16^th I have A vary severe cold & horseness this was one of
the most interesting days of my life I attended the family
meeting of President Brigham Young And he addressed
the meeting at great length during the day and evening
upon many interesting principles. There were present of
the quorum of the Twelve B Young H. C. Kimball
O. pratt W. Richards W. Woodruff G A. Smith A Lyman &
E. T. Benson. After singing and prayer by President Young
He Arose to address the meeting & remarked that He
Had invited the Twelve to be present though they
were not of his family, yet I wish them to act free and
speak such things as the Lord shall give them.

Let me state a principle by which you may contemplate
much. For the want of understanding many have suffered
jealeousies to arise which afflicted theire minds with [borrow[ed]]
troubles and uneasiness fearing the Lord loved some others
more than themselves, this I have sinceeen in the Church
ever since its rise. it was manifest in Kirtland when the
first Bishop was ordained this jealeous feeling was manifest
some wondered if the Lord would think enough of them
to ordain them a Bishop Father Morley and others that were
present can bare record of this fact. And when the Twelve
were chosen the same feelings exhisted & in fact I will not
except all of them for some of them manifested the same
feelings when the Bishops were ordained. this spirit has been
the overthrow of many in this Church And in fact upon
this principle thousands have fallen in all ages. The Lord
gives to everry man all the power influence and authority
that He can wield in righteousness and all that his goodnes
& faithfulness merits then why should jealousies arise or
what benefit can arise by suffering such feelings to exhist
none at all, but those that cherish such feelings commence
trying to pull down every one that is prospering or gaining
influence as Cain did instead of building up & nourishing
every promising tree & thereby prove himself worthy & show
to his brethren & to God that He loves the cause & by his
passive spirit that He is not ownly willing that others should
should prosper & gain influence & that he actually loves to
see them prosper for then He does all that he can through hims[e]-
lf, he helps advance it through others although they recieve
the honor of it and he still be aware of it such a man will
never be forgotten and to his honor glory and exhaltation there
shall be no end.

There is another principlye that has caused
considerable uneasiness and trouble. ie the Idea of some mens having
more wives than one, such tremendious fears take hold of some
that they hardly know how to live still they cant die, Begin to

whisper and talk around am actually afraid to go on a mission for
fear some man will be sealed to my wife, & when they return
home some will be babbing about, you dont know but what you
have got another mans wife, are afraid to speak to a young
woman for fear that she belongs to somebody els or for fear some
body els wants her. (others deny the faith as they think but they
never had much) and say that it is all of the devil &c such foolish-
nish ought not to be cherished among a wise & prudent people. Admitting
the Lord created the same number of women as men at the begining
and were commanded to multiply & replenish the earth & to fill
up the measure of there creation in righteousness; the question is
did they do it answer No, they soon disobeyed every commandme-
nt & plunged themselves into wickedness and rendered themselves
unworthy to raise up seed unto the Lord & in fact used every means
in there power to cut of[f] life & hinder woman answering the end for
which they were created; nine tenth of them would rebel against the
vary thing he was created to do. Hence you see the propriety of the
Lord'^s calling upon men who bears the priesthood to take to themselves
wives from among the daughters of men & raise up a righteous seed unto
him that he might fill up the measure of there creation and hasten
the consumation of his purposes in righteousness in this dispensation
according to his words previously spoken through his servents the
prophets. But those who suffer fears & jealouses to aris in there bosoms
either back right out or get to be mighty Righteous & for fear that
they are sleeping with other mens wife—they kick up a dust or
broil at home & perhaps abuse there own companion through jealousy
then go off to some woman that does not understand what is right
or wrong & tell her that he has she cannot be saved without a man
and he has almighty power & can exhalt & save her & likely tell that
there is no harm for them to sleep together before they are sealed then
go to some doe head of an Elder & get him to say the ceremony, all
done without the knowledge of the Authority of this Church.
this is not right, & will not be suffered. The God I serve will reward
every ^man^ openly without his being under the necessity of going secretly
& privately palming himself on the credulity of innocent ignorant
females. Such jealeousies do exhist & were I to say to the Elders
you now have the liberty to build up your kingdoms one half of
them would lie, swear, steal, & fight like the vary devil, to get men
& women sealed to them they would even try to pass right
by me & go to Joseph thinking to get between him & the Twelve
some have already tryed to used an influence against me. but such
jealeousies & selfishness shall be stoped & if the brethren do not
stop it I will blow it to the four winds by making them all come
& be sealed to me & I to my Father & He and all this Church to
Joseph. when I go asstray & give wrong council & lead this people
astray, then is time enough to pull me down & then God will
remove me as he has done all others who has turned from
the faith. But to return, I have gatherd a number of families
around me by the law of adoption & seal of the covenant
according to the order of Adoption the priesthood and others
have done likewise it being the means of salvation left to bring
us back to God. but had the keys of the priesthood been retained
& handed down from father to son throughout all generations
up to the present time then there would have been no necessity
of the law of Adoption for we would have all been included
in the covenant without it & would have been legal heirs

