Journal (January 1, 1843 – December 31, 1844)

JOURNAL

W. WOODRUFF

4.
January 1^st 1843
to
December 31, 1844

WILFORD WOODRUFF'^S
DAILY JOURNAL
AND
HISTORY
IN
1843

January 1, 1843 ~ Sunday

JAN 1^st 1843

I spent this day by starting at sunrise
in company with Mrs Woodruff & Br
Newbury & two sisters in a two hors
sleigh & crossing the Mississippi River on
the ice & travled 15 miles into Iowa Territory
& Joined Mr Abram Newbury & Miss Eliza
Duty in Matrimony. we then took diner &
returned home making in all 30 miles
while the thermometer stood 10 degrees below zero

January 2, 1843 ~ Monday

2^nd It is an important erea in the history
of the Church about these days. Joseph Smith
the Prophet & Seer of the Church has been
persecuted & driven into the willderness from
his family & Church in Nauvoo in consequen
ce of illegal oaths, affidavits & edicts, from men in
authority govornors &c, But having a new
govornor Joseph Smith came forth & deliverd
himself up to the authorities & demanded a
trial, & it has been granted him within a few
days past before the circuit court of the
United States & has been honorably acquited
according to the law of the Land, & is now
returning to Nauvoo ^to^ have a jubilee. Elder
John Taylor has gone to Springfield with
Joseph & about 20 other Brethren which leaves
the Printing Office in my care which makes
much business for me more than I can con-
veniently attend to.

January 3, 1843 ~ Tuesday to January 8, 1843 ~ Sunday

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 My time was spent in the Printing
Office

January 8, 1843 ~ Sunday

Jan 8^th Sunday I spent the time a[t] hom[e]

January 9, 1843 ~ Monday to January 14, 1843 ~ Saturday

9^th, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14 was spent in the Office

January 15, 1843 ~ Sunday

15 Sunday I spent the time at home

January 16, 1843 ~ Monday to January 18, 1843 ~ Wednesday

16, 17, & 18. was spent in the printing office

January 17, 1843 ~ Tuesday

17^th This was an interesting day, a day
that was appointed by general procklama-
tion for humiliation fasting & Prayer
& thanksgiving for the release & delivery
we had received Meetings were appointed
in each ward throughout the city I met
at President Joseph Smith's & we had
an interesting time Br Joseph spoke
to some length on the kingdom of God
& the Baptism of John. he said the kingdom
of God was set upon the earth in all ages
from the days of Adam to the presant
time whenever there was a man on earth
who had authority to Administer the
ordinances of the gospel or a priest of God
& unto such a man God did reveal his will
concerning the Baptism of John it was
the Baptism of repentance unto the remission
of sins for the receiving of the Holy Ghost
& it was the gospel Baptism. These were
questions which had been in debate for
many years & in some degree among the
Saints. He also spoke upon the subject
of honor & dishonor &c many prayers &
exhertations were made I spoke twice &
felt much of the spirit of the Lord & had an
interesting time

January 18, 1843 ~ Wednesday

Jan 18^th Joseph Smith the Prophet & his Lady
made a feest for his friends as a time
of rejoiceing with them in consequence of his
deliverence from oppression we had an inter-
esting day about 20 of those who went
with him to Springfield & also the Twelve &
many others numbering in all about 75
persons. Gen Law & Miss Eliza Snow had compos-
ed each of them a song which was printed in
a hand Bill & sung as it was vary appropriate
to the occasion after having our feast over
& spending the day isn social conversation
we returned to our homes rejoiceing that
[we] could again have the privilige of enjoying the socie-
ty of our prophet & seer

January 19, 1843 ~ Thursday

^Orson Pratts Resteration^

19^th This was also an interesting day in
consequence of the return of Orson Pratt
to the quorum of the Twelve he had returned
& repented in dust & ashes as it were for opposing
Joseph & the Twelve &c. we met at Brigham
Youngs the first Presidency & the Twelve
& conversed over the subject & Orson Pratt
desired much to return to the quorum of the
Twelve. We had an interesting time together
we then assembled at the river & Joseph
the Seer went into the river from the
Ice & Baptized Orson Pratt & his wife &
Widow Granger Joseph confirmed them
& ordaind Orson Pratt to the Apostleship &
& his former standing which caused Joy to
our hearts. Elder Amasa Lyman who had
been appointed in his stead as a member of
the quorum of the Twelve was taken into the
first Presidency which left the place again vac-
ant for Orson Pratt

January 20, 1843 ~ Friday to January 21, 1843 ~ Saturday

Jan 20, 21^st. I spent the time in the Printing office

January 22, 1843 ~ Sunday

22^nd Sunday President Joseph Smith
deliverd an interesting discourse at the
Temple to an inter large congregation among
other things he treated upon the kingdom
of God & the baptism of John. He remarked
some say the kingdom of God was not set
up on earth untill the day of pentecost & that
John did not preach the Baptism of repen
tance for the remission of sins But I say in
the name of the Lord that the kingdom
of God was set up on earth from the days
of Adam to the present time whenever
there has been a righteous man on earth unto
whom God revealed his word & gave power
& authority to administer in his name:
And whare theire is a Priest of God, A minister
who has power & Authority from God to
administer in the ordinances of the Gospel
& officiate in the Priesthood of God, theire
is the kingdom of God & in consequence
of rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ & the
Prophets whom God hath sent, the judgm-
ents of God hath rested upon people, cities &
nations in various ages of the world, which
was the case with the cities of Sodom & gomo-
roah who were destroyed for rejecting the
Prophets. Now I will give my testimony
I care not for man I speak boldly & faith-
fully & with authority. How is it with the
kingdom of God, whare did the kingdom
of God begin, whare their is no kingdom
of God their is no salvation. What consti-
tutes the kingdom of God

Whare there is a prophet, a priest, or a righ-
teous man unto whom God gives his oracles
there is the kingdom of God, & whare the
oracles of God are not there the kingdom
of God is not. In these remarks I have
no allusion to the kingdoms of the earth, we
will keep the Laws of the Land, we do not
speak against them we never have, & we
can hardly make mention of the state
of Missouri of our persecutions there &c
but what the cry goes forth that we are
guilty of larceny, Bur[g]lary, arson treason &
murder &c &c which is fals, we speak of
the kingdom of God on the earth not the
kingdoms of mem. The plea of many in
this day is that we have no right to receive
revelations. But if we do not get revelations
we do not have the oracles of God & if they
have not the oracles of God they are not
the people of God But say you what will
become of the world or the various professors
of religion who do not believe in revelation &
the oracles of God as continued to his
Church in all ages of the world when he
has a people on earth. I Tell you in the
name of Jesus Christ they will be damned
& when you get into the eternal
world you will find it to be so they cannot
escape the damnation of hell

