
 purpose, by retailing tales about the supposed impostor, 
 that had their origin in misapprehension and falsehood ; 
 but they were well received and cheered by those who 
 affected grave reverence for the Supreme Deity, while 
 they could trample with scorn (unconsciously) upon the 
 brightness of His glory in the person of His Son. 
 
 Now let me ask if the character and conduct of Mr. 
 Smith are not equally misunderstood by modern religion- 
 ists *? Mr. Smith only claims to be a prophet, raised up 
 to usher in the last dispensation, while Jesus Christ was 
 more obnoxious in proportion to the superior magnitude 
 of his claims as the Son of God. How difficult it is for 
 persons, in the present age, to form a correct estimate of 
 the true character and views of Mr. Smith. The public 
 mind is always forestalled concerning him. It is taken 
 to be sound orthodoxy that there is no more need of 
 prophets or revelations ; the canon of scripture is full ; 
 consequently, the man that will claim to be a prophet, 
 or revelator, or seer, must be a base impostor and knave. 
 "With this educational prejudice, sanctioned by the best 
 men for a thousand years past, and rivetted by solemn 
 vows to abide in orthodoxy, they see as though they saw 
 not, and hear as though they heard not. 
 
 If excellent things are 'taught by Mr. Smith, it is 
 considered by prejudiced minds as a good bait employed 
 to cover a well-barbed hook ; by many he is considered 
 more detestable and dangerous, because, say they, "if he 
 did not mix so much good with his system, he would not 
 be so dangerous and so likely to deceive." 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 15 
 
 Again, can the people of this country obtain a 
 correct knowledge of the prophet through the religious 
 prints 1 I apprehend they never will. Those who 
 control the religious prints, conceive they know, in the 
 premises, that God has not raised up such a prophet, 
 therefore they will not tarnish the columns of their 
 periodicals by publishing anything favorable to him. 
 While they feel bound to withhold whatever might 
 commend the prophet to the favorable regards of impar- 
 tial men, they feel solemnly constrained to advertize the 
 public of all rising heresies. Thus, while our supposed 
 heresies are published from very questionable data, our 
 real virtues are buried in oblivion. We do not murmur ; 
 if Jesus, the master, could not be known in his true 
 character, but said, with mingled pity and forgiveness, 
 " they know not what they do," we cannot expect better 
 treatment from those who know but little of us, while 
 they say much to our disadvantage. 
 
 Paul did the Ancient Saints much harm, and wasted 
 them greatly, being ignorant of their true character, and 
 unbelieving as to their doctrines. It is certain that the 
 Latter-day Saints have received much harm from those 
 who are ignorant of their character, and unbelieving as to 
 their doctrines. Religious editors, generally, know very 
 little of us, except what they have learned from our 
 enemies. Jesus Christ was entirely stript of his reputa- 
 tion by his enemies, and was put to death by learned, 
 yet ignorant, zealots, \yho were too self-wise to be taught 
 by one whom they knew to be an impostor in the start ; 
 but those men were mistaken in the character of our 
 Lord ; and so are our enemies mistaken in the character 
 and views of the modern prophet. 
 
 My own personal observation teaches that it is a 
 very difficult matter to instil into the minds of sectarian 
 
16 LETTERS BY 
 
 churches, a true knowledge of the faith and practice of 
 Latter-day Saints. Though one should go among them 
 that was once highly esteemed by them, they are alarmed 
 at his approach, and his virtues are conceived to render 
 him more deserving of a repulse. " His influence," say 
 they, " may be formidable ; we must not bid him God 
 speed," consequently he is not asked to pray in the family 
 or public meeting. If he can, by great effort, get an 
 opportunity to preach, it is not thought advisable for 
 anybody to go and hear him, lest they should be led away 
 by his errors. 
 
 Thus you see, brother, how difficult in former and 
 latter days to bring the true faith to the knowledge of 
 men, through prejudice. They have prejudged a matter 
 of which they are almost wholly ignorant. This same 
 notion of treating new matters has veiled the sun in 
 darkness, and hung the Prince of Life in agonies. How 
 long shall this treatment of the Saints be persisted in ? 
 How long shall prophets be persecuted and slain, without 
 being fully known, and the servants of God be excluded 
 from an impartial hearing, when they seek to publish 
 good tidings even salvation to the inhabitants of the 
 earth 1 
 
 Now let me ask my former friends in the eastern 
 churches, with whom I once held sweet intercourse, how 
 it is possible for the Latter-day Saints to introduce their 
 views among the sectarian churches and the world, with 
 any more favorable reception than the Ancient Saints had 
 in introducing theirs 1 Prejudice and persecution faced 
 them down always, and so it is in these days. It is 
 certainly a mistaken idea to suppose that people are much 
 better now than they were anciently, when the true 
 Gospel was misunderstood, and its promoters sincerely 
 
ORSON SPENCEK. 17 
 
 accounted disturbers, and heretics worthy of exemplary 
 punishment. " But," say the wise and great men among 
 the sectarian churches, "we do understand the true 
 gospel, and have already embraced it, and it is only error 
 and heresy we oppose ; and the weight of our contempt 
 and ridicule is hurled at impostors and knaves, who palm 
 off gross deceptions upon the public, and lead captive 
 ignorant zealots by pretended revelations and spurious 
 miracles." But do they not know that substantially the 
 same charge was brought against Jesus Christ and the 
 primitive disciples 1 Let it be proved that we are what 
 our enemies call us ; let us file our respective pleas and 
 come to a speedy and impartial trial. To this our op- 
 posers will not consent ; they intend to employ all the 
 advantage of education and prejudice to exclude us from 
 a hearing so did the opposers of the Ancient Saints ; 
 but I solemnly ask whether it has ever been necessary, in 
 any moral enterprise, for those who have the truth on 
 their side, especially gospel truth, to defend that truth by 
 foreclosing discussion, and shunning public investigation, 
 and then carry on their depredations by the use of 
 such small arms as ridicule and preconceived objections, 
 that need only be brought to light to be dissipated like 
 fog in the meridian sun 1 
 
 Do temperance lecturers, bible and education agents, 
 and other moral reformers find it necessaiy to carry on 
 their enterprises by such means ] Do they seek to avoid 
 an open and frank discussion with the intemperate por- 
 tions of the cornmunity ? Do they avoid a manly investi- 
 gation because the intemperate portions of the community 
 combine, in their life and conduct, beastly sottishneas, 
 unprovoked abuse to wives and children, a prodigal waste 
 of competence and ample fortunes, and the overthrow of 
 C 
 
18 LETTERS BY 
 
 intellect, and the dissolution of all moral ties 1 'No, by no 
 means ! They seek the broad day-light of public discus- 
 sion, because they know the truth and power of that side 
 of the cause which they have espoused. They know that 
 intemperance cannot survive the impartial observation of 
 good men. All we ask is that the word of God may have 
 free course. We wish that it may come distinctly to the 
 knowledge of men, that they may sit in impartial judg- 
 ment upon it. 
 
 By the icwd of God, we mean not only what was 
 revealed for the ancients especially, but also what is now 
 revealed for this generation. " Oh f says the objector, 
 " he wants the word of Joseph Smith to have a free 
 circulation, aud this we oppose, because it is blasphemous 
 and preposterous." Yes, we want the word of God by 
 Joseph Smith, to be known and read of all men, because 
 it is written not with ink, but by the spirit of the living 
 God. What were Peter, Elijah, or Moses, but earthen 
 vessels, by whom God communicated his own knowledge, 
 power, and glory ? Does not the word by Joseph 
 commend itself to every man's conscience where it is 
 heard with due candor ] I have never seen that person 
 who had read the Book of Mormon, and the Book of 
 Doctrine and Covenants entirely through, with an earnest 
 desire to know whether it was of God or not, who could 
 raise any worthy objection against them. A few isolated 
 portions of these books are often selected out and made 
 .to speak some other besides their true meaning, and 
 thereby a dislike for these books is created ; consequently, 
 .some refuse to read them at all, while some others read 
 only to confirm their prepossessions and prejudices ; and 
 .superficial inquirers hear with credulity that such a 
 minister, editor, or professor of some college, has published 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 19 
 
 an expose or refutation of " Mormonism," that will inflict 
 a fatal wound upon this glaring and blasphemous heresy, 
 Now, it is well known that the novelties of this age 
 are so many and -so various, that no man has time to 
 examine into them all ; and many consider that a hint 
 from a pious editor, or distinguished reviewer, against 
 "Mormonism," is sufficient apology for them not to 
 examine it. Now, under these considerations, it is easy 
 to divine that the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints must 
 travel through obstacles and difficulties of the greatest 
 magnitude ; and I am ready, dear brother, to mourn over 
 the prospect, because many bad men, and some good men, 
 will fight against the faith, not knowing what they do. 
 My bosom heaves with the deeper concern, because I 
 know this to be the true gospel, and that it will prevail, 
 even though the foe should be as great and powerful as 
 the Lord's enemies were in the days of Noah. Pardon 
 my assurance when I say that those beautiful systems, 
 called benevolent operations, must come to nought ; not 
 because they are not honestly designed for some good 
 effect, but because they are a mixture of human device 
 with the wisdom of God, or the Gospel preverted. I 
 know, too, that these beautiful systems, together with 
 the various orders of sectarianism, cannot well be van- 
 quished without a desperate struggle ensue. Sectarianism 
 is old and venerable, and having undergone many costly 
 repairs, without much substantial improvement, it never 
 can be demolished without violent resistance. There is 
 an air of sacredness around it that will stimulate its 
 votaries insensibly ; and when they are assailed by the 
 strong hand of Bible truth, rather than see their fortress 
 taken by the illiterate followers of the despised Prophet, 
 will summon to their aid the worst passions, and push 
 
20 LETTERS BY 
 
 matters to the greatest extremities. These remarks are 
 amply supported by the history of the past, both in 
 respect to Former and Latter-day Saints. 
 
 See the ancient Jew of our Lord's day- his piety 
 was scrupulously exact he knew the worth of his reli- 
 gion by the pains and expense it had cost him. Every 
 thing had with great trouble been fashioned into a system 
 of sacredness. They had been striving hard for a beauti- 
 ful system of perfection that would commend them to 
 God, and mourned that any of Abraham's children should 
 teach that there was no resurrection, etc., and not 
 harmonize with them in bearing heavy burdens in order 
 to save men's souls. And when an obscure personage 
 sprang up, and broke over their rules of piety, and 
 mingled with the profane without ceremonious washing, 
 and was seen to drink wine, probably, and eat with the 
 boisterous and odious classes, without pretending to 
 wash away the contagion that accrued, and to travel on 
 the Sabbath day, and to pluck ears of corn without any 
 signs of confession, and to heap harsh-sounding and heavy 
 anathemas upon the most intelligent and devoted men of 
 the age, and claim to be a prophet, while he ignorantly 
 conversed with an adulterous woman all this, the scru- 
 pulous Jew could not, and would not, bear ; and his 
 anger was heightened to madness when he found that 
 many adhered to the new teacher, and occasionally a 
 person of wealth and standing was won over to the 
 impostor by his artifice and jugglery. And as the influ- 
 ence of this odious personage spread, especially among 
 the common people, who had not sufficient sagacity to 
 detect his fraudulent tricks ; and as the orthodoxy and 
 piety of the children of Abraham and Moses began to be 
 uspected, and suspicion even preached in synagogues 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 21 
 
 that were too holy for such pollution, the devoted 
 children of Abraham became exasperated. " If we let 
 him alone," say they, " all men will believe on him." 
 Fearful to use the rod and power, by reason of the 
 Romans, to the utmost rigor, they, at first, sought to 
 render him obnoxious to Caesar ; but as measures succes- 
 sively failed, they thirsted for his blood until their pious 
 malice was glutted in his expiring agonies. Then, thought 
 they, everybody may know that his miracles are all a 
 humbug, because he could not save himself. 
 
 Now, brother, I ask you to stop and make a full pause 
 by way of reflection. How do devoted sectarians enter- 
 tain the Latter-day Saints ? Not surely by a candid 
 -exposure of our errors, coupled with a patient effort to 
 reclaim us. By no means ; said a highly respectable 
 deaconess, " Brother Spencer, I would rather have heard 
 that you were dead." She knew in the general that I 
 had embraced " Mormonism ;" but of the true character 
 of " Mormonism" she was grossly ignorant; and she 
 was actually driven into fits when she found I defended 
 the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints. Look at the 
 conduct of devoted sectarians towards the Latter-day 
 Saints, and mark the resemblance to that of ancient 
 Jews to former Saints. The same proscriptive spirit 
 reigns now as then the same spirit that dictated 
 expulsion from the synagogue then, now closes the doors 
 of meeting houses against us the same spirit that closed 
 men's ears against the burning eloquence of Stephen then, 
 -counsels men not to hear or go nigh " Mormon" preachers 
 now. 
 
 You ask " If the Latter-day Saints are persecuted ; 
 if so, by whom are they persecuted 1" The answer is a 
 painful one, because it inculpates those who were bound 
 
22 LETTERS BY 
 
 to us by many tender ties. As .a people we have been 
 truly persecuted from the beginning. 
 
 From the moment we embrace this doctrine, in most 
 cases we are virtually banished from friends, and rank, 
 and station, and business. Says the venerated father, 
 " If you have embraced that doctrine, my son, I never 
 want to see your face any more." Says the partner in 
 trade, "If you are a "Mormon," we must dissolve partner- 
 ship forthwith." "If such an one occupying an import- 
 ant office with profit and honor does not give up his 
 ' Mormonism,' we will sue him at the law, and calumniate 
 him, and embarrass him until he is ousted and broken 
 up, and obliged to leave our village." We are separated 
 from men's company, while the licentious, and profane, 
 and intemperate are suffered to dwell in peace ; while 
 our opposers cherish to their bosom the rankest infidels, 
 they repulse us with disdain ; though none can point out 
 aught wherein we differ from the ancient apostles and 
 prophets. Almost daily my eyes behold those who have 
 suffered too mueh to mention ; but I would rather refer 
 you to printed documents, than to attempt a description 
 of the sufferings of our people in Missouri. From forty 
 to sixty of our brethren suffered death, by violent hands, 
 in Missouri, and as many more, in consequence of the 
 abuse and privations to which they were exposed by an 
 infuriated and bloodthirsty mob ; and the disappoint- 
 ment, privation, and homeless condition of survivors, was 
 very great. Many widows and orphans knew not what 
 to do, having just begun to live in a comfortable and thriv- 
 ing manner. They had almost forgotten their first sorrow 
 of parting from early friends and possessions, when lo ! the 
 hideous mob came upon them ; at one blow their homes 
 were made desolate ; in some instances father and son were 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 23 
 
 no more ; their sufferings in planting themselves anew in 
 this State, without means or friends, though I have often 
 heard them told, I will, not attempt to rehearse. 
 
 Perhaps some will say, " We understand the t Mor- 
 mons ' were in fault in that matter, and brought merited 
 sufferings upon themselves by their misconduct." The 
 same has always been understood to be true of all perse- 
 cuted Saints. The greater part of people probably 
 thought Stephen deserved the punishment that termina- 
 ted his life. The same might be said of John the Baptist, 
 who meddled with the matrimonial concerns of those who 
 did not acknowledge his ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The 
 Prophet Elijah was designated to death because he 
 troubled Israel. Daniel refused lawful obedience to the 
 established governor of the realm. In short, persecutors 
 in every age, have always had a plausible pretext for 
 their doings, in the popular estimation of their own day 
 and age. 
 
 You ask, ' ' by whom we are persecuted ? " In reply 
 
 I could mention as instigators of mobs, the names of a 
 
 < i > 
 
 Baptist missionary, a Methodist and Presbyterian minis- 
 ter. You may also be apprised that ex-Governor Boggs, 
 of Missouri, made affidavit that Joseph Smith was acces- 
 sory to an attempt to murder him ; and that Governor 
 Carlin, of Illinois, in the face of superabundant testimony 
 and law, gave a warrant to arrest him (Joseph Smith) on 
 that affidavit. A heavy reward has been offered for his 
 apprehension, and bold menaces are occasionally hung 
 over our heads, that we, as a people, shall be driven from 
 the State. These things have a tendency to check our 
 prosperity. In one instance some of our brethren were 
 kidnapped from this State by Missourians, and put to 
 shame and scourging. The malignant and vexatious 
 
24 ' LETTERS BY 
 
 lawsuits to which our people have been subject, are 
 exceedingly numerous ; and owing to our impoverished 
 condition, rendered sometimes distressing. But none of 
 these things move us, because we know that if they have 
 hated the master, they will also hate the disciples. Such 
 as are born of the bond woman, will persecute those that 
 are born of the free woman. But it seems like a discou- 
 raging effort to attempt to convince our opposers that we 
 are persecuted, because editors and other philanthropic 
 men are reluctant to tell to the public our side of the 
 matter. They themselves would thereby become suspect- 
 ed of espousing our cause. Men are so sensitive on the 
 subject of our religion, that whoever speaks peaceably of 
 it, perils his influence and reputation ; but hireling 
 editors and priests will speak and publish against us. 
 
 You ask me to give an account of the faith which I 
 have embraced. I believe that Jesus Christ is God, 
 co eternal with God the Father ; and that such as have 
 the knowledge of the Gospel and believe upon him, will 
 be saved ; and such as believe not, will be damned. I 
 believe the Old and New Testaments to be the word of 
 God. I believe that every person should be born, not 
 only of the spirit, but also of the water, in order to enter 
 into the kingdom of God. There are three that bear 
 witness on earth, as there are three that bear record ia 
 heaven the spirit, the water, and the blood, bear concur- 
 rent testimony to our obedience on earth ; for the want 
 of any one, or all of these witnesses on earth, in our favor, 
 there will be no registry of our perfect acceptance in 
 heaven. Hence the baptism for the dead. The righteous 
 dead have a merciful provision made for them in the testi- 
 mony of the three witnesses on earth, which secures a 
 record of their perfect acceptance in heaven, without 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 25 
 
 which they cannot attain to the highest glory. I believe 
 in the resurrection of the dead, the righteous to life eter- 
 nal, and the wicked to shame and everlasting contempt. 
 I believe that repentance towards God, and faith in our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, are among the elementary and cardinal 
 truths of the Gospel. 
 
 In some, and, indeed, many respects do we differ 
 from sectarian demominations. We believe that God is 
 a being that has both body and parts, and also passions ; 
 also in the existence of the gifts in the true church spoken 
 of in St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. 
 
 I believe that every church, in gospel order, has a 
 priesthood, consisting of prophets, apostles, elders, etc., 
 and that the knowledge and power of a priesthood, 
 ordained of God, as the ancient priesthood was, is indis- 
 pensably necessary to the prosperity of the church. I 
 do not believe that the canon of sacred scripture was 
 closed with the revelation of John, but believe that 
 wherever God has a true church, there he makes frequent 
 revelations of his will ; and as God takes cognizance of 
 all things, both temporal and spiritual, his revelations 
 will pertain to all things whereby his glory may be pro- 
 moted, and the temporal and spiritual well-being of his 
 people advanced. Any people that are destitute of the 
 teachings of prophets and apostles, which come by 
 immediate revelation, will soon fall into divisions and 
 strifes, and depart from the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 
 You wish to know, " What is the personal character 
 and influence, doctrines and claims of him who is called 
 the leader, Joseph Smith'?" Joseph Smith, when the 
 great designs of heaven were first made known to him, 
 was not far from the age of seventeen ; from that time 
 to this he has had much said about him, both of a favor- 
 
26 LETTERS BY 
 
 able and unfavorable nature. I shall only speak of his 
 character as I believe it to be from an intimate acquaint- 
 ance of more than one year, and from an intimate 
 acquaintance with those who have been with him many 
 years. No man is more narrowly watched by friends and 
 enemies than Mr. Joseph Smith ; consequently, if he were 
 as good a man as any prophet that has preceded him, he 
 would have as violent enemies as others have had. But I 
 hasten to give my own opinion. 
 
 I firmly avow, in the presence of God, that I believe 
 Mr. Joseph Smith to be an upright man, that seeks the 
 glory of God in such a manner as is well pleasing to the 
 Most High God. Naturally, he is kind and obliging ; 
 pitiful and courteous ; as far from dissimulation as any 
 man ; frank and loquacious to all men,, friends or foes. 
 He seems to employ no studied effort to guard himself 
 against misrepresentation, but often leaves himself exposed 
 to misconstructions by those who watch for faults. He 
 is remarkably cheerful for one who has seen well-tried 
 friends martyred around him, and felt the inflictions of 
 calumny the vexations of lawsuits the treachery of 
 intimates and multiplied violent attempts upon his 
 person and life, together with the Cc^res of much business. 
 His influence, after which you inquire, is very great. 
 His friends are as ardently attached to him as his enemies 
 are violently opposed. Free toleration is given to all 
 opposing religions, but wherever he is accredited as a 
 Prophet of the living God, there you will perceive his 
 influence must be great. That lurking fear and suspicion 
 that he may become a dictator or despot, gradually gives- 
 place to confidence and fondness, as believers become 
 acquainted with him. 
 
 In doctrine, Mr. Smith is eminently scriptural. I 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 27 
 
 have never known him to deny or deprecate a single 
 truth of the Old and New Testaments, but I have always 
 known him to explain and defend them in a masterly 
 manner. Being anointed of God, for the purpose of 
 teaching and perfecting the church, it is needful that he 
 should know how to set in order the things that are 
 wanting, and to bring forth things new and old, as a 
 scribe well instructed. This office and apostleship he 
 appears to magnify ; at his touch the ancient prophets 
 spring into life, and the beauty and power of their revela- 
 tions are made to commend themselves with thrilling 
 interest to all that hear. 
 
 You inquire, " Does he claim to be inspired ?" 
 Certainly he does claim to be inspired. He often speaks 
 in the name of the Lord, which would be rank hypocrisy 
 and mockery, if he were not inspired to do it. It seems 
 very difficult for those who stand at the distance of many 
 generations from the true prophets, to realize what 
 prophets are, and what ought to be expected from them. 
 I do not chide them for their ignorance and folly, 
 however, because I had nothing to boast of, previous to 
 embracing the faith of the Latter-day Saints. I under- 
 stand that prophets may speak as they are moved by the 
 Holy Ghost at one time, while they may be very far 
 from being moved by the Holy Ghost as they speak at 
 another. They may be endowed with power to perform 
 miracles and mighty deeds at one time, while they have 
 no authority, and there is no suitableness in doing the 
 same at another time. 
 
 You ask, " Is he a man of prayer, of a pure life, of 
 peace ? Does he appear at the head of his troops as a 
 military commander V These questions I answer, accord- 
 ing to the best knowledge I have, in the affirmative. As 
 
28 LETTERS BY 
 
 a people we perform military duty, as the laws of the 
 State of Illinois enjoin and require. The legion answers 
 the purpose to keep the lawless and mobocratic at a 
 respectful distance ; and the more " earthquake and 
 storm" our enemies raise about the Nauvoo Legion, and 
 a military chieftain like the ancient Mahomet, the greater 
 fear and dread of us will be conveyed to the minds of the 
 lawless, who watch for prey, and spoil, and booty. I can 
 assure you, that neither Mr. Smith, nor any other intelli- 
 gent Latter-day Saint, ever intends to make one convert 
 by the sword ; neither are we such tee- total peace makers, 
 that any savage banditti of lawless depredators could 
 waste our property, violate virtue, and shed innocent 
 blood, without experiencing from us a firm defence of 
 law, of right, and innocence. We are to this day very 
 sensitive to a repetition of past wrongs that we still smart 
 under. The Lord our God, who was once called (by a 
 man after his own heart) " a man of war," we trust will 
 be our defence and strong tower in the day of battle, if our 
 country should ever call us to scenes of carnage and blood. 
 You ask, " What is the nature of the worship among 
 you, and wherein does it differ from that of religious peo- 
 ple with whom you have been acquainted elsewhere ?" 
 On the Sabbath some person usually preaches a sermon 
 after prayer and singing, and, perhaps, reading some 
 scripture. We have, also, frequent prayer meetings, in 
 which all that are so disposed may join. The gifts are 
 variously exercised, sometimes in the way of prophecy, or 
 in tongues ; sometimes in discerning of spirits, or inter- 
 pretation of tongues. The ordinance of baptism, together 
 with the imposition of hands for the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost, is administered as occasion may require. Thus 
 you will perceive that our worship differs from what we 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 29 
 
 both have been accustomed to in times that are past. 
 Anxious seats and inquiry meetings, etc., are not in use 
 at all with us ; although converts to our faith have swel- 
 led our numbers greatly in every year that is past, yet we 
 are very far from employing any blustering effort to con- 
 vert men. The spirit of God attends the truth with 
 sufficient power to save the upright; while those that 
 hold the truth in unrighteousness, and contend with it, 
 are beyond the legitimate exercise of divine power to 
 save, and are led captive by the devil at his will. 
 
 Our worship differs from that of other religious peo- 
 ple, inasmuch as we have the knowledge of God, and the 
 true doctrine and order of his kingdom, beyond all per- 
 plexing doubt and diversity of opinion. It is utterly 
 impossible for intelligent and devoted sectarian clergy to 
 lead their hearers into any considerable knowledge of 
 God, for this very potent reason, that they neither know 
 much of him themselves, nor, indeed, have they the means 
 of knowing him. For this they are not at all culpable ; 
 but the fact is, nevertheless, incontrovertible. 
 
 I do not now speak to please men, nor to mortify 
 them, but I know it to be true, my brother, and therefore 
 speak it boldly. Are you offended ? Will you stop here 
 and throw down my letter with contempt, as though an 
 ignorant upstart had abused you 1 If I write plainly, it 
 is with deep and painful emotions. While writing I can 
 hardly suppress a flood of tears. I know the dilemma in 
 which many of my religious brethren are placed, and the 
 extreme difficulty of approaching them ; but whether 
 they hear or forbear, I must tell them that it is out of 
 their power to attain to any considerable knowledge of 
 the true and living God. " But," say they, " have we 
 not got -the good old Bible, which makes men wise unto- 
 
30 LETTERS BY 
 
 salvation?" You have, indeed, those venerable truths 
 which have many ages since made men wise unto salva- 
 tion ; and those truths will teach you, if you take heed to 
 them, that the Gentiles have been broken off from the 
 covenant favor of God as the Jews were. But these 
 scriptures cannot impart to you the gifts of the Holy 
 Ghost ; they cannot ordain and qualify you to teach and 
 preach the gospel, and administer the ordinances; they 
 cannot give you promises and revelations that are express- 
 ly for you. 
 
 When the apostle Paul was in danger of being ship- 
 wrecked with his crew (see Acts of the Apostles), it would 
 have been poor consolation to him to read the ancient 
 history of Jonah's shipwreck, and pray over the subject 
 in order to know how the voyage would result to him ; 
 but how much greater his consolation, and how much 
 more certain his knowledge, when God ministers to him 
 by visions and angels, and promises both him and the 
 crew preservation. Philip wanted no better assurance of 
 his duty to go to Gaza, than for an angel of God to tell him 
 to go ; but if he had pored over ancient revelations, with 
 prayerful anxiety, in order to know the same, it would 
 have been a poor guide. The New Testament Saints did 
 not lean upon Old Testament revelations for the know- 
 ledge of present duties, or for aid in their present contin 
 gencies ; they looked directly to God for present fresh 
 instruction and aid they obtained what they looked for. 
 
 The ancient Jews (contemporary with Christ), that 
 leaned on the venerated sayings of Abraham and Moses, 
 and other old prophets, abode in darkness, and became 
 the prey of foul spirits, while the advocates of present 
 revelations were mighty through God, in signs and won- 
 ders, and marvellous deeds. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 31 
 
 Now, let the religious people of this clay depend 
 exclusively upon the ancient scriptures, rejecting present 
 revelations, and they will be filled with ignorance, and 
 the spirit of unrighteousness will possess them ; arid they 
 cannot act with that certainty and power that those can, 
 who know for themselves by immediate revelation. But 
 I have said it is impossible for them to know much of the 
 true God : the careful observer knows, that what one sect 
 or denomination teaches for doctrine, another will contro- 
 vert and deny. There is not that power in the doctrine 
 of any one sect that gives it much ascendancy over any 
 other sect. The doctrines of all sects, though adverse to 
 each other, are about equally weighty and plausible ; no 
 one gets any considerable ascendancy ; if there appears to 
 be light in one sect over another sect, it shows an equal 
 amount of an opposite character. 
 
 It is an acknowledged duty of parents, in this church, 
 to teach their children the elementary principles of relig- 
 ion, training them up in the way they should go. You 
 ask if they are instructed in learning. As a people we 
 aim most diligently to give our children learning. Our 
 persecutions, oppressions, and poverty have operated 
 greatly to the disadvantage of our children ; still we have 
 a chartered university, that promises much benefit to us ; 
 and common schools are extensively multiplying through- 
 out the city. 
 
 The present population of the city is from ten to 
 twelve thousand. You ask, " What is their condition, 
 occupation, and general character?" The condition of 
 the people is as prosperous as circumstances will permit. 
 Many of them, like Jacob of old, have left a good patri- 
 mony at home that they are not benefitted from, by 
 reason of their being everywhere spoken against ; but 
 
32 LETTERS BY 
 
 though they had nothing but their staff in hand, and a 
 little bundle upon their back when they came, they have 
 now in many instances a comfortable cottage, a flourish- 
 ing garden, and a good cow. There are many instances 
 of families being subject to privations, beyond what they 
 were accustomed to in early days ; and there are some 
 instances of deep penury, through sickness, persecution, 
 and other uncontrollable causes ; and there are also in- 
 stances of wealth ; but be assured, sir^ there is not a more 
 contented and cheerful people to be found. Families will 
 consent to let father and brother go out preaching, when 
 their daily bread is barely supplied for a few months. 
 
 Believing, as we do, that these are the last days, and 
 that signal matters await this generation ; and that the 
 harvest must be gathered soon, if at all, you must not 
 marvel if we do not all at once become rich, and build 
 large houses, and enclose productive farms. If riches 
 were our object, we might readily gratify the most ambiti- 
 ous grasp. We possess every facility for being rich, but 
 we long to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in 
 his holy temple. The place of his sanctuary, which we 
 greatly desire to beautify, is a site of surpassing natural 
 beauty. Upon it stands the incomplete structure of a 
 temple ; in dimensions, a little over one hundred and 
 twenty- eight feet long, by eighty-eight feet wide, to be 
 elevated in height a little under sixty feet ; the walls are 
 made of well-wrought handsome stone. The inhabitants 
 are very industrious, being occupied in agriculture and the 
 various mechanical arts. 
 
 Our people are mostly the working class of the com- 
 munity, from the United States, and Great Britain and 
 her Provinces. They are a very intelligent people, especi- 
 ally so far as common sense and a general knowledge of 
 men and things are concerned. 
 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 33 
 
 Our Elders are versed in religious polemics, from 
 discussions in the pulpit, stage, bar room, canal and steam- 
 boat, of the fireside and highway side ; and, perhaps, you 
 are not aware that many, very many, are from the most 
 enlightened portion of New England ; men that have 
 been rocked in the cradle of orthodoxy and liberty ; 
 accustomed to fatigue, privation, and opposition; and 
 knowing that their religion has more light and truth, and 
 the power of the Holy Ghost to support it, than any 
 other that has existed since the days of the apostles, they 
 are prepared to endure all things, with the assurance that 
 their reward is great in heaven. 
 
 You wish to know the general character of the peo- 
 ple. There is probably less profanity, drunkenness, lewd- 
 ness, theft, fighting, gambling, and tavern-haunting, than 
 in any other city of the same magnitude. 
 
 But I must close my answer to your many and mi- 
 nute inquiries, having already protracted it beyond my 
 original design. Your letter contains many important 
 inquiries, similar indeed to what I have received from 
 other distinguished friends from different parts of the 
 Union. You will accept my apology for not answering at 
 an earlier date ; and though I design this epistle to be a 
 general answer to all similar inquiries, yet shall hereafter 
 readily reciprocate all private communications in the usual 
 method of friendship and affection. 
 
 Most sincerely and truly yours, 
 
 ORSON SPENCER, 
 
34 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 IMMEDIATE REVELATION. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, May 15th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend Sir Agreeable to promise made in my first 
 answer to your letter, I now resume my pen to inform 
 you, in a series of letters, of the distinguishing tenets of 
 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accord- 
 ing to the faith which I myself do entertain, with all 
 sobriety and integrity of heart, before God and all good 
 men. I had hoped, however, that more leisure would 
 have favored me, not only that I might more minutely 
 and perspicuously maintain the primitive faith, but also 
 do it in such conciseness and embellishment of diction, 
 as both to please and enlighten. 
 
 The first subject to which I will invite your attention 
 will be that of IMMEDIATE REVELATION. It shall be my 
 direct aim to show in this letter, that no person ever did 
 partake of the gospel of salvation, or ever will partake of 
 it, without the spirit of revelation dwelling in his breast. 
 This i& the first and also the last round in the ladder that 
 leads to the perfect knowledge of God. Without the 
 same spirit of revelation that dwelt in the breasts of pro- 
 phets, patriarchs, and apostles in ancient time, no man can 
 'begin to know God, neither can any man or set of men 
 make any progress in the knowledge of God, when that 
 spirit is withdrawn from him. 
 
 A word from the mouth of the Great Arbitrator of 
 all controversy ought to suffice. HE, THE GREAT GOD 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 35 
 
 .AND JUDGE OF ALL, has said that " Neither knoweth 
 any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever 
 the Son will reveal him. 11 Words cannot bear a plainer 
 import. If any man knows Jesus Christ, it is "by revela- 
 tion, and in no other way can he be known. Will you 
 say that apostles and prophets know him in this way, 
 while others may know him without themselves being 
 gifted with the spirit of revelation ? Absurd ! Others 
 must know him by revelation as much as apostles and 
 prophets. If they have not the spirit of revelation, they 
 cannot judge what is a genuine and infallible revelation 
 when it proceeds from the pen of apostles, or even the 
 lips of angels, or of God himself ; for the things of the 
 Spirit are correctly judged only by those who have the 
 same spirit ; hence all men must not only be born of the 
 spirit, but likewise be baptized into one and the same spirit. 
 This spirit is the Spirit of God, and nothing less ; 
 and the Spirit of God is the Spirit of revelation, because 
 it is expressly declared that the spirit takes of the things 
 of God, and shows them unto men ; even the deep things 
 of God are searched out and dispensed to men for their 
 comfort and the illumination of their minds. Hence 
 Jesus declared that he would send them another "comfort- 
 er," even the spirit of truth ; and the office of this spirit 
 of truth was to " lead into all truth." By this means we 
 perceive that the universal storehouse of all truth is 
 thrown open and rendered available to such as have been 
 properly baptized into the spirit, as their occasion may 
 demand. Even the apostles were forbid to go out and 
 preach until they were endowed with the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost. After they should receive this gift, it would then 
 become their duty to impart it unto all others freely, by 
 the imposition of hands, who should obey the gospel. 
 
36 LETTERS BY 
 
 Males and females were to partake of it, and see in vision 
 things to come, and have their remembrance of things 
 past quickened into vivid and unambiguous recollection. 
 
 It was this spirit of revelation that gave to the prim- 
 itive church the power of godliness ; for it was simply 
 the holy Spirit of God that rendered the gospel the power 
 of God unto salvation to them that believed for therein 
 was the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. 
 The gospel never took any effect upon men's hearts, 
 unless the Spirit of God attended it. Whenever God 
 takes away from the church the spirit of revelation, he 
 thereby takes away the light of the church the good 
 spirit of the church, and the truth and integrity of the 
 church, and the comfort of the church, and also the power 
 of it. It becomes like the branch without sap, or the 
 pale mortal corpse without the living spirit. 
 
 A church that is built upon the principle of revela- 
 tion by the Holy Spirit can never be prevailed against 
 while that spirit continues with it. It then becomes the 
 power of God personified. Men and women servants 
 and hand-maidens attended by the Holy Spirit of God, 
 know about men and things, and matters and events, even 
 as God knows ; because they have precisely the same 
 spirit that God has. Things that never entered the 
 heart of man to conceive, and things that the tongue 
 could never utter, are revealed by the Spirit of God. As 
 bodily eyes are to the corporal organization (causing all 
 that wide difference that exists between him that sees and 
 one that is wholly blind) so are the eyes of intelligence 
 which the Spirit imparts to a believer, whereby he com- 
 prehends the different spirits of men from time to time, 
 and sees events in the future as though they were actual- 
 ly and presently at hand. The daughters of Philip can 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 37 
 
 epeak prophetically, with as much unerring certainty as 
 God himself, according to the measure of the spirit given 
 them, because they have His Spirit, and consequently a 
 given measure of intelligence. And the scope of this 
 increase of intelligence is expanded or diminished, as God 
 pleases to suit the occasion. 
 
 When there is occasion to prophesy, or speak with 
 new tongues, or interpret, or rebuke diseases, and cast out 
 evil spirits His Spirit is given. And it could be given 
 as well to a beast as to a man for the same purpose, and 
 the same effect would follow. The beast of Balaam, when 
 inspired of God, rose immediately above his legitimate 
 sphere of action, and spoke with a man's voice, forbid- 
 ding the madness of the prophet. The same spirit by 
 which he spoke would have enabled the dumb ass to 
 rebuke disease, cast out devils, or speak a variety of 
 tongues. But God might withdraw that spirit, and he 
 would then be only a dumb ass, fit only to bear burdens, 
 etc. Men are but little more competent to heal the sick, 
 cast out devils, and discern spirits, or know the things of 
 God or eternity, and make preparations for the future, 
 than the beasts, without the Spirit of God. When God 
 wants to punish a generation or generations, he does it 
 effectually by withholding His Spirit. The world travails 
 in pain and groans in bondage, and oppression, and 
 cruelty, and strife, and bloodshed, and in ignorance, 
 superstition, and zeal without knowledge, when God shuts 
 out the light of revelation. The revelations given to the 
 primitive age, bear about the same relation of benefit to 
 the people of this age, that the gift of food and manna, 
 to those starving in former ages, bears towards the supply 
 of such as are in want now. Jesus Christ winds up his 
 sermon on the mount, by calling him a WISE man that 
 
38 LETTERS BY 
 
 hears and obeys the voice of revelation, and he shall never 
 " fall." At the same time he calls him that hears and 
 obey s not the voice of revelation, a FOOL, and such a man 
 will fall, and his fall will be great. 
 
 "We cannot be in any doubt what is meant by the ex- 
 pression " hearing" Christ, or " these sayings of mine." 
 Jesus says to such servants as he sends out to preach, 
 (and none but such as are sent by revelation can preach), 
 he that heareth YOU heareth ME. But while they cannot 
 hear without a preacher, neither can they hear with a 
 preacher, except the Father draw them ; or, in other 
 words, except they have the Spirit of God, which is a 
 spirit of revelation. How could Peter know Jesus, when 
 he heard his conversation and preaching 1 Jesus testifies 
 that, by the wisdom of flesh and blood, Peter did not 
 know him, but by the spirit of revelation from God out 
 of heaven ; and in order to end all controversy through- 
 out all ages, he declares that not only Peter, but NO 
 OTHER MAN, ever did or ever can know God, only as he is 
 revealed to him from heaven ; and that man is " blessed" 
 that has the spirit of revelation to know the only true 
 God and Jesus Christ. That man is accounted as a thief 
 and a robber that would know God or Jesus without the 
 spirit of revelation. 
 
 The Spirit of God was sent into the world for the 
 express purpose of acquainting men with Jesus Christ. 
 By this spirit it was an easy matter for men to know 
 Jesus Christ, though he was everywhere spoken against, 
 and the whole country teemed with lies, and the great 
 mass of people, reputedly good as well as bad, thought 
 that he ought to be stoned, mobbed, and crucified : still it 
 was easy to know him by the spirit of revelation, and it 
 was impossible to know him without that spirit. Thus, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 39 
 
 dear sir, it is easy for you, and all my former associates 
 in the sectarian ministry, to know that Joseph Smith 
 was a prophet of the Lord, sent to prune the Lord's vine- 
 yard for the last time. 
 
 Says the Scripture, "No man, speaking by the Spirit 
 of God, can call Jesus accursed," although he "hung 
 upon a tree." And I add, sir, with perfect assurance, 
 that no man can call Joseph Smith "accursed," or an 
 "impostor," while speaking by the Spirit of God; for 
 the Spirit of God will never dictate any one to speak 
 against the servant of God ; but the spirit of the world 
 and of Satan will stir up men to speak against prophets 
 and saints, and persecute and assassinate them. The 
 scripture also says, that no man can call Jesus Lord, but 
 by the HOLY GHOST. Thus, reverend sir, you perceive 
 that NO MAN, in former ages or latter ages can call Jesus 
 Lord, but by revelation from the HOLY GHOST. It is 
 by the person and agency of the HOLY GHOST only, 
 that Jesus promises to be with his preachers always unto 
 the end of the world, in order to reveal the truth unto 
 honest hearers, and show them who are prophets and 
 true ministers of Christ, and also what is true doctrine. 
 The HOLY GHOST will always attend a true minister of 
 God, and reveal to his humble, honest hearers, his mission 
 and authority beyond all reasonable doubt. 
 
 Now, sir, let me say, distinctly, that the testimony of 
 any number of men, or of all men together, is no proof 
 either for or against the authority, doctrine, or mission of 
 a prophet or true minister of God. For if no one man 
 can know a minister of God without revelation, then no 
 large body of men can know him ; and surely they can- 
 not testify of what they do not KNOW. No matter what 
 is said against Joseph Smith, or who, or how many, say 
 
40 
 
 LETTERS BY 
 
 it, or however credible the witnesses, they are not com- 
 petent to testify, because they have not the gift of reve- 
 lation. This position, sir, is invincible, because it is 
 fortified by the voice of eternal truth, even the word of 
 God, which you profess publicly to believe, and preach, 
 and print. Flesh and blood cannot reveal spiritual 
 things, but our Father in heaven. The things of the 
 spirit require the same spirit to discern them. He that 
 is spiritual can judge all things, while he that has not the 
 spirit of revelation cannot judge any spiritual matters cor- 
 rectly, of any name or nature. 
 
 Now, my dear friend, I close this second epistle, 
 praying that God will give you the spirit of understand- 
 ing, which I assure you He will da, inasmuch as you are 
 humble and contrite, and seek it with all your heart. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ORSON SPENCEE. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 41 
 
 LETTEE III. 
 
 ON FAITH. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, June 1st, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir The next subject to which 
 I will invite your careful consideration, is that of FAITH. 
 
 Do not be surprised that I should attempt the inves- 
 tigation of a subject so common-place, with the view of 
 imparting any new or useful instruction. The numerous 
 elaborate treatises that have heretofore been bestowed 
 Upon this subject, have, I boldly aver, been like Goliath's 
 armor against David massive and imposing, but, at the 
 same time, alike inapplicable and ineffectual to the case 
 at issue. 
 
 In order that you may be apprised of my position, 
 without needless circumlocution, I here distinctly ob- 
 serve, that there neither is, nor ever was, any gospel or 
 saving faith, in former or latter days, but the faith of 
 miracles, or the faith of immediate revelation. Can any 
 man know God without faith 1 Certainly not. The 
 gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. To 
 whom ] To the unbelieving 1 No ! but to them that 
 have faith. The gospel of Christ is, then, brought only 
 to such as have faith. But what faith are they to have 
 in order t receive it 1 The answer is, the faith of im- 
 inediate revelation, or of the supernatural agency of the 
 Holy Spirit. 
 
