The Seer - By Orson Pratt

A

s

enn
cun
BES

5
f

a

1
za
z1
1
I

M

T 2S

xan
ian

1

tne

SEE
AND
I
ALL TE INIT 1 ITANTS OF ane TTOKLD axd dwel1ehs ON THE EARTH mm TE
all
ail
aad
asb
THE
3
1
moroitaiys 1saia4kym3
LIFTETH VP AX EN S I G X ON THE M 0 untaint
untains isaiah
UP AN ESIGN OX

inhabitants

vroi
aroi
voi
vol

1

no 1
I

3wmirits

OF

for
a
is it title assumed ford
ibis Periodic ai q
this periodical iin commemoration of
josepn
JOSEPH
joserh SMITH the great SEER of the
ho s instrumont
last days VIQ as an instrument in the
trument
aid
hands
wnds of the lord laid the foundation
ands
d
the idngdom
of th 91891 om of god preparatory to
4
th q second coming of the messiah to
the
reign icil univ ersal dominion overall
n iiil universal
CM with unit
THE SEER

re

SEER will be
of the SL er willbe mosteluc
ly occupied with original matter aluc i
elucidating the doctrines of thechurch of
ati4thdoctrines the church
jesus christ of latter day saints as
revealed in both ancient and modem
pyqye lations
pyayelations the prophenies relating
3reyeladons
cles
prophecies
phe cies
phecies
relations
to the gi 4nd and remarkable events of
grand
and
the last days will be carefully examin
last
examinelamin
ed and unfolded the doctrine of celand
lestial martlage or arriage for all
31
7estialmarriage
marriage
marriage
gle rnity bellev knel practised
gie anity as believed ancl practiced by
fie
eternity
ed inel
and
the
wui
il saints in utah territory will be
clearld explained
learly
learlv
yles
tiews
the views of the
vies
vles
saints in regard to the ancient patriarck order of Matrimony orplu ral
orple
m
or pluralarchal
ity of vives
wives
ityyvives as developed in a revelavires
tion given through JOSEPHthe seer
josept the
yili
yill be fully published the celestial
will
q xisten
origin and pre e disten ce of the sp its
xistence
spirits
lis
qn
estate probation
of men their first es tate or py9bati
an
in a previous world the gnat benefits
evious
great
grat
derived by bydescendina from heaven
descending
awd entering ashly tabernacles and
aud
and
ffowy
frowy
eshly
aul en

pages
the adges
dages
pdges

4

gohd

0

tring

HB
HE

price 2d
ad

JANUARY 1853

prospectus

ij earth
the

itiii

when

THE SEER

the
keeping th e laws of their second estate
redemption and exand their final re
al
n fh6irfiiturd
altation as gods in their future state
tichich
which
are subjects tivhich will mord or less
more le s
i
ges
SEER
oes
SEEI
occupy the pa1 of the seen
pages
seel
Ithatfhe president elect
it is hoped that the
tha hon
the ho n members of congress the
heads of the various departments of
hlgli
the national government the hagli
t6m41
minded governors and legislAie aslegislative
lale
sem biles
se mblies of the several states and
semblies
mblies
alies
staica iid
staiea tid
territories the mm
ministers of eve ry bell f
relivery iell
gi 0 us denomination and all the inhabigious
usdenomination
wili
will
tants of this pnetc te public uil
great republic uli
ufi
1
I
al thatthrougli
patro 0 this periodical that ibxoii ff
patronize
the medium of our own writings ge
they
may be more correctly and fully in
formed in regard to the peculiar docheaard
reaard
0
expec6
trines views practices and expect
expectatiews
dou
flourish
doa
tions of the saints who now nou d 71
territoiy and
in the mountain territory and who
tez7ito4
I
flourish over the whole
will eventually 1
whoie
sr
earth and we say to all nations
nation
subscribe for the SEER and we proseert
beert
mise you a true and faithful descripp
chifrr
chartion of all the principal features chifra
ij
acieaz
4i
acter ing this great and last ai IL
dispenacterizing
izing
s
falness
fulness of times
sation of the falnes stimes
faines dtimes
j
1
I

pratt

editor
washington city D O I
j
gemberg 1 1859
185
De
december
ORSON PBATT

0

1

2

FIRST EPISTLE OF ORSON PRATT
ORSOX

TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED
SCATTEEED
zhe

throughout

THE UNITED STATES AND BBITISH provinces
PKOVINCES

GBEETINQ
GREETING

having been ap- travel jprint establish bookagencies
rint
book ag cief
agencies
gen cies
den clef
pointed by the first presidency with and perform all other duties wak ins
of IMs
olluis
ollhis
w0k
cai
the sanction of a special conference cal libei and the blessings of our fatcalling
of the church of jesus christ of lat her in heaven shall rest upon them
ter day saints held in great salt brother pratt is one of the perpetual
lake city on the 28th of august emigrating fund company and is
1852 to preside over the saints hereby appointed and authorized to
185
throughout the united states and act as travelling agent in the united
british provinces in north america states and british provinces in north
in accordance therewith 1 have left america and he is instructed to colI
my family and my home in the peace- lect and disburse aid to promote the
ful vales of the mountains and after emigration of poor saints to the valcrossing the wild desert plains which leys of the mountains
intervene between the happy land of
brother orson pratt is too well
the saints and the gentile lands of and favourably known to need any tesstrife and wickedness I find myself timonial further than his own pre1
ti
within the field of my mission that sence and acquaintance to secure the
the saints may more fully leam the esteem and confidence of all among
nature of my mission among them 1 whom his lot may be cast his ac
I
will insert the following
quirements and attainments are of the
0
highest order and possessing as he
LETTER OF appointment
eminently does every requisite of
certifies that professor orson an honourable and
this
honour able
pratt of the universi ty of deseret tleman we take high minded genUni versi
universe
university
great pleasure in
one of the apostles of the church of
recommending him to
jesus christ of latter day saints is and consideration all the kindness
of
good men
appointed by us with the sanction of
BKIGHAM
BRIGHAM YOUNG
presidency
the special conference convened in
K
HEBER 0 KIMBALL
of
f
kluball
this city on the twenty eighth day of
WITMAIM kichaisdsj said
WILLAED richards isaid church
sald
willard
august A D one thousand eight
hundred and fifty two to preside
fiat
signed and sealed at great salt
fifty
over the affairs of the church through- lake city utah te mtory septemterritory
g
out the united states and the british ber 13th 1852
185s
provinces in north america and
also to write and publish periodicals
the principal features of my 112is
MT misi
ac
pamphlets books &c illustrative of sion are contained in the foregoing
g
foregom
the pri nciples and doctrines of the letter but ever feeling a deep intercaples
rinciples
church and to do all other things est in the welfare of the saints you
ali
ail
weigal
ah
i
66 essary
66essary
necessary for the advancement of the will permit me through the medium
work of the lord amoncr all nations of this epistle to impart to you such
vork
among
0
pratt is authorized and required instructions as the holy S
elder
spirit
phit may
to receive and collect tithing of the whisper to my mind 1 wish to ask
I
0
saints through all his field of labours the saints who still remain scattered
d
and we request the elders and other abroad do you enjoy as great a imeaofficers and members of the church to sure of the spirit of god as when you
give diligent heed to his counsels as were first baptized into this kingdom
the words of life and salvation and or are your minds barren yourun
your unsour
soar
hourun
io
der standings
squi
alst
aist him to funds to enable him to derstandings unfruitful your soul in
soui
oub
oah
oab

dear brethren

11

1
I

darkness 9 and your feelings cold and tem p tation and be led captive by the
temptation
0
indifferent towards the great work wui of the devil such ones not
will
nob
which you have embraced and which having the spirit that leads into all
once made you joyful and happy
if truth are liable to be deceived by the

til

s
this be your condition it is of the ut- doctrines of men and devils for the
ild
iid
most importance that you know the lord will frequently suffer strong decauses of these unhappy changes in lusions to overpower such that their
your fe elinos Is it because the lord damnation may be the greater besour feelings
0
has changed and forgotten to bo gra- cause they profess to know the lord
be
cious
fulness
Is it because the falness of and yet will not obey him rememhis gospel does not produce the same ber the word of the lord which came
effects oi happiness now as it did in by the mouth of joseph the seer
or
ancle lit
ancie lif times
ancient
Is it because the saying hearken and hear 0 ye my
book of mormon or any of the revel- people saith the lord and your god
ations given through joseph the ye whom 1 delight to bless with the
tho
I
seer have failed to accomplish those greatest bl usings ye that hear me
866
blessings
purposes for which theywere sent and ye that hear me not will 1 curse
they were
I
Is it because the saints have passed that have professed my name with
fi
gh
through great tribulation and have the heaviest of all cursings
thong
thoug
cur sings
curlings
hayo
havo
have
hate
been driven from city to city from you hearkened to the word of god
state to state and finally banished have you exerted yourselves to the
from this great republic to seek a utmost to flee from babylon if not
home in the wild glens of the rocky no wonder that you are in darkness
rochy
mountains
Is it because god has no wonder that the peaceable spirit
forsaken his people and will no lon- has been grieved from your bosom
vffi
effi
no verily repent therefore speedily and obey
ger show them mercy
eepent
no none of these causes have con- the voice of the lord and gather
spired to drive away the comforter yourselves among hia people lest the
66111 your hearts or to envelope you destroyer lay hold upon you in
from
an
in darkness or to make you cold and hour you think not and you perish in
yon
lri
iri
iii
indifferent and unhappy
aud
but the disobedience and your name be cut
jirinclpal ate
principal aie
trincipal cause of your unpleasant and off from the generations of zion if
Trin cipal
iifih ppy state of mind is your own you will awake from the slumber of
unhappy
e
liwak
disobedience to one of the most im- death which has seized upon you and
portant commands which god has use every exertion to obey the voice
por tant
given to his people in this last dis- of the lord your god his anger shall
pensation namely
pensa tion
to flee out of be turned away from you and he will
babylon and gather themselves to- show you mercy and his spirit shall
gether and stand in holy places that be restored unto you again and his
they may escape the plagues and de- hand shall be stretched out overy ou
over you
soia
sola tincy scourges
solating sco urges
solating scourger which the lord has to shield and protect you and to gadecreed to pour out upon the nations ther you even as a hen gathereth her
gatheretb
gathereth
because of their great sins and wick- chickens under her wings to save
edness which continually cry unto the them from the approaching storms
heavens for veneance can any saint so shall the lord your god save you
vengeance
neglect so important a command when and comfort your hearts and mako
make
iswi
is within
it iiwithin their power to keep it and you to sin with joy and gladness and
sing
still be justified and retain the peace- you shall te his people and he will
be
able spirit of the lord
no the be the lord your god awake then
spirit of the lord is grieved with 0 awake flee to the mountains for
such and will by degrees withdraw refuge
refuged for a day of trouble is at
refuger
from them and theywill grope in the hand a day of fierce battle and war
flom
they will
d
dark and be liable to be overcome by
come
oyer como
a d
a day of mourning and lamentation

ite

fk

4

11
for widows and orphans whose husthem importune

let

at the feet
bands and fathers swlfall in battle of the judge and if lie heed them
shali fail
shail fali
shall fall
ile
lle
he
on
it shall be the d ay of the lords c on- not let them importune at the feet of

