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EDITORIAL.

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1863.

SLANDERS AGAINST THE TRUTH AND ITS BELIEVERSREADINESS OF THE WORLD TO RECEIVE THEM.

It would be amusing, if it were not so serious a matter to us, to notice the misrepresentations and falsehoods which are circulated respecting the Latter-day Saints, their belief and their practices. Had we not the evidence continually afforded unto us, we would deem it impossible for such improbable stories to be circulated and believed by people professing to be intelligent, as is the case where we are concerned. Men profess to be destitute of sufficient credulity to believe the testimonies which the Elders of this Church bear unto them. They cannot exercise faith enough, they say, to entertain our statements and place that reliance upon them which is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Lord; yet, at the same time, they will listen to and accept the most incredible fabrications respecting our belief and practices. One-tithe of the belief they manifest in these outlandish and unnatural tales, if purified by the sanctifying influence of the holy Spirit, would enable them to receive and gladly entertain the message of life and salvation, with its evidences, which are presented to the world by the servants of the Lord. There is no statement, however unnatural and destitute even of all semblance of probability respecting us, that does not find a ready acceptance on the part of a certain class of persons in the world, while all the testimonies and evidences presented by us, found in the Scriptures and in reason, in support of our belief and doctrines, and set forth in the most simple and truthful manner, are rejected with contumely and scorn as beneath their consideration. The lapse of thirty-two years has made no change, in this respect, in the feelings of persons of this class. Though the Gospel has been preached for that length of time in the midst of Christendom, and they have seen its fruits exhibited under the most trying and painful circumstances, yet they are as ready to-day to deny the existence of virtue and any good qualities among the Latter-day Saints, as they were when the Church was first organized.

It might have been thought, in the beginning, that if the Saints could have the opportunity of manifesting unto the world for a quarter of a century the character of their faith, the foolish and unfounded opposition, which had been displayed in the times when the people were ignorant of our doctrines, would have vanished away, and a more liberal and believing spirit have taken its place. It might have been thought that by submitting quietly to repeated persecutions, by suffering every indignity and wrong and slander that could be heaped upon us, permitting ourselves to be driven from place to place, suffering every privation and hardship that was possible for human nature to endure, and in many instances laying down life itself in testimony of the truth of what we believe, and enduring all these wrongs in a spirit of Christian fortitude and unexampled patience, would have convinced the world that there was something more than

man's wisdom, power and energy, connected with this system; and that there was in the possession of its believers that Spirit which had sustained Jesus and his Apostles, and those who believed on their testimonies in the days when they were upon the earth. But the contrary of this has been the case. Notwithstanding there have been testimonies piled one upon another almost mountain high, respecting the purity of this people and the correctness of their principles; notwithstanding the innumerable lies, misrepresentations and slanders which have been circulated against us, have, times without number, been exposed and laid bare; notwithstanding the march of human events has held up to the obloquy, and contempt of the whole civilized world those who have so cruelly persecuted us in the past, there is as little dispòsition manifested to-day, by the inhabitants of the earth, to bow in submission to the truth which we declare, and to acknowledge the purity of the motives which have actuated us in our conduct, as there was thirty years ago. These results may scarcely seem to be reconcilable with men's views of the power of truth; but they are perfectly consistent with the revelations of the Lord in the beginning, before the Church was organized, to the Prophet Joseph. He was told that persecution would rage more and more; for the iniquities of men should be revealed, and those who were not built upon the Rock would seek to overthrow the Church; and that his name should be known and held in honor and reproach among the nations, for the work which the Lord would perform by his hands would cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage; but the work would increase the more opposed, and spread farther and farther, increasing in knowledge till they who should embrace it should be sanctified and receive an inheritance where the glory of God would rest upon them.

It

If this were the work of man, and of man alone, it might have been expected that different results would have followed from what we now witness; but being of God, and having for its object the redemption of man from the thraldom of sin, and the emancipation of the earth from the dominion of darkness, it might, with all propriety, be expected that the Evil one who has so long usurped power should exert himself to the very uttermost to resist and counteract the purposes of our Father in heaven, and perpetuate that reign of misery and wickedness which, through his machinations, has existed thus far upon the earth. would be unreasonable to suppose, knowing what we do about his character by his past movements among the children of men, that he would succumb or retreat without a struggle. He is emboldened by the recollection of past successes and triumphs. He has proved too frequently, to be now readily discouraged, the easiness with which mankind can be deceived and led astray. many a past struggle he has found them his willing dupes and his active agents in riveting those chains upon themselves and upon their fellow-creatures which made them his willing captives.

