Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Elders’ Journal 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, such as the letter from Wilford Woodruff and others, are annotated elsewhere.
of what is called the Platt[e] and Nodawa[y] countries, or rather Notawa, which signifies rattle snake.
It will be seen by this, that this town is situated in the north west corner of the State of , in the 40th deg. of north latitude. The land is rolling and generally dry; at least, there are no more wet lands, than are necessary for grazing purposes, when the country becomes all subdued.
The Saints here are at perfect peace with all the surrounding inhabitants, and persecution is not so much as once named among them: every man can attend to business without fear or excitement, or being molested in any wise. There are many of the inhabitants of this town, who own lands in the vicinity, and are at this time busily engaged in cultivating them. Hundreds of acres of corn have been planted already, in our immediate neighborhood; and hundreds of acres more are now being planted. (This is the fourth day of May.)
The crops of wheat are very promising, and the prospect is that we will have an abundant harvest. The vast quantities of provision purchased, in this upper country by the , for the use of the Garrison, and also for the Indians, have made all kinds of provision dear, and somewhat scarce. Corn is fifty cents per bushel; wheat one dollar; pork from eight, to ten dollars per cwt.; and all kinds of provision on a par with these.
Perhaps it might be thought by some necessary, that we should say something about the affairs of .— The burning of the there &c. But it is now, as in former days. In former days the destroyers of the Saints’ property were of the baser sort of mankind, even so it is now. And as the Saints in former days considered a formal notice of them, beneath both their character and standing, so do the Saints in like manner now. Only say as they did; “That a gang of the baser sort, burned and wasted our property to the utmost of their power” regardless of law, justice, or humanity, and were upheld in their wickedness, by those who were like the high priest in Paul’s day, who though, he sat to judge after the law, commanded Paul to be smitten contrary to law. So it was with our persecutors in the east: for notwithstanding they sat to judge after the law, yet, commanded they our property to be destroyed contrary to law.
And as Paul and Barnabas did at Iconium. So did we at .— “When there was an assault made, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them. They were aware of it, and fled into Lystria and Derbe, cities of Lyconia, and unto the region that lieth round about. And there they preached the gospel.”
So we did in like manner, taking them for our example. When there was an assault being made, of liars, thieves, and religionists, with their rulers all combined, we were ware of it, and fled to “,” and are here preaching the gospel whereunto we are called by the power of God. Let so much suffice for .
We have the gratification of saying to the Elders abroad, that we hope to be able to furnish the Journal regularly, from hence forth, as long as it may be thought wisdom to continue it. And we hope on their part, they will use all their exertions to give it circulation.
The enemies have made so many attempts to destroy us, and always failed, that we now just laugh at them for fools, as the God of heaven said he would at their calamity.
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PROSPECTUS
for the
ELDERS’ JOURNAL.
of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints.
It is, we presume, generally known, that this paper was commenced in , Ohio, in October last; but by reason of the great persecution against the Saints in that place, the paper had to be stopped; and through the craft of wicked men they got possession of the , and knowing they could not hold it, it was burned.
The paper is now about to be resuscitated in this place; to be conducted as set forth in the former prospectus. It will be issued in a few weeks, and sent to the former subscribers, as previously stated.
We send this prospectus to arouse the Saints to energy in obtaining subscribers.— We hope the Elders abroad, will not fail to use their influence to give as general a circulation as possible.
The JOURNAL will be Edited by Joseph Smith jr., and Published by , at , Caldwell County Missouri.
Terms—One dollar, per annum, paid in advance. All letters must be Post Paid, and directed to the Publisher.