History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 6Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 6
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
A gentleman of this town, (New Haven, Conn.) of undoubted veracity,
who has lately spent several weeks at Nauvoo and among the Mormons,
informs us that the general impression abroad in regard to that
place and people is very erroneous. During his residence there he
became quite familiar with their manners, principles, and habits,
and says there is not a more industrious, moral, and well-ordered
town in the country. Society is as much diversified there as it is
here, the Mormons constituting about two-thirds of the population,
while all religious sects are as freely tolerated as in any other
part of the State. He was at the late trial and acquittal of
Joseph Smith, and says that the charges against him were of the
most frivolous and unsubstantial nature. He [Joseph Smith] is an
agreeable man in conversation, is respected by those who know
him, and is 'as much sinned against as sinning.' He only claims
the privilege of exercising and enjoying his own religion,--a
privilege which he and his followers cheerfully award to others.
They invite immigrants to come among them, and receive those who
design to enter into the Mormon community with great attention
and kindness. Houses are prepared for their reception, to which
they are conducted on their arrival by a committee appointed for
that purpose, whose next business is to attend to their immediate
wants and see them comfortably situated. Education is by no
means neglected, proper schools and teachers being provided, and
temperance reigns throughout. It has now about 15,000 to 18,000
inhabitants, and promises to become a place of extensive business,
four or five steamboats stopping there every day. {33} The
gentleman remarked to us that he wished he could speak as well of
his own native town as he could of Nauvoo. This is news to us, as
no doubt it will be to many; but no one who knows him can doubt the
integrity of our informant.
[Sidenote: The Prophet on Socialism.]
_Thursday, 14.--_I attended a second lecture on Socialism, by Mr.
Finch; and after he got through, I made a few remarks, alluding
to Sidney Rigdon and Alexander Campbell getting up a community at
Kirtland, and of the big fish there eating up all the little fish. _I
said I did not believe the doctrine._
Mr. Finch replied in a few minutes, and said--"I am the voice of one
crying in the wilderness. I am the spiritual Prophet--Mr. Smith the
temporal."
Elder John Taylor replied to the lecture at some length.
_Friday, 15._--I put up a sign,
"Nauvoo Mansion."
[Sidenote: "Nauvoo Mansion" Made a Hotel.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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