 Now, sir, I ask you to listen a moment, and hear 
 what the voice of God says to you and me on this subject. 
 
42 LETTERS BY 
 
 The righteousness of God is revealed from FAITH to FAITH. 
 Here, it is conceived, my position is invincibly fortified 
 beyond the power of rational conquest. God's righteous 
 will is revealed to FAITH. It is written, "The just shall 
 live by faith." By what faith shall the just live ? Surely, 
 nothing less than the faith of immediate revelation. The 
 fact that God's will was revealed to the faith of the Saints 
 anciently, does not supersede the necessity of his will 
 being revealed to your faith and to my faith now. 
 
 The ancients could not believe for us ; or, in other 
 words, their faith could not be a substitute for our faith. 
 " He that believeth not," for himself, " shall be damned." 
 Neither could a revelation to them be necessarily a revela- 
 tion to us. A revelation to Noah, to build an ark, is not 
 suited to Abraham, or Peter, or Francis Wayland, or Dr. 
 Chalmers. No man, in this day, can know that God ever 
 revealed himself to Noah, or Abraham, unless it is now 
 revealed to him from heaven ; and he cannot know that 
 it is revealed from heaven to him now. unless he has faith 
 unto himself before God ; and this faith, which he must 
 exercise for himself, is the faith of revelation, or the faith 
 of miracles. 
 
 What ailed the Judaic churches in Christ's day $ 
 They certainly believed on Moses and Abraham, and 
 made habitual sacrifices in support of their faith. Paul 
 was a bright example of sincerity and fidelity in support 
 of the Judaic faith. He verily thought that he ought to 
 do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Naza- 
 reth. But was the faith of Paul, and of the Judaic 
 church generally, the faith of immediate revelation, or the 
 faith of miracles 1 By no means. Paul originally, and 
 his associates in the ministry, believed the Mosaic scrip- 
 tures from tradition and education, and not from immedi- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 43 
 
 ate revelation. They, indeed, believed that Abraham, 
 and Moses, and Samuel, and Noah, had the faith of 
 miracles, and enjoyed Immediate revelation, and the spirit 
 of prophecy, etc. They believed that such a high order 
 of faith as prevailed in the Mosaic and prophetic days was 
 no longer necessary. ( But, afterwards, Paul concedes 
 that one in his own state was one in ignorance and un- 
 belief.) 
 
 Hence the spirit of prophecy, spoken of by Joel, as 
 poured out in the apostolic day, was, in their estimation, 
 uncalled for. They supposed that the canon of scripture 
 was sufficiently full, when the prophet Malachi finished 
 his testimony, and closed up the age of miracles ! Men 
 may sincerely believe the Bible, as many of the sects do 
 believe it, without having it revealed from heaven that 
 the Bible is true, and it will never save them. They may 
 believe the Bible, even without knowing God; for the 
 simple reason, that no man can know God without God 
 reveals himself to him. This was the condition of the 
 Judaic church. Many of them sincerely believed the 
 Mosaic writings, but detested and rejected the principle 
 of immediate revelation, by which alone they could know 
 the only true Godand Jesus Christ whom he had sent. 
 If they had believed heartily in the doctrine of immediate 
 revelation to all believers, in all ages, they would have 
 known Jesus Christ to be the Messiah, as well as Moses, 
 or Abraham, who saw his day and was glad. On the 
 same principle, dear sir, Christian denominations, in this 
 day, believe the apostolic scriptures sincerely, and do 
 many things accordingly; but rejecting the principle of 
 immediate revelation to them- ward, they neither know 
 Jesus Christ nor his prophet Joseph, nor the power of 
 God, as it is revealed from faith to faith in our day. 
 
44 LETTERS BY 
 
 We, sir, contend for the faitli of miracles in our own 
 day ; but you and your associates contend against it. 
 The disciples of Jesus contended for it, in their day ; but 
 the professed followers of Moses and Abraham contended 
 against it. Now, sir, to which of these sides do you 
 belong] Can you find that any people, who ever con- 
 tended against the faith of immediate revelation and 
 miracles, such as was maintained by Samuel, Abraham, 
 Barak, Daniel, and Noah, ever prospered 1 Is there a 
 single instance in scripture, from Genesis to Kevelations, 
 where God manifests any fellowship for any faith short 
 of a faith of miracles and immediate revelation ? If an 
 inferior kind of faith has been got up since the New 
 Testament age, is it not well to inquire from whence it 
 has sprung, and what is the scriptural basis of its support $ 
 If such an inferior faith is not revealed from heaven, it 
 must certainly be from beneath, and consequently, earth- 
 ly, and sensual, and devilish. If it springs from the 
 precepts of men, and not from the direct and positive 
 revelation of God, it ought surely to be abandoned and 
 forsaken at once. When men believe the Old and New 
 Testament scriptures from tradition, and the lips of a 
 ministry that is not sent out and called by immediate 
 revelation from heaven, their faith is dead ; and all such 
 as float in this broad stream of traditionary faith, are not 
 and cannot be built up as lively stones to offer up spirit- 
 ual sacrifices to God. 
 
 Hence, sir, the concession of Mr. C. G. Finney, and 
 Nettleton, and of your own Mr. Knapp, all great Eevi- 
 valists, and talented and devout men, that the "sectarian 
 churches need to be converted over again." And I am 
 constrained to add, without any invidious feelings, that 
 such teachers themselves need to be converted from a 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 45 
 
 traditionary faith unto the same faith with the ancient 
 worthies, spoken of in the eleventh chapter to the 
 Hebrews. They themselves cannot knoiv God without the 
 same ancient faith that secured to its possessors revela- 
 tion from God and the power of working miracles, etc. 
 God has never called men to testify to the truth of 
 the Old and New Testaments, unless the truth has been 
 revealed to them personally from the heavens. When it 
 is thus revealed, they will obey like the ancient saints, 
 and the power of godliness will follow their faith, " even 
 healing of the sick, casting out devils, and speaking with 
 new tongues." 
 
 You, sir, will surely admit, that the faith of the 
 ancients was far superior to modern traditionary faith, and 
 was attended with a power which this latter faith cannot, 
 in its very nature, ever attain to. By the ancient faith, 
 or faith of immediate revelation, men wrought righteous- 
 ness, subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, and 
 quenched the violence of fire stayed the sun in the 
 firmament sealed up the heavens as brass for the space 
 of three years and a half, or opened the windows thereof 
 for the rain to descend in showers or torrents, even to a 
 universal deluge. Surely it will be no disparagement to 
 such exalted names as yours, and that of my old acquaint- 
 ance, President Barnes Sears, and my former instructor, 
 President E. Knott, to turn, like Paul, to the banner and 
 standard of such a faith. By such a faith they are pre- 
 pared to work the works of God ; and either in time or 
 eternity, to work even far greater works than Jesus ever 
 wrought on the earth, as his own word declares ; for, sir, 
 this kind of faith shall abide beyond the veil ; for God 
 himself made the world by faith, and the spirits of the 
 just work by faith, and obtain revelation from God, and 
 
46 LETTERS BY 
 
 minister the same to militant believers on earth, from the 
 faith of the sanctified in light, to the faith of the militant 
 here below. " The righteousness of God is revealed from 
 faith to faith." Surely we may count all things but loss 
 for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our 
 Lord ; for he that gets the knowledge of Christ by reve- 
 lation to himself and keeps it, shall never fall. 
 
 Do you not preach, sir, the ancient faith spoken of in 
 the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, for modern believers to 
 imitate 1 Or is the miraculous faith of the ancients to be 
 portrayed to men in this day, only as a beautiful picture, 
 to be admired by spectators, -and not copied and imitated 
 as a doctrine of modern practice "? If there is such a thing 
 as common faith, in distinction from the supernatural and 
 miraculous faith, named in the eleventh of Hebrews, what 
 part of the scriptures teaches if? Please to name the 
 chapter and verse ; and when you have pointed out to 
 me the specific scriptures that teach a faith inferior to 
 that of prophesying or working miracles, etc., please to 
 tell me wherein lies the power of such a faith ? If it 
 cannot reveal anything to the children of men, how can it 
 increase the sum of knowledge without any reasonable 
 prospect of filling the earth with knowledge, as the waters 
 cover the bed of the great deep * If it cannot forecast 
 events beyond the mere common prescience of human 
 minds, how can the wise man forsee the evil in time to 
 hide himself] Is it not passing strange, sir, that from 
 Adam to Noah, and from Noah to Abraham, and from 
 Abraham to David, and from David to Malachi, and from 
 John the Baptist to John the Revelator, the miraculous 
 faith should be tenaciously and rigorously contended for ; 
 while since that day, men, professing godliness, not only 
 contend for an inferior faith, but contend against the anti- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 47 
 
 quated faith that was sustained for more than four thou- 
 sand years, giving to God a great and glorious name for 
 all his wonderful works and mighty deeds 1 
 
 Why do the modern clergy commend the faith that 
 put to flight the armies of the aliens quenched the vio- 
 lence of fire and staggered not at promises that required 
 supernatural agency to fulfil, if we are not to imitate and 
 practise such faith 1 Why so much time and labor ex- 
 hausted in order to define and extol a faith that belonged 
 exclusively to past ages ; and if the scriptures speak of 
 no other faith that is pleasing to God, would it not be 
 better that mankind be informed more explicitly what is 
 the nature and effect of that common and inferior faith of 
 which the Bible illustrations are so inapplicable 1 Seeing 
 . that the Bible illustrations of faith pertain to examples of 
 a supernatural order, will you please to give us those that 
 are of a natural and common order, suited to our age, 
 that is, and of a right ought to be, free from supernatural 
 and miraculous deeds, signs, wonders, and prophecyings ? 
 In so doing, and publishing the same through your wide- 
 ly circulated paper, you may rest assured that it shall 
 have prompt insertion in the STAR, and greatly oblige 
 Your humble and obedient servant, 
 
 OESON SPENCER 
 
48 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 ON WATER BAPTISM. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, June 14th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir You, sir, need no argument 
 to convince you that WATER BAPTISM is the first ordi- 
 nance, after faith and repentance, that initiates the 
 believer into the kingdom of God. 
 
 The kingdom of God is to be established upon the 
 earth, according to the pattern of the heavenly order, 
 which is the first principle taught in the memorable pray- 
 er of our Lord Jesus Christ, which prayer will be perti- 
 nent to all believers on earth, until the object of the pray- 
 er is fully achieved, and the kingdoms of this world have 
 universally become the kingdom of God. And if wa 
 were to search the kingdom of God from one end to the 
 other, and from side to side, we should not find a single 
 adult believer in the whole heaven, who had not been 
 laptized with water. 
 
 Do you ask why I make such a bold declaration, and 
 how I know this seemingly exclusive and uncharitable 
 truth 1 I know it, sir, by the voice of God from the 
 heavens, and this voice is to you as well as me, if you will 
 receive it. Do not you believe the scripture that saith, 
 " Except a man be born of the WATER and of the Spirit, 
 he cannot enter into the kingdom of God 1 ' I know 
 that you believe this scripture, and am persuaded that 
 your igenious mind will not seek to pervert it from its 
 plain and obvious import. 
 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 4$ 
 
 Whatever an over- jealous mind may fear concerning 
 the state of the penitent thief on the cross, and of devout 
 and upright men that have lived and died in every age of 
 the world, still let God's word be accounted true, and 
 every man that gainsays it be esteemed a liar ! No man 
 ever puts on the uniform of Christ's followers, such as is 
 worn by subjects of the kingdom of Christ, until he is 
 " baptized into Christ" for the remission of sins. Here- 
 by he " puts on Christ." When an ambassador of Christ 
 finds a man or woman that heartily repents of his or her 
 rebellion against the laws of Christ, he baptizes him unto 
 repentance for "remission of sins." By the ordinance of 
 baptism, the rebellious subject virtually says, "I hereby 
 signify to all men my repentance; and the lawful admini- 
 strator as virtually says, " on the part of Jesus Christ, 
 whose Ambassador I am, (being called by revelation, and 
 being authorized to act in his name, and for him,) I pro- 
 nounce this person's sins remitted, according to his genuine 
 repentance and faith in Christ." 
 
 Now, sir, what objection can there be for a man sent 
 from God to remit sins by baptism, in the name and by 
 the authority of the King of heaven 1 If Christ has power 
 on earth to forgive and remit sins, may he not send for- 
 giveness and remission by another, even by whom he 
 will ] And will not such a remission and forgiveness of 
 sins be as valid as though he administered the ordinance 
 of baptism himself ? Undoubtedly it will be indisputa- 
 bly valid. And what ordinance is so beautifully signifi- 
 cant as that which expresses both the penitence of the 
 subject, and the cordial acceptance of the Kuler and Lord I 
 
 Has not Jesus Christ a right to remit sins by baptism 
 unto repentance ] Who shall say that the penitent be- 
 liever's sins are not remitted by baptism ] Who shall 
 D 
 
50 LETTERS BY 
 
 lay any sins to his charge? Is it not God that justifies 1 ? 
 Has not Christ died ? Has he not a right to say who are 
 fit subjects for baptism ] Has he not a right to say by 
 what ordinance sins shall be remitted 1 He has never 
 said that repentance and faith shall secure remission of 
 sins to any one without baptism. It is not in the power 
 of any man or angel to find a license in the Bible to 
 receive a person into the kingdom of God without bap- 
 tism. Jesus Christ has never given any license, but, on 
 the other hand, he has explicitly said, in the most une- 
 quivocal language possible, that NO MAN can " enter the 
 kingdom " without water baptism, or being " born of the 
 water." 
 
 Do you ask, if I call baptism a saving ordinance ? I 
 reply, that repentance and faith will not save anybody 
 in the kingdom of God without baptism. Some men, 
 whose crimes are unpardonable in this world, may, and 
 doubtless do, repent and believe ; but they cannot be 
 baptized for the remission of sins, nor forgiven "until the 
 times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord 
 in the restitution of all things." Eighteous Noah was 
 " saved by water ;" and the apostle Peter, rehearsing the 
 fact, says that baptism saved believers in his day in like 
 manner. 
 
 You, sir, must be perfectly aware that Jesus Christ 
 has said, by the mouth of his servant John, that BAPTISM 
 constitutes no less importance of character than one of the 
 THREE GREAT WITNESSES of adoption and citizenship 
 into the kingdom of God on the earth the SPIRIT, the 
 WATER, and the BLOOD. These three bear witness on 
 the earth, and agree in one. One of these THREE performs 
 the double office of bearing witness on the earth, and also 
 -of bearing record in heaven. Three witnesses appear to 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 51 
 
 be requisite in order to prove our title good to a place in 
 the kingdom of God; and the testimony of these THREE, 
 and nothing less, is recorded in heaven by the Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost. Who will dare to say that the 
 THREE in heaven will accept of the testimony of the two 
 witnesses on earth, when God has explicitly said that he 
 requires the testimony of THREE, and nothing less ? 
 
 Do we forget that all men are to be judged out of 
 the books ? And if the books show the absence of one 
 WITNESS, and the consequent disagreement of the three 
 before named, can that person that is thus deficient of 
 testimony, stand acquitted from the books out of which 
 he is judged ? By no means ! The THREE witnesses will 
 agree in one ; and when they agree, the Spirit will bear 
 the testimony of the Water and the Blood to the record- 
 ing angel, and these, united with his own seal, will, be 
 placed on record until the books are brought forward for 
 judging the nations of the earth. 
 
 Futhermore, no man can ever be born of the Spirit 
 until he has first been born of the water. The Holy 
 Ghost will never condescend to become the covenant- 
 guide and instructor, and holy comforter of any one, until 
 he has been baptized or born of water. Have ye received 
 the Holy Ghost since ye were baptized 1 Peter told peni- 
 tent believers that they might receive the Holy Ghost 
 after they were baptized ; so said John the Baptist to 
 those he baptized. If, in a single instance, the Holy 
 Ghost was given before baptism, still it was no part of 
 Christ's instructions to his apostles ever to confer the 
 Holy Ghost until after baptism and then it was to be 
 done by the laying on of hands. 
 
 Men may receive a measure of the Spirit of God 
 before baptism (even as a child has in embryo the germ 
 
52 LETTERS BY 
 
 of life before parturition) ; but no one has a large measure 
 of the Spirit, nor has any covenant claim to the Spirit, or, 
 in other words, can be born of the Spirit, until he has been 
 baptized in water. " Jesus came by water," and was bap- 
 tized in water for the remission of the original sin of the 
 world. He knew that baptism for the remission of sin was 
 necessary as an example, and also that by his " obedience 
 many might be made righteous" even as by the " offence of 
 one, many were made sinnerr." Jesus needed not only the 
 testimony of waler-b^ptism, but a 1 so, af'cr baptism, the 
 testimony of the other witness the Holy Ghost. The 
 Holy Ghost was a personage inferior in office to himself, 
 but still the Holy Ghost was conferred upon him, while 
 coming out of the water, in " the form of a dove." 
 
 The third witness to adoption is the " Cup of Bles- 
 sing, or Sacramental Cup of Wine," which, if men 
 " drink not, they have no life in them." Now, sir, let 
 us abide strictly by the "law and the testimony," even 
 as Jesus our pattern has done, and consider nothing un- 
 essential which our law-giver has both enjoined and ex- 
 emplified for obedience and salvation. Who is prepared 
 to say that the faithful will not take the cup of blessing, 
 even in the heavens, and drink wine in our heavenly 
 Father's kingdom 1 Who can say that the river of life 
 that proceeds from the throne of God in the celestial 
 city, shall not be employed to perpetuate the remem- 
 brance of baptismal water of adoption, and even per- 
 petuate sinless purity, like the leaves of healing that 
 grow on the banks of the crystal stream ] 
 
 Is it a thing incredible with you, sir, that God should 
 remit sins through baptism ] It is with difficulty that I 
 can persuade myself that you are so distrustful of the 
 power or wisdom of God. You read and expound the 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 53 
 
 scriptures from Sabbath to Sabbath. You certainly be- 
 lieve that Naaman's leprosy was washed away by water- 
 baptism in Jordan ; you also must believe that men were 
 healed of mortal diseases, by simply looking at a brazen 
 ?serpent lifted up in the wilderness. Do you not believe 
 that the walls of Jericho fell down under the simple 
 blast of the rams' horns '] and that the simple touch of 
 the hem of a garment, or of handkerchiefs, was attended 
 with healing virtue to them that believed ? 
 
 Why were the learned and devout Judaic churches 
 surprised that Peter should proclaim to thousands " Be 
 baptized for the remission of your sins T and, on another 
 occasion, even commanded Cornelius, as pious and devout 
 a believer as yourself, to be baptized in order that he 
 might be saved telling the churches in a general 
 circular epistle, that baptism would save them as much 
 as water saved Noah 1 Why should those same churches 
 withdraw fellowship from Paul because he believed 
 Ananias, saying to him, " Arise and be baptized and ivash 
 away thy sins," even as your church have disfellowshipped 
 me, because I believe as Paul did, and obey the same 
 gospel which he preached, with all its miraculous gifts, 
 blessings, and priesthood ? The secret and solution of 
 the whole surprise of the Judaic and modern churches 
 are, that loth overlook the efficacious simplicity of Christ's 
 ordinances, and know not the " power of God," by which 
 a mere look, touch, baptismal rite, or the imposition of a 
 hand, may secure blessings rich as heaven power as 
 great as Gabriel's knowledge as high as the throne of 
 God and life and felicity as endless as eternity ! 
 
 Greatly blessed, sir, is that man commissioned im- 
 mediately from the heavens to administer baptism unto 
 repentance for remission of sins ; and blessed are they 
 
54 LETTERS BY 
 
 who receive remission of sins from the hands of those 
 who act in " Christ's stead." Hence the grateful acknow- 
 ledgments of David, repeated by Paul "Blessed are 
 they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered." 
 Men who obey the Gospel are as well satisfied that their 
 sins are forgiven through baptism, as you, sir, would be 
 satisfied of the validity and legality of a deed, signed and 
 sealed by his excellency the chief magistrate of your 
 State. They rejoice in the same, without ambiguity or 
 fear of being deceived. The spirit of bondage and fear; 
 (which is in sectarian churches) does no longer wither up 
 their hope, and blight the joy of their acceptance with God. 
 The heavens, that before seemed clouded with dismal 
 forebodings and doubtful omens, that kept the excellent 
 Dr. Pay son even, on a tumultuous sea of mental storms 
 and calms, is now clear and tranquil all the day and all 
 the year. They rejoice in the Lord ever more ; and they 
 know of a truth, that by keeping the commandments of 
 God, their peace is like the gentle and ever-onward cur- 
 rent of a river. Driven from " city to city, and from 
 one nation to another people ;" and " everywhere spoken 
 against," belied, robbed, and arraigned before "magis- 
 trates" for thefts, treason, blasphemy, etc., they are dis- 
 tressed indeed, but not with mental doubts and fears. 
 No ; far from it ; they are borne down with expulsion 
 from place to place burning their houses despoiling 
 their goods under shadow of legal prosecution whippings 
 priestly and editorial calumnies ! These things, sir, 
 distress their bodies, and cause cold, and nakedness, and 
 hunger, and an uncertain dwelling place ; but do not by 
 any means impair their peace in believing, or their joy 
 in the Holy Ghost. None of these things move them. 
 Yours, ORSON SPENCEE. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 55 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, June 29th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir The subject of my fifth 
 letter is one of surpassing importance. It is, sir, the 
 " GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST," by the laying on of hands. 
 
 The magnitude of the subject warrants me to say, 
 in few words, what belongs to it, without those copious 
 scripture references which you can look after at your 
 leisure. If you will honestly listen to my description 
 of the office-work of the Holy Ghost, you will clearly 
 perceive, that, since the time Jesus left the earth, it is 
 more extensive and important than even the work of the 
 other personages of the Godhead. 
 
 The Holy Ghost performs the double office of & 
 WITNESS on earth and a KECOKDEK in heaven. 
 Being an unembodied personage, he can move among 
 men without the danger of being mobbed and killed, as 
 was not the case with Jesus Christ. He takes up the 
 work of man's redemption, just where Jesus Christ left 
 it, and has a distinct part to act until the second coming 
 of Christ, that in due time He also may obtain glory with 
 the Father, even as Jesus does yea, a fulness of the 
 Godhead by himself. 
 
 According to promise he came on the day of Pente- 
 cost, either with a retinue of sanctified spirits, or in the 
 simple unity and grandeur of his own potent agency, and 
 filled the house. He then disbursed among the disciples 
 
56 LETTERS BY 
 
 a variety of tongues gifts for men which the Conqueror 
 had promised. With the keys of revelation, peculiar to 
 his office, he unlocked their understanding (with perfect 
 impunity to himself) and bore witness that Jesus was 
 Christ. His testimony not only confirmed the disciples, 
 who had been previously baptized, beyond the shadow of 
 all further doubt, but convinced some thousands of the 
 sin of unbelief. 
 
 He immediately informed Peter, to whom Christ had 
 promised to send the keys of the presidency over the 
 church by the Holy Ghost (for he could do nothing till 
 the Holy Ghost should bring them), that He, the Holy 
 Ghost, would ever be an attendant upon penitent be- 
 lievers, that should be " baptized for remission of sins," 
 whenever his minister should lay on hands. He autho- 
 rized him to make a solemn standing PEOMISE to this 
 effect, viz. : that the Holy Ghost's presence as a WIT- 
 NESS to truth, should invariably follow the imposition 
 of hands. But he also gave him to understand, that none 
 should lay on hands or preach but such as should be 
 called by revelation, even as was Aaron. He assured him 
 that he would henceforth abide with the church, and 
 enable obedient believers to work certain miraculous 
 signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, nulli- 
 fying the properties of poison wickedly administered, and 
 speaking with new tongues and these and other confirm- 
 ations of the truth should invariably attend the true 
 church to the end of the world, or as long as true believ- 
 ers continued on the earth ; and if these miraculous signs 
 did not follow believers, they might know that they were 
 rejected of God, as reprobate silver is rejected of men. 
 
 The Holy Ghost further informed him, that he was 
 the LIVING WITNESS on earth, in connection with 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 57 
 
 the WATEE and the BLOOD, and sealed up the testi- 
 mony of all the witnesses concerning all believers on 
 arth, and then took them to heaven and recorded them 
 in the BOOKS, by the mutual agreement of the Father 
 and the Son, against a time of awards and punishments. 
 He also informed him that he always obtained a perfect 
 knowledge of Jesus Christ's mind touching all church 
 transactions on earth, and faithfully communicated the 
 same to chosen men and believers, according to their 
 capacity to receive and use such knowledge ; and should 
 continue to act in this office of enlightening and comfort- 
 ing the church, " until they all come to the unity of the 
 faith, and the measure of the stature of the fulness of 
 Christ," which he possessed before he left the earth. And 
 lie will also communicate Christ's mind concerning the 
 destinies of nations, and the judgments, famines, and 
 pestilences, etc., with which Jesus Christ would visit the 
 earth. 
 
 The Holy Ghost would also reveal the deep purposes 
 of God, not only concerning the future glory of the 
 Church, but also concerning individuals that lived before 
 the foundations of the world, and what would be their 
 state in worlds that are future. And even all things that 
 Jesus Christ knew concerning the interests, salvation, and 
 endless felicity and glory of the church, and the misery 
 and final undoing of such as obey not God, the Holy 
 Ghost would communicate in visions, dreams, and revela- 
 tions. Thus the earth would be filled with knowledge, 
 and Christ would again return here with all the departed 
 saints, and literally bring down a celestial city of splendid 
 mansions even the New Jerusalem and God would 
 once more dwell with men in peace. 
 
 Let it be understood, that not only apostles, but all 
 
58 LETTERS BY 
 
 obedient believers in the primitive age, had the gift of the 
 Holy Ghost, and consequently, the " spirit of prophecy. " 
 " He that hath the testimony of Jesus hath the spirit of 
 prophecy." How do men have the testimony of Jesus ? 
 I answer, through the agency of the Holy Ghost. Let 
 it be understood, and marked with INDELIBLE EM- 
 PHASIS, that the HOLY SPIRIT is the GREAT WIT- 
 NESS on earth, that he, the spirit of truth, has transmit- 
 ted the mind of Jesus to believers in visions, dreams, 
 prophecyings, etc. For this purpose Jesus sent the 
 SPIRIT into the world, that he might reprove the world 
 of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. 
 
 The Spirit, though unembodied, now acts in all the 
 authority, influence, and power that Jesus himself would 
 do if he were on the earth in very person. But he acts 
 upon and through the body of Christ, which is the 
 church through the Spirit's possession of the church, it 
 displays the MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD. What- 
 ever varied and abundant wisdom Jesus himself possess- 
 ed, the true Church ever has in a measure, and is destined 
 to have, even to perfect fulness " the fulness of his 
 stature." 
 
 But how is the true church to show forth all the 
 omniscience and potency of Jesus ? I answer, sir, by the 
 Spirit of God that is in the church, by " the laying on of 
 hands." By this spirit it is signified to Paul what shall 
 befall him at Jerusalem ; and also that the true Church 
 shall cease from off the earth, with all its miraculous gifts 
 and blessings, before the second coming of Christ. By 
 the same spirit, John saw that an angel would again come 
 in the midst of heaven to restore the original primitive 
 gospel to the earth. By the same spirit Zechariah 
 heard and saw the angel that should bring it, speak to a 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 59 
 
 " young man." Isaiah saw the young man take a " sealed 
 book from the earth," that should be a " marvellous 
 work and wonder," confounding the "wisdom of the 
 wise." By this spirit the camp of Israel saw and heard 
 seventy elders prophesy the very hour and moment that 
 hands were laid upon them. Paul saw and heard more 
 than twelve disciples speak " with tongues and prophe- 
 sy," as soon as the "Holy Ghost" was conferred by 
 " laying on of hands." 
 
 No sooner had Ananias laid his hands on Saul, than 
 the Holy Ghost, ever faithful to his "promise," filled the 
 person of Saul, and opened his eyes. The same spirit 
 signified to Philip a mission to Gaza, and after he had 
 baptized the Ethiopian, caught him away with power. 
 By it also, Sampson stretched forth an arm of omnipotence 
 and slew a thousand men ; and at another time overthrew 
 a large and capacious building, being filled with people, 
 besides containing three thousand men and women upon 
 the roof. And by the same spirit, in this day, the blind 
 have been made to see, the lame to walk, and the deaf 
 to hear, and hundreds of persecuted famishing Saints, 
 on the banks of the Mississippi, have been miraculously 
 fed by quails, as ancient Israel were fed in the wilderness. 
 
 Now, sir, can you tell me why sin and blasphemy 
 against the Holy Spirit constituted a more heinous and 
 unpardonable offence than sin against the "Son of Man]" 
 Surely there is an importance attached to the office work 
 of this DIVINE AND MARVELLOUS WITNESS on 
 the earth that deserves attention. If there is no forgive- 
 ness of such an offence, it becomes all men, not only to 
 hear before they judge, but also to judge "righteous 
 judgment." Jesus Christ has told us that he placed in 
 his church apostles and prophets, with gifts of miracles, 
 
60 LETTERS BY 
 
 tongues, etc. These gifts were the gifts of the spirit ; 
 and you will not deny that the Spirit of God, so far as 
 the New Testament speaks of him, was a spirit of Al- 
 mighty power, as displayed in numerous gifts and ways. 
 Now, sir, what has become of this miraculous and 
 Almighty Spirit ? Has he ceased wholly from the earth 1 
 If so, then the WATEK and the BLOOD are the only 
 witnesses now left on the earth. But perhaps you will 
 say that the same spirit still remains, without exercising 
 his miraculous gifts and powers (seeing they are not now 
 necessary). Shall we then understand that this Al- 
 mighty Spirit is still on the earth, and in the diversified 
 and conflicting churches, and comparatively silent and 
 inefficient, withholding from these churches (which are 
 by supposition the BODY of Christ), his majestic dis- 
 plays of supernatural power in prophecies, healings, 
 tongues ; causing the dumb ass to speak with man's voice, 
 causing powerful armies to flee before the pursuit of 
 one man ; and yet the world is perishing for lack of 
 knowledge, and Christianity losing ground every day? 
 Might we not as soon think the spirit has grown old to 
 dotage, or lost his first love, or been beguiled into other 
 pursuits of less importance ] Surely he never wrought 
 so lazily, or in such imbecility and indifference in any 
 other age, when true believers or prophets were on the 
 earth 1 Strange, indeed, sir, that he should drop off so 
 suddenly his royal robes of prophetic, miraculous grand- 
 eur and power, to become the silent and inefficient inmate 
 of more than six hundred clashing, contentious churches, 
 that are yearly subdividing into minute fragments, to the 
 confusion of all common sense throughout boasting 
 Christendom ! What a falling off of the spirit's power, 
 and of the spirit's light and unity ! Will the Holy and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 61 
 
 Eternal Spirit of God endorse such a powerless, distracted 
 state of things, as being in any way connected with his 
 presence on the earth, or in any way the result of his 
 doings *? ISTo, sir, by no means. For the honor of this 
 illustrious personage, let us never ascribe to HIM such a 
 powerless, distracted organization of heterogeneous ignor- 
 ance and imbecility, as modern Christianity presents in 
 contrast with ancient Christianity. The heavens may 
 well blush with shame at this modern picture, purporting 
 to be the kingdom of God on the earth. If it is the 
 kingdom of God, how shorn of its miraculous strength ! 
 How are the prophets and seers covered ! How dim that 
 fine gold that once shone resplendent with the celestial 
 lustre of prophetic visions ! Then men spoke as they 
 were moved by the Holy Ghost, and the sick were healed, 
 and he that lied to them was paralyzed in instantaneous 
 death, at times. 
 
 Orators " boast," as it is written of them in these 
 "perilous times," of the spread of Christianity. Christi- 
 anity spreading ! Where is the evidence of its increase 
 of power or knowledge 1 Where the least signs of ap- 
 proximation to " unity of faith," and the " measure of 
 the stature of the fulness of Christ" in " manifold wisdom 
 and power V Where the ornamental beauty and sym- 
 metry of the Bride that is preparing for the marriage 
 feast of the Lamb 1 How many ten thousand years must 
 elapse before it can be said of Christianity, " the Bride 
 hath made herself ready !" " clear as the sun, fair as the 
 moon, and terrible as an army with banners." Surely, 
 since her prophets have lost their power, " to quench the 
 violence of fire, and subdue kingdoms, and stop the 
 mouths of lions," and her servants and handmaids to sea 
 visions, etc., the beauty of the Bride has failed her 
 
62 LETTERS BY 
 
 breasts have diminished her face is wrinkled her eyes 
 are dim and cannot see afar off; she is no longer a chaste 
 virgin espoused to one husband but she has as many 
 husbands as sects, and yet none of those with whom she 
 is now living can be called her husband. 
 
 Now, sir, will the Spirit join with such a Bride, and 
 say to Jesus, the Great Bridegroom, " come !" the Bride 
 hath made herself ready ! No, sir, the Spirit of God will 
 say, " I never knew you ; depart from me, you pusillani- 
 mous, benighted, powerless, contentious Christianity." 
 " Thou, Aholibah and Aholibamah, thy lewdness is in 
 11 high places :" " thou hast played the harlot with 
 many lovers yea, thou hast even hired lovers" (with 
 human inventions), instead of commanding admiration 
 by the grace of thy " seers," and the " visions of thy 
 handmaids," and the " healing power of thine elders." 
 Thou shalt be burned with fire. 
 
 In humble assurance of your willingness to see the 
 unsheathed glittering sword of truth, I have the pleasure 
 to subscribe myself, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 For Christ's sake, 
 
 ORSON SPENCER 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 63 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 APOSTACY FROM THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, July 12th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir The subject of my sixth 
 letter is, APOSTACY FROM THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH. 
 
 If modern Christianity is only an enlargement of 
 the system of early apostacy from the true Apostolic 
 Church of Christ, it certainly deserves the most serious 
 consideration. It shall be my direct object in this 
 epistle to show, that modern Christianity possesses such 
 a faint resemblance to that system of faith established 
 by Jesus Christ and his apostles, that it cannot be called 
 a likeness, or a copy, or even an imitation. 
 
 Startle not, reverend sir, if I unhesitatingly declare 
 that a counterfeit bill of currency, that should have no 
 more resemblance to a true emission from the bank, than 
 modern Christianity has to the ancient religion, would 
 never be likely to do much harm. Modern Christianity 
 is the very opposite extreme and counterpart of the 
 ancient order of " apostles and prophets." If you will 
 read patiently, I will show clearly the proof of my position. 
 
 In the Primitive Church, the Holy Ghost, after 
 Jesus left the earth, came and took possession, and con- 
 stituted the grand main- spring, life, light, and power of 
 it. And the Apostle Peter (of indisputable authority) 
 declares, in the Second of Acts, that the promised gift 
 of the Holy Ghost SHOULD CONTINUE even to all 
 the Lord our God should call. 
 
64 LETTERS BY 
 
 But this wonderful agent is not known in modern 
 Christianity. His powerful agency, as foretold by Joel 
 in prophecy, in tongues and interpretations, in discerning 
 of spirits and in healing, is not now recognized as being 
 any part of the present Christianity. That Spirit that 
 was to make amends for the departure and absence of 
 Jesus, by acquainting believers with all truth past, 
 present, and future that they might be comforted with 
 knowledge and light, such as could not be obtained from 
 books, whether inspired or uninspired, was the great 
 sine qua non or essential thing in ancient Christianity ; 
 but in modern Christianity, the fruits of such a spirit 
 would be sneered at, even by divines! "What!" ex- 
 claims one, " prophecy in these days ! speak in tongues 
 now ! heal the sick now ! have visions of future things, 
 and even heavenly things like unto the ancients !" The 
 exclaimant stands aghast with astonishment, as a perfect 
 stranger to the most obvious and conspicuous principles 
 of ancient Christianity. 
 
 Modern Christianity professes to derive all its light, 
 and its various clashing creeds, from the Old and New 
 Testaments. If modern Christianity is, indeed, the off- 
 spring of the Bible, it is a prodigy with many hundred 
 heads ; but ancient Christianity drew its light from the 
 ROCK of immediate revelation, and previous scriptures 
 were only confirmatory of the Spirit's testimony. Illiter- 
 ate fishermen, like Peter, traditionated by a corrupt 
 priesthood, could know next to nothing of the written 
 manuscripts of the Bible. What he learnt was not from 
 flesh and blood, but from the spirit of revelation ; and 
 let it be always in your mind, sir, that Christ has said, 
 that on THIS ROCK of immediate revelation, "He 
 will build His church." 
 
ORSON SPENCER. G5 
 
 A Christianity contained exclusively in a small 
 volume like the Bible, is an insult to the capacious reve- 
 lations of the Eternal Spirit of God, that even searches 
 the deep things of God a mere drop compared with the 
 mighty ocean ! The full biography of Jesus Christ con- 
 tained in the New Testament ? Nonsense ! Preposte- 
 rous mockery ! You certainly are not ignorant of the 
 last verse in John's Gospel " The world itself could not 
 contain the account, if written, of the acts and doings of 
 Jesus Christ." But shall the knowledge of Christ be 
 buried in oblivion because his acts and sayings cannot 
 be written 1 ? No, by no means; God forbid! What 
 saith the Scriptures 1 the all-wise " Spirit shall bring 
 all things to your remembrance, even the deep things of 
 God things that the tongue cannot utter, nor the heart 
 conceive." 
 
 Without the Holy Spirit of revelation, to take of 
 the things of Jesus and convey them to the knowledge of 
 men, I boldly aver that NO man can harmonize a con- 
 sistent system from the Old and New Testaments, or 
 find eternal life. Every man must be born of that spirit 
 which gives revelation and knowledge of Christ, or he 
 can never see the kingdom of God. But a prominent 
 feature in the creed of modern Christianity is, that there 
 is no further need of revelation, consequently the distinct 
 office-work of the Spirit, to bring to mind unwritten acts 
 and doctrines of Christ, and harmonize those which are 
 written and scattered promiscuously through the Bible, is 
 abrogated and deemed superfluous by modern Christianity- 
 
 thou benighted advocate of modern Christianity, 
 
 how long shall thine eye be veiled in reading the New 
 
 Testament, and thine heart be too gross to perceive the 
 
 beauty, and comfort, and power of that blessed Spirit 
 
 E 
 
66 LETTERS BY 
 
 that gave life and salvation to ancient Christianity? 
 Hast thou lost all admiration for the Spirit's miraculous 
 gifts, power, and blessing, settled down under reconcili- 
 ation to a load of doubts and fears, hoping that death 
 will remove thy tormenting burden] Vain hope! No 
 longer then do despite to that Eternal Spirit of revela- 
 tion that is freely promised to all that will honestly 
 receive it. If Gentile Christians are ashamed of the 
 Jew, because a veil was before his eyes in reading the Old 
 Testament, has not the Jew equal cause to be ashamed 
 of the Gentile, that has so soon turned away from the 
 primitive path of the Spirit's gifts of visions, prophecies, 
 healings, etc., and thereby been "cut off for not con- 
 tinuing in His goodness," according to the warning threat 
 of Jehovah against Gentiles 1 
 
 Where, sir, are the splendid gifts of apostles and 
 prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, that Christ 
 gave to men, and set in his church, forever to continue 
 in the ministry, edifying " the BODY of Christ till we 
 all come to the unity of faith," and to such a knowledge 
 -of God, and fulness of power and wisdom as dwelt even 
 in Jesus] They are nowhere to be found in modern 
 Christianity ! Modern Christianity has the effrontery 
 and shamelessness even to say that she does not need 
 them ; consequently she says that she does not need 
 " to come to unity of faith," and to that full and potent 
 knowledge of God that Jesus in the flesh possessed, and 
 had decreed that all Saints should possess and be like 
 their " elder brother." 
 
 Not one of these great and precious gifts is retained. 
 The bare name of evangelists and pastors is retained in 
 modern Christianity, without the shadow of the power 
 and prophetic knowledge of the Holy Ghost, with which 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 67 
 
 these officers were obliged to be indued in the primitive 
 church. She admits, indeed, the form of the office, 
 " denying the power." She says, indeed, that she can come 
 to "unity of faith," etc., without apostles, and without 
 the help of the good old-fashioned Almighty Holy Ghost. 
 But how long a time does she want to run for this 
 prize of " unity of faith," etc.! She has been running 
 for the stakes nearly EIGHTEEN HUNDRED YEAES, 
 and is further from the goal than when she started. 
 When she started, " false apostles and deceitful workers" 
 were her champions. In order to win the prize, these 
 shed the blood of true apostles, and the blood of saints 
 was found on their garments. And when her followers 
 found that she had only the form or name of apostles 
 and prophets, without the power, she said, " We have 
 no further need of apostles ; they have done their work, 
 and miracles have ceased." Oh thou blood-guilty, "lying" 
 Gentile Christianity ! thy lineage takes hold of the 
 mother of abominations, clothed in scarlet ! How great 
 will be the severity of God's judgments upon all that are 
 accessory to modern Christianity, except they repent and 
 obey the Gospel ! 
 
 She has also changed the ordinances. Where is now 
 the ordinance of anointing with oil ! Where the ordi- 
 nance of imposition of hands 1 The healing of the sick 
 is given up to medical men, whose reliance is on any- 
 thing but the power and established ordinance of God. 
 Is it not written for the benefit of the sick, that they 
 should call for the elders of the church, whose duty it is 
 " to anoint the sick with oil, and lay on hands, and they 
 shall recover?" Now, the consequence of changing this 
 one ordinance of the Bible to the medical nostrums of 
 men, is the literal death of thousands, who change the 
 
68 LETTERS BY 
 
 ordinance and contribute to make this whole earth the 
 'burying ground of nations. 
 
 Sir, may I not significantly ask, will the priests of 
 the day return unto the Lord and teach his " law and his 
 testimony," or will they with hearts of stone see the 
 inhabitants of the earth perish under the curse of " trust- 
 ing in medical man and making flesh an arm 3 " 
 
 The prophet Isaiah says, the consequence of changing 
 the ordinances is, to make the earth empty and desolate ! 
 But this is not the only ordinance that is changed. By 
 laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the au- 
 thority to prophesy, speak with new tongues, and cast 
 out devils, is conferred. Now, unless boasting Christian- 
 ity has secured peace and fellowship with the devil, it is of 
 much importance to know how to cast him out. Unless 
 she has wisdom and power, and the spirit of prophecy, 
 to supersede the need of the Holy Spirit, it is very essential 
 to observe the ordinances by which, alone, it is conferred. 
 
 But it is certain, that if the Holy Spirit, in all its 
 supernatural office-work of miraculous omnipotence and 
 wisdom, does not come and reign on the earth, then the 
 kingdom of God will never come on the earth as it exists 
 in heaven. But the scriptures assure us that the kingdom 
 of God will break in pieces all other kingdoms, and be es- 
 tablished on earth, even as it is in heaven, and the palace 
 of God (tabernacle) be in the midst of the human family. 
 
 The Hoty Ghost is the grand agent by which the 
 different orders of priesthood, have all their authority, 
 wisdom, and power, to teach and administer the laws and 
 ordinances of heaven to men on earth. The "MANI- 
 FOLD WISDOM OF GOD " flows through these orders 
 of priesthood from heaven to earth. But modern Chris- 
 tianity has abolished these orders of priesthood, as no- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 69 
 
 longer necessary ; consequently, the communications 
 from heaven to earth have been stopped for nearly 
 eighteen hundred years ; and from this cause, our race has 
 witnessed the most appalling picture of the progress of 
 crime and wretchedness, that has ever pervaded the earth ' 
 since the dawn of creation. No man has sufficient know- 
 ledge of figures to enumerate THE MILLIONS that have 
 been slain in war, since the Gentiles were cut off for un- 
 belief. The pestilence has never slumbered since man 
 rejected the healing ordinance of God, for the aid of 
 physicians that is of no value. Famine has locked hands 
 with pestilence, causing rot, and blast, and mildew, to lead 
 many to fear that God had repented himself of the 
 " promised seed time and harvest." 
 
