eousness."" Having this authority conferred upon them they proceeded to the water and baptized each other, Joseph officiating first. They then ordained each other in the same order, as they had been commanded by the angel. Inexpressible was their joy after attending to these sacred ordinances. The Holy Ghost fell upon them and they prophesied, and rejoiced exceedingly in the manifestations of God's favor which were poured out upon them. While returning to the house, they overheard Samuel H. Smith, Joseph's brother, praying in the woods, they conversed with him on the principles, explained the Scriptures and the same day led him into the waters of baptism, Oliver Cowdery officiating. Others soon followed in his footsteps. The time of the Prophet was busily engaged translating, preaching by the fireside and receiving revelations, by means of the Urim and Thummim and the spirit of revelation and prophecy.

In the beginning of June 1829, David Whitmer came to Harmony with his team, for the purpose of conveying Joseph and Oliver to Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y., there to finish the work of translation. The journey was one of peculiar interest. Instead of Joseph carrying the plates with him in the wagon, they were taken in charge by an angel, who said he would deliver them to him on his arrival at Fayette. This personage was seen on the road by Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer.

It was also about this time, and perhaps while on this journey, that the keys of the Kingdom of God and the Melchisedec Priesthood were restored by the visitation of Peter, James and John. While at Fayette, in the month of June, Hyrum Smith, David and Peter Whitmer, Jr., were baptized in Seneca Lake, and from this time forth many became believers and were baptized. It was during this month that the three witnesses: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris obtained a view of the plates. They retired with Joseph to the woods in Fayette township near Mr. Whitmer's house and there,after earnest

who held the plates in his hands and turned over the leaves one by one so that the witnesses could discover the engravings thereon distinctly. The first exhibition of the plates was to Joseph, Oliver and David, Martin Harris having gone to pray by himself, as while he was present no answer to their prayers was received. Immediately after, however, Joseph joined him in his supplications and the vision of the plates and the voice from heaven, declaring that they had been revealed and translated by the power of God, was repeated. A few days after, the eight witnesses were permitted to view the plates, and their testimony was added to the others.

On Tuesday, the sixth of April, 1830, the Church was organized in Peter Whitmer's house, which was situated in Fayette township a short distance south of the town of Waterloo, Seneca County, N. Y. The following six persons were all the members present on that occasion: Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery. According to | authority and instruction previously given, Joseph laid hands upon Oliver and ordained him an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ, and he in turn ordained Joseph to the same office. They then laid hands on the other members present that they might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be confirmed members of the Church. The Spirit rested upon all and they were greatly blessed and edified. A revelation was given, and other brethren were ordained to various offices as the Spirit directed. the following Sunday, Oliver Cowdery preached the first public discourse on the principles of the Gospel; a large number of people attended and several were baptized the same day.

On

During the month of April the Prophet visited Mr. Joseph Knight, at Colesville, Broome County, N. Y., and held several meetings in the neighborhood. Among the regular attendants was Mr. Knight's son Newel, who, in his hour of doubt respecting the Truth he had heard, became possessed of a devil, which Joseph

was requested to cast out. He laid hands upon Newel and commanded the evil spirit to depart from him, when his countenance at once assumed its natural appearance, and he declared that he saw the devil leave him and vanish from his sight. This was the first miracle performed by authority of the priesthood in this dispensation.

It will be necessary to pass over the events in the life of the Prophet, from this time on, very briefly in order to get them within the space allotted for this sketch.

In December, 1830, Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge, who had previously received the Gospel from Elders Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery and others on their way to Missouri, came to Joseph to enquire of the Lord. Joseph had not before this time met Sidney Rigdon, which fact completely refutes the miserable subterfuge, scoffers of the Book of Mormon have put forth, known as the "Solomon Spaulding Story." In the latter part of January 1831, the Prophet and his wife, accompanied these brethren to Kirtland, Ohio, where they were received and kindly entertained in the home of Newel K. Whitney, who afterwards became the presiding bishop of the Church. During the Spring of 1831, Joseph commenced to translate the Scriptures, and was occupied continually in this labor, receiving revelations and directing the affairs of the Church, which in Kirtland numbered upwards of a hundred members. Many Saints from other places soon began to gather into Kirtland. On the sixth of June a remarkable conference was held, and on the following day a revelation was given calling Elders to various fields of labor, and declaring that the land of Missouri should be consecrated as the Saints' inheritance, appointing the next conference to be held there, etc. On the nineteenth of June, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, W. W. Phelps, Edward Partridge and others, Joseph started on the journey to Missouri. They went by Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis, and arrived at Independence, Jackson County about the middle of July. Soon after,

5

a revelation was received declaring that place to be the Central Land of Zion and indicating the site on which the Temple should be built. The Saints began at once to settle in the neighborhood. The whole Colesville branch were among the first, Joseph helping them, on the second of August, to build their first log house twelve miles west of Independence. The same day, the land was consecrated and dedicated for the gathering of the Saints by Sidney Rigdon. "On the third day of August, 1831, the spot for the Temple, a little west of Independence, was dedicated in the presence of eight men, among whom were Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and Joseph Coe. The eightyseventh Psalm was read and the scene was solemn and impressive." Joseph was delighted with Missouri, In the fulness of his gratitude and delight he exclaimed: "God will shine-the perfection of beauty out of Zion."

