Jan 6th, 1879
Archive Box 3 Folder 19
(see Anderson, 2010, pg. 207)
Anderson Notes:
Building of first House of Prayer in Montana
Place of Second Coming
Collection of Cainan's letters to make a Bible
Eardley to come that summer
No. 1 Aglaw Place, Shern Hall St. Walthamstow Essex, England, Europe
Dear Bro. James & Saints of the Most High in Stake No. 1 on the Sides of the North in Montana [Deer Lodge], Greeting Jany 6th, 1879
I am in possession of your report dated Nov. 30/78. And now, Oh! Merciful God, be pleased to reveal unto thy Servant such things as shall be thy good pleasure to write unto my brother James as shall be profitable for him in his labors and walk before thee. Inspire me to that and speak, Lord, and I will write it; for I know thy laws are holy & unchangeable. Clothe me with a portion of thy intelligence, that I may make plain the matter now to be sent unto him; for, lo, he complaineth he hardly understands some things already written. And here I lay aside the pen awhile to seek an answer to this petition & request. And in the interval, the word of the Lord came unto me a second time saying: Without some sacrifice my faithful people, or my Holy Priesthood, are without a defense against the enemy who catcheth away the word, or darkeneth it so they may be hindered in my work from the first, Sacrifice was ordained, and will be, to the end of this mortal earth. My Firstborn son was required of me, and was given freely, and it did impoverish or curtail my power, neither shall sacrifice impoverish my Holy Priesthood, neither my faithful people. Riches, temporal and eternal, are mine to give: so also is chastisement; and he that sacrificeth for my cause on the earth hath already & may fence himself around against the evil power. Now, let everyone take advantage f the times, especially in Stake No. 1 to plant deep and openly their sacrifice. In my first House of Prayer which my Servants in my Court consented to build, behold it is my first House of Prayer on the sides of the North & let every name be recorded that gives of his substance, or works, or gathers the necessaries to make it beautiful as shown by my Servant, and may be added unto by ornament of virtuous design of my faithful ones. Let none draw back, for the Lord of Hosts hath no pleasure in such. Let my Servant W. James encourage all to push the work of my House until it is finished, and leave the residue with me. I am the Lord
In that region where you dwell, extending East, West, South and North – in this region will come down the City of the Great King. Before that, many wise men shall find their way there, endowed with intelligence from the Lord to map out & make ready for our dear Lord's coming, with thousands who have toiled & suffered with him here. You are the pioneers. The climate shall be moderated by the earth's 3rd motion southward, without interference with her diurnal or annual motion by which she shall be fitted to bring forth all the choise vegetations and floral grandeur she is entitled to yield. No beast of prey may find a place there. All rank & unprofitable growths shall be banished in that day. Neighbor shall meet neghbor in perfect accord, and say – my children are numerous, and every one sound in body & judgement – and so are mine. They have been on the mountains looking for the splendid city coming; neither were they discouraged: but I heard them arranging for another trip, & their joy knew no bounds. In those days the old men shall not weep, neither shall they depart in sorrow or pain: but angels shall bear them to their resting place. And lights shall be on every hill, and on every dwelling place as the Sun for brightness. And like birds of the air shall men move from place to place, and hold converse with one another. A pure language shall be given from their childhood by which all shall do the will of God on the sides of the North as the angels do it in His presence. These views connected with the Sides of the North I am permitted to write, because you ask me. And greatly may they be enlarged upon as I understand them. Let it suffice until your vision of the Eternal expands to entertain them. Then ask again. Throw them not away on unbelieving hearts: bind them as jewels around your person, so shall you be able to drop one here and there, as a season opens, that a hearer may know a man of God has visited them, in a humble spirit, not as boasting; for that would close the understanding even of the meek. Keep all my letters with care, for they are yours, and in days to come will be sought for & bound together-- form from one, some from another, as bye-bills, or bibles, as our old Bible was gathered together.