Mormon History
House of Israel Restored in Independence Missouri – 1832
The Geauga Gazette - May 1, 1832
The Mormonites have found a resting place in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, whence we have received the prospectus of a newspaper from W. W. Phelps, formerly of the Ontario Phoenix. We make a few extracts for the singularity of the thing.
"The Evening and Morning
Star
WILL BE PUBLISHED
AT
INDEPENDENCE, JACKSON COUNTY,
State of Missouri.
"As the forerunner of the night of the end, and the messenger of the day of redemption, the Star will borrow its light from the sacred sources, and be devoted to the Revelations of God as made known to his servants by the Holy Ghost, at sundry times since the creation of man, but more especially in these last days, for the restoration of the house of Israel.
* * * * * *
"And he
shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of
Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the
earth.
Seeing these things so plainly foretold, we have great confidence in declaring
to all flesh, that, not only the day but the hour is at hand for all to be
fulfilled when the earth shall be transfigured, and return of the same beauty
and goodness, as at the morn of creation; when the righteous shall rise, and
flow together, to inherit the earth, until the children of Israel become as
numerous as the stars in the sky, or the sand upon the sea shore,
* * * * * *
The
Book of Mormon, having already gone to world, being the fullness of the gospel
to the Gentiles according to the promises of old, we know that the blessing of
Joseph is near at hand. For his glory, the firstling of his bullock, and his
horns the horns of unicorns; with them he shall push the people together from
the ends of the earth, to the place of the name of the Lord of Hosts, the mount
of Zion. For in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a
feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow,
of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face
of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all
nations: wherefore it is now made known and published to the world, by the
authority of the beloved Saviour, that the gathering of the house of Israel hath
commenced upon the land of Zion, and that the church which is called the church
of Christ, as an Ensign to all nations, that the children of God are returning
from their long dispersion, to possess the land of their inheritance, and reign
with Christ a thousand years while Satan is bound.
We know there are many lying spirits abroad in the earth, to withstand the truth
and deceive the people, but he cannot be called a disciple of the humble Jesus,
who doth not know the language of God from the language of man."
* * * * * *
In the
next following paragraph, in brackets, the extravagance of the author bursts
out.
{"To
a man of God who looks upon the world as it now is, with nation against nation;
kingdom against kingdom; rumor against rumor; revolution against revolution; war
against war; robber against robber; persecutor against persecutor; sharper
against sharper; society against society; sect against sect; and one against
another over the face of the earth -- the fear of judgment will rest upon
him, & while he is silent as Heaven, he will hear the groans of
eternity over the corruptions of the world, and with a thrill of compassion
which might jar the earth from the sides to the centre, he will watch the
angels receive the great command -- Go reap down the earth!}
The Evening and Morning Star, besides the secret of the Lord, which is now with
them that fear him, and the everlasting gospel, which must go to all nations,
before the Holy One shall stand upon the Mount of Olivet, and upon the mighty
ocean, even the great deep, and upon the Islands of the sea, and upon the land
of Zion, to destroy the wicked with the brightness of his coming -- will also
contain whatever of truth or information that can benefit the children of God
temporally or spiritually in these last days, whether in prose or poetry,
without interfering with politics, broils, or the gainsayings of the world.
While some may say this paper is opposed to all combinations under whatsoever
plausible, others will know, that it is for an eternal union whose maker and
supporter is God. Thus all may be as they are, inasmuch as they that plow
iniquity, and sow wickedness. must reap the same -- but wisdom is justified of
her children.
==> From this press also, may be expected as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred
records, which have slept for ages.
==> Terms.-- The Star will be issued monthly on a royal sheet quarto, at one $1
a year, till it shall be deemed proper to publish it oftener. (A supplement will
be published weekly, if required, containing the advertisements of Jackson
county, &c.) Letters to the editor must be paid -- and subscriptions, in specie
or United States Bills."
W. W. PHELPS.
Feb. 22, 1832.