JAN 1^st, 1853 The commencement of a new year
in the midst of a New Era. O how time
flies And how great, how important how magnificent, And how
mighty are the events born on its wings it is the opening of a dispen
sation that swallows up all other dispensations since the world
began the deeds of the last thousand years sink into insigniff-
icans in comparrison to the work of a year at the present time
The Heavens gaze upon the scenes as they pass with deep interes
while the whole earth beholds the scenes in wonder & amacem[en]t
The ancients Prophets sayw by vision & revelation the scenes which
were to follow each other in quick succession in this age in the
esstablishment of the great Kingdom of our God to be thrown
down no more forever. The little stone cut out of the mountain
without hands that was to roll forth untill it became a mountain
& filled the whole earth & broke in peaces & subdued all other
kingdoms & was to stand forever as seen by the prophet Daniel
has commenced its work. that Church & Kingdom of God is
now on the earth & is being esstablished which must endure & the
world are gaziong upon it, it is now located in these vallies of the
mountains like a city set upon a hill which cannot be hid. its
first Prophet & Founder has laid down his life in its defence
He has been martered, & his blood is crying from the ground
for vangance upon a great Nation. many others have fallen
a martyr to the truth & the gospel of Jesus Christ since the organiza-
tion of this church in A.D. 1830 & many others may, yet the
Church is bound to arise & prosper untill the Zion & Kingdom
of our God shall stand forth in bold relief containing all that
power, strength, might, majesty & dominion which God has
decreed concerning her & been spoken through the mouths of
his Holy Prophets since the world began. This Church & Kingdom
has continued steadily to arise since its first organization amid
oppostion, oppression, persecution, & martyrdom untill it has become
esstablished in the midst of thes everlasting hills & mountains not ownly
gaining strength in church but also in state. Ephraims Nobles are
of himself & his Govonor has procedid out of the midst of him. And
while truth inspires my heart shall I fear to write it NoShall I fear
that the present or future generations shall read those truths which
are burning in my breast enkindled by the Holy Alters of Heaven No
God forbid for the voice of truth whispers to me that our govornors
Presidents & senators now arising out of the Kingdom of God will
be inspired to take bold measures, to perform daring acts, rise
up in their stregngth & power & stregth [stretch] forth their strong arms
& save from annihilation that Holy instrument the Constitutin
of the United States, which the American People are about to sell
for a mess of potage & triying to consine it to the grave. Their is a
power who has decreed that liberty freedom & the rights of the
righteous & the meeke of the earth shall not wholey die & that power
is God. And He has decreed to inspire & nerve up the soul the
sinew & the Arm of his Govornors Senators & prophets &
Arm them for the contest, and defend them in their warfare
That Nation, or Kingdom or Toungue or people, from this time forth
who shall rise up against Zion & the church & Kingdom of God
to oppress her. They shall be visited by the Judgments of the
Most High they shall be overthrown & brought to desolation & may
God spedily Hasten it May the Almighty begin this year to rend the kingdoms
of this world with his Servants & continue it untill All nations shall acknowled[ge] ther is
a God in Israel

Jan 1^st 1853 The quorum of the Twelve Apostles met at the Council
House at 8 oclok being eleven in number the whole quorum except Elder
Orson Pratt (who is at Washington preaching the gospel) The quorum marched
to President Brigham Youngs & wished him a Happy New Year President
Young received them with Joy & gladness & after the greetings were over
President Young Asked what he should treat them with. The senti-
ment was instanteneous in the hearts of all the quorum & spoken by president
Orson Hyde, treat us with your blessings then President Young blessed the
quorum of the Twelve & said they always had his blessings. And the Twelve
Apostles felt & realized that the blessings of the Presidency of the Church
& Kingdom of God was of far more worth & benefit to them than any
earthly gift or the Treasures of the earth their hearts were full of joy
& gladness which was unspeakable at the blessing of once more having
the privilege of returning from the four corners of the earth & beholding each
others faces & sitting in council together & meeting with the president
& his counsel & receiving blessings at their hands. The Twelve left their bless[in]gs
upon President Young & his house while the Twelve were paying their respts
to President Young the band was playing a lively tune in front of the House
the quorum saluted the two bands with a Happy New Year & received in
return some excellent music. The quorum then visited President Heber
C Kimball & wished him a happy new Year. He also received
the Twelve with gladness & gave unto them his blessings which was also
Highly prized. In his blessings unto them He said his faith & feelings were
that no one of the present quorum of Apostles should ever fall & no power
should ever take their crown & kingdom but they should come forth
in the morning of the first resurrection & be exhalted to glory immortal-
ity & eternal lives, and their blessings should increase from this time
henceforth & for ever & they should not want bread but they should
have means to support themselves & families. My Feelings have ever
been good towards this quorum & ever will be. The Twelve left their
blessings upon president Kimball & household. And next visited Father
John Smith the Aged Patriarch & wished him a happy New Year. He
manifested much Joy & satisfaction in seeing eleven of the Twelve
Apostles beneath his roof. This venerable Patriarch also bestowed upon
the Twelve his blessings & said they should live to see the Kingdom of God ^& Zion^ ess
tablished to be thrown down no more forever & that none of them should
ever fall but should have part in the first resurrection, no power should
take their crown but they should be blessed in all their labours in
the earth & that the blessings of God should increase upon them from
this time forth both temporal & spiritual. The Apostles also left their
blessings upon the Patriarch & his household they next visited President
Willard Richards He also received them with gladness & an open hart
they wished him a Happy new year. He also gave the Twelve his
blessing He believed this a begining of an eventful year in the History
of this Church & kingdom on the earth & he believed each suceeding
year would be more & more so untill the coming of the son of man
He said the Twelve were ever before him in his thoughts prayers &
blessings notwithstanding they might be scattered to the fore cornors of the earth
they were men of God & were destined to perform a great & mighty work in
the earth & they should live till they were satisfyed with life they should
see light & truth prevail over sin tradition & error & triumph in the earth.
The Twelve next went to the house of Elder P P Pratt & there united with his family in singing the return
of the Twelve & other songs of Zion. The spirit & power of God rested upon the quorum of the
Twelve while their hearts were filled with praise & thanksgiving to God in all their visits
on this the new year of 1853. The bands also continued their salutations to Presidents Kimball
Richards & Patriarch Smith & many others in various parts of the city & their enlivening
music was evry whare received with open ears & Harts of Joy God bless the bands

during the evening the quorum of the Twelve with the Presidency with about
200 Latter Day Saints met with their familis at the Social Hall & dedicated
it for the purpose for which it was built, after which they went forth
in the dance & all seemed to enjoy themselves well