instead of being heirs according to promise. the pristhood is
eternal without the begining of days or end of life as the Apostle
has expressed it [Hebrews 7:1-3] but man through Aposticy which is entire disobedi-
ance has lost or suffered the keys & privileges of the Priesthood
to be taken away from them & they left to wander in darkness
and practice all manner of wickedness untill thousands became the
vessals of wrath & were doomed to destruction for as long as men
are without the Priesthood they continue to wander from God
& never retrace their steps untill it is done by the priesthood, & the
Idea of the Saints being led by fals Prophets is just a notion accor-
ding to the light in which they view them all the fals prophets we
have are men who have turned aside from the truth.

The man is the head & God of the woman, but let him act like a
God in virteous principles & God like conversation, walk and
deportment & such men will continue to gain influence & power
and advance in Glory to all eternity. But should they use there
power in wickedness as a tyrant they soon will be called to
render an account of their stewardship. if not found worthy
they will be hurled down to perdition & their family & kingdom
be given to another that is more worthy. Some say that a
woman cannot be saved without a man, neither can a man
without a woman. Br Joseph said he had taught the Twelve
all that he knew concerning the order of the kingdom but the
difficulty was they could not remember it as he told them, but
when it was necessary they would not be at a loss for under-
standing; & I bear record to the truth of his word before God
this day that I always had an understanding & evry thing
was brought to my mind just as he taught them to us. All the
ordinances of the Temple & building of the Alter &c. came to me just
right when they were to be attended to & could we now know
Br Hyde, Pratt & Taylor'^s feelings you would say that they could
read a man through as soon as they cast there eyes upon him.
The Apostle Paul while speaking of the Fathers & the Ancients
said that thay without us could not be made perfect [Hebrews 11:40] there
was a lack in his day & still will be to all eternity untill the
chain of that Priesthood is restored & evry spirit take a taber-
nacle that was foreordained according to the dispensation of the
will of God. I am entitled to the keys of the Priesthood
according to linage & Blood, so is Brother H. C. Kimball & many others
Have taken kingly power & grades of the Priesthood. this we
would have taught in the Temple if time had permitted.
Joseph Smith was entitled to the keys of the Priesthood according
to Blood still He was the fourth son. But when we get anoter
Temple built then we will teach you concerning these things
suffice it to say that I will extend the chain of the Prist-
hood back through the Apostolic dispensation to Father Adam
just as soon as I can get a temple built. Jesus could have
restored the order of the Pristhood in his day & brought in
the Millenium if the people would have harkened to his inst-
ructions but they rebelled & would not, & it was for this
cause that Jesus told them that all the Blood that had Been
shed from Righteous Abel down to Zechariah the Prophet should
be required at there hands. [Matthew 23:35-36]

I have a request to make of my family & that is that they
(esspecially old people) omit calling me their Father. Call
me Brother Brigham. I shall feel better when you do

for I do not consider that I am worthy of that Appelation
Father in the Priesthood implies the great head, the term
would be proper to Father Adam. Jesus had refference
to the same thing when He told his deciples not to call any
man Father on earth for their Father was in heaven. [Matthew 23:9]
The seal of the covenant that I have been speaking off
to day was what the Apostle saw previous to the destruction
of the wicked when the Angel was commanded not to fear pour
out the vials of wrath on the wicked untill the saints were sealed
in thereir forehead & when this was done they all became Father
Adams family. Those that are Adopted into my family & take me
for their councellor if I continue faithful I will preside over
them throughout all Eternity. I will stand at thereir head, and
Joseph will stand at the head of this Church & will be there
President Prophet & God to the People in this dispensation. when
we Locate I will settle my family down in the order & teach them
there duty they will then have to provide temporal Blessings for
me instead of my boarding from 40 to 50 persons as I now
do. I will administer in spiritual Blessings to them. I expect to
live in the House of the Lord & recieve & administer ordinan-
ces to my Brethren & for the dead all the year round.