-- And now, to deal with the things close at hand even of today. I was much pained to hear you was not at Court last meeting. Good to sen one in your place ; but that was not equal to yourself being there. Did you fully know the importance of the record kept of your absence, your heart would be greatly troubled, as mine has been. Let it not happen again if in the body, even if you have to be carried. We were watching here at the Court hours allowing for difference of time, and truly I felt all was not well. The rebuke should be spoken by you in the Court before witnesses. I must write the words & actions before next meeting; for you ask, in what shall I rebuke? Therefore reply quickly to this letter that my reply may be in time. Again I urge you & No. 1 Stake to see that the House of Prayer is pushed on with, and be careful your name figures in the estimates for your eternal interests & honor here. And when it is up there as I directed, to open it. That also will be to you an honor not even an angel of our Merciful God could be permitted to gain -belongs to a mortal. May no seducing spirit rob my Br. James of it. I feel assured much striving in the enemies' camp will be brought to hinder you. Ride you triumphant through every hindrance, is my counsels. It is not the Only House of Prayer for Montana. Finish it, and it will be revealed to you how to raise another more easily, at the proper time. If our Merciful God will release me, I shall be there to help. How long dear & merciful Father, am I required to be a hunter & a witness for you? Thy will, not mine, be done; for you may have purposes in view I know not of. We are glad indeed Bro. Staffauson has a wagon & wished to ride me round. Thank him for me. May he on Sundays ride you & help to preach & teach the everlasting gospel to all invitations. And the more you visit the better They will be glad to receive & entertain you. Be modest in your discourses-- take a Bible along & preach our dear Lord & Him crucified. Use His words, also the old Prophets and Apostles, now and again mingling with judgement parts of the Fulness as they are able to bear or understand, most judiciously having a feeling for their prejudices and former teachings; for you are also Hunters of the Lord of Hosts. As Bro. Staffauson can speack Danish and you speak Welsh & English, many can be taught and edified. Good sometimes to invite Bro. Hedrickson & Rasmussen, or any good brother to accompany you, taking care to take no honors only those you are legally entilted to. Bro. Eardley and company are very likely to be with you this summer, so he tells me. In him you will have a mighty helper and witness for the Fullness. I wish the Priesthood in Montana to be thoroughly united as the apple of the eye-- touch one, touch all. The sister that sends here rememberance to me = has been a good comfort & help in days gone. Why have I not heard of her so long Have I offended her, or has she been heed down? If so, I know she has endured much sorrow, and I have been in sorrow for her, for all we might gain here is utterly lost if, with it, we lose the sweet consolation of being numbered with the faithful. Satan my flourish this world before our eyes for a time; but finally he has nothing to offer but misery, to which he is ordained. Return her my thanks. Her children are mostly married. May they do well for their mother's sake. She is at liberty to write me if she wishes. There are other sisters of whom I never hear. What is the matter? I am here & change not. IF there is any change, it is not my consent of course. I do not know all that transpires. I wish all to understand. I have sacrificed all I had to engage for our merciful God, & have never repined. He has led me through strange scenes & dangers, sometimes distress; yet all went well up till now, and I have a lively hope of another eternal life & shall I bend to the great enemy now? Never-- it is too late, and I have learned our dear, our Heavenly Father too well. If anything depresses me, it is to know a once faithful brother or sister has the the track that leads to life eternal, know that where I go, they cannot come. The Lord of Hosts is shaking his hand over Europe in much displeasure. Fires, shipwrecks, war, distress to a fearful extent: murders, bankrupts, frauds, enough to rend a heart of stone. Many come trembling asking me to explain the meaning, & if the end is drawing nigh, even infidels. Truly it is a time of sorrow here. Be thankful you have a hiding place & and realize how greatly you are cared for. Tell me of your families, your children. And now I have to thank you for your offerings of love to the Lord's Servant. Even the little ones send their tokens of affection, at a time hard frost & snow wuch as I never saw in England. It was a relief, a welcome indeed. My feeling of gratitude I wish expressed to all, to every one. Words are pleasant, but help is lasting & never forgotten by me. It shall be used with care & everytime with blessings on the doors. We are well in health. Bro. George joins me in united love. And with my blessing upon yourself & all the faithful.
I am ever faithfully yours,
Cainan