 The social virtues that ought to be, and ever would 
 be, under the reign of God, like salubrious breezes of 
 heaven, have become like the antagonistic and forked 
 teeth of a picking cylinder, that, turned ever so much, will 
 still be picking either in the offensive or defensive. The 
 number of the oppressed is becoming so fearfully great 
 and vast, that the captors know not where to find either 
 room or keepers for their prisoners. The yoke of intoler- 
 ance must have fresh iron fastenings of unheard of 
 tenacity and rigor. The oppressor feels the danger of an 
 awful outbreak from desperation that can be smothered 
 no longer. The elements of revolution and self-destruc- 
 tion, are sown deep in every government, and in every 
 religious and social system that has not for its basis truth, 
 immediately and continually revealed from heaven ! 
 
 Now, all this direful state of things is because 
 
 men have " forsaken God, the fountain of living waters, 
 
 .and hewn them out cisterns that can hold no water." 
 
 From the crown of the head to the soles of the feet," 
 
70 LETTERS BY 
 
 modern Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic. " is 
 full of wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores." 
 
 The prophets and apostles foresaw the Gentile apos- 
 tacy that would spread over the earth, under the plausi- 
 ble name of Christianity, obliterating the knowledge of 
 God, and " denying the power of God, and changing his 
 laws and ordinances," till " gross darkness should cover 
 the people." They saw the " mystery of iniquity" work- 
 ing, and boldly foretold the "falling away" the exalta- 
 tion of the man of sin the removal of the priesthood 
 and light of truth from the seven churches of Asia the 
 refusal to " teach all things that Jesus commanded " 
 the irresistible fact, that men would not " endure sound 
 doctrines" but would multiply discrepant teachers to suit 
 " itching ears " the introduction of " damnable heresies" 
 and the " doctrines of devils" and the church becoming 
 like a blood-guilty " harlot" that had exterminated the 
 whole order of apostles, and prophets, and spiritual gifts, 
 and even denied the need of any such order of gifts and 
 ministry as existed in the 'primitive church ! 
 
 The first doctrine of the devil in the garden was that 
 it was not necessary to obey God concerning a particular 
 tree of the garden ; and the same doctrine of devils has, 
 by inches and by piece-meal, removed and broken every 
 command of Christ, and put bishops and doctors in the 
 seats of apostles and prophets, and the ordinance of 
 sprinkling infants, in place of baptism ; virtually saying, 
 " that God doth know," that without the aid of apostles 
 and the gift of the Spirit by laying on of hands, you can 
 know truth enough ; and without baptism "for remission 
 of sins" you can be forgiven through prayer at the altar. 
 
 Permit me sir, in conclusion, to remind you of the 
 reproof given by an inspired wise man : " Say not thou 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 71 
 
 what is the cause tJiat the former-days were better than these ? 
 for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this" The true 
 and only rational revealed cause why modern Christianity 
 is so weak, contentious, discrepant, and so unlike the ma- 
 jestic, almighty Christianity of apostolic days, is, because 
 apostate, uninspired men " HAVE TRANSGRESSED the 
 LAWS, CHANGED the ORDINANCE and BROKEN 
 the EVERLASTING COVENANT." Therefore, "the 
 earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof" " Gentile " 
 Christianity will yet be compelled to come from the 
 " ends of the earth, and say, surely our fathers have inherited 
 lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit " 
 
 And God has said, sir, because x " your (Gentile) fathers 
 have forsaken him, and have not kept his law," " therefore," 
 says God, " behold, I will this once cause them to know mine 
 hand and my might, and they shall know that my name is the 
 Lord." The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled, 
 for the Lord hath spoken this word : " The earth mourneth and 
 fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the 
 haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is 
 defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they liave trans- 
 gressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and broken the ever- 
 lasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earthy 
 and they that dwell therein are desolate ; therefore, the inhabit- 
 ants of the earth are burned, and few men left." 
 
 In view of these things, dear sir, my fervent prayer 
 is, that you and all my brethren in the sectarian ministry 
 will, from this day forth, stay their hand and voice from 
 upholding modern, boasting Christianity that is a "stink" 
 in the nose of Jehovah that is depopulating the earth and 
 abrogating the laics and ordinances of God, and sin no more, 
 and thereby follow the humble example of 
 
 Your obedient servant, ORSON SPENCER. 
 
LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APOSTOLIC 
 CHURCH. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, August 28th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir The next subject in the 
 order of my promise, contained in my first letter to you, 
 is, THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APOSTOLIC CHURCH, 
 after the similitude and power of the primitive church. 
 Such an occurrence as this, truly demands proof of a pal- 
 pable and satisfactory order, which, by the help of God, 
 I will proceed to give you. 
 
 The beloved apostle John, who survived many of his 
 fellow-laborers in the gospel, and saw many damnable 
 heresies coining into the church, and making havoc of all 
 the faithful, and even the seven most faithful churches in 
 all the earth, probably, right under his own faithful 
 supervision, yielding to APOSTACY, and going over to 
 Satan this apostle, dear sir, in his solitary grief, was 
 shewn, by revelation from God, the EE-ESTABLISH- 
 MENT OF THE TEUE CHUECH, with such wrath 
 and vengeance following its wake, as should make an 
 utter end of wickedness, give the righteous a thousand 
 years' rest, cleanse the earth by blood, and burning, and 
 .bind the devil until the " little season." 
 
 Now mark, sir, the emphatic words of this apostle 
 ^before he left the earth, concerning what he saw would 
 come in the last days. Hear now with a fixed ear, and 
 an unbiassed determined purpose to believe, and abide 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 73 
 
 the declaration of your own apostle John. Now to the 
 momentous words that cheered the few banished perse- 
 ^uted Saints, that survived the bloody hand of Gentile 
 apostacy. Says he "/ saiv another angel flying through 
 'the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach 
 to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people ; saying, Fear 
 God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is 
 <come" 
 
 There is no obscurity about this language. It is 
 quite as intelligible and free from ambiguity as the 
 language that predicted the marvellous manner of the 
 coming of Christ, which, however, men would not un- 
 derstand, through prejudice. "Behold a virgin shall 
 conceive and bear a son," etc. 
 
 Now, sir, is it at all incredible that an angel should 
 i come to men 1 Or is it incredible that he should come 
 -soaring, or "flying in the midst of heaven to earth 1 ?" 
 >You certainly believe, that Jesus Christ and Elijah soared 
 from the earth up through the air, or visible heavens. 
 Is it not also credible, that God should employ an angel 
 to carry a message to the nations'? And as God mini- 
 .stered the law by angels to one man, Moses, for a whole 
 nation, even so the angel that John saw, would minister 
 his gospel message to some particular man, and that man 
 .should bear it to the nations of the earth. 
 
 Now, to what man might we expect an angel would 
 "bring a message of such vast importance 1 A great and 
 wise man, or obscure or ignorant, or an old or young 
 man ? If we look at the past, we shall find that John 
 rwas a boisterous fellow, from the wilderness, that had 
 ^110 fellowship for any existing religion whatever. He 
 . struck the axe deep at the root of every religious organi- 
 -2ation, notwithstanding there were, probably, some good 
 
74 LETTERS BY 
 
 men in every sect, but they were in error. This man, 
 sir, was first and chief pioneer to the Lord of life. 
 
 And who comes next to receive a message for all 
 nations, and hold the keys of revelation for all nations ? 
 Now, reverend sir, fix the eye of your mind steadily 
 upon him. And who is he ? An honest, hardy, illiter- 
 ate, bold, rough fisherman, that perhaps never saw the 
 inside of a gentleman's drawing room. Here, sir, is the 
 wisdom of God, and confusion for man. But to return. 
 Who is the man, to whom the angel shall give the gospel 
 message of all nations, in the last days, according to the 
 vision of John, the revelator ] Let God, the Holy One 
 of all the earth, speak in this matter, and let all the ends 
 of the earth believe HIS holy word. 
 
 The Lord God of all flesh, sir, by the mouth of his 
 servant Zechariah, tells us precisely what kind of man 
 this angel would speak to, and give the gospel, in the 
 last dispensation. Speaking of the two great events, 
 (the building of Zion and Jerusalem, in the last days,) 
 Zechariah, with his ear open to the revelation of the 
 same great event as John's was, says he heard the man- 
 date of the Almighty to the angel, saying, "Go and 
 speak to that young man." 
 
 Here we have it, sir, in the language and testimony 
 of God himself, by the mouths of his two servants, John, 
 the revelator, and Zechariah. John saw, after much 
 inquiry before God about the restoration of the gospel 
 to the earth, in clear vision, the angel in his downward 
 flight through the heavens to earth, and also heard him 
 proclaim his errand, and the message of joy and woe to 
 the nations of the last days. The other servant of God, 
 Zechariah, like John, equally intent to know whether the 
 true gospel ever would triumph in all the earth, and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 75 
 
 wickedness come to an end, had the happiness to see the 
 angel, at the end of his downward flight, place his feet 
 upon the earth, and witness the finger of God raised, 
 and pointing the angel to a young man, saying, "Go, 
 speak to that young man." 
 
 Now, sir, that you may be convinced beyond con- 
 troversy, I will beg your attention to the marvellous 
 coincidence between the matter of fact, as related by a 
 guileless young man, and the declaration of John and 
 Zechariah ; but first, you must readily admit that, accord- 
 ing to the testimony of two prophets of God, an angel 
 must come down through the midst of heaven to earth, 
 in some period of the last days, subsequent to the life- 
 time of John, with such a gospel as was not on the earth; 
 and that angel must communicate his gospel message to 
 some certain young man which the finger of God should 
 point out to the angel. 
 
 Now, was the young man Joseph the man, or look 
 we for another? His testimony concerning the angel 
 that he saw,- and the message that he received, if you 
 will read it, coincides perfectly with what the two pro- 
 phets had long since declared should take place. He 
 was, indeed, an illiterate and obscure youth of seventeen, 
 of humble parentage, from the mountains of Vermont ; 
 but was he any less fit to receive such a message than 
 any other youth, because he was illiterate, or poor, or 
 obscure, or rough and vulgar ? This simple country 
 youth told a tale of what he had seen and heard, in the 
 face of all the broad, blazing science and Christianity of 
 the nineteenth century ; but was he any less likely to be 
 the youth that the prophets saw and spoke of on that 
 account ? Was it a marvellous tale that he told ? so 
 likewise was the tale that the Virgin Mary told about 
 
76 LETTERS BY 
 
 -her offspring, as begotten of God the Father. Did the 
 message that Joseph received, lead him to disfellowship 
 all the religious systems of the day, as incompatible with 
 the primitive pattern 1 so did Jesus, with the religions of 
 his day. But lest some lingering doubt should remain 
 upon your mind, whether the young man Joseph was the 
 indentical youth spoken of by the prophets just named, 
 you shall have other proofs until reason is satisfied. 
 
 The prophet Daniel, being greatly beloved of God, 
 and of great faith, saw this scene of the visitation of the 
 angel to the young man, and the laying of the corner-stone 
 of a millennial kingdom, and the time of its organization, 
 and calculated the same to a day, as will be developed in 
 due time. Job wished that his words, or revelations and 
 history, were written with a pen of iron (the engraver's 
 tool) and laid in a -rock. Now many of the prophets that 
 lived and suffered on the American continent, and settled 
 that continent about the time of the destruction of Jeru- 
 salem under Zedeldah, also wished their words written 
 and laid in rock or stone. By great faith they obtained 
 permission to have their records and prophecies laid up 
 in stone, being neatly engraved with a pen of iron, on 
 plates of the most enduring metal. Daniel saw this stone 
 that contained the records and spoke of it. Now this 
 stone, containing the words of these prophets of that 
 " other fold" spoken of by Christ, had been buried about 
 fourteen hundred years previous to its discovery, pro- 
 bably to a considerable depth in the earth, in what was 
 then called the Mountain of Cumorah. Daniel's language 
 is very remarkable in regard to the manner in which this 
 stone, with its contents, in connection with the angelic 
 message, should come forth " out of the mountain without 
 hands. 1 ' The stone, probably, in consequence of the wear 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 77 
 
 of the elements upon the earth, under the guidance of 
 God, was gradually resurrected from the depths of its 
 burial, until it was literally out of the mountain, and visi- 
 ble without the aid of hands. 
 
 Oh ! how marvellous, literal, and exact the fulfill- 
 ment of Daniel's prophecy ! THE MOUNTAIN ! The 
 
 VISIBILITY OF THE LONG BURIED STONE WITHOUT 
 
 HANDS ! The contents of this stone, long harped upon 
 by commentators, joined with the whole of the angelic, 
 message foreseen by John and Zechariah, were to lay the 
 foundation of a kingdom that should extend over the 
 whole earth, and break in pieces all others, and never be 
 thrown down. Daniel not only saw the stone, and 
 mountain, and young man, and the whole beginning of 
 this latter-day work, and calculated the precise year and 
 day of the month when the kingdom (not the coming of 
 Christ) should be set up ; but he describes the small and 
 weak governments into which the four great universal 
 governments should be divided and sub-divided. The 
 governments that should exist on the earth when this 
 stone should be brought to light, would be, in comparison 
 with the four universal and potent governments of previ- 
 ous ages, as the numerously divided toes of a man's feet 
 in magnitude to his body. 
 
 When Jesus Christ came to organize the kingdom, 
 the Romish government was universal, and all the world' 
 were required to be taxed for its support ; consequently, 
 Daniel did not speak of his organization, which all the 
 apostles saw and declared would be overcome. But he 
 saw that the kingdom which Christ would never take 
 from the earth would be set up, when the image of great 
 kingdoms would be reduced to the simile of mere toes, or 
 petty kingdoms, just such as exist all over the earth 
 
78 LETTERS BY 
 
 weak and small, and huddled together as thick as some 
 of the supernumerary toes of the feet of some ancient 
 prodigies. 
 
 The kingdoms of this world, just precisely like the 
 religions of this world, are small, very numerous, and con- 
 tentious all the present governments of the earth being 
 based on mixed, heterogeneous, and discordant principles, 
 will readily crumble, like dry clay, before the march of 
 truth, until the dust thereof is carried away, and these 
 kingdoms and diversified religions are known only in the 
 past. You, sir, know very well whether the signs of the 
 times fully indicate the tottering state, and general dis- 
 ruption of all the goverments of the earth. But before 
 I close this part of my subject, I will still multiply the 
 testimony of the prophets even further upon it. 
 
 Omitting Ezekiel, I will next introduce the testimony 
 of Isaiah. This prophet has probably said more on the 
 re-establishment of the church in the last days, and the 
 surpassing glory of it, than any other, and deserves rather 
 to be read as a whole than suffer mutilation from a single 
 extract or two. How any man can read Isaiah's testimony, 
 and not see that an extraordinary scene, just like the one 
 I have been describing, was in full vision before him, it is 
 difficult to explain, except his heart is waxed gross and 
 dull to perceive, and the veil remains untaken away in 
 reading the Old Testament prophecies. 
 
 Instead of citing passages of scripture verbatim, I 
 will here name topics, which Isaiah distinctly exhibited, 
 bearing directly upon the subject at issue. First, he 
 speaks unequivocally of an extraordinary BOOK, and 
 says it would be a " sealed book," that neither the learned 
 nor unlearned could read. Second, in the context, he 
 gives a cutting rebuke, because there is no prophet or seer 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 79 
 
 to read it ; and administers a most withering reproof to 
 the religious world, that draw near to Him with their lips, 
 and honor Him with their mouths only and for lack of 
 the spirit of revelation and prophecy, resort to their own 
 ingenuity of teaching the fear of the Lord by human pre- 
 cepts. Third, he says the " vision " of all is become as a 
 BOOK that is sealed which cannot be read. How is this, 
 -sir, that the prophecies and revelations of all are locked 
 up in a book, that neither learned nor unlearned can read, 
 and the men that uttered them, prophets and seers, are 
 covered shut out from the knowledge of mankind ] 
 
 The visions of the Old and New Testament are so 
 plainly legible in many books that he who runs may 
 read. Those who had these latter visions, instead of 
 being covered or unknown, are well known, and preached 
 every Sabbath day. Don't shrink from this issue, sir, 
 but meet it like one who feels his destiny to be suspended 
 on a correct faith in revealed truth. What mysterious 
 collection of visions, arranged into the form of a BOOK, 
 that no uninspired man can read, IS THIS 1 It must be 
 the visions of some prophets and seers, that have lived 
 and prophesied to some people that have now faded from 
 the knowledge of men. Mankind is ignorant of them. 
 And when the BOOK, that contains their records is 
 found (taken out of the earth as I shall show by Isaiah's 
 testimony), no man can read it or is the wiser for it 
 (unless God reveals it). 
 
 Now, sir, as you are a teacher, professing to be sent 
 from God, I again ask, whose visions are all these, so 
 curiously wrapped up in a BOOK, and sealed too, and 
 kept hid from the knowledge of mankind ? You will not 
 deny that the prophet saw a book, containing important 
 records of some certain unknown prophets and seers. 
 
80 LETTERS BY 
 
 But if you believe the prophet, as I know you do, and 
 humbly acknowledge, that you cannot tell what this 
 mysterious BOOK of RECORDS means ; then, by the 
 spirit and blessing of God, I will further endeavor to 
 show that it is the same that the angel announced to the- 
 young man Joseph. 
 
 This mysterious BOOK of records was found in that 
 identical stone, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. The 
 prophets and seers, whose records constitute that book, 
 lived among a mighty nation on the American continent, 
 whose history is as important as that of other continents 
 in its place. 
 
 Another topic dwelt upon by Isaiah is that " truth" 
 (plainly alluding to this book of inspired records) should 
 " speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low 
 out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as of one that hath 
 a familiar spirit out of the ground, and thy speech shall 
 whisper out of the dust" 
 
 It is a marvellous thing that this wonderful book of 
 the visions of all the American seers should be so skill- 
 fully entombed in stone, and then buried in the earth fc 
 Where should they have deposited it, so that it could 
 have answered the purpose intended, so well as in the- 
 ground? How could the STONE, containing it, ever 
 have been CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN WITH- 
 OUT HANDS, if it had never beeil put into the moun- 
 tain? Isaiah says the people should be besieged and 
 brought low (nearly all were slain), but by the records 
 of their seers should, after a long time, speak out of the 
 ground, and their records should be as the voice of a 
 familiar spirit. Who, sir, that has read them does not 
 clearly perceive that they speak familiarly of things 
 past, present, and to come 1 So truly do these records- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. . 81 
 
 speak of what shall transpire, after the BOOK has been 
 shewn to them, that many have slanderously said, that 
 it was written by an eye-witness of the things spoken 
 of. It speaks also of the ruins of cities of antiquities, 
 since discovered on the American continent, by travel- 
 lers and antiquarians, that have excited the curiosity 
 and wonder of the world. 
 
 This Book of Mormon, is one of the most unex- 
 ceptionable and God-honoring books that was ever pub- 
 lished to the world. An uninspired man might as well 
 attempt to originally compose the Old and New Testa- 
 ment, as it. Its language (the best butt of cavillers) is. 
 said not to harmonize with the philological rules of 
 the nineteenth century. One word in reply. Peter and 
 John were illiterate men, who spike as they were moved 
 by the Holy Ghost, and their language was accredited to 
 unlearned men by their hearers. Now, if redundant and 
 ungrammatical language may be the medium through 
 which the Holy Ghost communicates by men in speaking, 
 may it not with equal propriety be employed in writing, 
 by a similar class of men ] It is not denied, that there 
 is something wonderful about all this matter. The pro- 
 phet Isaiah considered it wonderful, when he called it a 
 " marvellous work: a marvellous work and a wonder." 
 "The wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the 
 understanding of their prudent shall be hid." All the 
 learned commentaries of divines, as this gospel advances, 
 shall be buried in oblivion, as so much rubbish. 
 
 God declares, by the same prophet, that he has seen 
 the wickedness of the wicked, and the oppression of the 
 poor and upright, until he rises up to " do his work, his 
 strange work, and to bring to pass his act, his strange act."' 
 He warns men against making a mock of this strange. 
 F 
 
82 LETTERS BY 
 
 and marvellous work, lest their " bands be made strong," 
 for he has decreed a consumption upon the u'hole earth. 11 
 This is what John also says " The hour of His judg- 
 ment" is measurably simultaneous with the proclamation 
 of the Gospel. Habakkuk, the prophet, told men to wait 
 for this same vision of American prophets, written on 
 tables (tabular plates), which would be a long time before 
 it made its appearance : but it would " surely come," 
 because God had promised these seers that a remnant of 
 their seed, on that continent should be saved. No pen 
 can describe the joy and exultation that they must have 
 felt in obtaining such a promise, or the bliss now experi- 
 enced by them in the fulfillment of it. But for the ful- 
 fillment of this promise, none of them or their righteous 
 cotemporaries would ever have been made perfect. 
 
 Oh ! how great the goodness and mercy of God to 
 every nation, without respect of persons ! How great 
 too, the indebtedness of this generation to Almighty God 
 for that most precious " stone 1 of prophetic records, that 
 reveals at once the history of the American continent a 
 continent of otherwise unfathomable antiquities and won- 
 ders a land that embowels the bones of a numerous and 
 mighty race of people, with all their implements of 
 husbandry and of art ! Where, also, are the ruins of 
 splendid cities, the former glory of which might surpass 
 even gigantic London ! Within that stone, too, was 
 written with a jen of iron, as infallibly as the marks on 
 Belshazzar's palace, the future destiny of the American 
 people. 
 
 In conclusion, do you ask if the Apostolic Church is 
 again re-established, where is it ] I reply, it is in the 
 mountains, where the Lord's House is to be built in the 
 last days. Driven by the cruel hand of persecution to 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 83 
 
 the very place where the Lord has declared He will 
 "/w^them till the indignation be overpast." Do you 
 also ask what kind of organization this Church has ] The 
 answer is, the same as that of the Apostolic Church in 
 the days of Peter, consisting of Apostles, Prophets, 
 Evangelists, etc. ; with the gifts of healing, tongues, 
 interpretation, casting out devils, prophecyings, etc. Do 
 you ask who has seen any of these miraculous fruits of 
 this Church] I answer a hundred thousand living wit- 
 nesses are ready to testify that the " signs" which Christ 
 said " shall follow them that believe," do, in very deed, 
 follow believers in this Church. Do you say, are they 
 credible witnesses ? They were generally accounted 
 credible persons, until they believed and obeyed this 
 Gospel. Do their lives show that they do sincerely 
 believe and love the Apostolic Gospel which they pro- 
 fess ? Nothing as yet has been able to separate them 
 from it ; neither home nor country, nor the inheritances 
 of their fathers, nor penury nor reproach, nor evil report, 
 nor cold, nor nakedness, nor no certain dwelling-place for 
 years ! 
 
 I now close this simple and unembellished statement 
 of truth, being written in a state of convalescence from 
 severe sickness, hoping a portion of your enquiries will 
 have been satisfactorily answered, 
 
 Your friend and servant, 
 
 ORSON SPENCER 
 
84 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTEK VIII. 
 
 THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, September 13th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir In this epistle I shall en- 
 deavor to set before you a description of the person,, 
 abode, and character of THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD. 
 In so doing I trust it will not be imputed to arrogance 
 if I borrow my apology from the language of St. Paul 
 " As I passed by I beheld an altar with this inscription, 
 ' To the Unknown God. 7 Whom ye ignorantly worship, 
 him declare I unto you." 
 
 The people of Paul's day had, for several generations, 
 been unaccustomed to receive revelations from the true 
 God, believing, generally, that revelations from God had 
 ceased with Malachi. They supposed that the canon of 
 scripture was complete long before their time, and they 
 considered that the great law-giver, Moses, had established 
 an immutable code of laws and government, suited to the 
 condition of people of all ages and circumstances what- 
 ever, to the end of time ; and the Jews, to this very day, 
 entertain the same opinion. 
 
 Laboring under this most blighting and soul-darken- 
 ing opinion for several centuries, without the light of any 
 new revelation, and without the aid of that immediate 
 inspiration which attended Moses and the prophets, their 
 foolish hearts became darkened as a necessary conse- 
 quence. Inflated with pride, and a false but sincere 
 reverence for the scriptures of a previous age, they be- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 85 
 
 came a conspicuous and warning example to this genera- 
 tion of ignorance, not only of the scriptures, which they 
 carefully memorized, but also of all the essential attri- 
 butes of the person, character, and doctrine of God. 
 
 Now, sir, during the long period of sixteen or 
 eighteen hundred years, in which the light of immediate 
 revelation has not shone, the religious world have fallen 
 into similar and even far greater darkness. The true and 
 living God is not known, as I shall proceed to show. 
 
 The religious world have an abundance of zeal for 
 God, and diligence in spreading the scriptures and their 
 missionaries over the face of the earth ; but, alas ! the 
 God they profess to worship'is an unknown God, and this 
 ignorance of God is the legitimate consequence of not 
 having immediate revelation from him, during a long 
 period of near eighteen hundred years ; and unaided by 
 the spirit of inspiration, the ancient scriptures have be- 
 come a dark and obscure book their import has been 
 warmly debated by a thousand learned disputants, with- 
 out any prospect of approximation to unity. 
 
 A very general conviction concerning the character 
 of God now is, that He is a Being without body, or parts, 
 or passions. A greater absurdity cannot be furnished in 
 all the annals of heathenism. Even images of wood, and 
 brass, and stone, are scarcely more remote from the pic- 
 ture of the true God, than the theory of a passionless, 
 matterless God an inconceivable sort of chaotic being, 
 <that is without form, or void, or dwelling place ! a being 
 whose circumference is everywhere, and his centre no- 
 where ! 
 
 Another theory concerning God, that is entertained 
 by Jewish Eabbins, though of an opposite character, is 
 not much more extravagant than the common orthodox 
 
86 LETTERS BY 
 
 theory, viz., the Eabbins suppose that God is a Being of 
 some " millions of miles in length. 11 
 
 Again, the popular notion of modern Jews, as expres- 
 sed in a recent number of the Jewish Chronicle, is that the 
 Almighty God is a being of such infinite dimensions, that 
 He cannot condense himself sufficiently to speak to men 
 or be tangible or visible to mortals. Accordingly, when, 
 he gives revelation to men, He creates a fictitious or im- 
 aginary messenger, through whom he communicates his 
 will, and this messenger has no real existence in the eye 
 of God, and only in the momentary perception of the per- 
 son addressed. (See Millennial Star, No. 15, Vol. IX. also 
 Jewish Chronicle.) 
 
 From the foregoing it may be seen how grossly igno- 
 rant both Jews and Christians are of the person of God, 
 the Creator and Savior of the world ! All this, too, in an 
 age of the world boasting of blazing light ! of a millennial 
 dawn ! of the unparalleled march of improvement ! but, 
 alas ! the very God and Father of us all, who ought to 
 be truly known in order to be rightly worshipped, is 
 regarded as the most insensible (a God without "passion " 
 must be insensible), and irrational, and unattractive as to 
 form, of all beings that can be conceived of ; and the most 
 surprising feature in all modern theology in an age of 
 sanity is, that this notion concerning the person of God, 
 is deducible from the scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments. 
 
 The New Testament tells us most unequivocally 
 what kind of person God has, and whether he is a Being 
 having both passion and physical form. It tells whether 
 he can be so " condensed " as to speak to men, and be seen 
 of them, and talk to them face to face, as a man talks to 
 his fellow man. The New Testament declares that in 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 87 
 
 Jesus Christ dwelt the "FULNESS OF THE GOD- 
 HEAD, BODILY." 
 
 Now, if the Godhead dwelt in the body of Christ, 
 then it is certain that God is not without a body. But 
 He has a body and what is His body like unto ] The 
 New Testament tells us what His body is like. It is so 
 nearly and exactly like unto the body of Christ, that 
 there is no difference. Paul says, that Christ was the 
 " express image of his person" It is then beyond all dis- 
 pute that the body and person of Jesus Christ and the 
 Father are alike. Language cannot express the similitude 
 of the Father and the Son in plainer or stronger terms. 
 Then, if we can show from the New Testament what kind 
 of body or person Jesus Christ had, we can also tell what 
 kind of body the Father has, because they are alike. One 
 is the express image of the other. If one has a fleshy 
 material body, the other has the same. If one resembles 
 in stature the seed of the woman, the other also wears 
 the same resemblance. If one can be so " condensed " as 
 to speak and walk, and feel and act like a man, the other 
 can do the same. If one wearing a body of flesh and 
 bones, in all points like unto his brethren, is capable of 
 holding all power in heaven and earth, and also of display- 
 ing the brightness of celestial glory, the other can do the 
 same in a similar body of flesh and bones. 
 
 Well, now, what kind of body or person had Jesus 
 Christ, which looked so much like the Father's person ? 
 Was it an airy, invisible, evanescent, mystical nothing, 
 which some would denominate spirit ] No, by no means ; 
 very much otherwise. Hearken now, my dear sir, and 
 all ye readers, that have an honest desire to know the 
 living and true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath 
 sent, in order that men might know from the person of 
 
88 LETTERS BY 
 
 the Son what is the personal appearance of the Father. 
 He, " the Word, was made flesh and dwelt among us (and 
 we beheld his glory., the glory as of the only begotten of the 
 Father) full of grace and truth.'" Jesus had a fleshly form, 
 like the seed of Abraham, and being begotten of the 
 Father, he partook of his likeness. Men beheld his glory 
 in human form, and Paul says that his glory was the 
 glory of the Father. 
 
 It appears from the conduct of some of his disciples, 
 that they, like sectarian churches now, were tinctured 
 with the idea that Christ, after his death and resurrec- 
 tion, was purely and exclusively a Spirit ; but he tells 
 them to handle him and see that " a Spirit hath not flesh 
 and bones as ye see me have" And he ate and drank with 
 them as aforetime with his resurrected body, and after- 
 wards ascended up from their midst with the same blood- 
 less body into heaven ; and in like manner will he come 
 again. 
 
 Thus, sir, the notion of a God that is exclusively 
 frjiirit without bodily form, was banished from the minds 
 of the disciples that saw the bodily image of the Father 
 in the person of the Son after his resurrection. From 
 heaven he will come again in like manner, and every eye 
 shall see him, and they that have pierced him. But the 
 popular- God of modern times, that has no body or parts, 
 cannot be seen. But, sir, this popular God that has 
 sprung into fashion, since the age of revelation, has no 
 resemblance to Jesus Christ, who has both body and 
 parts, and is the exact image of his Father. Jesus Christ 
 declared that he could exercise all power in heaven and 
 earth while he was in the body. His Father could do the 
 same, because they were alike. It required no extraordinary 
 condensation of the infinity of Jesus in order to reveal him- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 89 
 
 self to men, or in order that men should behold his glory. 
 
 Bat we have other proofs that the person of God the 
 Father is like the bodily form of Christ's resurrected per- 
 son. God has declared that man is in his image. Man 
 was created in the image of God, and in the likeness of 
 God ; and the bodies of holy men are destined to be like 
 unto Christ's own most glorious body ; that is as much as 
 "to say that they are like the body of Christ in the heaven- 
 ly state. 
 
 If the foregoing, and many other similar passages of 
 scripture, do not go to show that the Supreme Being 
 bears a personal appearance like unto the person of his 
 Son, and consequently like unto any other resurrected 
 body of a righteous man, then we are in a labyrinth of 
 -doubt how to interpret the most plain and unequivocal 
 language. If the language of scripture does not bear me 
 out in the conclusion that man is in the form of God, 
 then there is no infallible way-marks or criteria by which 
 I can safely interpret scriptures. And the votaries of 
 Vishnoo have as good scriptural reason to believe in their 
 theory cf deific annihilation, as others have to believe in 
 a God without body, or parts, or passions. 
 
 The scriptures plainly deny both theories, as they do 
 that God is a person some millions of miles in the height 
 of his stature. Common sense cannot grasp the idea 
 of any being or thing whatever, that is without body or 
 parts. Even the most subtle and refined spirit conceiv- 
 able, is a material existence as far removed from imma- 
 teriality as the east is from the west. 
 
 Now, sir, suffer me to entreat you to abandon all such 
 urucle theories concerning God, which are as baseless and 
 unscriptural as the most extravagant vagaries of the 
 heathen, and confine your faith to the simple, obvious tes- 
 
90 LETTERS BY 
 
 timony of Jesus and the prophets. And remember that 
 this is not a subject of little importance ; for it is written, 
 that, to know God and Jesus Christ is eternal life. No man 
 can understand the import of eternal life, nor how it is 
 secured to believers, that does not knoiv God and Jesus 
 -Christ. In God and Christ is eternal life. This life is 
 not barely the perpetuity of existence, for even the wick- 
 ed exist for ever, but it is called in scripture the "power 
 of endless life." This poicer of multiplying or creating 
 life emanated in that Melchizedek priesthood of which 
 Jesus is the head and High Priest. This is the gift of 
 God to men who keep his commandments, and the great- 
 est of all gifts. Unsearchable riches accompany this gift. 
 When God created man, he created him in his own image 
 (male and female), in order that he too might have the 
 power of multiplying life after the order of Melchizedek, 
 through obedience. 
 
 Now, sir, should it not be a matter of delight to you, 
 that man is created in the image of God, and crowned 
 with glory and honor through faith in Christ 1 Will not 
 Peter and his fellow-disciples rejoice to recognize that same 
 Jesus who ascended to heaven with a body like their own, 
 and if Jesus bears the image of the Father, they will be 
 equally familiar with the Highest. What is there, sir, 
 that contributes more to the glory of God than his creative 
 power, by which he brings myriads of living intelligences 
 into being,, through whom a chaotic universe is organized 
 into works of beauty, taste, grandeur, and glory ? All 
 these creations are for the righteous pleasure of Him who 
 created them. 
 
 We all are the offspring of God, and the loyal off- 
 spring of God are the greatest delight and concern of 
 God. For them he is ever ready to make the greatest 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 91 
 
 sacrifice possible. Not only is filial reverence displayed 
 from them to Him, the fountain of life, but by them is 
 shown forth the manifold wisdom and power of God. 
 And when men, by humble obedience, become worthy of 
 eternal life, the Almighty bestows upon them the like 
 precious creative gift. But this gift of life is in his Son, 
 and He never bestows it upon unworthy subjects. Thus 
 by the law of adoption men become the sons and daugh- 
 ters of the Almighty, and receive the priestly "power of 
 endless life" which is after the order of the Son of God. 
 Hence the marvellous language of scripture, " I said ye 
 are God's to whom the word of God came." Jesus virtu- 
 ally said, on one occasion, " If holy men are the sons of 
 God, and consequently heirs to His throne, privileges, and 
 glory, then marvel not that I (Jesus) should claim to be 
 a God or the Son of God ! " For Paul says, " there he in 
 heaven Gods many, and Lords many, yet to us there is but, one 
 God. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge.' 11 
 
 In conclusion, I will drop a passing remark or two- 
 concerning the abode or dwelling place of God, with a 
 brief hint of his moral attributes. As Jesus is our light 
 and example, we can learn of the Father's abode from his 
 Son. The Son ascended up into heaven and to his God 
 and our God. The scriptures abundantly declare that a 
 place called heaven is the peculiar dwelling place of the 
 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if heaven 
 is not a literal bona fide place, but only an imaginary phan- 
 tom, then it follows that Jesus went to no place, but con- 
 tinued to ascend up, till, in his glorious flight, He reached 
 shall I call it Nichban an imaginary phantom or 
 annihilation ! 
 
 Be not displeased, dear sir, I am not trifling with 
 your religion, but am bound by truth and the love of God, 
 
92 LETTERS BY 
 
 to unfold its naked absurdity, in order that you, my be- 
 loved friend, and all good men may recoil from such gross 
 Gentile vagaries, and exclaim, in the language of scrip- 
 ture, " Our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things 
 wherein there is no profit. 11 If you will read carefully the 
 scripture accounts of the visions of holy men. that have 
 been permitted to look in upon the heavenly residence of 
 God, where Jesus and all the resurrected bodies of the 
 righteous abide, and eat and drink, you will be constrain- 
 ed to acknowledge every appearance of a splendid local 
 abode. Mansions, streets, rivers, trees, precious metals, 
 thrones, persons, apparel, animals, ministering person- 
 ages in all the courtly livery of unspeakable celestial 
 glory ! The heaven of all the holy prophets ! 
 
 God's holy dwelling place, is literal, local, real, and, 
 to its occupants, it is visible and tangible. It is by no 
 means a matterless, passionless, mystical region of ecstatic 
 and endless songs from the lips of immaterial spirits, 
 offered in praise to some Great Spirit, equally passionless 
 and immaterially chaotic, spreading infinitely through all 
 space without centre or circumference. If such is the 
 God that men expect to adore in heaven, mankind would 
 present but a faint image of him, yea, even Jesus, who 
 partook of man's likness, could not have been the bright- 
 ness of the Father's glory, and express image of his per- 
 son. He declares that He has given us an image and 
 likeness of himself in the person of man. But who would 
 ever recognize their Father and Jesus in the person of a 
 boundless, centreless being, of no body or parts, infinite- 
 ly expanded. 
 
 But it is sometimes urged that man only resembles 
 God in his moral attributes. Morally, say the divine and 
 doctor, man bears the image of God. Aye, indeed ! The 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 93 
 
 absurdity of such a supposition is still greater. By moral, 
 I must then understand that the resemblance between 
 God and man, consists in their being of like social, civil, 
 and religious temperament and affection. Other things 
 being equal, a holy man, as Adam originally was, would 
 cherish the same propensities with God have a similar 
 sense of justice and truth according to the measure of 
 knowledge belonging to each. But the absurdity and 
 query are here : an immaterial, infinitely expanded God, 
 without physical form and locality, is as unlike to man as 
 light to darkness, or as the most diverse animals can be 
 supposed to be, and cannot in the nature of things have 
 those sympathies and moral sensibilities that man has. 
 Material sensibilities must differ from those which are 
 immaterial, as much as the elements of land and water 
 differ. 
 
 My sheet being full, allow me to subscribe myself 
 Your friend and servant, 
 
 ORSON SPENCEE. 
 
94 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 THE PRIESTHOOD. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, September 30th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir In close connection with an 
 account of the character of God, I will proceed to give 
 you a brief and succinct description of THE PRIESTHOOD. 
 It is feared, however, that the present subject will not be 
 more congenial to your views than the foregoing. Still 
 it shall be treated according to the spirit of the scriptures 
 of the Old and New Testaments, which you ardently pro- 
 fess to believe. 
 
 You will admit that God is the righteous Euler over 
 all the moral and intelligent creatures of the universe. 
 His government is both temporal and spiritual. Not even 
 a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. He 
 clothes the lilies of the field ; much more doth He watch 
 over all the varied interests of intelligent beings both in 
 heaven and upon earth. 
 
 I shall then define priesthood to be that order of 
 authoritative intelligences by which God regulates, con- 
 trols, enlightens, blesses or curses, saves or condemns all 
 beings. To it, under God, all things are subservient in 
 righteousness, whether in heaven, earth, or hell. God the 
 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is at the head of all 
 genuine priesthood. But as it is His will that all men 
 should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father, 
 Jesus now stands accredited as the Apostle and High 
 Priest of our profession. Subordinate priests in the same 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 95 
 
 .apostolic order of the Son of God, are such as he has put 
 in his church. These are called apostles, prophets, evan- 
 gelists, teachers, etc. 
 
 Now, sir, by means of this order, extending from 
 Jesus the High Priest, to the lowest grade of priesthood 
 in conjunction with the Holy Ghost, God teaches and 
 governs all things. Out of the line of this order, there 
 is no power whatever that is acknowledged and approved 
 of God. Magistrates, rulers, kings, potentates and prin- 
 cipalities, if not legitimately ordained and clothed with 
 the authority of this priestly order of the Son of God, are 
 usurpers, and not of God for the scriptures declare that 
 there is no power that is not of God. Even the angelic 
 order is in the line of subordination to Jesus Christ, and 
 in the same chain of priesthood with apostles and pro- 
 phets upon the earth. 
 
 The priesthood exhibits a regular gradation of know- 
 ledge and authority from Jesus the great High Priest in 
 heaven, to the lowest description of ordination in the 
 church below. Jesus said that "all power was given 
 him in heaven and upon earth." But how did he propose 
 to exercise all that power which was given him both 
 among the nations of the earth and in heaven ? My 
 answer is, that he proposed to do it through a delegation 
 of power to the different orders of his priesthood. We 
 are told distinctly what the priesthood consists of, which 
 is established on the earth, viz., apostles, prophets, evange- 
 lists, etc. The heavenly order minister to the authorities 
 of the earthly order. The ruling object to be accomplish- 
 ed by the latter is, the work of the ministry, the perfect- 
 ing of the Saints, the edifying of the body of Christ. 
 
 The first object of this priestly order is to teach all 
 nations to become loyal and good citizens of the kingdom 
 
96 LETTERS BY 
 
 of God, observing all the commandments of God. One 
 universal commandment of God is, for all men everywhere 
 to repent and be baptized, and keep all other laws of God, 
 as they shall be dispensed from the great High Priest 
 through the delegated authorities. Now if all men do- 
 not obey these commands, they are liable to be dealt 
 with as transgressors, and punished as evil doers. The 
 command to obey is imperative upon all men. Hence 
 whatever orders of civil government, or order of domes- 
 tic compact, or order of business transaction, or order 
 of religious worship, or rule of commercial transaction 
 may contravene the established order of priesthood, the 
 same must bow to the requisition of the inspired priest- 
 hood of God ; and God acknowledges no other power 
 with approbation. 
 
 Now, dear sir, it is this imperative attitude of au- 
 thority and power, which the Almighty boldly claims, 
 and fearlessly attempts to exercise, through a chosen 
 priesthood over all mankind, Jews and Gentiles, that 
 greatly displeases the rebellious portion of our race. 
 They cannot bear that this " man should reign over 
 them." False notions of independence and liberty rise 
 against an order of delegated authorities claiming inspira- 
 tion and officiality from God. The rebellious profess that 
 they are ready to obey the Almighty God, but as for 
 these men claiming priesthood, " we will not have them- 
 to reign over us." 
 
 The abuses practised by an apostate and uncalled 
 priesthood for the last seventeen hundred years, have 
 wrought an honest but wofully misguided prejudice 
 against the true priesthood ; and a large portion of man- 
 kind demand also, that God shall communicate with 
 themselves directly, without the intervention of agencies- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 97 
 
 chosen from mere men like themselves. And this capti- 
 ous spirit of dictation, as to the manner in which God 
 shall teach and govern them, has been fostered in their 
 minds by the erroneous notion that God is such a centre- 
 less, boundless spirit of ubiquity, that he can teach and 
 govern all worlds without the aid of other agencies. We 
 might as well suppose that he can see without eyes, or 
 hear without ears. But God's being like man, though 
 infinitely exalted above him, and unspeakably perfected 
 in every faculty and power, puts to shame these dark va- 
 garies about the inutility of delegated powers. 
 
