[, (Viator, pseud.)], Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Boston Daily Bee, , Suffolk Co., MA, 15 Apr. 1843. Version published in Boston Daily Bee, 20 May 1843, p. [2]; edited by C. J. Howland. Transcription from a digital image obtained from Newspaper Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, in 2024. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.
Sir,—These Mormons are a go-ahead people, and he who would keep up with them, must skip over many things, even in observation. The Prophet closed his Millenium on the date of my last, not stopping to attend to all the little business, and minute affairs of the kingdom, but leaving them to the Twelve. —the , or next big lions of the . There is nothing very peculiar about these men, and you would not know them from any body else, who behave themselves well, if you should happen to meet them; yet they seem to be a match for any thing when “Jo” is not present.
These Apostles got together on the Monday following the close of the Millenium, and had a consultation with six or eight hundred , about having another day of probation, or, having the old one prolonged for a season, and it was quickly decided that there were many poor souls yet ignorant of the truth, and that it was necessary they should have the gospel preached to them before the final end could come.
At it they went and manafactured a score or two of new Elders, not as many of the sects make them, by schools, and academies, and colleges, and books, and professors, and ten years’ study at dead languages. No, but they did it by prayer, and the , and by the power of the Holy Ghost, (as they term it) and a man is ready for his business; and, Elders thus made, are those “weak things by which the Lord is going to confound the mighty.” You need not suppose by this that the Mormons despise learning. No! They are diligent in acquiring knowledge, but do not depend on book learning for salvation; but more of this in its place.
This great meeting, or, I should have said, these big lions, in concert with the the little ones, besides , sent out near one hundred and fifty Elders, to different parts of the land, to carry a proclamation of pardon to the sinner, and those who had faith in their doctrines; and they were very particular to select such places as wanted, and had requested preachers to be sent to them; or to places where their elders had never been; and not intrude themselves where they were not wanted. They are very modest about this, and perhaps there is some policy, but I discovered nothing censurable in their movements. It was reported and proved that one of their Elders had been guilty of some bad conduct, abroad, and he was ummade in less than half the time it took to make him.
All the States, ( excepted, they are jealous of their old friends yet) and the , may expect a swarm of these preachers soon, for they have not done sending out their heralds, but in the midst of their business on Wednesday, a steamer was discovered coming up the , and the meeting adjourned.
These Mormons are determind to be the first in every thing. The steamer proved to be the “Amaranth,” followed the same day by the “Maid of Iowa,” both loaded with saints. These were the first arrivals at the , this spring; one four, the other eleven days, from , having fought against the ice all the way. These 450 saints excluded almost all other pessengers; and the “Maid of Iowa” returned immediately to , for another cargo of the same kind. Several ships have already arrived at , this season, freighted with Mormons, besides the thousands who have been ice bound on the , who to secure their safe arrival, and do good as they had opportunity, baptized the of the “Maid of Iowa,” who is shewing himself off as diligent in their service, and appeared to enjoy himself wonderfully while here.
As the Mormons were the first to break the ice, so the prophet was the first to board the steamer, as it came up to the landing, and greet his “old friends” who had been absent some years, and had returned with their flocks as, said the prophet, “like doves to their windows.” Yes Joe sprang on the boat, the first plank that was thrown out, more like a boy who was hastening to his mate, than a great prophet, so familiar is he in his deportment; and I am sure, Sir, it would have warmed your heart, (for it did mine, as much of an infidel as I am) to see the thousands, who had assembled on the beach, ready to greet the arrival of their friends whom they had left in old .