As touching the gospel & Baptism that John
preached I would say that John came preach-
ing the gospel for the remission of sins he
had his authority from God & the oricles
of God were with him & the kingdom of [God]

for a season seemed to rest be with John
alone. The Lord promised Zecheriah that he
should have a son [Luke 1:13], which was a desendant
of Aaron & the Lord promised that the
priesthood should continue with Aaron & his
seed throughout their generations [Exodus 40:15].
Let No man take this honour upon himself
except he be called of God as was Aaron, &
Aaron received his call by Revelation [Hebrews 5:4]. An
angel of God Also appeared unto Zecheriah
while in the Temple [and said] that he should have a
son whose name should be John & he should
be filled with the Holy Ghost [Luke 1:11-13] Zecheriah was
a priest of God & officiating in the Temple &
John was a priest after his fathe[r] & held the keys
of the aronic priesthood & was called of God
to preache the Gospel & the kingdom of God
& the Jews as a nation having departed
from the Law of God & the gospel the Lord
prepared the way for transfering it to the gentiles
But says one the kingdom of God could
not be set up in the days of John for John
said the Kingdom was at hand But I would
ask if it could be any nearer to them than
to be in the hands of John, the people need
not wait for the days of Pentecost to find
the kingdom of God for John had it with
him, & he came forth from the wilderness
crying out repent ye for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand [Matthew 3:2] as much as to kaul out
here I have got the kingdom of God & I am
coming after you. Ive got the kingdom
of God & you can get it & I am coming
after you & if you dont receive it you
will be damned & the scriptures represent

that all Jerrusalem went out unto Johns Baptism
Here was a legal administrator, & those that were
baptized were subjects for a king & also the laws
& oracles of God were there therefore the king-
dom of God was there, for no man could have
better authority to Administer than John &
our Savior submitted to that authority himself
by being Baptized By John therefore the
kingdom of God was set up upon the earth
even in the days of John their is a difference
between the kingdom of God & the fruits &
blessings that flow from that kingdom
becaus their was more miracles, gifts, gracsvisions
healings, tongues &c in the days of Jesus Christ
& the Apostles & on the day of pentecost than
under Johns Administration, it does not
prove by any means that John had not the
kingdom of God; any more than it would
that a woman had not a milk pan because she
had not a pan of milk, for while the pan might
be compared to the kingdom the milk might
be compared to the blessings of the kingdom
John was a priest after the order of Aaron
& had the keys of that priesthood & came forth
preaching repentance & Baptism for the remis-
sion of sins but at the same time crys out
there cometh one after me more mighter than
I the latches of whose shoes I am not worthy
to unlose, & Christ came according to the words of
John, & he was greater than John because he
held the keys of Melchisedic Priesthood
& the kingdom of God & had before revealed the
priesthood to Moses, yet Christ was baptised
by John to fulfill all righteousness & Jesus
in his teaching says upon this rock I will
build my Church & th[e] gates of hell shall not

prevail against it [Matthew 16:18] what rock, revelation
Again he says except ye are born of the water
& the spirit ye cannot inter into the kingdom
of God [John 3:5], And though the heavens & earth
should pass away my words shall not pass away [Matthew 24:35]
If a man is born of the water & the spirit
he can get into the kingdom of God
it is evident the kingdom of God was on
the earth & John prepared subject[s] for
kingdom by preaching the gospel to them
& Baptising them & he prepared the way [doo]
before the Savoior or came as a fore runner
& prepared subject for the preaching of
Christ, & & Christ preached through
Jerrusalem on the same ground whare
John had preached & when the Apostles were
raised up they worked in Jerrusalem
& Jesus commanded them to tarry there
untill they were endowed with power from
on high had they not work to do in Jer
rusalem, they did work, & prepared a
people for the pentecost The kingdom of
God was with them before the day of pen-
tecost as well as afterwords & it was allso
with John & he preached the same gospel
& Baptism that Jesus & the Apostles preached
after him The endowment was to
prepare the desiples for their mission into
the world. Whenever men can find out
the will of God & find an Administrator
legally authorized from God there is the
kingdom of God but whare these are not, the
kingdom of God is not All the ordinances
systems, & Administrations on the earth is
of no use to the children of men unless

they are ordained & authorized of God
for nothing will save a man but a leger [legal]
Administrator for none others will be
acknowledge either by God or Angels
thei I know what I say, I understand
my mishion & business. God Almighty is my
shield & what can man do if God is my
friend I shall not be sacrafised untill
my time comes then I shall be offered
freely, all flesh is is as grass, & a governor
is no better than other men when he dies he
is but a bag of dung I thank God for preserving
me from my enemies I have no enmity
I have no desire but to do all mem [men] good I feel
to pray for all mem we dont ask any people
to throw away any good they have got
we ownly ask them to come & get more
what if all the world should embrace this
gospel they would then see eye to eye & the
blessings of God would Be poured out upon
the people which is my whol soul Anen

January 23, 1843 ~ Monday to January 28, 1843 ~ Saturday

Jan 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, & 28. was spent in the Printing Office

January 29, 1843 ~ Sunday

29^th Sunday spent the time at home

January 30, 1843 ~ Monday to January 31, 1843 ~ Tuesday

30 & 31 Spent the time in the Printing Office

February 1, 1843 ~ Wednesday to February 4, 1843 ~ Saturday

Feb 1, 2, 3 & 4. Spent my time as usual in the
Printing Office We commenced this week
on Monday to sterrotype [stereotype] the Doctrins &
Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints

February 5, 1843 ~ Sunday

Feb 5^th Sunday Spent the time at home

February 6, 1843 ~ Monday to February 11, 1843 ~ Saturday

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11 Spent this week in the printing office
with the exception of Monday was the election
& a warm contest it was esspecially in the evening

February 12, 1843 ~ Sunday

12 Sunday I spent the time at home writing

February 13, 1843 ~ Monday to February 18, 1843 ~ Saturday

13, 14 15 16 17 18. Spent the time in the printing
office get along well with the doctrins &
covenants But we have exceding cold weathr

February 19, 1843 ~ Sunday

19 Sunday I spent the time at home

February 20, 1843 ~ Monday

20 spent the time in the printing office

February 21, 1843 ~ Tuesday

21^st A public meeting was held at the
Temple for the purpose of Advancing the
cause of the Nauvoo House & other matters
thousands were assembled together &
were addressed by several persons. Peter
Haws addressed the meeting & was followed
By L. Woodworth who adressed the meeting
under a figure of a pagan Prophet yet he
made many interesting & appropriate remarks
upon a variety of subjects esspecially concerning
the Nauvoo House

President Joseph Smith arose & Addressed the
meeting as a Christian Prophet & addressed for
about an hour much to our edefycation, many
remarks he made were plain & pointed some
vary applicable to Dr Foster which he afterwards
acknowledged to be true Joseph said the pagan
prophet had prophesied one thing that was

true viz that if we did not build the temple &
Nauvoo house it would proove the ruin of the
place that if we did not build those buildings
we might as well leave the place & that it was
as necessary to build one as the other, & many
other things were said much to the purpose

February 22, 1843 ~ Wednesday to February 25, 1843 ~ Saturday

22, 23, 24, & 25 Was spent in the printing offic

February 26, 1843 ~ Sunday

26 I spent the time at home writing

February 27, 1843 ~ Monday to February 28, 1843 ~ Tuesday

27, 28. Was spent in the printing office

March 1, 1843 ~ Wednesday

March 1^st 1843 This is my Birthday I
am thirty six years of age this day time
flies & waiteth for no am [man] it is exceding cold
weather the river cloesed by ice from Nauvoo
to Montrose on the 15 of last November & it is not
open yet but teams have crossed continually
from shore to shore

March 2, 1843 ~ Thursday to March 4, 1843 ~ Saturday

2, 3, & 4 I spent my time in the printing office

March 5, 1843 ~ Sunday

5^th Spent the day at home

March 6, 1843 ~ Monday to March 9, 1843 ~ Thursday

6, 7, 8, & 9 Spent the time in the printing office

March 10, 1843 ~ Friday

[FIGURE] 10^th I Wilford Woodruff testify that
about 7 oclock PM I discoverd a stream of
light in the south west quarter of the heavens
the rays of Light were in the form of a Broadsword
with the hilt downward the Blade raised pointing
from the west south west raised to an angle
of 45 degrees from the horizen & extending nearly
or within 2 or 3 degrees to the zenith of the degree

whare the sign appeared, this sign gradually
disappeared from half past 7 & at 9 oclock
immediately disappeared