tro
troversy for his people a day of refro versy
compense for the innocent blood of
pile
prophets and saints which has been
shqdanionrf this nation
shed among
0
ile
lle
lie time
e
the tim is drawing nigh for these
thin s to be fulfilled for this nation
things
have rejected the book of mormon
hake
hafe
which the lord brought forth by the
ministering of angels and sent unto
them by the hands of his servants
thoy
they have rejected the church of
christ which the lord god in mercy
established in their midst they have
d
suffered his saints to be trampled
scourger
upon by mobs to be sco urged afflictscourged
ed abused driven from their homes
deprived of the most sacred rights of
american
amerlean citizenship and finally to
bb banished from their midst and
be
obliged to seek refuge in the solitary
refugo
wilds and deserts of the bocky mounhocky
rocky
tains
they have closed their doors
their synagogues their eyes and their
hearns against one of the most glorihearts
ous and important messages that ever
saluted the ears of mortals they have
suffered
summed one of the greatest most resumfed
nowned and most celebrated prophets
4
that ever lived upon the earth to be
murdered in cold blood without bringing the murderers to justice they
bavo
havo suffered scores of innocent men
have
havosuffered
youle
women
wonie n and children to be tortured
shot down and butchered in open
aay by beings who afterwards boasted
dayi
day
dari
of their horrid deeds and yet no
oftheir
means are instituted to bring these
guilty wretches to punishment does
guiltywretches
not
nob
fiot the blood of the saints and of
prophets cry aloud to the heavens for
vengeance
and shall this nation
es qdpe the judgments decreed against
escape
them and will the almighty forbear to execute the vengeance written 9 ve rily no for in december
vernly
verily
1833 the word of the lord came
IM JOSEPH
through
the SEER concernsfer
ing his saints who had been driven
from their homes in jackson county
fibmtheir
missouri saying
1
I

ta
t6

the governor and if the governor
heed them not let them importune af
at
the feet of the president and if the
theo lii
i1l
president heed them not thea lil
wilf
then ial
the lord arise and come forth out of
oub
od
his hiding place and in his fury vex
the nation and in his hot displeasure
anid in his fierce anger in his time
and
will cut off those wicked unfaithful
and unjust stewards and appoint them
their portion amom hypocrites and
among
abom
0
un
unbelievers even in outer darkness
believers
where there is weeping and tailing
wailing
and gnashing of teeth pray ye theren
there
0
fore that their ears may be opened
ore
cars
unto your cries that 1 may be merci
mercl
I
fui
ful unto them that these things may
ul
not come upon them
Doc trina
doctrine
trine
and covenants page 282 english
edition

for nineteen years the saints

havo
have

importuned according td
importuner ac cordin 9 to this comcorain
eat
man dment
edt
mandment but have they obtained
eal
obtain
no the judges and the
redress
governor of the state of missouri in
stead of redressing our wromys sufwromas
wrongs
fered us under the force of arms to
be killed immured in dungeons and
banished from the state the president instead of restoring us to our
diomes
liomes and lands which we purchased
homes
of the national government suffered
us to be deprived of the dearest rights
hights
eights
of american citizenship and to be
banished by the force of arms from
this great republic to seeh refuge
seek
seel
among hostile savages in the barren
n
salvages
barre
baire
wa stes of the snowy mountains
wastes
the
cries and importunitie of the saints
import unitie
importunities
for redress and protection were metr
met
your cause csc
with the cold reply
is
isc
just but we have no power to protect
you
iong
long
the saints have lonc cried
unto the lord that he would open
bppnl
the ears and soften the hearts of th e
the
authorities
country
rulers and andauthorities of our countryi
that they might execute justice and
right in behalf of the suffering downtroa
trod deni exiled citizens of this grea
trodden
great
t
haye
havo
have
e
republic who hayo been by the force
forc


anns
anus
of arms driven into banishment but
jut
rut
their ears are closed to our cries their
ta
t6
eyes ape shut to our sufferings and
are
0
i
their hearns hardened Ia gainst the
gal ast
gai nst
heir hearts
uno umina and lamentations of widows
jnouming
inq
inoumina
Ino

5

MOUNTAIN

and sanctify yourselves that you may be as an ensign
upon the mountains a asfimdard for
standard f
1
the people unto whom the meek az
meeh and
laek
laik
virtuous of all nations shiftr6
shali
shail
shall iflpw
7
and orphans whose husbands and fa- for thus said the prophet xsaiah
isaiah
S
ole
bie
oie rp have been cruelly martyred for he shall set up an ensign for Ithe
thers
martyred
e
the testimony of jesus and for the nations and shall assemble the outword of god the cup of the iniquity casts of israel and gather tocyether
together
rether
0 f this nation is nearly full and woe the dispersed of judah from gilfour
rour
ilfour
the roun
four
unto thym when the time shall come comers of the earth
imio them
corners
isaiah xi 12.
12
cobers tho
athey
tthey re
that they are fully ripe in their abomi- this ensign remember was not to he
1j
aj
be
nations for they shall utterlyperish set up in palestine where isaiah live
utterly perish
ived
ivea
ive4
frdin
from off the face of this choice land at the time he delivered the prophe
irom
prophiecy
prophecy
lri
n lii
aud
and the land shall be left empty and but it was to be set up from acarl
afar
alarl
desolate
vea
aeokte yea their cities shall be or at a great distance from that caun
c6un
counidestrpyed
6frpyed and their houses shall be try hence he says again and he
e
por the lord shall rise will lift up an ensign to th e nations
desolate
de
eor
for
olate eor
the
up as
perakim
upas in mount perazim he shall from afar and will hiss auto them
4uto
unto
jbe
newroth
1ewroth
abe wroth as in the valley of gibeon from the end of the earth and beimir
that he may do his work his strange hold they shall come with speed
nlay
pe
ork
prk
ore and bring to pass his act his swiftly isaiah v go four thing
ark
20.
90
20
thind
strange act isaiah xxviii 21. yea are clearly predicted in this pasha
strangea6t
21
bl
hi
xxviiil
pasia
passage
shall
e skall destroy and lay waste ana first an ensign is to be lifted
anci
ancl
he
anil
and
an 1
I
agn
gn
ensig
upjto
upito
apito
e
none
non shall hinder
the nations by thaurd himself se
tha
the lord himself
Bimseif
1 will again s ay to the saints scat condly this
ensign was to be lifted
teredabroad
tereda
d0
sered abroad in this land do you wish up not 1n the coun try whe re 1sa14
i
country where isaiah
liverance
gliverance
gli yerance in the day of trouble if dwelt but in a far country owr adly
bli verance
twrdly
thirdly
pufdo
pufko arise and fled to the moun- when this ensign should be set
flee
up
setllp
tains and prepare for the day of the the lord should hiss unto the nations
bord
xord for it is near let all the not from palestine but from the
.0
0
c hildren of zion go up into the moun ends of the earth
idren
gatin
catin
indi katin
clearly indicatin 9
indicating
indication
bains for thus said the prophet isaiah a
tams
fains
sald
message that should hiss forth ir om
from
1
in his prophetic exhortation to the that distant country for the benefit of
zion of the last days 0 zion that all nations and lastly a peppler from
rion
clays
peoplet
peopler
people
ingest good tidings get thee up into among these nations should cocq
vp
oinq
cinq
comq
nhe high fnquntain
ike hegh inountain
rhe high
the
for behold with speed swiftly not bythe slow
witlispeed
speel
by the
the lord god will come with strong process of tra velling to which the an
lora
whiell
hand and liis arm shall rule lop cientos were accustomedshiell they
hor cients
lils
ilis
his
for
but the
him behold his reward is with wall com eulth speed swiftly indicamith
with
shall comeuith
shallconle euith
wail conle emith
szriftl
him and his workbefore him he ting no doubt the powerful agency ot
work before
alii
t
agency oi
lliall feed his nock like a shepherd steam by which that people should
shail
shall
flock
shail
shali
ite shall gather the lambs with his be gathered from among the nacio na
naeio n5
irom
nations
arm and carry them in his bosom
speedily swiftly unto the standaiA or
standard
isaiah
tl41ali ii 9 11. isaiah clearly saw ensign lifted up this stay daid or
11
stan
li
ll
standard
that afore the second coming of the ensign was not to be raised among
let
iet before
mong
wong
lord
lora
iora to rule with strong hand judah or israel but among the aen
ldla
lola
weth
ueth
ien
3en
del
dei
zion would be required to get up tiles for the benefit of both israel and
nd
into the high mountain
many of ludah for then as isaiah says in lae
judah
lao
teo
tee
the
lie
ahe
lhe
the children of zion have fulfilled this bregoing quotation both israel iiiia
havehlfilled
foregoing
f6regoing
bre going
iaia
and
worta tion of isaiah and 1 now say Jludah will be gathered
Aorta
exhortation
4115
I nowsay udall
dowsay
aas
sas
tins
that kies
to the balance dofher children GET standard was to be raised am 0 ng iles
fo ibe balanco of her
nee ofher
tye
tyc
ty0
aard
stan dard
amongttio
Hek
THEE
rhee UP INTO THE HIGH gentiles instead of israe is clearly
1
HICH en tiles ins tead
antiles
entiles
israel
I clearly
11

t

llii
4liall

nco
neo

1

6et
bet

1

6

predicted in another passage as fol- tion 1 beg of zion to bear with me
lows
thus saith the lord god while 1 repeat again the prophetic exI

I

band
behold 1 will lift up mine hand to
I
the gentiles and set up my standard
to
bring
i6
ia the people and they shall brin
thy sons in their arms and thy daughbe
ters shall he carried upon their shoulders
isaiah xlix 22. that this stanalix 22
be
dard or ensign was not only to he set
by
up hy the lord god among the genbe
tiles but that it was also to he lifted
hut
predl
predicted
up on the mountains is also predi died
by
ly isaiah as follows
all ye indwellers
eilers
habitants of the world and di ellers
on the earth SEE YE WHEN HE
LIFTETH UP AN ENSIGN ON
THE MOUNTAINS and when he
bloweth a trumpet hear ye
floweth
for
afore the harvest when the bud is
perfect and the sour grape is ripening
in the flower he shall both cut off
the sprigs with pruning hooks and
lake away and cut down the branches
lwe
tae
lae
together
they shall be left to ether unto the
fowls of the mountains and to the
beasts of the earth and the fowls
shall summer upon them and all the
beasts of the earth shall winter upon
them in that time shall the present
fight
be bro dight unto the lord of hosts of
brought
a people scattered and peeled and
from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto a nation meted out
whoie
whole
and trodden under foot whose land
the rivers have spoiled to the place
of thenamae of the lord of hosts the
the name
thename
mount zion
isaiah xviii 3 5 6
7.
7
the place then for the11 lifting
ensign
up of the en s ign is to be on the
mountains and that too just before
11 tjie
tilg harvest oi the end of the wicktho
tile
the
or
ed world when the lord is to destroy
a certain nation under the name of
the sour grape and they are to be
left unburied for the fowls and beasts
i
to summer and winter upon them it
t6s
will be perceived also that
all the
duel
th
inhabitants of the world and the dwedrel
habitants odthe
ofthe
llers on the earth are called upon to
bo th see and hear when the lord lifts
both
up that ensign on the mountains
under a deep sense of the important events which await this genera

ts

hortation of isaiah
0 zion that
ingest good tidings get thee up into
Lr
br
tarry not lest
the high mountain
you fall among the wicked and are dea
prived of the blessings which the lord
has decreed to pour out upon zion
that zion was to occupy an elevated position on the earth is still further evident from the word of tee
the
it e
joseph the
josephte
lord which came through josephth
seer in september 1831 saying
11
behold 1 the lord have made my
I
church in these last days like unto a
judge sitting on a HILL or in a
e the
HIGH PLACE to judge the nae
tions for it shall come to pass that
the inhabitants of zion shall judge all
things pertaining to zion and liars
and hypocrites shall be proved by
them and they who are not apostles
anci
ancl prophets shall be known
aud
and
and
even the bishop who is a budge and
judge
his counsellors if they are not faithful
coun sellors
faithftil
in their stewardships shall be consteward ships
demned and others shall be planted
in their stead for behold 1 say unto
I
you that zion shall flourish and the
glory of the lord shall be upon her
and she shall be an ensign unto the
people and there shallcome unto her
shali
shall come
out of every nation under heaven
and the day shall come when the nations of the earth shall tremble because of her and shall fear because of
her terrible ones
the lord hath
spoken it amen
doctrine and
covenants page 156.
166.
166
156
in this extract the lord predicted
that zion should be an ensign unto
the people 11 sitting on a hill or in
a high place and that she should
flourish in another revelation given
through joseph the seer to james
covill in january 1831 the lord
says 11 thou art called to labour in
my vineyard and to build up my
Chur chand
church and
churchand to bring forth zion that
churchard
it may rejoice upon the HILLS and
2112.
2112
212
doe
doc
flourish doc and cov page 212.
and in march 1831 the word of
the lord again came unto joseph
aln
ain

