Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 June 1842, vol. 3, no. 15, pp. 799–814; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 1 June 1842 issue of the periodical Times and Seasons was the seventh edited by JS. He had assumed the editorship of the newspaper beginning with its 1 March 1842 issue, and in that role he took responsibility for all of the published content, including this 1 June issue. The issue contained an article on the “Word of Wisdom,” which was a revelation JS dictated in February 1833 outlining a code of health for the Latter-day Saints; an installment from the serialized “History of Joseph Smith”; and reprints of articles from newspapers, including Latter-day Saint publications, on topics such as ’s missionary work in , JS’s work on the Book of Abraham, the necessity of baptism, the beliefs of church members, and ancient writings discovered in the . The issue also included a letter from the presidency and high council of the , Illinois, stake “to the saints scattered abroad.”
In addition to these items, the issue published editorial content that was presumably written by JS as editor or by his editorial staff. This editorial content, which is featured here, includes four items: commentary on the assassination attempt on former governor ; a lengthy statement disputing a speech , a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, made criticizing the Saints; a preface to an article about the Jews; and a notice to church members in the eastern about ’s planned fund-raising mission for the construction of the .
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.
mud which is not traditional, do not pretend that their work is any thing more than the ordinances of men.
10. There is no ordination of priests among the Israelites.
11. Such an ordination cannot and dare not be introduced.
12. As there is no ordained clergy every one is at liberty to interpret the scriptures.
13. The decrees of the synod were only in force for a time.
14. All these decrees lost their force when ordination ceased.
15. The traditional ordinances have no higher authority than the decrees of the synod.
16. The Talmudists have introduced and abrogated laws.
17. The Talmud does not admit of any exclusion of the Agada.
18. The histories, and interpretations of the Talmud have no mystical sense, and very seldom an allegorical one.
19. The articles of faith of Marmonides are not founded in the Talmud.
20. The Talmud has never been followed in the spirit of it.
21. Moses has not introduced any ordination according to the sense in which that word is usually taken.
22. The laws of Moses are sufficiently intelligible.—Jewish Intelligencer.
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From the Millenial Star.
CAN I NOT BE SAVED WITHOUT ?
Question.—Can you be saved with baptism?
Answer.—Yes I may be saved if I am baptized; for Jesus Christ has said, that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
Question.—But can you not be saved without believing?
Answer.—“Without faith it is impossible to please him; therefore, if I do not please him, how can I expect to be saved by him?
Question.—True, but suppose it were possible for you to exercise faith in Jesus, and yet neglect to do the things which he and his apostles commanded; would he be pleased with that neglect any more than with a want of faith?
Answer.—the commandments of Christ are a law to his children; and if I break his commandments, I break the law of God, and that would be sin, for “sin is the transgression of the law;” and sin is the thing which God hates.
Question.—And is it reasonable to expect that you can be saved by displeasing God?
Answer.—I discover the force of your question, but I am determined to have the truth; and I know that Jesus says, “he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved;” but does the scripture any where say, that he that is not baptized shall be lost?
Question.—Has God more than one method of saving sinners?
Answer—I think not, for that would imply that he was changeable, and had respect to persons if he would save one on one condition, and another on other terms.
Question.—And did not Christ say to Nicodemus, that except a man be born of water, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God?
Answer.—Yes, but did he not mean spirit, when he said water?
Question,—Do you believe that the Bible is true?
Answer.—Most assuredly I do.
Question.—Then how can you suppose he meant spirit when he said water,—for he said “of water and of the spirit” putting the “water first, and the spirit after; for if he meant spirit when he said water, he should have said of water and of water, which would make the Bible to tell a falsehood as it now stands, and you say you believe the Bible is true?
Answer.—Yes, I do,—and I perceive that there would be an inconsistency in the phrase spirit and spirit, although I had always supposed that the water meant spirit in this place.
Question.—Do you not remember that Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan in a river of water, and that to fulfil all righteousness as Christ himself said.
Answer.—Yes.
Question.—And that Peter who hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven, commanded those who enquired on the day of Pentecost, what they should do to be saved, to be baptized every one of them for the remission of their sins?
Answer.—O, yes!
Question.—And that Paul who had a share in the same ministry, required the people to be buried with him (Christ) by baptism for the answer of a good contience, as Peter says; and what would [p. 811]