<​April 4 Joseph’s Epistle from ​> and indefeazible rights, they are things that pertain to this life, therefore all are alike interested, they make our responsibilities one towards another in matters of corruptible things while the former principles do not destroy the latter but bind us stronger and make our responsibilities not only one to another, but unto God also, hence we say the that the Constitution of the is a glorious Standard it is founded in the Wisdom of God. it is a heavenly banner, it is to all those who are privileged with the Sweets of its liberty like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and a weary land, it is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of an <​a​> inclement Sun. We brethren are deprived of the protection of this glorious principle by the cruelty of the cruel by those who only look for the time being for pasturage like the beasts of the field only to fill themselves, and forget that the Mormons as well as the Presbyterians, and those of every other class and description have equal rights to partake of the fruits of the great tree of our national liberty, but notwithstanding we see what we see, and we feel what we feel, and know what we know. Yet that fruit is no less precious and delicious to our taste, we cannot be weaned from the milk, neither can we be driven from the breast, neither will we deny our religion because of the hand of oppression, but we will hold on until death, we say that God is true, that the Constitution of the is true, that the Bible is true, that the Book of Mormon is true, that the book of Covenants are true, that Christ is true, that the ministering angels sent forth from God are true and that we know that we have an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God a consolation which our oppressors cannot [HC 3:304] feel when fortune or fate shall lay its iron hand on them. as it has on us. Now we ask what is man? Remember brethren that time and chance happeneth to all Men. We shall continue our reflections in our next. We subscribe ourselves your sincere friends and brethren in the bonds of the Everlasting Gospel Prisoners of Jesus Christ for the sake of the gospel and the Saints. We pronounce the blessing of heaven upon the heads of the Saints, who seek to serve God with undivided hearts in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Joseph Smith Jr, , , , .” [HC 3:305]