 During the whole period of the world, God has ever 
 and invariably attempted to teach and govern mankind 
 by means of an established priesthood consisting of men ; 
 and this priesthood has been as invariably resisted from 
 the days of righteous Abel till now. By this priesthood, 
 it is the design of God to establish a Divine government 
 upon the earth, even as it is established in the heavens. 
 All other forms of government have proved a complete 
 failure in every nation and period, in which the experi- 
 ment has been attempted. 
 
 But the most humiliating feature in the whole his- 
 tory of governments is, that many have sought to ape the 
 Divine government with an uninspired priesthood. They 
 have thereby made every species of religious government 
 a stink and confusion in all the earth. Their uninspired 
 systems have been like a fair woman without discretion, 
 or like jewels in a swine's snout. Sometimes they have 
 united church and state, and swayed a sceptre of oppres- 
 sion ; at other times they have been passive and non-re- 
 sistant, even to the utter extinction of thousands whose 
 defenceless blood has crimsoned the earth. But the time 
 for experimenting upon false forms of government, civil 
 
98 LETTERS BY 
 
 or religious, has nearly gone by, never to return, " save 
 for a little season." 
 
 A priesthood chosen not of men, but chosen first of 
 God, and inspired with his wisdom, truth, and power, is 
 now called and ordained to teach all nations, and fill the 
 earth with the knowledge of God. By means of this order, 
 and this order alone, the kingdoms of this world, whether 
 temporal or spiritual, pagan or Christian, are all to be 
 merged in one universal kingdom. And this will be the 
 best and greatest kingdom ever known this side of heaven. 
 Its constitution, laws, and method of administration will 
 be after the model of the heavenly order. It will embrace 
 politics, arts, war, merchandise, science, and religion 
 things temporal and things spiritual. And the energy 
 and wisdom of Omnipotence will, like the little leaven in 
 meal, increase and magnify in the priesthood, till the 
 whole world is brought into happy subordination to this 
 plan of government. The nations of the earth will then 
 become one family and brotherhood. Kings and rulers, 
 of all grades, will then be chosen of God through the 
 priesthood, of which priesthood rulers will be a part and 
 portion ; and without being ordained to the priesthood, 
 no man ever can rule in this great kingdom. 
 
 Thus, dear sir, you perceive that I attach great im- 
 portance to the priesthood, and consider it the grand 
 instrumentality of revolutionizing, and saving, and gov- 
 erning the whole earth. But what harm in all this? 
 Do you think there is too much power invested in 
 this chosen order of men ? Why, certainly not ! They 
 have not chosen themselves ; neither have they come to 
 office by the votes of the unthinking mass ; nor by blind 
 hereditary lineage, nor by violence and the usurper's arts. 
 They have been chosen of God, who knew their spirits 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 99 
 
 before the foundation of the world. They are a royal 
 priesthood and holy nation, for God will have no other in 
 his priesthood. Says Jesus to his apostles, " Ye have not 
 chosen me but I have chosen you." Whom God approves 
 men should not refuse. 
 
 Moses was a priest and law-giver, and had to do with 
 the temporal and spiritual affairs of his subjects. Moses 
 sough't to unite church and state, in obedience to the com- 
 mand of God. Joshua was also a priest and ruler, and 
 united both temporal and spiritual interests in his gov- 
 vernment. David was a priest and king, and likewise 
 Solomon, his son. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were as 
 much directed, by God, in their temporal concerns or 
 movements as they were in their spiritual devotions. 
 Jesus Christ came to establish a temporal kingdom 
 fully as much as a spiritual kingdom. Both Jews and 
 Eomans suspected his designs, and charged him with the 
 crime of treason. They said that he called himself a 
 King. Some will say that he explicitly declared that 
 His kingdom was not of this world. True : He did make 
 this declaration ; but what does it prove ? It proves 
 simply, that this world was not the father, author, or 
 origin of His kingdom. His kingdom was from heaven, 
 and He had come here for the very important purpose of 
 establishing it on the earth. He called it kingdom of 
 heaven, in distinction from kingdoms that were of earth- 
 ly origin. 
 
 It is strange, indeed, that the sectarian clergy should 
 borrow the idea that His kingdom was not a temporal 
 kingdom as well as spiritual. It was the prayer of His 
 heart, and the prayer that He taught His disciples, that 
 God would establish His kingdom on earth, and cause his 
 will to be done here as it is done in heaven. Consequent- 
 
100 LETTERS BY 
 
 ly, he organized the kingdom here after the pattern of 
 heaven, with all proper officers, and laws suited to every 
 temporal and spiritual occasion, and then gave command- 
 ment that all nations should yield allegiance to the laws 
 and authorities established, and also submit themselves 
 to the ordinances of His Kingdom. And being in posses- 
 sion of living teachers, even the word of inspired men, 
 they (all mankind, if they would obey) would be thorough- 
 ly furnished to "every good word and work. 11 In other 
 words, they would know how to act in every calling and 
 sphere of business, whether temporal or spiritual. 
 
 Jesus Christ did not design that his servants should 
 fight one another, or fight and conquer mankind into 
 allegiance to Him. The world would act on these prin- 
 ciples through disobedience, but his disciples would not, 
 because they were shown a better way to universal 
 dominion and government. 
 
 The priesthood, being an office of great responsibil- 
 ity, is guarded rigidly against intruders. Man may law- 
 fully desire this office, but he has no right to take it of 
 himself, but he must first be called and appointed to it as 
 Aaron was, by God, through a prophetic voice. Neither 
 is man required to study, and artificially qualify himself 
 for receiving it. God takes men as they are, and with 
 the gift of priestly office He bestows the requisite quali- 
 fications. The ordination of heaven put upon the head 
 of any man, however ignorant, is a voucher for requisite 
 qualification and blessing. Every man is thereby thorough- 
 ly furnished for the discharge of all the duties of his 
 respective calling. They are not all apostles, however, 
 neither are all prophets or pastors. But every one has 
 his calling of God, and in the legitimate sphere of that 
 calling he acts as God, and in the authority of God. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 101 
 
 Some have authority only to baptize unto repent- 
 ance for remission of sins, as John the Baptist. Such 
 can confer no more authority than they possess in them- 
 selves. Others have authority to bless, and whom they 
 bless are blessed in very deed. They have similar autho- 
 rity to curse, and whom they curse are cursed in very 
 deed. Jacob blessed his sons, and the heavens sealed 
 and confirmed the same upon their heads. Paul cursed 
 Elymas, the sorcerer, with blindness, and the same curse 
 was sealed and confirmed upon him immediately. Elisha 
 cursed Gehazi, his servant, and leprosy cleaved to him 
 from that time. Elijah shut up the windows of heaven 
 that it rained not for the space of three years and six 
 months, by the same delegated power, and again they 
 were opened at his voice. He was a man of like passions 
 with ourselves. All men are not ordained to this power, 
 and when they are not, they are wholly incapable of 
 exercising it. It is office that gives recognition and 
 legality to a deed of conveyance and ownership. It is 
 divine appointment and official calling that give efficacy 
 to the priesthood. But many generations have contented 
 themselves to preach and support preachers who have no 
 divine appointment. 
 
 The consequence is, that men have been self-ap- 
 pointed to the ministry and spread dissension and con- 
 fusion abroad. The knowledge of the true and living 
 God has gradually receded from the earth, and dark- 
 ness, even gross darkness, covered the people. The ordi- 
 nances that impart healing virtue and the power and 
 light of truth, have either been changed or abolished. 
 The apostolic office has been counted as a thing out of 
 date, and the spiritual gifts have been done away. The 
 religious world has been too much like King Saul. 
 
102 LETTERS BY 
 
 After he had been forsaken of God, and the power and 
 Spirit of his anointing given to David, this unhappy 
 monarch resorted to every miserable device, (even to the 
 aid of witches), in order to obtain knowledge and influ- 
 ence. But the curse of disobedience followed him to 
 the day of his death. 
 
 The religious sects, in like manner, have resorted to 
 seminaries and the polish of schools, also to the theo- 
 logical comments of time-honored fathers, (who were as 
 ignorant as themselves) ever learning, yet never coming 
 to the knowledge of truth. Bibles have been translated 
 again and again ; learned volumes have been written in 
 explanation, and even wars have been instigated by the 
 supposed defenders of the faith, and the earth crimsoned 
 by human gore. All these evils and curses have arisen 
 from a spurious priesthood. 
 
 In view of these things, is it not time, sir, to lefc 
 God resume the reins of government and once more 
 establish a holy priesthood, which shall be after the call- 
 ing of Aaron, and after the order and power of endless 
 life 1 That this may be the unfeigned choice of all who 
 seek after God, is the continued prayer of 
 
 Your old friend and servant, 
 
 ORSON SPENCER. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 103 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 ON GATHERING. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, October 13th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir You have doubtless been 
 ready to ask, time and again, why this GATHERING 
 together of such large bodies of Saints 1 Why can they 
 not stay in their former residences, like other Christians] 
 And may they not do more good to their fellow- men by 
 scattering about amongst the people promiscuously] 
 Why go away off to some distant part of the earth ] Is 
 not the Almighty God to be found as mucli in one place 
 as another] Furthermore, says one, it is exceedingly 
 dangerous to community at large to allow any large body 
 of people, of the same faith and doctrine, to assemble 
 themselves in any one place, their influence being ren- 
 dered formidable by reason of concentration and union. 
 
 My dear sir, have not cogitations like these passed 
 through your mind, and been reiterated in your hearing 
 more than once, concerning Latter-day Saints ] Delu- 
 sion ! delusion ! is reiterated on many sides. What can 
 these Latter-day Saints mean, selling out their posses- 
 sions at so great a sacrifice, and leaving a comfortable 
 and pleasant home for a far distant land, even crossing 
 the wide Atlantic 1 Has there been the like fanaticism 
 since the time of the crusades 1 On the land, hundreds 
 of wagons, yea thousands in all, are seen rolling their 
 whitened canvas over the wide prairies, accompanied 
 by their flocks and herds ; and on the ocean a multitude 
 
104 LETTERS BY 
 
 of ships are wafting the inhabitants of distant islands 
 and continents to the same destination ! 
 
 Now, I propose to meet these inquiries and reflec- 
 tions promptly and fairly. In the first place, if the 
 church is guided by the spirit of revelation, God, the 
 author of all true revelation, knows what is good for his 
 people, and He will not require them to gather without 
 good and sufficient reasons. For the church that is not 
 guided by the spirit of sacred inspiration, is guided by 
 mammon or the devil ; for every church will serve God 
 or mammon. "Well," says one, "I don't believe that 
 God ever did, or ever will, require people to gather 
 together and leave their country and kindred.'' Aye, 
 indeed ; but you believe the Bible, I trust, which in- 
 forms you not only how God lias gathered his people in 
 different periods of the world, but also, that He will 
 gather them together in the dispensation of the fulness 
 of times. 
 
 Do I need to remind you, sir, that God required 
 Abraham to rise up and leave his country and kindred, 
 and go in search of a country that he should afterwards 
 show him 1 He was obedient, and went from one coun- 
 try to another, the Lord being his counsellor and guide. 
 The ancient saints and prophets generally were " stran- 
 gers" in consequence of being called to leave their home 
 and country. Their obedience to such a call, through 
 faith, constituted them heirs of an inheritance. Abra- 
 ham became an heir of the country which he was not 
 permitted to possess in time, but he will hold the same 
 in eternity, with a city built upon it according to the 
 counsel of God. 
 
 In the dispensation given to Moses, he was required 
 to gather the people out of all the land of Egypt, and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 105 
 
 take them to the land of Canaan ; and what was very 
 remarkable, he was required to slay and destroy the in- 
 habitants, in order to make room for the great gathering 
 of the Hebrews. The children of God and the people of 
 this world cannot dwell together ; they are always con- 
 trary one to the other. 
 
 What fellowship hath Christ with Belial, or believers 
 with unbelievers 1 The Egyptians could have no fellow- 
 ship with the Hebrews after they were told that a pro- 
 phet had sprung up among them. The Hebrews told a 
 marvellous tale about the Lord appearing to Moses in 
 the " burning bush." They pretended to have revelation 
 and work miracles as in the early days of Fotiphar and 
 Joseph ; but this pretension to angels, prophets, and 
 miracles, speedily sundered all ties of harmony and 
 fellowship, and it was necessary for the Hebrews to 
 leave the country. God required it of them, and even 
 ordered them into an unpromising wilderness, to be 
 subject to hunger, and thirst, and many hardships. 
 
 The same spirit of opposition to miracles, prophets, 
 and angels exists now ; and the righteous can no more 
 keep the ordinances and commandments of God now, 
 without persecution even to death from the world, than 
 the Hebrews could do it. For the same reason Lot 
 gathered out of Sodom even angels could not stop a 
 night in Sodom without being mobbed ; accordingly 
 the Lord commanded him to gather up so many as 
 would go with him and flee to the mountain. His 
 reason for the gathering in this case was, that He could 
 not properly punish the Sodomites, unless the righteous 
 were gathered out of the city in the first place. Like- 
 wise, when Jerusalem was about to be destroyed, Jesus 
 irstructed his disciples to fiee to the mountain. 
 
10G LETTERS BY 
 
 It was persecution that scattered the primitive 
 Saints abroad in the days of Jesus. Jesus had taught 
 Paul and Peter, that the Saints could not be preserved 
 on the earth, and the kingdom built up, without the 
 Saints were gathered together in one. He told them, 
 absolutely and unequivocally, that he should gather the 
 disciples in the day of restitution. Such was their sense 
 of the immediateness of gathering, and of the second 
 coming of Christ, that they were troubled when the dis- 
 ciples were gathered, lest the day of the Lord was at 
 hand ; but Paul disabused them, and told them that 
 there must be a "falling away" before the notable day 
 of the Lord should come. 
 
 Paul informed his brethren, that in the dispensation 
 of the fulness of times, God would gather together in 
 one, all things both in heaven and upon earth and under 
 the earth. John speaks of the same, probably as the day 
 of the great battle of God Almighty. Jesus signified 
 that he would gather his people, the elect, even if he had 
 to send his angels to the four corners of the earth to 
 bring them, after the manner in which he sent to Sodom 
 to bring Lot out of it to a place of safety. He declared 
 he would gather the wheat into the garner, and the tares 
 into bundles to be burned. The prophets, too, long 
 before the meridian of time, saw with enrapturing vision, 
 the sons coming from afar, and the daughters from the 
 ends of the earth. 
 
 Isaiah says, " The Gentiles shall come to thy light, 
 and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine 
 eyes round about, and see, all they gather themselves 
 together, they come to thee ; thy sons shall come from 
 far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then 
 shalt thou see and flow together, and thine heart shall 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 107 
 
 fear and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea 
 shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles 
 shall come unto thee. Who are these that fly as a cloud, 
 and as the doves to their windows ? Surely the isles shall 
 wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy 
 sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto 
 the name * of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of 
 Israel. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy 
 walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee, that men 
 may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles. And he> 
 shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble 
 the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed 
 of Judah from the corners of the earth." 
 
 The gathering of Saints to one place is necessary in 
 order to preserve their genealogies, and to secure to them 
 those inheritances, the title to which must be substanti- 
 ated by legitimate records, kept in the archives of the 
 house of God. Whenever God has had a people, he has- 
 been careful to instruct them to keep an accurate record 
 of marriages and the issues of marriage ; from Adam to 
 Noah, and from Noah to Abraham, and thence to David 
 down to Jesus Christ, the genealogy must necessarily be 
 preserved. Says David, " God setteth people in families 
 as a flock." " He arrange th them in families." But if 
 these families intermarry with those who do not keep the 
 laws of God, nor conform to his ordinances, the records 
 of genealogy are soon obliterated from the knowledge of 
 men, and the proof of a legitimate title to inheritance is 
 thereby extinct ; and unless Saints are gathered out from 
 the midst of unbelievers, they are more liable to inter- 
 marry and become alienated from the ordinances and 
 covenants of the Lord. If Isaac and Ishmael have no 
 records of parentage, how can one claim rights of lineage 
 
108 LETTERS BY 
 
 above another 1 God will assign rewards to men accord- 
 ing to the records of their deserts, and one great pre- 
 requisite to the final restitution of all things, is the revi- 
 ving and establishing of proper records of genealogy, and 
 covenants, and promises, and patriarchal blessings. 
 
 In one instance God had to rescind the marriages of 
 a numerous people, because such marriages, by their issue, 
 would tend to frustrate the grace of God to the righteous, 
 and entail blessings upon a strange people that God de- 
 signed to curse. The ordinances of the church and insti- 
 tutions of God's house cannot be carried into execution 
 in a land belonging to " aliens from the commonwealth 
 of Israel;" because aliens from God will not have the Lord 
 to rule over them. They consider that the laws of God 
 set two against three, and three against two, the father- 
 in-law against the son-in-law, etc. ; and so do they have 
 this effect, and always will have it, until the Saints are 
 separated from their adversaries. Before there can be 
 anything like a true, godlike, peaceful millennium, a sepa- 
 ration must take place between the righteous and disobe- 
 dient ; even as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the 
 goats, even so must God's will be done with friends and 
 foes on earth, like as in heaven. 
 
 Had the Jews received Jesus Christ, he would have 
 set up just such a kingdom on earth as in heaven, and the 
 honest from all nations would have been gathered to his 
 standard. But seeing they would pierce the Shepherd, 
 and scatter the sheep through a long cloudy day, as it had 
 been prophesied of him and his followers ; he, neverthe- 
 less, assured his disciples that his people should be gather- 
 ed, in the latter days, as wheat into the garner. John 
 says to the Saints in the last days, that are scattered 
 amoncr the confused nations of the whole earth " Come 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 109 
 
 out of her, my people, and be not partakers of her sins, that ye 
 receive not of her plagues." Here the reason why Saints- 
 should come out of other nations is distinctly avowed 
 "to escape her plagues." The same reason that was 
 assigned why Lot should go out of Sodom. 
 
 The idea prevalent that God would inflict all his 
 judgments in one great, tremendous DAY, is as absurd 
 as the notion is universal. The famine and dearth were 
 at the command of Elijah. The earthquake that swal- 
 lowed up Dathan and the company of Abiram, was at the 
 command of Moses. Moses also stretched out his hand 
 as a signal to the accumulated seas to overwhelm the 
 Egyptians, and they obeyed his mandate. But I will not 
 multiply proofs. God will pour out his vials of wrath, 
 and distress the nations till they will learn and practise 
 righteousness ; and his people must flee to their appointed 
 hiding place till the indignation is overpast, otherwise- 
 they have no guaranty for their safety. The Hebrews 
 were obliged to mark their houses, lest the destroying 
 angel should slay both them and the Egyptians. The 
 Lord God has decreed a consumption upon the whole 
 earth, therefore let the righteous flee to the strongholds 
 of Zion, that are preparing in that land that was pro- 
 mised to the Patriarch Joseph, while it is an accepted 
 time, and the evil days come not. 
 
 Jesus cautioned Jerusalem Saints to beware of imi- 
 tating the silly and dilatory part of Lot's wife. The 
 righteous are no more secure from approaching judgments 
 than the wicked, except they obey the commands of God. 
 Even a prophet was once slain by a lion, because he dared 
 to disobey the Lord. No man should neglect any means 
 by which he can be removed, and help to remove others, 
 from those nations that are as inevitably doomed to 
 
110 LETTERS BY 
 
 destruction for rebellion, as the Canaanites of former times. 
 
 Sir, we feel the very same extraordinary interest in 
 depositing our very bones in the land of Zion, that the 
 patriarchs formerly felt when they commanded that their 
 bones should be removed to the country and burying- 
 place which God had designated. If there is enthusiasm 
 in this sentiment, sir, it is the enthusiasm of patriarchs 
 and prophets that kept the divine mandates, and knew 
 well the order of the resurrection, and the necessity of 
 having their bones laid on the identical land that should 
 afterwards be their possession and inheritance for ever 
 and ever. Did not the Lord apportion off the land of 
 Canaan to the twelve tribes to be their inheritance for 
 ever. And shall not the one hundred and forty-four 
 thousand in the latter days be equally tenacious to possess 
 the very inheritance that was promised them to be a per- 
 petual possession in time and eternity ] There, their 
 bones, like the precious valley of dry bones, will be the 
 guardian care of angels, and in the resurrection stand up 
 like a consolidated army, while the disobedient and ungod- 
 ly shall be scattered and driven as chaff before the wind. 
 
 The aged and infirm among us, fervently desire to 
 carry their bones, while animated with life, to the land of 
 Zion, as an expression of their faith in the promise of 
 God, that he will resurrect them and plant them in that 
 same l> heavenly" country which they now seek. What 
 Canaan was to ancient Saints and prophets, the land of 
 Joseph will be to the Saints and prophets of the last 
 days, and more abundantly. If men have not the spirit 
 of gathering they are blind and cannot see afar off, and 
 are nigh unto burning. The gathering is one great test 
 of faith, by which you may know who is on the Lord's 
 side. Kindred spirits long to congregate together. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. Ill 
 
 The language of Ruth is expressive of the desires of 
 God's people in all ages. " Thy people are my people, 
 and their God is my God, and where thou goest I will go, 
 and where thou lodgest I will lodge." Her sister Orpah 
 could forego the society of Saints and the ordinances of 
 God, sooner than part with her native country and kin- 
 dred. A portion of Lot's family saw no wisdom in the 
 gathering until it was too late. Sir, the gathering is the 
 great universal national preacher of the last days. It 
 speaks in trumpet tones out of every nation where it has 
 been commenced. As birds retire before a storm, and 
 fowls before the darkness of night, so the multitudes 
 going out by sea and land is a practical warning that can- 
 not be mistaken by those that remain. 
 
 The nations wonder at the spectacle of such multi- 
 tudes going out of their midst under the warning voice of 
 Jehovah, and are ready to cry out, Who are these that fly 
 as clouds and as doves to their windows ? Who are these 
 Latter-day Saints ? What is their doctrine, and whither 
 .are they fleeing ? The sound of the gathering goeth into 
 all the earth. The fear and dread of approaching cala- 
 mities take possession of the nations. The righteous are 
 being withdrawn apart, in order that the Almighty may 
 stretch out his chastening hand, and inflict his sore judg- 
 ment upon rebellious nations. There is no room to mis- 
 take the faith and sincerity of those whose gathering 
 together is without a parallel for magnitude of enterprise. 
 The Israelites performed a journey that might have been 
 compassed in about forty days, but the latter-day gather- 
 ing brings sons and daughters from the ends of the earth. 
 
 The great design of Jesus in bringing the righteous 
 to unity of faith and the knowledge of God, is wonderful- 
 ly facilitated by bringing the righteous together in one 
 
112 LETTERS BY 
 
 place. The ancient Jews were taught of God to build 
 up Jerusalem as a place of gathering ; and those whose 
 circumstances forbade them to locate there, either from 
 political or agricultural interests, were required to visit 
 Jerusalem at least three times a year, where they could 
 interchange hospitalities and friendships, and contract 
 matrimonial alliances, etc. Also, in addition to these 
 facilities of union, their baptisms were to be performed 
 in the national font ; their marriage rites and records of 
 genealogy, were to be performed and deposited in the 
 archives of the great Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. 
 
 In this great city of gathering, their frequent and 
 splendid national festivals were to be held from genera- 
 tion to generation. By these multiplied means, the 
 union of Jews became proverbially strong; and their 
 attachments to their nation and kindred, and national 
 rights and usages, became as enduring as their existence. 
 If, perchance, they should be scattered amongst the 
 remote nations of the earth, still the recollection of their 
 journeyings to Jerusalem in social groups, their splendid 
 festivals at the national capital, their royal affinity with 
 the great and good of God's people, vibrated through 
 their minds with resuscitating power. There it was 
 that the Almighty condescended to reveal his accept- 
 ance of their sacrifices, and bless the people from the 
 greatest to the least, and even speak to the people 
 through their High Priest at least once a year. 
 
 Now, when God shall build up Zion and his Holy 
 House in the tops of the mountains, and all nations 
 flow into it, will he not appear in his glory ? Such a 
 measure of union, and strength of attachment to the 
 Lord and his people, the last days will exhibit as was- 
 never before realized on the earth ; then will Zion rise 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 113 
 
 and shine, her light being come, and the glory of God 
 being risen upon her yea, be an eternal excellency and 
 the praise and joy of the whole earth ! 
 
 Who, sir, can contemplate the glory of Zion, when 
 God shall have gathered his people from the four corners 
 of the earth, and made of them a great nation, an " in- 
 numerable company," and blessed them with his own 
 laws and ordinances, binding them together in a new 
 and everlasting covenant, without the most thrilling 
 emotions of love, gratitude, and joy, in believing! 
 Break out, thou inhabitant of Zion, and sing for the 
 glory that shall shortly be revealed ; when the king- 
 doms of this world shall become the kingdom of Christ, 
 and the stakes thereof shall no more be thrown down 
 for ever ! 
 
 Now, sir, in conclusion, may I not say, with all 
 deference to the misguided teachers of modern Christian- 
 ity, that the Lord is performing a marvellous work and a 
 wonder in the greatest of all gatherings since the founda- 
 tion of the world. He is gathering his righteous hosts 
 from the nations of the earth to one place, and setting 
 his forces in battle array against the powers of darkness, 
 and against all flesh that exalts itself against the know- 
 ledge of God. And by truth and by judgments, he will 
 thoroughly cleanse the earth, and overthrow more wicked- 
 ness in ten years to come, than blind, boasting, self-right- 
 eous modern Christianity can in ten thousand years. 
 
 Please to accept my warmest desires for your present- 
 and everlasting peace and welfare. 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 OESON SPENCER. 
 
 H 
 
114 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 THE LATTER-DAY JUDGMENTS. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, October 23th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir THE LATTER-DAY JUDG- 
 MENTS, the subject of my present letter, deserve a careful 
 consideration among the topics peculiar to Latter-day 
 Saints. 
 
 You must be already aware that it is a part of my 
 faith that God designs to set up his kingdom on the earth, 
 in order that the meek may inherit the earth as their 
 celestial abode ; and as he will not employ his enemies to 
 administer even temporal affairs within the bounds of his 
 kingdom, his kingdom will consequently be a temporal 
 one, and wholly and exclusively conducted by his own 
 loyal subjects, according to his righteous will. He will 
 proceed from conquest to conquest, until all other king- 
 doms are overthrown and merged in one even his own 
 kingdom. 
 
 The means by which he will subdue and overcome 
 the nations of the earth are two, viz., TRUTH and JUDG- 
 MENT. He explicitly declares, that he will lay judgment 
 to the line and righteousness to the plummet. His latter- 
 day proclamation is, "Fear God and give glory to him, 
 for the hour of his judgment is come." The salvation 
 that he offers -is temporal, spiritual and eternal; and the 
 judgments which he will inflict are also similar. As a 
 supreme lawgiver, he claims the submission of all the 
 inhabitants of the earth. ISTor is it necessary that his 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 115 
 
 servants should be for ever preaching the gospel on the 
 earth, in order to effect a universal reconciliation of all 
 men to their God. All men will not obey the truth, 
 therefore what the truth will not save through faith, 
 God's judgments will destroy through their unbelief. 
 And these judgments will be executed speedily, even as 
 in the days of Noah and Lot. God formerly gave the 
 inhabitants timely warning before the deluge came, and 
 before the fire descended from heaven. 
 
 The gospel must first be preached, and then the 
 judgments will follow in quick succession. Even as a 
 chalk-line makes an impression for the saw and the chisel, 
 so God's judgments will make an impression, sensible and 
 summary. The day of vengeance has long been in his 
 heart. A day when his jealousy and wrath shall burn 
 like fire, even to the lowest hell. The wicked and dia- 
 bolical spirits will be pursued, even to their dens of dark- 
 ness, and there scourged and bound. The righteous 
 veterans that have long since fought and bled, in order to 
 establish a reign of righteousness and truth on the earth, 
 and prayed with uplifted hands for this day of truth and 
 judgment, their language is, " How long, Lord, wilt 
 thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the 
 earth V But God, who is long-suffering not willing 
 that any should perish, but rather that they should repent 
 and be saved has nevertheless reserved the worst spirits 
 to the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous 
 judgment of God. That day is even now dawned. God 
 has commenced to reveal his wrath against all them that 
 obey not the gospel. It is a day of revelation and prophecy. 
 
 The righteous are timely advised to gather out and 
 separate themselves from those that will not obey the 
 .gospel. They are not disobedient to the great revelation 
 
116 LETTERS BY 
 
 of mercy to them that obey, and of wrath to them that 
 are contentious and obey not the truth. The winds and 
 waves are wafting thousands to the land of refuge. The 
 prairies and wilderness reverberate with the songs of the 
 outcast but chosen and elect ones of God. A more intel- 
 ligent, enterprising, and bold race of Saints, perhaps, has 
 never been summoned to the help of the Lord against 
 the mighty, since the foundation of the world. Their 
 fortitude, patience, and invincibility are indelibly written 
 in their bloodstained pathway through Missouri and Illi- 
 nois. The old arts of tormenting the sick by burning 
 their houses, and of famishing the robust by plundering 
 their crops, and forcing the sale of property by threats of 
 murder and arson, are fruitless. Prison walls and tragic 
 scenes of assassination and expatriation have spent their 
 fury to no purpose. The daring sons of Pharaoh, Cain, 
 and Judas are baffled and confounded at such godlike 
 firmness. Occasionally a priest, goaded on by the loss of 
 his flock, has dared to act as champion, and throw the 
 gauntlet for public discussion, but the inevitable discom- 
 fiture that has followed, has taught him the superior 
 policy of evading discussion. But, dear sir, no man can 
 long be a neutral in this warfare. He must choose his 
 side. If truth fails to bring down high looks, judgments 
 will not fail. Those judgments which began at the house 
 of God, in Kirtland, Independence, and Nauvoo, have 
 been seriously felt by the Saints of God. But if the 
 righteous scarcely escape, where shall the sinner and 
 ungodly appear? The latter-day judgments that shall 
 befall their enemies will be far more insupportable and 
 abiding. 
 
 There was no part of the United States ignorant of 
 the murderous doings of their countrymen towards the. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 117 
 
 Latter-day Saints. The news spread over the continent, 
 -and reached even the remote islands of the Pacific with 
 almost telegraphic speed. Nobody that loved justice, or 
 felt the bowels of humanity, had the least need to be 
 ignorant of the distress, and famine, and sickness, and 
 nakedness that were inflicted on the innocent worshippers 
 of the only true God by their countrymen. Presidents 
 and governors, judges and lawyers, priests, physicians, 
 and common people, all were made acquainted with the 
 diabolical outrages. They were not only warned but 
 forewarned. What has been the consequence ? For the 
 last sixteen years the fluctuations of business have been 
 like the troubled ocean. Panic and depression have been 
 -as successive as light and darkness, with the exception of 
 incalculable irregularity and confusion. In the place of 
 wealth there has followed bankruptcy ; for peace, national 
 war ; and for the blood of one murdered servant of God, 
 there have been tens, and ev^en hundreds, laid weltering 
 in their gore. Some of the best blood of the nation (so 
 accounted) has been demanded by Him that said, " Touch 
 not my prophets and do my anointed no harm." The 
 word of the Lord to all Israel, on the eve of the Carthage 
 tragedy, was, if they, (the enemy) begin to shed blood, 
 the sword shall waste the blood of the nation. And how 
 .-are the sons of the mighty fallen ] What wailing and 
 lamentation are heard from high places over distinguished 
 slaughtered Americans ! And the end is not yet. 
 
 But what shall I say of time-honored orthodoxy? 
 Poor creature ! Her glory is being fast turned into shame. 
 Many of her lovers are forsaking her, and the balance 
 are too sleepy to wake up. They refuse to be fascinated, 
 notwithstanding all her meretricious arts. Education, 
 tracts, missions, and moral reform, are a vain thing for 
 
118 LETTERS BY 
 
 strength. The Lord is a jealous God, and will not give- 
 His glory to another gospel ; but he will cnrse all the sys- 
 tems of men that are built upon human precepts merely, 
 without the authority of immediate revelation. The 
 various systems of modern Christianity are cursed already, 
 wherever the true gospel is proclaimed. That sincerity, 
 fidelity, and zeal, which your churches and your preach- 
 ers once had, is taken away from them ; and your preach- 
 ers have no longer power to preach with effect. The 
 reason and cause of all this is, the true light has come ; 
 consequently, they have no longer any apology for uphold- 
 ing systems of error and false religions. The Spirit of 
 God will be withdrawn from your ministry and your 
 churches, just in proportion as the true light shines and 
 the true gospel is rejected. 
 
 When the devout Jews rejected the novel doctrines 
 of Jesus and his apostles, the virtues which they previous- 
 ly possessed either withered up or were withdrawn from 
 them, and communicated to infidels or Gentiles. So it is 
 now. While the devout priests and churches reject the 
 gospel ministered by an angel to Joseph, and confirmed 
 by the signs following, their former virtuous principles 
 forsake them. They become filled with the spirit of 
 envy, hatred, and malice towards the Saints. They retail 
 groundless slanders, and. often are foremost in instigating 
 mobs, refusing common civilities and hospitality to the 
 servants of the Most High ; and so sanguine is their 
 opposition, that they even believe it would be well for the* 
 cause of religion, if the Saints were exterminated and 
 put to death. So believed the devout Jews, who perse, 
 cuted the prophets and slew the Holy and Just One. 
 Thus, by step after step, the professedly pious are brought 
 to become accessory to blood-guiltiness, and bring upon 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 119 
 
 themselves all the blood that has been shed from the days 
 of righteous Abel till now. 
 
 Oh ! my much-loved friend, will you not shudder at 
 the sight of such a catastrophe before the modern 
 churches 1 What an awful curse ! Given up by God to 
 believe Saints to be sinners, and then to war against them 
 even to blood-guiltiness ! Strange and deplorable infatua- 
 tion ! One would think that the snares and pitfalls into 
 which God precipitated ancient persecutors, would prove 
 an effectual warning to modern persecutors to beware how 
 they plunged themselves into a worse destruction ! Oh, 
 how great the severity of God towards them that strive 
 with their Maker, and spurn the faith once delivered to 
 the Saints as no longer needed ! The very religion of 
 modern Christianity is now about as great a curse as can 
 be inflicted upon its possessors, without doing violence to 
 their power of agency. It is the prolific cause of blind- 
 ness and hardness of heart. A false religion is worse 
 than no religion, because it is a lure and a lullaby, that 
 excludes true religion from taking effect. 
 
 Modern religion rejects immediate revelation ; con- 
 sequently, all that knowledge that flows from visions and 
 dreams, and the ministry of angels, and the prophetic 
 inspiration of the Holy Ghost. A greater curse cannot 
 be well conceived. There never was a people that lived 
 a hundred years, or even fifty years, without immediate 
 revelation from God, but they fell into gross darkness and 
 contention, and those hurtful lusts that drown men's souls 
 in perdition. There never was a people that survived 
 the gift and blessing of immediate revelation any consid- 
 erable length of time, except they fell into idolatry and 
 worshipped strange gods ; and their sorrows shall be 
 multiplied that hasten after strange gods. All Israel fell 
 
120 LETTERS BY 
 
 ' into the worship of Baal, and hundreds of them became 
 prophets to Baal. They, indeed, were the descendants of 
 the mightiest Saints that ever lived, such as Abraham, 
 Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, etc. They had in their pos- 
 session the writings and traditions of their fathers, but 
 still they were cursed because they rejected the know- 
 ledge of God through immediate revelation. They be- 
 came like blind men groping in the dark. They taught 
 their children to rebel against prophets and miraculous 
 gifts. 
 
 Modern Christians, with the Bible in their hands, 
 are in as gross darkness as the worshippers of Baal. The 
 
 ' god they worship is no more like the person of Christ, or 
 the person of man, than Baal was. Their order of church 
 authorities and church gifts, and ordinances of healing 
 
 1 and anointing, are probably about as remote from the 
 apostolic pattern, as the worship of Mahomet or Vishnu 
 is. Do not believe, sir, for a moment, that I intend, by 
 this humiliating remark, any disrepect to the supporters 
 of modern Christianity. No : God forbid. As good a 
 man as Paul the apostle, was once as vehemently opposed 
 to immediate revelation and spiritual gifts as you are, or 
 any other abettors of modern Christianity ; but, by time- 
 ly repentance, he escaped that awful curse of aversion to 
 the only means of knowing the only true and living God. 
 But multitudes of his countrymen still adhered to the 
 belief that the gift of revelation had ceased, and prophets 
 and miracles were no longer necessary. And you firmly 
 believe that the curse indescribable has followed them to 
 this day. Oh ! how astonishing it is that you, sir, and 
 your highminded associates in modern Christendom, 
 should plunge into the same doleful abyss reject the 
 same doctrines and ordinances, as no longer necessary, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 121 
 
 and entail the same curse upon your children for genera- 
 tions to come ! In this you are fighting against Jehovah. 
 Every year and every day while you persist, the darkness 
 of your minds will become more gross, and you will bring 
 the worst passions into the field of conflict against the 
 Saints. God will withdraw his Spirit from you, and you 
 will ultimately be forced, through weakness and multiplied 
 divisions and contentions, to unite the scattered fragments 
 of sectarianism on some common platform of anti-scriptu- 
 ral invention. On this platform, and with this consolida- 
 ted power of anti-Christ, the great battle is destined to 
 be fought that shall silence the spirit of anti-revelation 
 for a thousand years ! 
 
 Alas ! the deplorable destiny of those that war 
 against prophets and apostles, and the spirit and power 
 of primitive godliness ! Such, in all former ages of the 
 "world, have been cursed with wars, conflagrations, famine, 
 pestilence, and the vagaries of an oppressive superstition. 
 But, in the latter-days, God has decreed a consumption 
 upon the whole earth. The religion that is not based on 
 the immediate interposition of the wisdom and power of 
 God, from day to day, and time to time, will not, cannot, 
 and shall not stand, for the mouth of the Lord hath 
 spoken it, and let all the inhabitants of the earth hear it. 
 Yea, sir, such religions shall be as the chaff which the 
 wind drive th away, even as the small dust of the thresh- 
 ing-floor. God despises the religion that professes to 
 flourish without the aid of constant revelation from the 
 heavens ; and he will shoot out the hot arrows of his 
 wrath against it, until there is not a vestige or semblance 
 of it left on the face of the whole earth. The potsherds 
 may strive with the potsherds of the earth, but woe unto 
 him that striveth with his Maker ! 
 
122 LETTERS BY 
 
 Alas the day, when God shall withdraw his spirit 
 from all flesh ! Then confidence between man and his 
 fellow, will give place to distrust and jealousy, evil sur- 
 mising, hatred, robbery and blood-guiltiness will spread 
 their direful influence through all communities ! The 
 cords of domestic union will be severed ! The weak 
 will be compelled to bow to the yoke of the strong 
 might will become the strongest pretext for the right ! 
 The carcasses of the poor and infirm will bleach uncovered 
 upon the earth ! The stench of putrefaction will impreg- 
 nate the atmosphere with poisonous pestilence ; insects 
 and noisome creatures will breed innumerably to the an- 
 noyance of man ! "The sword shall devour from one 
 end of the earth to the other the earth shall be soaked 
 in blood," the rivers shall become bloody, and the foun- 
 tains of water shall no longer be pure. Many that lie 
 down at night shall not awake in the morning. The fruit- 
 ful field shall become sterile and barren, because no man 
 knoweth for whom his fruits are growing. " The earth 
 becometh empty and desolate." The master and servant 
 are brought to a level. The priest is as void of consolation 
 as the people. Paleness and fear are depicted on every 
 human face. Traffic in merchandise, as a business, is 
 wholly abandoned. Men cease to sow and to plow, in 
 hope. Never before did the Almighty commence such an 
 awful warfare against the inhabitants of the earth ; never 
 before was there witnessed such a succession of plagues 
 and dire calamities amongst men ! 
 
 After peace is taken from the earth, an agent, by the 
 
 name of Death (probably invisible except to spirits, and 
 
 such as have the spirit of revelation), will go forth on the 
 
 face of the earth and destroy one-fourth part of mankind. 
 
 In the midst of this destruction of one-fourth of man- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 123 
 
 kind, martyred Saints will ask the Lord to hasten the 
 work of human destruction. An earthquake, and the 
 lapse of stars from heaven, then begin to destroy the frail 
 tenure of human hope ; and even the great men, and 
 mighty and chief captains become desperate, like the most 
 effeminate and pusillanimous. Every successive plague is- 
 increasingly awful and unendurable. The plagues that 
 fell upon Egypt will sink into insignificance and fade out 
 of memory before the plagues which were shown to the 
 revelator John, and which shall usher in the final con- 
 summation of the " mystery of God." The opening of 
 the " bottomless pit " is followed with three woes which 
 are inflicted upon men, and which are suited to the incor- 
 rigible condition of such obdurate spirits as no inferior 
 engines of torment and destruction could subdue. But 
 neither the torment inflicted by the sting ;of the locusts, 
 like unto scorpions ; nor that which is inflicted by the 
 horses of that great army of two millions, whose mouths 
 emit fire, smoke, and brimstone, and whose tails, being 
 like serpents having heads,' destroy both before and be- 
 hind wherever they go"; yet none of these things will lead 
 these latter-day enemies to newrevelations,unto repentance. 
 
 Now, sir, in conclusion, I have endeavored, briefly, 
 to direct your mind to the vortex of indescribable calami- 
 ties into which the sentiments of modern Christianity are 
 calculated to precipitate all who know not God (by im- 
 mediate revelation), and obey not the gospel revealed 
 from heaven in this our day a day of mercy and judgment. 
 
 With fervent desires that you and your posterity 
 may escape the day of wrath, and seek for glory, and 
 honor, and immortality, I subscribe myself, 
 Your old friend and servant, 
 
 OKSON SPENCER 
 
124 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 ON THE RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, November 14th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir THE EESTITUTION OF ALL 
 THINGS, is a subject deserving rather a voluminous trea- 
 tise than the contracted limits of a single letter ; still 
 some out-standing features of this very prominent part 
 of scripture revelation shall be briefly touched upon. 
 The apostle says that the heavens must receive (Jesus) until 
 the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath 
 spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the u-orld 
 began. 
 
 By the term restitution, the scriptures mean putting 
 all things on a permanent and righteous basis. All things 
 are not, and never have been, on a righteous basis since 
 the fall of Adam. 
 
 After the expulsion of Lucifer and his associates 
 from heaven, order and harmony were restored, and the 
 everlasting system of progressive intelligence and felicity 
 again established on an immutable basis, so far as heaven 
 was concerned. And even among the third part of 
 heaven, drawn away by the apostacy of Lucifer, there 
 might possibly have been some persons capable of ulti- 
 mate restoration in the interminable ages of futurity. Of 
 this, however, it may, perhaps, be said that no man know- 
 eth. No man, surely can know unless it is revealed to 
 him from heaven. The possibility, however, of redeem- 
 ing all flesh from the transgression laid upon mankind in 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 125 
 
 this mortal state, through obedience to the gospel, is 
 abundantly revealed in the scriptures. However wrong 
 may have been the conduct and opinions of the inhabit- 
 ants of the earth, obedience to the gospel will reinstate 
 them in the course of permanent felicity, intelligence and 
 righteousness. 
 