l6r
lar

CELESTIAL 3farriage
MARRIAGE

7

the seer saying
before the great tish provinces are respectfully invited
tis h
dayhof the
a4ynpfthe lord shall come jacob to become subscribers to this periodidamhof
shail
shali
shall
bhai
l
shai flourish
shalAouri
shallaouri sh in the wilderness and cal thatthrqugh its page tbeymay
that through
s they
pages thex may
e lamanites
the Lama nites meaning the ameri- learn more perfectly their duties and
duti6sand
can indians shall blossom as the have a knowledge of the times a nd
timed ana
d
rose zion shallflourishitpon the hills seasons and purposes of the most
shali
shail
shall flonrishnpon
wost
rost
aids
t
and rejoice upon the mountains and high in regard to the generation 1
ypon
in
0
shall be assembled tor rether unto the which they live those who intend
toc
together
torrether
page emigrating to the mountains during
place which 1 have appointed
I
218.
218
918
218
twen
twenty
thus we see that awen ty two the coming season can hy notifying
by
0
years ago it was foretold in great us of their intentions have their paper
plainness that zion should flourish sent by the mail to utah where there
sup
anid rejoice upon the hills and moun- are branches of the church we suo
an d
sugtains when these prophecies were gest that they appoint among themgiven we did not know for many selves an agent and have the whole
n
years how nor when the lord in- number taken in the branch sent in
tended to fulfill them but fifteen one package to their agent this arfulfil
years after the prediction the lord rangement will save us much trouble
ran gement
suffered our enemies to rise against which would otherwise arise by being
us and we were driven by the force of obliged to forward it to each individual
armstrom these states and were
arms from
armsfrom
the saints are likewise informed
obliged to flee to the mountains for that we shall have constan tly on hand
aly
constantly
0
refuge thus in an unexpected man- for sale at wholesale and retail all
iefucfe
tile
ner zion is placed in her appropriate the various works mentioned in tlle
ibe
the
position and is truly beginning to catalogue published on the last page
parre
0
0
0
flourish and rejoice upon the hills and of the seer
i
mountains according to the prediciu
all these publications should be M
i
tio lis
tions of joseph the prophet and ac- the houses of all the saints and
ils
cording to many predictions of the should be diligently read that they
tg
ancient prophe oh how wonderful may be well instructed in all the
prophets obhowwonderful
hov
ardathe dealings of god vith his peo- great principles of eternal salvation
ardthe
are the
with
pie e
ple and how marvellously does he that through their faithfulness tothe
to the
fulfill the woras of inspiration though same they may enter into the ful ness
fulfil thewords
words
fui
falness
fulness
the heavens and earth pass away yet of celestial glory with the most anxgith
the word of the lord spoken through ious desire for your welfare 1 subI
doseph
To seph the seer shall not pass away scribe myself your humble servant
toseph
tuv
but
tut every jot and tittle that has not and brother in the bonds of the gosalready come to pass shall be fulfilled pel covenant
in its time and season
OESOX pratt
PIIATT
uthe saints in the states and bri
1851.
the
washington dec 20 1851
201859
3u5 i
165
i r
1
C E L E S T I AL
1
31ajmiag
CELESTIAL M A K R I A G E
reye
A RETELA TIO N OM THE pathuecnai obder OF 311trimony OK MURALITY OF VIVES
beye LATIOS ON zhe ratriluchal OBDEB
BETE
0 VTITES
ORDER
betelatios
matkimosr OR

ji

z

A

given to joseph smith the seer in navvoo july 121h 1843
narvoo
nauroo
G n
12ti

4igveriifl
loverily
loverill thus saith the lord unto
loVerily
you my servant joseph that inasmuch
ay
as yo
asyou
ahyou u have enquired of my hand to
amow and understand wherein 1 the
imow
knowland
knowand
I
lord justified my servants abraham
isae
isac and jacob as also moses
cdavid and solomon my servants
r
g
doe
lasiitouching the principle and doc
kasl
kasi tou chi no
iasi iou

baving many wives
having mapy vdves
trine of their bavingmapy veves and
10 I
concubines
behold and lo 1 am
the lord thy god and will answer
matter
thee as touchin this raatter thereftouching
ore prepare thy heart to receive and
1 am
obey the instructions which J hin
I
about to give unto you for all those
sow
yeai
yeal 6d
revealed
who have this law re veal ad unto them
them

CELESTIAL
8
must obey the same for behold 1
I
a new
reveal unto you aai6w and an everla stina
lasting covenant and if ye abide not
that covenant then are ye damned
for no one can reject this covenant
and be permitted to enter into my
nvho
naho
glory for all who will have a blessin at my hands shall abide the law
sing tit
which was appointed for that blessing
and the conditions thereof as was instituted from before the foundations
of the world and as pertaining to the
new and everlasting covenant it was
falness udy
instituted for the fulness of my glory
niy
and he that receiveth a fulness thereth falness
receive fuluess
of must and shall abide the law or he
shall be damned saith the lord god
2 and verily 1 say unto you that
I
are
arethuse
arethese
the conditions of this law aro these
c
all e ovenants contracts bonds obligations
gations oaths vows performances
connections associations or expectations that are not made and entered
into and sealed by the holy spirit
of promise of him who is anointed
both as well for time and for all eternity and that too most holy by revelation and commandment through the
lationand
medium of mine anointed whom 1
I
llave appointed on the earth to hold this
have
power and 1 have appointed unto my
I
servant joseph to hold this power in
the last days and there is never but
one on the earth at a time on whom
this power and the keys of the priesthood are conferred are of no efficacy
virtue or force in and after the resurrection from the dead for all contracts that are not made unto this
fyhen
when
end have an end kyhen men are

MARRIAGE

no man
mau
that noman shall come untotye eix
ame unto the ekx
fit
fa
ard
ther but by me or by my irdjrd which
myivord

1

dead

16us6
behold mine h6us& is a house
of order saith the lord god and not
3

a house of confusion will 1 accept
I
of an offering saith the lord that is
salth th elord
or will 1
not made in my name
I
receive at your hands that which 1
I
have not appointed
and will 1 apI
salol
salth
saith
point unto you saidi the lord except
my father
eather
I
it be by law even as 1 and myether
a
ordained unto you before the world
anal
and I
1 am tlle lard thy
andi
iainilielbrilthy god anai 1
was
lbrd
I
commandment
maud
mand
give unto you this 66m maua m ent

lawi
is my law saith the lord and eve
everything that is in the world whe therit
whether it
be ordained of men by thronesi or
thrones
principalities or powers or things of
name whatsoever they may bep that
be
bei
not
are riot by me or by my word salih
ilot
the lord shall be thrown down and
shall not remain after men are dead
neither in nor after the resurrection
salth
saith the lord your god for whatsoever things remaineth are by me
rem aineth
and whatsoever things are not by me
6
shall be shaken and destroyed
4 therefore if a man marry him
mafry
maity her
a wife in the world and he marry he
not by me nor by my word and he
ho
covenant with her so long as he is dn
in
the world and she with him their
covenant and
covenantand marriage is not of force
when they are dead and when ahby
ihby
they
are out of the world therefore they
are not bound by any law when they
are out of the world therefore when
they are out of the world they neither
marry nor are given in marriage but
are appointed angels in heaven which
angels are ministering servants to
eis
an els
anels
minister for those who are worthyof of
worthy
a far more and an exceeding and an
eternal weight of glory for these
angels did not abide my law therefore
0
they cannot be enlarged but remain separately and singly without exaltation
in their saved condition to all eternity
and from henceforth are not gods bdt
but
adt
are angels of god for ever and ever
6
eerily I say
P and again verily 1 say unto
hud
you if a man marry a wife iud maee
and
ind make
a covenant with her for time and for
dil eternity if that covenant is not by
ali
ail
all
me or by my word which is my law
meor
beor
and is not sealed by the holy spirit
of promise ihroii gh him whom 1 have
through
0
I
anointed and appointed unto this
then
not valid neithevof
of
thul
power thui it is notvalid neitherof
neither
force when they are out of theworld
th6vorld
the world
d by me
because they are not joined byma
joine bym6
by my
bemy
saith the lord neither bymy word
wcrld
aro
when they are out of the world it
ato
ate
cannone received theielbocaus ealia
there because ahe
cann 6tbe
cannobe
can nobe
angels
ancrels and the gods are appointed

it

1

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

othere by whom they cannot pass
rthere
hS re
pas
&eyicannot therefore inherit mv
cihiy cannot
fihiy
my
glory for my house is a house of or
0 rfdbrtsaith the lord god
der saith
salth
6 and again verily 1 say unto
lyou if a man marry a wife by my
word
wo rd which is my law and by the
new
yiew and everlasting covenant and it
us sealed unto them by the holy spi
elt
eit 0 f promise by him who is anointnt
tit o
ed unto whom 1 have appointed this
unto4hom I
power and the keys of this priest
hood and it shall be said unto them
lood
shail
shali
ye shall
je sh 1 come forth in the first resurrection and if it be after the first rerecti on
surrection in the next resurrection
land shall inherit thrones kingdoms
and
principalities and powers dominions
fail
fali
tall
ail
ali heights and depths then shall it
all
be whitten in the lambs book of
ie written
life that he shall commit no murder
whereby to shed innocent blood and
iriye
ifiye
jf te abide in my covenant and com
amft no murder whereby to shed innoimft
fmit
cent blood it shall be done unto them
rail
jn ball things whatsoever my servant
ail
ali
in all
0
hath
uth put upon them in time and
through all etemitY and shall be of
eternity
elemit
0
fuli
full force
40eiforce when they are out of the
sidorld and they shall pass by the angorli
tidorid
world
gels and the gods which are set
dhere to their exaltation and glory in
there
theirexaltation
rali
rail things
rall thin S as hath been sealed upon
tall thins
cheir
iheir
their heads which glory shall be a ful
iness and a continuation of the seeds
for ever and ever
f6reyer
17v
ive
ivl
fal then shall they be gods bef7l
cause ahey have no end therefore
they
ishall they be from everlasting to ever
shail
shali
shall
alasting
blasting because they continue then
ffisting
ashall
tshall they
tshallthey be above all because all
things are subject unto them
then
fmlidlltihey be gods because they have
shalhthey
ail
ali tpbwer and the angels are subject
all
allqbwerl
unto them
untothem
8 1
verily
jerily verily 1 say unto you ex
I
ceptye
centye abide my lawye cannot attain
law ye
labye
to this glory for straight is the gate
anan narrow the way that leadeth unto
and
andn
the e
exaltation and continuation of the
jives
lives
ilves and few there be that find it
ires
because ye receive manogin theworld
peanseyeree eive manotin the world
elve me notin
ma not in
neither do ye know me but if ye re

