I sure like it. I got this from a reader and wanted to pass it along:
Angel of the Prairies
A Dream of the Future
A Dream of the Future
by
Elder Parley Parker Pratt
Elder Parley Parker Pratt
One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A. Pratt, Publisher,
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Deseret News Printing and Publishing Establishment, 1880
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Deseret News Printing and Publishing Establishment, 1880
Preface
The thrilling and interesting narrative contained in
this little book, though setting up no claim to being an authentic of
infallible prophecy, yet probably contains as much condensed truth and
as little fiction as any work in any age, that has inspired truth for
its foundation, and romance simply for its embellishment and adornings.
This manuscript was read in Nauvoo, in a Council of the
Church, in the presence of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but never appeared
in print until last Spring, in the Northern Light, when it became at
once the admiration of all the Saints who had the privilege of its
perusal.
While purporting to be written under the similitude of a
dream or vision, we will state that no such dream or vision was had by
the writer, the whole manuscript having been written at Nauvoo, in the
Winter of 1843-4.
The useful and elevating object of the author shines in
every page of the work, and not a hurtful feature can be found in it. As
will be seen, the book contains twenty pages of reading matter,-twice
the amount we supposed it to contain-we shall therefore be under the
necessity of charging twenty-five cents a copy, instead of fifteen
cents.
Abinadi Pratt,
Publisher.
Salt Lake City, January, 1880.
Publisher.
Salt Lake City, January, 1880.
________________________________________________________________________
The Angel of the Prairies; A Dream of the Future
Being a native of a small and retired village of New
England, and trained to the strictest habits of industry, I had grown to
manhood without seeing much of the world, having never traveled to
exceed twenty miles from home. As is not unfrequently [sic] the case
with New Englanders, my ideas were extremely limited and narrow in
regard to the extent and resources of the West. I had heard of prairies,
to be sure, or open untimbered fields, but could form no other idea of
them than to compare them to some of our marshes, which were by nature
destitute of timber because they were too low and wet to produce it.
I know not how or why it was the case, but for some
reason I had been, from my earliest remembrance, impressed with a
longing desire and a fixed determination to visit and to explore the
mighty, the mysterious West. To this inclination my friends were always
opposed. They would often reason as follow: “Have you not a quiet home
in the midst of friends, peace and plenty? Have you not sufficiency of
wealth and of all things which are calculated to make you contented and
happy? Why then will you go to the West? Why will you tear yourself from
all these blessings and from society, and wander through uncultivated
forests and amid dangers, toils and sufferings, amid the hiss of
serpents, the howl of wild beasts, and the whoops and yells of men more
savage than they?” To these expostulations I could never give a
satisfactory answer, but sill I wanted to go.
At the age of twenty-one, being free, and in possession
of ready money sufficient to place me beyond the reach of immediate
want, I resolved to break through every restraint and to gratify my
thirst for travel. I took leave of my friends with many tears and
blessings on their part, and with feelings deep and indescribable on my
own. I soon had the gratification of beholding Niagara Falls, the great
lakes and dense forests of the West, as well as the splendid towns, the
domestic villas and the delightful fields, interspersed here and there,
amid the wild and romantic scenes of nature. But these indulgences only
served to increase my desire for still further research. I soon
penetrated farther into the interior, where for the first time a grand
prairie scenery opened before me. This exceeded all the western wonders I
had before seen. After travelling for some hours over a gently
undulating landscape, smooth and beautiful as a village park, and
covered with grass and flowers, extending on all sides as far as the eye
could reach, I ascended a gradually rising eminence, and halted to look
around me. All seemed like a splendid vision passing all reality, and
putting imagination at defiance to imitate. A green field of grass and
flowers extended on all sides as far as the eye could reach; without a
horse or tree, a man or animal, to intercept the sight or break upon the
lonely and sublime repose which reigned around me. The landscape was
sufficiently diversified in hills and valleys and other gentle
elevations, neither presenting the dull monotony of a level plain, nor
the rough and abrupt appearance of hills too steep for easy cultivation.
