# The Evening and the Morning Star, v1n01, editorial matter attributed to W. W. Phelps (editor)
# Date: June 1832 (Independence, Missouri)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v1n01.htm (centerplace.org transcription). Pieces: TO MAN; TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ABROAD IN THE EARTH; COMMON SCHOOLS; THE BOOK OF MORMON; TO AGENTS AND THE PUBLIC. Notes: unsigned editorials in Phelps-edited issue (confidence medium; 'To Man' June 1832 signed W. W. PHELPS = high); revelations, scripture extracts, reprints, hymns, and others' letters excluded; quoted matter and detected unmarked scripture paragraphs stripped; transcriber bracket-corrections removed (original spelling retained).

[TO MAN]

WITH the help of God, the first number of the Evening and the Morning Star, comes to the world for the objects specified in its prospectus, which was published last winter. That we should now recapitulate some of its leading objects, and briefly add a few remarks, will naturally be expected; and we cheerfully do so, that this generation may know, that the Star comes in these last days as the friend of man, to persuade him to turn to God and live, before the great and terrible day of the Lord sweeps the earth of its wickedness. That it comes not only as the messenger of truth, to bring the Revelations and Commandments of God which have been, but to publish those that God gives NOW, as in days of old, for he is the same God yesterday, to-day and forever; and is, after he was taken up, as mentioned in the first chapter of Acts, he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen, what possible reason is there to suppose that he would neglect to do likewise NOW-before he comes in his glory; before he gathers his elect, (the house of Israel; see Isaiah 45:4). And even before John the Revelator must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings? (see Rev. 10.) We know of no reason in the bible. That it comes as the harbinger of peace and good will to them that serve the Lord with a determination to have a part in the first Resurrection, and finally become kings and priests to God, the Father, in the celestial kingdom, where God, and Christ is, and where they will be for eternity; and where will be also, the general assembly of the first born, the Church of Enoch, who walked with God and built up Zion in the first days, which Zion and Enoch the Lord translated to paradise before the flood; but Isaiah says: Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring AGAIN ZION. That it comes according to the will of God, from those who are not ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, and walk lowly in the valley of humiliation, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon them: knowing that the great day of the Lord will soon usher in the Sabbath of creation, for the rest of the saints; that the Savior may reign his thousand years of peace upon the earth, while Satan is bound. That it comes in meekness and mercy to all mankind that they may do works meet for repentance and be saved in the first resurrection, and afterward dwell with the spirits of just men and made perfect in the celestial kingdom, which transcends the glory of the terrestrial as much as the terrestrial transcends the telestial, or the telestial transcends the prison of the imperfect. That it comes to bring good tidings of great joy to all people, but more especially the house of Israel scattered abroad, that the day of their redemption is near, for the Lord hath set his hand again the second time to restore them to the lands of their inheritance; ready to receive the Savior in the clouds of Heaven. That it comes to show that the ensign is now set up, unto which all nations shall come, and worship the Lord, the God of Jacob, acceptably. That it comes when war, and the plague or pestilence, as it is called, are sweeping their thousands and tens of thousands, to show that the days of tribulation, spoken of by our Savior, are nigh at hand, even at the doors. That it comes to repeat the great caution of Paul: Beware lest any spoil you, (the disciples of Christ,) through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world. That it comes to prepare the way of the Lord, that when he comes he may have a holy people ready to receive him. That it comes to show that no man can be too good to be saved, but that many may be too bad. That it comes to declare that goodness consists in doing good, not merely in preaching it. That it comes to show that all men's religion is vain without charity. That it comes to open the way for Zion to arise and put on her beautiful garments and become the glory of the earth, that her land may be joined, or married, (according to the known translation of Isaiah,) to Jerusalem again, and they be one as they were in the days of Peleg. Thus it comes.

Man, being created but little below the angels, only wants to know for himself, and not by another, that, by obeying the commands of his Creator, he can rise again, after death, in the flesh, and reign with Christ a thousand years on the earth, without sin; be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and become a king and a priest to God in eternity-to forsake his sins, and say: Lord, I am thine! The first words of which we have account, that Jesus Christ, spake, concerning the things of eternal life, were: Suffer it to be so now: For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he was baptized; and truly, if it became the Savior of the world, holy as he was, to be baptized in the meridian of time, to fulfil all righteousness, how much more necessary it is for man, to be baptized upon the very eve of the Sabbath of creation, to be saved? Let the heart answer the head, that the body may save the soul. As this paper is devoted to the great concerns of eternal things and the gathering of the saints, it will leave politics, the gainsaying of the world, and many other matters, for their proper channels, endeavoring by all means, to set an example before the world, which, when followed, will lead our fellow men to the gates of glory, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary will find rest. That there may be errors both in us and in the paper, we readily admit, and we mean to grow better, till, from little children, we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, which we pray may be the happy lot of thousands, before he comes with the hundred forty and four thousand that are without guile.

June, 1832. W. W. PHELPS.

[TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ABROAD IN THE EARTH]

IT is the duty of the Church of Christ, in Zion, to stand as an ensign to all nations, that the Lord hath set his hand the second time to restore the house of Israel to the lands of their inheritance &c; and it behooves the members of this Church, to manifest before the world by a godly walk; by a noble example, as well as by sterling precept; by prudence in living; by plainness in dress; by industry; by economy; by faith and works, and above all, by solemnity, humility and patience, that this is a day of warning and not a day of many words.

This being the order in Zion, how much more necessary is it, that the Churches of Christ, which have not yet come up to this land, should show the world, by well ordered conduct in all things, that they are the children of the living God? It is all-important and the salvation of many souls, depends upon their faultless example. They will, therefore, knowing that the Lord will suddenly come to his temple, do their part in preparing the way, by observing the Sabbath-day and keep it holy; by teaching their children the gospel, and learning them to pray; by avoiding extremes in all matters; by shunning every appearance of evil; by studying to be approved, and doing unto others, as they would have others do unto them; by bearing trouble and persecution patiently, without a murmur, knowing, that Michael, the arch angel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. They will not only set an example worthy of imitation, but they will let their light so shine as that others, seeing, may go and do likewise. Example is the great thing that defies the world with all its vain glory; by letting their moderation be known unto all men, both in dress and in living; in words and in deeds; in watching and in praying; in love and in labor, and in works as well as in faith, they preach the world a lecture, they set the enquirer a sample, and teach all Christendom a lesson, that studied preaching and pulpit eloquence have failed to accomplish.

[COMMON SCHOOLS]

THE disciples should loose no time in preparing schools for their children, that they may be taught as is pleasing unto the Lord, and brought up in the way of holiness. Those appointed to select and prepare books for the use of schools, will attend to that subject, as soon as more weighty matters are finished. But the parents and guardians, in the Church of Christ need not wait-it is all important that children, to become good should be taught so. Moses, while delivering the words of the Lord to the congregation of Israel, the parents, s

[THE BOOK OF MORMON]

THERE are not a few honest enquiring persons, who wish to learn the truth of the Book of Mormon. To put them in possession of such testimony as may lead to truth, is our duty, and, after stating that this Book contains a record of that branch of the tribe of Joseph which was separated from his brethren, according to the 49th chapter of Genesis, we say read the 37th chapter of Ezekiel and if the STICK OF EPHRAIM, therein mentioned does not mean the Book of Mormon, what does it mean? Isaiah has information, which, if rightly understood, ought to wake the world; the Lord says he will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder, and who dare dispute the Lord?

Independent of Bible proof on the subject before us, we have the remains of towns, cities, forts &c., which silently declare to the beholder: We were built by a civilized people.

As man cannot trust in man, we request all that wish the truth on this great subject, to enquire of the Lord, who will always answer the pure in heart.

[TO AGENTS AND THE PUBLIC]

EVERY person that will procure ten subscribers for the Star, and transmit to us, free of postage, $10, (U. S. paper,) shall be entitled to a paper per. an. gratis. In all cases, payment must be made to us through the post office, or to an authorized agent, before the Star will be forwarded.

(->) As the public seem somewhat astonished, that we, among all the light of this century, should have to publish, it is our duty to say, that we shall take an extract from The Prophecy of Enoch, for our second or third number. Jude spake of this prophet in the 14th verse of his epistle. There are too many books mentioned and missing in the Bible, for any one to query about more sacred records.

(->) THE Star-office is situated within 12 miles of the west line of the state of Missouri:-which at present, is the western limits of the United States, and about 120 miles west of any press in the state-In about 39 degrees of North Latitude, and about 17 1/2 degrees of West Longitude; 2 1/2 miles south of Missouri River; 280 miles by land, or 500 by water west of St. Louis; nearly 1200 west of Washington; 1300 from New-York, and more than 1500 from Boston.

(->) EARLY in May, Capt. Bonaville's Company, (150) under the command of Capt. Walker passed this town, on its way to the Rocky Mountains, to trap and hunt for fur in the vast country of the Black Feet Indians. About the middle of May, Capt. Soublett's Company, (70) passed, for the Rocky Mountains, on the same business. At which time, also, Capt. Wythe of Mass., with a Company of 30, passed for the mouth of Oregon River, to prepare (as it is said) for settling a territory. During the month of May there also passed one Company bound to Santa Fee.

About the 8th or 9th of this month Capt. Blackwell's Company, (60 or 70) passed this place for the Rocky Mountains, in addition.

(->) UNDER the head of SELECTIONS, we intend to furnish the disciples with well-written articles from celebrated authors, that they may be enabled to judge between right and wrong; between the church of Christ and the church of man, and set an example worthy of imitation.

Under the head, also, of WORLDLY MATTERS, shall be given, as far as our limits may permit, such items of general news, as may enable the saints to know the condition of the world. We, therefore, cannot be responsible for the errors that may be in the article or items, but shall endeavor, at all times, to give correct information, praying to God continually for his spirit to guide us to all truth.