President H. C. Kimball arose & addressed the meeting at some
moments. Bore testimony that what President Young had
said was true & rejoiced to meet with them &c.

Br O. Pratt also addressd the meeting a few moments
bore testimony to the truth & also rejoiced to meet with
them. There was then an intermission untill after supper
The table was well furnished & supplyed. 40 persons could
be seated at the Table at a time. the men were seated to the
right with there companion oposite them, commencing with the
Twelve President Young at there head, then in order the adopted
children begining with the 1^st that was adopted. the Band
& choir kept their seats, & continued there sweet strains of music
while the guest were partaking of the rich festival. While at the
table Brother Thomas Wolsay & John ^H.^ Tippets entered the
House they came direct fromt the from the Mormon Battalion
280 miles south of Santa fe on the River Riogrand on the 10^th
of Nov 1847^6^. they piloted 56 sick men to Fort Purbolo whare
Capt Brown esstablishment were stationed from there
came in on Pack Mules were 50 days on the way. were taken
prisoners twice by the Indians, once was sentenceed to death
by the Pawnees were 30 days without bread & 5 days witho
ut much of any thing to eat. Brought a package of 137 letters
Brought good account from fort Purbulow but rather
unfavorable from the Battalion their faces were coverd with
hair & there persons resembled a mountaineer. it was a
miracle that the lives of the men were saved from the
Indians & cold. They were seated to the table in the
guardb [garb] they arived in. their arival produced no small stir
through the camp. men & women came in all directions
to enquire after there friends in the Armey. After the men
were refreshed we went into council with them & they rehears
ed the situation of the Battallion that they had been on
half rations for three weeks when they left them & no pro[sp]-
ects of more than half rations should they attempt to cross [page torn]
mountains this winter. However report reached sSant[a fe] [page torn]

they arived that the Battalion had taken the Alpasio a strong
hold between the Riogrand and the Mountains without the
fireing of a gun. if this report is true the Bat[talion] will have an
abundance of support & likely take up winter quarters
many other remarks were made & President Young said that
if they had harkened to his council not a man of them would
have fallen but would have returned to their friends in
perfect safety.

At 7 oclok we returned to the Council
House. found the Saints rejoicing in what had heard through
the day. Elder Isaac Morley said that his soul was filled
with rejoicing to see the beauty & Harmony of the family
connexioncting links of the Priesthood that had been taught
this day: And when I look at the family connexion
I cannot but acknowledge him my leader in all things
& He looking to Joseph the Martered Prophet who has gone
to prepare the way for us, and can do more for us than
He could do if He was here. This Pristhood spoken off
if from all Eternity & will lead to eternity & will exhalt
the Saints to be Gods through faithfulness.