Indeed, an English nobleman would have found a pleasant passage for a
coach and six in any direction from where I stood. The soil was vastly
rich and the surface was smooth and even, the whole landscape resembling
a boundless field of green wheat interspersed with lilies and
sunflowers. With one glance of the eye, I beheld an extent of country
sufficient for the home of happy millions. “Here,” thought I, ” within
the reach of my natural vision, might exist an empire more extensive,
numerous and wealthy, than some of the most renowned kingdoms of the old
world! And yet not one human being possesses the knowledge, courage and
ambition to claim it as his own possession. Nay, they would rather seek
a precarious subsistence in the streets of some overgrown and populous
town, or kill and conquer the inhabitants of some miserable country
already overpeopled.
While indulging in this strange reverie-one thought gave
rise to another-my narrow heart enlarged and I began to extend my
inquiries as to the real boundaries of these mighty and extended fields
and their future destiny. I naturally concluded that so fine a country
and such vast riches would not always be overlooked by the enterprising
and industrious. That immigration would come rolling on in its westward
tendency, and with it the march of empire, till these lonely plains
would be all peopled and these rich resources made to yield support to
happy millions.
With these thoughts still deeply working in my mind, I
pursued my journey, and at the close of day arrived at an humble cottage
where, with an appetite sharpened by fatigue, I partook of such simple
refreshments as the place afforded, and retired to rest, my mind still
filled with thoughts more sublimely great, grand and solemn than had
ever before occupied my bosom. A deep and unquiet slumber soon came over
me, and my mind was carried away in a most extraordinary vision. A
messenger of a mild and intelligent countenance, suddenly stood before
me, arrayed in robes of dazzling splendor. “Fear not,” said he, “Thou
son of mortal! For I am the Angel of the Prairies. I hold the keys of
the mysteries of this wonderful country, and to me is committed the fate
of empires and the destiny of nations. Come then, with me, and I will
show thee the secret purposes of fate in relation to this, the most
extraordinary of all countries!”
Overjoyed with the information, and gathering confidence
from the kind and generous appearance of the messenger, I arose and
accompanied him. We were wafted through the air at a rapid rate, for
some hundreds of miles, in a western direction, a little bearing to the
south. At length we came to a halt in an elevated green and flowery
plain on the southern bank of the Missouri river-not far from the line
that divides the Indian Territory from the States-a place of surpassing
beauty and loveliness.
“Young man,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “take this
glass and look around thee.” He then handed me a curious glass by which I
was enabled to view the entire country from sea to sea. Looking to the
north, I beheld the extensive and fertile plains of Iowa and Wisconsin,
composed chiefly of rich, rolling prairies , interspersed with beautiful
groves of timber, and watered with numerous streams, some of which were
navigable for hundreds of miles; and others forming numerous and
valuable water powers for the propelling of mills and machinery. These
fertile and flowery plains and groves extended for many hundreds of
miles to the north, and were finally terminated by large and extensive
forests of pine, which could easily be rafted down the currents of the
numerous streams, and be used in the erection of buildings, towns and
cities, throughout the whole extent of the unlimited prairies. The
central portion of these vast territories abounded in rich ores, such as
lead, iron and coal; and the northern portions abounded in copper. The
vegetable, mineral and commercial resources of these territories seemed
capable of sustaining and employing one hundred millions of people,
while at present they contained hardly as may thousands.
Turning from these, I looked eastward, where the states
of Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois presented a vast territory of some
five hundred miles in extent, similar in fertility and resources to the
territories above described, consisting of rich beautiful and fertile
prairies, mingled with delightful groves of timber, and penetrated with
numerous large and expansive rivers, on the bosom of which might float
the commerce of nations and empires. These states were calculated to
sustain at least another hundred millions of souls, although at present
not occupied by one million.
After viewing with wonder and delight these beautiful
states, I cast my eyes toward the south and southwest. The vision now
lengthened in the distance, and some thousands of miles of country
expanded to my view, including the vast plains, and fertile forests and
vales of Texas and Mexico; still presenting a vast quantity of unlimited
meadows and prairies, rich and beautiful as Eden, and abounding in
vegetable and mineral wealth. These countries were abundantly sufficient
to sustain two hundred millions more of inhabitants, although at
present possessing a population of less than ten millions.
