Mormon History
The Mormonites have found a resting place in Independence, Jackson
County, Missouri, whence we have received the prospectus of a newspaper
from W. W. Phelps, formerly of the Ontario Phoenix. We make a few
extracts for the singularity of the thing.
"The Evening and Morning Star
WILL BE PUBLISHED AT
INDEPENDENCE, JACKSON COUNTY,
State of Missouri.
"As the forerunner of the night of the end, and the messenger of the
day of redemption, the Star will borrow its light from the sacred
sources, and be devoted to the Revelations of God as made known to his
servants by the Holy Ghost, at sundry times since the creation of man,
but more especially in these last days, for the restoration of the
house of Israel.
"And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the
outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the
four corners of the earth.
Seeing these things so plainly foretold, we have great confidence in
declaring to all flesh, that, not only the day but the hour is at hand
for all to be fulfilled when the earth shall be transfigured, and
return of the same beauty and goodness, as at the morn of creation;
when the righteous shall rise, and flow together, to inherit the earth,
until the children of Israel become as numerous as the stars in the
sky, or the sand upon the sea shore,
The Book of Mormon, having already gone to world, being the fullness of
the gospel to the Gentiles according to the promises of old, we know
that the blessing of Joseph is near at hand. For his glory, the
firstling of his bullock, and his horns the horns of unicorns; with
them he shall push the people together from the ends of the earth, to
the place of the name of the Lord of Hosts, the mount of Zion. For in
this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of
fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow,
of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain
the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is
spread over all nations: wherefore it is now made known and published
to the world, by the authority of the beloved Saviour, that the
gathering of the house of Israel hath commenced upon the land of Zion,
and that the church which is called the church of Christ, as an Ensign
to all nations, that the children of God are returning from their long
dispersion, to possess the land of their inheritance, and reign with
Christ a thousand years while Satan is bound.
We know there are many lying spirits abroad in the earth, to withstand
the truth and deceive the people, but he cannot be called a disciple of
the humble Jesus, who doth not know the language of God from the
language of man."
In the next following paragraph, in brackets, the extravagance of the author bursts out.
{"To a man of God who looks upon the world as it now is, with nation
against nation; kingdom against kingdom; rumor against rumor;
revolution against revolution; war against war; robber against robber;
persecutor against persecutor; sharper against sharper; society against
society; sect against sect; and one against another over the face of
the earth -- the fear of judgment will rest upon him, & while he is
silent as Heaven, he will hear the groans of eternity over the
corruptions of the world, and with a thrill of compassion which might
jar the earth from the sides to the centre, he will watch the angels
receive the great command -- Go reap down the earth!}
The Evening and Morning Star, besides the secret of the Lord, which is
now with them that fear him, and the everlasting gospel, which must go
to all nations, before the Holy One shall stand upon the Mount of
Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the
Islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion, to destroy the wicked
with the brightness of his coming -- will also contain whatever of
truth or information that can benefit the children of God temporally or
spiritually in these last days, whether in prose or poetry, without
interfering with politics, broils, or the gainsayings of the world.
While some may say this paper is opposed to all combinations under
whatsoever plausible, others will know, that it is for an eternal union
whose maker and supporter is God. Thus all may be as they are, inasmuch
as they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness. must reap the same --
but wisdom is justified of her children.
==> From this press also, may be expected as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages.
==> Terms.-- The Star will be issued monthly on a royal sheet
quarto, at one $1 a year, till it shall be deemed proper to publish it
oftener. (A supplement will be published weekly, if required,
containing the advertisements of Jackson county, &c.) Letters to
the editor must be paid -- and subscriptions, in specie or United
States Bills."
W. W. PHELPS.
Feb. 22, 1832.