Letter from Joseph Smith Jr., 20 December 1843
TO THE SAINTS.
MESSRS. TAYLOR & WOODRUFF:
It has been so long since I addressed the
saints through the medium of the Times and
Seasons, that I feel confident that a few words
from my pen, by way of advice, will be well
received, as well as a 'way mark' to guide the
'faithful' in future. I was sorry to learn, by
your remarks upon the resolutions of the
'Twelve' concerning your papers, which ap-
peared not long since, that any of the saints
abroad were more apt to patronize the com-
mon newspapers of the day, than yours: For
the important reason, that the church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, has the words of
eternal life, and your paper, as it has hitherto
done, must continue to publish such portions
of them for the benefit of the saints, and the
salvation of mankind, as wisdom shall, from
time to time, direct.
Freedom is a sweet blessing; men have a
right to take and read what papers they please:
But do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? [Matthew 7:16] It certainly is no more than just to
suppose that 'charity begins at home,' and if so,
what must such as profess to be saints think,
when they patronize the splendor of Babylon,
and leave the virtue of Zion to linger for want
of bread?
Beside which, if virtue is justified rather
than vanity: the best of every thing, calcula-
ted to happify man, and dignify society, will,
yea, must be in Nauvoo: and as the new com-
mandment, given anciently was, to love one
another; even so, the works of the saints, at
home and abroad, will bear its own testimony;
whether they love the brethren.
In all the world, the Times and Seasons]- is
the only paper that virtually sustains, accord-
ing to the forms of Scripture and prophecy,
'apostles, prophets, evangelists and revelations
—and what shall be said of him that is like
the 'Levite' passes on the other side of the
way. When we behold men who 'have borne
the heat and the burden of the day;' strug-
gled against the popular opinions of a vain
world, the burlesque of a giddy throng; the
vulgarity of a self-wise multitude, and the false-
hoods of what may justly be termed the 'civil-
ized meanness of the age,' and not lend a help-
ing hand? The 25th chapter of Matthew con-
tains the simple answer.
Now let me say once for all, like the psalm-
ist of old: 'How good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity.'
As the precious ointment upon the head,
that run down upon Aaron's beard, that went
down to the skirts of his garments, as the dew
of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains [Psalms 133:1-3]
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