The following is the declaration of Joseph
the Seer conserning the foregoing sign

As sure as there is a God who sits enthroned in
the heavens & as sure as he ever spoke by me
so shure sure theire will be a spedy & Bloody
war & the broad sword seen last evening
is the sure sign thereof

March 11, 1843 ~ Saturday

11^th Saturday I spent the day in the Printing office

March 12, 1843 ~ Sunday

12 Spent the day at home writing

March 13, 1843 ~ Monday

13^th Spent the day [all] in the office in the
evening I had a view of the sword in the heavens

March 14, 1843 ~ Tuesday

14^th At about half past seven oclock in
the evening the sword which had
made its appearenc for several evenings
past moved up near the moon & formed
itself into a large ring round the moon,
two Balls immediately appeared in the
ring opposite of each other sumthing in the
form of sundogs annother half ring ishues
from those Balls sumthing in the shape of
a horse shoe extending outside of the first ring
with one line runing through the centre of the moon
according to the following cut

facsimile [FIGURES]

March 15, 1843 ~ Wednesday to March 18, 1843 ~ Saturday

15, 16 17, & 18. Spent the time in the printing office
we still have exceding cold weather
the thermometer stands freequently at
zero the river has been frozen over so that
people have continually crossed the river for
more than four months from Nauvoo to Montrose
A circumstanc that never was known befor by
the oldest inhabitants of this region.

March 19, 1843 ~ Sunday

19^th Sunday I spent the day at home writing

March 20, 1843 ~ Monday to March 25, 1843 ~ Saturday

20, 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25. The week was spent
in the printing office the weather has
been uncommonly cold mostly through the
week the thermometer has stood at zero a
number of days the signs in the heavens
are making theire appearance theire has
been singular signs appeared in & about the
sun for sever[al] days this week. O Pratt
has taken a sketch of the same which will
appear in the Time & Seasons their has also
been other signs the light that has been represe
nted as a sword has made its appearance
for several nights past in the same place &
also on the opposite of the horizen has been
seem A black streak about the size of the
light one, while one is as black as darkness
the other has considerable of the appearance
of the blaze of a comet & some have
contended that it was a comet but it
cannot be a comet for it appears about
7 oclock & disappears about 9 oclock rema
ining about two hours thus it appears that
the signs that Joel & Jesus spoke of
are making their appearance

March 26, 1843 ~ Sunday

March 26^th Sunday I spent the day at home
I looked over the Mail that brought our
exchange papers & found them mostly
vary destitute of news of interest except
the case of Mackenzie which is still exciting
the public mind & will probably be the longest
before it is closed of any case ever tried in
the United States in consequence of the hanging
Spencer, Small & another person on board
of the Sommers in consequence of an exp-
ected mutiny. Their is also some wars
& rumours of wars earthquakes & fires &
stormes, & murder throughout the land

March 27, 1843 ~ Monday to March 31, 1843 ~ Friday

27, 28, 29, 30, & 31. I spent this week
in the printing office as usual. It still holds
cold weather & no prospect yet of river
opening

March 31, 1843 ~ Friday

On the 31^st friday I spent the Afternoon
at Mr Lucian Woodworth's in company
with Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Heber
C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, A Br Chase with our
wives we had a feast of a fat turkey &
had a good time

April 1, 1843 ~ Saturday

April 1^st It is a pleasent day & thaws some
it is expe[c]ted there will be a great rise of wate[r]
in the Missisippi this spring as there is
5 or 6 feet of snow on a level up the river

April 2, 1843 ~ Sunday

2 Sunday we have another snow storm
to day the river has is still frozen
over so that teams cross

The following is the description of the sun

HALOS AND PHARHELIA

This morning, bet[w]een the housrs of six and
nine oclock, the heavens exhibited a splen-
did and delightful appearance, of halos or
circles accompanied with parhelia or mock
suns. Clouds of a white & fleecy appearance
were at the time floating in the atmosphere,
but so thin as not to entirely obscure the blue
sky the wind blue vary gently from the west
by northwest. The cold being intense essp-
ecially for the time of year and small crysta-
ls of ice or snow were visible s floating in the air
The following diagram represents these beau-
tiful phenomena as they appeared about half
past seven oclock A.M. The magnitudes of the
circles given in the following decription may not
be exact as I was destitute of the proper inst
ruments for their accurate measurement.

[FIGURE cut out from newspaper]

1^st Let z be the zenith
directly under which
the observer is statio
ned looking to the
east let the outer
circle represent the
horizon's the tru
sun about 18°
above the horizon
surrounded by a
vary bright prism-
atic circle not
far from 45° de
in diameter; the lower
limb of which exten-
ded below the horizen
nearly 41–2°. Its breadth
and colours were ab[o]ut the
same as that of a common
rainbow nearly all the prismatic colours

were discernible the red being on the concave
part of the circle next [to] the sun. On each
side of the sun at a and b towards the north
and south there were two mock suns of
different colours vary splendid & bright
in their appearance.

2nd The sun was
encircled by another halo, k n i m, much
larger than the former, and parellel to it
being nearly 90° in diameter and its lower
limb being sunk below the horizen about
27° It exhibited the same colours as the
first though not so bright. ^3rd^ At the top of
these circles at e and i, were two inverted
arches whose common centre seemed
to lay in the zenith. The upper arch f i h
was excedingly brilliant and beautifully
coloured and appeared to be about
54° degrees in diameter and that of the
lower one d c e about 99°. Annother
Parhelion or mock sun appeared in the
middle of the lower arch, at c whare it
coincided with the circle first described
but its colours and brightness were much
inferior to those of the collateral mock
suns at a and b. 4^th There appeared
a circle in b s a n t r, much larger
than any I have yet described being
about 144° in diameter and of a uniform
whiteness. It was about 18 degrees above
the horizen, and parallel to it passing through
the tru sun, s, and the collateral parhelia
a, and b and also through two other
parhelia, t and r, sumthing about
90 or 100° from the sun one towards
the north & the other towards the south.

The parhelia t and r were of a whitish
colour and not vary distinctly seen. The
parhelia t and r were of a whitish colour
and not vary distinc[t]ly seen. The intersec-
tions, m and n, of this circle with the
k i m were rendered more distinctly
seen. the intersections m and n of this
circle with the circle k i m were renderd
more distinctly visible than other
portions of the two circles [FIGURES]
[FIGURES]

O Pratt A.M.