I

9

celie ine in the world then shall ye
ble
bie
hie id
pe
know me and bhail receive your exshall re delye
delve
deive
altation that where 1 am ye sthall be
al
shali
shail
hall
ail
I
also this is eternal lives to knonv
kanov
ilves
knov
the only wise and true god and jesus christ whom he hath sent irani
1 am
I
he receive ye therefore my law
broad is the gate and wide the way
that leadeth to the death and many
there are that go in thereat because
they receive me not neither do they
abide in my law
9 verily verily 1 say unto you if
I
a man marry a wife according to my
word ane they are sealed bythe holy
and
andthey ale
by the
tho
aie
accordia
spirit of promise accordin to mine
according
appointment and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the
0
new and everlasting covenant what
eveflastina
411 manner
ever and 811 mann er of blasphemies
all
and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood
yet
they shall come forth in the fu stire
firstjre
surrection and enter into their exaltation but they shall be destroyedin
destroyedin
destroyed in
flesh
the blesh
theflesh and shall be delivered unto
unti
unt
the sufferings of satan unto theday
buffqtincrs
bufferings
buffe rings
the day
thedac
redemption salth
of redempa tigli saith the lord god
redemp
10 the blasphemy against the
holy ghost which shall not7be fornobbe
notbe
given in the world nor out odthe
of the
tho
ofthe
world is in that ye commit murder
m
wherein ye shed innocent blood anil
and
aad
assent unto my death after ye haver
have
received my new and everlasting
covenant saith adelord god and lie
salth ahelord
the lord
arideth
that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory but shall be
damned saith the lord
11 1 am the lordthy god and
ill
iii
lil
11.1
aud
lord thy
111
will give unto thee the law 0 f in
o my
holy priesthood as was ordained by
ky
me and my father before the world
was abraham received aai things
ali
ail
aii
all
whatsoever he received by revelation
and commandment by my word saith
the lord and hath entered into his
exaltation and sitteth upon bijurong
his throne
bijhr
13 abraham received prokul5es
12
proinises
proiul
concerning his seed and of thefnut
conc eming
thliffilit
arp
of his loins from whose loin a urp
lojngyere
viz my servant joseph whle 9 0 re
wmqi
whie
josephwhie
AX
to continue so long aej
as
asjthe sf in

7

10
the world

CELESTIAL

and as touching abraham
and his seed out of the world they
e
should continue both in the world
and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars or
if ye were to count the sand upon the
seashore
sea shore ye could not number them

this promise is yours

also because

ye are of abraham and the promise
was made unto abraham and by this
law are the continuation of the works
of my Fther wherein he glorifieth
father
a go
himself
ye therefore and do the
works of abraham enter ye into my
law and ye shall be saved but if ye
enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promises of my father
which he made unto abraham
13 god commanded Abrahamand
abraham and
abrahamand
rag
sarah gave hag to abraham to
gar
hagar
wife
and why did she do it because this was the law and fro M hafrom
gar sprang many people this therefore was fulfilling among other thin s
things

the promises was abraham therefore under condemnation
verily 1
I
aay
say unto you nay for 1 the lord
nas
aas
I
commanded it abraham was commanded to offer his son isaac neveroner
theless it was written thou shalt not
tb oless
th eless
kill abraham however did not refuse and it was accounted unto him
for righteousness

abraham received concubines
and they bare him children and it
14

was accounted unto him for righteous-

ness because they were given unto
him and he abode in my law as isaac
also and jacob did none other things
dla
dia
ald
aid
than that which they were commanded and because they did none other
iilgs than that which they were comthings
manded they have entered into their
exaltation according to the promises
and sit
andsit upon thrones and are not
andrit
angels but are gods david also received many wives and concubines as
also solomon and moses my servant
as also many others of my servants
from the beginning of creation until
tbigtime and in innothing did they
this time
nothing
0
sin save in those things which they
received not of me

31
MARHIAGE
ARMAGE

wires
davids wives and concubines
were given unto him of me by the
hand of mathan my servant and
nathan
15

others of the prophets who had the
keys of this ppwer and in none of
power
these things did he sin against me
save in the case of uriah and his
wis
wife and therefore he hath fallen
from his exaltation and received his
portion
and he shall not inherit
them out of the world for 1 gave
I
them unto another saith the lord
10 1 am the lord thy god and 1
16 I
I
gave unto thee my servant joseph
an appointment and restore all things
ask what ye will and it shall he given
be
unto you according to my word and
as ye have asked concerning adultery
1
verily verily I say unto you if a man
receiveth a wife in the new and everth
receive
lasting covenant and if she be with
another man and 1 have not appointI
ed unto her by the holy anointing
she hath commlttel adultery and
committed
shall be destroyed if she be not in
the new and everlasting covenant
and she be with another man she has
committed adultery and if her husband be with another woman and he
under
der
was un aer a vow he hath broken his
vow and hath committed adultery
and if she hath not committed adultery but is innocent and hath not
broken her vow and she knoweth it
and 1 reveal it unto you my servant
I
joseph then shall you have power
by the power of my holy priesthood
to take her and gite her unto him
glye
give
that hath not committed adultery but
be
hath been faithful for he shall be
made ruler over many for 1 have
I
conferred upon you the keys and
power of the priesthood wherein 1
restore all things and make known
unto you all things in due time
17 and verily verily 1 say unto
I
you that whatsoever you seal on
earth shall be sealed in heaven and
whatsoever you bind on earth in my
name and by my word saith the
lord it shall be eternally bound in
sins
the heavens and whosesoever bins

I

L

11

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

be
you remit on earth shall he remitted
166mally in the heavens and whos166mally
cternally
eternally
maily
esoever sins you retainonearth shall
on earth
bdbrsinsyou retain onearth
be
1 retained in heaven
18 and again terlly 1 say whomsoverily
againverily I
biess I
biess
hiess
ever
66r you bless 1 will bless and whomsoeve r
soever you curse 1 will curse saith the
boeve
I

jae

1

1 the
lord for 11lie lord am thy god
I
9 and oain
19 A nd a gain verily 1 say unto
I

serrant
you my servant joseph that whatso
ever you give on earth and to whomby
soever you
isoevertou give any one on earth hy
t- tou
tny word and according to my law
iny
Ws
il shall he visited with blessings and
liall be
0
not cursings
curlings
cursings
nwursings and with my power
be
saith the lord and shall he without
condemnation on earth and in heaven for I am the lord thy God and
g od
1
ve 6
pill be
wiil he with thee even unto the end
ill
of the
elemi
6fae world and through all etemi
ty for verily 1 seal upon you your
I
exaltation and prepare a throne for
you in the kingdom of my father with
abraham your father behold 1 have
I
seen your sacrifices and will forgive all
your sins 1 have seen your sacrifices
r
I
U pbedien ce to that which 1 have told
iifbbedience
you go therefore and 1 make a way
you
sou
I
for3
fora your escape as 1 accepted the of
I
forour
farour
fering of abraham of his son isaac
20 verily 1 say unto you a com
I
mandament
man
mdn dment 1 give unto mine hand
mandment I
ddn
ia id emma smith your wife whom
mald
maid emm
i4
TL have given unto
you that she stay
herself and partake not of that which
commanded
1 re6mmanded you to offer unto her for
did it
ald
aid
1 dta7it saith the lord to prove you
all as 1 aid abraham and that 1
ald
I
I did
might
inight require an offering at your
night
hand by covenant and sacrifice and
mhd
iet
lei
let mine handmaid emma smith re
leve
ihie
Cseve all those that have been given
91
unt61
unt&
unta my servant joseph and who are
virthous and pure before me and
those who are not pure and have said
J
the were pure shall be destroyed
thewere
luwere
thin
the
saith thig lord god for 1 am the
I
thy
obey my
lord th god and ye shall obeyiny
obeying
voice and 1 give unto my servant
I
joseph that he shall be made ruler
over many things for he hath been
faithful over a few things and from
te
henceforth 1 will strengthen him
I

siny

lil
lii

I

I

I

tha
lucere

21

I
and 1 command mine hand-

emm
maid emma smith to abide and
cleave unto my servant joseph and
to none else but if she will not
abide this commandment she shall
be destroyed saith the lord for 1
I
am the lord thy god and will destroy her if she abide not in my law
but if she will not abide this comman dment
mandment then shall my servant joas he
seph do all things for her even ashe
hath said and 1 will bless him and
I
multiply him and give unto him an
hundred fold in this world of fathers
and mothers brothers and sisters
houses and lands wives and children
and crowns of eternal lives in the eterI
nal worlds and again verily 1 say
let mine handmaid forgive my servant
joseph his trespasses and then shall
she be forgiven her trespasses wherehas
in she ha 3 trespassed against me and
1 the lord thy god will bless her
I
multiply
and multiple her and make her heart
to rejoice
28 and again 1 say let not my
22
I
servant joseph put his property out
of his hands lest an enemy come and
seebeth
destroy him for satan seeketh to destroy for 1 am the lord thy god and
I
lo
servant and behold and 10
he is my se
1 am with him as 1 was with abraI
I
exaltaekalta
ham thy father even unto his exalta
tion and glory
0
23 now as touching the law of the
priesthood there are many things pergainin thereunto
verily if a man
tainin
taining
was
be called of my father as was aaron
voice
volce
by mine own voice and by the volco
volce
I
of him that sent me and 1 have endowed him with the keys of the power
of this priesthood if he do anything in
my name and according to my law
win
and by my word he will not commit
no
sin and 1 will justify him
I
one therefore set on my servant joseph for 1 will justify him for he
I
shall do the sacrifice which 1 require
I
at his hands for his transgressions
saith the lord your god
4
ha
94 and again as pertaining to t he
law of the priesthood if any man espouse a virgin and desire to espouse

let

12

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

another and the first give her conhe espouse
sent and if heiesppuse the second
and they arevirgins and have vowed
are virgins
to no othermAn then is he justified
other man
he cannot commit adultery for they
are given u nto him for he cannot
commit adultery with that that be
longseth
longeth
longqh unto him and to none else
and if he have tenvirgins given unto
ten virgins
by
him hy this law he cannot commit
adultery for they belong to him and
they are given unto him
therefore
is he justified but if one or either
of the ten virgins after she is espoused
shall be with another man she has
committed adultery and shall be destroyed for they are given unto him
to multiply and replenish the earth
according to my commandment and
to fulfill the promise which was given
falfil
fulfil
by my father before the foundation of
the world and for their exaltation in
the eternal worlds that they may bear
hear
the souls of men for iterein is the
iferein
work of mye
my ather continued that he
eather
father
may be glorified
ya
y5 and again verily verily 1 say
I
0
unto you if any man have a wife who
holds the keys of this power and he
teaches unto her the law of ni y priestmy
hood as pertaining to these things
then shall she believe and administer
unto him or she shall be destroyed
saith the lord your god for 1 will
I
destroy her for 1 will magnify my
y
I
name upon all thosewho receive and
those who
abide in my law therefore it shall
be lawful in me if she receive not this
meif
ceif
law dor him to receive all things
for
whatso tver I
whatsoever 1 the lord his god will
give unto him because she did not
believe and administer unto him according to my word and she then
becomes the transgressor and he is
exempt from the law of sarah who
sandh
fromthe
administered unto abraham according
to the law when 1 commanded abraI
ham to take hagar to wife and now
as pertaining to this law verily verily 1 say unto you 1 will reveal more
I
I
unto you hereafter therefore let this
yot
1 am
suffice for the present beholdjam
behold sam
I
Jam
alpha and omega amen
11