On the ninth of August, Joseph started back to Kirtland, arriving safely on the twenty-seventh. He resumed the translation of the Bible, Sidney Rigdon assisting him. Many meetings and conferences were held, and revelations, respecting the development and growth of the Church, were received. In September Joseph moved to Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, where, on the night of the twenty-fifth of March, 1832, he was dragged from his bed and tarred and feathered by a mob, Sidney Rigdon suffering in the same persecution.

April 26th, 1832, Joseph was again in Missouri and was acknowledged by the Saints in general council as the President of the High Priesthood, agreeable to a previous ordination at a conference held at Amherst, Ohio, on the twentyfifth of January, 1832. The first edition of three thousand copies of the Doctrine and Covenants was ordered printed at this Council. In June the first number of the Evening and Morning Star, the first Church newspaper was issued at Independence, W. W. Phelps, Editor.

Joseph completed the translation of the New Testament, February 2nd, 1833,

Sabbath, which I had promised to answer in public, and would improve this opportunity.

The question arose from the saying of Jesus-"Among those that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist: nevertheless, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." How is it that John was considered one of the greatest of Prophets? His miracles could not have constituted his greatness. Firstly. He was intrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.

Secondly. He was intrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands to baptise the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? Whoever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of a dove, in witness of that administration? The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the Devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of a dove, but in sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.

Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law; and Christ himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law, which He had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The son of Zachariah wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of

heaven; and these three reasons constitute him the greatest Prophet born of a

woman.

Second question-How was the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than he?

In reply, I asked-Who did Jesus have reference to as being the least? Jesus was looked upon as having the least claim in all God's kingdom, and was least entitled to their credulity as 2 Prophet, as though he had said 'He that is considered the least among you, is greater than John-that is, myself.'

In reference to the prodigal son, I said it was a subject I had never dwelt upon; that it was understood by many to be one of the intricate subjects of the Scriptures; and even the Elders of this Church have preached largely upon it, without having any rule of interpretation? What is the rule of interpretation? Just no interpretation at all. Understand it precisely as it reads. I have a key by which I understand the Scriptures. I inquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable? It is not national; it does not refer to Abraham, Israel, or the Gentiles, in a national capacity, as some supposed. To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out of Jesus.

"While Jesus was teaching the people, all the publicans and sinners drew near to hear him; and the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying; "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." This is the key-word which unlocks the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It was given to answer the murmurings and questioning of the Sadducees and Pharisees, who were querying, finding fault and saying, "How is it that this man, as great as he pretends to be, eats with publicans and sinners?" Jesus was not put to it so,but he could have found something to illustrate his subject, if he had designed it for a nation or nations; but he did not. It was for men in an individual capacity, and all straining on this point is a bubble. "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." And he spake this parable

unto them: "What man of you having | a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." The hundred sheep represent one hundred Sadducees and Pharisees, as though Jesus had said, "If you Sadducees and Pharisees are in the sheepfold, I have no mission for you; I am sent to look up sheep that are lost; and

when I have found them, I will back them up, and make joy in heaven." This represents hunting after a few individuals, or one poor publican, which the Pharisees and Sadducees despised.

He also gave them the Parable of the Woman and her Ten Pieces of Silver, and how she lost one, and, searching diligently, found it again, which gave more joy among the friends and neighbors than the nine which were not lost; like I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that are so righteous: they will be damned anyhow; you cannot save them.

It's easy finding reasons why other people should be patient.-George Eliot.

ON the tops of some of the high mountains around us, we may see snow at any season of the year. The hottest weather of a long summer is not sufficient to melt it away. If the mountains were still higher, or if they were located farther north, the quantity of snow would be much greater, and under such circumstances, the fall of snow in winter, would very likely be much greater, than the summer sun could melt away. If this were the case, the snow would collect in unlimited quantities on these mountains, and, farther north, on the open valleys and plains, if nature had not provided some means by which it could be transported to lower levels, and there melted away, and carried to lakes and oceans to be used again in producing rain and

snow.

These vast masses of snow and ice that collect in the high valleys and on the mountain slopes move very slowly down to lower levels, very much like an immense stream of tar or pitch. They continue to slide down summer and winter, but yet if we observe their lower extremities they never go lower than a certain limit, and the immense ice stream

seems to become stationary. But when it reaches this point the temperature is high enough to melt it as fast as it comes down, and below this point, issuing from under the mass of ice is a stream of water, sometimes the origin of a large river. It is thus that the Rhine and Rhone take their rise in the mountains of Switzerland. These immense moving ice fields are called glaciers.

The high mountains and narrow val leys of Switzerland are very favorably located for the formation of these glaciers, and there they are found in great abundance. In some places they are more than three miles wide, fifteen miles long, and from one to six hundred feet thick. A few glaciers of considerable extent have been found in the Rocky Mountains, on Mount Shasta and in other places. The Himalaya Range in the southern part of Asia also contains immense numbers of them, much more extensive than those in the Alps. But if we would see them on the grandest scale, we must visit Greenland or the Antarctic Continent. Here the entire surface is covered with ice and snow, in some places thousands of feet thick, al