Having contemplated the green fields, the flowery
plains, the dense forests and towering mountains of this vast country
till lost and overwhelmed in astonishment, I turned to the west. Here I
beheld a tract of country lately surveyed and appropriated for the
location of the Indian tribes. It was bounded on the east by the states
of Missouri and Arkansas, on the south by Texas, on the west by the
Great American Desert and on the north by the almost unexplored and
inhospitable regions of Canada, or more properly by the Missouri river,
embracing some six hundred miles from north to south, and some two
hundred from east to west. This, like the countries before described,
abounded in alternate rich, rolling prairies and woodlands, capable for
sustaining a population of at least fifty millions; although at present
peopled with a few Indian tribes consisting of less than half a million.
“Young man,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “you have
now beheld the great meadows of the West, an almost unbroken and
continuous field of prairie, bounded on the east by the Wabash and Lake
Michigan, on the north by the prairies of Wisconsin and Iowa, on the
west by the Great Desert, and on the south by Central America, and
averaging some three thousand miles long and some seven hundred broad;
being mostly a rich and fertile plain, watered like Eden, and more
productive than the plains of Euphrates. Its people are at present few,
but its resources are immense, and it is abundantly calculated to
sustain at least one half of the present population of the globe. You
now stand in a central position, in the midst of the great American
continent. Here is the spot which is destined for the seat of empire,
and here shall the ambassadors of all nations resort with a tribute of
homage to a greater than Cyrus.
“The seat of empire,” continued he, “began in the
eastern Eden, but its progress has always been westward. It lighted on
the plains of Euphrates, where, under Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus,
Alexander and others, it rested for a time. But, migrating still
westward, it took its seat in Palestine, and finally on the banks of the
Nile, from whence it passed to Rome in Italy, where it swayed a long an
bloody sceptre, and in course of time penetrated to the western islands
of Europe, where it sojourned for a time as if to prepare for a voyage.
Holding still its sea-girt throne, it sent out a forlorn hope, a kind
of advance guard to prepare its way in the wilderness. These passed over
the great waters and finally strengthened themselves until they founded
a seat of government on the extreme eastern shore of this vast
continent. This was in the infancy of the American Republic, quite
central and convenient. On this account some narrow minded mortals,
taking only a momentary view of the subject, supposed that the seat of
empire, after progressing for thousands of years, had now found a
resting place where it would tarry forever. Poor mistaken mortals, how
little did they know of the country they were in, and how much less of
the decrees of infinite wisdom!”
These words being ended, the angel of the Prairies bade
me tarry awhile on this second spot, and he would then return and unfold
to me the mysteries of the future, and the hitherto secret and
impenetrable decrees of fate. With this charge he vanished from my
sight. A mist of darkness suddenly overspread the landscape-a veil of
oblivion enshrouded me round, and the whole scene was shut from my view.
Indistinct shadows and confused forms occupied my imagination and
troubled my slumbers, and finally a long time seemed to pass away
without any distinct recollection of events. Suddenly a hand touched me,
and a voice exclaimed, “Mortal, awake! The Angel of the Prairie, has
returned, and the time is fulfilled. Arise! Stand upright, and look
around thee.” At the voice of his words I seemed to awake as from a deep
sleep, the darkness dispersed, and light ineffable shone around me. I
found myself in the same central position where he had left me, and
which he had pointed out as the final seat of empire. But oh! how
changed!
Instead of a flowery plain without inhabitants, I beheld
an immense city, extending on all sides and thronged with myriads of
people, apparently of all nations. In the midst of this city stood a
magnificent temple, which, in magnitude and splendor, exceeded
everything of the kind before known upon the earth. Its foundations were
of precious stones; its walls like polished gold; its windows of
agates, clear as crystal; and its roof of a dazzling brightness, its
top, like the lofty Andes, seemed to mingle with the skies; while a
bright cloud overshadowed it, from which extended rays of glory and
brightness in all the magnificent colors of the rainbow. The whole
buildings thereof seemed to cover some eight or ten acres of ground.