President Young arose & continued his remarks upon the
law of adoption granted the Brethren the privilege of asking
questions when they did not fully comprehend his meaning
The Lord introduced the law of adoption for the benefit of the
children of men as a school master to bring them back into the
covenant of the Priesthood. This Principle I am aware is
not clearly understood by many of the Elders in this Church
at the present time as it will Here after be: And I confess that
I have had ownly a smattering of those things but when it
is necessary I will attain to more knowledge ofn the subject
& consequently will be enabled to teach & practice more and
will in the mean time glorify God the bountiful giver.
I have heard Elders say they were not dependant upon any
man, I then considerd & do now that it was saying more
than I can say, for I consider that we are all dependant
one upon another for our exhaltation & that our interest
is inseperably connected. (for example) what can my family
do without me supposing they were to all turn away from me
I hold the Keys over them through which they are to receive
there exhaltation. would they would not be like sheep without
a shepherd & would be devoured by the wolves, they certainly
would. then let us change the position, & say that I would
cut off all my family, then what glory would I have with no
body to rule over but my own dear little self. To tell you my feelings
I would rather be annihilated than to be in that situation. This
is another strong proof of the Apostles saying when they declaired
that they without us could not be made perfect. Neither can
you without me nor I without you be made perfect [Doctrine and Covenants 128:15] ie if we
are faithful & without faithfulness there is no perfection on any
consideration. This rule applyes to the whole Human family.
This is the torment & misery of the disobedient spirits that they
cannot be made perfect, unless some scheme should hereafter
be introduced for their redemption. they are now without tabernacles
to dwell in ownly such as they have taken possession off unlawfully
[page torn] usurped power over. it being a part of their agency that was
[page torn] [bes]towed them which they used to the consumation of there unhappy
[page torn] [w]retched estate, it being the reward & fruits of there doings

having been given over to all manner of wickedness perm-
itted to afflict the handy work of the Lord untill they
fill up the cup of their iniquity & the Lord sayeth unto
them thou wicked & disobedient spirit thou shalt not have
power any longer to afflict my people or destroy the
works of my hands, you have forfeited your agency &
wrought thy fulness, depart Hence to the pit that I have
prepared for thee, & this is there torment, that thereir power
& agency is taken away. they are left to regret that it was
through their own disobediance that they cut the thread of
there own salvation: the reflections of which ownly serve to
torture & increase there torment & that would be the situation
of my family should they cut themselves off from me. I use
my family for an exhaample, not that I have the least fears
of their ever doing so, for I have none. I feel happy this
night because we are of one mind. still should I believe that we
were perfect & could not advance any further I should not be Happy
but to the honor power & glory of the faithful there is no end.
For your satisfaction I will show you a rule by which you may
comprehend the exhaltation of the faithful. I will use myself
as A figure, & say that I am ruling over 10 sons or subjects
[page torn] [o]wnly & soon each one of them would have 10 men sealed
to them & they would be ruler over them & that would
make me ruler over 10 Presidents or Kings whareas I was
[page torn] [r]uler over 10 subjects ownly or in other words I ruled
over one Kingdom but now I rule over 10. then let each
one get 10 more then I would be ruler over 100 Kingdoms
& so on continued to all eternity & the more honor & glory that
I could bestow upon my sons the more it would add to my
exhaltations. but to clip the thread of your exhaltation then
whare would be your your glory: it would be like the fallen
angels or devils that kept not their first esstate but were reserved
in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great
day others fell from heaven were thrust down to hell;
But if wyou wish to advance hold up the hands of your file
leader & boast him a head. should you have ten legions of
trains following on after you, you should say to your file
leader push ahead for I am coming with my train boosting
him up at the same time instead of trying to pass by him
this would stimulate him & he would say come on my
boys I will travel as fast as you can & on we would go in
one solid train to all Eternity. Before I close I will answer
on[e] question that has been asked me repetedly. Should I
[page covered] h[av]e A father Dead that has never herd this gospel, would
it [page covered] [b]e required of me to redeem him & have him adopted
to some mans family And I be adopted unto my Father
answer No. If we have to attend the ordinances of rede-
[page torn] [m]ption for our dead relatives we then become their saviors
[page torn] were we to wait to redeem our dead relatives before we
[page torn] c[o]uld link the chain of the Priesthood we would never
[page torn] [a]ccomplish it. Many other remarks were made & while
[page torn] [a]ddressing the females said sisters if you expect to call me
Br Brigham I want you to be cleanly keep your faces, hands
[page torn] [&] skin clean from head to foot your clothes dishes & Houses
[page torn] [cl]ean also your children & teach them manners, & when
[page torn] [y]ou mix up Bread dont have a dozen flyies in your tray

I know that the women generally rule there Husbands
& the children their Mothers. But when a woman under-
takes to rule me I want Her to be so secret about it that I
cannot catch Her at it. Now I do not want the Brethren
from my remarks to abuse thereir wives, but treat them
kindly: do there Heavy luging but dont wash there dishes
as some men do. At the close of the remarks there was a
little exercise by music & dancing & the meeting was dismised