John Whitmer

“ There is a way of salvation,—a path to heaven—a crown for the pure in heart, and principles teaching men how to escape the evil and enjoy the good. One way, and only one has the Lord pointed out for me to pursue in order to obtain eternal life, and it shall be my duty to set forth such facts as are calculated to inform the mind on those principles. ”

“ It is no trifling matter to sport with the souls of men, and make merchandise of them; I can say, with a clear conscience before God and man, that I have sought no man's goods, houses or lands, gold or silver; but had in view for my chief object, the welfare of the children of men, because I know that I have been called of God, to assist in bringing forth his work in these last days, and to help to establish it, that as many souls as would believe, and obey the truth, might be saved in his kingdom ”

“ Such as profess to be in the right way and enjoy the true light, are disturbed, while those who fear for the safety and profits of their craft, are trembling lest the world will be dissuaded from following them.
No man, possessing his common faculties of understanding, unconnected with, or influenced by sectarian prejudice, will hesitate to say that something is wrong; and how is the evil to be remedied? Men act for themselves, choose for themselves, and if saved are saved for themselves, and not for another they cannot be driven into salvation, as compulsion would at once destroy their agency ”

“ If I were not sensible that I have been doing the will of my heavenly Father, I should regret, that I have ever suffered my name to become public; I could not endure the idea of having been the means of persuading men to detract from truth, and embrace error: it has been a principle in my heart to embrace truth, and reject error ”

“ One reflection more, and only one—If, in the performance of the duties which now devolve upon me, I so discharge them as to meet the approbation of the pure in heart, and still maintain the present respectability of this paper, and above all to have my work correspond with the principles of holiness, that at the great day of the Lord Jesus, I may but receive the reward of the just and the approbation of the same, that a crown of righteousness may be placed upon my head, I shall be satisfied and give the praise and glory to the exalted name of the Most High. ”

“ Yet, another reflection, that one is destined to labor for some thousands, and suit matter for all, would be a sufficient excuse to urge on my own part, to my friend and brother,—who has conducted this paper since its commencement with so much talent and ability, for him to select another person, were it not that every man is to be rewarded for his diligence and perseverance in attempting to do good, by one who knows the thoughts and intents of the hearts of all. ”

“ So with the frowns and scoffs of men their worthlessness alike shall be considered as a parallel of the beating waves against the rocks in the distant ocean, and the rushing tornado in the trackless wilderness—one may foam its anger in perpetual solitude, and the other discharge its fury and its wrath without injury—they lose their force and spend their violence in fruitless attempts to harm in vain. ”

“ Almost six years have passed since the church of Christ has been established: many and various are the scenes, that have passed before my eyes, since its commencement, during which time, we have been favored with the privilege, of making known to the world our belief in regard to salvation. ”

“ While I reflect on the above sayings of the holy writer, it gladdens my heart, that I enjoy the privilege of living in this age of the world, when God in his kind providence, has began to work for the good of his long dispersed covenant people; when he has again made manifest his will, and has called servants by his own voice out of the heavens, and by the ministering of angels, and by his Holy Spirit ”

“ How frequently do we also hear those whose names are registered with a church, say they are dissatisfied? and only continue because they have been made to believe it important that they should belong to some church? ”

“ Men at times depend upon the say of others, and are influenced by their persuasions to embrace different systems. This is correct, inasmuch as the principle is a just one: God always commissioned certain men, to proclaim his precepts to the remainder of the generation in which they lived ”

“ If all are not one, and if these, or a part are incorrect, to convince men of the correct one, needs labor—and that mine may bear the strict scrutiny of my Master, in the great day approaching, I shall endeavor to have it correspond with the strictest principles of virtue and holiness. ”

“ I desire therefore, that the Elders of the church of Latter Day Saints will avail themselves of every opportunity that presents itself of procuring subscribers for this paper, not for pecuniary interests, but for the welfare of the children of men. I hope that the Elders will do all the good in their power, as this is a day of "Warning and not of many words." ”

“ Though weak may have been my arguments and feeble my exertions, to persuade others to believe as myself, the few months I have labored in this department, I trust, I have been the means of doing some good to my fellow men. ”

“ How often do we see men of first moral characters, bountiful to the poor, and filled with compassion toward the afflicted, enquiring for the "old paths" wherein Israel used to walk, standing with deep anxiety and concern for their souls, and say, "If I could but see the consistent order of which the revelations of the Lord teach, how gladly would I embrace it." ”

“ The great and responsible relation which a man sustains in occupying this station, to his fellow man, will have a tendency to humble, rather than exalt him in his own eyes; for he truly becomes a servant of all ”

“ That they are plainly written will not be doubted by those who have made themselves acquainted with all the revelations extant, notwithstanding a majority of the professing inhabitants of our country, doubt there being any other than the one given to the Jews, and a few churches among the Gentiles, by a part of the apostles. ”

“ The great point at issue, is, whether the Lord ever promised to bring back an order, in the last days, like the one in former times, and set free those who are in bondage to the systems and crafts of men ”