 There are particular and set times for the restitution 
 o all those things which God has spoken of by the pro- 
 phets. God hath spoken of the subject of restitution by 
 all the prophets since the world began ; indeed there 
 never was a prophet on the earth whose business did not 
 engage him more or less in the work of restitution. But 
 long periods have elapsed on earth in which no prophets 
 have been known. During such periods the work of 
 restitution has invariably ceased. Iniquity and misery 
 have been made to abound, and gross darkness has spread 
 over all people. But at particular periods God would 
 raise up prophets, and then the work of restitution would 
 commence and continue until the prophets were slain or 
 otherwise removed from the earth. It is during such par- 
 ticular times of restitution in the latter days, that even 
 Jesus himself may appear from the heavens, in order to 
 give direction and mighty impulse to the work of restitu- 
 tion. Noah was raised up to stay the progress of wicked- 
 ness and build up the waste places. Wickedness was 
 swept off the earth according to his prophecyings and 
 teachings, and a race of righteous men put in the place 
 of the wicked to people the earth. It was also a time of 
 restitution when Abraham was commissioned to reform 
 mankind by truth and judgment, teaching them to walk 
 in the old paths of revelation and immediate and constant 
 intercourse with the heavens. 
 
 Again, in mercy, God raised up Moses, and recom- 
 
126 LETTERS BY 
 
 menced the same work of restitution which was subse- 
 quently undertaken by John the Baptist, under the 
 immediate supervision of Jesus himself. But it was not 
 competent for any one prophet, in the short period of his 
 ministry on the earth, to set everything right that was 
 wrong ; but each did what he could, under existing cir- 
 cumstances, with the people with whom he had to do. 
 The spirit of revelation rested upon each successive pro- 
 phet to perform that work which was most fit and neces- 
 sary to the age in which he lived. No one could attend 
 to all things ; and many things are yet to be revealed 
 that have been kept secret since the foundation of the 
 world. No man has ever understood all those measures 
 and principles by which the human family can be brought 
 to the highest degree of perfection. The angels probably 
 do not know them, and even the Son himself did not 
 know them, but the Father only. 
 
 The reign of a thousand years of righteousness will 
 probably do much to correct, ennoble, /in d exalt mankind, 
 and beautify the works of his hands, and felicitate all 
 flesh. "Whatever principles and measures can contribute 
 to exalt and felicitate mankind in the sight of the 
 heavens, is yet to be done. The profound philosophy 
 and science of the highest intelligences, with all the em- 
 bellishments which art, and taste, and genius, can secure, 
 are destined to become tributary to the righteous ; and 
 when these things shall take place in the times of the 
 restitution of all things, God will be crowned with inef- 
 fable glory and honor, blessing and dominion, for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 The spirit of apostacy has stripped and shorn true 
 religion of all its luscious and beautiful fruit, and left 
 nothing scarcely but the naked, withered hulk of false 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 127 
 
 spirituality. Religion has been taught, by Protestant 
 dissenters, as a science almost wholly abstracted from 
 civil government from political, social, and domestic 
 institutions, and also from the useful and fine arts. It 
 has been circumscribed to the most revoltingly contracted 
 limits. 
 
 In the zeal of its advocates to put down an illegiti- 
 mate and bastardly union of church and state, that had 
 long darkened the moral atmosphere of the earth, and 
 made nations groan under oppression, and sigh and mourn 
 that religion was the wedded ally of the civil sceptre, 
 they pushed off into the opposite extreme of imbecile, 
 naked, and sterile spirituality ; thereby proving, plainly, 
 that any religion that is not based on constant and imme- 
 diate inspiration of the Holy Ghost, can neither walk 
 long with or without the crutches of governmental aid 
 and support. It will not only become a stink in the nos- 
 trils of Jehovah, but soon cause great dissatisfaction and 
 fall into merited contempt and ignominy. 
 
 The best biographies of such men as David Brainard 
 and Edward Payson, are a fair exhibition of internal 
 mental turmoil, and fitful commotion of spirit, and servile 
 bondage to a law that neither they nor their fathers could 
 keep. Poor, misguided but honest men ! How happy 
 might they have been had they known the true primitive 
 gospel that Paul preached by the infallible light of inspira- 
 tion ! How joyful the intelligence to the honest but 
 misguided, when the glad news of restitution shall rever- 
 berate in their prisons, and cause the captive exile to 
 haste into light and liberty ! Not only will the hopes 
 and faith of men be set right in the times of restitution, 
 but the earth itself will undergo an important change, 
 and the heavenly bodies or planetary system. The islands 
 
128 LETTERS BY 
 
 shall flee, and continents be united, and the waters be 
 restored to their proper bounds, no more to break over 
 their proper barriers. The curse shall be clean removed 
 from the earth, and the air shall become salubrious and 
 delightful. The animal race shall cease from their ani- 
 mosity and virulence of temper. The lion and the lamb 
 shall lie down together ; and there shall nothing hurt or 
 destroy in all God's holy mountain. In short, all things 
 that are now wrong shall be set right. Human life shall 
 be prolonged ; the infant shall die an hundred years old. 
 The power and perpetuity of life will be secured to the 
 ultimate extinction of death from off the earth. Death, 
 the last enemy, will be conquered and swallowed up in 
 victory. When every form and power of sin ceases, may 
 we not expect that death will also cease? Death hath 
 passed upon all men in that all have sinned. Sin is the 
 sting of death, and the cause of it. It is true that Jesus 
 died, although he never sinned after the similitude of 
 Adam's transgression ; but he took upon him Adam's 
 nature, and became sin for us, though he knew no sin. 
 But it was not possible for him to be holden of death, or 
 to see corruption, because he was holy. 
 
 "When a holy seed shall be raised up from the loins 
 of the righteous, which know no sin (which will be the 
 case when the devil is bound), then their bodies will not 
 see corruption. They shall not all sleep (or die), but they 
 shall be changed. Those who partake of the curse of 
 Adam will be changed in a moment, without knowing 
 corruption ; but the posterity of such as are changed will 
 be the legitimate heirs of sanctified bodies, upon whom 
 death has no conceivable claim. Death will not pass upon 
 them, because they have not sinned. Their bodies are 
 generically spiritual and holy, like Christ's own mostglori- , 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 129 
 
 cms body. Then will the 'seeds of death become extin- 
 guished from the human body, and man will stand as- 
 holy and pure as in his pristine creation, blooming with 
 health, rigor, and immortality. Then he is prepared to . 
 hold intercourse with the heavens, and to reign with 
 Christ on the earth. 
 
 You will perceive, sir, a difference in the liability of 
 such persons as are born during the reign of righteous- 
 ness, who do not sleep or die, and those who must die by 
 reason of sin. The former know not the dominion or 
 sting of sin, but are as trees of the Lord's planting 
 righteous. The latter must needs die and be resurrected. 
 Jesus was the first fruits of them that slept. In the case 
 of all others, corruption followed death ; and a longer 
 period must elapse before their bodies could be resurrect- 
 ed by reason of corruption. But Jesus was first and fore- 
 most to ripen into immortality. Corruptibility did not per- 
 tain to him, of course it was not necesssarily pre-requisite 
 to his resurrection and immortality ; but with all others, 
 down to the period when it is said that they should not 
 sleep, corruption must precede the resurrection. If the 
 body of Jesus did not corrupt and moulder back to dust, 
 then it is evident that he had substantially the same sort 
 of corporal frame after his resurrection that he had be- 
 fore. The spirit resting upon him without measure, ani- 
 mated and resuscitated his body with no other material 
 change than that of loss of blood. He shewed his disciples 
 his body, and told them to handle him and see of what 
 material it was : " a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye 
 see me have." He showed them, demonstratively, in his 
 own person, a proper specimen of a living resurrected 
 body. He shewed them that a spirit did not possess 
 flesh and bones as a resurrected body did. He also- 
 I 
 
130 LETTERS BY 
 
 proved another thing, viz. : that a resurrected body retains 
 probably all the five senses common' to a mortal body. 
 He ate and drank with then, and shewed them that his 
 person was identically the same as before his death. Here 
 then is a specimen of corporal immortality. In this per- 
 son we may see what all resurrected bodies will be, for we 
 shall be like him. Life and immortality are brought to 
 light in the example of Christ's resurrected body. Such 
 is the organization of a resurrected body, in consequence 
 of the expulsion of the seeds of death, the last enemy, 
 that decay and disease have no further power or influence. 
 The immediate resurrection of Jesus, after the lapse 
 of only three days, was one of the greatest blessings and 
 honors that could be conferred. In addition to all the 
 faculties and powers which he possessed previous to his 
 death, he also had those of an immortal being ; instead 
 of lingering a long time, with barely the circumscribed 
 and limited powers and privileges of a disembodied spirit, 
 lie was blessed in body, sold, and spirit united. The key 
 to innumerable lives and boundless dominions was given 
 him on the third day after his death. It was his sole 
 prerogative to say how long the dead should sleep before 
 they should be resurrected. All the innumerable privi- 
 leges of a resurrected body privileges unspeakable and 
 even unlawful to be uttered by reason of the hardness of 
 men's hearts were conferred upon him ! He held the 
 key of death and hell. No one could come forth from 
 the tomb without his orders none could felicitate his 
 spirit by possessing his own body till Jesus should grant 
 permission. His friends could all be called forth at his 
 pleasure, and be reinstated on the earth as he had been, 
 with all their friends and posterity after them, but no 
 enemy could resuscitate the slumbering ashes of his tomb, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 131 
 
 till Jesus should speak the word and grant permission. 
 
 His attention would be especially directed to the 
 speedy and early restitution of such as had been behead- 
 ed for his sake and the gospel's. They should be the very- 
 first to be raised, and others in their time and order ; but 
 the wicked enemies ! alas, how long they must lie un- 
 noticed ! A thousand years, at least, must roll slowly 
 away before their mouldering bodies could be allowed to 
 have a living re -organization ! Long and doleful banish- 
 ment from the joys of life and immortality ! In the 
 meantime the righteous are restored to their own bodies, 
 now immortalized for ever ; they are reinstated on the 
 earth in the company of kindred spirits, while their ene- 
 mies are trodden down as so much dust under^the soles 
 of their feet. 
 
 How remarkable a contrast between the righteous 
 and the wicked ! They that sowed to the Spirit are reap- 
 ing the fruits of the Spirit, which are life everlasting. 
 They inherit the earth and multiply upon it, and build 
 cities and temples, and their posterity are as numerous as 
 the sands upon the sea shore. How glorious the rich 
 reward of keeping the commands of God ! but, alas ! 
 where are the wicked all this time 1 Where are those 
 who have sown to the flesh, during this long and glori- 
 ous reign of the righteous on the earth 1 Poor,- wretched 
 creatures ! they are reaping corruption, just according to 
 what they sowed. Once they scorned the righteous, and 
 oppressed the hireling, and sneered at prophets, and said 
 they needed no revelations in their day and age. But 
 where are they now 1 Their bodies mingle with the dust 
 of the streets and of the field, that men tread upon daily. 
 Their memories are nearly faded from remembrance. 
 THeir posterity can no where be found on the earth. 
 
132 LETTERS BY 
 
 When the wicked return from their banishment (so many 
 as do return, for they shall be visited after many days), 
 they have become an inferior race of beings ; the right- 
 eous have outstripped them in knowledge, and happiness,. 
 and power, and dominion, and glory, and honor. 
 
 The resurrection will bring about a great restitution,, 
 both to the righteous and to the wicked. The righteous 
 will receive the reward of righteousness, and the wicked 
 will receive the wages of sin. When the wicked are- 
 swept off the earth, the books will be opened and exam- 
 ined in order to know whose names are recorded ; and 
 those "that are found written in the book shall be deliv- 
 ered ;" and such shall be resurrected immediately, and 
 shine as the brightness of the firmament on account of 
 the illustrious part they had taken in Christ's service. 
 But the wages of the wicked shall be paid off in a long 
 night of death before they rise ; and when they rise, it 
 shall be to shame and everlasting contempt. If their long 
 banishment and death are followed by a subdued and 
 humbled spirit of loyalty to truth, still their late resur- 
 rection, with all its doleful accompaniments, will be an 
 eternal stigma on their name. It will always be known 
 that they were once banished and trod under foot a thou- 
 sand years at least, in consequence of their disgraceful 
 rebellion against the laws and ordinances of God's govern- 
 ment. Neither they nor their posterity can ever wipe 
 off the disgrace ; they may repent and reform, and become 
 truly loyal to God, still their former rebellion against 
 immediate revelation and prophets, will stand on record 
 eternally, and crimson their faces with shame, and furnish 
 occasion for contempt to their name at the retrospect. 
 Many ancient Saints endured " tortures, not accepting 
 deliverance, in order that they might obtain a better 
 resurrection." 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 133 
 
 The domestic tie is the strongest bond of union, and 
 tthe most prolific source of virtue and happiness that 
 appertains to mankind on earth or in heaven. Hence the 
 promise made to Abraham of an innumerable domestic 
 'confederation, and to all others also, who should be heirs 
 of the same faith with faithful Abraham. But the wicked 
 ;are disembodied spirits, without flesh and bones, and 
 cannot partake of the blessings of domestic union, and 
 that friendship and fellowship that the whole family of 
 'God in heaven and upon earth enjoy. Poor, desolate 
 spirits, that once despised prophecyings and forbid to 
 .speak in tongues, ye are now left without the sweet ties 
 of parentage, and the endearing bonds of filial and conju- 
 gal affection ! The social circle in which you move, and 
 the government under which you are organized, have lost 
 their most lovely and essential ligaments of union and 
 ; strength. How gladly would wicked spirits accept the 
 bodies of the inferior animals as their tabernacle, might 
 they be permitted to do so ; even the swine would be a 
 desirable habitation rather than none at all. 
 
 The angels that kept not their first estate are reserv- 
 ed in chains (have not the liberty of embodied spirits) to 
 the far distant period of final judgment, when death and 
 hell shall be judged after the lapse of a thousand years 
 .and a " little season ;" even then death and hell, with 
 ;all others whose reprieve is not found written in the book, 
 must fall victims to the second death. Oh ! dreadful 
 consequence of sin ! How oft would I have gathered you, 
 as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wing, but ye 
 would not ; but now, your house is left unto you desolate ! 
 
 But, alas ! sir, how many attach no more importance 
 'to the resurrection, than merely the fact of its being an 
 -evidence that we shall survive the dissolution of death 1 
 >but blessed are those who understand and have part in 
 
134 LETTERS BY 
 
 the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath 
 no power. Sir, my heart swells with deep concern that 
 all men might obey the only true gospel, that entitles to 
 a part in the first resurrection ! 
 
 The limits of my letter forbid me to exhort ; but suffer 
 me to say, unless you have the same faith with Daniel 
 and Elijah, and the same spirit of revelation with Peter, 
 Abraham and Moses, you can never associate with resur- 
 rected bodies, neither with holy angels, nor with God. 
 In your flesh you never can see God. All former Saints 
 were united with the spirits of the just, and angels, and 
 Christ, and God the judge of all ; and if you are not 
 united to the same by supernatural faith, and the spirit 
 of vision and revelation, you may bid farewell to every 
 endearing social tie, and launch forth among the disem- 
 bodied powers of the air ; and there, with bitter regret 
 and wailing, lament over that fallen and lost bodily image 
 of your Maker, laid low in corruptible ruins through your 
 transgression and hatred of the ministry of the Prophet 
 of the last days. There, this spectacle of your rebellion 
 against prophets (monument of your shame) must lie till 
 your self-righteous spirit is subdued, or be raised only to 
 encounter the mortal grasp of a second death. 
 
 Yes, sir, while the restitution will elevate the right- 
 eous to their proper level in the scale of being, where the 
 wicked cannot molest, it will also depress the wicked to 
 their humiliating level. It will separate them to their 
 own place, and the want of bodies will prove an impas- 
 sable gulf between them and happiness. In this state 
 they may, indeed, contemplate what they have lost, with- 
 out the power of recovering it. Oh f tantalizing state of 
 keen despair ! Dreadful chains ! Cruel death holds that 
 once noble image of thy Maker fast in mouldering ruins, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 135 
 
 as a monument of thy contempt of prophets ! Now, thou 
 needest supernatural power to restore to thee that lost 
 image of thy Maker ! Now, thou needest a new name 
 and key to resurrecting power, but thou hast despised 
 these things, and said thou hast no need, therefore thy 
 light is put out and clean gone ! Now, angels offer to 
 minister to thee, and prophets to become thy teachers, 
 but thou wouldsb have none of these ; therefore they will 
 withdraw from thee for a long and dreary night, in which 
 thou wilt often cry out with bitter wailing, " Would God 
 it were morning ! " 
 
 Now, sir, may a consideration of these truths lead 
 you to choose the good and refuse the evil, and stand on 
 the immutable basis of every one that is taught of God, 
 is the unceasing desire of 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 ORSON SPENCER 
 
136 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS ON RESTITUTION. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, November 30th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir A question has sometimes 
 been asked concerning infants with what bodies will 
 they come forth ? Will they be raised in the stature of 
 manhood or adult size 1 We believe not; but as they fall, 
 so will they rise again the size of their stature when they 
 rise, will be the same as when they fell asleep in death. 
 Little children are the subjects and residents of the king- 
 dom of heaven. Their angels do always behold the pre- 
 sence of our Father in heaven. 
 
 It is not the size of a person's stature that consti- 
 tutes any certain mark of the measure of one's capacity, 
 either to exercise power or to enjoy felicity. Jesus pos- 
 sessed all power in a mere stature of human size. Still, 
 nothing is fully perfect till it has attained the measure of 
 the grand Designer, and accomplished the end of its crea- 
 tion. Hence it may, with some probability, be inferred, 
 that children will mature and come to their full stature 
 after the resurrection ; this, however, is more a matter of 
 opinion than of any direct revelation that has come to 
 my knowledge. 
 
 It will, of course, from what has been said, be dis- 
 covered that the righteous will enjoy a happy recognition 
 of each other in every endearing relation that is common 
 to mankind in their present mortal state. Their famili- 
 arity will be that of perfect innocence and felicity. Child- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 137 
 
 Ten, in the millennium, or after the first resurrection, will 
 need the same paternal care, tutorage, and guidance, 
 which is required by them now. In the absence of their 
 proper parents, they will, doubtless, receive adopted 
 parents, or an equivalent guardianship of the angels 
 of God. Such is the established order of progressive 
 intelligence, through the medium of living teachers, 
 that all the redeemed of heaven and earth, are under 
 the special guardianship of the ministering authorities of 
 God. 
 
 Oh! how happy and blessed are those parents and 
 children, husbands and wives, who shall meet in the pal- 
 aces of the just, and recognize each other after so long 
 an absence ! Unspeakably joyful that day and hour when 
 friends, that have been long separated, shall again strike 
 hands together, and celebrate their re-union in the courts 
 above. To die is gain, because the righteous are exalted 
 and introduced to higher orders of intelligence. New 
 fields of discovery and enjoyment are constantly opening, 
 to intensify their interest and swell their bosoms with 
 the liveliest emotions. They may and do remember their 
 righteous friends that are left behind, for a little season, 
 with kind desires, and cannot advance in knowledge and 
 glory very advantageously without them ; still it is the 
 knowledge which they possess of superlative glories 
 ahead, that principally occupies their minds. Truths and 
 keys, explanatory of the boundless and skillful works of 
 God, and facilitating their progress towards dominion, 
 and power, and blessing, and salvation, are continually 
 warming up their hearts and inciting them to onward 
 deeds. The valiant and faithful that have fought a good 
 fight and kept the faith, are hailed with delight and 
 thanksgivings on their reception to the heavenly courts, 
 
138 LETTERS BY 
 
 and most cordially welcomed to the embrace of the great 
 and venerable progenitor of our race. 
 
 Thrice happy are those who keep their present 
 estate, and secure an imperishable inheritance on this 
 planetary portion of their interminable existence ; and 
 equally deplorable, on the other hand, the condition of 
 those who, filled with the delusive spirit of anti-revelation, 
 keep not their present estate, and prefer the darkness of 
 no revelation, in their day ; because they have changed 
 the ordinance, and transgressed the laws, and broken the 
 everlasting covenant. 
 
 Again, it may be asked : Will not those who have 
 died without the knowledge of the gospel, during many 
 centuries past, perish for want of the gospel 1 And where 
 is the justice of leaving persons to perish, for want of that 
 which it is not in their power to obtain ] 
 
 Were not many of our ancestors, that have died in 
 past generations, good people, yet as the gospel was not 
 revealed in their day, and they could not enter the king- 
 dom by being born of the water and of the Spirit, have 
 they perished 1 These, indeed, are interesting inquiries. 
 To the first inquiry I respond they have not perished, 
 in the sense or manner in which those have perished who 
 have rejected the offers of the gospel ; not having known 
 the gospel, they have never rejected it. They have not- 
 disobeyed laws and ordinances of which they have not 
 heard, or which were never imposed upon them. They 
 are neither rewarded nor punished according to gospel 
 laws ; but such as have lived without law, will be judged 
 without law. Where there is no law, there is no trans- 
 gression ; where there is nothing given, there is nothing, 
 required ; but it is required according to what a man. 
 hath. Whatever light they have had, by that light will 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 139 
 
 they be judged ; and whatever privileges and blessings 
 the laiv, under which they have lived, can confer, such 
 will be awarded to them. Still our fathers, who have 
 died without the gospel, are in a condition far inferior 
 to those who have received and obeyed the gospel. 
 
 This condition of theirs is consequent upon the early 
 transgression of their progenitors. The condition itself 
 may not be blameworthy. Their conduct, in a pre- exist- 
 ent state, may have deserved for their bodies in this world 
 to be without the privilege of the gospel ; or withholding 
 gospel privileges from them in this world, may be follow- 
 ed with future blessings compensatory for their loss, when 
 they shall prove themselves worthy of a better condition. 
 The gospel martyr sustains a great loss, but the magnitude 
 of his reward is designed to overbalance his loss. 
 
 Our devout and worthy fathers that have died with- 
 out the gospel, cannot, indeed, enter the celestial kingdom 
 of Jesus Christ without conformity to the identical laws 
 and ordinances of his kingdom. But provision is made 
 for them, whereby they can conform to the requirements 
 of the gospel, not altogether in their own persons alone, 
 but through proxy, or the obedience of others, provided 
 they voluntarily accept of that obedience rendered by 
 others for their benefit. 
 
 Startle not, my dear sir, at this idea that is so repug- 
 nant to the prejudice of protestants. The principle of 
 substitution is at the foundation of the great work of re- 
 demption, and forms a chain of gratitude and obligation 
 of the purest and noblest metal. Jesus died for others, 
 because they could not have saved themselves without his 
 obedience for them. The preachers of righteousness pass 
 through many tribulations, and sacrifice houses, lands, 
 and country, in order that others may become rich, both 
 
140 LETTERS BY 
 
 temporally and spiritually ; without this order of suffer 
 ing, the just for the unjust, no man could be saved. 
 
 Paul says, " I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and 
 fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, in 
 my flesh, for his body's sake, which is the Church." 
 Every man that has the priesthood of Christ may suffer 
 in his measure and degree a propitiatory sacrifice, accord- 
 ing to the degree of priesthood with which he is clothed. 
 He may become a subordinate savior to his fellow-men, 
 Christ being, however, the CAPTAIN of all men's salva- 
 tion. Hence, the prophets plumply call men SAVIORS 
 "who shall be raised to officiate in Mount Zion. 
 
 Paul also instructs Timothy how he can save men 
 and himself. This distribution of saving gifts, instead 
 of eclipsing Jesus of the glory of salvation, magnifies his 
 glory, because he is the spring and source of all salva- 
 tion. God the Father reigns over all, and Jesus under 
 him, and men reign under Jesus as kings and priests. 
 Kingdoms rise up within kingdoms, but Christ is the 
 King of kings. Peter tells how the devout and honorable 
 dead may be saved, who never heard the gospel on earth. 
 He says, the living may be baptized for them, and then 
 they can be judged according to men in the flesh ; and 
 the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians on this 
 subject, says : " Else why are ye baptized for the dead V 9 
 Baptism for the dead was better understood in Peter's 
 days than the doctrine of the resurrection. Doctrines 
 are sooner obliterated from the mind than ordinances. 
 But after the destruction of the Temple, and the bap- 
 tismal font, baptisms for the dead must of course cease, 
 because there was no longer an acceptable place for this 
 ordinance to be administered. Peter explicitly declares, 
 that the gospel was preached to the dead, by which also 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 141 
 
 he (Christ) went and preached to the spirits in prison.. 
 Now, if the gospel was preached to the dead, then mercy, 
 and deliverance, and salvation, were preached to the 
 dead ; but these could not be preached to them without 
 the ordinances, because the ordinances of baptism, and 
 gift of the Holy Ghost, are a part of the gospel ; for 
 except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he can- 
 not enter the kingdom of God. But if a righteous man 
 is baptized for his departed friend, the law requiring 
 baptism is magnified, and God can justify the departed 
 spirit that believes, and accepts the same. 
 
 Baptism for the dead, however, only takes away the 
 disabilities under which they labor ; unless this is done 
 for them they cannot be redeemed, however penitent 
 they may become. The blood of Christ took away the 
 disabilities -of all the human family, so that all mankind 
 can now be saved through faith and obedience. But no 
 man is saved by the blood of Christ, without faith and 
 obedience ; and if they count His blood an unholy thing, 
 and sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no more sacri- 
 fice for sin, neither is there forgivness for such in " this 
 world, nor in the world to come." No person will be- 
 led by the Spirit to be baptized for any such description 
 of persons ; no person that is the friend of Christ will 
 ever lend a helping hand towards redeeming such obdu- 
 rate spirits. Many worlds must pass away before they 
 can be fit subjects for the visitation of God's mercy. 
 But there are those who will prove their lineage to be 
 descended from those who slew the prophets, and " fill 
 up the measure of their fathers," and some will even 
 shed innocent blood, for whom there is no resurrection, 
 only to be plunged into a lake of fire, and writhe under 
 the gnawings of the worm that never dies. Among 
 
142 LETTERS BY 
 
 those in former ages who were of the lineage of the mur- 
 derers of prophets, priests and high-minded divines are 
 distinctly noticed by Jesus Christ, and their pedigree 
 flatly exposed ; and, sir, if you will allow me any credit 
 for veracity, and attach any weight to the most palpable 
 and irrefutable proof, you may assuredly know, that 
 preachers of modern Christianity have occupied a con- 
 spicuous part in the tragic scenes of Missouri and Illinois. 
 I will admit that many distinguished divines do elo- 
 quently extol the ancient prophets, speak in glowing 
 diction of the faith of Daniel, Abraham, and Sampson, 
 and of illustrious miracles, and beautifully portray the 
 crucifixion, agony, and triumph of Jesus. But, alas ! 
 with the next breath, and while soaring aloft with the 
 ardent sympathies of their hearers, they prove their 
 pedigree to be that of the self-same murderers of the 
 very prophets they affect to eulogize. Electrified and 
 warmed up in the pseudo atmosphere of Calvary, and 
 the story of redeeming love for a cloak of maliciousness, 
 their words, though smoother than oil, are sharper than 
 drawn swords. The innocent Saints feel their piercing 
 thrusts from pulpits that bear the cognomen of St. Peter, 
 St. Paul, and St. Jude. 
 
 Lewd men of the baser sort catch the Lethean fire, 
 and throughout the nation the righteous poor feel the 
 Upean blast that sprung from the sacred desk. Thou- 
 sands are thrown out of employment writs, and every 
 species of oppression are poured out like a storm of hail 
 upon them. Property is sacrificed the Saints flee 
 homeless and shelterless, to seek an asylum in the wilds 
 of the everlasting hills. 
 
 Again, I will invite your attention to the union of 
 the fathers and the children, and a faint outline of the 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 143 
 
 innumerable kingdoms that are to rise up in the bound- 
 less dominions of the Supreme King. No king on earth 
 or in heaven is so omnipotent or omnipresent as not to 
 need subordinate ruling agencies, in order to control 
 innumerable subjects. Hence, the Lord God of all the 
 earth has a host of holy angels that communicate his will, 
 and minister his pleasure among the hosts of heaven and 
 the inhabitants of the earth. From the highest heaven, 
 even his own peculiar dwelling-place, to the lowest heaven 
 and from thence to the earth, this order of delegated 
 authorities is maintained. His dominions extend through 
 all space, and the number of his constantly increasing 
 subjects cannot be computed. 
 
 How, then, are these innumerable kingdoms govern- 
 ed 1 Every organization has its own president or ruler, 
 from the orbit of countless millions to the smallest divis- 
 ion that convenience may require, from the ruler of 
 many cities to the ruler of the smallest ward of a city. A 
 man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him into 
 the presence of great men. 
 
 Now, the strongest tie of government, of union, 
 strength, and happiness in any confederation whatever, 
 either in heaven or on earth, is that which springs from 
 parentage, or the paternal tie. The first lesson of address 
 which God teaches his subjects is to call him father our 
 Father, etc. The father feels the strongest of all attach- 
 ments to his children ; for them he toils and provides, 
 and to them he gives the fruit of his labors, and the wis- 
 dom and knowledge that flow from his lips. Every father 
 is expected to look after his own progeny. If it were not 
 that the hearts of the fathers were turned to the child- 
 ren, in the last days, the earth would be smitten with 
 such a sore and heavy curse that no flesh would be saved ; 
 
144 LETTERS BY 
 
 but for the elect's sake, and for the sake of the fathers 
 who have obtained promises concerning their posterity in 
 the last days, the earth will be preserved as an inherit- 
 ance for righteous men. From the dust of mother earth 
 has arisen a sufficient number of righteous men to secure 
 the endless perpetuity of existence among the worlds that 
 God has made. Glory and honor be to God for this un- 
 speakable favor ! Some worlds have passed away and are- 
 not, doubtless, because they abode not in the law given 
 them. 
 
 According to promise, God has sent Elijah just in 
 the dawn of the great and notable day of sweeping the 
 wicked with the besom of his wrath, to turn the hearts 
 of the children to the fathers. The children are told of 
 kindred ties between them and such as once held the true 
 priesthood, and wrought righteousness on the earth, and 
 of their consequent heirship to thrones and dominions 
 through faith. Through the gift of the Spirit they re- 
 spond to the same, as good tidings of great joy. The 
 Spirit of God works in them mightily, that they may 
 come to the knowledge of their ancestors, that were once 
 in honorable remembrance before God for their faith and 
 priesthood. By revelation, and by records and traditions, 
 and by the spirit of adoption, they will learn their rela- 
 tionship to the heavens ; and the vacant links of lineage 
 between them and their forefathers in the priesthood, will 
 be sought after on earth, and under the earth, and in the 
 heavens, in the set times of restitution ; for God will 
 gather together in one in Christ, all things in heaven 
 and upon the earth and under it, in the dispensation of 
 the fulness of times. 
 
 The different federative unions of the whole family 
 of heaven and earth, when organized according to the, 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 145 
 
 law of adoption, have their own respective patriarch or 
 president to represent them in the grand council of the 
 just, Jesus Christ being head over all things to the 
 Church, in all ages, worlds without end. Every dispen- 
 sation under him has its own presidency and grand 
 council, from whence emanate all the laws that spring 
 from the Apostle and High Priest of our profession in 
 the heavens. 
 
 By the federative laws of adoption, a representation 
 may be had in the grand council of each dispensation, 
 with more practical facility and order than otherwise. 
 Jesus is an advocate for the whole human family before 
 the Father ; " and every High Priest taken from among 
 men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, 
 that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." 
 
 A mediatorial and intercessorial work pervades the 
 priesthood, according to the measure of the grace bestow- 
 ed. The union of families, not according to the capricious 
 and changeable institutions of men, but according to 
 the laws of heaven, upon the basis of virtuous affection, 
 and upon the confidence of permanent security in right- 
 eousness, will form a solid phalanx against the intrusion 
 of discord and the spirit of alienation from God. The 
 righteous will be bound together by the ties of adoption 
 and kindred, in the " bundle of eternal life." This united 
 confederation of strength and affection will be peculiarly 
 needed, in order to endure the shock which society must 
 receive both in heaven and upon earth, arid under the 
 earth, in the last dispensation ; for every tree that the 
 Eternal Father hath not planted shall be hewn down, 
 and the institutions of men shall come to nought. Every 
 man's hand shall be against his fellow; and while distrust 
 and discord shall insinuate their baneful influence into- 
 K 
 
146 LETTERS BY 
 
 the secret chambers of the most familiar acquaintance, 
 the Saints shall have peace like a river, and their union 
 and joy shall abound. Then the nations that have sneered 
 at prophets will be filled with disquietude and fear ! 
 Violence and rapine will stalk abroad with a bold front ! 
 Innocence, and integrity, and virtue, will hide in confu- 
 sion, or be utterly banished ! But the Church " the 
 pillar and ground of the truth" will be quiet and undis- 
 turbed ! Virtue and innocence, truth and wisdom, will 
 abound within her gates ! She will come up from her 
 tribulations like sheep from the washing fair as the 
 moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with 
 banners ! 
 
 And when the victory of truth over error is won, all 
 nations will fear the name of the Lord our God. " The 
 law shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord 
 from Jerusalem." The Jews shall be gathered to Jerusa- 
 lem, and the city shall have been built in troublesome 
 times. The outcasts of Judah shall re-occupy their own 
 land ; and the gatherings of Israel shall be commemorated 
 in everlasting songs and festivals, because the greatness 
 of the work shall surpass any deliverance that Israel has 
 ever experienced before from the hand of the Lord. 
 " Therefore, behold the days come, saith the Lord, that 
 it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth that brought 
 up the children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt. But 
 the Lord liveth that brought the children from the land 
 of the north, and from all the lands whither he had 
 driven them. And I will bring them again into their 
 land, that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send 
 for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them ; 
 and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall 
 hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 147 
 
 out of the holes of the rocks, for mine eyes are upon all 
 their ways. I will cause them to know mine hand and 
 my might, and they shall know that my name is the 
 Lord." And Satan shall be bound on the face of the 
 whole earth ; and for the first time in the lapse of more 
 than six thousand years, there shall be made a perfect 
 demonstration of the majesty and glory of the kingdom 
 of God on the earth ; and the purity, efficiency, and 
 wisdom of his laws. 
 
 Jesus Christ shall come in like manner as he went 
 up. He shall set his feet upon Mount Olives, and the 
 arth shall quake at his presence. His nation shall 
 acknowledge their Lord and their God, whom their 
 fathers had crucified. The city of the New Jerusalem 
 shall come down out of heaven, even the city of the Great 
 King. In this city will be displayed the skill of the 
 great architect of the world, the builder and maker is 
 God. The names of the twelve tribes, and of the twelve 
 apostles of the Lamb will not be the least distinguishable 
 in this most extraordinary city that was ever revealed to 
 man. 
 
 This vision of the future residence of the apostles 
 and patriarchs, appears to have been unfolded to the 
 apostle John, in a kind of farewell visit, and must have 
 ravished his heart with unspeakable delight and ecstacy. 
 His soul was suffused with joy and rapture, and he fell 
 prostrate with feelings of worship toward the messenger 
 of such tidings. Jesus had, indeed, told the apostles that 
 he would go away and prepare mansions for them. And 
 that there were many mansions. But never, before, 
 probably, had he described the celestial state and resi- 
 dence so beautifully and minutely as now. The height, 
 and length, and breadth of the city, and the names of 
 
148 LETTERS BY 
 
 some of the most distinguished personages who should 
 occupy mansions therein, together with the gates of pearl, 
 and the foundation walls of all manner of precious stones, 
 were distinctly shown to him. 
 
 The future residence of the Saints, we perceive, is 
 not an ideal thing without reality. They will need houses 
 for their persons, and for their families as much in their 
 resurrected condition as in their present state ; they will 
 be as sensible of the works of art, taste, beauty and 
 grandeur, there as now, and far more so. 
 
 In this identical world, where they have been robbed 
 of houses and lands, and wife and children, they shall 
 have an hundred fold. The nations of the earth shall 
 bring their glory into the city of their immortal residence. 
 And the diversified wisdom of Solomon, displaced above 
 all earthly kings, shall be but a miniature picture of the 
 visible and tangible glories that will be exhibited to the 
 eyes and ears of resurrected Saints on the very earth 
 where they once suffered. If ever an earthly sovereign 
 sat upon a throne, and swayed a royal sceptre, and wore 
 a glittering crown of surpassing richness and beauty, then 
 shall men and women who have suffered loss and shame 
 for the gospel's sake, be seated upon thrones in the city 
 of the New Jerusalem, and their mandates shall be heard 
 and obeyed to the ends of the earth ; and the riches, and 
 dominion, and power, and blessing, and glory, that shall 
 encircle them, no tongue can describe. Oh ! wonderful 
 transition, from darkness to light, and from the degrading 
 bondage of Satan into the liberty of the sons and daugh- 
 ters of God ! Glorious emancipation ! Who can contem- 
 plate the recompense of reward without ample satisfaction 
 for all the withering scorn, and piercing sarcasm, and 
 bloody hatred, that have been endured ? Give me a name 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 149 
 
 that shall never perish a habitation among heaven's 
 kings a seat in the council of the just, where the fairest 
 
 ! among the sons of men shall sometimes minister in his 
 own person, and it shall suffice for having fought a good 
 fight, and kept the faith once delivered to the Saints. Oh ! 
 enchanting prospect of rapturous delight ! 
 
 ' 
 
 " The thought of such amazing bliss 
 Should constant joys create." 
 
 But grovelling unbelief will ask, How can such an 
 immense city be let down to the earth, or suspended over 
 it, and contiguous to it ] I reply, How can the earth be 
 suspended in vacant space *? How could Jesus ascend up 
 till the eye could see his person no longer 1 How could 
 Elijah go up in the chariot of Israel 1 How could the 
 angel fly through the midst of heaven, that the prophets 
 Zechariah, John, and Daniel saw speaking to the young 
 man Joseph *? How can Christ come with his ten thou- 
 sand Saints, and descend with a shout 1 How will Saints, 
 by tens of thousands and millions, be caught up to meet 
 him in the air? How do birds fly in the air, and vast 
 planets hang on nothing 1 Oh ! marvellous unbelief ! 
 Shall not He who organized worlds out of their chaotic 
 state, reorganize them at his pleasure, so as to suit the 
 capacity and pleasure of immortalized bodies, that have 
 kept their second estate, and have obtained right and 
 title to enter the pearly gates of the royal city ] 
 
 Isaiah says, that the Lord's work, in the last days, 
 shall be a marvellous work and a wonder. The changes 
 wrought in the condition of the earth will be very great. 
 The face of its surface will be greatly changed. There 
 are many islands and lofty barren mountains, and sunk- 
 en pestiferous valleys, and sterile plains, that will be 
 
150 LETTERS BY 
 
 revolutionized. Indeed, far the greatest part of the 
 earth stands covered with water. The earth shall reel 
 to and fro like a drunken man, and shake terribly before 
 the coming of the Son of Man. It shall even be turned 
 upside down ; and the approach of Christ shall be indica- 
 ted by a succession of great events and changes. But a 
 most extraordinary appearance in the heavens shall be 
 distinguished, and known as the sign of the coming of the 
 Son of Man. Whether this sign of the Son of Man will 
 be some planetary body of an imposing aspect, first 
 making its appearance in the heavens and gradually ap- 
 proximating to the earth, or whether it shall be station- 
 ary, is not, and probably will not be, fully revealed, 
 except to the children of revelation, for that day shall 
 come upon the nations as a snare. 
 
 But it is revealed that an extraordinary sign in the 
 heavens shall make its appearance, announcing, with sub- 
 lime and terrific grandeur, the near approach of the Son 
 of Man. The calamitous state of the nations, convulsed 
 with the sword, pestilence, and famine, with which God 
 will plead with all flesh before the Son of Man shall 
 come ; followed also with great convulsions of nature, 
 will lead many to practise wild and visionary impositions, 
 pretending that Christ has indeed eome, and that he has 
 been seen in the wilderness, or in the secret chamber, 
 etc. But let it be understood distinctly, that even as a 
 remarkable star escorted the Son of Man in his first ad- 
 vent, and became not only visible, but stationary, over 
 the very point of earth where Jesus was born marvel- 
 lous indeed ! even so, and much more visible will be his 
 second coming. 
 
 The brilliancy of the lightning, extending over the 
 whole heaven, from east to west, will not be more mam> 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 151 
 
 fest to the inhabitants of the earth than the approach of 
 the Son of Man at his second coming. Still many will 
 behold, wonder, and despise, and perish ; because it is 
 written, that whosoever shall reject that prophet shall 
 be destroyed from among the people. The false signs and 
 wonders that shall be got up in opposition to the true, 
 will deceive and harden the nations, and they will not 
 discern between him that serveth God and him that 
 serve th him not. 
 
 Even the sign of the coming of the Son of Man may 
 be contemplated by multitudes, barely as an unaccount- 
 able phenomenon ; and familiarity with the sight of it 
 will beget indifference, hardness of heart, and contempt 
 for all such like things. 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 OKSON SPENCEE. 
 
152 LETTERS BY 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 SUMMARY AND FINAL APPEAL. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, December 13th, 1847. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir Having given you an epito- 
 mised view of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus 
 Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a short series of Thirteen 
 Letters, I now make this SUMMARY AND FINAL APPEAL 
 to you, and to all persons to whom the foregoing Letters 
 may come. 
 
 Before parting with you, I will endeavor to obviate 
 some objections that might be supposed to arise, and give 
 some farther confirmatory proof of the truths that have 
 been advanced. 
 
 You may be ready to inquire with great earnestness, 
 can it possibly be that the religious world have been so 
 grossly mistaken and actually deluded for so many cen- 
 turies ] Can so many divines of celebrated learning and 
 devotion have been all this time in error 1 Is it possible 
 that that illiterate young man, Joseph Smith, should be 
 the first, after the lapse of so many ages, to break the 
 spell of darkness, and pierce the clouds of error, and let 
 in the sunshine of eternal truth upon the whole world ? 
 Is it possible that he whom we have been accustomed to 
 regard as the blackest impostor about whose moral char- 
 acter there hang so many shades of suspicion 1 Can he 
 be, in very deed, a true prophet of God *? 
 
 I do not wonder at your inquiries ; but I do marvel 
 that any good man should have a lingering doubt. Your 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 153 
 
 inquiries and objections I will briefly answer. Why 
 should not the religious world be mistaken 1 Do not the 
 great mass of the human family profess to be religious 1 
 Are not the millions of China and Asia religious ? Here 
 is nearly one-half of the human family ardently devoted 
 to their religion they are sincerely devoted to their 
 religion the multitudes of their pagodas, and the great 
 expense and sacrifice attending their worship, prove incon- 
 testibly their sincerity; and the long antiquity of their 
 religion has rendered it venerable as yours. 
 
 You readily say, that the myriads of Asia are deceiv- 
 ed and mistaken. But may they not retort upon you and 
 say how is it that we, whose religion is so ancient and 
 so universally believed, should be (all of us) in such gross 
 error ? Now, may not the reply that would fit them be 
 applicable to the advocates of modern Christianity 1 They 
 are all the children of Adam as much as you, and as 
 much the offspring of our common parent. Their rulers 
 and divines are as respectable among their own country- 
 men as yours are among your countrymen. It is no 
 worse for modern Christendom to be in error than for pa- 
 ganism. Paganism can boast of more learning and ora- 
 tory, and of more universal, enduring, and mighty 
 governments than modern Christianity ! Paganism can 
 boast of more union and stability than modern Christian- 
 anity. But I am no advocate of either paganism or 
 modern Christianity. I believe that the whole world 
 lieth in darkness, in consequence of transgressing the 
 laws of God. Modern Christianity has had a fair trial 
 for success. Kings and potentates with vast and populous 
 dominions, have been arrayed on its side. Eighteen 
 hundred years have testified to its ragged and crippled 
 march. The sovereigns of Europe and rulers of America 
 
154 LETTERS BY 
 
 are on its side. But what a haggard picture of union 
 does the theatre of modern Christianity present ! A gar- 
 ment of as many colors as the various religious creeds of 
 modern Christianity would constitute a phenomenon fit 
 to be carried about as a curiosity. 
 
