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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 742

board of her to , but this I cannot do.
On receipt of this, I wish you to write to me immediately, and direct to Regensburgh, on the Danube, Beyern, or Bavaria. If you know any thing of my family, tell me.
My best respects to your self and family, to brothers and , and to all the saints in .
May grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon you all from this time, henceforth, and forever.
Amen.
Your brother in Christ,
.
P. S.—Mr. Gager died on the 15th instant, at four o’clock in the afternoon.
 
——
From the same,
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM .
Another letter has just come to hand from , dated Jaffa, Oct. He was then on his way to , the date being much earlier than the one inserted in another page. We have only room for the following extract, which we publish as among the most extraordinary signs of the times.
“On my passage from Beyroote to this place (Jaffa) night before last, at one o’clock, as I was meditating on the deck of the vessel as she was beating down against a sultry wind, a very bright glittering sword appeared in the heavens, about six feet in length, with a beautiful hilt, as plain and complete as any cut you ever saw. And what is still more remarkable, an arm with a perfect hand stretched itself out, and took hold on the hilt of the sword. The appearance really made my hair rise, and the flesh, as it were, crawl on my bones. The Arabs made a wonderful outcry at the sight. Oh, Allah! Allah! Allah!* was their exclamation all over the vessel. I mention this because you know there is a commandment of God for me, which sys, “Unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the sign of the coming of the Son of Man.”
Yours in Christ,
.
* O Lord, Lord, Lord.
 
————
PETITION,
From a number of Inhabitants of the city of .
To the of the ; and the , Greeting:—
We, the undersigned citizens of , have heard the gospel preached by , and we know that he is doing great good in this , especially to the honest in heart, and all men whose minds are not biased by the various bigoted and superstitious doctrines of the day, who make confusion the word of God, and consequently the spreading of infidelity.
We are pained to learn that he is about to leave us no more to return, unless you in your wisdom think proper. We, the undersigned, not members of the church, but seekers of truth, know that has ingratiated himself highly into the estimation of all good men for his urbanity of manners, his wisdom and understanding, and above all for the simplification of the scriptures, so that we can know them by our senses and appreciate their meanings. We, therefore, do hope and pray (if it is not incompatible with the interests of your church) that he may be permitted to return unto us and reap the fruit of the good seed he has sown.
 .
ROBERT L. CASWELL,
J. W. SMITH,
JAMES SPRATLEY,
MATHEW SMITH,
JOHN PRINCE,
DENNIS SAVARY,
BENJ. CHAPMAN,
JOSEPH DUDLEY,
L. ALLBEYA,
THOMAS CRAWFORD,
ARTHN MOON,
GEORGE AVERY,
WM. CAMPION,
THOMAS J. LANYON,
JOHN MACDONALD,
JOHN SMITH,
DAVID POTTS,
JOHN STEEL,
C. SEICWIRT.
THORNELL CRADDOCK,
JAMES SMITH,
JOSEPH HARPER.
Editorial Note
The above petition was signed by twenty-three citizens of , none of whom were members of the . They had learned that —who was proselytizing in the area—was to leave for , and in February 1842 they petitioned church leaders to allow Page to return after reporting there. The first featured editorial was printed in the Times and Seasons immediately following the petition; it stated that church leaders were pleased with the sentiments of the petition and would discuss the request for Page’s appointment to Pittsburgh at the upcoming special of the church in Nauvoo. On 7 April 1842 the conference voted that Page should return to Pittsburgh and continue his ministry there.
☞ We are pleased to see so liberal a spirit manifested by the inhabitants of the city of , so long impregnable to the principles of truth; and we sincerely hope that the banners of the gospel of peace that have been unfurled may continue to float triumphant over the errors of sectarianism and infidelity, until all the honest in heart shall be gathered out.
At our special , which will be held in a few days, we shall consider the above request.—Ed. [p. 742]
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Page 742

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. [1]

    Petition from Richard Savary et al., ca. 2 Feb. 1842; see also Letter from Levick Sturges et al., 30 Jan. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 Apr. 1842.

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