aia
ala

is a doctrine
very popular among most of pawiki
pafiki
mankind
at the present day it is practised jily
practiced lly
ily
liy
the most powerful nations of asia and
africa and by numerous nations in
habiting the islands of the seaaq
sea and
by the aboriginal nations of the great
western hemisphere the one wae
w0e
wne
ane
system is confined principally to a few
small nations inhabiting europe and
to those who are of european ori gili
origifa
orl
oti
inhabitancy
inhabitincy
inhabiting
inhabit incy america it is estimar
estima&
estimate
by the most able historians of our
day that about four fifths of the pop
population of the globe believe and plic
pilc
pracalic
a
tice according to their respective lawf
law
the doctrine of a plurality of wives
if the popularity of a doctrine is in
proportion to the numbers who believe
in it then it follows that the plurality
phiralil
system is four times more popular
among the inhabitants of the earth
among
ono
than the one wife system
olze
oile
ohe
lons
nations
those nations who practice tho
tilo
tiie
plurality doctrine consider it as I 1r
1
vir0o
tuous and as right for one man fo
have many wives as to have oneonl
one only
oneo nl
therefore they have enacted lav i
lawp
law
laap
i
not only giv1110 this right to their cigiving
g
tizens but also protecting them in it
it
0
ail
ali those who infringe
and punishing all thosewho infringe
the chastity
upon thechastity of the marrlacye comarriage
iacre
lacre
marriacre
venant i committing adultery with
by
any one of the wives of his neighbour
neighboiii
those nations do not consider it pos0
sible for a man to commit adultey
adultery
with any one of those women towholn
to whom
dicig
he has beenlegally married according
been legally
accordifig
to their laws
raised
the posterity ri
up unto the husband through eacho of
each f
his wives are all considered to be lemaae
gitimate and provisions are made
mado
in their laws for those children the
same as if they were the children of
Adul teries fornications
one wife
adulteries fornicatioiis
uu
and all unvirtuous conduct between
virtuous
the sexes are severely punished by
them indeed plurality among them
ana
is considered not only virtuous an d
and
ri aht b ut a great check or preventalht
night
hight
right b
tive against adulteries and unlawful
adul teries
connections which are among the
tho
greatest evils with which nations are
e
PLUMAMITY
PLURALITY OF WIVES
IVIVMS

i

0

q

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

cursed producing a vast amount of
aila
misery
suffering and in
isery devastation and
sufferina
tike
tite
foundadeath undermining the very found a
tions of happiness and destroying the
andi
and
frame work
framework of society ands the peace
of the
athe domestic circle
c some of the nations of europe who
ile
lie
wife
lielieve
eve
lillieve in the one vire system have
ZC
actually forbidden a plu rality of wives
plurality
piu
et
pluralit
zhel laws and the consequences
rhei
by
ii their
r
are
lare
iare that the whole country among
wem is overrun with the most abomithem
tiem
iablqprotices adulteries and unlawnable practices adul teries
fui
ful connections prevail through all
fheirvillagges towns cities and counkneir
tneir villages
try places to a most fearful extent
rilaces
lilaces
AM among
and amona some of these nations
teese sinks of wickedness wretchedthese
ness and misery are licensed by law
ii
while their piety would be wonderfully
shocked to authorise by law the plud opte d
311t y system as adopted by many
rality
neighbouring
ne hbouring nations
ing
neighbour
thethe constitution and laws of the
tjnited states being founded upon
viated
viates
ta
the principles of freedom do not in
gaa
marriage
ferfere with marrigae relations but
fia
1 eliqihe nation free to believe in and
leave the
ct e
practice the doctrine of a plurality of
ully i
esz
wives or to confine themselves to the
es
es
themselv
fo
6
one wife system just as they choose
ig as it should be it leaves the
is
coninie
un
conitie nceof man untrammelled and
trammelled
conscience of
oblong as he injures no person and
soldng
sblong
does
ab not
loes na infringe upon the rights of
ave hels
ase heis free by the constitution to
others he is
marry
parry
earry one wife or many or none at
of
ail fina
ali and becomes
all finabecomes accountable to god
foc the righteousness or unrighteousfor
ii&s of his domestic relations
ness
he
the constitution leaves the several
toes
tales
taes and territories to enact such
law
Uw as they see proper in regard to
fhe
they
carnages provi ded that they do not
mar nages provided
carnaged
car affee
affes
rings upon
infringe upon the rights of cons tience
conscience
an the Ji
th6 berties
and tha liberties guaranteed in that
bertles
iacued
sacred doc ament therefore if any
iacred document
ument
state or territory feels disposed to
enact laws guaranteeing to each of its
citizens the right to marry many wives
such laws would be perfectly constitubd
tional hence the several states and
t&fit&id5practicj1li e one wife bys
territories practice the
sys

i

ri

t6

off
fi6

l

esl

tila
tiia

0

t

i

0

18
IS

out of choice and not because
they are under an y obligations so to
any
0
do by the national con ti tuti on
constitution inghether
deed we doubt very much iv ether
whether
h
any state or territory has the consfi
constitutional right to make laws prohibit
tut ional
ing the plurality doctrine in cases
where it is practiced by religious socipractised
eties as a ma tter of conscience or as a
matter
doctrine of their religious faith the
6
doctrin
first article of the amendments to
the constitution says expressly that
11
congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment of religion or
tjie
the
prohibiting tilg free exercise thereof
now if even congress itself has no
1
llo
iia
I
power to pass a law 11 prohibiting the
free exercise of religion much less
has any state or territory power to
pass such an act
the doctrine of a plurality of wives
a
practised
practisea ty alra
was believed and practiced by abra
practise
ham the father of the faithful and
wini
widle
find
we wind that while in this practice the
fini
angels of god frequently ministered
with
to him and at one time dined vith
him and god manifested himself to
him and entered into familiar conversation with him neither god nor
his angels reproved abraham for
andels
anaels
being a polygamist but on the cont mry
contrary
contmry
buton
polygamistbuton
the almighty greatly blessed him and
con cernin
concerning
unto
made promises unt him concernin
concertin
both isaac and ishmael clearly show
ilam
abraliam practised
abraham
ing that Abraliam practiced what is
called volygam under the sanction
polygamy
polygam
Y
of the almighty now if the father
of the faithful was thus blessed cerconsidered ira
ir
derel lra
tainly it should not be consi dereI iro
religious for the faithful who are called
ill the steps o
in
his children to walk iii thestdps 0f
their father abraham indeed if the
lord himself through his holy prounfa
unfo
phets should give more wives enfa
his servants as he gave them unto
nto
the prophet david it would be a great
sin for them to refuse that which he
temm
term
tern
tem

gives

inguchacaeitwouldbec ame
dme
such
in buch a case it would become

theim
thelk
them
a matter of conscience with thelm and
a part of their religion and they
would be bound to exercise their faith
in this doctrine and practice it or
congre
be condemned therefore Con gresl
gresi

14

MARRUGE
CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

would have no power to prohibit the
this part
thispart
free exercise of thl spart of their rethi
ligion neither would the states or
territories have power constitutionally to pass a law I I prohibiting the
now a cerfree exercise thereof
tain religious society called shakers
believe it to be wrong for them to
marry even one wife it certainly
would be unconstitutional for either
the congress or the states to pass a
law compelling all people to marry at
a certain age because it would infringe
upon the rights of conscience among
the shakers and they would be prohibited the free exercise of their religion
wrom
foregoing
trom the forer oing revelation
foret
from
given through joseph the seer it
will be seen that god has actually
commanded some of his servants to
take more wives and has pointed out
certain duties in regard to the marriage ceremony showing that they
foc
for
must be married for time and tor all
ani toc
eternity and showing the advantages
to be derived in a future state by
this eternal union and showing still
further that if they refused to obey
this command after having the law
0
should be
revealed to them they
damned this revelation then makes
it a matter of conscience among all
the latter day saints and they embrace it as a part and portion of their
religion and verily believe that they
cannot be saved and reject it has
congress power then to pass laws
prohibiting the church of jesus
tjie free
christ of
christof latter day saints 11thefree
exercise of this article of their religion
have any of the states or
1 1

territories a constitutional right to
pass laws prohibiting the free exercise of the religion which the church
of the saints conscientiously and sin
cerelyhelieve
cerelybelieve to be essential to their salvation no they have no such right
the latter day saints have the
most implicit confidence in all the
revelations given through joseph the
prophet and they would much sooner
ilyes
lives
lay down theirlives and suffer martheir ilves
pyrdom
tyrdom than to deny the least reve
11

lation that was ever given to him in
one of the revelations through him
we read that god raised up wiso
wise
men and inspired them to write the
constitution of our country that the
freedom of the people might to
be
maintained according to the free
0
agency which he had given to the rm
them
that every man might be accountable
to god and not to man so far as religious doctrines and c6nsci ence are
conscience
concerned and the more we exam
evarn
exarn
ine that sacred instrument framed by
the wisdom of our illustrious fathers
the more we are compelled to believe
that an invisible power controlled
dictated and guided them in laying
the foundation of liberty and freedom
upon this great western hemisphere
Mahomedan
alahomedan
to this land the mahomedan the
hindmo
hindoo the chinese can emigrate
and each bring with him his score
of wives and his hundred children
anci
ancl the glorious constitution of our
and
OUE
country will not interfere with his
domestic relations under the broad
banner of the constitution he is protected in all his family associations
none have a right to tare any of his
so
wives or his children from him
likewise under the broad folds of the
constitution the legislative assembly of the territory of utah have
the right to pass laws regulating their
matrimonial relations and protecting
each of their citizens in the right of
hight
marrying one or many wives as the
case may be
if congress should
repeal those laws they could not d o
0
so on the ground of their being 1131
unilli
constitutional
and even if congress should repeal them there still
would be no law in utah prohibiting
the free exercise of that religious
right neither do the citizens of utah
feel disposed to pass such an unconstitutional
tut ional act which would infringe upon
the most sacred rights of conscience
tradition and custom have great
influence over nations long established customs whether right or
wrona become sacred in the estima
wrong
tion of mankind
those nations
1

1

CELESTIAL MARRIAG
15
CELESTUL
celestian
who have been accustomed from god face to face and talked with him
u
time immemorial to the practice of as n man talks with his friend were
what is called polygamy would con- polygamists that is they had many
whit
sider a law abolishing it as the very wives raised up many children ly
by
height of injustice and oppression them and were never reproved by

the very idea of being limited to the the hol ghost nor by angels nor hy
holy
by
hoi
one wife system would be considered the almighty for believing in and
mot
not only oppressive and unjust but practising such a doctrine on the conprac tising
practicing
absolutely absurd and ridiculous it trary each one of these polygamists
would be considered an innovation received by revelation promises and
iong
upon the long established usages blessings for himself for his wives
ione
lone
lona
0
0
laws of numerous and and for his numerous children born
customs and
bom
powerful nations an innovation of unto him by his numerous wives
the most
themost dangerous character calcu- moreover the lord himself gave rethemist
ca
c3
lated to destroy the most sacred rights velation to different wives belonging
and Trivi leges of family associations
privileges
to the same man revealing to them
to upset the very foundations of indi- the great blessings which should rest
vidual rights rendered dear and sa- upon their posterity angels also were
cred by being handed down to them sent to comfort and bless them and
cred
from the most remote ages of antiquity in no instance do we find them reon the other hand the european proved for having joined themselves
nations who have been for centuries in marri awe to a polygamist
aae
marriage
in0
restricted by law to the one wife deed the lord himself gave laws not
theory would consider it a shoc king to prohibit Poly gany but showing
shoe
shocldng
polygamy
polygany
innovation upon the customs of their his will in relation to the children
fathers to abolish their restrictive raised up by the different wives of the
laws and togive freedom and liberty same man and furthermore the lord
law
to give
tolive
according to the plurality system himself actually officiated in giving
it is custom then in a great de- david all the wives of saul this ocgree that forms the conscience of curred too when david already had
gre
nations and individuals in re 9 ard to several wives which he had previously
regard
cus- taken therefore as the lord did acih6 marriage relationships
iha
the marria e
tom causes four fifths of the popula- tually give into davids own bosom all
tion of the globe to decide that poly- the wives of saul he must not only
gamy as it is called is a good and have sanctioned polygamy but esnotan evil practice I custom causes the tablished and instituted it upon a sure
1
not an
not6n
balance or the remaining fifth to de- foundation by giving the wites himwives
balale
cide in opposition to the great majority self the same as he gave eye to adam
greatmajority
cave eve
those individuals who have strength therefore those who are completely
of mind sufficient to divest themselves divested from the influence of nationentirely from the influence of custom al customs and who judge concerning
and examine the doctrine of a plural- this matter by the word of god are
nd
ity of wives under the light of rea- compelled to believe that the plurality
son and revelation will be forced to of wives was once sanctioned for
the conclusion that it is a doctrine of many aces by the almighty and by
ages
0
divine origin that it was embraced a still further research of the divine
ane
anc
practised
and practiced under the divine s anc- oracles they find no intimations that
tion by the most righteous men who this divine institution was ever rehoi
ever lived on the earth hol y prophets pealed it was an institution not oriholy
and patriarchs who were inspired by ginated under the law of moses but
the holy ghost who were enwrapt it was of a far more ancient date and
the visions
in thevisions of the almighty who instead of being abolished by that law
11

