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Unless requested I shall not send anymore of the Times & Seasons than will
fill your complement of the present volumne. If you wish any more please
let us know in time.
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Dear Brother:
I embrace an oppertunity
now offered of sending you a few lines, as I feel
convinced that any intelligence respecting Nauvoo
must be interesting to you, particularly as you
left at a time of general excitement.
Since you left we have had the Governor here
with four or five hundred troops: his ostensible
object for visiting us was for the purpose of resis-
ting a mob which had it was supposed would
gather against the mormons, under the pretext
of gathering together to have a grand military pa-
rade & a wolf hunt; but for the real object of
mob & plunder. I had a visit from his excellency
& did not forget to remind of some of his movements
in his Carthage campaign. It is unnecessary
to enter into particulars as you will have received all
the information relative to this affair in the papers.
I must however relate one little anecdote. The Gov.
one of his aids, Major Baker, a member of Congress, & some
other gentlemen of distinction we're in the Governor's
room at the "Mansion." Generals Rich, Miller & myself
called upon him we entered into a desultory conversa-
tion, & among the general remarks, his excellency stated
that he knew nothing about military tactics. "I know
nothing about them gentlemen, I am entirely igno-
rant of them" &c. &c. I remarked we had a good opper-
tunity of proving that governor, during the last
campaign, our legion have got a first-rate joke
on you sir, in what? he asked. I replied, in
sending out Capt. Singleton to press take com-
mand of the "Nauvoo Legion." He felt a good
deal chagringed at me beleiving his own statement
relative to his ignorance; he tried to excuse him
self, but only made the matter worse. Elder
Brigham Young is now Luftenant General & all
things are going on well in the legion. We have
just sent for & obtained 250 United states muskets
we have purchased them ourselves & are not depen-
dant upon others for them. We are also contem-
plating going into the various branches of man-
turing & shall be able this winter, we beleive to
supply all the different tradesmen with all
the work they can do. A few cutlers would be
very serviceable here. Several of our storekeepers
who have been enemies are about moving out,
& we have general peace. we are going to make our
own goods, & shall not need them.
The church was never in a more prosperous
condition that at the present. Sidneyism & every
other ism is flating out & peace order & union
prevails. I think that we never had so large
an assembly at a conference, & there never was
more business transacted in the time nor did
I ever see so much harmony nor a greater confidence
manifested in the authorities of the church.
There were upwards of ^about^ 500 I beleive ordained into
the seventies, & 100 into the High Priests Quorum
We have divided the United States of into
different districts & have appointed one or more
high priests to preside in those different dis-
tricts, & to take charge of the churches embraced
in their several bounderies & to preside at
the different conferences that shall be held an[nu]-
ally at the most convenient point in [hole in page]
respective districts; much the same as the
churches are organized in England. This makes
it convenient as the High Priest can report to
their presidents, & the presidents to the Twelve.
There are now eleven quorums of the seven-
ties organized & filled up, & a twelvth forming, so
you will perceive that we have not been idle. the
first seventy have generally been made presidents
hence there are presidents over the several seven-
ties & a presidency appointed over the whole, so
hence the presidents of the seventies can report
to the first presidency of the seventies & they to the
Twelve.
a few business matters & I must close. I never
receive one of your "stars," although I receive every
other foreign paper regularly. Be so kind as inform
those persons who send papers to us (for I know not
to whom we are indebted for them) to have them directed
them to the Editor of the "Nauvoo Neighbor," instead
of to John Taylor, as it saves postage. Whatever
charges there are on those papers I hope you will
defray & charge to my a/c. I should be pleased to get
the "Illustrated London News," or "Punch."
We have forwarded 200 each of the 16, 17, & 18 nos of the "Times
& Seasons," with Br. Cuerdon. I should be pleased to hear from
you please inform me whether you have received the whole
of the numbers up to the present, & how you have disposed
of them. I need not inform you that a little money
would be very acceptable. I should feel obliged if you
could raise me some in the spring, as I have some
payments to meet then. Mrs. Taylor joins in love to you
& Sister Woodruff. God help you with all the blessings of
the new & everlasting covenant. The Twelve are generally
well My love to Br. Clark ^Hadlock^ Ward & all saints. John Taylor
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Mr. Wilford Woodruff
No 36 Chapel st
Liverpool
John Taylor
Nauvoo Oct 13 1844
Answered Jan 13th 1845
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