Letter from Robert D. Foster, 24 December 1839

said that if there were any body else, they would have  no objections in being baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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; they said if Mr Cook man would say it was true, that they would obey  the ordinance

A religious rite. JS taught that ordinances were covenants between man and God, in which believers could affirm faith, gain spiritual knowledge, and seek blessings. Some ordinances were considered requisite for salvation. The manner in which ordinances were...

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of baptism immediately— I showed  them it was no way to risk their salvation, on Mr.  Cookman— but they wished I would go and see  him— and <I> offered to do so provided they would  accompany me, and introduce the matter in due  form; but they backed out, Well you know I sd.  I would not stop untill I got through & am not  through yet. I went to bed, thanked God for his  goodness to me, & resolved to do any thing, that would  further the cause, or plant the seed in <this> wicked,  and adulterous City

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

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— then I goes and hunts out this  Golia[t]h of Methodism (Mr. Cookman), I wrapped at  the door, was ushered in with much form, when I  very poli[t]ely told him my business; that I had glad  tidings of great joy, and he stood and gased [gazed] as though  I had been an Angel— He then begged lief— to intro duce his pious friend, (Mr. Wait), and also his wife, which  I admitted; I began to tell him by littles, and he asked me  if I would argue the point, from the Bible; I said amen  to it, and we went at it— He, at first, acted like a Gentn.,  but soon turned black, & awful; looking like a Demon.  I kept a steady course, keeping my temper— prayed  God to uphold me, and he did it in such a manner,  as I never experienced before— I was afraid at first,  asked God to strengthen me, and he did it; he sh owed himself to me, and sent help in time of need,  He (Mr. Cookman) could not quote a passage of—  scripture right, nor knew anything about the Bible  at all; all he could say was, you are deluded you are  a fanatick you are crazy, and demanded a sign— The  Apostles & Prop[h]ets come on purpose to show a sign, & they—  were no longer needed; but Jos. Smith must let me ta ke a Rattlesnake & hold it to him, to bite him— then if  he lives I will believe; but he is an imposter, a fanatic  and a child of the Devil, & you are another— I begd.  him not be so hard, as I preached nothing but the [p. 120]