Mexico Missouri message., 1907-02-28
CHAPTER xllI.-consInued.

Sometimes his grievance would
have a personal basis. as when he told
them: II have gone to work and made
roads To the canyon for wood: and I
have cut wood down and piled II up,
and then | have not got Il. wonder
II any Of you can say as much about
the wood have left there. could
tell stories of Elders that found and
took my wood that should make pro.
fess.onal thieves blush. And again
have proof to show that Bishops have
taken thousands OF pounds of wheat
in tithing which they have never re.
ported to the general tithing office
proof that they stole the wheat to let
their friends speculate upon"
Under this very pointed denuncla.
ton many OF the flock complained bit.
terly. But Brigham only increased the
flow OF his wrath upon them. You
need" said he. ito have 1t rain pitch
forks, tines downward, from this pull.
pit. Sunday after Sunday"
Still. there we're rebellious Saints to
object, and. as Brigham drew the lines
of his wrath tighter. these became
more prominent in the community.
When they voiced their discomfort,
they angered the priesthood. But
when they indicated their purpose to
leave the valley, as many soon did,
they gave alarm. An exodus must be
prevented at any cost, and so the
priesthood let II be known that migra.
tions from the valley would be consid.
cred as nothing less than apostasy. In
Brigham's own words: Tho moment
a person decides To leave this people.
he is cut of from every object that is
desirable In time or eternity. Every
possession and object OF affection will
be taken from those who forsake the
truth, and their identity will eventual.
~ cease"
But. as the reform wave swept on.
II became apparent that these words
lad been considered merely fgurative
by many who were about to seek
homes outside the valley. From every
side news came privately that this
family or that was preparing 20 leave
Aud so It came about that the first
Sunday Joel Rae was able to walk to
the tabernacle. still weak and wasted
and trembling. he heard a sermon
from Brigham which made him ques-
ton his own soul in an agony of ter
ror For, on this day. was boldly
preached. for the first time in, Zion,
something which had mover before
been more than whispered among the
highest elect.--the doctrine OF blood.
-
Unde: his discourse Joel Rae sat
terrified, with n Blondes face. cover.
ing az he had made others To cover
six weeks before The words seemed
TO carry his own preaching to its right.
ful conclusion: but now how changed
was his world,-a whirling. sickening
chaos OF sin and remorse.
AS he listened to Brigham's words,
picturing the blood OF the sinner smok.
ing on the ground. his thoughts fed
back to that night,-that night OF
wNndrous light and warmth, the last
he could remember before the great
blank came.
Now the voice of Brigham came to
him again: land almost all things
are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no
REMISSION"
Then the service ended. and he saw
Bishop Wright pushing toward him
through the crowd.
Well. well. Brother Rae-you do
look peaked. for sure! But you'll pick
up fast enough. and Just in time. too.
nrdf uyhat vou'K nrOthat. nriOhau, do
when the Holy Ghost gets a strangle-
holt on him? Now. then" he added,
In lower tone. III amt mistaken.
there's going to be some work for the
Sons OF DAM"