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Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842

Source Note

Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 15 Oct. 1842, vol. 3, no. 24, pp. 943–958; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

JS, assisted by and , served as editor for the 15 October 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons, the twenty-fourth and final issue in the third volume. It is highly unlikely that JS played any significant role in writing editorial content for this particular issue, because he spent much of October in hiding in Henderson County, Illinois. Nevertheless, as the newspaper’s editor, he was ultimately responsible for its content. This was the last issue published under JS’s editorship.
The non-editorial content in the issue, which is not featured here, included an installation of the serialized “History of Joseph Smith” and several articles reprinted from other newspapers on the impact of violence and disease in various places around the world, including the outbreak of cholera in Europe, the slaughter of Chinese forces by British soldiers in China, ongoing labor protests in , and the destruction in Cuba caused by a recent storm.
Editorial content in this issue included commentary on biblical history, a rebuttal of rumors that JS had fled to , and criticism of published comparisons of the Bible with the writing of William Shakespeare. Additional editorial content included a defense of JS’s decision to hide from law enforcement officials who were seeking his arrest and his extradition to ; a passage countering opinions that the Latter-day Saints should flee , Illinois, in order to avoid future persecution; and an article presenting evidence for Christianity’s general falling away from the primitive church described in the New Testament. Furthermore, the editors included comments on reports of ’s lectures in , a description of a pamphlet wrote about the church written in German, an introduction to a brief history of Australia, and a request for church members to renew their subscriptions to the newspaper.
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.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 7–29 Oct. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Notice, 15 Nov. 1842.

  4. [4]

    “History of Joseph Smith,” “Passing Events,” “Butchery in China,” “Disturbances in the Provinces,” and “Great Gale at Havana,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:943–948.

  5. [5]

    See “Editorial Method”.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 *Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
*Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
*Notice, 11 October 1842 Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith” Letter from “Old Fifty,” 15 October 1842 Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842

Page 956

have no question he is in possession of evidence laying open no small amount of villainy. We have before expressed our opinion, that the major portion of those who have joined the Mormon body, have done so in simple sincerity of intent. But that many of those in high places among them are very far from single hearted, we are impressed by , let him or his design be what they will. We did not like his manner, his aside comments, his ejaculations,—and we liked just as little the boisterous applause rendered to his readings or remarks. Still, an impression was left by the whole, and this, though not very favorable to the speaker, yet decidedly gave us to believe that roguery the most scandalous attaches to Jo Smith, if to no others of the Mormon chief ones. read, from various newspapers, accounts of crimes committed by Mormons. This might, peradventure, be well for the public, however it might show for himself. It is well that truth be revealed, whatever be the mind of its revealer.— He then related several advances of a disgusting character, made by Joe Smith to women of . If truly stated these were abominable enough, since they were instances of borrowing the cloak of religion to effect the devil’s purposes. We are inclined, from the total impression made on us, to believe that he told what actually occurred. And ’twas vile enough, to be sure. He then read a letter, which, taking the entire impression made on us, we incline to hold authentic, written by Joe Smith to , in explanation, (as he called it) of proposals he had previously made her. ’Twas not without a certain devilish talent, skilfully employing holy words, and striving to make black appear white,—an effect it might possibly have wrought, had the person addressed believed with undoubting assurance, the writer to be a holy man.
On the whole, after taking pains to listen two evening to , we came away with no pleasant impressions. The leaders of the Mormons—especially the leader—are, we verily believe, knaves. And knaves of a class the most detestable, too, seeking to win indulgence in the two very basest passions, Lust and Avarice, through the highest of all sentiments—the Religious! In pity’s name, if there be any within reach of our voice of warning, let them keep away from ! Religion is the highest and best. But, if cheated and betrayed through means of pretensions of this class, we are in peril of being stricken with a deadly chill! At least, let any, who have a leaning this way, pause for a time. This can do no harm. Light will ere long penetrate every nook and corner of . If we have the opportunity of information we will use it.”
Editorial Note
The seventh editorial selection was written in response to an article that appeared in a newspaper, the Essex County Washingtonian, and was reprinted above this editorial, reporting on recent lectures critical of JS and the that had delivered in in September 1842. While the editors of the Essex County Washingtonian questioned Bennett’s motives for and method of criticizing the church, they accepted his claims about crimes committed by church members and JS’s alleged immoral conduct with women. The editors of the Times and Seasons maintained their stance that Bennett was dishonest and unscrupulous and that he had been while still a member of the church.
We have extracted the above double minded mixture of doubt and fear, and good and bad, and upon the whole, a little more very careful persecution, from the “Essex County Washingtonian,” of , Mass. of September 15:—and, without “if’s or ands,” after all the affidavits and certificates, against , and in support of the innocence of the , we declare solemnly that it exceeds itself in nothingness. If pure religion had ever existed upon the face of the earth, among men, without the same jealousy, persecution, and blood-stained traces of its progress, as it were inch by inch, we could easily pass the land of “hanging witches,” in silence, but from Eden to , and from Abel to Joseph Smith; yea, even the Lord of glory, himself—all have had to taste the bitter cup.
Jesus said: “woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh!” There is no possible excuse for men that sin with their eyes open. has heard the gospel in its fulness, and there certainly must have been some precious souls present to have witnessed by the spirit of God, whether the of Israel preached truth or error. The world has ever been more tenacious for what they call religion, than the children of God, goverened as they always have been, by immediate revelation. Satan is, to natural appearance, a much smoother faced christian, than the children of light: he not unfrequently fasts twice a week, makes long prayers, besides holding thanksgivings—and while the saints have to suffer, from the cradle to the grave, every indignity, slander, and abuse, he gravely says:—“This can do no harm—pause for a time!” When such needless cautions are given in a land of liberty and light, all we can say is, “O, generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?” If the Mormons have succeeded for twelve years to gull the brightest part of christendom with a false religion, what will they do with the less enlightened portions of the globe, for twelve years to come? Ah, dear sirs, when more than fifty thousand souls have witnessed the power of God; and time has developed the ruins of cities mentioned in the Book of Mormon, it is too late to cry delusion, or beat for a pause:—the work of God never tarries. The Lord will come, and all his saints with him: even so. [p. 956]
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Page 956