11

jtjs

11

nveased
conversed with holy angels
ersed
C 10

3

who saw

it

was sanctioned and perpetuated

16

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE
celestial31arriage
1
fulfil
to fulfill that
I
if the people

wid
mid
and when christ came
law and to do it a
amay
away by the introduction of a better covenant he did not
abolish the plurality system not being
originated under that law it was not
made null and void when that law was
clone away indeed there were many
flone
fione
done away
things in connection with the law that
w ere not abolished when the lawvas
law vas
was
larvas
ivere
lvere
fulfilled as for instance the ten commaud
mand ments
mandments which the people under
the gospel covenant were still obliged
obey and until we can find some
to obe
1
I
law of god abolishing and prohibiting
.1 plurality of wives
1
axe
we are compelled
i
to believe it a divine institution and
we are furthermore compelled to belbeieve e that if this institution be enterlies
ed into now under the same principles which governed the holy progod
phets and patriarchs that goa will
approbate it now as much as he did
alid
aila
then and that the persons who do
thus pind tise it conscientiously ana
and
practise
honourable
sincerely are just as honour able in
the sight of god as those who have
but one wife and that which is hon
olie
oile
ounable before god should be honour
durable
ourable
able before inen and no one should
men
bi d espised when he acts in all good
t spi ed
enus clence
conscience upon any principle of docedus tience
trine neither should there be laws in
any of these states or territories to
violacompel any individual to act in vlola
own
tion to the dictates of his own con
nee
wience
wieuce
ascii euce
o
olence but every 0 ne should be left
scii ence
wi nce
lil
lii
iii all matters of religion to his own
m
t
thoice and thus become accountable
holce
hoice
ids
god
IAs
I
his
As
ti goa and not to las fellow man

my

to be
tote
tobe

of this country have
haver
generally formed different conclusions
from us upon this subject and if they
have ein braced religions which are
mbraced
0
more congenial to their minds tham
than
the religion of the saints ve say to
we
tb ein that they are welcome to their
them
theu
then
eln
own religious views the laws shouldnt
shouldt
not interfere with the exercise of them
thein
religious rights
if we cannot convince you by reason nor by the woll
wola
of god that your religion is wrong
we will not persecute you but vill
wilb
butvill
sustain you in the privileges guaran s
gua
teed in the great charter of american
liberty we ask from you the same
generosity protect us in the exercised
exercise
of our religious rights convince us of
df
our e rrors of doctrine if we have any
by reason by logical arguments or bli
then morci of god and we willbo eyer
ther word
therwood
therword
wiil
will be ever
the wora
grateful for the information and you
will ever have the pleasing reflection
that you have been the instruments in
god
hands of goa of redeeming your fel i
fei
feli
fell
feil
low beings
lowb
lowbbings from the darkness whide
dings
bings
darkiiesswhielf
you may see renvelopincr their mindsl
sec enveloping
lindsl
come then let us reason logiether
logiether
together
and try to discover the true lighttipoii
light upon
all subjects connected with our tempos
sai
ial
ral or eternal happiness and if we
eteri sal
disagree in our judgments let us ildi
iiri
ini
pute it to the weakness and imperfec
reo
imperfect
imperfer
im perfer
heo
fec
kigns
tigns of our fallen natures ana letus
tipns
failen
n
and let us
iet
falle
filie
fille
andletus
pity each other and endeavour with
endedvour
patience and ineekAess to reclaim from
meekness
error and sa e th6immortal soul from
save
sare the immortal
an endless death
mi

kt

twe
twa
tva
imper

continued

i

J

CONTENTS

prospectus ofthe seer
of the
odthe
orson
first epistle of ors on pratt
Oel estial marriage
celestial marriae
cei
cel
Marri ae
9

1

3

prutt washington IC
wasningtotmc

republished
PUBLISHED
PIMLISHED

r
rlu

yen
yeu B SALE AT
alu

BY S

LIVERPOOL
W
W RICHARDS
LONDON

s&inti
AAD
SAIXTS
THE L D spinti BOOK AND

agers

amy BY AGEIS LND ALL
AMI
IND
AGENTS AD
and
und

7

fi t

EDITED BY ORSON PRATT
T
A RE

y

15
1

WILTON STREET

streny
JEWIN STBEET
svab DEPOT
millennnial STAB lepo at 35 jevixftztrrti city
svir derot
strent
siilieimat TXR lero 5t
tar

poqkseliers tnhoccthoytt dreat
009ksellers t11nouallott areat

payn
pryn
rAyN TL v von me PDLISOEB
rjlxmab roit zue
raynal yon zur
rayntl edtl lue

btcb

USA

JAMES

aq
.30
30
39
30

ARITAIN
BBITAIN ACT IRELASD
IRELD
fici
fiii

sreieilliyekpool
caille ptnizi liier4rool

5
SOVIO
odyn CLITLE

W
ZQ i WQ

www
mow
row

AND
YE vines n c
tire
TOE
inn
Ton
len 3114 JTAXTS or tiie WORLD AYD DWEHEES 0xtrie EARTAP
0v
rie
lre
t TIE
asb
TEL
extrie EABTH
all TE chabitast3 OF TTIE TTOBLD kyd DWELLERS av TIIE earthy SEE yi VIHES HE
AX NSIGN
kadah xr
isarah ar ui
THE
kaiah x7m
tlle
tile
uftern ITP a2 ESIGN ON TIIE MOCSTAISS isaiah xam 3
x4ftetu rp aaN EN

vol

2
1

no 2

FEBRUARY 1853

price 24
1

MAX
E
THE pre EXISTENC OF MAN
ree EXISTENCE
PEE

man in this life consists of a
body of flesh
hones
fiest
wyof wiest and bones quickened and
alfving
animated hy a living intelligent spirit
by aliving
has
ifchas been supposed that spirit begins
thatspirit
to existithin the mortal tabernacle
exist tithin
exis within
while it is yet in embryo and that
prior to the organization of the body
tho spirit had no existence these are
the
16
thy views of modem christendom
ise
tiews
t views
1116 shall endeavour to prove that this
shali
weshau
wishau
view of the subject is incorrect
bf
2 i there is not anything unreasonable in the pre existence of spirits if
spirits
qirits can exist after death in a state of
happiness or misery is there any reason why they can not exist prior to
the organization of the body 2 if they
can think and will and movo after
move
moto
they leave the body why can they not
ake
tke eave
exercise these functions before they
beforethey
take possession of the body
if the
demm action odthe body is not the death
destruction of the
ction ofthe
odthe spirit then it must be admitted
ofthe
of the
that the
thatthe spirit is in no way dependant
thattie
on the body for its existence alid
and
i
therefore it can emst prior to the bod
theretorei
body
exist
thereto
bodo
roi
rei
as well as after it the disorganization
of he body does not deprive thespi
theopi
dahe
the spif
rit of life neither does the organization
12dy
of the body give to the spirit life it
possesses life in itself life and intelli 0
telligence are not the result of organ
gence
1

lyof
it

T

ao

cawse ami
ization but they are the causear4
cause
lz atlon
therefore they must exist before the
our b odies a
effects can follow
0 A 1 es are
earth but
formed from the dust of the earths 14
are our spirits made from the samo
same
materials
if they were then they
would at death return to d ust bubb
but
as they are not reduced to dust like
gormed of
formed
fonn edoo
the body they must be fonnedof
edof
materials far superior to those of the
alpi
materials comei
earth where did those materi alsi comer
aisi
from they came from god solomon
when speaking upon the sujqq of
subject
death says then shall the dust retild
tile
turn to the earth as it was and the
spirit shall RETURN unto god who
7
according
gave it
eccles xii 7.
to this passage the spirit has not an
earthly origin but a heavenly one it
came from god it returns to god
god icho gave it also receives it
back into his presence
god if
3 could the spirit return to godif
it never were in his presence could
we return to a place where we never
were before
if then the spirits of
men existed with god and came from
to
4.0
40
to
him 40 animate mortal bodies they
must either be created in heaven at
the time the infant tabernacles are b eing formed or else they existed before
heaven at 40
spiritis
the
if th espirit is formed in ilewwat the
ihen

18
is

MAN
OF bran
brax
nian
THE PRE EXISTENCE or maw

time the earthly house is being prepared for its reception then god must
have been engaged in the work of creating spirits at the rate of about ten
millions per year or about twenty spirper minute
its perminute which is the average
bom
number born into our world in the
same time now we read that god
made all things pertaining to our earth
thinas
in six days and rested on the seventh
can we suppose for one moment that
god neglected the formation of spirits
lecter
neg lected
can
in the grand work of creation
we suppose that he has been engaged
in creating human spirits for this earth
at the rate of one every three seconds
ever since he pronounced the heavens
and the earth and all things therein
finished and very good such an idea
is inconsistent and unscriptural
4 again would a good and wise
being create spirits and before they
had time to prove themselves by obeydisobe ying
disobeying
ing or desobesing his laws thrust them
0
out of his presence banish them
shut
from his glorious kingdom
them up in earthly tabernacles hide
hla
hia face from them and subject them
to temptation wretchedness and miselp
seippose
stip
sery now if we suppose that the spirit is formed in heaven while the embryo tabernacle is being formed upon
the earth then it has no time to gain
experience in the presence of its creator it has no time to act upon its agency it has no time to obey or disobey
cy
hut
but as soon as it is formed it is accordin 0 to this supposition banished into
ing
re sence
dreary
dreary exile from the presence of its
father and from the glory of heaven
in
to linger out a life of sorrow hi an
earthly tabernacle such a supposition
avith
with
is absurd and at war nvith the attributes of goodness justice and mercy
whlfch appertain to the deity
which
6 inasmuch as scripture informs
5
us that the spirit of man existed with
god and came from him and returns
to him it is reasonable to believe that
tool
its formation took place at a period anrior
terior
te bior to the organization of the body
period
dof
perlo offre
perio ofpre
this periodof pre existence must have
leen sufficiently long to have educated
been