 In Catholic countries there is the largest share of 
 unity of creeds. In Protestant countries every city, town, 
 and village presents the picture of religious collision and 
 jargon. Now, these contending parts must necessarily be 
 wrong, for God is not the author of confusion, but of 
 peace. And if the constituent parts are wrong, the 
 aggregate must also be wrong. But whether the balance 
 of wisdom and virtue lies with Christians or Pagans, one 
 thing is certain, that no man, by searching, can find out 
 God or know the Almighty unto perfection ! The world 
 by wisdom know not God. No man can ever know God 
 unless God reveals himself to him. Those whom God 
 selects to communicate revelations to men are not the wise- 
 and mighty, but rather such as are accounted weak and 
 foolish, and unholy. This is the description of men that 
 God generally chooses to do his work on the earth. 
 Again, it is said that the doctrines of the Latter-day 
 Saints may be good enough, but their characters are too 
 reprehensible. Testimony from many reliable sources is 
 against them ; and we have seen with our own eyes a 
 want of that fervent piety that ought to distinguish a 
 people entrusted with the ordinances and gifts of salva- 
 tion. This, I think, is the most weighty and popular 
 objection that is urged by the opposers of the Latter-day 
 Saints if they were a respectable people, their doctrines 
 could better be endured. Now I propose to consider this 
 objection, and canvass it thoroughly, in order that no 
 man shall ever raise the same objection again, with any 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 155 
 
 hope of success ; but before I try their character, let us 
 inquire what is the proper standard or rule by which 
 character is to be tested. 
 
 Some people consider that no man can have a good 
 character who is not religious this is a common opinion 
 among religious people. An infidel, say they, is odious, 
 and feels no responsibility ; and no one is religious unless 
 his faith harmonizes with their own religious creed. In 
 some countries, what would be accounted moral and vir- 
 tuous, would in others be stamped as immoral, unvirtu- 
 ous, and sacrilegious. Another, more plausible, says, " let 
 all men do as they would be done by," and then their 
 characters will be good. This, however, is a very vague 
 rule indeed ; for instance, the Emperor Charles Fifth, of 
 Germany, says : " If I were as great a heretic as Martin 
 Luther or John Calvin, I ought to be banished, or even 
 put to death." Thus the Emperor conscientiously carries 
 out the rule, and orders the famous Reformer (heretic) to 
 be put to death. The above rule, unaccompanied by the 
 spirit of revelation, is often defective and made the pre- 
 text for deeds of blood-guiltiness. What, then, is the 
 true and infallible standard of character 1 I answer, it is 
 revealed in the Gospel. God is the only good being and 
 standard of goodness ; such as comply with his revealed 
 will are good, and do good, and there is no iniquity in them. 
 
 Compliance with k the divine will is the only true 
 standard of character. To this test, then, let us bring 
 the character of the Latter-day Saints, and that of their 
 opposers. What is the faith of each 1 Let us inquire. 
 According to their faith, so will be their works or their 
 character. Says James, " I will show my faith by my 
 works." You [may not only know a man's faith by his 
 works, but his works are also known by his faith. If his 
 
156 LETTERS BY 
 
 faith is bad, his works will be also bad ; and if his works 
 are bad, his character is bad. 
 
 It was the faith of Christ to receive the revelations 
 of God his father unto obedience in all things. This 
 faith led him to work the works of God, which were 
 healing the sick, prophesying, casting out devils, speaking 
 in tongues, and doing many miracles, and revealing the 
 will of his Father. But the pious Jews, chief priests, 
 etc., had another sort of faith : they believed in the God 
 of Abraham and Moses, but believed that the age of mir- 
 acles was past, and they forbade to prophesy and speak 
 with tongues. Their faith was, that there was no further 
 need of new revelation, and that the canon of Scripture 
 was full. They believed that the Sanhedrim established 
 by Moses was sufficient for the perfection and government 
 of the Church, without apostles, and prophets, and vari- 
 ous gifts. Their faith was not the faith of God, nor of 
 immediate revelation (although they said they believed in 
 old revelations) ; neither was it the faith of miracles, and 
 prophecyings, and tongues, and healing. 
 
 What, then, was the faith of those pious men that 
 sent their missionaries over sea and land, and preached 
 eloquently, and wept copiously over the pathetic doctrines 
 of Abraham and Moses ? Why, to be plain, sir, it was 
 the faith of devils; and their anti-revelation doctrines 
 were the doctrines of devils. Their works were of the 
 devil, because their faith was opposed to immediate reve- 
 lation, and their character was like their works bad and 
 abominable in the eyes of God, and Saints, and holy 
 angels ; and yet these same pious Jews claimed that they 
 were the only true Christians ! What a pity (thought 
 they) that this arch-impostor should succeed in mislead- 
 ing and deluding so many followers. It was due to his 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 157 
 
 wickedness that he got killed, and it was a pity that his 
 doctrines did not die with him. Doubtless some Solomon 
 Spaulding story was current to prove that he was born of 
 a harlot, and her husband, like another Judge Hale, was 
 ready to swear that he was not the father of the child. 
 
 Now, sir, from the foregoing thirteen Letters, you 
 will see plainly what is the acknowledged faith of the 
 Latter-day Saints. It is precisely the same with the faith 
 of the ancient apostles and prophets. They have proved 
 before the face of mankind, and in the sight of angels, 
 that they believe the doctrines set forth in these Letters 
 and in the Scriptures, by persecutions, banishment, loss 
 of goods, houses, and lands ; yea, even of life itself; for 
 tfiey are a spectacle unto all men, and their characters are 
 good in the sight of God, and angels, and saints, be- 
 cause they keep the commandments and ordinances of 
 God, even unto death not counting their lives dear unto 
 them, in order that they may be found in the same faith. 
 for -which apostles and prophets have contended earnestly 
 and bled freely. 
 
 Their character is that of compliance with the revealed 
 will of God, the only true standard of character. They 
 have preached the word to the nations of the earth, under 
 privations and abuses, and perils hitherto unknown, 
 since the days of the apostles. It is no vanity to say, 
 there is none like them in all the earth. They fear God 
 and work righteousness. 
 
 If any class of people were ever entitled to a good 
 character, it is the Latter-day Saints. They have earned 
 a title to it by conformity to the only true rule and stand- 
 ard of character that was ever revealed to man, viz., 
 compliance with the doctrines and ordinances of heaven. 
 On this platform, sir, I am willing to try the character of 
 
158 LETTERS BY 
 
 Latter-day Saints before any tribunal of impartial justice ; 
 and it is on this platform alone that all men must be 
 tried, who have ever heard the gospel of Christ. When 
 the Saints and their opposers are brought before this tri- 
 bunal of high heaven, think you not that our accusers 
 will be filled with shame at their groundless accusa- 
 tions ? This people during the last seventeen years (since 
 1830), have endured the fatigue and expense of emigrat- 
 ing from their former homes ; built cities, and towns, and 
 farms, and been robbed of them. Many of them have 
 journeyed, making their own bridges and roads, traversing 
 prairies and mountains, and some have emigrated by ships 
 around the greater half of the globe. They have preached 
 the gospel to many nations, and brought some hundreds 
 of thousands into obedience to it. In doing this, they 
 have been unaided by any missionary funds or salary 
 been compelled all the time to face an incessant and piti- 
 less storm of scandal and vituperation. The pulpit, and 
 the bar, and the medical faculty have poured out upon 
 them their grape and canister shot, and caused their com- 
 bustible shells to burst thick around their pathway ; still 
 they survive, and the truth floats over every ocean, and 
 converts to their standard are multiplying beyond the 
 aggregate increase of long venerated denominations. 
 What but the power of God could have secured these 
 great and blessed results in the very teeth of boasting 
 Christendom] Pure ; eternal, and almighty truth has done it. 
 Why should you marvel at the success of this reli- 
 gion, seeing it is based on the same principles as the reli- 
 gion of all the prophets ever since the foundation of the 
 world. The Bible recognizes no other religion than that 
 of prophets and supernatural faith, and miracles, and 
 immediate revelation. It is not possible to point out a 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 159 
 
 single pious man or woman, whose name or piety is record- 
 ed within the lids of the Bible, that did not profess the 
 same religion the same gifts of supernatural faith, pro- 
 phecyings, healings, tongues, that Latter-day Saints 
 profess. Ancient Saints believed in a similar administra- 
 tion by angels ancient Saints knew nothing of any 
 religion that did not embrace immediate intercourse with 
 God and angels, or that did not communicate the gifts of 
 healing, tongues, and prophecyings. They knew, indeed, 
 what it was to smart under the lash of false religions ; 
 but the ancient Saints regarded no man as pious or accept- 
 able to God, who did not profess to believe in the mini- 
 stration of angels, and the immediate inspiration of the 
 Holy Ghost. John, and Jesus, and the Apostles, laid the 
 axe at the root of all religions but their own ; and they 
 believed fully and heartily in these and such like things. 
 And the great bone of contention between them and their 
 pious adversaries was mainly about the gifts and blessings 
 of a supernatural order ! the latter making a mock of 
 tongues, and despising prophecyings, and miracles, as 
 being needless in that day and age of the world ; the 
 former maintaining that the faith of Daniel, Sampson, and 
 Noah, was as necessary to salvation as it ever had been 
 in the early age of the world. Indeed, if you will look 
 through the whole Bible, you will find that every man of 
 Bible piety believed in prophets, and angels, and visions, 
 and miracles ; and any one who did not believe as they 
 did were accounted rebels, or hypocrites, and excommuni- 
 cated accordingly. 
 
 I know, indeed, that out of the lids of the Bible you 
 may find pious creeds, that set aside all further revela- 
 tion, and the further ministration of angels, and prophets, 
 and represent the supernatural faith of Moses and Elijah 
 
160 LETTERS BY 
 
 as no longer needed ; but no such representation can be 
 drawn from any part of the contents of the Bible. Men 
 of supposed splendid piety can be found in modern 
 churches, who know nothing of the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost in prophecying and tongues, or healing, and who 
 never dreamed of having the ministration of an angel ; 
 and would sneer at the whole system of prophets and 
 angels, and present miracles. And what I ask of them 
 is, that they will abandon all pretext of Bible authority 
 for such piety. The Bible recognizes no such piety, 
 neither does it entertain any fellowship for it ; but down 
 to the day when the Jast revelation was uttered, it never 
 breathed an intimation that the faith of miracles would 
 cease, or the gifts of healing, except through transgres- 
 sion ; but the ancient faith of Abraham and Moses was 
 strenuously contended for, till the last man sealed his tes- 
 timony with his blood. 
 
 The advocates of old revelations, and old prophets, 
 and former day miracles, were very numerous in Paul's 
 day ; but they hated new revelation and the power of the 
 Mosaic and Samsonic faith as they did poison. 
 
 The doctrine of constant revelation in the true 
 Church, left them as barren of Bible piety as the fallen 
 angels. Go back to whatever part of the history of Bible 
 piety you will, you will never be able to glean up any- 
 thing in the shape or likeness of modern piety ; but you 
 will pick up the hot indignation of apostles and prophets 
 against all such pretended piety. The Bible wages an 
 uncompromising war against modern piety that wears the 
 mask of friendship for ancient revelations and miracles, 
 while it resists the same faith and power in its own day. 
 It is no new thing to have revelation and miracles cease : 
 they were discontinued in consequence of transgression 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 161 
 
 in several different periods of the world. Previous to the 
 days of John the Baptist, and before the days of Moses 
 and Abraham, revelation had ceased. These men were 
 raised up as so many new revelators, in order to over- 
 throw the false and discordant religions, and establish 
 the knowledge of the true God on the earth, As soon as 
 prophets have ceased to reveal the will of God, people 
 have turned into jangling about creeds. The old revela- 
 tions have been distorted and pulled all to tatters ; manu- 
 scripts have been picked up, and uninspired men, with all 
 pomposity and pedantry, have set themselves to adjudi- 
 cate and determine what was genuine, and what was 
 spurious revelation. You might as well set blind men 
 without a telescope to examine the propriety of the local 
 relationship of the starry bodies in the heavens. Alas ! 
 the eager folly of biblical researches ! Send one, as well, 
 in the darkness of midnight to search a hay-mow for a 
 cambric needle ! As though the Almighty could not 
 hide himself from the gaze of transgressors, and withhold 
 the key of knowledge from those that " despise prophe- 
 eyings." But I turn from the vain and sickening labors 
 of the erudite religionist. His pathway is a mazy laby- 
 rinth the further he goes, the more inextricable his diffi- 
 culties ! The cost of his wearisome and fruitless labors 
 overpowers the remnant of his veracity, and he seeks an 
 inglorious reward for his labors in decoying others, as fool- 
 ish as himself, into the same learned labyrinths of error. 
 He tells what this man has said, and that man has writ- 
 ten ; but from God, the fountain of all truth, he has ob- 
 tained no intelligence he has heard nothing. Having 
 felt a little of the mesh cords of this entanglement, ia 
 pity I turn away. 
 
 The faith of visions, miracles, angels, revelation r, and 
 L 
 
162 LETTERS BY 
 
 prophets, is the only religion of the Bible. With what 
 contempt would Abraham look upon the religion that im- 
 mediately preceded the days of Moses ! With what 
 indignation would Moses and Elijah look upon the relig- 
 ion that immediately preceded John, and denied any 
 further revelation ! 
 
 How abhorrent to apostles must be the conduct of 
 those who, having persecuted and slain the defenders of 
 the faith of miracles, then turned round and said, "We 
 need no more such faith miracles are done away." 
 Their posterity approve their sayings, and teach the same 
 theology. Blush, thou foul prince of darkness, at the 
 consummate folly and credulity of thy followers ! What 
 would the revelator John say to a grave assembly or 
 synod of divines that should meet together in solemn 
 council to devise means how to check the doctrine of new 
 revelation and miracles 1 After showing them that he 
 was identified with the selfsame obnoxious advocates of 
 such a doctrine, and that his banishment, and the martyr- 
 dom of his fellow apostles, had sprung from the same 
 spirit of anti-revelation and anti-miracles, that now con- 
 venes this grave council of bishops ; with mingled pity 
 and indignation he concludes a most touching remon- 
 strance against their unhallowed opposition to prophets, 
 by pointing the assembly to the tragic scenes of Calvary, 
 where anti-revelation had matured a full cup. When 
 men come to the knowledge of God through the princi- 
 ples of immediate revelation, and the power of the Holy 
 Ghost, nothing can separate them from the love of God 
 but their own transgressions ; neither sword, nor famine, 
 nor peril, nor principalities, nor powers, can separate them 
 from the gospel. They know in whom they believe. 
 Who could convince Jacob of the fallacy of visions, after 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 163 
 
 what he experienced at Beth ell Who could dissuade 
 Peter from the faith of miracles, after witnessing the 
 lame man healed at the gate of the temple ? Would 
 David or his mighty men doubt the power of God, after 
 a single individual had lifted up his spear and slew eight 
 hundred at one time 1 Would mobbing and imprisonment 
 force Sampson to abandon his supposed delusion, after he 
 had put to flight an army of thousands 1 No ; vain hope 
 of all the adversaries to miracles ! 
 
 How long shall men wage a war of scandal, extermi- 
 nation, and massacre against the advocates of miracles 1 
 Yet the nineteenth century blush to hear the undeni- 
 able charge 1 yea, the Christendom of the nineteenth 
 century has espoused the old persecutors' warfare, as 
 keenly as the persecutors of Stephen, Daniel, and Moses, 
 Are they so forgetful of all sacred and profane history as 
 not to know that they are fighting the battles of Cain, 
 Esau, Jannes and Jambres, Judas, and Herod, over again $ 
 The former persecutors fought against new revelations, 
 and the latter persecutors do the same the former Saints 
 were called lying, blasphemous impostors, and the Latter- 
 day Saints are called the same. There always was an 
 attempt to crush former Saints by scandalizing their char- 
 acter, robbing and slaying them the same luckless at- 
 tempt is again renewed in the nineteenth century. 
 
 Almost anything can be tolerated sooner than the 
 admission that the God of miracles and angels reigns again 
 on the earth. Bible Saints never lived in any other age 
 than an age of miracles, visions, and angels. They knew 
 that true Saints never would live in any other age. They 
 knew that the gospel could not be communicated to any 
 people of any age without revelation ; for therein is the 
 righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. A gos- 
 
164 LETTERS BY 
 
 pel without revelation is no gospel. A gospel without the 
 gifts and power of the Holy Ghost and the ministry of 
 angels, is no gospel. There cannot be found the first in- 
 stance of a true minister of God, throughout the whole 
 record of inspiration, who did not possess the gift of in- 
 spiration and the spirit of prophecy. No man can say 
 that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Holy Ghost ; and the 
 Holy Ghost leads every man, who is loyal to His dictates, 
 into all truth, sooner or later. The deep things of God, 
 and the keys of divine power, are available to him. By 
 obedience he is sure to reach the measure of the power 
 and wisdom attained by Christ himself the manifold 
 wisdom of GOD, even, is to be possessed and shown forth 
 by the Church. 
 
 Bible Saints were always familiar with the ministra- 
 tion of angels. And it is only such as are wholly unlike 
 Bible Saints who are not familiar with the ministration 
 of angels. Those who are unlike Bible Saints have 
 always, in all ages, denied the ministry of angels, and gift 
 of prophecy, and healing, in their own day. And it is a 
 certain test and evidence, that a man is not born of the 
 Spirit when he denies these things ; for no man that has the 
 Spirit of God can speak lightly of God ; but he will 
 extol his power for himself, and not for another. Men 
 that have not the Spirit of God may tell what great 
 things faith wrought in former ages, but can tell nothing 
 from their own experience of the same power. It is, 
 indeed, a marvellous thing, that men should affect to 
 regard "Bible piety" as a standard or copy, which all 
 are bound to imitate, and at the same time adopt an 
 inferior rule of piety that discards and abrogates all the 
 more conspicuous and powerful features of primitive 
 piety ! How they can have the temerity and effrontery 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 165 
 
 to impose upon a community a system of religion, that is 
 the counterpart of Bible piety, I am at a loss to conceive. 
 A gospel without immediate and accompanying revelation ! 
 Who ever heard of such a thing, except from transgres- 
 sors sitting in the region and shadow of death? No Bible 
 Saint ever saw such a thing in his day. Neither Abel 
 nor Enoch, Abraham nor Moses, David nor Peter, ever 
 saw such a gospel in their day. The only gospel that 
 
 k these men ever knew of or fellowshipped, was a gospel 
 distinguished by revelations, visions, and angels. Such a 
 gospel rejoiced their hearts, because it was the power of 
 God, and wisdom of God. It nerved the arm of Sampson, 
 so that scores and hundreds of men could no more stand 
 before his might than before a volcanic eruption, or an 
 avalanche from, the mountain. It gave elasticity to David, 
 so that he could leap a wall, or rush through a troop. It 
 struck with blindness the mobbers of Sodom ; opened 
 prison gates to Peter ; cursed Elymas with blindness ; 
 enabled men to walk unsinged through the fiery burning 
 of the furnace, heated seven-fold hotter than usual ! This, 
 sir, is the gospel, and the only gospel. It exhibits the 
 power of God, and the wisdom and might of God. Any 
 other gospel is a curse to men, and a stink in the nose of 
 God. Angels have once tried to preach another gospel ; 
 and what has been the result of their efforts 1 They have 
 been hurled down and are even now reserved in chains 
 under darkness, to the judgment of the great day ; and 
 those who first began to preach modern Christianity have 
 doubtless shared a doom scarcely less awful. 
 
 The first step stone to modern Christianity was laid 
 on the smoking ruins of primitive Christianity. The Chris- 
 tian enemies to new revelations and miracles, actually 
 waded through the blood of apostles and prophets, in 
 
166 LETTERS BY 
 
 order to establish the system of anti-revelation. And did 
 their descendants and abettors realize the bloody and 
 accursed origin of that system that wars against new reve- 
 lations and prophets, and angels, many of them would 
 shudder at their blind zeal and self-righteousness ! God 
 winks at the conduct of the latter, because they know 
 not what they do ; but he commands all men everywhere 
 to repent, else he will hold them guilty of all the blood 
 that has been shed from the days of righteous Abel till 
 now. God is my witness that I speak the truth in Christ 
 Jesus and lie not. 
 
 The history of modern Christianity, from the day 
 when the first martyr fell under its bloody hatred, is a 
 history of contention, persecution, and massacre, that 
 causes all heaven to weep. Rivers of blood have flowed 
 in its wake. Crimination and re-crimination from the 
 pulpit and the press, have agitated the people, from the 
 throne down to the otherwise peaceful cottage. The 
 battlefield has been soaked with the blood of its victims, 
 and it is difficult to tell whether Catholic or Protestant 
 domination can count the most victims, except as one 
 may have held a longer and stronger ascendancy than the- 
 other. The first two or three centuries were bloody 
 beyond description. All denominations recoil at the his- 
 tory of their pedigree during this early and bloody period. 
 The links in the chain of supposed apostolic succession 
 are so bloody, that even the " dark ages" cannot conceal 
 their crimson hue. The period when this famous chain 
 of succession has not been colored with human gore, is 
 short. The records of the suffering Waldenses, in the 
 valleys of Piedmont, will always tell a tale of woe, at 
 which humanity must blush. The history of the Protest- 
 ant Reformation in Germany and England, including the? 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 167 
 
 massacre of sixty thousand Protestants in France, at one 
 time, is a serious comment on the pseudo apostolic line of 
 priesthood. But when Protestantism came into power, 
 under Henry and Elizabeth, it proved to a demonstration 
 that the Protestants had the same priesthood handed 
 down through seas of human gore ; excommunicating, 
 torturing, and killing Catholic heretics in like manner as 
 the Catholics had previously done to others. * 
 
 The United States of America were first settled by 
 fugitives from the intolerance and bigoted persecution 
 of the mother country ; and it now becomes no wonder 
 that after all this tragic drama of inhuman and brutal 
 outrages for near eighteen hundred years, the chil- 
 dren of them that slew the prophets, should deny the 
 need of any further revelations, and also of any more 
 apostles and miracles ! But, sir, the Heavens are more 
 compassionate. The Heavens feel the need to give 
 further revelation, lest the whole earth be speedily des- 
 troyed through the abominations of this mother of harlots 
 and her numerous progeny. 
 
 There are thousands of honest hearted people that 
 deserve a better destiny than to be made the- deluded 
 prey and spoil of such abominations, under the flattering 
 
 * 1. It was death lo make a new Catholic priest within the 
 kingdom. 2. It was death for a Catholic priest to come into the 
 kingdom from abroad. 3. It was death to harbor a Catholic priest 
 coming from abroad. 4. It was death to confess to such a priest. 
 5. It was death for any priest to say mass. 6. It was death for any 
 one to hear mass. 7. It was death for any one to deny, or not to 
 swear, if called on, that this woman (Elizabeth) was the head of the 
 church of Christ. 8. It was an offence punishable by heavy fine not 
 to go to the Protestant church, 250, equal to 3,250 of present 
 English money. Penal Statutes passed in the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
168 LETTERS BY 
 
 name of Christianity. It is to such these letters are 
 designed to be a benefit. It is in vain for Protestants to 
 charge the bloody axe of persecution against the Catho- 
 lics, or for one sect of Protestants to charge and vilify 
 another sect. Knox and Calvin were relentless, if not 
 actually murderous enemies of the Catholics ; and there 
 is scarcely a consequential Protestant sect in England, or 
 the United States of America, that has not proven out 
 their shameful and bloody pedigree by acts of banish- 
 ment, hanging, confiscation of property, or proscription 
 of caste. 
 
 These charges against the Christianity that has 
 sprung up since the days of revelation, are capable of 
 the most undeniable proof. It is no marvel that intelli- 
 gent and high minded men in every country have become 
 so skeptical towards the prevailing religions of the day. 
 The skepticism of France was a misnomer ; it was not 
 in reality a warfare against the true Bible, but against 
 the horrid impositions supposed to be deducible from the 
 Bible. If the Bible had been fairly represented by the 
 true church, France would never have waged such a 
 bloody war against it as it did in the days of its revolu- 
 tion. The illuminati of France had sense enough to 
 detect the fooleries and impositions of priestcraft, and 
 the nonsensical notion of a God without body or parts, 
 and in their misguided rage they mistook the Bible to be 
 the source of these false religions. 
 
 The foregoing is only a cursory hint of the bloody 
 character of modern Christianity, from the time when it 
 slew the apostles who held the keys of revelation, and 
 has ever since denied the need of any further revelation ; 
 for a hundred volumes of the size of the Bible, would 
 not suffice to detail each instance where men and women 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 169 
 
 have been whipped, hung, ripped open, or gibbeted, or 
 burnt, or their ears bored, and their faces branded with 
 hot irons. The massacres of France, half-murdered 
 Ireland, Germany, and England, if written in detail, 
 would make an imposing library. Fortunate for human- 
 ity's sake, that no one religious power has any greater 
 predominance than it has ; else the want of religious 
 checks and balances would even now be as fatal to the 
 minority as the exhalations of the Upas. Yet, after all 
 this, Christianity claims to be tolerant and catholic ; and 
 her bishops, enthroned in a salary of more than 27,000 
 sterling per annum, claim a regular succession from St. 
 Peter. They might better have said from the murderers 
 of St. Peter. Oh, shame on the cry of apostolic succes- 
 sion ! What a transformation Peter must have under- 
 gone by this chain of succession ! His gifts of discern- 
 ment and healing gone ! The spirit of prophecy and 
 tongues has left him ! The power to open prison doors, 
 and of converse with angels, has left him impotent as 
 other men ! Marvellous falling off of everything but 
 salaries, and pomp, and persecution ! Many suppose 
 that Christ's Church must have been perpetuated on the 
 earth, because it is said that the gates of hell should not 
 prevail against it. Strange and fallacious argument for 
 the continuance of the Church ! Can it be supposed for 
 a moment, that the Church is prevailed against, because 
 it is removed from the earth 1 Jesus was removed from 
 this life and gave up the ghost, but was he therefore 
 prevailed against 1 Did he not triumph over death, and 
 ascend up on high, and lead captivity captive 1 Did he 
 not thereby acquire the possession of all things in heaven 
 and upon earth 1 
 
 It should not be supposed, that because all the 
 
170 LETTERS BY 
 
 Saints were put to death, or became extinct from the 
 earth, that they have any less dominion over wicked 
 men and fallen angels ; on the other hand, by removal 
 they increase in power and glory, and have authority 
 increased upon their heads. The generations of the 
 wicked have been prevailed against, ever since the Church 
 left the earth. The curses that have followed the Jewish 
 and Gentile enemies of the Church, from the days of the 
 primitive Church till now, are perfectly visible to any 
 but such as have eyes and see not, and ears and hear 
 not. The Jews and Gentiles are like two inebriates, 
 each sees clearly how very drunk the other is, but dis- 
 covers not his own intoxicated and besotted condition. 
 The Gentiles say that the Jews, through transgression, 
 have lost the Urim and Thummim, and Ephod and 
 Teraphim, and been proscribed and banished, and thou- 
 sands killed and scattered, as a bye-word and proverb, 
 among all nations. On the other hand, the Gentiles 
 have lost the gifts and blessings of the Spirit, with all 
 the holy order of apostles and prophets ; and wiping the 
 slush from their bloody hands, say they have no need of 
 them. 
 
 Alas, sir, when shall the veil that covers all nations 
 (both Jews and Gentiles) be removed, and self-righteous 
 religionists confess that their sins have separated, be- 
 tween them and their God, and hid his face from them ? 
 When will the sectarian priesthood, that now arrogantly 
 say, we are rich and increased in goods, and have need 
 of nothing, have humility enough to confess that they 
 are blind, and naked, and destitute of all things, seeing 
 that they are without the gifts of the Spirit, and the 
 key of knowledge (revelation) and the authority of the 
 priesthood 1 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 171 
 
 I know it is very difficult to convince sectarians that 
 they are not a pious people. " Why," say they, " do we 
 not manifest much more fervency of spirit, and studied 
 sacredness of deportment, and punctilious exactness, in 
 observing the Sabbath than Latter-day Saints 3 Do we 
 not show to all men great self-abasement in confessing our 
 sins to be like crimson and scarlet, and our iniquities to 
 be like mountains in magnitude ] Are we not scrupu- 
 lously guarded against all levity and trifling conversation ? 
 Are not our preachers very grave, and apparently devoted 
 and holy in their bearing *? Do not their frequent sighs 
 and insuppressible groans, as their spirits are weighed 
 down under the conviction of the worth of souls, and the 
 vast responsibility of the Lord's watchmen, indicate pro- 
 found piety 1 Do they not fast often and pray much ? 
 Are they not orthodox and evangelical, insisting much 
 upon the new birth and a radical change of heart *? " How 
 can it be that a people of this description are not pious 
 and exceedingly holy? The preachers speak, and even 
 walk in measured carefulness and peculiarity of manner, 
 so that a preacher is generally known by his walk, and 
 dialect, and sober, grave countenance. 
 
 Now, sir, when I have conceded most liberally to the 
 above, what does it all prove ? Why, sir, one act of obe- 
 dience to God is better than the most rigid conformity to 
 all the precepts of men. The more devoted and sincere 
 people are in error, so much more agreeable to the prince 
 of darkness. What a meagre atonemeut does a demure 
 countenance, and sanctimonious sighs and groans, and 
 self-loathings make, for transgressing the law of God, and 
 changing an ordinance ! Take, for instance^ the ordi- 
 nance of laying on of hands for healing the sick. Had 
 this ordinance been perpetuated in the Church, millions 
 
172 LETTERS BY 
 
 upon millions of the human family might have been saved 
 from premature death. Through this ordinance, Jesus 
 Christ has said, " they shall recover" Through the skep- 
 tical abandonment of this ordinance countless millions 
 have not lived out half of their days. How much com- 
 pensation does it afford to the countless victims of dis- 
 obedience, for men to assume a grave, long face, and strive 
 to elongate the name of God by gracious sounds, as 
 though the name of God was too short without being 
 stretched for such holy lips. 
 
 Take another ordinance, viz., the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost, by laying on hands. What a flimsy and misera- 
 ble equivalent for the absence of the Comforter, and 
 spirit of prophecy and revelation, are seminaries of learn- 
 ing, and a multitude of oblations, and prayers, and fre- 
 quent fasting ! It is too much, sir, like the drunken boy, 
 who, having broken his master's bottle, boastingly claim- 
 ed credit for saving the cork ! 
 
 Neglect of the weighty matters of laws and ordinan- 
 ces is to be atoned for by pious breathings in private 
 journals for posthumous publication ; and by elaborate 
 sermons and comments they make plain things profound- 
 ly obscure ; and every year increases the necessity of 
 additional learning, in order to disentangle the profound 
 knottiness of theological disquisitions and exegetical com- 
 ments. The very religious opposers of Jesus Christ, 
 whose hands were accessory to his death, had a most fer- 
 vent and devout spirit, and were eminently pious ; but 
 the doctrine of new revelations, and the gifts of healing, 
 tongues, and prophecy ings, disturbed the equanimity of 
 their devout hearts, and their rage rose to the pitch of 
 desperation and blood-guiltiness. 
 
 No matter how much men confess, and pray, and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 173 
 
 sacrifice no matter how sincere and conscientious they 
 are in error, if their religion does not lead them to keep 
 the commands and ordinances of the true and living God, 
 their worship is vain, and their faith is vain. Except they 
 hearken to the law of God and the testimony of God, 
 there is no light in them. Sincerity is nothing without 
 obedience ; both wicked men and devils are sincere in 
 many things which God abhors. A man coming to the 
 forks of four roads might pray months and years to be 
 guided in choice of the right road, but if he would not 
 believe the testimony of the Lord's servant who should 
 tell him the only true road, he would still remain in 
 doubt and fear. 
 
 " Well," says a very strenuous objector, " now to end 
 all controversy, just show us f one real genuine miracle, 
 and I will thereupon believe, and be baptized, and forever 
 after hold my peace." Aye, indeed ! a very common sen- 
 timent, but a strange one coming from the lips of a pro- 
 fessed believer in the Bible. He that is no hypocrite, 
 but a true believer in the Bible, has the explicit promise 
 of God's own word, that miraculous signs shall follow 
 them that believe. Now, if they do not follow believers, 
 then God is a liar, and no longer worthy of confidence ; 
 but if God is true, and the signs do not follow, then your 
 faith is vain, and will not save from damnation. " But," 
 says the objector, " miracles were anciently wrought to 
 prove the divine mission of the servants of God. Now 
 prove to me that you are a servant of God, by the attest- 
 ation of an indisputable miracle, for in apostolic days ? 
 even wicked men said, a notable miracle hath been 
 done, and we cannot deny it." Yes, very true, and 
 other wicked men have testified to the same in these 
 days, and sometimes they would deny it, and alternately 
 
174 LETTERS BY 
 
 confess it, according to the spirit that was upon them. 
 Saul, the king, could tell the truth about David at one 
 time, and at another deny it at one time worship the 
 youthful supplanter, and at another time thirst for his 
 blood. Miracles may sometimes have been the occasion 
 of leading persons to believe the word of God, but their 
 prominent design was never in any age of the world to 
 introduce new revelation. 
 
 Moses was a believer before God spoke to him in the 
 burning bush. John the Baptist, who introduced the 
 Christian dispensation, and was the harbinger of Christ, 
 probably never saw any miracle, except at the descent of 
 the dove at the baptism of Jesus. " John wrought no 
 miracle." Joseph Smith was a believer before the angel 
 which John and the other apostles spoke of, ever visited 
 him. Miracles may confirm the faith of such believers 
 as have the Holy Ghost confirmed upon them, whereby 
 they are able to distinguish between true and false mir- 
 acles. To others they often prove a snare and a trap. 
 
 While miracles confirmed the Hebrews in the faith 
 of God, miracles also confirmed the Egyptians in the faith 
 of Satan. Many who witnessed the miracles of Jesus 
 were as keen for mobocracy and murder as the bloodiest. 
 This parade about miracles, being designed to introduce 
 Christianity, and confirm and attest all genuine revela- 
 tion, is a humbug that has always been started whenever 
 a new revelation was given to man. The pious Jews in- 
 sisted constantly that the disciples should prove their 
 authority by miracles. It was about the first and last 
 thing that they ever said to Jesus : " WORK A MIR- 
 ACLE ! " " come down from the cross and we will 
 believe." He told them, in language of the keenest re- 
 buke, that they should jiot be seeking after " signs." He 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 175 
 
 told them that it indicated a wicked and adulterous 
 spirit to ask him to give them miraculous signs. The 
 devil and devout Jews fairly made game of Christ and his 
 disciples, because when they were asked to do miracles 
 they refused. But still the devil, and many ministers 
 and churches, continued to demand signs and miracles, 
 and stormed and raged greatly because these men would 
 never work miracles in a way to satisfy them. 
 
 These sagacious and pious adversaries of Jesus were 
 always able to detect some flaw some cunning artifice 
 or trick of the devil in whatever Christ or the apostles 
 did (as they said). Now modern divines "and churches, 
 taking up this old cudgel against the Saints, have even 
 asked Latter-day Saints to drink a cup of poison. 
 " Drink it," says one " now drink, or we will not be- 
 lieve you are sent of God. Aye, now we know you are 
 not sent of God to preach ! " Forgetting that the first 
 sign-seeker once said, if you are the Son of God, " cast 
 thyself down from this pinnacle, for it is written that he 
 shall give his angels charge concerning thee." 
 
 Now, sir, if irony were admissible on a subject of 
 this nature, I would tauntingly add how Satan did trap 
 this impostor ! He drove him into an extremity for pre- 
 tending to work miracles, didn't he ] But I forbear ; let 
 him that hath ears to hear, hear what the Spirit saith 
 unto the sign-seekers ! 
 
 It may seem marvellous to some if I should say that 
 Satan can work signs and wonders far surpassing the 
 greatest knowledge of men. The power of Satan has 
 probably never been fully exhibited to men on the earth. 
 The grand adversary of heaven and earth has not warred 
 against even the the throne of the Eternal God, without 
 acquiring some acquaintance with those powers and keys 
 
176 LETTERS BY 
 
 of knowledge with which he has been baffled by the Al- 
 mighty from the beginning. If believers had to contend 
 only with flesh and blood, or mere men in mortal flesh, 
 they might rejoice in the hope of a far more speedy 
 victory ; but, on the other hand, they have to contend 
 against principalities and powers of a supernatural 
 order. Spirits as much superior in power and cunning 
 to the worst men in the flesh, as the full grown man is to 
 the slender child. Men have acquired some knowledge 
 of the laws that govern fire, air, and water ; and some 
 imperfect knowledge of the laws that govern minds, or 
 the spirits of men ; but the knowledge of fallen angels 
 and outcast spirits, is sufficient to astonish and confound 
 the wisest of men that are not inspired with the wisdom 
 of God. The Satanic powers have always excited the 
 greatest wonders contemporaneous with the wonders 
 wrought by the servants of God. In the days of Moses, 
 and also of Jesus Christ, men were inspired by Satan 
 with more than mere human powers ; and in this last 
 dispensation, wicked men, that yield themselves to become 
 the willing instruments of unrighteousness to the devil, 
 will again acquire skill in cunning and deceivable arts, 
 whereby they will bring down fire from heaven, and con- 
 found all those who know not the laws and powers of 
 spirits, and the extensive influence that the prince of the 
 power of the air has over the natural elements. Men 
 who do not need power from God to cast out devils will 
 find themselves made fast in his chains beyond the power 
 of extricating themselves. But while the Saints have 
 not power of themselves to detect the lying wonders of 
 Satan, and withstand them yet, through faith, and the 
 keys and gifts of revelation from God, they will be able 
 to stand and overcome ; and the power of God will be 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 177 
 
 greater than the cunning of the devil. But sign-seekers 
 and the enemies of new revelations will be arraigned under 
 the banner of the father of lies, and believe a lie that 
 they may be damned. Jesus found foul spirits and devils 
 so thick, in his days, that he had occasion frequently to 
 cast them out of persons, and also to empower others to 
 cast out devils. Some instances are recorded where many 
 of these fallen spirits took possession of a single person 
 at one and at the same time. No less than seven occupi- 
 ed one female. Now, modern Christianity must be highly 
 favored, if they are so much better than primitive Saints, 
 that they can escape the annoyance of these multiplied 
 and troublesome spirits. 
 
 How is it, sir, that devils do not trouble modern 
 churches, as they did the primitive Saints 1 Are they 
 done away too ? Miracles and devils done away ! The 
 canon of Scripture closed ! Miracles and devils ceased ! 
 Happy Christianity ; thy warfare has ceased thy troubles 
 are ended ! Blessed rest ! Joyful reign of righteousness ! 
 As many ways to heaven now as there are eyelets in a sieve ! 
 Oh, brother, blush for thy theology, and for the doleful 
 conclusions to which thy creeds have brought thee ! 
 
 The reign of Satan, for near eighteen hundred years, 
 has almost effaced every relic of Bible truth from the 
 earth. Every thing that is valuable and powerful in the 
 ancient system of prophets is done away, and the devil 
 himself is supposed, by many, to be merely the evil pas- 
 sions of men. But, sir, the devil is k not dead nor done 
 away. But the gospel of apostles will rouse him up again; 
 and knowing that his time is short, he will show his spite 
 again on those bodies from which he shall be expelled by 
 the apostolic priesthood, in choking, tearing, and casting 
 them down to the ground. And who shall be able to 
 M 
 
178 LETTERS BY 
 
 stand, when deceptive miracles, and lying wonders, far 
 greater than have ever been known since the foundation 
 of the world, shall be practised, and deceive many 1 
 
 Now, sir, before I close this appeal, suffer me to 
 allude to the intolerant and cruel persecution of the Saints 
 in Illinois. The nineteenth century, and the great repub- 
 lic of the United States of North America, mnst have the 
 pages of their history blackened with the record of a per- 
 secution that classes with the bloody acts of Nero and Ca- 
 ligula. From fifteen to twenty thousand citizens of the 
 United States were forced in an illegal, violent and in- 
 human manner to forsake their homes and possessions in 
 the State of Illinois, the greater part of them during the 
 inclemency of the winter of 1846. A large and populous 
 city of eleven thousand and thirty- five souls of men, 
 women and children has been compulsorily evacuated, 
 under the dread of inevitable massacre if they persisted 
 to occupy their firesides and homes. 
 
 Continued acts of house-burning and mid-day assas- 
 sinations, and midnight murder, and large gatherings of 
 armed and lawless forces, with heavy pieces of artillery, 
 necessitated this numerous people to leave their flourish- 
 ing city, merchandise, and farms, in the most inclement 
 period of the year, for the purpose of self-preservation. 
 
 This glaring act of expatriation, robbery, arson and 
 assassination, was not done in a corner. It did not occur 
 among the barbarous and half-civilized portions of the 
 globe. It did not transpire in the dominions of the Ot- 
 toman, where the Koran and Islamism must father such 
 inhuman deeds. It was not done in the jungles of Afri- 
 ca, where kidnapping and inhuman enslavement of men 
 have called forth the repudiating censure of all nations. 
 It was not done by clannish wandering Arabs, whose 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 179 
 
 hands are proverbially against every man as a profession. 
 Neither was it done in Papal dominions, nor under the 
 despotic sway of the Sublime Porte, or the autocrat of 
 Eussia. 
 
 Neither did the red men of the wilderness spring 
 from their thicket with a war whoop, and tomahawk, and 
 scalping-knife, to perpetrate this bloody outrage ! But 
 hold still, modern Christianity ! The inquisitor of blood 
 is in pursuit of thee, even to the gates of thy stronghold. 
 Thou canst not cover thy hiding place with the screen of 
 Papacy, for she was not there. Thou canst not say that 
 the autocrat of the Greek religion, with iron despotism, 
 cast these men into prison for teaching the Bible. Neither 
 was it the sword of the Mussulman propagating his 
 religion. There was no Mahometanism in Illinois. Neither 
 canst thou charge it upon the Monarchical Institutions of 
 Europe or established Episcopacy. " Thou art the man." 
 Free Eepublican Christianity, you did it ! In thy youth- 
 ful beauty, the rising pride and envy of nations, thou 
 didst it ! Thy priests and laymen rose from their devout 
 knees, and lighted the fagot and torch of the incendiary. 
 The sick man and (gravis) mother begged for God's sake, 
 and for humanity's sake, you would spare their humble 
 cottages which their brawny hands had reared in the 
 midst of loneliness, want, and insalubrity of climate. 
 Yet their cries were unheeded. They had but one alter- 
 native, either to be thrust out upon miasmatic ground, or 
 remain and burn with their habitations. The man that 
 persisted to watch his stack of grain against the incendi- 
 ary, was shot dead in the act. Durfee's blood crimsons 
 the skirts of Eepublican Christianity in Illinois. Where 
 were the rulers and governors 1 Did they hear of it 1 
 46 Oh ! it's nobody but Mormons !" Where was the legis- 
 
180 LETTERS BY 
 
 lature of Illinois when the Smiths were shot in prison, in 
 the sight of all Carthage, by hundreds in a painted gang I 
 the governor threatening to destroy the city in person if 
 they did not keep the peace, and deliver the Smiths for 
 trial ! What did the supreme legislature, delegates from 
 more than four hundred thousand people of Illinois, in 
 fresh review of these scenes of assassination, do ? They 
 repealed the city charter of Nauvoo. The mob made one 
 gap in the law by assassination, and the state government, 
 following the example, threw down the whole enclosure 
 that guarded the rights and privileges of thousands by 
 repealing the charter. Where were the Illinois priests of 
 modern Christianity at that time! A distinguished clergy- 
 man of the city of Quincy, in their defence, said to the 
 writer, " We (the clergy) had nothing to do with those 
 scenes in Hancock." Aye, indeed ! neither had the 
 pharisaic priests anything to do with the robbed and 
 wounded man, but the good Samaritan picked him up 
 and carried him to an inn, and paid his bill. But Jesus 
 Christ had to do with making an eternal record of the 
 difference between the conduct of the good Samaritan, 
 and the hypocrite of high priestly profession. Even a 
 priest commanded the mob force in the final attack upon 
 the city, that expelled the remnant of Saints that were 
 too poor to get away sooner. This remnant were left 
 shelterless and sick, famishing upon the west bank of the 
 Mississippi, where the quails of heaven actually fed them 
 as they lay upon their couches, and in their wagons, in 
 the sight of both friends and foes. Hear it ! thou strong- 
 hold of modern Christianity ! say not what great things 
 you would do if you were not trammeled by the despotic 
 shackles of monarchical government ! A puritan Christi- 
 anity planted the tree of liberty on the solitary soil of 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 181 
 
 America, from choice seed of her own selection. After 
 foeing long nursed and watered by her numerous and 
 learned priesthood, these are the full grown fruits of it : 
 kidnapping, robbery, rapine, arson, and murder. 
 
