History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

LIMITLESS PRETENSIONS. 157
was to take the county, then the state, after that the
United States, and finally the whole world; that any
section making a move against the saints should be
destroyed by the Danites; that Smith declared his
prophecies superior to law, and threatened that if not
let alone he would prove a second Mahomet, and send
streams of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the
sea.
In an address to the saints at Nauvoo, September
1, 1842, Joseph stated that on account of the enemies
in pursuit of him, both in Missouri and in Illinois, he
deemed it best to retire for a time, and seek safety. 16
He ordered his debts paid as they fell due, his property
to be sold if necessary to meet requirements,
and exhorted all officers to be faithful to their trust.
"When the storm is past I will return," he said; "and
as for perils, they seem small things to me, for the
envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all
the days of my life." And again: "Verily thus saith
the Lord, let the work of my temple, and all the works
which I have appointed unto you, be continued and
not cease. Let all the records be had in order, that
they may be put in the archives of my holy temple.
I will write the word of the Lord from time to time
and send it to you by mail. I now close my letter for
the present, for the want of more time, for the enemy
is on the alert; and as the savior said, the prince of
this world cometh, but he hath nothing in me."
Five days later the prophet sent an address to the
saints, mainly touching the baptism for the dead, of
which more hereafter. "Now what do we hear in the
gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness!
A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth
out of the earth, glad tidings for the dead; a voice
of gladness for the living and dead ; glad tidings of
great joy. And again what do we hear? Glad tidings
from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring
the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to
be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness