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.
These subjects are dwelt upon by our legislatures Governors &c with delight, but if these things animate them so much how much the more the things that are laid before us when we hear its history from one who has been with it from its infancy— (pres spake on) When we hear these things from the lips of one who has taken an active part in all the history of the church can we be surprised that he should feel animated and seem to burn with zeal. Most other kingdoms have laid desolate other kingdoms and established themselves in blood. The greatest chieftains of the earth, have got their glory by blood carnage and ruin— one nation built up at the expence of the ruin on of another and one man at the ex is made rich at the expense of another.
Men did it because they had power to desolate nations & spread terror wherever they went & they are spoken of as great men. The patriots of this had indeed a plausible excuse for the course they took. They stood in defence of their rights, liberty and freedom. But where are now those principles of freedom. here the laws that protect all men in their religious opinions Where the laws that says a man shall worship God according to the dictates of his own consciens— What say ye ye saints, ye who are exiles in the land of liberty— how has the gold become dim. Let it not be told among the monarchs of Europe— Dont let the sound go forth lest they laugh. Ye saints never let it go abroad that ye are exiles in the land of liberty. Tell it to those who who robbed & plundered & refuse to give you your rights. Are we now in a land of liberty of equal rights— would to God I could answer yes but they have robbed us and slain us and our Government says your cause is just but we can do nothing for you— Hear it ye great men— we are here in exile in bondage in a land of liberty. If ye have any [p. 6]