M

and instructed the spirit in the laws
and order of government pertaining
to the spiritual world to have rendered itself approved or disapproved by
those laws to have been tried in all
points according to its capacities and
knowledge and the free agency which
always accompanies and forms a part
of the nature of intelligent beings in
fine the period of pre existence must
have been sufficiently long to have
constituted a probation state or the
ary
probationary stat
e
first estate wherein the spirits are
on trial and may fall and be reserved
resel ved
in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day
6 the pre existence of man is a
lire
doctrine which was believed by the ancients the disciples of jesus when
observing a man who had been blind
from his birth put the following ques0
tion to their master
who did sin
i
this man or his par ents that he was
parents
pat ants
1
john ix 2 it is evibom bli nl
bil
blind
dent from the nature of this question
that the disciples considered it possible for a man to sin before he was
born and that in consequence of such
borni
borniand
born
bom
sin he might be 11 bonn blind
this
passage shows most clearly that the
disciples not only believed in the pre
existence of man but believed that ha
he
was an intelligent agent governed by
arrent
which
laws wl dch he was capable of obeying
ach
or disobeying and that his sins in his
might
former state might be the cause of his
born
being bom blind and that his condibob
tion in his present state was affected
by his acts in the former state the
inc
saviour in replyino to this question
replying
says 11 neither hath this man sinned
but that
nor his parents butthat the works of
god should be made manifest in him
verse 3 now if the pre existence
of man were not a true doctrine why
did not our saviour take this opportunity to correct the ideas of his disciples
by telling them that the blind man
could not sin before he was bom
why did he merely tell them that his
blindness was not the effects of the sins
his
why did he
of himself or parents
thek
tieb
tieh
still leave the impression upon their

19
iun
god the
godthe FIRST BORN of
goethe
tho
bornof
barnof

TIRE
THE PRE EXISTENCE OF MAN

pre
minds that the blind man had a prep
pret
existence
ance
exit qnce
jesus
7 jebus himself believed in pre
je4us
1 proceeded
existence for he said
exl nee
exi t e nce
I
fo A and came from god
forth
neither
came 1 of myself but he sent me
I
kha
abd
and again he said before abrasnd
john viii 42 58.
58
1
ham was I am
j us
and now 0 fatJesus prays thus
her glorify thou me with thine own
self with the glory which 1 had with
I
john xvii
thee before the world was
5
5.
from these sayings we perceive
saying S
that the spiritual body of jesus exisI
ted before the world was
8 having proved that the pre exis
ence
ten ce of man is reasonable and scrip1
tural we shall next prove that this
pro existence can be traced back to a
pre
period before the foundation of the
world
the lord asked a question
of job in relation to this matter he
wast
inquires 11 where vast thou when 1
I
a
laid the foundations of the earth
ae clare if thou hast understanding
declare
deciare
ciare
c
who laid the corner stone thereof
sanoy tow
when the morning stars sancy tog
sang together
mornin
oether
0 gether
0
and all the sons of god shouted for
job xxxviii 4 6 7.
7
xxxviii
joy
if job
had jo prior existence he could have
ho
easily answered the lords first ques110 11
tion he could have replied that
nj&n the foundations of the earth
when
lyprelaid I job did not exist the
were laid 1
very question implies that job was in
existence at the time of the organization 0t the globe but that he had no t
ho lad not
hal
sufficient understanding as to the
place where he existed to correctly
answer the question put to him
neither could he remember 11 who
laid the comer stone thereof neither
could he recollect the song of the
be
morning stars neither could he call
to mind the shout of joy which was
d
uttered by the vast assembly of ALL
utiere
utieri
THE SONS OF GOD
9 jesus calls himself
0
the bright
nd
and morning star
rev xxii 15.
xvii 15
ana in another place he represents
and
aba
aha
liimself
seif
himself
the beginning of the crerev
ation of god
paul
ati on
rev iii 14.
14
says that jesus is theimacle of thi
bays thatjesus
the macye
macle
theiimage the
1
I

1

6

invisible
every cre atule
15
creature
col i 15.
idas As
jesus is the first bom son of goa
god
t born
bob
it is evident that all the other sons
of god would be his younger bre
bre
thren begotten by the same Father
samefather
70
therefore paul represents him as I ithe
first born among many brethren
romans viii 29.
29
and in another
place he says 11 both hethat s an 6ti
ati
ancti
he that sanati
fieth and they who are sanctified are
xe
all of one for which cause he is not
ashamed to call them brethren
heb ii 11 that the brethren here
spoken of are the sons of god begot
becot
besim
jesua
jesus
ten by the same father that jesim
was is evident from another saying of
the apostle 11 we have had fathers of
our flesh which corrected us and wo
we
we riot
gave them reverence shall weiibt
much rather be in subjection unto the
llie
ilie
suldection
FATHER OF SPIRITS and live
live1
lived
9
are
heb xii 9. our earthly fathers ar
called the 11 fathers of our flesh
fleshy
while god is called 11 the father of
spirits
earthly fathers have no
power to beget spirits they bege
beget
only the bodies of flesh or the taber
anacles
nacles while our heavenly father
begets the spirits or the living beings
which como from him to inhabit tho
come
the
tabernacles
10 11 the first born of all thi s
thl
this
great family of spirits holds by virtue
virg
of his birthright a preeminence in
pre eminence la
all things hence it is written when
He bringeth in the first begotten into
h e bringeth
the world he saith and let all the
tho
hebj
angels of god worship him
heb
heba
hebs
6
i 6.
the oldest spirits or the first
lon
salvation
begotten hold the keys of 15alvat ion
towards all the rest of the family of
born
spirits 11 the first bom spirit is
called the morning star because
he was bom in the morning of crea
tion or in other words because he
was 11 the beginning of the creation
of god
younger
cier
his youn cler brethren were
stars
called 11 morning sta rs because they
were also bom in the morning of crea
being the
tion be inthe next in succession in
beinthe
aa
1a
9
spiritual creation
creatlon
the order of the spiritualcreatio n
11
eather
father
the Fther of spirits hay
a

firs

i5as
1

1

t

1

MA
01 ma
d t6reva
abidfii& place forever in the conabiding plac tereva
templation of the magnificent scene
rhes which r6lie
hies
rie gwhich rolled in datul grafidei
ries
d
amiul
ralie
awiul irandeur
fideu
ditul
biefowth6ih their bosohis7swelldd wii1i
before them
bosoms swelled witli
wetli
indescribable joy they gave utterance
to their feelings in rapturous strawof
the k
U
of
raptury
raptur6 aialaiof
melodious music which reverberated
ibi
ihiisic
d
world
from worl to world fillin g all teg
filling
ted
the
vori
heave n s with the praises of god melio
heavens
whilo
while
melie
eternity itself trembled with joy
jq
1
M they not only had sifain gid
liot
g id
sin gingo
cele
te
celebrate the beginning of thedr ahi
the dr0 dhi
organityls
bation this
zation of teis earth but 11 all the song
n tyis
gud
of god shouted for joy
who can
contemplate this grand event without
wit6u
wittu
i
i
bein g almost overmowere d with the
being dmost overpowered
powere
s
ideas
idea of greatness ardd ihhghifie
arid magnificence
ilbo
ilbe
which force themselves upon jhb
alib
folce
foice iheihselve9 udon thb
flib
mind
tho
all the generations of men
Mdit
that have ev ek lived or that ever will
ever
dver
livo upon the earth were assembled
live
lice
enable
id
as erAble
aserable
upon that occasion
0
were
they werg the
word
werd
s6lig
salig of god tley were the ofiel who
God tiey
gol they
sons
ones
ofief
swo viea for loy
vied
sho
shouted
toy their united voices
joy
loy
i
aen
been
must have gen as the voice of many
anT
ofm
waters d n veff by fierce tempests
driven
dif
efi
whose
whbe mountain waves rolling plungtolling plu
ahbe
piung
dashing brealcwith
ing dahifi 91 blteak with awful inqj esty
majesty
upon the iocksy bonind coast A shout
r
roclsy bound
o6vaboiind
of joy lefea kiil fur th simultafi6oul
lifea
breaking forth simultaneously
from a vast world
60 n it Vasivf6ffd of spirits must have
havo
been as the tolling of ten thousand
rolling bf
thunders reverberating from mountain
reverberating
mountha
mounthk
r6orbeidtind
to mountain till the whole earth tremtili
bles under tr e power thereof
the
13 there ia something grand dmd
is
dm1
and
sl
sublime in the contemplation of our
df
pre existence how wonderful adf di&
atf
aridn
arian
is for us to know thattne
teresting it is
gesting
testing
thaei&
thattne
thattie
beings whom we call ourselves thab
bhat
that
now dwell in these earthly tabernacles
athly
earthly
existed thousands of years arya that
ago
folil
we were present when the fobil idafiofis
foundations
of the eaith were laid that we then
darth
earth
sang and shouted for joy diat w6 were
shoutedf6rjoy qiat we
hat
eng
gagged
engaged with our oldest brother the
ehg
tho
first bom in organizing this world
that we dwelt for ages in our fathers
celestial
presence in a atelestial or glorified world
fage
face
that we there beheld his eade and
4hat we
fliat w6 there
rejoiced in his glory ahat wa thore
wisdoiri bid
were instructed in the wisdo ardd
niisdord arid
iri
lri
kfiowieldgdof god till the intelligence
knowledge of

pitk ESi
pire esl
tempre eyl ENCE
PRE
timpre AISTENCE
rite

20

rim
Tim

ing filled one of the cefesh al kinggas
doms with higbwn soiiyaifii dau
his own 0 41od daugh0
til fruit of hi own loins gtave
the
ters tiiethfitof ilijo& io1w gave
commandment unio his first bob
flitt bom
boni
toni
eternal
to organize out of the etem al elements another world
oldedience
other
hi obe diance
in ove dience
i
J
tp this great commandment
the
t
iid
begotten acc oina acied
136gotte accompanied
F t 136 gotte n abc oinp anied by all
first lid
yoiin
younger
hise yogin9 or brethren who had kept
tv6 ir first estate proceeded lay
to
proceededto
kneir
tneir
tiie
41ih e foundations of the earth
and
th
ffi6 c6inei stones thereof
comer sund
and
slon
occasion
upon this grand occiL sion 11 the mom
upp
a
sang together
ing stars ang A oge th er
the lord
riot
does reot reveal to job the sentiments
was
cntaihe
thi
thl
cop laine d in this song
it wa probataine
coptaine
coltaine
the
one of tiie
ly
bly a song composed by dfi6ot tile
tt
wisest poets in the vast kingdom of
velstvere assembled ilgdom
doubt
spinus there
it no milit
conla inea
conia ined sentiments sui tatto to the
suitable
sul tatte
suitatte
contained
jvsty greatness
45 jasty gr eaines s and magnificence
majesty greaines
tiu
ilu
ot jiu work which they had com afen
commenodthe 0 A
ffe
ofthe
foundations
lons
i
mighty
aati
ced the foundations of a lh ty
founaati
w6rid were being laid the con ier
ler
world
cober
c omer
stones ete
san es were placedin their appropris6n ii ere plac edin
upon teete or a round
teese
ate position
these
these as a central nucleus was to be
tiese
ei7q td a magificeiltglo globe arrayed in
blel
alel
erected magnificent
celos lial
celestial
dif yde
dlf yve gorgeous splenqoiir of celes tiai
alf e
splendour
alltli
abdye
above below and
workmanship
ikmafi hi P
fdr
far
Ueie ants
elements
around these eternal ele m ents hovertho ofi
afi
ed thousands of millions of the sons
ot god which ibie the spirits of men
were
i6ie
loge
404
atyi the pli it of pruphec y they logt
looked
upher
bty
apii
spirit prophecy
pii
pil
upon the vast field of unorganized
undtaniied
materials which lay stretched out almost infinity
ocean
rn sj to jnfinit in the boundless ogean
odean
ot space
of space which surrounded them
were
wey saw that thege materials gere to
teese
wtre
these
atre
they
UOY
lfd&bfed ane fashlonea into a ponderionea
be formed and fashioned
ous globe prepared and adorned for
06
residence
tesi
their
tneir future resl dence
tkeii suture resi dende where they
skoie
stfould exist and live and move in
skoiw
m
bies
bles
tabernacles
tiley
tlley
earthly tabom 6les
MM labom ales where they should
dummion
dommion aver
doithilon
doit
dolt
6 sceptre
sceptry
s ay the sceptrd of doln hilon over all
tilg lower orders of creati olf where
oif
creatlon
creation
lover
r
lowe
iove
the love
aney should become fathers of fleshly
tney
tho
bodies
bobies in like manner as god was the
leather
ieather of their spirits they saw the
ayea emptioxi and eternal
fati
fall
fali redemption anaeternd exaltation
ayed
god and
of the sons of bo A MA the glorificasoils
6f
6i
welch
which
nilikii
vere
tion af the earth weich they were
fd rnu
which hojd become
forming stieh ashod badome their
vtieh ishod bedome
hoad
211 fas