“This,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “is the sanctuary of freedom,
the palace of the great King, and the centre of a universal government.
Follow me and you shall behold the magnificence. order and glory of His
kingdom.” So saying, we walked together to the gates of the temple.
These were twelve in number; three on each side, and all standing open.
Numerous parties and servants were in waiting, and guides and
instructors were busy in attendance on strangers, who were passing to
and from the temple, with an air of confident freedom, and clad in
mingled and varied costumes of all nations.
By a secret watchword from the Angel to the porter or
keeper of the gate, we were permitted to pass the eastern centre gate
into the court yard. This was a large square surrounding the temple, and
containing a square mile of land, enclosed with a strong wall of
masonry, and ornamented with walks, grass plots, flowers and shady
groves of ornamental trees, the whole arranged in the most perfect
taste, and with an elegance, neatness and beauty, that might well
compare with Eden. Here the eye was dazzled with scenes of beauty, the
ear saluted with innumerable strains of music from birds of varied notes
and plumage. And here the balmy breath of morn seemed perfumed with
sweets more delicious than the spicy groves of Arabia. Here, in short,
the entire senses seemed overwhelmed with enjoyment and pleasure
indescribable. Passing along a spacious walk, in the midst of scenes
like these, he came to the eastern door of the temple, over which was
inscribed, in letters of gold, the following:
“Here wisdom, knowledge and truth are blended!
Here mercy reigns and war is ended!
Here on these grounds all nations enter;
But here a tyrant dare not venture!”
Here mercy reigns and war is ended!
Here on these grounds all nations enter;
But here a tyrant dare not venture!”
On entering the outer court, we found ourselves in a
large and splendid room, inside of which were doors opening in every
direction, over which were inscribed the particular uses for which they
were occupied. This outer court was ornamented and finished with
monuments, paintings, maps, charts, engravings, etc., all of which were
not only ornamental but highly instructive, and calculated to impart a
world of information on astronomy, geography, history, geometry,
theology, etc., etc. Among these, my attention was drawn to a large
painting which represented huge piles of broken iron, and antique
weapons of every description, heaped up together in the greatest
confusion, from the ancient bow of steel, or the wooden bow and arrow
and war club of the savage, to the most polished and renowned implements
of modern warfare. All these were laid aside as useless, and men were
represented in the act of beating swords into ploughshares and spears
into pruning hooks.
“These,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “are the
implements of murder and cruelty with which poor, ignorant, mistaken
mortals once made war upon each other; but they have long since been
laid aside as useless, and the arts of war are no longer studied or
practiced on the earth.” After viewing these things, my guide conducted
me to a door, which opened into the inner courts, and over which was
written as follows:
“Within is freedom’s throne exalted high!
Where, crowned with light and truth and majesty,
A royal host in robes of bright array,
Their peaceful sceptre o’er the nations sway.”
Where, crowned with light and truth and majesty,
A royal host in robes of bright array,
Their peaceful sceptre o’er the nations sway.”
On entering this room, a vast and extensive hall was
opened before me, the walls of which were white and ornamented with
various figures which I did not understand. In the midst of this hall
was a vast throne as white as ivory, and ascended by seventy steps, and
on either side of the throne and of the steps leading to it, there were
seats rising one above another. On this throne was seated an aged,
venerable looking man. His hair was white with age, and his countenance
beamed with intelligence and affection indescribable, as if he were the
father of the kingdoms and people over which he reigned. He was clad in
robes of dazzling whiteness, while a glorious crown rested upon his
brow; and a pillar of light above his head, seemed to diffuse over the
scene a brilliance of glory and grandeur indescribable. There was
something in his countenance which seemed to indicate that he has passed
long years of struggle and exertion in the achievement of some mighty
revolution, and been a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. But,
like the evening sun after a day of clouds and tempest, he seemed to
smile with a dignity of repose. In connection with this venerable
personage sat two others scarcely less venerable, and clad and crowned
in the same manner. On the next seat below were twelve personages, much
of the same appearance and clad in the same manner, with crowns upon
their heads; while the descending seats were filled with some thousands
of noble and dignified personages, all enrobed in white and crowned with
authority, power and majesty, as kings and priests presiding among the
sons of God.