In

The Evil one has been rightly termed the "father of lies" and "a murderer from the beginning." Falsehood is his favorite weapon, and by disseminating falsehoods he incites the children of men to acts of violence against everything that is of God and godly, which acts of violence too frequently culminate in murder. The rejection of the truth by the people, the hardening of their hearts against the testimony of the servants of God and the message of salvation which is borne to them, render them most susceptible to the influences of Satan, and prepare them to become more suitable agents for the carrying out of his wicked designs. It is plain enough to the observant that the world to-day is more

hardened in the rejection of the principles of the Gospel, and is more willing to lend an ear to the malicious slanders which the Adversary puts in circulation, through those who are influenced by him, than it was even when this Work was established. The world is ripening in iniquity. The honest and the meekthose who are willing to bow in submission to the commandments of God, have been for many years gathering out from the nations to whom the Gospel has been preached. Of course, after they have been gathered out there has been less virtue, purity, and love of God left behind; and the preaching of the Gospel with the publication of its principles by means of the press and other agencies for the past thirty-two years have left but few, comparatively speaking, in possession of an excuse for their non-submission to the requirements of the Almighty. Where men have heard the truth preached and testified to, and have rejected it, there the Spirit of the Lord has begun to decrease, till the various sects, professors of religion and non-professors, who, previous to the declaration of the Gospel in its purity and fulness, enjoyed a portion of that Spirit, have been deserted by it, to a very great extent, because of the hardening of their hearts in refusing to obey the truth. The Lord says, that From him who repents not shall be taken even the light which he has received, for my Spirit shall not always strive with men."

The readiness of the world to believe every conceivable slander and misrepresentation is almost incredible. We have but to cast our minds back to the recent persecution which was raised against the people of God in the Valleys of the Mountains, and throughout all the world where they were dwelling, to find abundant evidences of this. For a period of two years, more or less, it seemed as though the Adversary of truth held high carnival on the earth, and revelled in the complete enjoyment of unbounded license in circulating, with devilish ingenuity and perseverence, slanders and falsehoods the most base and malignant. He found ready believers of all his tales in priest and people, in rich and poor, in learned and unlearned. With few exceptions mankind opened the avenues of their hearts to admit the evil flood of hellish detraction. From that time to the present there has been a reaction. Falsehood got the start; yet the truth has not slumbered, but, keeping the goal in sight, has steadily pressed forward until it has been vindicated by the complete exposure of those misrepresentations and falsehoods. It might be thought that after the experience of the past, mankind would be less liable to deception than before, upon those points; but, strange as it may seem to the unreflecting, we assert without hesitation, that there is as great a disposition at the present time to believe and give a ready acceptance to falsehood, and to circulate it, should the Adversary re-commence his old efforts, as there ever has been.

We wish in this connection to warn the Priesthood and Saints, that they may be prepared for the things that are coming, and not suffer themselves to be lulled into fancied security with the idea that the Evil one has been foiled, and will not therefore renew his efforts. The Lord may give unto us breathingspells; He may exert his power in our behalf so far as not to permit us to be utterly overwhelmed and destroyed; but we may be assured that Satan is determined to wage an unrelenting warfare. He is an uncompromising enemy; and when we have peace, instead of falling asleep and giving way to lethargy, the period of rest thus afforded us should be used to the best advantage, in strengthening every weak and assailable place, and arming ourselves against the day when the conflict will be renewed with its old hatred and virulence.

ABSTRACT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

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ABSTRACT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

HULL CONFERENCE.-Elder P. P. Pratt, President of Hull Conference, writes under date of Jan. 5th, that the majority of the Saints are feeling well in their holy religion, and manifest a desire to increase in faith and in the knowledge of the truth, and to live more closely to the precepts of their religion in the future than they have done in the past. The principle of Gathering contained in the Gospel, they fully realize and appreciate; and had they the means to accomplish their desires, they would soon gather to the peaceful and prosperous home that the Lord has provided for his people. He further states that a spirit of inquiry seems to be on the increase, and the prospects are good for the spread of the truth.

DORSETSHIRE CONFERENCE.-Elder E. F. Bird writing, Jan. 9, from the Dorsetshire Conference, states that Elder Bramall and he are endeavoring to keep the Saints alive to their duties. In a Conference meeting held in Bridport on Sunday, December 14th, last, the Spirit of the Lord was enjoyed, and good instructions were imparted. He states that while visiting his relations in London and vicinity he was enabled, by his honest testimony, to remove much prejudice which they had entertained against the work of God, in consequence of their listening to the wicked and foolish reports in circulation.

DESERET.-We have had several letters forwarded to us, received from parties who emigrated last season, by their friends in this country. As they contain much of a private nature we cannot publish them at length; but we present with pleasure the following extracts from them to our readers :

Sister Ellen Hallett writes from Lehi City to her parents in Portsmouth, who are not members of the Church, and says, I came to Great Salt Lake City on the 4th September, and was kindly received by brother C. V. Spencer, who took me to his house and made me very comfortable. On the 6th, I engaged with a lady as general servant, at a dollar per week. I was with her one week when brother and sister H., having heard I was there, sent their team from Lehi City for me, where I have been made very comfortable ever since. They are in very good circumstances, have got a nice farm and a pretty little house, and are having another house built.

