Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1844, as Reported by William Clayton
Source Note
General conference of the church, Minutes, and JS, Discourses, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 6–8 Apr. 1844; handwriting of ; dockets in handwriting of Robert L. Campbell and Jonathan Grimshaw; thirty-eight pages; General Church Minutes, CHL.
As a last extremity like a nail in a sure place— he says “else what shall they do who are bap for the dead &c” We have come to the last dispensation & must have all the [that] God has to give— all the baptism. H. G. [Holy Ghost] &c— If the dead rise not why are you baptised for them if they are to lay in the grave forever— plan devised around the eternal throne of God— established by Paul. brought to light by Joseph— and the man that will lift his voice against it is a heard harted retch unfit to preach the gospel. has a figure— the the L. D. S [Latter Day Saints] know what H. C [Habeas Corpus] means— have reason— have laid down an eternal fiat law of adoption into the k of G. [kingdom of God] I have shewed that many good have died without this privilege of obeying according to old English law— as man became involved was thrown in prison— law was irrevocable— was to be shut up in prison there remain untill he has paid the utmost farthing. Here are two men— a swindler, gambler, [k]nave, hypocrite &c but he has cunning enough to avoid detection becomes involved seized by writ condemned— carried to prison— deserves his fate. another man lives under the same law— good man. benevolent faithful— through some mishap becomes involved— law knows no difference— seized by writ— he says I am honest virtuous &c Law must have its course if the heavens weep— put in the same prison with the bad man— one man deserves his fate— that was to[o] proud to obey the gospel— the other never heard. They are now in this place— the Law holds him he cant work— the longer there the w[o]rse of[f]— wrse & wrse. by & by— & this is no dream, you have seen men died in prison— God be praised Laws are daming while this man is in this situation— he reflects he has been taken a gt way off— his friend sympatizes— he searches finds writ of Habeas Corpus— can do what the man cant do for himselfe, goes to the judge pays the judgment. gets the receipt gets it recorded in presence of witnesses— The judge is one witness He gets in his Chari[o]t, goes to the prison— the mans chains fall off he goes to his family— they praise the Ld &c All this is no dream. Men are willing to believe that [p. 7 [37]]