“You now behold,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “The
Grand Presiding Council organized in wisdom, and holding the keys of
power to bear rule over all the earth in righteousness. And of the
increase and glory of their kingdoms there shall be no end.” As he spoke
thus, bands of instrumental music filled the temple with melody
indescribable, accompanied with human voices, both male and female, all
chiming in perfect harmony in a hymn of triumph, the words of which I
could only understand in part. But the concluding lines were repeated in
swelling strains of joy. They were as follows:
“Tho’ earth and its treasures should melt in the fire,
And the starlight of heaven wax dim and expire;
Tho’ yon planets no longer revolve in their spheres,
The earth make its day, or its circuit of years;
Tho’ the fountain of joy all its light shall withhold,
And the moons and Sabbaths shall cease to behold;
Yet firm and unshaken this throne shall remain,
And the heirs of Old Israel eternally reign.”
And the starlight of heaven wax dim and expire;
Tho’ yon planets no longer revolve in their spheres,
The earth make its day, or its circuit of years;
Tho’ the fountain of joy all its light shall withhold,
And the moons and Sabbaths shall cease to behold;
Yet firm and unshaken this throne shall remain,
And the heirs of Old Israel eternally reign.”
As the music ceased, the Angel said:
“Son of mortal! ascend with me, and I will show you the
country which we explored together at the first.” At this instant a door
was opened, which we entered, and commenced to ascend a flight of
steps. These gradually ascended upwards through a long and winding
passage, till at length we found ourselves on a pinnacle of the temple.
The air was pure and mild, the sky was clear, and the vision extended
far and wide on all sides, without an intervening object. My guide now
handed me the same curious glass in which I had formerly viewed the
country. But now how different, how wonderful the change of all things
around me! Instead of lone prairies and wild and dreary forests, I now
beheld one vast extent of populous country. Cities, towns, villages,
houses, palaces, gardens, farms, fields, orchards, and vineyards
extended in endless variety where once I beheld little else but
loneliness and desolation.
“This,” said the Angel of the Prairies, “is the country
in which, one hundred years ago, you commenced to explore, in your
journey to the west. Behold,” continued he, “what truth and knowledge
and perseverance can accomplish in a single century.” To this I replied:
“I am lost in wonder and amazement, and can hardly understand what I
see. Who are these populous nations and tribes, who in happy myriads
occupy the country immediately to the west, which was formerly occupied
by savage hordes, but which now presents one vast scene of neatness,
beauty, civilization and happiness? Have the Indian tribes, then, been
entirely exterminated, and their country overrun by civilized nations?”
“Nay,” said he, “these are still the Indians. A
mysterious Providence preserved their remnants, and gathered and
concentrated them into one peaceful nation. When they were first brought
together from all parts of the continent, they numbered a population of
about seven millions of ignorant, degraded people. But the light of
truth dawned upon them, and with it came all the blessing of peace,
plenty, civilization, cleanliness, and beauty which you behold, and they
constitute some thirty-five millions, and occupy all the country west
of the Mississippi and bordering on the Rocky Mountains.”
After viewing these beautiful settlements and hearing
this interesting account of tribes and nations which I had been
traditioned to believe could never be tamed, but were destined to perish
from the earth, I turned toward the east and inquired after the great
family of States which had once constituted the united Republic of E
Pluribus Unum. These, I believe, were vastly more populous and wealthy
than formerly. But they seemed no longer identified as States, with
their former geographical boundaries and political forms of government.