Professer of Mathematics in the University
of the City of Nauvoo March 23rd 1843

April 3, 1843 ~ Monday to April 5, 1843 ~ Wednesday

April 3, 4, 5. I spent the time in the print
ing office

April 6, 1843 ~ Thursday

[FIGURE] April 6^th Jubilee 1843 April 6^th 1843
The conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints met at the Temple
of the Lord at Nauvoo at 10 oclock AM
It held thursday friday & Saturday 3 days
It is the commencment of the fourteenth
year of the Church which makes it the com-
mencement of the Jubilee we had an intere-
sting time through the conference

April 13, 1843 ~ Thursday

April 13^th ^12^ The Steem Boat Amaram arived
at Nauvoo with about 230 Saints from
England led by Elder Lorenzo Snow who
had been in Englang about two years laboring
he was with me in London we all felt to welcom
him & the Saints to our shores

April 14, 1843 ~ Friday

14^th ^12^ The Steem Boat Maid of Iowa arived
with about 250 saints who had been in
St Louis through the winter many
were my old friends & acquaintance
P P Pratt & Dr Levi Richards were among
the number, the Saints were made welcome
& were glad to arive in Nauvoo

April 15, 1843 ~ Saturday

15^th The New emegrants assembled at the
Temple & received an interesting discourse
from President Joseph Smith which was
truly interesting to the Saints in general

April 16, 1843 ~ Sunday

April 16^th
President J. Smith Addressed the assem-
bly of the saints at the temple of the Lord
upon the subject of the saints death, burial
& resurrection of the saints. He had been
requested to preach a funeral sermon by
several persons who had died lost friends
& he had Just Received information that
Elder Lorenzo Barnes had died in England
we received this information by a letter from
Elder P. P. Pratt. After reading the letter he
addressed the assembly in a vary feeling
interesting & edefying manner among
many other remarks he said he should
have been more reconciled to the death of Elder
barnes could his bodey have been laid in
the grave in Nauvoo or among the saints, he
said he had vary peculiar feelings relative
to recieving an honorable burial with his fathers
he considered Nauvoo would be a burying
place of the saints & should he die he considered
it would be a great Blessing to be buried with
the saints & esspecially to be buried with his father
yes he wanted to lie by the side of his father
that when the trump of God should sound
& the voice of God should say ye saints
arise, that when the tomb should birst he
could arise from the grave & first salute
his father & say O my father, & his father
say O my Son!! as they took each other by
the heand he wished next to salute his brothers
& sisters & then the saints & he said it was
upon this principle that the ancients were
so particular to have an honorable burial with
their fathers as in the case of Joseph, before his
death he made his kindred promise to carry

his bones to the land of Canann & they did
so they embalmed his body took it to the land
of Canaan & buryed it with his fathers
their is a glory in this that many do not
comprehend. It is true that in the
resurrection that the bodies will be caught
up to meet the Lord & the saints will all be
brought together though they were scattered
upon the face of the whole earth yet they
would not as readily salute each other as
though they lay down & rose up together
from the same bed. To bring it to the under-
standing it would be upon the same principle
as though two who were vary friends indeed
should lie down upon the same bed at night
locked in each other embrace talking of their
love & should awake in the morning together
they could immediately renew their
conversation of love even while risings from
their bed but if theiy were alone & in
seperate apartments they could not as
readily salute each other as though they
were together. He remarked that should
he live & have an opportunity of gathering
his friends who had died together he intended
to do it but if he should not live to do
it himself he hoped that some of his frie
friends would. He wished all of the
saints to be comforted with the victory
they were to gain by the resurrection
it is sufficient to encorage the saint to
overcome in the midst of evry trial trouble
& tribulation though thunders roar & earth
quakes bellow, lightnings flash & wars are
upon evry hand yet suffer not a joint
to tremble nor let not your heart faint

for the great Eloheem will deliver you
& if not before the resurrection will set you
eternally free from all these things from
pain sorrow & death. I have labored hard
& sought evry way to try to prepare this people
to comprehend the things that God is unfold-
ing to me In speaking of the resurrection I wou-
ld say that God hath shown unto me a vission
of the resurrection of the dead & I saw the
graves open & the saints as they arose took each
other by the hand even before they got up or
while getting up & great Joy & glory rested
upon them

April 17, 1843 ~ Monday

17^th I spent my time in the printing Office

April 18, 1843 ~ Tuesday

18^th I met in conference with the Twelve
& President J Smith not being Presant the conf
erance adjourned untill next day

April 19, 1843 ~ Wednesday

19^th Met again in council with the Twelve
President J. Smith met with us & counciled
us to take a mission in the East to obtaine
means to build the Nauvoo house as we were
appointed so to do by the conference the
Following persons were named of the
quorum of the Twelve to take the mission
to hold conferences & obtained means &c
Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Orson
Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wm Smith, W. Woodruff,
& G. A. Smith, & Also to have Elder
Page Join us in the east. Also Elder
R. Hedlock, S. Jaimes & Carnes were
appointed to go to England, & Addison
Pratt & three others to go ^to^ the Sandwich
Islands

April 20, 1843 ~ Thursday to April 21, 1843 ~ Friday

20 & 21 I spent in the Printing Office

April 22, 1843 ~ Saturday

22nd ^29^ I rode to Augusta on skunk River
with B Young Joseph Young, H C.
Kimball, & G A Smith & Peter Haws to
hold a conferance.

April 23, 1843 ~ Sunday

23rd ^30^ Sunday we held a conferance at
Augusta had a good time we preached
the Nauvoo House & many Promised
to assist in building it. We found about
two hundred Saints in this place & had
started a flourishing village three sawmills &

two flouring mills & one of the best
water privileges I ever met with

April 24, 1843 ~ Monday

24^th ^May 1^ we returned home to Nauvoo ^40 mile^

April 25, 1843 ~ Tuesday to April 29, 1843 ~ Saturday

25, 26, 27, 28, & 29 was spent in the prin-
ting office

April 30, 1843 ~ Sunday

30^th Sunday I attended meeting at the
Temple a vary windy day Wm Smith
& O. Hyde preached

May 1, 1843 ~ Monday to May 5, 1843 ~ Friday

May 1^st 2^nd 3^rd, 4 5 & 6 I spent the
time as usual in the printing office

May 6, 1843 ~ Saturday

6^th The Nauvoo Legion ^met^ & done well I rode also

May 7, 1843 ~ Sunday

7^th Sunday I attended meeting at
the Temple, & called upon Br Pullen

May 8, 1843 ~ Monday

8. spent the time in the Printing office

May 9, 1843 ~ Tuesday

9^th I left Nauvoo at 7 oclock on the Maid
of Iowa in company with about one hundred
Gentleman & Ladies on a pleasure
excursion to Burlington. General Joseph Smith
& Lady his mother & family were of the
Party. we had an excellent address by
P. P. Pratt, we touched at Fort Madison
on our way up and at Shokoquon on our return

May 10, 1843 ~ Wednesday

10 & 11 Spent the time in the Printing office

May 11, 1843 ~ Thursday

11 met in council with the 12 Appointed missions
to England Scotland & the pacific Isles

May 12, 1843 ~ Friday

12 Held a council & appointed a meeting at
Laharp Ramus & Lima for the Twelve on
Sunday. Elder

May 13, 1843 ~ Saturday

13^th Elder B Young went to Ramus
Elder H. C. Kimball & O. Pratt went to
Laharp & Elders G. A Smith B Nobles &
myself accompanied President J. Smith
to Lima to attend to the several appointm-
ents which had been given out
[FIGURE]

May 14, 1843 ~ Sunday

14^th Sunday The meeting was opened
by singing, & Prayer By w woodruff
Then Joseph the Seer arose & said
It is not wisdom that we should have all
knowledge at once presented before us but
that we should have a little then we can
comprehend it. He then read the
second epistle of Peter 1^st ch 16 to last vers
& dwelt upon the 19^th vers with som remarks
Ad[d] to your faith knowledge &c The principle
of knowledge is the principle of Salvation
the Principle can be comprehended, for
any one that cannot get knowledge to be
saved will be damned. The Principl of
Salvation is given to us through the kno-
wledge of Jesus Christ. Salvation is
nothing more or less than to triumph over
all our enemies & put them under our feet
& when we have power to put all enemies under
our feet in this world & a knowledge to triumph
over all evil spirits in the world to come then
we are saved as in the case of Jesus he was
to reign untill he had put all enemies under
his feet & the last enemy was death

perhaps there are principle here that few
men have thought of. No power ^person^ can have
this Salvation except through a tabernacle

