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Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842

Source Note

Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 Apr. 1842, vol. 3, no. 11, pp. 735–750; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

The 1 April 1842 issue of the ’s , Illinois, newspaper, Times and Seasons, was the fourth issue to name JS as editor. The issue included a report of the organization of the , a lengthy doctrinal article titled “Try the Spirits,” and two short editorials, all of which are featured below. Also included in the issue, but not featured here, were a letter dated 20 March 1842 from the to the Latter-day Saints in Europe, extracts from a letter by , an excerpt of a letter to from his mother, another installment of the serialized “History of Joseph Smith,” and a letter about Nauvoo from “an Observer” to the Columbus Advocate. In addition, the issue included a petition from residents of to church leaders in Nauvoo, with an editorial comment. The comment is one of the editorials featured here; the petition is not reproduced below, but it is featured as a stand-alone document in this volume.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    While JS likely authored many of the paper’s editorial passages, John Taylor reportedly assisted him in writing content. No matter who wrote individual editorial pieces, JS assumed editorial responsibility for all installments naming him as editor except the 15 February issue. (Woodruff, Journal, 19 Feb. 1842; Historical Introduction to Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842.)

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  2. [2]

    Petition from Richard Savary et al., ca. 2 Feb. 1842.

  3. [3]

    See “Editorial Method”.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *1 Apr. 1842 *Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842
*Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842
*Petition from Richard Savary and Others, circa 2 February 1842

Page 750

intelligent. Every man appeared to be employed in some business or occupation, I saw no idleness, no intemperance, no noise, no riot, all appeared to be contented; with no desire to trouble themselves, with any thing except their own affairs. With the religion of these people, I have nothing to do, if they can be satisfied with the doctrines of their new Revelation, they have a right to be so. The Constitution of the country guarantees to them the right of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and if they can be so easily satisfied, why should we, who differ with them, complain. But I protest against the slanders and persecutions that are continually heaped on these people. I could see no disposition on their part to be otherwise than a peaceable and law-abiding people, and all they ask of the country is to permit them to live under the protection of the laws, and to be made amenable for their violations, they may have among them men of bad and desperate characters, and what community has not? but I am satisfied as a body the Mormon people will never be the aggressors or violators of the law.
While at , I had a fine opportunity of seeing the people in a body.— There was a Masonic celebration, and the Grand Master of the was present for the purpose of Publicly installing the officers of a new Lodge. An immense number of persons assembled on the occasion, variously estimated from 5 to 10,000, and never in my life did I witness a better dressed or a more orderly and well behaved assemblage; not a drunken or disorderly person to be seen, and the display of taste and beauty among the females, could not well be surpassed any where.
During my stay of three days, I became well acquainted with their principal men, and more particularly with their Prophet, the celebrated “Old Jo Smith.”I found them hospitable, polite, well informed and liberal. With Joseph Smith, the hospitality of whose house I kindly received, I was well pleased; of course on the subject of religion, we widely differed, but he appeared to be quite as willing to permit me to enjoy my right of opinion, as I think we all ought to be to let the Mormons enjoy theirs; but instead of the ignorant and tyranical upstart, judge my surprise at finding him a sensible, intelligent, companionable and gentlemanly man. In frequent conversations with him, he gave me every information that I desired, and appeared to be only pleased at being able to do so. He appears to be much respected by all the people about him and has their entire confidence. He is a fine-looking man, about 36 years of age and has an interresting family.
The incorporated limits of , contains, it is said, about 7,000 persons; the buildings are genarally small and much scattered. The and now building will probably, in beauty of design, extent and durability, excel any public buildings in the , and will both be enclosed before winter. From all I saw and heard, I am led to believe that before many years the city of will be the largest and most beautiful city of the west, provided the Mormons are un-molested in the peacable enjoyment of their rights and privileges, and why they should be troubled while acting as good citizens, I cannot imagine; and I hope and trust that the people of have no disposition to disturb unoffending people who have no disposition but to live peaceably under the laws of the country and to worship God under their own vine and fig tree.
AN OBSERVER.
, March 22, 1842.
 
————
Editorial Note
The 1 April 1842 Times and Seasons issue concluded with a brief editorial about member ’s mission to . JS dictated a revelation in December 1841 appointing Snider—one of the trustees of the Nauvoo House Association—to serve a mission to Europe to enlist the aid of the Saints there in building the and the in . Snider, reluctant to make the journey unless the funded it, did not depart for England until 26 March 1842, despite continual urging from JS and the apostles. Snider eventually served for ten months, returning to Nauvoo with donations for temple construction from church members in England, Scotland, and Ireland totaling £201 14s. 1½d., which temple recorder calculated to be equivalent to $976.25.
has started for with the Epistle of the Twelve, it will be found in the fore part of this number; he left about a week ago for , and from thence he will take the first vessel that sails for .
 
——————————
The Times and Seasons,
is edited by
Joseph Smith.
Printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, , Hancock County, Illinois by
JOSEPH SMITH.
TERMS.—Two Dollars per annum, payable in all cases in advance. Any person procuring five new subscribers, and forwarding us Ten Dollars current money, shall receive one volume gratis. All letters must be addressed to Joseph Smith, publisher, post paid, or they will not receive attention. [p. 750]
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Source Note

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Page 750

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842
ID #
8145
Total Pages
16
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:320–338
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. [73]

    Revelation, ca. 22 Dec. 1841–B.

  2. [74]

    See JS, Journal, 22 and 27 Dec. 1841; 28 and 31 Jan. 1842; 26 Mar. 1842; and JS History, vol. C-1, 1273.

  3. [75]

    JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1843; Book of the Law of the Lord, 319–325.

  4. [76]

    This issue of the Times and Seasons opened with a four-page letter from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to the Saints in Europe, dated 20 March 1842. The letter requested financial and material assistance from church members in Europe, discussed the principle of gathering to the church’s center at Nauvoo, and introduced Snider as the church’s agent in receiving donations for construction of the temple and Nauvoo House from European Saints. (Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:735–738.)

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