At this I was greatly astonished, as I had been early impressed with the
idea of the future greatness and permanency of our national
institutions. Turning to the guide, I inquired by what strange
connection of events, or by what mighty revolutions the American system
had been dissolved, and its elements blended with this great central and
universal government, which, notwithstanding my former prepossessions, I
was constrained to acknowledge as far superior in excellence, glory and
perfection to the former. To this inquiry the Angel of the Prairies
replied as follows:
“The American system was indeed glorious in its
beginning, and was founded by wise and good men, in opposition to long
established abuses and oppressive systems of the Old World. But it had
its weaknesses and imperfections. These were taken advantage of by
wicked and conspiring men, who were unwisely placed at the head of
government, and who, by a loose and corrupt administration, gradually
undermined that beautiful structure. In their polluted hands justice
faltered, truth fell to the ground, equity could not enter, and virtue
fled to the wilderness. A blind, sectarianized and corrupt populace
formed themselves into numerous mobs, overturned the laws, and put at
defiance the administration thereof. These were either joined by the
officers of Government or secretly winked at and encouraged by them,
until the injured and persecuted friends of law and order, finding no
protection or redress, were forced to abandon their country and its
institution now no longer in force, and to retreat into the wilderness,
with the loss of a vast amount of property and many valuable lives.
These carried with them the spirit of liberty which seemed as a cement
to form them into union, and thus was formed a nucleus around which
rallied by degrees all the virtue and patriotism of the nation. Thus
rallied and re-organized, the bold and daring sons of liberty were able
to stand in their own defense, and to hurl defiance upon their former
enemies. Thus the spirit of freedom had withdrawn from the mass and they
were abandoned, like king Saul of old, to destruction. Divisions and
contentions arose, and multiplied to that degree that they soon
destroyed each other, deluged the country in blood, and thus ended the
confederation under the title of E Pluribus Unum.
“The remnant who fled into the wilderness and rallied to
the standard of liberty on the plains of the West, combining the wisdom
of former experience with the light of truth which shone into their
hearts from above, laid the foundation of their perfect form of
government-this mighty empire of liberty which you now see, and the
institutions of which you shall be more fully informed in due time. The
wisdom, intelligence and peace which flowed from this centre soon served
as an ensign to the nations abroad. This filled some with envy, others
with admiration and delight. The good, the great, the noble, the
generous and patriotic lovers of truth rallied from all nations, and
joining the standard of freedom, were a constantly increasing strength
to their new and perfect organization. While by the same means the old
and corrupt institutions were proportionately weakened and abandoned.
This soon stirred the envy and jealousy of old and corrupt powers to
that degree that they united in a general declaration of war against
their young and more prosperous neighbors. These allied powers sent out
an armament of five hundred ships of the line, and half a million of
men. Their object was not only to gratify their vengeance and envy, but
their avarice and ambition. They aimed at nothing less than the
subjugation and plunder of the whole country. These powers were a
portion of them landed, with implements and effects, and the remainder
reserved on board their ships. They were met by the sons of liberty,
both by sea and land, who were at length victorious, and this whole army
were overcome, and their riches and armor, which was immense, were
taken for spoil. This brilliant victory greatly enriched and
strengthened the new empire of freedom, and at the same time nearly
ruined the nations who commenced the war. They sued for peace, and
finally obtained it on condition of perfect submission to the will of
the conquerors. This gave them new and liberal laws and institutions,
broke off the fetters of their old masters, and utterly forbade the use
of arms or the art of war. These brilliant and highly commendable
measures soon opened the eyes of millions more, and won them to the
cause of liberty and truth. Other and distant nations, who had watched
all these movements at length, saw the beauties of liberty and felt the
force of truth, till finally, with one consent, they joined the same
standard.
Thus, in one short century, the world is revolutionized;
tyranny is dethroned; war has ceased forever; peace is triumphant, and
truth and knowledge cover the earth.”
Thus spake the Angel of the Prairies; and when he had
ceased to speak, I still continued to listen; for such a blaze of glory
and intelligence burst at once upon my view, and events so passing
strange, so complicated, so unlooked for, had taken place in a single
century, and had been related to me in so masterly a manner, that I
stood overwhelmed with astonishment and wonder, and could hardly believe
my senses. “Is it possible,” thought I, “that a republic founded upon
the most liberal principles, and established by the sweat and blood and
tears of our renowned ancestors, and so cherished and respected by their
children, has faded like the dazzling splendor of the morning’s dawn?
has withered like an untimely flower? and that, too, by the corruption
of its own degenerate sons, the very persons who should have cherished
it forever? Where was the spirit of patriotism, of freedom, of love of
county which had once characterized the sons of liberty, and warmed the
bosoms of Americans?”