Now in this world mankind are naturly
selfish, ambitious & striving to excell one
above another while yet some are willing
to build up others as well as themselves so in
the other world their is a variety of spirits
some who seek to excell, & this was the
case with the devil when he fell he sought
for things which were unlawful hence he was
cast down & it is said he drew away many
with him & the greatness of his punishment
is that he shall not have a tabernacle this
is his punishment. So the devil thinking to
thwart the decree of God by going up & down
in the earth seeking whome he may destroy
any person that he can find that will yield to
him he will bind ^him^ & take possession of the
Body & reign there glorying in it mightily not
thinking that he had got a stolen tabernacle
& by & by some one of Authority will come
along & cast him out & restore the tabernacle
to his rightful owner but the bevil steals
a tabernacle because he hias not one of his own
but if he steals one he is liable to be turned out
of doors

Now their is some grand secrett here
& keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding
the aApostle exhorts them to make their calling
Add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance
&c [2 Peter 1:5-6] yet he exhorts them to make their calling
& election shure [2 Peter 1:10] & though they had herd the
audible voice from heaven bearing testinoy [testimony]
that Jesus was the son of God yet he says
we have a more sure word of Prophecy whare
unto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a
light shining in a dark place [2 Peter 1:19]. Now wharein
could they have a more sure word of prophecy

than to hear the voice of God saying this is
my Beloved son &c Now for the secret & grand
key. though they might hear the voice of God
& know that Jesus was the son of God this woudd
be no evidence that their election & calling
& election was made shure that they had
part with Christ & was a Joint heir with
him, they then would want that more
sure word of prophecy that they were sealed
in the heavens & had the promise of eternal
live in the kingdom of God then having this
promise sealed unto them it was as an anchor
to the soul sure & steadfast though the thun-
ders might roll, & lightnings flash & earthquakes
Bellow & war gather thick around yet this
hope & knowledge would support the soul
in evry hour of trial trouble & tribulation
Then knowledge through our Lord &
savior Jesus Christ is the grand key
that unlocks the glories & misteries of
the kingdom of heaven. Compair this
principle once with Christondom at the present
day & whare are they with all their
boasted religion piety & sacredness while
at the same time they are crying out
against Prophets Apostles, Angels Revelations
Prophesyings, & visions &c. why they are
Just ripening for the damnation of hell, they
will be damned for they reject the most
glorious principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ
& treat with disdain & trample under foot
the main key that unlocks the heavens
& puts in our possession the glories of the
celestial world. Yes I say such will be damned
with all their professed godliness

Then I would exhort you to go on & continue
to call upon God untill you make your calling
& election sure for yourselves by obtaining
this more sure word of Prophesey & wait
patiently for the promise untill you obtain it
Many other vary useful remarks were made
on the occasion By Joseph the Seer

Elder G. A. Smith followed with a few remarks
I also followed him & meeting closed for
one hour, & we met again. I opened meeting
& spoke upon revelation obeying the commandments
by building the Nauvoo House
was followed By G. A. Smith on the same subjct
Elder Lorenzo Snow then spoke sumwhat
lengthy concerning his mishion to England which
was interesting then our meeting closed

We all rode to Lima & took supper with Calvin
Bebe & while we were conversing with Br
Joseph & Br Morley Br Joseph made the
following remarks. The way to get along in
any important matters was to gather unto
yourself wise men experienced & aged men
to assist in council in all times of trouble
handsome men are not oft wise & strongminded
men but the strength of a strong minded
man will create corse features like the rough &
strong bough of the oak. You will always
discover in the first glance of a man in the outlines
of his features sumthing of the mind of the
man

Excitement has almost become the
essens of my life when that dies away I feel
almost lost when a man is reigned up contin-
ually by excitement he becomes strong &

gains power & knowledge but when he relaxes
for a season he looses much of his power
& knowledge But in all matters temporal or
spiritual Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ
or in leading an army to Battle victory almost
entirely depends upon good order & moderation
(in going to Battle moove slow dress up into a line
& though your enemy rush upon you with fury
meet them slow but firmly let not confusion
or terror seize your Breast But meet them
firmly & strike a heavy Blow & conquer.

A man can bear a heavy Burdben by practice
& continueing to increase it. The inhabitants
of this continant anciently were so constituted
& were so determined & persevering either
in righteousness or wickedness that God
visited them immediately either with great
Judgments or Blessings. But the present generation
if they were going to Battle if they Godt any
assistance from God would have to obtain it
it By faith

May 15, 1843 ~ Monday

15 Returned to Nauvoo 6 miles

May 15, 1843 ~ Monday to May 20, 1843 ~ Saturday

May 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, & 20 I spent the time at the
Printing oOffice. During the week I herd several
lectures deliverd By Elder D. Watt upon the
science of Phonography which is writing
from sound his remarks appeared rational
& shows an improvement in short hand in
reporting & other writing

May 21, 1843 ~ Sunday

21^st A large congregation of Saint assembled
at the temple & was addressed by President
Joseph Smith upon the same suject that he
spoke upon at Lima on the 14^th in which was
interesting in the hi[gh]est degree

May 22, 1843 ~ Monday

[FIGURE] 22 May I have had for several days
past some conversation with a number
of the brethren concerning Building a hous
for myself & family As I had spent most of
my time in the vineyard for the last ten years
& would probably spend much of my time
to come in the same way I desired to have a
house for my family to abide in & be comfortable
in my absence several of the Brethren proffer[ed]
to assist me to Brick & other materials & help me
put it into a house Br John Fidoe would
superintend the building, so on this 22^nd of May
we went on to the ground & staked out the
ground for my house the dimentions of which
are as follows laid out in Lot No 1 in Block
106 in the city of Nauvoo frunting Durfee
Street on the east it is to be 32 By 20 in the clear
two stories high built of Brick

23 I cleared away my ground & commenced
digging my suller for my house

May 23, 1843 ~ Tuesday

23^rd I dug in my suller in the forenoon &
[FIGURE] Attended a conference of the Twelve in the
afternoon & we had an interesting time
& transacted some important Business
viz we set apart 1 Elders Noah Rogers, Addison
Pratt, Benjamin F. Grouard & Knowlton
Hanks to take a mission to the Sandwich
Islands the spirit of the Lord was with us while
we lade hands upon them & blessed them &
we also set apart Elders Hedlock & J. Carnes
to go to England Elder Hedlock to preside
the blessings that were pronounced upon the
heads of the Brethren were written By Elder Richards

May 24, 1843 ~ Wednesday

May
24 about a dozen of my neighbors turned
out & helped me dig out my suller we flung
out an immence quantity of sand I worked
myself more so than was for my good

May 25, 1843 ~ Thursday

25 we finished digging my suller I also
commenced diging me a well I made a
curbe

May 26, 1843 ~ Friday

26 Several masons & tenders came to
commence my sullar wall several teams
waere drawing stone for me through the day
my well caved in & I had to sink a cureb in it
I injured myself vary bad by hard
work & drinking water while vary warm
[FIGURE]

