Autobiography 1858 Deseret News
—I attended meeting at the Temple.
Prest. Joseph Smith had been absent on busi-
ness for the church, but not half as long as
Moses was in the mount away from Israel;
yet many of the people in Kirtland, if they
did not make a calf to worship as did the
Israelites, turned their hearts away from the
Lord and from his servant Joseph, and had
engaged in speculation and given away to
false spirits, until they were darkened in their
minds; and many were opposed to Joseph
Smith, and some wished to appoint David
Whitmer to lead the church in his stead. In
the midst of this cloud of dark spirits, Joseph
returned to Kirtland, and this morning arose
in the stand. He appeared much depressed;
but soon the Spirit of God rested upon him,
and he addressed the assembly in great plain-
ness for about three hours, and put his enemies
to silence. When he arose he said, "I am still
the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and
Leader of the church of Jesus Christ. God,
and not man, has appointed and placed me
in this position, and no man or set of men
have power to remove me or appoint another
in my stead, and those who undertake this, if
they do not speedily repent, will burn their
fingers and go to hell.["] He reproved the people
sharply for their sins, darkness and unbelief;
the power of God rested upon him, and bore
testimony that his sayings were true.
