EPISTLE.

of Wm. Marks: Chief Evangelical Teacher in the School of Faith, to all the Traveling Teachers, Quorums and Classes of said School, in Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion, Greeting:

Beloved Brethren:

Having been chosen and ordained chief Evangelical Teacher of the Schools of Faith in Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion, it becomes my duty, to say something by way of encouragement, and also by way of instruction to those who are placed under my care, and supervision, and first, by way of encouragement let me state what I know in reference to the work in which we are engaged, in order to do this I must of necessity refer to my experience in the church. I was a member of the Church, some ten years before the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I was appointed President of the Stake in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1837, and continued in that office at Kirtland until the fall of 1838, when I was called by Revelation to Far-West, Mo.; but before I arrived there the Saints were ordered to leave the State: and when the Stake was organized at Nauvoo in the fall of 1839, I was appointed President thereof and continued in that office up to the death of Joseph the prophet. I always believed the work was of Divine origin, and that Joseph Smith was called of God to establish the church among the Gentiles.

During my administration in the church I saw and heard of many things that was practiced, and taught that I did not believe to be of God; but I continued to do and teach such principles as were plainly revealed, as the law of the church, for I thought that pure and holy principles only would have a tendency to benefit mankind. Therefore when the doctrine of polygamy was introduced into the church as a principle of exaltation, I took a decided stand against it; which stand rendered me quite unpopular, with many of the leading ones of the church. I was also witness of the introduction (secretly,) of a kingly form of government in which Joseph suffered himself to be ordained a king, to reign over the house of Israel forever; which I could no conceive to be in accordance with the laws of the church, but I did not oppose this move, thinking it none of my business.

Joseph, however, became convince before his death that he had done wrong; for about three weeks before his death, I met him one morning in the street, and he said to me, ["]Brother Marks, I have something to communicate to you,["] we retired to a by-place, and set down together, when he said: "We are a ruined people." I asked, ["]how so?["] he said: "This doctrine of polygamy, or Spiritual-wife system, that has been taught and practiced among us, will prove our destruction and overthrow. I have been deceived," said he, "in reference to its practice; it is wrong; it is a curse to mankind, and we shall have to leave the United States soon, unless it can be put down, and its practice stopped in the Church. Now," said he, "Brother Marks you have not received this doctrine and how glad I am. I want you to go into the high council, and I will have charges preferred against all who practice this doctrine, and I want you to try them by the laws of the church, and cut them off, if they will not repent, and cease the practice of this doctrine; and" said he, "I will go into the stand, and preach against it, with all my might, and in this way we may rid the church of this damnable heresy."

But before this plan could be put into execution, the mob began to gather, and our attention, necessarily, was directed to them.

I again met Joseph when he was about to start for Carthage. He said to me, "Bro. Marks, I have become convinced since I last saw you, that it is my duty to go to Carthage, and deliver myself up as a lamb to the slaughter."

I mentioned the circumstances of these conversations with Joseph, to many of the brethren, immediately after his death; but the only effect it had was to raise a report that Brother Marks, was about to apostatize: and my statement of the conversation in reference to the practice of polygamy, was pronounced false by the Twelve, and disbelieved; but I now testify that the above statements are verily true, and correct.

When I found that there was no chance to rid the church of that abominable sin, as I viewed it, I made my arrangements to leave Nauvoo, and I did so firmly believing that the plans and designs of the great Jehovah, in inspiring Joseph to bring forth the book of Mormon, would yet be carried out in his own time, and in his own way. . . .