May 27, 1843 ~ Saturday

27^th A, rainey day I arose sick in the
morning In consequence of hard labor
& being heted the day before I was confined
to my bed the fore part of the day
In the afternoon I met in council with
the Twelve & first Presidency when the
case of Benjamin Winchester was brought
up on trial for improper conduct slandering
the Saints in Philadelphia for rejecting
the council of Hiram, Joseph, & the Twelve
& tearing to peaces the saints instead of building
up Hyrum plead for mercy, Joseph for
Justice, & the Twelve decided according to
testimony, & in all we had an interesting time
Elder winchester was refractory & out of
order, Joseph wished the Twelve or President
of the quorum to call the house to order
Several Letters were read touching the subject
after which Elder winchester made a lengthy

speach trying to justify himself was followed
by President Hyram Smith plead in behalf of
winchester on the side of mercy Elder George
J. Adams gave his testimony against winchester
then Elder Winchester followed Adams &
both spoke sever[al] times then President Joseph
Smith Arose & rebuked Elder winchester in
the sharpest manner said he had a lying
spirit & had lied about him & told him of many
of his errors after hearing the testimony Elder
B. Young President of the quorum of the Twelve
said he had made up his mind & his decision was
that Elder winchester should give up his licence &
cease Preaching untill he should reform. President
H Smith said he should not like to have such a
decision given without another trial & give Elder
winchester a chance to get more testimony if
he could, President Young said he should then
prefer to have case turned over to the High Council
President Joseph Smith said it was not the
business of the High Council they could not try
him it belonged to the Twelve & them alone
for it was concerning matters abroad & not
in Nauvoo. The high council was to trye
cases that belong to the city & the Twelve to
regulate the churches & Elders abroad in all
the world & Elder winchester case comes
under the Jurisdiction of the Twelve & them alone
President H Smith urged that the case should
be put off untill tomorrow President J. Smith said
the case might be put off untill tomorrow at 10 oclok
if it would do any body any good. President
B. Young arose & spoke in the majesty of his
calling & among other remarks said his
mind was made up & the remarks of Brother

May 27
Hyrum or of Br Joseph had not altered
it as for himself he would not sit upon the
case another day he considered it an insult
upon his office & calling as an apostle of Jesus
Christ & he would not bear it as for the rest of
the Twelve [they] might do as they pleased as for
himself he would not do it Benjamin winchester
has despised & rejected the council of the
presidency & the Twelve had said they had no
Jurisdiction over him in Philadelphia & to say
whare he should go &c but he & others will find
their is power in the Twelve we know through
whom we have received our power & who
are our benefactors & we are thankful for
it Benjemin Winchester has never for the first
time received our council but has gone
contrary to it no ^one^ is safe in his hands he
calls Hiram an old granny & slanders evrybody
he says their is a contradiction betwen Hiram
& the Twelve, their is no contradiction between
us & Hiram is there Br Hiram, (Hiram answers
No) After B Young closed President J. Smith
said he would give us a little counci[l] if we saw
fit to except it, he thought it proper for us to
silence elder winchester take his lisence &
have him come to Nauvoo & if he would not
do that let him go out of the Church, it
was then Mooved & seconded that Elder
winchester be silenced & give up his lisence
& come with his family to Nauvoo which was
carried unanimously

Br Joseph then addressed the Twelve
& said that in all our councils esspecially
while on trial of any one we should see &

observe all things appertaining to the
subject & sdisern the spirit by which either
party was governed we should be in a
situation to understand evry spirit &
Judge wrighteous judgment & not be
asleep we shhould keep order & not
let the council be imposed upon by
unruly conduct. The Saints need not
think because I am familiar with them
& am playful & cheerful that I am ignorant
of what is going on inipuity cannot
be retained in the Church of any kind
& it will not fare well whare I am for
I am determined while I do lead the
Church to lead them right

Br Joseph further remarked as concerning
Elder Adams that he had given
satisfactions to him concerning the things
whareof he was accused he had confesced
all wharein he had done wrong & had asked
for mercy & he had taken the right course
to save himself that he would now begin new
in the Church. After much instruction
was given from Joseph the council adjour
ned.

May 28, 1843 ~ Sunday

28^th I spent the time at home quite unwell

May 29, 1843 ~ Monday to May 31, 1843 ~ Wednesday

29^th 30 & 31 I spent my time about my
Building & at Printing Office

June 1, 1843 ~ Thursday

June 1^st 1843
The quorum of the Twelve met in council
at President J. Smith Store to make some
arangments to start on their mission to collect
funds for the Nauvoo House & temple we
each one of us bound ourselves under bonds
of two thousands Dollars for the faithful
performance of our duty in making strict
returns of all property put into our hands
to the trustee in trust. Elder Aaron Johnson
was my Bondsman. President Joseph
Smith gave me the following letter of commendation

Elder Wilford Woodruff Letter of Commendation

To all Saints and honourable men of the
earth Greetings Dear Brethren & friends
I Joseph Smith a servant of the Lord
and Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints do hereby certify
that the bearer hereof Wilford Woodruff
an Elder and one of the Twelve Apostles
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints has deposited with me his bond and
security to my full satisfaction according
to the resolution of the conference held
in this city on the 6^th day of April last
He therefore is recommended to all Saints
& honorable people as a legal agent to collect
funds for the purpose of Building the
Nauvoo house and Temple of the Lord
Confident that he will honor this high trust
as well as fulfill ardently fulfill

his commission as a messenger of peace
and salvation as one of the Lord's noble
men I can fervently say may the Lord
clear his way before him, and bless him,
and bless those that obey his teachings
wherever there are ears to hear & hearts to
feel. He is in the language of the Hebrews
-[{The friend of Israel}]-
(Hau-ra-ang yeesh-rau-ale) The friend
of Israel and worthy to be received and
entertained as a man of God: yea he has as
had the ancient Apostle {good word}
(Ologos Ohalos) the good word: that that
leadeth unto eternal Life {Praise God}.
Prraise God.

Wherefore brethren and friends
while you hear the assurance of the integrity,
fidelity, and ability of this servant of the
living GOD, trusting that your hearts and
energies will be enlivened and deeply engaged
in the building of these houses, directed by Revelat-
ion for the salvation of all Saints; and that you
will not rest whare you are untill all things are
prepared before you and you are gatherd home
with the rest of Israel to meet your God; I feel
strong in the belief and have a growing expectation
that you will not withhold any means in your
power that can be used to accomplish this
Glorious work. Finally as one that greatly desires
the salvation of man; let me remind you all
to strive with a godly zeal for virtue, holiness,
and the commandments of the Lord, Be good,
Be wise; be just, be liberal; and above all be char-
itable always abounding in all good works

And may health peace and the love of God
our Father and the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord
be and abide with you all is the sincere Prayer
of your devoted brother & friend
In the everlasting gospel

JOSEPH Smith

City of Nauvoo
June 1^st 1843

June 2, 1843 ~ Friday to June 3, 1843 ~ Saturday

June 2 & 3 Spent the time in Building my
house

June 4, 1843 ~ Sunday

4^th Sunday I spent the time at home writing

June 5, 1843 ~ Monday to June 10, 1843 ~ Saturday

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10. I Spent the week labouring
on my house on Saturday we got the
walls of the sullar up & put on our lower
Joist & were ready for the brick work but
shall be under the necessity of suspending
operations on the house for one week
for the want of Brick

June 11, 1843 ~ Sunday

June 11^th A large assembly of Saints met at
the Temple & were addressed by president
Joseph Smith He took for the foundation
of his discourse the words of Jesus to the
Jews how oft would I have gatherd you
togetherd as a hen gathereth her chickens under
wings But ye would not &c. [Matthew 23:37] He then asked
what was the object of Gathering the Jews
together or the people of God in any age of the
world, the main object was to build unto the