With reflections like these I had commenced a
lamentation over my fallen, lost and ruined country. But suddenly
recollecting myself, and calling to mind the other events which had been
related, my sorrow was turned into joy. I saw, although there had been
great corruption and a general overthrow of our government and its
institutions, yet many of the sons of noble sires had stood firm and
unshaken in the cause of freedom; even amid the wreck of states and the
crash of thrones, they had maintained their integrity, and when they had
no longer a county or government to fight for, they retired to the
plains of the West, carrying with them the pure spirit of freedom.
There, in the midst of a more extensive, a richer and a better country,
they had established a government more permanent, strong and lasting,
and vastly more extensive and glorious, combining strength and solidity,
with the most perfect liberty and freedom. Nor had their labors been
confined to the narrow limits of their own immediate country and nation,
but had burst the chains of tyranny and broken the yoke of bondage from
the growing millions of all nations and colors; and where darkness,
ignorance, superstition, cruelty and bloodshed had held dominion for
ages, light had sprung up, truth had triumphed, and a peace had
commenced its universal reign. And where, a century ago, an extensive
and fertile country lay desolate and lone, or partially occupied by
ignorant and cruel savages, hundreds of millions of intelligent and
happy beings were now enjoying all the sweets of domestic felicity. Why
then, thought I, shall I mourn? The labors of our fathers were not in
vain. On the contrary, the results have been a thousand times more
glorious than their most sanguine expectations. The spirit of their
institutions has been cherished and maintained, their temple of liberty
enlarged and perfected; while the dross has been separated and
destroyed, and the chaff blown to the four winds.
While these thoughts were passing in my mind, the Angel
of the Prairies again called my attention. “Come,” said he, “son of
mortal, let us descend from this high eminence and enter the archives of
the Temple of Freedom, and there you shall learn the secret springs,
the fountain from which has emanated all this wisdom and greatness. You
will then no loner wonder at the magnitude of this glorious
organization, the perfection of its principles, or its unparalleled
success.” So, saying, we descended together through the same long and
winding passage, till a door opened into a vast room in the second story
of the building, which was gloriously finished and ornamented, and
principally occupied with collections of antiquities and monuments and
paints, memorializing numerous and important events. Passing through in
the midst of these, we entered a small room in which was carefully
deposited numerous sacred books and records. From the midst of these the
Angel of the Prairies selected a small volume entitled: “A true and
perfect system of Civil and Religious Government, revealed from on
High.”
He then bade me be seated, gave me this book, and bade
me to read. So saying, he vanished from my sight. I opened the book and
read the preface as follows:
“There is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets. Wisdom
and might are His. He changeth the times and the seasons. He removeth
kings and setteth up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge
unto them that know understanding. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. He doth
according to His will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants
of the earth. And none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, ‘What doeth
thou?’ All His works are truth, and His ways are judgment, and those
that walk in pride He is able to abase. His kingdom is that which shall
not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. As the
Maker of the earth and the Father of the people, all power and authority
of civil and religious government is vested in Him. He holds the
prerogative of electing the officers and making the laws; He holds the
right of reproving and admonishing the officers or of removing them at
pleasure. Therefore all the forms of civil and religious government
which are not appointed, organized and directed by divine revelation,
are more or less imperfect and erroneous, and the administration thereof
extremely liable to corruption and abuse. The only perfect system of
government, then, is a Theocracy; that is, a government under the
immediate, constant and direct superintendency of the Almighty. This
order of government commenced in Eden, when God chose Adam for a ruler
and gave him laws. It was perpetuated in his descendants, such as Seth,
Enoch, Noah, Melchisedec, and so on, till it came down to Abraham, and
was made hereditary in his seed forever. As it is written, ‘Kings shall
be of thee, and princes shall come out of thy loins.’
