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.
patriotism left come and proclaim us free and give us our rights. He spake of this government as one of the best of governments as one of the most pure and what a picture— Ye fathers who fought for your liberty blush for you[r] children and mourn over the degraded state they now represent. We are now talking about a government which set herself up as a pattern for the nations of the earth and oh what a pattern. If this is the best and most patriotic nation what is the situation of the rest. We speak of Washington Lafayete, Monro[e]— Jefferson who fought for their liberties & achieved one of the greatest victories ever won— and one generation has scarcly passed away before 15000 citizens appealed to the authorities for redress of their wrongs and they turn a deaf ear to our day cry. On the other subject we see 14 years ago a few assembled in a log cabin, they saw the visions of heaven and the glories of eternity. They were planting principles which were concocted in the bosom of Jehovah. They were laying a foundation for the salvation of the wo[r]ld. They have not yet begun to dwindle but the fire still burns in their bones. In this company he sees a company who will stand up in defence of the oppressed of whatever country they may be. I see it in their countenances, Thus that it is planted by the spirits of God and all the influence of mobs priestcraft &c cant quench it— it will burn— It is comprehensive & expansive as the univers and it reaches all the world— whether an Indian, Negro or any others that were virtuous & were oppressed you would stand forth in their defence. Cherish those principles and if liberty has been blasted in this nation we will proclaim ourselves free in time and eternity. We are laying a foundation for our religious and political salvation
The choir by request sung the Red Man after prayer by Er the meeting dismissed for one hour [p. 7]