Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 June 1842, vol. 3, no. 15, pp. 799–814; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 1 June 1842 issue of the periodical Times and Seasons was the seventh edited by JS. He had assumed the editorship of the newspaper beginning with its 1 March 1842 issue, and in that role he took responsibility for all of the published content, including this 1 June issue. The issue contained an article on the “Word of Wisdom,” which was a revelation JS dictated in February 1833 outlining a code of health for the Latter-day Saints; an installment from the serialized “History of Joseph Smith”; and reprints of articles from newspapers, including Latter-day Saint publications, on topics such as ’s missionary work in , JS’s work on the Book of Abraham, the necessity of baptism, the beliefs of church members, and ancient writings discovered in the . The issue also included a letter from the presidency and high council of the , Illinois, stake “to the saints scattered abroad.”
In addition to these items, the issue published editorial content that was presumably written by JS as editor or by his editorial staff. This editorial content, which is featured here, includes four items: commentary on the assassination attempt on former governor ; a lengthy statement disputing a speech , a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, made criticizing the Saints; a preface to an article about the Jews; and a notice to church members in the eastern about ’s planned fund-raising mission for the construction of the .
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
reasonable measures are taken to make just restitution to those unjustly injured.
Now therefore let this epistle be read in all the branches of the church, as testimony, that as representatives thereof, we have taken righteousness for the girdle of our loins, and faithfulness for the girdle of our reins,” and that for Zion’s sake we will not rest; and for Jerusalem’s sake we will not hold our peace, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”
Your brethren and servants in the kingdom and patience of Jesus.
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Presidents
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Attest, , Clerk.
May 22, 1842
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Editorial Note
Another editorial piece in this issue of the Times and Seasons is an introduction to a reprinted article from the Jewish Intelligencer discussing “a few things” that a Dr. Criezenach regarded as “necessary, in order to maintain and promote the fear of God, in a congregation in Israel.” Under JS’s editorship, a few earlier issues of the Times and Seasons reprinted articles pertaining to Judaism, each with editorial commentary. This issue continued that trend.
THE JEWS.
It will be seen by the following that the Jews are as zealous in the propagation of what they consider to be true principles as any of the sects of modern date; that they try to inculcate attendance on divine worship, and “true piety, real religion, and acts of devotion to God,” just as much as any other religionist’s of our day.
Dr. Criezenach in the third part of his “Schulchan Aruch,”—says, that a few things are necessary, in order to maintain and promote the fear of God, in a congregation in Israel.
1. Books, in which all the duties of men, citizens and Israelites are distinctly taught in a language intelligible to all.”
2. The congregation in Israel are further in need of spiritual guides, whose endeavours it should be to inculcate a life in unison with the doctrine taught in the books.”
3. The Jewish congregations need properly conducted places of worship, for the instruction and edification of the people; and to enkindle the love of the young for the Jewish religion, and nation. Every one knows who is acquainted with the history of the synagogue, that these were the purposes for which it was instituted, and that the next to the divine help we are indebted to the synagogue alone, for the miracle, that the Jewish religion has weathered the fearful storms which it has encountered for 2000 years. In the synagogue the Jews obtained strength to suffer and to withstand the numerous temptations to apostacy, through the exhortations and instructions, imparted by the more learned through the prayers which he offered alone or in common with the pious congregation, and through intercourse occasioned by diligent attendance at the place of worship.” * * * “and thus the dearest recollections of youth are associated with religion which penetrated the soul and filled it with the utmost abhorrence of falsehood and sin.”
“Unhappily in our days the synagogue has ceased to be of this use to Judiasm; a great part of most congregations never visit it at all; and another part equally numerous go unwillingly by.”
4. It is necessary that the doctrines, and forms of the Jewish religion should extend their sanctifying influence to domestic life. Neither the school, nor the synagogue can give true piety if religion be wanting in domestic life; if the business of every day be not begun and ended by acts of devotion to God:” in speaking of children reading the prayer book (Jewish) in a careless way, he says that children will obey with unwilling hearts if they can spell well enough to do it their thoughts will in the mean time be occupied on some other subject while they are reading, and they will lay it aside without having gained a spark of real religion, like a burden which they are glad to get rid of.”
Dr. Criezenach has published the following thesis.
1. The Talmud cannot be reduced to practice without ordained teachers.
2. No authenticated code of the Talmud has ever yet existed.
3. The Talmud has never been completed.
4. The Mishna is an incomplete work.
5. The Gemara is now an incomplete work.
6. The Academy of Jerusalem consisted of opponents of the Talmud.
7. The Talmudists have never agreed in interpreting the Bible.
8. The Talmud contains only a small number of the traditional ordinances:
The Jewish Intelligencer was a newsletter published in New York City by the American Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews in New York City, but it apparently stopped publication by 1838. Therefore, the piece featured here was probably taken from a newsletter called the Jewish Intelligence (which was sometimes referred to as the Jewish Intelligencer), published by the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. (“Anniversary of the American Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews,” Jewish Intelligencer, Sept. 1836, 1:76; Gidney, History of the London Society for Promoting Christianity, 145, 413; “Service for the Day of Atonement,” Jewish Intelligence, Nov. 1848, 14:335; “Persecution of the Jews in the East,” Standard [London], 4 Aug. 1840, [1].)
Jewish Intelligencer. New York City. 1836–1837.
Gidney, W. T. The History of the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, from 1809 to 1908. London: London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, 1908.
Jewish Intelligence, and Monthly Account of the Proceedings of the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. London. 1840–1849.