“It was manifested clearly in Egypt-Pharaoh himself
being instructed and governed by Joseph, as a revelator. Moses also
delivered a nation from slavery, dethroned a tyrant, and governed in all
things by these same principles. By these Joshua conquered, and by
these the Judges of Israel ruled. By this authority Samuel reproved and
displaced a corrupted priesthood, in the case of Eli and his sons. By it
he anoints King Saul to reign in Israel, and by it he afterwards
rejected him for transgression and anointed David in his stead. By
virtue of this authority Elijah reproved and rejected Ahab and the
priests of Baal, and then proceeded to anoint Jehu king and Elisha for
prophet, and by this means remodeled the civil and religious
administration of affairs, and saved a nation from the lowest depths of
corruption and ruin. By this power, Daniel, the prophet, reproved and
instructed Nebuchadnezzar, displaced Belteshazzar, and directed Cyrus;
continually impressing upon kings and nations this one important
principle, viz: ‘That God is a revealer of secrets, and claims the right
of government over kings and potentates of the earth.’ To convince
Nebuchadnezzar of this one fact, he was driven out from his throne and
from the society of men, to dwell among the beasts of the field and to
eat grass as the ox, and afterwards restored to his kingdom again. And
to convince all nations of this fact, King Nebuchadnezzar wrote his
epistle to all nations and languages, in which he bore testimony to the
same.
“By this authority Jesus Christ received all power in
heaven and on earth, and was therefore seen by the prophet Daniel,
coming in the clouds of heaven, to reign over all the earth. By this
authority His Apostles governed those who would receive His kingdom in
their day-being themselves chosen by the Lord and not by the people. By
this same authority the Gentile Church and people would have been
governed from that day to the present, without a schism or division of
church or state, were it not for corruption and wickedness, which made
war with the Saints, and overcame them, and changed times and laws, as
was foretold by the prophet Daniel.
“By this authority the God of heaven promised, by all
the holy prophets, that He would set up a kingdom that should destroy
and break in pieces all these kingdoms, become universal, and stand
forever. Ant that He would do this by the sitting of the Ancient of
Days, whose raiment was white as snow, and whose hair was like the pure
wool; while thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before him, and judgment was given to the
Saints, and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom.
“By this authority the God of heaven has fulfilled that
which He spoke by the mouths of His ancient prophets, by revealing from
heaven and appointing and establishing a glorious kingdom which shall
stand forever.
“Therefore sing, O Heavens!
And be joyful, O Earth!
For truth has triumphed;
Wisdom and knowledge rule;
Righteousness reigns;
And earth rests in lasting peace.”
And be joyful, O Earth!
For truth has triumphed;
Wisdom and knowledge rule;
Righteousness reigns;
And earth rests in lasting peace.”
Thus ended the preface. I was about to read further, but
was interrupted by the Angel of the Prairies. “Son of mortal,” said he,
“you have now read all you are permitted to read at the present time.”
So saying, he replaced the little book amid the archive of the temple,
and bade me follow him. He then conducted me out of the temple, and
said:
“Son of mortal, you now understand the nature of the
government you have beheld. You see it is not a human monarchy, for
man-made kings are tyrant. It is not an aristocracy, for in that case
the few trample upon the rights of the many. It is not a democracy, for
mobs composed of the mass, with no stronger power to check them, are the
greatest tyrants and oppressors in the world. But it is a theocracy,
where the great Eloheim, Jehovah, holds the superior honor. He selects
the officers. He reveals and appoints the laws, and He counsels,
reproves, directs, guides and holds the reins of government. The
venerable Council which you beheld enthroned in majesty and clad in
robes of white, with crowns upon their heads, is the order of the
Ancient of Days, before whose august presence thrones have been cast
down, and tyrants have ceased to rule. You have understood the secret
purposes of Providence in relation to the prairies and the West, and of
the earth and its destiny. Go forth on you journey, and wander no more;
but tell the world of things to come.”
At this I awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Instead of a
glorious kingdom and city and temple, I beheld the morning sun shining
through the crevices of the log cabin where I lodged. Instead of a
century numbered with the past, I had spent a night of disturbed and
unquiet slumber; and instead of the Angel of the Prairies standing by my
side in the act of unfolding
“The secret purposes of fate,
Which govern men and guide the State,”
Which govern men and guide the State,”
I beheld my landlord in the act of calling me to breakfast.
-End-
You mind if I steal this (as in putting it in my blog crediting you?) This is a GREAT vision!
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