Читать книгу History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Vol. 1-7) - Joseph F. Smith - Страница 83

1. Of these days in Kirtland Elder Heber C. Kimball in his Journal says, "The Church was in a state of poverty and distress, a consequence of which it appeared almost impossible that the commandments could be fulfilled (relative to the Kirtland Temple); at the same time our enemies were raging and threatening destruction upon us, and we had to guard ourselves night after night, and for weeks were not permitted to take off our clothes, and were obliged to lay with our fire locks in our arms."—Times and Seasons, vol. 6, p. 771.

2. The use of "abroad" here does not have reference to foreign lands, but means those who were scattered from their homes in Missouri.

This communication of the Elders of the Church at Kirtland, to their brethren scattered abroad, does not appear in the History of the Prophet, but is found in the Evening and Morning Star, vol. 2, Nos. 17, 18, 19. The document is evidently dictated by the Prophet and is of such doctrinal importance that it is thought proper to give it place in the body of the Church History. It treats of the origin of law, human and divine, and man's relations thereto; the antiquity of the Gospel; the virtue of the atonement of Christ; the importance of men in this age being in communication with God through the means of revelation; the bitterness and fate of apostates. The document is a complete refutation of the charges of bad motives behind the conduct of the saints. No man, I believe, can read this document and then believe that those who issued it were evil disposed men bent on deceiving mankind.

The late President Daniel H. Wells was wont to say that some time previous to his joining the Church he was satisfied that Joseph Smith was an inspired man because of his intuitive knowledge of the fundamental principles of law—a view that will be confirmed by a perusal of the parts of this communication which deal with the origin, force, and relations of law.

3. The case of Joseph Smith vs. "Doctor" Hurlburt did not come to trial until the 4th of April, 1834, when the "Doctor" was bound over to keep the peace.