1

1
I

S-

hi

je

1
.1

k

1

vyv
117

2

1

nhe

kij

r

q

lh

i

r

straW

i

1
I

i

wn

dia

4

21
TJE pne exisenceqfian
vie PRE
kie
which z
radiated from our personspha hone dom when he was bom into this WQW
ourpersons phq
domwhen
world
oirxqiris
tras
1hemorn ing
ilk ethe
lik eibe
hay
I
e
jAe lbe morning light
said
jaethe
it would not have b e en sai a of Hup
sall
sail
hav
140 t havo een sal
baethe
h
14 objections have been raised that he
ic d
railed
lie
lle
ile increased in ulsdorfi if
against the pre existence of man upon the knowledge which jesus premea
esus possessed
ha
that we do not
previous
ha& ground thatwedonot remember in his previous state were taken jrqdi
lous
ioas
ft
4
such
e eie rea
asucli existence or any event connected him when he entered an infant taberele red
therewith it is true we do not re- nacle he could never regain that
e ver
n
0
e elation
member
knowledge
pq ab anything
aq nbpr any thing prior to our present knqvyled e only by revelation so t
0
estate but this d oes not prove thatje ism th man wlienhe eierq aj
provo thatwe is with
that we
state
wien he enters a body
eiers
we do not of fle sh his spin is so compressed
d
had no prior existence
a
flesh
spirit
compt11or
rpmpmber
remqmber our existence or anything and c ontracted in infa ncy th he forremember
c
ney
infancy that be 0
eise
reise
six months
his
existence and ha
r else during the first sixmonths of gets bi former ex isten pe andhiv io
a
our infancy doesi this prove that we commpnceas as jesus did at .6e lowest
commence
atthe y
6
ibid npi
iiid api
dfd ngi t exist dupng that time no principles of knowledge and ascend
duding
during
aples
pringiples
aqqd
hqad
ithon
ithen I we c 0 1 exist six months by degrees from one 1 ripci ple of intelcould
grees
jf hen
principle
kin
0
I ricci
at ul
ltdken
jflurmg our present state without re- ilcy P to another thus he regains
lift
gence
amther
nip
1 arwgr rr
rip
Imem bering it we might for the same ligence adother gethiisnd by shew
.1e iaqrin
membering
his former knowledg
knowled
knowledge and
1
I1
reason have existed during six thou- in himself appr9t ed through shw
rpasqnli ve
dun na
approved
ing
every
evory
qly
aly
sand years prior to our present state degree of in t elljoence he is mun t d
intelligence
counted
oun
repa ember
and not remember it existence is in worthy to rece yr more mdm gre ju a
repi
receive ore and more unyi
in
adm
no way dependant on memory there- he is perfected and glorified in fruth
vay
onmemory
arx
led
iea
lea
rx
truth
fpvuy
1d er
ilk
eider rother
jrqemory
ilke
like
fore memory has nothing to do with and made lik e his elder bro t er posyth question of our past state
s esin all things
sessing
7
7415 aien jesus was bom into our
when
15 alen
tien
16 1 f the spiritual body of jes
jps119
if
pworld 1
worid I
his previous knowledge was and J
fhe
the
lis
ils
ail
ali
wa
of all Me
he spiritual bodies gfa men
occasioned existea bef9re
pm
CaSlon 7 exister beffre
p taken from him this was OC occasion ed existed jbefore the foundation palo
4im4ation pflo
casion
hodabe
bodybe ing
bj Hlgjizitual hody heing
ijbyhis spiritual body being compressed world as behave clear y shop jis
shown its
we have
wehave clearly shom lis
jinto a smaller volume than it originally th ere any thing pireasona bl in ae
nOy ero
tinto
doy there
into
origi voy thero
unreasonable
steng odili e spiri 4e
occupied
xistence
ttie
in his previous exi t ene 1idea of the pre exl stenc ofili spirl
existence of atie spiritual
ire exi
4
ahls spirit as the Scrip turps testify bodies of all the animal creatp 42
scriptures
al creation
anim creata
bokn size and formoe of
oku
was ohnthe
of
form
was okn
formof man when there is ilot
not one class of spirits
wile
ts
n
1
his spirit was compressed soas to be payexist before they epter their nahi
so as
may exist
sors
pay
enter thein a
I
oll y enclosed
tywjiolly enc 1 oed in an infant tabernacle tural bodies as well as a
another dd
atendenry
tendency
denry
thad aten dency to suspend the me- not the same god who made ithe spats
mado the
mory and the wisdomand knomle
wis
wisdom and knowledge
mate
aiso
also
spiritsof
spiritsof
aba
domand knobleAC of men make the spirits6f beasts abj 9
V
formerly enjoyed were for9otten
joh
forgotten
b
Job says askiow
h ey
ask
askiew
in jobsays ash now the beasts and eky
jky
i his humiliation
u
fowls of
was
lowis
hee
his judgment wp shall teach f1hee and the foilsof the
sof
foil
loil
qn
taken away
an
acts 8 xxxiii
air end ey
and
to airan they shall tell thee ols PR
h ee ois ley
ots lei
oispk
tei
come
cqme down from heaven from his to the e arth and it shall teach thee
q
came
hee
arth
Va thers
fathers presence where he had for- and the fishes of the gea s hall de cI e
re
sea shali declre
fea shail decare
1
menly possessed judgment and under un thee
merly
anel
jcrlyppssessedjudgmnent auel
6t noa l
knpweth inot lynall
w at tuot llnall
kn
unto
who knoweth not
Atanding sufficient to frame worlds thesethat the hand 0 f the lord ha h
bath
o
e lora hath
these that
and to ent er into a mortal vern ad e wrought this 0 IN WHOSE A
tabernacle
0 enter
lin
ougbp
wern
HAP
ywa truly humiliating itnvas indeed IS THE SOUL OF EVE RY iby
nkaq
awa
liy
lly
EVERY LI
it was
humiliating in the highest degree to ING THIIJG 49b xii 7 10 an
m
THIG job
7n
be uleprived of so great a lp
euk
Q
eol
ed
ahls quotati
knowledge this quotation we perceive that
an
9n
yet he humbled himself and con soul of every living thing is inq a
vet
M
i
descended
belowall thinas
ail
ali
acnded to descend below all things hand of athe loid he is the maer
tlle
tile
tho kf ir
jthe lord
ithe lold
and to commence ae w at the very and preserver of the sow of b easts
anew
b
ery
souls
elements of knowledge hence ope of birds and fishes anivol as of the
emt
as well
asivol
veil
veli
o4eof
ofui6
the evangelists says 644esus increased souls of men hence tqsqs V n
j
IIJ esus
aipses
lipses
pn wisdom and stature
an sdam
luke ii 52 ptrding the lord
mni
ani if9m had retained li op praying to ae L ord says jetj110
let the
owif jesus llad
hiswis pard THE ODOV THE SPIKECS
SPIRITS
L
lord
11

t

sot

1
I

if

a

6

1

f

jcf
jbf

j q
C

P

R

1

4

pol
011
woi

j

ia

4

pk

1

1

1

1

i

har
iiy

x

jnq

ld
ewt

3

wn
thegod0f thespirits
i

11

ocif

hisi4
hisie

22

THE PRE EXISTENCE OF MAN
bian
hian

OF ALL FLESH set a man over
the congregation
numxxvii 16
thus we see that the lord is not only
the god of the spirits of men but he
ail
is the god ofthe spiritsofall flesh
spirits of all
1 7 that the spirits of gil the vege1
ali
ail
all
I
tables and animals were made before
their bodies is evident from the his
ir
tory of creation as related in the first
toly
and second chapters of genesis in
the first chapter we have the history
of the creation of vegetables fish
rowls
fowls beasts and man in the second
j
chapter we are told that on the seventh
day there was not a man to till the
ground
and then a description is
given of the formation of his natural
body
out of the ground
in the
first chapter and during the third
day the vegetables and trees are forindal
dai
aai
t ed in the second chapter and on the
64in aay
seventh day we are told that the lord
made every plant of the field before
it was in the earth and every herb of
we field before it grew and then we
the
are informed that on the seventh day
r
the lord planted a garden that is set
th the trees and herbs which had
out
he
made on the third day and caused
mem to 11 grow out of the ground
them
c
in the first chapter it is said that the
bish
hish
nish
fish fowls and beasts were created
pa the fifth and sixth days in the
on
h
sixt
ona
second chapter these various animals
qc ond
arpforined out of the ground on
are formed
ahe seventh day and brought unto
ihe
the
A eam to see what he would call them
dam
adam
ihis
eldin this
from chis we leam that the natural
learn
leab
bodies of animals were maae after the
were made
natural body of man in th e work of
the
the temporal creation man seems to
lave been the first flesh upon the
bave
have
gftrth his natural body being made
e4ih
elih
eye before the herbs and trees were
even
eie
planted and grew out of the ground
he was placed in the garden of eden
before the lord made the beasts and
fowls that is their natural bodies and
brought them to him in order that he
might name them the first chapter
gives a history of the creation of all
s
bistor
history
s
things spiritual the second chapter
gives the history of the creation of all
1

1

things temporal in the order of time
and in the succession of events tho
68
spiritual creation of the heavens and
earth and all things contained therein
differs from the temporal creation
of the same to suppose that the
these
two chaapters 0 nlygive the history of
pters
chapters only give
bf
the natural creation would involve us
n volve
nutnerous
herdus
in numerous difficulties when we en
nutnerous
nuiserous
deavours
deavour to reconcile the description
dea lour
given in the second chapter with that
given in the first but tor receive them
toi
to
as the descriptions of two success dye
dve
iio
successive
creations the first being spiritual as
s
it truly was and the second being
temporal all difficulties and discrepancies in the two di&rentdescriptiong
different descriptions
vanish away and a flood of light bursts
upon the mind
18 JOSEPH SMITH the great prosmtth
smth
phet of the last dispensation being
comman lel of god to translate the
iel
commanded
leI
bible by the inspiration of the holy
ghost commenced the great work in
the month of june 1830
talis
tffis
in t1lis
inspired translation jhb distinction
th6
thb
between the spiritual and temporal
creation is clearly manifest
after
describing the six days of labour god
grid
informs us that he ended his ark
wbrls
werls
brk
on the seventh day and rested there
in and sanctified it hp then teaches
he
11
us that these are the generations of
bf
the heaven and of the earth when
earthwhen
they were created in the day that 1
I
the lord god made the heaven and
the earth and every plant of the field
beford
before it was in the earth and every
herb of the field before it grew eor
tor
for
1 the lord god created all things
I
of which 1 have spoken spiritually
I
before they were naturally upon the
face of the earth and 1 the loicl
I
lord
go had created all the children of
god
men and not yet a man to till the
016
did
ground for in heaven created 1 them
I
and there was not yet flesh upon hilo
llie
earth neither in the water neither in
the air but 1 the lord god spake
I
and there went up a mist from tho
the
earth and watered the whole face 0 f
o
god
the ground and 1 the lord G odi
I
formed man from the dust of tho
formea
flom

The Seer - By Orson Pratt

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to The Seer - By Orson Pratt

Similar to The Seer - By Orson Pratt (20)

More from David Marques

More from David Marques (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

The Seer - By Orson Pratt