I have been to Conference and the meetings were excellent. President Young addressed the Saints; and, if ever I felt like praising God, it was when listening to the voice of his Prophet and the holy men whom God has called to speak his Word and bear off his kingdom. At the close of the Conference, we all shouted Hallelujah, and praised and glorified God. I thought of you all, and wished you were here to share the joys of these beautiful valleys, which are surrounded by very lofty mountains on which snow can be seen all the year round. This valley very level: you can see thousands of acres of land on the level, the atmosphere is so clear. All the people whom I have seen have been very healthy, fat and good-looking.

is

I was sick part of the way and had to ride part of the time, but was not destitute of friends. The people were exceedingly kind to me, and gave me different things for a change when I could not eat my own food. I got well, however, and was able to go over the mountains singing and praising God every day. We enjoyed the journey much. We used to get up in the morning, often when the moon and stars were shining, and get our breakfast, take down our tents and go up to the front of camp to prayers, and then off on the road. We stopped for dinner sometimes one, sometimes two hours, and then off again, stopping to camp at sun-down, perhaps a little sooner or a little later; this depending on our being near to water. We had plenty of good fodder all the

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ABSTRACT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

way; and plenty of wood, with the exception of one part of the way where we gathered buffalo-chips.' When night came we were generally tired, but not too much so to enjoy the dance and song. Being scant of bed-clothes, I was thankful for the use of a buffalo-robe and some blankets kindly loaned to me by brother Hockings, one of the teamsters. There is some most beautiful scenery by the way. We saw no buffaloes; but we saw some antelope, deer, wild geese and ducks and other kinds of fowl and plenty of fish. We got lots of plums, and grapes, and currants, and cherries, which we made pies of. Some places you could get a cart load of plums in a very little distance.

I hope, my dear friends, you do not think that I am in want, or any one in these valleys. I could make my home in ten or twelve places. We were met in Emigration Kanyon and were given fruit, &c., and when we came to the camping-square the people brought us bread, butter, eggs, preserves, honey, potatoes and many more things that made us comfortable."

Sister Marian Jenkins writes from Great Salt Lake City to her friends in Cardiff, South Wales:-"I am thankful that I am here and am enjoying good health, notwithstanding the journey has been long and tedious; still, it was rendered pleasant by the company of the vast number of my brethren and sisters, from various parts of the earth, who were journeying with the same great object in view which prompted me to gather with the Saints. Guided and directed by the Spirit and influence of the Almighty, we felt well while traversing the mighty deep and passing through the once glorious but now unhappily divided States of America, where contentions, strifes, war and bloodshed, are witnessed on every hand. We travelled over the plains in safety. The scenery is magnificent and grand. Limitless plains stretching away to the verge of the horizon, on which can be gathered fruits of various kinds. Herds of antelope, elk, deer and buffalo may be seen trotting over their green beds of the richest grass. After this comes a more mountainous country; high hills and deep valleys, and ravines seemingly impassable; lofty mountains lift their gigantic peaks towards heaven, which are covered with eternal snow, from which flow down streams of the most delicious water to refresh the weary traveller.

I arrived in safety in the great basin of the Rocky Mountains, where a great number of my old friends and acquaintainces greeted me with much kindness.” Sister Sarah Anglesey writes from City Bountiful to her parents in Liverpool,—“I reached this Territory safely and was well received on my arrival. I am now living in City Bountiful, ten miles from Great Salt Lake City, and have a good place. I expect to pay a visit to my sister [and her husband] at Brigham City, which is sixty miles from Great Salt Lake City, in a few days. Martha has learned to milk cows and do other dairy work quite handy. She has spun enough of yarn this summer to make sixty yards of cloth. Peace and plenty reign in Deseret. The immigration has all arrived. The blessings of the Almighty rest on Zion and her inhabitants."

Brother William Fuller writes from Great Salt Lake City to his wife's parents, who live near Basingstoke,-"I left Florence on the 6th of August, two days after Lizzie (his wife) left, she having gone in one of the Church trains, while I engaged as a teamster and worked my way through, thus saving considerable. The companies we were in passed and repassed several times, so that we had several opportunities of seeing each other. She reached Great Salt Lake City two days before me, but she found several friends immediately on her arrival who treated her very kindly.

I would like to give you a description of the journey here if I could, but my powers are not equal to the task. We began the land journey from Florence by travelling some 5, 10, 15 and so on, miles per day; further on we reached 20, 22, and once 28 miles in a day. You may be startled at this, and especially when I say that Lizzie walked almost the entire way. The truth is, you somehow get the spirit of walking, and the travelling is not half so bad as it is to sit and think of it. You would be somewhat amused to see our tents and tent-fires, our bake-cattles and our wagons drawn by oxen-some by 4, 6, 8 and 10 oxen,