[, (Viator, pseud.)], Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Daily Bee, , Suffolk Co., MA, 24 Mar. 1843, draft; handwriting of ; three pages; “Truthiana No. 2,” Truthiana, 1843, drafts, CHL.
that all was clean in heaven, and that Jesus was going to make the place of his feet glorious, & if the Mormons did not keep their feet out of the ashes, they could not stand with him on Mount Zion.
I had no thought before but that dirty people could get to heaven, as well as clean ones; and that if the priests offered sacrifice with polluted hands, the fire would cleanse both the offering & the hands that offered it. I cannot say how much there may be in scrpture to contradict my views, neither can I vouch for it, that the churches of the day believe any such doctrine for I never belonged to any of them, but have rather been called an infidel. As to that I have not altered much, I like consistency find it where I may.
With all these curious notions I fell into the Mormon Settlement, and saw the prophet, but never having heard a mormon preach, you can imagine me not quite ready to receive all the impressions, incident to an interview with such a distingueshed personage, but I will give it as I find it, hit or miss the faith or feelings of any one.
I have had an interview since my last, and fou[n]d any thing but the truth of current reports. “The Prophet Joseph” (as he is called among his people) said in conversation with a gentleman present, that he no more professed to be a prophet than every man must, who professes to be a preacher of righteousness, or, a minister of the new Testament, To be a minister of Jesus, a man must testify of Jesus, and to testify of Jesus a man must have the spirit of Prophecy, for, according to John, the testimny of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. If a man professes to be a minister of Jesus, and has not the spirit of prophecy, he must be a false witness, for he is not in possession of that gift which qualifies him for his office; and the difference between himself & the clergy of this generation is, he claims to be in possession of that spirit of prophecy, which qualifies him to testify of Jesus & the gospel of salvation; while the clergy deny that spirit, even the spirit of prophecy, which alone could constitute them true witnesses or testators of the Lord Jesus, and yet Claim to be the true ministers of Salvation. In this, said he, I am honest, and they are dishonest, & that is the differnc between us. Were th[e]y true and honest [p. [2]]