Feeling a deep sense of gratitude to our Heavenly Father,
for the great blessings which he has conferred on us, in the deliverance of our
believed President Joseph Smith, from the oppression with which he has so long
been bound, the Travelling High Council invite the brethren in Nauvoo to unite
with them in dedicating Tuesday, the 17th day of January last, as a day of
humiliation fasting, praise, prayer and thanksgiving, before the great
Eloheim, that he will continue the outpouring of his holy spirit upon this
people —that they may ever walk humbly before him —seek
out and follow the councils given through his servant, and ever be united,
heart and hand, in building up this stake of Zion and the Temple, where God
will reveal himself to his people; that no strife or confusion may ever be
found in our midst, but peace and righteousness may be our companions, —and
as he has hitherto sustained his Prophet in all the difficulties he has had to
encounter, so he will continue to do so, until he has finished the great work
committed to his charge, and that all those who have been called to his
assistance in the holy ministry may be diligent and faithful in all things,
that his hands may be staid on high, like unto Moses —that
our enemies, if such we have, may repent, and turning away from their enmity,
get forgiveness and salvation —and that they may have no dominion over
the servants of God or his saints; but that Zion may flourish upon the
mountains and be exalted on the hills, and that all nations shall flow unto it
and be saved, we will humble ourselves with fasting and supplications, and sing
praises unto our God, with the voice of melody and thanksgiving, for the
deliverance he has wrought out for his servant Joseph, through the legally
constituted authorities of our Government.
The Bishops of the several Wards are requested to see
that meetings are appointed sufficient for the accommodation of the brethren
and make a report to us immediately of the same,* —and
it may be expected that some one of the brethren who visited Springfield, will
be present at different meetings, and give a history of their proceedings.
In our fastings, humiliations, and thanksgivings, let us
not forget the poor and destitute, to minister to their necessities, and
respectfully would we suggest to the consideration of the brethren the
situation of our President who has long had all his business deranged, and has
been recently obliged to expand large sums of money in procuring his release
from unjust persecution, leaving him destitute of necessaries for his family,
and of means for prosecuting the History of the Church and the translations which
he is anxious should be in the hands of the brethren as speedily as possible.
We therefore recommend that the collections be taken at the different meetings,
for his benefit, and such as have not cash will recollect that provisions will
be an excellent substitute whenever it is convenient to bring them in; and we
hope our brethren who are farmers in Laharpe, Ramus, Zarahemly &c. and the
regions around, will have the opportunity of reading these few hints. A word to
the wise is sufficient. The Lord loveth a cheerful and bountiful giver, and
will restore an hundred —fold for the laborer is worthy of
his hire. (Brigham Young, "Proclamation to the Saints in Nauvoo,"
January 11, 1843, repr. The Wasp 1, no. 37 [January 14, 1843]: 147,
emphasis in bold added)
