Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 June 1842, vol. 3, no. 15, pp. 799–814; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 1 June 1842 issue of the periodical Times and Seasons was the seventh edited by JS. He had assumed the editorship of the newspaper beginning with its 1 March 1842 issue, and in that role he took responsibility for all of the published content, including this 1 June issue. The issue contained an article on the “Word of Wisdom,” which was a revelation JS dictated in February 1833 outlining a code of health for the Latter-day Saints; an installment from the serialized “History of Joseph Smith”; and reprints of articles from newspapers, including Latter-day Saint publications, on topics such as ’s missionary work in , JS’s work on the Book of Abraham, the necessity of baptism, the beliefs of church members, and ancient writings discovered in the . The issue also included a letter from the presidency and high council of the , Illinois, stake “to the saints scattered abroad.”
In addition to these items, the issue published editorial content that was presumably written by JS as editor or by his editorial staff. This editorial content, which is featured here, includes four items: commentary on the assassination attempt on former governor ; a lengthy statement disputing a speech , a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, made criticizing the Saints; a preface to an article about the Jews; and a notice to church members in the eastern about ’s planned fund-raising mission for the construction of the .
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
determined in the strength of the Lord, to keep his commandments to the end? thou mayest.
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From the Boston Investigator.
THE MORMONS. or latter day saints.
This increasing but persecuted sect, it seems to us, are the only consistent sect now extant. They are the only sect who act up in strict accordance to the Scripture. They are in fact, the only sect who act as if they believed what they profess. In the last chapter of the Epistle of St. James, it is written:—“If there be any illness among you, ye shall call for the elders of the Churh, and anoint yourselves with oil in the name of the Lord.” Here is a plain prescription for the cure of disease, coming directly from God, according to the professed belief of Christians; coming certainly from God, if the New Testament be a divinely inspired volume, Yet how few Christians there are who would not laugh to scorn the very suggestion to treat their sick in this manner! Instead of the elders of the Church, modern Christians send for a physician, and instead of anointing with oil, they dose the patient with drugs which were unknown to St. James or any of the apostles. Does not this neglect of the plain advice of scripture prove that modern Christains believe themselves wise about what is written, and that they are willing to set at nought one of the commands of an inspired Apostle, because they believe themselves wiser than he?
Not so with the Latter Day Saints. They act up to their professed faith.— Believing the Bible to be truly the word of God, and not a mere make believe system of religion, they abide by the commands of scripture in relation to their sick, as well as in relation to matters of mere theological faith. They believe that the Bible is just as good authority for one thing as another; that the command of God with respect to the treatment of invalids, is as worthy of obedience as his command with respect to the treatment of sinners; that God’s word is as good authority in law and medicine as in theology. Orthodox Christians, on the contrary, despise the authority of the Bible with regard to all matters of science. They seem to consider the omniscent God as ignorant of every thing in the world except morals and theology. Hence, if his word says that all unbelievers are damned, they believe his word on that point, though our own reason declares that we are not accountable for mistakes of opinion. If, on the other hand, God’s word declares, that the earth was created in six days, and that the sun and stars are mere lights in the firmanent, set there to give light to mankind, Christians reject the idea, because it is contrary to science. They reject also the commands of God in relation to the treatment of the sick, because they are proved to be absurd by medical science and experience.
Not long since, a coroner’s inquest was held in London over the body of Elizabeth Morgan, aged 55 years, whose death was alleged to have been caused through improper treatment by unqualified persons. She belonged to the sect of Latter Day Saints, and was treated during her illness, according to the usual custom of her sect, who agreeably to the commands of St. James, “pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” What was the consequence of this literal obedience to the command of Scripture, in this Christian land? After Elizabeth Morgan died, her body was taken by the Christian authorities, and inspected, in order to find cause for punishing her friends and attendants for their abiding by the directions of the Apostle, instead of sending for proper medical aid! The jury returned a verdict of “natural death,” but took occasion to caution the sect how they acted in such cases for the future.
Now is it not evident from the proceedings in this case and other similar cases, that Christians, who call the Latter Day Saints a foolish sect on account of their literal obedience to the commands of Scripture, believe the commands of Scripture foolish in regard to almost all matters except those which merely concern one’s theological faith? Is it not evident that they believe the omniscent God to be a perfect ignoramus in all matters of science? O, ye generation of hypocrites! why do ye not throw away your Bible altogether, which commands men to do the very things which ye condemn as foolish and absurd?
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From Priest’s American Antiquities.
If such may have been the fact, that a part of the Ten Tribes came over to , in the way we have supoosed, leaving the cold regions of Assareth behind them [p. 813]