Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 7/Additional letters

Huntsburgh, O. April 16th, 1835.

BRO. O. COWDRY,—

Having just returned from a most interesting meeting, where baptizing was attended to, and while the curtains of night are drawn around me and I am seated in the friendly family circle with some beloved brethren, although it is snowing quite fast and is very cold, especially considering the season of the year, while musing and meditating on the past, a thought suggested itself, that, probably, a few lines from me would not be uninteresting to the readers of your most valuable paper.—During last summer and fall elders Joel Johnson and Oliver Granger visited this neighborhood and preached a number of times. They baptized none in this town, but elder J. preached also, in the town north of this and baptized three or four.

I first visited this place in December last, and stayed one week, during which I preached sometimes, twice a day, and the truth took hold on the hearts of many, and six of the number came out and declared it openly by obedience. Since that time I have occasionally been here and declared to them the things which I most assuredly believee [believe], and I always found that there were some who were honest in heart and ready to obey the truth.—The church or the number of saints here at present is twenty seven, and there are a number more believing and others seriously inquiring. May the Lord grant great prosperity to the cause of truth.

On the 21st of March I attended an appointment at the center of this town, in the midst of a society commonly called Campbellites, and the truth comeing [coming] so near them it roused up thos[e] whose craft was in danger, and I received a challenge to hold a public discussion with a Mr. J. M. Tracy, who, in his note to me, pledged himself to prove that "the book of Mormon was not a divine revelation." I have been informed that Mr. T. was formerly a Universalist preacher, but becoming tired of their principles or society, I know not which, latterly some of the Campbellites in Huntsburgh have hired him to preach for them. I accepted his offer, and on the 27th of March we met and the debate continued two days, about eight hours each, the parties speaking alternately thirty minutes. When the interview closed a majority of the congregation arose, by an anxious urgency on the part of Mr. T. to testify thereby that they did not believe in the divinity of the book of Mormon. But when I asked them if they had been convinced that it was false by Mr. Tracy's arguments, (if I might call them such,) there was not one to answer—"Yes."

Whether good has resulted from that discussion can only be known by the effects produced. As soon as the debate closed I went immediately to the water and baptized two—it being Saturday. On Sunday President J. Smith Jr. delivered a discourse in the same house of about three hour's length, and on Monday morning four more came forward and, "were buried with Christ by baptism;" and were confirmed by the laying on of hands, in order that, "they might put off the old man with his deeds and arise and walk in newness of life."

Since I have been here this time, more have been received into the church. Thus you see that truth is powerful and will prevail.

I have for some time past been thoroughly convinced, that all that is wanting, is, to have the principles in which we believe, fairly, plainly and simply laid open to the minds of the honest in heart of this generation, in order to have the mild kingdom of the Redeemer spread and prevail over the commandments of men and the doctrines of devils. For many, even in this region, so near to Kirtland, I found when I first came to this town, knew but little of our principles. They had heard much from rumor, 'tis true, but they seemed astonished when they come to hear our principles as we hold them, without exaggeration or misrepresentation. Said they, "these things are according to the scriptures, we believe they are true, and we want to obey them." When I see people thus willing to obey the truth as soon as they learn it, my heart cries, O! that the vineyard of the Lord was filled with "the publishers of peace," that all the honest in heart might be prepared for the coming of the Lord, in power and great glory, and be ready to say, "even so come, Lord Jesus."

Then peace as in the garden of Eden will be restored to the earth, and then for a thousand years all kingdoms, nations and people from one end of heaven to the other, from the least to the greatest, will echo the sound "I know the Lord" For as Isaiah says, "all the people will be righteous."

W. E. M'LELIN.

Perry, April 19th, 1835.

DEAR BROTHER:—

As many reports have gone out about the downfall of this church, and that it is decreasing in place of increasing, I have thought it would be encouraging to our brethren to hear from us; therefore, I write to you these few lines: the church, where I reside, in the township of Perry, Richland co. numbers at this time 36 members, in good standing; five of whom have been baptized within seven days, and 4 about two months before, and some others that appear to be believing, which we trust and pray may come in. Pray for us, that the work of the Lord may continue to prosper with us, as well as all other places.—This from yours, &c.

DAVID EVANS.

BRO. COWDRY,

Sir:

From satisfactory evidence received from Connecticut concerning the conduct of elder Gladden Bishop, we say that he is suspended as a preacher of the gospel until such times as an investigation can be had before the travelling elders from Kirtland at some one of the conferences noticed in the preceding Number of the Advocate. We are not fond of having the church of the Latter Day Saints represented by men whose conduct and teaching will not stand the test of the most rigid investigation.

O. HYDE, }

W. E. M'LELIN } Clerks of conference.

Kirtland, Ohio, April 27, 1835.