[Joseph Smith Sermon] [After Joseph Smith's near extradiction to
Missouri] At about 1 oclock PM the citizens of Nauvoo went out on foot
horsback & in many Carriages to meet the Prophet viz Gen Smith &
And when they did meet their was a seen of Great Joy & with a band
of music & a great multitude they followed him to his own house....
President Joseph midst of about seven thousand Saints & the result is as follows:
/...I require attention. I discoverd what the emotions
of the people were on my arival to this city, & I have come here to
say how do you do to all parties & I do now say How do you do at
this time. I meet you with a heart full of gratitude to Almighty God
& I presume you all feel the same. I hardly know how to express my
feelings. I feel as strong as a Gient. I pulled sticks with the men
Coming along & I pulled up the strongest man theire was on the road
with one hand & two could not pull me up & I continued to pull
untill I pulled them to Nauvoo. I will pass from that subject then.
... I SWEAR I will not deal so mildly with them again
for the time has come when forbearance is no longer a virtue. And if you
are again taken unlawfully you are at liberty to give loose to Blood
and Thunder. But act with Almighty Power.
... But Befor I will bear this unhallowed persecution
any longer I will spill my Blood. Their is a time when bearing it longer
is a sin. I will not bear it longer. I will spil the last drop of Blood
I have and all that will not bear it longer say AH....
We must stop paying the lawyiers money. For I have learned they dont know any thing. For I know more than they all. ...
I say in the name of Jesus Christ I this day turn the
key that opens the heavens to restrain you no longer from this time
forth. I will lead you to battle & if you are not afraid to die
& feel disposed to spill your Blood in your own defence you will not
offend me. Be not the aggressor. Bear untill they strike on the one
cheek. Offer the other & they will be sure to strike that. Then
defend yourselves & God shall bear you off.....
After we have been deprived of our rights &
privileges as citizenship driven from town to town place to place state
to state with the sacrifice of our homes & lands & our Blood
been shed & many murdered & all this becaus of our religion
because we worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own
consience. Shall we longer bear these cruelties which have been bearing
upon us for the last ten years in the face of heaven & in open
violation of the constitution & laws of these United States & of
this State? May God forbid. I will not bear it. If they take away my
rights I will fight for my rights, manfully & Righteously untill I
am used up with Blood & thunder sword & pistol. We have done
nothing against law or right....
Furthermore if Missouri continues her warfare &
continues to Issue her writs against me & this people unlawfully
& unjustly as they have done & our rights are trampled upon
& they under take to take away my wrights I sware with uplifted
hands to Heaven I will spill my Blood in its defence. They shall not
take away our rights, & if they dont stop leading me by the nose I
will lead them by the nose & if they dont let me alone I will turn
up the world. I will make war. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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