 Systematic efforts were made, more than once, to 
 prevent the influx of provisions into Nauvoo, in order 
 that famine, in a land of plenty, might coerce the inha- 
 bitants to flee their city, in building which they had 
 sweat and toiled, and many had died. Time and again, 
 steamboats were hailed and searched, in order to stop 
 barrels of flour from going to Nauvoo, that had been 
 purchased by our citizens in a time of scarcity at St. 
 Louis. And provisions and other necessaries, had actu- 
 ally to be freighted for Madison and other river towns, 
 in order to escape detection. Teams loaded with pork 
 from inland counties were arrested, and turned to other 
 markets, as though it were an acknowledged siege for 
 the purpose of causing starvation. I know these things 
 to be true, and my blood warms with mingled pity and 
 indignation at the recollection of scenes of which I have 
 been an eye-witness. 
 
 At this time, and in this day of revivals, where 
 were the ten thousands of priests that officiate at the 
 altar ] Where were the innumerable converts to modern 
 Christianity ? What part did they all take towards regu- 
 lating public opinion and preventing human slaughter t 
 The sons and daughters of the puritans were there in 
 affliction for the gospel's sake ; and no less than two 
 venerable pensioners, Hatch and Hinsdale, that fought in 
 the revolutionary struggle for American Independence, 
 were there, and were driven from r their country for 
 maintaining the right of conscience. 
 
 Now, who ever heard in all America of a priest 
 
182 LETTERS BY 
 
 pleading publicly against these outrages, and importu- 
 ning the throne of God in behalf of these suffering sons 
 and daughters of God ? Modern American Christianity 
 must redouble her gracious sanctimonious looks, in order 
 to cover up this horrid indifference to lawless violence 
 and suffering humanity. 
 
 The statesman that fears not God, nor regards man, 
 may have some semblance of apology for his indiffer- 
 ence ; but American churches have none. But, where 
 were the statesmen that make high professions of patri- 
 otism, and sensitive regard for the national honor of the 
 United States 1 Could no disgrace accrue to the nation, 
 when twenty thousand peaceable, industrious citizens 
 were violently robbed of millions of property without a 
 shadow of requital ] What security can foreign emi- 
 grants have for colonizing on the western lands, if whole 
 cities and towns may be depopulated at a single blast of 
 the popular caprice with impunity ] What regard can 
 American statesmen be supposed to entertain for the 
 sacred and inalienable rights of the people, while no man 
 ever opened his mouth either in the halls of Congress, or 
 of State legislatures, against the most palpable and gross 
 infractions of the Constitution that ever transpired since 
 the existence of the United States government 1 
 
 The Constitution guarantees to every man the right 
 to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, 
 and without molestation. It promises the right of pro- 
 perty, and the defence and protection of peaceable and 
 unoffending citizens ; but millions of property have been 
 illegally plundered, and thousands of patriotic and worthy 
 citizens have been deprived of the liberty of common 
 citizens, and forced into the wilds of the mountains in 
 the most inhuman manner. Had any foreign nation 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 183 
 
 committed a small part of this damage upon their com- 
 mercial interests, would not the national executive have 
 demanded redress for spoliations, even at the mouth of 
 the cannon 1 
 
 But I would not have you think, sir, by these 
 remarks, that I entertain any acrimonious feelings to- 
 wards my country. No ; far from it. I love my native 
 land, though cruelly exiled from it, because it is in that 
 land that liberty is destined to flourish above all lands. 
 That land has been set apart in the councils of eternity, 
 and dedicated as the nursery of virtue and religious 
 liberty. That is emphatically a land of promise. Its 
 very soil is hallowed above all others, for the literal pro- 
 duction of truth. There the blessings promised to Joseph 
 are to be first displayed and enjoyed. There the ensign 
 is to be first lifted up to all nations ; and all nations, or 
 the upright of all nations, are to flow together there. 
 Every description of product and variety of climate is 
 there. Notwithstanding the degeneracy and corruption 
 of the civilized portions of that land, there is more tolera- 
 tion in the government and constitution, and more facili- 
 ties for the introduction and spread of gospel truth in 
 that land, than any other under the whole heaven. It 
 is the very place, and probably the only place on this 
 planet, where the true and eternal kingdom of God could 
 get a footing, and survive the blasts of persecution, and 
 the rage of fallen and apostate spirits of men and devils. 
 Hitherto the Saints of God have been slaughtered, or 
 compelled, like the city of Enoch, to forsake the earth. 
 
 But the Book of Mormon, and the angelic message 
 to the young man Joseph, have dug the grave of apos- 
 tacy, and laid the axe at the root of false religions. The 
 earth is destined to enjoy a reign of righteousness, and 
 
184 LETTERS BY 
 
 a happy period of rest. Trutli must and will prevail, 
 and the kingdom of our God will be established in the 
 mountains of Israel, just where all the prophets that 
 have spoken of it, saw it rise and flourish, never more 
 to be thrown down. 
 
 "When thousands that now compose the Church, and 
 who have proved before the American people that the 
 cords of their union cannot be sundered by the hottest 
 thunderbolts of persecution, are assembled in the remote, 
 extensive, and fertile valleys of the almost unknown 
 mountains, they will be for ever invincible. With their 
 peaceable and inoffensive habits, which have character- 
 ized their movements from the beginning, no people will 
 ever be likely to assail them again, till their numbers 
 and strength will be too forbidding. The accessions to 
 this people have never been so great as during the last 
 six months. The certainty that this people will survive 
 all opposition, and triumph over every obstacle, was 
 never so palpably manifest as at this very moment. 
 Famine and Avar, pestilence, bankruptcy, treachery, and 
 distrust, are causing panic and fear among the nations. 
 Those who love peace and retirement, and abhor con- 
 tention, crime, and revolution, must seek an asylum 
 among the Saints, for it cannot be found elsewhere on 
 the earth. The Lord God himself will stir up the nations 
 to anger and strife, and thrash them as with a flail, and 
 sift them as with a sieve. And the honest in heart will 
 flee to the Lord's hiding place, in ships and in companies, 
 even as clouds and as doves to their windows. 
 
 While the unity of great and powerful nations is 
 undergoing a rapid conversion into fractional weakness, 
 the strength of Israel is accumulating and augmenting 
 beyond all former precedent. The materials of which 
 
ORSON STENCER. 185 
 
 this body of people is composed are not like the hetero- 
 geneous masses that constitute other nations ; but they 
 are select and chosen ones out of every nation whose 
 views religious, political, social, and pecuniary are 
 previously all cast in the mould of unity ; like the 
 materials of Solomon's temple, they are all fitted for 
 their place and destination before they are brought toge- 
 ther. The ten millions of Mexico could not stand even 
 before the ten thousand of the United States ; because 
 the latter were united and subject to orderly discipline ; 
 while the former were distracted and divided. The 
 hosts of Israel have never yet offered the first forcible 
 resistance to the violent and lawless assaults of their 
 enemies ; yet the principles of self-defence are alike com- 
 patible with their feelings and their faith, and by no 
 means obnoxious to the practice of Abraham, Joshua, or 
 David, or even Jesus Christ. 
 
 When governments become too weak or perverse to 
 protect their subjects, it then becomes the divine and 
 inalienable right of all men to protect themselves by all 
 lawful and just means. Whatever lessons of forbear- 
 ance and non-resistance Jesus Christ might have left on 
 record, suited to particular circumstances, there is a 
 predominance of Scriptural instructions in favor of self- 
 defence, and innumerable examples to prove that the 
 "Lord is a man of war." Time would fail to make 
 mention of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Sampson, David, 
 and Barak. The prayer of Sampson was, that he might 
 destroy his enemies ; and God not only heard his prayer, 
 liut gave him strength to fulfill his request ; out of an 
 opposing army, God even commissioned one of his angels 
 (not so holy a personage as some modern Christians) to 
 kill one hundred and eighty-five thousand in one night ! 
 
186 LETTERS BY 
 
 Indeed ! say you ; could God do such a bloody deed? 
 Surely ; and he that causelessly strikes the second cheek 
 will be repaid, for " the day of vengeance is in his (God's) 
 heart ;" but those who proudly say, that they have no 
 further need of revelation, will find that day to come 
 upon them unawares, even as a "thief in the night." 
 
 Sir, Zion is from henceforth and forever invincible 
 she has run the gauntlet and is safe. After being sub- 
 merged in a series of sufferings for seventeen years, she 
 now stands purified, tried, and made white ; "she has pas- 
 sed the baptismal ordeal of suffering, and power is given 
 unto her to withstand and overcome ; " she has put on 
 her beautiful garments, and the mighty God of Jacob is 
 her strength ; the keys of power are given unto her ; and 
 the angels of God camp around about her ; she is en- 
 trenched in the munition of rocks, even the everlasting 
 hills ; by her the ensign of truth and liberty is lifted up 
 to all nations ; the pure and wise of all nations may safe" 
 ly rally round her standard, and go up to the house of 
 the God of Jacob, and learn his ways. God called his 
 Son out of Egypt after persecutors had shot out the 
 arrows of their wrath in vain. If God's people have 
 been able to stand under persecutions while in the midst 
 of their enemies, much more may they expect to abide 
 when separated by the distance of month's journeyings, 
 and by lofty mountains covered with perpetual snow. 
 The mightiest nations already heave with convulsive 
 throes, and travail in great pain ; they have enough to 
 do without wasting their blood, and treasure, and unpro- 
 voked wrath upon the Saints ; and God will soften the 
 hearts of the nations for the good of his people, from 
 time to time, until their palaces and towers will be the 
 admiration and delight of all the ends of the earth. The 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 187 
 
 nucleus of the mightiest nation that ever flourished on 
 the earth is planted ; the rapidly rising greatness of this 
 people will constitute one of the greatest wonders of the 
 age ; all the elements of a great and mighty people have 
 been clearly demonstrated to belong to this people. 
 Union, it is said, is strength ; this has already become 
 proverbially a distinguishing feature of the Saints. 
 Driven, and scattered, and robbed in Ohio, Missouri, and 
 Illinois, they have readily re-assembled and re-united. 
 Knowledge is said to be power ; knowledge has been 
 acquired in the practical school of experience ; they are 
 almost universally familiar with the undisguised opera- 
 tions of the hearts of their fellow men. No people ever 
 had the same opportunity to learn the diversified motives 
 that govern the minds of men and women ; no people, as 
 a body, ever had the acquaintance with the laws, govern- 
 ment, and religion, and usages of civilized and barbarous 
 nations, which has been enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints. 
 No people of modern ages ever had their ingenuity and 
 physical ability so extensively taxed in order for self-sup- 
 port, and the acquisition of knowledge, and propagation 
 and defence of the truth. The moral virtues of forbear- 
 ance, long-suffering, fortitude, love to enemies, and self- 
 command under fiery temptations, have been stretched to 
 their utmost tension ; indeed, they are a tried people 
 the word of the Lord has tried them. They have kept 
 the commandments of God, and are not found wanting. 
 
 This, sir, is Zion, the care of angels, and the delight 
 of the Holy One of Israel ! Those who love righteous- 
 ness and retirement from the din of war, and from the 
 plague, and assassin, and incendiary, will seek her peaceful 
 gates, of every nation under the whole heaven. None 
 can injure this people^or war against them with impunity, 
 
188 LETTERS BY 
 
 for the Lord is their shield and defence. When ancient 
 Israel entered the land of Canaan, it is said that the 
 Lord caused the fear of them and the dread of them to 
 rest upon all the nations round about. The same God 
 now, will again cause all nations to dread the opposition. 
 of the people of the Saints of the Most High. 
 
 Sir, it need not be disguised that the armies of 
 heaven are leagued with the Saints in the covenant of 
 everlasting union. You are not ignorant of God's judg- 
 ments at the Eed Sea, or of the destruction of the com- 
 panies of fifty, and of his interposition in behalf of 
 Israel in the valley of Gibeon. Neither is his arm short- 
 ened now, that he cannot save ; His wonders have been 
 multiplied on every hand in this day, according to the 
 observation of thousands who are ready to attest that the 
 blind have been made to see, the deaf to hear, and the 
 palsied have been made sound, and many blasphemous 
 opposers have been visited with as swift and utter des- 
 truction as Ananias and Sapphira. 
 
 Now, sir, what more shall I say, in order to convince 
 you and all honest men, that God has set up his kingdom, 
 against which no power can possibly prevail 1 
 
 You kindly acknowledge that my testimony is credi- 
 ble ; all my numerous acquaintance must concur with you 
 in this acknowledgment. I have told you the truth as it 
 is in Christ Jesus, and as I expect to meet it at the final 
 bar of righteous retribution. My sufferings and expatri- 
 ation for the gospel's sake, are the seal of my testimony 
 in Christ- I have literally sacrificed wife, and houses, 
 and lands, for the truths which I have inculcated in this 
 volume. My motherless children are now in the wilder- 
 ness in their solitary cabin, surrounded with savage 
 tribes, and subject to privations that make a fathers heart 
 to bleed. Better men of whom the world is not worthy 
 
OllSON SPENCER. 189 
 
 have suffered even more in the same cause. I know this 
 to be the true gospel revealed from the heavens for the 
 salvation of this generation ; and all those whom it does 
 not save through faith, it will damn through unbelief. If 
 you have read these truths carefully, your final destiny 
 will hang on the decision you may make it is to you the 
 voice of God, and the warning of the servant of God. 
 Wait not for an angel of God to speak in your ear, or for 
 one to come from the dead ; if you hear not the servant 
 of God, neither will you be persuaded though one rose 
 from the dead. Not only your own salvation, but the 
 interests of your family and your^kindred will probably 
 be seriously affected by the decision you now make. 
 
 When the devout Jews, with reckless obstinacy, 
 said, " His blood be upon us and upon our children," you 
 know what afterward ensued down to this day. With 
 the knowledge which tbis gospel communicates, you can- 
 not be a neutral. The blood and sufferings not only of 
 the Saints of the nineteenth century, but also of all others 
 from the days of righteous Abel till now, will be charge- 
 able to you if you obey not this gospel ; if you reject 
 this gospel, your children's children, to the latest genera- 
 tion, will furever bewail the choice you may make. You 
 stand in some measure as the representative of your 
 posterity, therefore ponder well the decision you may 
 make. I know that you are surrounded by a knot of 
 priests, distinguished for the wisdom of schools and 
 seminaries ; and the obstinate creeds and usages of modern 
 Christianity hold over you a threatening rod of proscrip- 
 tion and slaughter ; but except you have courage to 
 escape, and sufficient love of truth to induce you to peril 
 even all things for the gospel, your die is cast, and your 
 doom is with the lost and damned forever. 
 
 I do not expect to coerce you by motives of fear, but 
 
190 LETTERS BY 
 
 I know that judgments will and do follow this gospel; 
 and knowing the terror of the Lord, I persuade I dare 
 not say less ; I would say more if the power of utterance 
 were given me. All is not right with you ; you acknow- 
 ledge that you do not understand the prophets and the 
 Apocalypse ; also that modern Christianity is weak, 
 divided, and contentious not having the power and 
 order of ancient prophets and apostles. Pause and con- 
 sider well before you reject the only light that can save 
 this generation ! Your old friend and acquaintance asks 
 you to pause. The deplorable prospect of your kindred 
 for generations to come, who^may be involved in the con- 
 sequences of your rebellion, requires you to pause ; the 
 interests of the denomination that look to you for spirit- 
 ual guidance, require you to consider well the decision 
 you may make. I know that you are in a strait place ; 
 Paul was once in a similar condition ; but the sterling 
 integrity of his heart saved him. He burst off the 
 shackles of false religions, and overleaped the religious 
 usages of ages, and received counsel and baptism at the 
 hands of the most despised people that ever lived. 
 
 But enough, perhaps, has been said ; what I say to 
 you, I say unto all men rulers^and subjects, priests and 
 people ! I have set before you life and death. If you 
 reject the gospel, I 'am innocent of your blood ; if you 
 receive it, glory, and honor, and immortality await you. 
 The apostolic fathers and the angels of God watch to 
 record your decision. With sentiments of high respect, 
 I subscribe myself, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 OKSON SPENCER 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 191 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 THE PATRIARCHAL ORDER. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, January 13th, 1853. 
 
 Eeverend and Dear Sir At our last interview, in 
 November last, you desired a more full and entire expres- 
 sion of my views, concerning the tenets of a people 
 whose notoriety is fast spreading among the nations of 
 the earth, and commanding their intense consideration. 
 I am fully aware, that if my views as to the doctrine of 
 the Patriarchal Order should fortunately obtain any ac- 
 ceptance with yourself, or an enlightened public, that 
 acceptance must be secured by the irresistible force of 
 truth and divine revelation. The usage of all Christian 
 nations, and the most inveterate prejudice, will rear their 
 most potent bulwarks against it. But I entertain this 
 encouragement, however, that the spirit of the age justi- 
 fies investigation into every subject that proposes to ame- 
 liorate the condition of the human family, whether it 
 regards domestic compact or political or strictly religious 
 organization. Domestic compact is the first order of all 
 social organization, and must even antecede all civil gov- 
 ernment, and contribute much to the genius and character 
 of the same. It is the basis, upon which every super- 
 structure of society must be reared. The laws regulating 
 marriage and divorce, and the license of sexual intercourse, 
 without any prescribed order of marriage at all, range in 
 great variety and discrepancy among different Christian 
 nations. And the laws of Christendom differ widely from 
 
192 LETTERS BY 
 
 the other three-fourths of the whole family of man, and 
 also differ indisputably from the laws of the Old and New 
 Testament. If the intercourse of the sexes is not regula- 
 ted in wisdom and purity, the result will be that every 
 consequent branch and order of society will be vitiated 
 thereby. First make the tree good, and the fruit will be 
 also good. A pure fountain will not send forth bitter 
 streams. A fig tree will not bear thistles. 
 
 When parentage is established after a wholesome and 
 righteous order, the consequence will be felt in every 
 social and civil organization whatever, both in this world 
 and beyond the limits of this world. It is not in the 
 power of any government, or of any religious community, 
 or reform association, to create good order and great 
 prosperity, with a corrupt Patriarchal order at the found- 
 ation. What that pure and perfect Patriarchal order is, 
 upon which the welfare of society so much depends, it 
 will be my object to show in this letter. Here let me 
 say, that the family order which God established with 
 Abraham and the Patriarchs, was the order observed 
 among celestial beings, in the celestial world. And this 
 family order is not only one at which God sits as the 
 Head, and first pattern in the series of matrimonial 
 examples ; but it is of perpetual duration, both in and 
 beyond this world. It is utterly absurd to suppose the 
 anomaly of such an existence as a father without a mother. 
 Everything in the analogy of nature forbids such an idea. 
 The analogy of birds, fish, quadrupeds, creeping things,, 
 and vegetables, forbids it. Have not we all, one Father % 
 We are all his offspring. A large family to be ascribed 
 to one father ! But where is the Scripture that ascribes 
 the origin of all diverse sons to one and the same mother t 
 When God sets up any portion of his kingdom upon the 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 193 
 
 earth, it is patterned after his own order in the heavens. 
 When he gives to men a pattern of family organization 
 on the earth, that pattern will be just like his own family 
 organization in the heavens. The family of Abraham was 
 & transcript of a celestial pattern. The likeness was 
 drawn by a master artist, who was perfectly familiar with 
 the celestial pattern. Abraham's family was a fresh 
 organization, designed to effect the perpetuity and in- 
 crease of God, in an endless succession of families. And 
 every family which God institutes upon the earth, is 
 fashioned like his own original family, in the heavens. 
 A heavenly family was a perfect family, both as to the 
 ordinance by which it was united, and as to the laws 
 which rewarded or punished the observer or violator of 
 the same. Abraham's family was required to be equally 
 perfect. God testified of Abraham, that he walked before 
 him in perfection, and also that his family was organized 
 on correct principles ; his children and household, includ- 
 ing his wives and servants, were conducted just according 
 to the mind of God. This family order of Abraham was 
 spread out before God, and met with his entire and full 
 approbation. And why did God approve of it 1 Because 
 it is the only order practised in the celestial 
 heavens, and the only peaceful, united, and prosper- 
 ous order that will endure, while man-invented orders 
 and devices will utterly deceive and perish with the using. 
 Now, God testified that Abraham's conduct, with his wives 
 amd children, and servants, and all included in his house- 
 hold, was perfectly right and proper, and he knew that he 
 would continue to practise righteousness. Consequently, 
 Abraham was perfectly virtuous and pure, and so were 
 his wives. And all his marriages were perfectly honora- 
 ble, whatever number of wives he might have, and his 
 N 
 
194 LETTERS BY 
 
 bed was never defiled ; nor were his children illegitimate,. 
 as God did not forbid him to marry, as many human 
 governments forbid men to do. Thousands of innocent, 
 unoffending children are yearly born under the burthen 
 of infamous illegitimacy, while the offending parents, 
 instead of being punished for such an offence, are punished 
 if they seek to avoid the offence by marrying the objects 
 of their love, and thereby ensure honorable sustenance 
 upon their offspring. How many virtuous females would 
 infinitely prefer to unite their destinies to one and the 
 same honorable, virtuous, and high-minded man, than to 
 separate their destinies each to an inferior, imvirtuous, 
 and vicious man ? The consequence of the latter connec- 
 tion in vitiating their offspring, is too great to be told or 
 fathomed by a finite mind ; it takes hold upon worlds to 
 come. 
 
 Shall such virtuous and innocent females, though 
 they may be poor and low in the scale of fortune's partial 
 smiles shall they be denied the right to choose the ob- 
 jects of their love 1 Shall they be refused by the stern 
 threats of law, to marry whom their hearts desire? Must 
 they, through the operation of hideously contracted laws, 
 be virtually doomed to resort to infamous prostitution, 
 entailing disease, infamy, and death upon themselves and 
 their offspring, or to marry an inferior grade of corrupt, 
 vicious men, debauchees, gluttons, drunkards, and idlers, 
 or remain in perpetual celibacy, and frustrate the designs 
 of their creation, and violate the first and foremost com- 
 mand of God, to multiply and replenish the earth ? Who 
 does not know that God is ashamed of such narrow, 
 contracted laws, and of their advocates, who are so grossly 
 ignorant of the first great principles of legislation ? Sir, 
 if time would permit, I would clearly demonstrate, that 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 195 
 
 a prohibition to marry should be predicated upon trans- 
 gression and the commission of crime. The crimes of 
 Saul and David worked a forfeiture of their title to their 
 wives, and transferred them into the hands of more virtu- 
 ous and loyal men. Progression in knowledge and increase 
 in dominion, power, and happiness, are inseparably con- 
 nected with the multiplication of the human family. But 
 the all-wise God checks the advancement of transgressors 
 towards dominion, power, and happiness, by withholding 
 the antecedent means. He prevents the multiplication of 
 fallen angels, while he commands the obedient to multi- 
 ply, and inasmuch as they are called to the heart-rending 
 scene of forsaking their wives for the gospel's sake, they 
 have the assurance of being repaid an hundred fold. Thus 
 it appears that God blesses good men by multiplying and 
 increasing them, and punishes evil-doers, by blotting out 
 their names, and cutting off from the earth their posterity. 
 The history of the Patriarchs is a series of blessings of 
 this sort. The blessings bestowed upon their numerous 
 wives, are of the same kind also. And no tale of grief or 
 occasion for lamentation, was more conspicuous in the 
 history of the Patriarchs, or of their wives, than to be 
 written childless and without posterity on the earth. 
 God always attached an honorable distinction to males 
 and females who engaged in the sacred system of plurali- 
 ty according to the conditions he laid down for them to 
 observe. 
 
 Only a cursory reading of the history of the Patri- 
 archs will illustrate the honorable attitude in which God 
 regarded them. 
 
 Not only was Abraham honorable, virtuous, and pure 
 in taking to himself two wives, but Sarah and Hagar were 
 also honorable, virtuous, and pure in consenting to be 
 
196 LETTERS BY 
 
 made the wives of one and the same man. " How so," 
 say you 1 Why, because the Almighty distinctly certified 
 and caused the same to be made a matter of record that 
 they and their Lord and husband, Abraham, were honor- 
 able in so doing. Do you marvel that I make this asser- 
 tion in proof of plurality 1 Marvel not. 
 
 The Almighty, dear sir, actually visited this husband 
 of two wives, and went into a discussion of his family and 
 domestic concerns ; concerns, by the way, more import- 
 ant to the progress of his kingdom and to the everlasting 
 happiness of the human family, than many have seriously 
 thought of. What did he say about his family matters 1 
 Did he say, " Abraham, beware of a carnal mind! beware 
 of the lust for woman !" Did he say the first word of the 
 kind] No, sir; I repeat it. no sir; he said no such 
 thing. Well, tell us plainly what he did say. Why, 
 read it for yourself, upon your knees, if your heart is not 
 otherwise humble enough to receive this doctrine. He 
 virtually said this to Abraham " Abraham, I find no 
 fault with your taking two wives, but on the other hand, 
 I bless you for it, and I bless you in doing it, and I bless 
 them in becoming your wives, above all other women 
 upon the earth. I bless you and your wife Sarah with 
 the strength and joy of your youth ; you shall have a 
 son. You shall not only have a son, but you shall have 
 even nations of sons and daughters. Your wife Hagar 
 also shall be greatly blessed among women for what she 
 has done, kings and potentates, and even nations shall be 
 among her offspring. Mine angel shall wait upon her, 
 and instruct and comfort her, and see her wants supplied. 
 And Sarah, seeing she had faith while herself was barren, 
 to give Hagar to you to wife, shall herself even yet have 
 a son, notwithstanding her age. And your posterity shall 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 197 
 
 be as the dust of the earth for number and multitude, and 
 as the sands upon the sea-shore.'* 
 
 Though Abraham had many wives and concubines, 
 yet we have no knowledge that any reproof was ever 
 administered to him from God ; but we have a certain 
 assurance that he was a favorite child and heir of God, 
 and with his sons was safely lodged in the Kingdom of 
 God. 
 
 I will next call your attention to the marriage prac- 
 tice of Jacob, one of the most illustrious prophets, and a 
 grandson of Abraham. Jacob had several wives, and by 
 them were born unto him the Twelve Patriarchs, after 
 whom all the Tribes of Israel were named. Now, sir, one 
 of these wives was honored with being the lineal mother 
 of Jesus Christ, according to the flesh. What ! Jesus 
 Christ descended from a man who advocated the doctrine 
 of a plurality of wives, and actually had many wives ! 
 Why he was as bad as Mahomet ! " I wonder," says 
 one, " that God ever kept a record of such a lineage, 
 seeing it favors the doctrine of a plurality of wives." 
 Why, sir, this was one object of keeping the record of 
 Christ's lineage, that it might sustain this very doctrine. 
 Another object was, that the promised seed might be 
 accurately traced out. All the time that Jacob was labor- 
 ing with Laban, for the purpose of getting his daughter* 
 for his wives, God was with Jacob, upholding him and 
 enriching him by his supernatural arm, in order that he 
 might have ample means to support his many wives and 
 their numerous children, whereby he might become a 
 king over a numerous and mighty nation, springing from 
 his own loins. Did the Lord ever frown upon him for 
 living with his several wives 1 No, never. On the con- 
 trary, hosts of angels went out to meet him, and they 
 
193 LETTERS BY 
 
 stood by him and blessed him when he was in danger 
 from his brother Esau. 
 
 Furthermore, in support of the good conduct of 
 these men who taught and practised upon the doctrine of 
 a plurality of wives, the Lord God has said, that it shall 
 be a memorial to all generations, that he is the Lord God 
 of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 
 Now, sir, let it be distinctly understood that this memo- 
 rial is for this generation in common with all other gene- 
 rations. " What is the MEMORIAL,'' say you, "that this 
 generation is to call to mind, and by no means suffer to 
 slip out of their mind at any time ? " Why, sir, it is, the 
 self-same founders and corner-stones of the whole house 
 of Israel, even the whole Israel of God, were pluralists in 
 the fullest sense of the word. And God wants this gen- 
 eration to remember it and not forget it ; and not only 
 should this generation remember it, but all generations 
 should remember it ; for it is God's memorial, and so 
 revealed in His most holy word, which is able to make 
 wise unto salvation. 
 
 " Well, I declare," says one, " I did not know but this 
 system of polygamy was the practice of some dark age, 
 which God rather winked at through their ignorance, and 
 in consequence of their being sprung from heathenish 
 parents. But now it does seem that God really delighted 
 in these polygamists and their practices, and wanted all 
 generations to know it, and to know it distinctly, and 
 never forget it." " Well," says one, " if this is the case, 
 then surely the veil has been over my eyes in reading the 
 Scripture ; for I never discovered before, that polygamy 
 was a blessing and duty binding upon God's people in all 
 generations. I always thought that it was confined to the 
 Patriarchal age until now. Now, it seems to be extended 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 199 
 
 to this and all generations. I see now, indeed, that Paul 
 says that all those who are of the faith of Abraham are 
 heirs of the same promises and of the same blessings." 
 
 In looking into the law of Moses, I perceive that 
 Moses enacted that, where a man had two wives, and each 
 of the wives had sons, the birthright should appertain to 
 the son who should be born first, whether the mother of 
 that son was first in the date of marriage or not. 
 
 Now let us go a little further, and look into the moral 
 character of Elkanah and his two wives. Was Elkanah, 
 the father of Samuel the prophet, a good man 1 Were 
 Elkanah's wives good women, that gave themselves in 
 perpetual wedlock to one and the same man, and had 
 many children by him ] Now, Hannah, one of these 
 wives, was barren, and had no children ; yet Hannah was 
 a firm believer, and she knew the Scriptures ; and she 
 knew that children were the heritage of the Lord, and 
 the thought of being deprived of that heritage grieved 
 her soul and made her spirit sorrowful continually before 
 the Lord. She knew that her barrenness would be 
 ascribed by her sisters to some displeasure which the 
 Lord entertained towards her ; because that one of the 
 greatest blessings which the Lord could confer upon a 
 woman, would consist in making her a mother of nations, 
 like Sarah of old ; therefore she gave the Lord no rest 
 till she obtained the promise made to Abraham and Sarah, 
 and bore Samuel, and lent him to the Lord, according to 
 her promise and covenant, all the days of his life. Her 
 faith and her conduct so pleased the Lord, that he blessed 
 Jier more abundantly than she at first dared to ask. He 
 gave her three more sons and two daughters. 
 
 Who now, after reading this history, can even doubt 
 for a moment that Elkanah's wife ranked with holy 
 
200 LETTERS BY 
 
 women, and Elkanah, the husband of two wives, ranked 
 with holy men. And God not only authorized the mar- 
 riage of one man to several women, but also blessed all 
 concerned in it, even with the greatest blessings, as we 
 shall soon discover. 
 
 " Well," says one, " did God really give some of the 
 greatest and best of men, many wives, because he was 
 pleased with that domestic order and plan for holy and 
 righteous purposes, whereby the righteous would outnum- 
 ber the wicked and surpass them in wisdom, might, hap- 
 piness, and dominion ? Or did he barely suffer it as a 
 contingent weakness of nature, without really justifying 
 the practice?" 
 
 I reply, he not only permitted it, but he actually 
 revealed it as an abiding and everlasting law of his king- 
 dom. He himself, the Great Jehovah, commanded in the 
 beginning, that men should marry and multiply ; and he- 
 prescribed the penalty for violating a marriage contract. 
 He joined men and women together through an appointed 
 and consecrated order of men, and no man could take the 
 honor and office of marrying a couple without his author- 
 ity. The Lord has told us that he gave the wives of 
 King Saul into David's bosom, to become the wives of 
 David. Why did he so 1 Because Saul broke his com- 
 mandment and became wicked, the Lord took the wives 
 of Saul and gave them to David, whom Saul sought to 
 kill. But David also, after a time, forgetting the strict 
 mandates of God in regard to marrying and the everlast- 
 ing shield of protection thrown around his neighbor's 
 wife, took the wife of Uriah to his bosom without the 
 approbation of God or his Prophet Nathan, and then 
 sought to cover his crime by blood-guiltiness. But God 
 cursed him for it, and then took away his wives and gave- 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 201 
 
 them to another. He, in reproving David, told him that 
 he would have given him more wives if he had asked him. 
 Hereby we learn that God himself gives men many wives 
 that are faithful and obedient, and takes them away from 
 transgressors. If King Saul had been allowed to keep 
 his many wives after death, he would still have the signal 
 blessings of such good men as Abraham, Isaac, and 
 Jacob. 
 
 Having shown that God has commanded marriage, 
 and that he determines whether a man may have many 
 wives or few, or none at all, I next proceed to show that 
 the promise of God, of which so much is said in the Old 
 and also in the New Testament, pre-eminently and em- 
 phatically pertains to the increase of the kingdom of God, 
 to which there is no end. It pertains to the seed of the 
 righteous. Don't startle, sir, at my position, but read 
 and ponder well what I say, before you condemn it or 
 allow yourself to condemn that which you have not 
 examined. The Apostles of Jesus Christ said that those 
 who had the faith of Abraham were heirs of the same 
 promise. What, the Holy Apostles of Jesus Christ con- 
 cerned in encouraging and countenancing plurality of 
 wives'? "Awful!" says one, "I don't want to read or 
 hear any more." But hold a moment. Do thyself no 
 harm. Be patient and receive the truth, for truth is 
 better than gold. And this is God's truth, of which the 
 Holy Ghost will bear witness to you as well as me, if you 
 will honestly receive his testimony ; and my prayer is 
 that you will not resist the Holy Ghost. The Apostles 
 of Christ thought that a man or woman did pretty well, 
 if they had the faith of Abraham, and obtained the same 
 promise. Such persons would be very likely to get into 
 the same heaven with Abraham. When God told Abra- 
 
202 LETTERS BY 
 
 ham that he would make of him a great nation through 
 obedience, lie believed it. But there was one thing 
 Abraham did riot believe, and could not believe. " What 
 is that T say you. He did not believe that he should 
 ever become a great nation while he had no child. As 
 good a man as he was, he would have staggered at such 
 an idea. From the very day that God made a covenant 
 witli Abraham, Abraham became anxious concerning a 
 posterity. " Well," says one, " this doctrine looks strange 
 to me. It seems to have a carnal and fleshly bearing, 
 and a spirit that looks mysterious to me. It is very dif- 
 ferent from what I have always been taught. I have been 
 taught to believe that holiness and purity of heart, faith, 
 hope, and charity, were the main things for Abraham or 
 any other Saint to obtain, in order to get to heaven. And 
 if I possess all these, I think that I shall do well enough 
 if I never am married, or have any children at all." I 
 have no doubt many an objector thinks as you do. But 
 sir, let me ask you are you one of Abraham's children 1 
 Do you, in the end of your probation here, expect to go 
 into Abraham's bosom and sit down in the kingdom of 
 God, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 1 Even with those 
 old and notorious polygamists ] "Well," says the object- 
 or, " I really don't know what to think. I know that 
 Paul says that we are heirs of the same promise Isaac was. 
 And Isaac was a child of promise obtained by great faith 
 and hope, obedience, and mighty prayer on the part of his 
 parents." 
 
 Was it really the great aim of Abraham, in walking 
 before God and becoming perfect, to become the father of 
 an innumerable posterity of righteous children, whereby 
 he might reign over them as king and ruler under Christ 
 forever ] Was this the heritage that God would give him 1 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 203 
 
 Was it for this that he anxiously prayed ? Was this the 
 blessing that God promised ] Was this promise the bles- 
 sing which all Abraham's children are to inherit through 
 faith, and the thing which they are to seek after in what- 
 ever age of the world they may live 1 Yes^ dear sir. this 
 was the promise made to Abraham. The land of Canaan 
 was the place for him and his seed after him. This land, 
 however, would have been almost entirely valueless to 
 Abraham if he had never had any children to possess it 
 with him. Now, dear sir, I want you to understand that 
 the promise made to Abraham, and to all that have the 
 faith of Abraham, is the greatest promise that could be 
 made to him, and one that contains the richest, purest, 
 and most exalted blessings conceivable. Let no man for 
 a moment attach the least idea of impurity, or of selfish 
 carnality, to any promise made to Abraham, or any of 
 God's covenant, law-abiding people. For the Holy One 
 of Israel gives none but purely good gifts to faithful peo- 
 ple. If you have thought that the promise of a great 
 posterity to Abraham springing from his own loins, tend- 
 ed to sinful lust, and expressed the same with a sneer, 
 may God forgive you through speedy repentance and 
 turning from the error of your ways. Be assured that 
 the God of all the earth does not try men in the most 
 jigid ordeal, as he did Abraham, and then, after the most 
 full and complete acceptance of his long-scrutinized integ- 
 rity and faith, proceed to make him a promise under all 
 the sanctions of an oath and covenant, while that same 
 promise is a mere trifle a doubtful blessing. If tradition 
 has led you to entertain any such notion, examine your 
 views at once, and renounce your errors, lest they make 
 the promises of God of none effect, and thereby destroy 
 your soul. 
 
204 LETTERS BY 
 
 I would here say, that the promise made to Abraham, 
 and all who are heirs of the same promise through faith> 
 extends to all generations, in this life, and to all genera- 
 tions to come, for ever and ever. That is, Abraham and 
 Sarah will continue to multiply, not only in this world, 
 but in all worlds to come. And the same is true of all 
 the sons and daughters that obtain a fullness of the 
 promise made to Abraham. 
 
 Now, sir, take a little time, and look at the promise 
 made to Abraham and Sarah, and see if it is not ample to 
 satisfy the most exalted conceptions of any holy beings. 
 For a moment, suppose it possible to sunder all social and 
 family ties, then you will see man separate and distinct 
 from every member of the family of his heavenly Father. 
 What a spectacle of wretchedness and desolation ! 
 
 Again, surround the father and mother with thou- 
 sands of millions of fond and righteous children, then 
 lop off one branch after another until all is gone. What 
 is the result 1 Every blow that excinds a member from 
 those fond parents opens a fountain of grief and sorrow 
 inexpressible. Why 1 Because, the fondest hopes and 
 richest joys of affection and inextinguishable love were 
 there garnered up by the strong cords of consanguinity 
 and family relationship. 
 
 Are there any ties so endearing 1 so fruitful of hap- 
 piness 1 Are there any so painful to be sundered ] Hear 
 the language of a father over the dead body of a departed 
 son. " Oh Absalom ! my son, my son, would to God I 
 had died for thee, my son !" Have you followed the 
 companion and wife of your youth, and the mother of 
 your children, to the silent charnel-house of death'? Even 
 there, you have felt an inexpressible draught upon the 
 fountain of your bliss ! No language could portray the 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 205 
 
 deep anguish and grief of your soul on that occasion. 
 With her you had become one, even as one flesh. For 
 her sake you would have left the father that dandled 
 you upon his knees, and whose noble brow had sweat in 
 order to supply your early wants. For her sake you 
 would have left the maternal embrace of her that pillowed 
 you upon her bosom with sweet kisses and honeyed epi- 
 thets. You did not leave them because you loved the 
 parents less ; but you loved the wife more. By marriage 
 you have now entered upon a higher law of affinity, and 
 had thrown around you a stronger bond of affection, for 
 the increase of bliss and the perpetuity of celestial ties. 
 When that wife is laid low in death (for whose sake you 
 might be willing to lay down your life, even as Christ 
 laid down his life for the Church), you feel an inexpressi- 
 ble pang of anguish which nothing but the resurrection 
 can soothe or allay. And I do not mean the resurrection 
 of a sister merely, or of an immortal being. No, far from 
 this. I mean the resurrection of the wife ! the identical 
 wife of your bosom ; that will allay and soothe your 
 anguish. You would not, you cannot, mourn the death 
 of a female that is not your wife, as you would for a wife. 
 Will the resurrection return you a mere female acquaint- 
 ance that is not to be the wife of your bosom in eternity] 
 No. God forbid. But it will restore you the wife of 
 your bosom immortalized, who shall bear children from 
 your own loins in all worlds to come, and that without 
 pain or sorrow in travail. This, sir, was couched in the 
 promise made to Abraham. This makes the promise 
 great. This, sir, strengthens, enhances, and immortalizes 
 ties of the richest, sweetest texture. Companion and wife 
 of my youth ! Mother of my orphan children ! Shall I 
 then press you once more to my bereaved bosom, im- 
 
206 LETTERS BY 
 
 mortalized, beatified, and glorified ! Ah, yes. Sweet 
 hope ! Glorious promise ! Precious wedlock ! Hallelu- 
 jah to the God of Abraham, that has made such a cove- 
 nant ! He has renewed his covenant unto Isaac and Jacob, 
 and through Paul, and all the Apostles, he has confirmed 
 the same for an everlasting covenant in all generations. 
 
 The grave has no victory, death has lost its sting, 
 through the new and everlasting covenant made known 
 to Abraham. Husbands and wives will be reunited. Pa- 
 rents and children will resume their place in the family 
 order, and then will the mother that was once child- 
 less (until God heard her prayer, and promised to make 
 her a mother of nations) rejoice unspeakably in receiving 
 the filial affection of her loved ones. Do the son and 
 daughter ever know how to appreciate their great obliga- 
 tions to their parents before they have had children of 
 their own ] No, by no means. Do the human family 
 know how to appreciate their deep indebtedness to God 
 their heavenly Father, before they themselves have filled 
 the place of parents I No, never. If you could suppose 
 a large society built up without family ties, you would 
 find the essential ligaments and sinews of that society 
 absolutely wanting. All that gives tune and harmony 
 to the social compact is entirely absent. Take these ties 
 away from any supposable social compact, and no govern- 
 ment or social organization, I venture to say, could ever 
 be perfected, or even maintain any more than a short-lived 
 existence. Fallen angels that kept not their first estate 
 are chained, by not being permitted to multiply lives ; 
 and from them came the doctrine of devils that forbids 
 men to marry. A more effectual plan for destroying the 
 happiness and stability of human society was never in- 
 vented by the devil, than to forbid men to marry. If 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 207 
 
 that plan were carried out, it would assimilate the condi- 
 tion of the human family to that of the fallen angels, as 
 much as any one thing that we can conceive of. Do not 
 startle, sir, if I should tell you that monogamy, or the 
 one-wife system, adopted throughout Christendom, is a 
 very defective system. It does not answer the demands 
 of society, and it is altogether inferior to the Patriarchal 
 system of polygamy, as introduced by God himself. De- 
 bauchery and whoredoms are pre-eminently practised 
 among Christian nations, where the former system is 
 generally established by the law of the land. Heathen 
 nations, previous to their intercourse wtih Christian 
 nations, have been comparatively free from these abomin- 
 able lusts. How awfully did the sons of Jacob avenge 
 the abuse of their sister Dinah, upon the perpetrators of 
 that debauchery. Yet their father, a mighty prophet of 
 God, had taught them the propriety of having many 
 wives. 
 