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
ID #
8158
Total Pages
16
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:155–174
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Footnotes

  1. [73]

    “Mormonism—Gen. Bennett, &c.,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:955–956.

  2. [74]

    In the aftermath of Bennett’s excommunication and his subsequent efforts to elicit public outcry against JS and the church, several church members swore affidavits and signed petitions that defended JS against Bennett’s charges and leveled accusations of immorality back at Bennett. These affidavits and petitions were subsequently published in a special issue of the Wasp and in the 1 August 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons. (“More Disclosures,” Wasp, Extra, 27 July 1842, [2]–[4]; “John C. Bennett,” Times and Seasons, 1 Aug. 1842, 3:868–878.)

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

  3. [75]

    This is a reference to the infamous trials and executions of suspected witches that took place in Salem, Massachusetts, from 1692 to 1693. (See Boyer and Nissenbaum, Salem Possessed, chaps. 3–4.)

    Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1974.

  4. [76]

    See Matthew 26:39.

  5. [77]

    See Matthew 18:7.

  6. [78]

    JS and other church leaders visited Salem on church business in August 1836. In 1841 Erastus Snow and Benjamin Winchester preached in Salem as missionaries, and several of the individuals they converted traveled with them to Nauvoo in 1843. (Historical Introduction to Revelation, 6 Aug. 1836 [D&C 111]; Letter to Emma Smith, 19 Aug. 1836; Erastus Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 4–44.)

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

  7. [79]

    See 1 John 4:6.

  8. [80]

    See 1 Thessalonians 5:5.

  9. [81]

    See Luke 18:12; 20:47.

  10. [82]

    See Matthew 23:33.

  11. [83]

    In the previous issue of the Times and Seasons, the editors suggested that recent discoveries of ruined cities included those of the city of Zarahemla, which figures prominently in the Book of Mormon. (“Zarahemla,” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1842, 3:927.)

  12. [84]

    See 1 Thessalonians 3:13.

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