Under the Same Stars by Dean Hughes

Author:Dean Hughes [Hughes, Dean T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 1979-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The days that followed were full of worry, but as no new rumors circulated and no new meetings were called by the old settlers, the Saints began to relax. It seemed that the Lord had come to the assistance of the Mormons; perhaps the hearts of the enemy were finally being softened. Newel Knight told the Colesville Saints as they met in their log schoolhouse one Sunday early in July that he felt the repentance of the Jackson County Saints seemed to be what God had wanted. Letters had been received from Joseph Smith commending the leaders for their renewed spirit and for the letters they had sent asking for forgiveness. He had sent a plat designing the cities that would someday be built in Zion: ten-acre towns with lots for homes one-half an acre each, farms surrounding the towns, and a great temple with twenty-four buildings. Independence would be a central place from which the work of the Lord would go forth to the world. Joseph listened attentively to it all. He loved to hear about Zion as it would someday be when it was strong and secure.

But Joseph Smith had also sent a stern warning. Everyone must repent and accept the law of consecration fully. Everyone would inherit land in Zion, but the surplus must come back to the Church to be used to help the poor and the new arrivals. Those who continued to hold out and who refused to live this principle were to be cut off from the Church. God’s work would go on without them.

The letter also said that two new bishops had been called to help Bishop Partridge lead the Saints. Isaac Morley and John Corrill were the new bishops, but the exciting news for those in the Colesville settlement was that Newel Knight and Hezekiah Peck were both to serve as counselors, each to one of the new bishops. It was a fine honor and all were proud of their brethren. Never, to Joseph, had the dream of Zion seemed so real, so possible. Twelve hundred Mormons were now in the county, farms were thriving, homes were being enlarged and improved, a newspaper—the Evening and Morning Star—had begun publication, and the organization and operation of church affairs were finally smoothing out.

Brother Knight closed the meeting by admonishing the members to be pure and godly, to avoid all evil and all contention, to strive to live in harmony with each other, that the Lord might bless them to prosper and withstand the enemies who would foil the work of God. He told them to take to heart the advice received from the Lord by Joseph Smith in a new revelation that year. It advised the Saints to avoid tobacco and strong drink and to make their bodies tabernacles of the spirit. If they would live in righteousness and purity, the old settlers could not prevail against them.

Joseph left the meeting greatly encouraged. He felt happier than he had in months, happier than ever, it seemed.

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