Lord an house whereby he could reveal
unto his people the ordinances of his house
and glories of his kingdom & teach the peopl
the ways of salvation for their are certain
ordinances & principles that when they are
taught and practized, must be done in a place
or house built for that purpose this was
purposed in the mind of God before the
world was & it was for this purpose that God
designed to gather together the Jews oft
but they would not it is for the same
purpose that God gathers togethe[r] the people
in the last ^days^ to build unto the Lord an house to
prepare them for the ordinances & endowments
washings & anointings &c one of the
ordinances of the house of the Lord is Baptism
for the dead, God decreed before the foundation
of the world that that ordinance should
be administered in a house prepared for that
purpose. If a man gets the fulness of God he has
to get [it] in the same way that Jesus Christ obta-
ined it & that was by keeping all the ordin-
ances of the house of the Lord. Men will
say I will never forsake you but will
stand by you at all times but the moment
you teach them some of the mysteries of God
that are retained in the heavens and are
to be revealed to the children of men when
they are prepared, Tthey will be the first
to stone you & put you to death. It was the
same principle that crusified the Lord
Jesus Christ. I will say sumthing about the
spirits in prision, theire has been much
said about the sayings of Jesus on the cross
to the thief saying this day thou shalt
be with me in paradise [Luke 23:43]. The commentators

make or translators make it out to say
Paradise but what is Paradise it is a modern
word it does not answer at all to the original
that Jesus made use of, their is nothing
in the original in any language that signif-
ies Paradise. But it was, this day I will
be with thee in the world of spirits & will
teach thee or answer thy inquriiries. The
thief on the cross was to be with Jesus
Christ in the world of spirits he did not
say Paradise or heaven. The doctrin
of Baptism for the dead is clearly shown
in the new testament & if the doctrin
is not good then throw away the new testa
ment but if it is the word of God then
let the doctrin be acknowledged & it was
one reason why Jesus said how oft would
I have gatherd you (the Jews) together
that they might attend to the ordinance
of the baptism for the dead as well as
the other ordinances, the Priesthood
Revelations &c. This was the case on the
day of Pentecost these Blessings were
poured out upon the deciples, on that
occasion.

Their has been Also much
said about the word Hell & the sectarian
world have preached much about it
but what is hell, it is annother modern
term it is taken from hades, the greek
or shaole, the (hebrew) & the true sig-
nification is a world of spirits.
Hades shaole paradise, spirits in prision
is all one it is a world of spirits, the
righteous & the wicked all go to the same
world of spirits

but says one I believe in one hell & one
heaven all are equally miserable or equally
happy, but St Paul informs us of three
glories & three heavens he knew a man
caught up to the third heavens, & Jesus
said their were many mansions in my
Fathers kingdom [John 14:2]. Any man may believe
Jesus Christ is good & be happy in it & yet
not obey his commands & at last be cut
down by his righteous commandmends
A man of God should be endowed with
all wisdom knowledge & understanding
in order to teach & lead people. The blind
may lead the blind & both fall into the
deatch together;

Their is much
said concerning God the Godhead &c
the scripture says their is Gods many &
Lords many, the teachers of the day
say that the father is God the son is God
& the Holy Ghost is God & that theiry are
all in one body & one God. Jesus says or
prays that those that the father had
given him out of the world might be
made one in us as we, are one, but if
they were to be stuffed into one person
they would make a great God. If I
were to testify that the world was
wrong on this point it would be
true. Peter says that Jesus Christ
sat on the right hand of God any
person that has seen the heavens
opened knows that their is three
personages in the heavens holding

the keys of power. As the father
hath power in himself so the Son
hath power in himself. then the
father has some day laid down his body
& taken it again ^so he has a body of his own^ So has his Son a body of
his own so each one will be in their own
body.

Many of the sects cry out O I
have the testimony of Jesus, I have the spirit
of God But away with Jo. Smith he says he
is a Prophet But their is to be no Prophets
nor revelations in the last days; But
stop sir the Revelator says that the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy [Revelation 19:10] so by your
own mouth you are condemned.

But to the text why gather the people together
in this place for the same purpose that
Jesus wanted to gather the Jews, to receive
the ordinances, the blessings, & the glories
that God has in store for his Saints. And
I would now ask this assembly and all the
Saints if they will now build this house
& receive the ordinances & Blessings which
God has in store for you, or will you not
build unto the Lord this house & let him pass
by & bestow these blessings upon another
I pause for a reply

After Joseph closed Elder Cutler spoke
concerning the Temple & also the Death of
Elder Elias Higby one of the Temple Committee
who Died June 8^th 1843 Aged 47 years 7 month
and 17 days at the close of the meeting
President J. Smith gave out an appointmen for

the Rev Mr DeWolf an Episcopal Minister
in the afternoon.

The meeting assembled in the afternoon
& the Rev Mr DeWolf deliverd a short discourse
from Hebrews 6 ch 1 & 2 verses we herd nothing
vary objectionable in his discourse of course he
is not a mormon

June 12, 1843 ~ Monday

12^th I spent the day at my house

June 13, 1843 ~ Tuesday

13^th I started in company with several others
to go out on the prairie to fence & plant a five
acre lot of prairie I had not Got far befor
we broke down the reach of our waggon and
all went into a pile together the wheel went
onto my arm & bruised it considerable but we
mended up & continued our Journey went on
to the prairie & made 82 rods of worm fence
with stakes & riders & Just before I left
I went into Br Cheney house to get a drink of
water & his dog bit me through the calf
of my leg vary bad he was an ugly dog had
bitten several persons it made me vary lame

June 14, 1843 ~ Wednesday

14^th I arose in the morning abot sick after
walking about awhile I went on to the bed &
was confined to it most of the day with the
pain in my leg from the bite of the dog the
day before

June 15, 1843 ~ Thursday

15 I arose in the morning quite lame with
my leg thought of going on to the prairie
to plant corn but it commenced raining
& I returned home & spent the day writing

June 16, 1843 ~ Friday

June
16^th I went onto the Prairie & Planted
corn & had some conversation with
Br Chena concerning his dog that Bit me
I informed him that I should not be satisfyd
unless he would kill his dog as he was
dangerous & had bitten several persons

June 17, 1843 ~ Saturday

17^th I spent the day digging my well

June 18, 1843 ~ Sunday

18^th Sunday I attended meeting at the
Temple Elder P Magin Preached in
the fore part of the day much to our
edifycation, the sacrament was administered
in the afternoon

During the evening some
letters were received from Judge Adams
of Springfield informing us that the
Govornor of Missouri had made another
demand for Joseph Smith at the hands
of the Govornor of Illinois & that
Govornor Ford of Illinois had issued the
writ for his apprehension it was on
the old Missouri Persecution & in fine it
is all persecution. Two messengers
were immediately dispatched to inform
President Joseph Smith of the above facts
he was absent about 200 miles from home
When will Missouri cease her ungodly
persecutions against President Joseph Smith
& the Saints O Lord hasten the day when
the Blood of Saints shall not cry from the
ground in vain & when the Prophets of
God shall not have to flee from the had ond
of the wicked persecutor & oppresser

June 19, 1843 ~ Monday

19 I finished digging my well got about
4 feet of water in the rock & course gravel

Theire was a meeting held by a company
calling themselves labourers saying they
were oppressed & manifested some spirit
of mob & disrule & did not act in wisdom

June 20, 1843 ~ Tuesday

20^th I finished stoning my well it being
about 25 feet deep Their was also another
meeting of the labourers