 One thing further. Sir, do not take offence if I 
 prefer a serious charge against Christianity, touching this 
 very thing. But hear it calmly, for Christianity must be 
 weighed in the balances, with all her boasted institutions. 
 Her supposed fine jewels, but rather meretricious orna- 
 ments, must be taken away. The time is at hand when 
 that attire with which she has played the harlot, by for- 
 bidding marriage, or limiting it where God has not limit, 
 ed it, must be regarded as refuse silver. In the law of 
 marriage, all Christendom has broken the new and ever- 
 lasting covenant made with Abraham. In the fulfillment 
 of that covenant, God gave Abraham many wives and 
 concubines, and thereby expressed his designs how all 
 the faithful seed of Abraham, in all generations and future 
 worlds, should fulfill the command of Jehovah to multiply 
 
208 LETTERS BY 
 
 and replenish. But Chistendom, in the face and front of 
 this covenant, has not only broken it, but by legal enact- 
 ments, forbidden all men within the pale of her wide 
 dominion, to keep or observe it. The established order 
 of Patriarchs and Prophets, and the revealed will of hea- 
 ven, have been set at nought. 
 
 The old way marks, that guided the brightest exem- 
 plars of obedience to heavenly mandates, from Abraham 
 to John the Eevelator, have been most sacrilegiously 
 trampled under foot. Eemember, sir, that the covenant 
 made with Abraham, was everlasting, and it also em- 
 braced all the righteous seed of like faith, not only through 
 and during the Apostolic age, but in all ages of the world. 
 But how can this covenant be fulfilled in Christendom '1 
 Now, go forth from one side of Christendom to the other, 
 from East to West, and from North to South, and tell me 
 in what corner of Christendom, Abraham, or any like 
 him, could dwell in peace with his wives and concubines? 
 Or Elkanah and his wives'? Or David, with his own 
 wives, and the wives of King Saul, which God gave him'? 
 Or what King, even though he had the wisdom and integ- 
 rity of Solomon, before his transgression, could live in 
 security with his hundreds of wives *? But I forbear to 
 multiply examples and questions of this sort. The laws 
 of Christian nations are an unmistakable answer to these 
 serious questions. These laws would inflict heavy 
 penalties of distress and infamy upon such men. And 
 these laws too are the laws of Christian nations. The 
 Turk and the Heathen have never cast the first vote to 
 enact these laws. "Well," say, Christendom, "if we 
 have made such laws, and these laws are nothing less 
 than a violation of the everlasting covenant made with 
 Abraham and all his seed, what is the harm V Says one 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 209 
 
 'denomination of Christians, (and many others join with 
 them in the defence,) " I still think the laws are pretty 
 good, and no one man should have more than one wife." 
 Well, Christian, you have a brazen front, not only to break 
 the everlasting covenant, but also to go a step, yea, a long, 
 bold stride, further, by justifying the act. Now, Christ- 
 ian denominations, seeing you have joined together to 
 justify yourselves, there is no other way than to bring 
 you to a speedy trial for your obstinate defence of such 
 laws as prevent the full development of the everlasting 
 covenant. Now to the proof of your guilt. We will 
 call in but one witness, whose testimony is in all cases 
 conclusive and the end of all controversy. Well, let us 
 hear who is this all-sufficient witness, that dares to con- 
 front all Christendom, and arraign the conduct of many 
 great and devout nations. Well, the witness is no less 
 than the God of Jacob, the King over all kings. 
 
 What does He say about transgressing the laws and 
 breaking the covenant by which such men as Abraham 
 were to become a multitude of people that could not be 
 numbered by any figures that the ingenuity of man could 
 invent or even conceive of? He says, " the EARTH is 
 DEFILED ! under the inhabitants thereof, because they 
 have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken 
 the everlasting covenant ; therefore hath the curse de- 
 voured the earth, and they that dwell therein are deso- 
 late." Here, sir, is the testimony of God as to what has 
 been the result of breaking the marital laws and covenant. 
 Almost universal defilement, prostitution, abortion, the 
 natural affections turned out of their legitimate channel, 
 and virtually extinguished, and men and women have be- 
 come filled with jealousy, envy, and every abominable 
 lust, and but for purposes of commerce and selfish gain, 
 o 
 
210 LETTERS BY 
 
 would hardly mingle together. More mischief and crime 
 are traceable to the perversion and misunderstanding of 
 the marriage rite than to any other ordinance ever insti- 
 tuted by men. 
 
 Domestic organization is the first and foremost foun- 
 dation of all society, and of all government. And if the 
 foundation be removed, what shall the righteous do *? The 
 righteous can neither preserve themselves from defilement 
 nor others. Hence the whole earth is defiled. If I had 
 the voice of a trumpet and the engine of superhuman 
 power, I would penetrate the ears of all Christendom with 
 a sense of this awful, defiling, desolating sin ! I would 
 at once call the attention of congress and parliament, and 
 civil and ecclesiastic cabinets, to this one great foundation 
 of society. I would show them that this is not only a 
 foundation, but it is the foundation of society. Other 
 foundation can no man lay than that which is laid. 
 Whatever superstructures are built upon any other foun- 
 dation, will be attended with unspeakable defilement and 
 desolation to all who build thereon. "But," says one, 
 " I wish you would tell us distinctly" what is the true and 
 only foundation of all social order and government that 
 shall bring mankind to the zenith of perfection and glory] 
 and where shall I look to find it 1 " Well, now listen, 
 and hear attentively, and I will tell you unmistakably ; 
 or rather I will stand aside and let higher authority tell 
 you. The Lord, yea, the Lord God shall tell you where 
 to look. Therefore hear thou him. And what does He 
 say 1 He says, " look unto Abraham, your Father, the 
 rock from whence ye were hewn, and unto Sarah, that 
 bare you ! " There you have it, right from the Lord. O ! 
 Christendom. There you have it, all ye legislators and 
 rulers ! There it is, simple and plain, all ye reformers and 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 211 
 
 philanthropists, just as it fell from the lips of our Maker. 
 Abraham is the rock the father of the faithful ! and 
 Sarah is the mother and pattern for all women ! She was 
 the bright pattern of conjugal loyalty and faith for fe- 
 males, wives, and mothers, of all ages. When she had no 
 child of her own, and she knew by revelation that her 
 domestic bliss for time and all eternity was involved in 
 becoming a mother ; then, yes, then, she stepped forth 
 and gave Hagar to her husband, for to be his wife, and a 
 mother of his children. By that act the heartstrings of 
 the wife were felt after, and stretched to their utmost 
 power of endurance. She had given to her husband the 
 beauty and joy of her youth the captivating loveliness 
 of female affections and unsullied virtue for scores of 
 years, and now, God called upon her to divide or share 
 her husband with another, that husband, with whom her 
 artless love and guileless confidence had been garnered up 
 for many years as safely (in her view) as in the pavilion 
 of the Eternal Throne. She believed Abraham still, and 
 while the deepest struggle that ever pervaded the bosom 
 of innocence and loveliness was threatening her breast, 
 victory declared in her favor, and salvation shone as glit- 
 tering pearls in the coronet of Sarah, from that day. 
 Heaven could not withhold from her the desire of her 
 heart. An endless perpetuity of lives became hers. The 
 hitherto desolate and barren could now smile at the re- 
 ward of her triumph, and look prophetically forward upon 
 the endless train of her offspring, surpassing the dust of 
 the earth for number. Daughters of Israel ! Look unto 
 Sarah ; her that bare you. If you suffer with her, you 
 shall reign with her. Hear it ! You shall be heirs of 
 the same promise ! Paul and all holy Apostles bear me 
 witness that I speak the truth and lie not. A queen's 
 
212 LETTERS BY 
 
 coronet awaits you. With Eachel, Hannah, Elizabeth, 
 and Mary, you shall swell the chorus of thanksgiving and 
 holy rejoicings throughout all ages. 
 
 But to whom are the righteous sons of men to look ? 
 I answer, they are to look unto Abraham our father ; he 
 is our example and pattern. He is the rock that the gates 
 of hell will not prevail against, as much as Peter was, 
 and obtained the testimony of God that he would com- 
 mand his children and his household before the Lord. 
 But because men have not looked to the covenant made 
 with him, and observed the laws thereof, and the ordi- 
 nance thereof, the earth is defiled and the inhabitants 
 cursed, and a universal desolation of men is speedily 
 threatened. If the present order of things in Christendom 
 is suffered to come to a legitimate issue, the time is at 
 hand when few men will be left. But many women com- 
 paratively will be left. The strong ties of society are 
 nearly all sundered. The marriage ties instituted by 
 Christendom are a mere rope of sand. A few years will 
 show that these ties are based merely upon the authority 
 of man, and by no means founded upon the authority of 
 God. When this fact is discovered, society will swing- 
 loose from its fastenings and former moorings, a miserable 
 wreck in the swift wake of the dreadful cataract ! Wars 
 and abominations will spread over the earth, until it is 
 empty and desolate. 
 
 Are there many in Christendom that attach any di- 
 vine sanctions to Christian marriage 1 No, there are not. 
 Tradition and education are the principle impediments 
 against an unbridled and pernicious intercourse of the 
 sexes. These impediments are almost entirely demolished 
 in high places, whether civil or ecclesiastical. It is only 
 a few sects of very limited numbers and influence, that 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 213 
 
 suppose God has had anything to do in solemnizing the 
 marriage rite, as it is generally observed among Christian 
 nations. One excellency of Abraham was, that he would 
 never venture to take a wife, unless he obtained permis- 
 sion and revelation from the Lord to do so. When he 
 acquired a wife, the favor was obtained of the Lord, as 
 the lawful giver of that wife. When he was united in 
 marriage with any woman, it was God who joined them 
 together, and no mere man had a right to put them 
 asunder without permission from the same source. Abra- 
 ham walked before God with a perfect heart. Isaac and 
 Jacob did the same, and commanded their wives and 
 children and households to do the same. Accordingly 
 God fulfilled his promise, and multiplied them, and de- 
 clared that he would abide in that covenant in all succes- 
 sive generations of them that kept his laws. But did 
 they marry without first obtaining a revelation to do so 
 from heaven ? No, never ! Had they ever married with- 
 out divine permission and revelation, under divinely dele- 
 gated hands, they would have been guilty of breaking the 
 covenant and transgressing the laws of that covenant. If 
 David had asked God for more wives, the Lord says that 
 he would have given him such and such things. But he 
 trusted in the authority of a king, entirely dispensing 
 with any revelation from God ; the result of his conduct 
 was, that he became as one that had no wife at all. Yea, 
 he broke the covenant, and changed the ordinance of 
 marriage from divine permission to self-permission, and 
 became desolate. He therefore, in consequence of that, 
 became utterly desolate of wives or children for the world 
 to come. The whole Jewish nation professed allegiance 
 to God, yet Jesus denied their authority to multiply and 
 increase calling them an adulterous generation. They 
 
214 LETTERS BY 
 
 had substituted human permission and mere human 
 authority to marry, in place of divine revelation ; hence 
 their connection was adulterous, and their children being 
 illegitimate, could not claim the promise pertaining to 
 Abraham's seed. Now, God always kept a record of the 
 lineage of Abraham's seed, and of necessity a record of 
 their marriages. Consequently, an unlawful marriage 
 would vitiate the connection, and render the offspring 
 illegitimate as to divine inheritance, and make void the 
 promise of God to all such children, whether Jew or 
 Christian. In the days of Ezra the Prophet, many per- 
 sons sent in their request for a share in the office of the 
 Priesthood ; but though diligent search was made in all 
 the records to discover their lineage rights to the same, as 
 there was no record found, they were rejected ; and thus 
 it will be in the resurrection, with all those whose names 
 and marriages are not found on record. And they that 
 have wives will be as though they had none, and they 
 that have children will be as though they had none. For 
 all contracts and alliances that are not made according to 
 the covenants and laws made in Abraham, will be null 
 and void after this life, and of no more force or obligation 
 whatever. "Well," says a member of Christendom, "if 
 these things are so, I have been greatly deceived, and 
 wish speedily to be set right ; I truly love her whom I 
 have been accustomed to call my wife, and I should not 
 wish to be separated from her in the eternal world, nor 
 from our dear children. Is it too late for me to make 
 sure my title to her and our children No, sir. Walk 
 before God and be thou perfect, and thou shalt be an heir 
 of Abraham. If you want your wife to all eternity, that 
 which was said to David is applicable to you " If thou 
 hadst asked, I would have given thee." Objector, do you 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 215 
 
 liear this which God says to David 1 " If thou hadst 
 asked." But why should men ask God when they want 
 to marry ? The true answer is That they may get reve- 
 lation and permission. Did Abraham always ask God 
 when he wanted to get a wife ? Most assuredly he did. 
 Was this a part and condition of the everlasting covenant ? 
 It was. Was it a perpetual law of that covenant that no 
 man should take a wife without the authority of revelation 
 from God? It was. Was there any "ordinance" or cere- 
 mony of marriage necessary to be conformed to ? Most 
 assuredly. Could any man, without regard to his standing 
 before God, administer this ordinance 1 No ! no ! by no 
 mean 8* He must be a man that walks before God with a 
 perfect heart, in order that God can condescend to converse 
 with him and reveal his mind to him. 
 
 " Well," says the objector, " might not men, even 
 magistrates and rulers, so change the ordinance of marri- 
 age that they would not be obliged to ask God every time, 
 and go to some Kevelator or Prophet to solemnize the 
 marriage f No ! no / Never ! never ! The laws of this 
 covenant are everlasting and unchangeable. David was a 
 .great king, and had as good a right to enact laws and 
 Institute ordinances of marriage, or abolish them, or 
 change them, as any mere man whatever. But King 
 David had no right, and he still smarts under the loss and 
 damage he sustained by his temerity, when he neglected 
 to "ask" God. Jesus Christ says of David, " He has 
 not ascended into heaven." Who does not know that if 
 children are conceived in sin, or by an unlawful marriage 
 -of their parents, the taint of corruption and fornication 
 will naturally cleave to them as a besetting predisposition 
 to sin! This truth David acknowledged and deplored 
 when he transgressed the laws and broke the everlasting 
 
216 LETTERS BY 
 
 covenant. There is, perhaps, no evil more pernicious to 
 the human family than sexual defilement. This evil is 
 moral, social, political, and spiritual. It affects the body,, 
 soul, and spirit of man, and extends its influence through 
 time and throughout all eternity, except as it is arrested 
 by the mighty hand of God. Some have attempted to 
 stay the tide of prostitution, and purge society of gross 
 debauchery and licentiousness ; but their efforts are all in 
 vain, though their motives may be humane and kind. 
 First make the tree good, or lay the axe at the root there- 
 of. The root of the evil lies in breaking the covenant of 
 marriage as instituted with Abraham. Therefore the earth 
 is defiled, and a curse rests upon the inhabitants. 
 
 " Well," says one, " if these things are true, and the 
 ordinance of divine marriage is of such unspeakable conse- 
 quence and importance, I wonder the New Testament does 
 not say more about it." I reply, the New Testament says 
 much about it. The New Testament gives more promi- 
 nence to this ordinance, if possible, than the Old Testament. 
 But wisdom is profitable in all things. If the Apostles 
 had to do with a whole generation that was adulterous, 
 and who had broken the laws and covenants made with 
 Abraham, the Apostles would be likely to instruct the- 
 people first to walk before God perfectly, through faith, 
 repentance, and baptism, even as the gospel was preached 
 to Abraham. And when the people were brought to be- 
 lieve in the necessity of a revelation from God, and were 
 ready to subscribe to the conditions of that great promise 
 made to Abraham, then would be sufficient time to show 
 them through what ordinance, laws, and covenant, they 
 could become the fathers of great nations and the mothers 
 of great nations. John did at the very beginning lay the 
 axe at the root, and told the whole nation of Jews Abra~ 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 217 
 
 ham's posterity to repent, and bring forth the fruits of 
 Abraham, and do the works of Abraham, if they would 
 become his children and heirs of the same great promise. 
 How could they be an adulterous generation if they had 
 walked in the footsteps of Abraham, as to sexual connec- 
 tion 1 Almost in the beginning of the New Testament 
 history, Zacharias, the father of John, while speaking of 
 the birth and name of his son, John the Baptist, repre- 
 sents the circumstance as a "remembrance" of the " pro- 
 mise" made to our fathers Abraham, etc., and also as a 
 fulfillment of the oath and covenant made with Abraham. 
 His words are as follow " To perform the mercy promised 
 to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the 
 oath which he swore to our father Abraham." 
 
 Now Zacharias was a Prophet well versed in the 
 knowledge of the true nature of the "promise" made to 
 Abraham, and the " oath and covenant." He knew that 
 the "promise" and "covenant" had special reference to 
 posterity, or an innumerable offspring. He knew, too, 
 that he could not have the blessings of that "covenant," 
 neither could he be an "heir" of the same "promise" 
 without children. But Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth 
 were old and had no children. Now they had the same 
 concern about posterity that Abraham and Sarah had, and 
 also that Jacob and Rachel had, and likewise that Elkan- 
 ah and Hannah had. Their prayer went up to God con- 
 tinually. "Lord, let me be a partaker of the ' promise' 
 made to Abraham, and of the blessings of the same 
 1 covenant.' " But though Zacharias was a very good man, 
 and his wife a very good woman, his faith was not quite 
 as strong as Abraham's. He prayed mightily for a son, 
 but when an angel came and made him the same " prom- 
 ise " in his old age, that was made to Abraham, his faith 
 
218 LETTERS BY 
 
 wavered, while Abraham staggered not at the " promise." 
 But when the "promise " was fulfilled, he acknowledged 
 with great joy and thankfulness that God was true to 
 His " promise " and " covenant " made with Abraham and 
 the fathers. Now, who does not see that God was deter- 
 mined to fulfill this " covenant " and "promise " with all 
 the faithful seed of Abraham in every generation of them 
 that keep his laws. Neither age nor barrenness, nor any 
 other obstacle, should prevent the faithful from inheriting 
 the "promise." And Mary, too, the mother of Jesus, 
 gives her testimony to the same effect, and in support 
 of the same " covenant " and " promise." She was a vir- 
 gin and unmarried, yet full of faith. Her testimony is, 
 " He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of 
 His mercy, as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and 
 to his seed forever." Now, if persons in those days 
 understood the nature and perpetuity of the "covenant" 
 with Abraham, as well as Mary did, they never would ask 
 if the New Testament said much relating to posterity, 
 and consequently to the " covenant" and ordinance and 
 laws regulating the ordinance by which that posterity is 
 to be propagated and made lawful " heirs" of the promises. 
 In the 7th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, while 
 speaking of the Hebrews in Egypt, the writer sajs, in 
 these words " When the time of the promise drew nigh, 
 which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and 
 multiplied in Egypt." Now, whoever reads this history 
 alluded to by Luke, will discover a most remarkable fruit- 
 fulness and increase of that people, perhaps unequalled by 
 any other people in the records of time. In the short 
 period of four hundred and thirty-two years, an increase 
 from seventy-two persons to probably near 3,000,000, ex- 
 clusive of deaths. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, alarmed at 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 219 
 
 their increase, says that they had become more numerous 
 than the Egyptians, and hence they resorted to cruel op- 
 pression in order to check their growth. The Abrahamic 
 system of plurality was hereby demonstrated to give 
 Israel a great advantage over others. The Egyptians 
 could not defeat the purpose of God, and his "oath" and 
 and " promise " to Abraham concerning this increase. 
 Neither can men frustrate His purpose and " promise " to 
 Abraham concerning the Latter-day Saints, the seed of 
 Abraham, in which he has resolved to increase and multiply 
 them exceedingly, because the time of the promise has 
 fully come, in which He will make the seed of Abraham 
 of this day and age to multiply and become a great nation. 
 Let the nations of the earth renew the ancient cruelties if 
 possible, and slay all of our male children, and enact laws 
 against a plurality of wives, and they will find themselves 
 engaged in a warfare against the God of Jacob. And 
 they will find themselves thwarted and entirely foiled in 
 all such wicked purposes. God will fulfill His promise to 
 all His children in every generation. 
 
 Jesus has promised, that if any man hath left father 
 and mother, wife and children, etc., for his sake and the 
 Gospel's, he shall have an hundred-fold in this time, and 
 in the world to come life everlasting. No one should 
 doubt this "promise." It will be fulfilled unto the uttermost. 
 
 Why was the law instituted, that when a man died? 
 his brother (who might be supposed already to have a 
 wife) was required to take his widow and raise up child- 
 ren unto the deceased] What advantage* could the de- 
 ceased derive from the increase of his children after his 
 death 1 We answer, none ; unless the deceased could come 
 into possession of those children in eternity, and they be- 
 come a part of the nation over whom he is to preside. 
 
220 LETTERS BY 
 
 This is the Bible truth of the matter. The increase 
 of the righteous is aided and guarded by divine laws, not 
 only in this world, but out of the world also. A right- 
 eous man's rights are secured to him by the Almighty, 
 before he dies, and after his death. And the dearest and 
 most sacred rights which a man has, and the richest treas- 
 ures which he can possess, either in time or eternity, are 
 vested in his family, as we have previously shown. Men's 
 wives and children are dearer far dearer, and infinitely 
 more valuable than their houses and lands. But God se- 
 cures to his covenant people, not only their lands, but 
 their wives and their children, Although Abraham has 
 not yet got possession of the land of Canaan, yet he is 
 sure to possess it, with his family. He loved his wives, 
 and would have died for them, as every righteous man 
 should be willing to do. And if men do not appreciate 
 the family ties, even as Abraham did, they are not worthy 
 to enjoy them, and deserve to be ranked and classed off 
 with those who are " without natural affection, covenant- 
 breakers, backbiters, disobedient to parents, haters of 
 God." They hate God, because the things that God loves, 
 they hate ; and the persons that God loves, they hate. 
 God loved Abraham, and loved the family order and the 
 domestic relations which Abraham instituted. And He 
 loved David and Solomon, so far as they carried out and 
 observed the same order. Men who hate the pure and 
 righteous family order instituted by Abraham, Jacob, and 
 all the Prophets, will also hate God. Why ? Because he 
 is the lover and friend of the same order. Yea, he 
 is the sole founder and determined supporter of that very 
 order. And any warfare against that order is a warfare 
 against God. And there is no better mark of infallible 
 enmity to God than to see a man opposing the order of 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 221 
 
 God knowingly. It is a sure evidence that such a man 
 has not the faith which Abraham or Zacharias possessed, 
 and that he is not a fit subject to join Abraham, Isaac, 
 and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God, either in this world 
 or the next. Abraham's faith led him to value this very 
 same domestic order and privilege more than his country, 
 or houses and lands, or even his life. He never would be 
 contented till he obtained a promise from God, that he 
 should have this very thing that I am talking about. And 
 when a man undervalues this " promise," he not only 
 shows himself to be destitute of a saving faith, but also 
 destitute of the essential germ of natural affection, to that 
 degree that he is very liable to become a scoffer and mocker 
 of the "last days," "speaking evil" of such "dignities" as 
 Abraham and Brigham and all other illustrious Prophets 
 and sons of God. He is very likely to represent the "grace " 
 of God to be "lasciviousness." He is very likely to consider 
 the "promise" made to Abraham, which all holy men and 
 women prized as grace and favor, to be no favor, but rather 
 a system of carnal abomination ; and to sneer at it as such. 
 Thereby he seeks to uproot and demolish the very foun- 
 dation laid by Prophets and Apostles. And women, too, 
 that knowingly undervalue this " promise " and Patri- 
 archal order, do most alarmingly manifest symptoms of 
 being without natural affection, and destitute of the faith 
 and righteousness of holy women of old, and insensible 
 to the blessing of becoming mothers of nations, and wear- 
 ing the coronet of Sarah, Each el, Hannah, Elizabeth, and 
 Mary. They have forgotten the natural use of women, 
 as revealed from heaven, and become despisers of thrones, 
 and dominions, and principalities, and powers. Yet we 
 hope better things of the righteous, though we thus 
 speak, and things that accompany salvation. 
 
222 LETTERS BY 
 
 " But," says the objector, " though I admit that 
 many parts of the New Testament favor your views, be- 
 yond what I had ever supposed, yet I do not see how 
 Paul's views can harmonize with yours." I reply : Paul 
 was an unquestionable advocate of the " faith," and " pro- 
 mise," and " covenant" of Abraham, and of the necessity 
 of our heirship to the same "promise." "Well, well, I 
 admit that but was he an advocate of marriage T I 
 reply yes ; Paul was a firm advocate of marriage. The 
 notion that marriage was not very necessary, and that men 
 should be limited and forbidden to marry more than one 
 wife, or even any wife at all, was being introduced in his 
 day. And this anti-Christian notion was threatening to 
 break the covenant, and kill off the Apostles and bring 
 in a most damnable heresy. Paul boldly calls " forbid- 
 ding to marry," a doctrine of devils. The devil not being 
 allowed to have a body, or to marry, and the children of 
 this wicked one not being allowed to have a body for one 
 thousand years after death, or to marry in that time, it is 
 very befitting the devil's ethics to forbid Abraham's seed 
 to marry. If he should succeed in the prevention of 
 marriage he would make the promise to Abraham null 
 and void, and God a liar, and demolish the whole plan 
 of salvation, and defile the whole earth. Hence there is 
 no one thing named within the lids of the Bible to which 
 the devil is more opposed than to the Patriarchal system 
 of marriage. He would probably offer a higher bounty 
 to any Pharisee, or other person, to come into his service, 
 in opposition to that system, than for any other campaign 
 whatever. If he could not break up that system, his 
 next best move would be to kill off Abraham's seed, and 
 the advocates of the system. Hence the devil sought to 
 have Esau kill Jacob, a child of " promise ;" and the 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 223 
 
 Egyptians sought to kill Moses and the male children of 
 the Hebrews ; and Herod and the Jews sought to kill 
 Christ, the promised seed. And, if I mistake not the 
 spirit of prophecy, he will again wage a bloody war against 
 this system, and all who believe in the same system and 
 "promise." 
 
 Well, what more did Paul say, besides calling anti- 
 marriage the devil's doctrine ] Why, he goes straight 
 forward and insists that the officers of the Apostolic 
 Church should absolutely and positively marry. Apollos 
 and Cephas knew their duty well enough to have a sister 
 or wife along with them ; and it was not Paul's prero- 
 gative to direct them, who were Apostles like himself; 
 but he had a right, as an Apostle, to instruct inferior 
 officers, Elders, Bishops, and Deacons. Accordingly he 
 does direct that they, each of them, shall have, at least, 
 one wife. " Well," says one, "I did not think that Paul 
 would be so contaminated as to teach any such thing, 
 after saying so much as he has about faith in the ' pro- 
 mise' and ' covenant' of Abraham and the fathers. But 
 where do you find it V 1 Read his Epistle to Titus, and 
 that tells you how he instructed Titus " to ordain Elders 
 in every church, ?/ they were blameless, and the husband 
 of one wife." It seems from this that Paul did not con- 
 sider that an Elder was a fit subject for ordination to the 
 Holy Priesthood, unless he had, at least, one wife. And 
 if any one will read Paul's writings, they will discover 
 that he also positively requires that a " Bishop," which is 
 another order of the Priesthood, should be the husband 
 of, at least, one wife also. And even a " Deacon," who 
 possesses the smallest measure of the Priesthood, is most 
 emphatically required to have one wife. 
 
 Now, the conclusion of the whole matter from Paul's 
 
224 LETTERS BY 
 
 writings is, that every order and degree of Priesthood, 
 from Apostles to Deacons, had more or less wives. If 
 Paul was an exception among Apostles (which I do not 
 for a moment admit), it must have been for some peculiar 
 reasons, which I will not now explain. 
 
 The subject of plurality had come in a regular suc- 
 cession of Patriarchal practice down to the Apostolic age; 
 and it was only when somebody possessed of a wicked, 
 ignorant spirit, forbade it, or sought to be superstitiously 
 righteous above what was written, that Paul noticed it, 
 which he did by denouncing its prohibition most unspar- 
 ingly as a doctrine of devils. On the other hand, Paul 
 sustains the first great command of God, given in the gar- 
 den to multiply ; and entering into the spirit of the 
 Patriarchal order, and the spirit of God, he shows that a 
 woman is a richer prize and blessing to a man than any- 
 thing else. He shows what she is created for, and who 
 she is created for. He shows that a man could not even 
 be in Christ, in the fullest sense, without being uni- 
 ted to a woman. "But," says one, "how does Paul 
 show all this 1 Your assertions would convey the idea 
 that Paul was thoroughly grounded in the faith of Abra- 
 ham as to the great ' promise.' Where do you find so 
 much proof ] ?> Read his own words for yourself. Here 
 they follow : " The woman is the glory of the man." 
 Take woman from man, and you take away the best thing 
 of which he can boast : you take away his crown and his 
 glory. Again, "the woman is created for the man." The 
 "what for," and the "who for," need no explanation. 
 Again, "let the younger women marry, guide the house, 
 and bear children." " Marriage is honorable in all, but 
 whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." 
 
 "Well," say you, "I am partly constrained to feel 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 225 
 
 satisfied that all the New Testament writers fully agree 
 with you, as to the divine authority and perpetuity of 
 the Patriarchal system of marriage, and increase of their 
 posterity ; but I want one more additional proof in favor 
 of the system, before every relic of doubt can be swept 
 from my mind. I want you to show me distinctly, that 
 Christ Jesus was ever married, or ever had a wife, or 
 that he ever will be married and have a wife. If you 
 can satisfy my curiosity on this one remaining point, 
 then I will forbear." Well, this makes me think of a 
 similar question dictated by the Holy Ghost 1800 years 
 ago. The question was this : "Who shall declare his 
 generation f Now, sir, if you can believe an angel from 
 heaven, and the light of human eyes on this point, you 
 will not need much of my testimony to confirm it. A 
 certain angel, spoken of in the Revelation of St. John, 
 willing to gratify curiosity upon this same interesting sub- 
 ject, says to one, "Come hither, and I will show the Bride, 
 the Lamb's wife." Now, if that angel tells truth, he 
 showed this interesting personage the Bride, the Lamb's 
 wife, to the inquisitive person who wanted to know about 
 the wife of Christ. Again, John the Eevelator, says, 
 most distinctly, that the Lamb's wife hath made herself 
 ready, and blessed are those who are called to the marri- 
 age supper of the Lamb. Now, if the Lord has in very 
 deed shown unto men in the flesh, the very Bride, and 
 wife of Christ, and also the nuptial celebration, then an 
 honest mind may be at rest upon this subject. The first 
 miracle that Jesus wrought, was used to grace a nuptial 
 celebration. And sir, God claims to be the Father of the 
 human family, that is, of our spirits ; and so far as the 
 body of Jesus our elder brother is concerned, he is his 
 Father in the flesh. He made a covenant with Jesus 
 p 
 
226 LETTERS BY 
 
 Christ, our eldest brother, that his family, after whom all 
 heaven is named, should increase without end. The same 
 was repeated to Abraham, and all that are Christ's, down 
 to the last person that shall ever be born. The last child 
 of Christ that is born, whether in the Millennium or final 
 consummation and end of all things, will claim this 
 " promise " of endless increase. 
 
 " Well, before I close my queries, one thing more. 
 Are not those awful and multiplied denunciations contain- 
 ed in the Scriptures, against adultery, fornication, Baby- 
 lon, mother of abominations, whore of all the earth, spoken 
 against spiritual wickedness, instead of sexual and bodily 
 lusts and transgressions of the covenant with Abraham ?" 
 I reply, these were spoken against actual deeds of sexual 
 defilement in the flesh. Men are not judged on the score 
 of spiritualities, but they are judged for the deeds done in 
 the body. The whole earth is defiled by actual transgres- 
 sion. This general defilement has arisen from breaking 
 the covenant, transgressing the laws, and changing the 
 ordinance of marriage from divine permission to the shal- 
 low authority of magistrates and unordained priests. The 
 grand design of God in bringing the spirits of men and 
 women to occupy bodies upon this earth was, in order to 
 establish a system of perfect Patriarchal government, 
 according to the pattern of the family of Heaven. That 
 portion of our universal family which transgressed and 
 warred in heaven, were indeed permitted to come to this 
 same earth with the rest of the human family. But when 
 the spirits that kept their first estate were allowed to take 
 bodies, the disobedient were denied this privilege. And 
 those who kept not the "covenant" and laws of this 
 second estate, as revealed to Abraham, and all who are 
 Christ's, will not be allowed to retake their bodies after 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 227 
 
 death on a level with the obedient. The heirs of the 
 Abrahamic "promise" will retake their bodies, and 
 resume the family relationship, just as they are on the 
 earth ; husbands and wives, parents and children ; incor- 
 ruptible and immortal, however. But where will those 
 be who are not heirs of the " promise " ] They will be 
 kept back, because they kept not their second estate, for 
 the long and dark period of a thousand years, without 
 those bodies which they refused to subject to the law of 
 Christ and Abraham. What a long, dreary dissolution 
 of family ties of husbands and wives, parents and child- 
 ren ! But I forbear. Blessed are the faithful who keep 
 His commandments, and have right to the tree of life, 
 and who are not written childless in the earth, and their 
 names blotted out of remembrance; but are as the willows 
 planted by the water courses, and as a handful of corn 
 whose fruit shall shake as the cedars of Lebanon. 
 
 Similar chains and imprisonment await those who 
 abide not the laws pertaining to this second estate. Their 
 bodies will be withheld from them, and their advancement 
 in knowledge and power during an appointed time, must 
 measurably cease. He who holds the keys of the resur- 
 rection and endless lives, will say to them : " Wait till I 
 bid you come forth. The marriage feast is indeed ready, 
 but you are not invited guests just now. Wait till I call 
 for you." 
 
 Respectfully Yours, &c., 
 
 OESON SPENCER 
 
228 LETTERS BY 
 
 NIGHT OF MARTYRDOM. 
 
 THE following article, on the Night of the Prophet's and 
 Patriarch's Martyrdom, is inserted in this volume in order 
 to perpetuate the memories of the just, and render to 
 the heavens a tribute of gratitude for their manifest inter- 
 est in the tried condition of Saints on earth 
 
 Twenty-seventh of June, 1844. Eventful period in 
 the calendar of the nineteenth century ! That awful 
 night ! ! I remember it well I shall never forget it I 
 Thousands and tens of thousands will never forget it ! 
 A solemn thrill a melancholy awe comes o'er my spirit ! 
 The memorable scene is fresh before me ! It requires no 
 art of the pencil, no retrospection of history, to portray it. 
 The impression of the Almighty Spirit on that occasion 
 will run parallel with eternity ! The scene was not por- 
 trayed by earthquake, or thunderings and lightnings, and 
 tempeat ; but the majesty and sovereignty of Jehovah 
 was felt far more impressively in the still small voice of 
 that significant hour, than the roaring of many waters, or 
 the artillery of many thunders, when the spirit of Joseph 
 was driven back to the bosom of God by an ungrateful 
 and blood-guilty world. There was an unspeakable some- 
 thing, a portentous significancy in the firmament and 
 among the inhabitants of the earth. Multitudes felt the 
 whisperings of woe and grief, and the forebodings of 
 tribulation and sorrow that they will never forget, though 
 the tongue of man can never utter it. The Saints of 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 229 
 
 God, whether near the scene of blood, or even a thousand 
 miles distant, felt, at the very moment the Prophet lay in 
 royal gore, that an awful deed was perpetrated. 0, the 
 repulsive chill ! the melancholy vibrations of the very air, 
 as the prince of darkness receded in hopeful triumph from 
 the scene of slaughter ! That night could not the Saints 
 sleep, though uninformed by man of what had passed with 
 the Seer and Patriarch, and far, far remote from the scene ; 
 yet to them sleep refused a visitation the eyelids refused 
 to close the hearts of many sighed deeply in secret, aaid 
 enquired, " Why am I thus V 
 
 One of the Twelve Apostles, while traveling a hun- 
 dred miles from the scene of assassination, and totally 
 ignorant of what was done, was so unaccountably sad,. 
 and filled with such unspeakable anguish of heart, without 
 knowing the cause, that he was constrained to turn aside 
 from the road and give utterance to his feelings in tears 
 and supplications to God. Another Apostle, twelve hun- 
 dred miles distant, while standing in Faneuil Hall, Boston, 
 Massachusetts, with many others, was similarly affected, 
 and obliged to turn aside to hide the big tears that gushed 
 thick and long from his eyes. Another, President of the 
 High Priests, while in the distant State of Kentucky, in 
 the solitude of midnight, being marvellously disquieted, 
 God condescended to show him, in a vision, the mangled 
 bodies of the two murdered worthies, all dripping in 
 purple gore, who said to him, " We are murdered by a 
 faithless State and cruel mob." 
 
 Shall I attempt to discribe the scene at Nauvoo on 
 that memorable evening 1 If I could, surely you would 
 weep, whatever may be your faith or scepticism, if the 
 feelings of humanity are lodged in your bosom ; all preju- 
 dice and mirth would slumber, till the eye of pity had 
 
230 . LETTERS BY 
 
 bedewed the bier, and the heart had found relief in la- 
 mentation. Before another day dawned, the messenger 
 bore the tidings into the afflicted city ; the picquet guards 
 of the city heard the whisper of murder in silent amaze- 
 ment, as the messenger passed into the city. There the 
 pale muslin signal for gathering the troops hung its 
 drooping folds from the Temple spire (as if partaking of 
 nature's sadness), and made tremulous utterance to the 
 humble soldiery to muster immediately. As the dawn 
 made the signal visible, and the base tone of the great 
 drum confirmed the call, fathers, husbands, and minor 
 sons all seized the broken fragment of a dodger, or a 
 scanty bone, for the service that might be long and ardu- 
 ous before their return, or swallowed some thickened 
 milk (as might be the case) and fled to the muster ground ; 
 the suspicious mother and children followed to the door 
 and window, anxious to see the gathering hosts emerge 
 from their watch-posts and firesides, where rest and food 
 were scanted to utmost endurance. The troops continued 
 to arrive, and stood in martial order, with a compressed 
 lip and a quick ear. They waited with deathly but com- 
 posed silence, to hear the intelligence that mournful spirits 
 had saddened their hearts with during the night. The 
 speaker stood up in the midst, not of a uniformed soldiery 
 of hirelings, for they had no wages ; their clothing was 
 the workmanship of the diligent domestic the product 
 of wife and daughters' arduous toil ; their rations were 
 drawn from the precarious supplies earned in the inter- 
 vals between preaching to the states and nations of the 
 earth, and watching against the intrusions and violence 
 of mobs. The speaker announced the martyrdom of the 
 Prophet and Patriarch, aud pause 1 under the heavy bur- 
 den of the intelligence. 
 
ORSON SPENCER. 231 
 
 But here I must pause ; my pen shall touch lightly, 
 as it must feebly, that hallowed that solemn and ever 
 memorable hour ! The towering indignation ; the holy 
 rnd immutable principle of retribution for crime that 
 dwells eternally in the bosom of God, insensibly impelled 
 the right hand almost to draw the glittering sword, and 
 feel the sharpness of the bayonet's point, and its fixedness 
 to the musket's mouth. But the well-planted principle 
 of self-command, and also of observing the order of heaven 
 and the counsel of the priesthood, soon returned the 
 deadly steel to the scabbard ; and the victorious triumph 
 of loyalty to God, in committing evil-doers to him that 
 judge th righteously, and who hath said, " vengeance is 
 mine, and I will repay," prevailed over the billows of 
 passion ; and in the transit of a fleeting moment the holy 
 serenity of the soldiery, depicted by an occasional tear, 
 showed to angels and men, that the tempest of passion 
 was hushed, and wholly under the control of the spirit of 
 wisdom and of God. It was the most unearthly and 
 morally sublime scene that I ever witnessed. Contem- 
 plate a city and community of 20,000 people, whose love 
 for their leader, the prophet of the Lord, was warm and 
 abiding as the love of David and Jonathan, in an evil 
 moment betrayed by a sovereign State ! Under his in- 
 structions they had been taught the ways of truth and 
 salvation they had been gathered from remote parts, 
 even distant islands and continents, that they might hear 
 the word of the Lord from his lips, and build up a city 
 where gambling and lewclness, theft and drunkenness should 
 have no admittance ! And the life of Joseph was con- 
 sidered so necessary to the work of God, and the welfare 
 of the human family, that many thousands could readily 
 have died in his stead, if that could have preserved his 
 life. But the Governor of Illinois, the Commander-in- 
 Chief of 80,000 organized militia, threatened the speedy 
 demolition of the whole city of Nauvoo, if Joseph was 
 
232 LETTERS BY ORSON SPENCER. 
 
 not delivered up to him for trial on the antiquated charge 
 of treason ! He made the most solemn assurance, and 
 pledged the sacred faith ol the State, that he should be 
 kept safe and unharmed until he could have a fair and 
 impartial trial. But oh ! the cruel perfidy of that modern 
 Nero, the Governor ! and the bloody butchery of the 
 soldiery (some of whom had been disbanded and others 
 had not), that could deliberately murder innocent and 
 helpless men, that had surrendered at discretion, after all 
 the strongest assurances of protection ! The soldiery in 
 Nauvoo numbered near four thousand, while those in 
 alliance with the bloody perpetrators in the county were 
 not more than one-half the number. They would have 
 been an easy prey to the merited revenge of the outraged 
 force at Nauvoo ; but that force bore the outrages with 
 coolness and wisdom that have never been equalled by 
 uninspired men. They governed themselves under cir- 
 cumstances the most extraordinary, and hearkened calmly 
 to the voice of wisdom, when their pain and grief were 
 almost insupportable. The soldiery on the Temple square 
 heard, but felt that there was no adequate victim for 
 vengeance in the county, or even in the destruction of the 
 whole State. Some, least tender in their hearts, found 
 relief in tears. In the houses of the Saints, aside from 
 the soldiery, females, less competent to bear the news 
 than husbands and fathers, in some instances lost their 
 sanity of mind for a season ; but as the sun arose and 
 the people congregated on the green, after being exhorted 
 to give their enemies into the hands of Him that judge th 
 righteously, tranquility and order ensued. But not so 
 with the mob. During all the bloody night their houses 
 were hastily deserted by men, women, and children. So 
 great was the consternation and so precipitate the flight, 
 that even females fled in their night-clothes, almost naked, 
 and continued their flight amid imprecations and shrieks 
 for the distance of even fifty miles, where, exhausted and 
 frightened, they alarmed villages, and the city of Q.uincy 
 by the ringing of bells, and the speedy gathering of every 
 person that could bear arms for their defence ; but no 
 man pursued, though " the wicked fled."