June 21, 1843 ~ Wednesday to June 24, 1843 ~ Saturday

21, 22, 23 & 24^th I spent getting materials
for my house & in the printing office &
writing &c

June 25, 1843 ~ Sunday

25 June Sunday I attended meeting at
10 clock in the morning & Brother Lyman
wight (who had Just returned from a
mission in the east) Arose & addressed the
meeting at full length from the 13 ch of
1^st Corinth dwelt largely upon charity show-
ing what charity was that it was far grea-
ter than faith & hope He took grounds to
prove that charity consisted in doing that
for others which they could not do for them-
selves for instance Jesus Christ died to
Redeem the world, the world could not
Redeem itself this is charity, if our
fore fathers & Mothers & kindred have died
without the gospel, & we embrace the
gospel in our day & generation & can redeem
our relatives By being Baptized for them
they being dead that they may have part
in the first resurrection, should we do this
it would be charity for we should do for

them what they could not do for themselvs
& this was wherein The Apostle said why then
are ye baptized for the dead if the dead
rise not [1 Corinthians 15:29], this is far greater than faith &
hope for though we might Believe ^& hope^ our friend
might Be redeemed yet if we was not
Baptized for them they might remain in
Hell & our faith & hope do them no good
but to do that for another which he can
do for himself is not charity. Elder Wight
made many other vary useful remarks
in his discourse

In the Afternoon Elder Magin addressed
the meeting But in the midst of his discours
President Hiram Smith came onto the Stand
& requested the Masonic fraternity to
meet him at the Lodge Room in 30
minutes we immediately went down
& a quarter could not Get into the Room
we then formed a hollow square on
the green. President Smith then infor
med us that the Sheriff of Jackson
Co Missouri & Wilson of Carthage had
come upon President Joseph Smith & taken
him on surprise presented each of them
a pistol to his breast & swore they would
kill him if he made any resistance Br
Markham went to his assistance & they
presented their pistols to him also & threatend
his life but he approached them to knock
them down they again pointed their
pistols to Joseph Breast & said they would
kill him if Markham approached them

& to save the life of Joseph he stoped
they then took Joseph into a carrage
& started for Missouri they got about
10 miles & they were stoped by the inhab-
itants who swore they should nok [not]
carry Joseph Smith any further without
giving him the chance of law & the writ
of Habeas Corpus & they took out a writ
against the Sherriff Reynolds & wilson
of Carthage &c. & they now wanted to
get a company to go to Joseph to see that
He had his rights & Br Hyram called for
volunteers & their was two or three hundred
came out to go the whole city flocked together
they made a choice of such as they
wished, General Laws & Rich went with
a company of Near 100 men on horsback
and about 75 or 100 on Board of the Maid
of Iowa, the horsmen went by Land the
those on the Boat went down the River to
the mouth of the Illinois & up that River
to Peoria the horse company left the city
abot 8 oclok in the evening & the Boat untill
next morning [FIGURE]

June 26, 1843 ~ Monday

26 Their was several Natives of the
Potawatemys through Nauvoo called to
see the Nauvoo House & Temple wanted
to talk had no interpeter that could inte-
rpet much they spoke about their great
father, great spirit &c they manifested
a desire to see the Temple & the city said
they were hungry I took them home & fed
them gave them some trinklets &c

June 27, 1843 ~ Tuesday

27^th I drew home about 11 Bushels of lime
for my house

June 28, 1843 ~ Wednesday

28^th I spent the day walking about town,
herd rumours about a writ for P. P. Pratt
L Wight & others to take them too Mo
I found them armed & guarded against any
kidnaping

June 29, 1843 ~ Thursday

29^th A vary warm day I went into a Brick
kiln & flung out about 7 thousand Brick
for my house which was drawn to it I
nearly melted myself & was exceding weary
at night Mr Foster had arived home &
said that President Joseph Smith would be
in Nauvoo next day with Reynolds & Wilson who
had taken him

June 30, 1843 ~ Friday

[FIGURE] June 30^th 1843 Early in the morning I went
to the court room assisted Dr Richards to
arange the seats to prepare the room for
the arival of Gen Smith & the company at
about 1 oclock PM the citizens of Nauvoo
went out on foot, horsback & in many carriages
to meet the Prophet viz Gen Smith & when they
did meet their was a seen of Great Joy & with a
band of music & a great multitude they followed
him to his own house, & Reynolds of Missouri
& Wilson of Carthage who had illegally taken
Joseph Smith at the force of arms looked
as though they had had the ague they had
treated Joseph Smith shamfully deprived
him of the wright of Hebeas Corpus & of speaking
to any friend & intended to run him into Missouri
as soon as possible But the Lord raised him

up friends & deliverd him from their hands
or in other words brought them all together to
Nauvloo Nauvoo & it was truly a regoiceing
time to the Saints to see him again Reynolds &
Wilson were both taken with a writ for
fals imprisionment though their intention
was to have taken Joseph Smith's life by taken
him to Missouri to be destroyed yet Joseph
Smith heaped cowles [coals] of fire upon their head
by treating them well setting them to the
head of his table & giving them the best
he had served unto them by his own wife
the vary woman they had refused to see
her husband as he was taken from her by
the force of Arms unlawfully after dining
they all repaired to the court room whare
the Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo
sat & Joseph Smith was deliverd into their
hands for trial & as for Reynolds &
Wilson they scertainly did look sheepish
for they were guilty & had done wrong.
President Smith got onto a waggon &
said to the multitude (before he went to
court) I am out of the hands of the
Missourians thank God, & thanked the
people for their kindness & love to him
& said I will again address you at the
grove near the temple at 4 oclock. after
introducing the subject to the court he said
he had an appointment to speak to the
people & he wish the privilege. The court
adjourned untill next morning at 8 oclok
President Joseph Smith then went to
the grove took the stand in the midst
of about seven thousand Saints the
resu[l]t is as follows

The following is a synopsis of the address
deliverd by President Joseph Smith to the
citizens of Nauvoo June 30^th 1843

I repuire attention. I discoverd what
the emotions of the people were on my arival
to this city, & I have come here to say, how
do you do to all parties & I do now say How do
you do at this time. I meet you with a heart
full of gratitude to Almighty God & I presume
you all feel the same I hardly know how to
express my feelings I feel as strong as a
Gient I pulled sticks with the men coming
along & I pulled up the strongest man
theire was on the road with one hand &
two could not pull me up & I continued
to pull untill I pulled them to Nauvoo I will
pass from that subject then. There has been
great excitement in the country & since
those men took me I have been cool &
dispassionate through the whole: thank God I
am now in the hands of the Municipal
Court of Nauvoo & not in the hands of
Missourians. It has been discussed by
the great & wise men Layif lawyiers &c
O your Powers & legal tribunals are not
to be sanctioned & here we will [not] make it
lawful to drag away inocent men from
their families & friends & have them unla-
wfully put to death by ungodly men for ther
religion. Relative to our charter, courts
right of Hebeas Corpus &c we have all
power: And if any man from this time
forth says any thing contrary; cast

it into his teeth. Their is a secret in
this; if their is not power in our charter,
and courts, then there is not power in
the state of Illinois, nor in the Congress
^or Constitution^ of the United States for the United States
gave unto Illinois her constitution & charter
& Illinois gave unto Nauvoo her charters
which have ceded unto unto us our vested
rights & has no right or power to take them
from us all the power their was in the Illinois
she gave to Nauvoo And any man that says
to the contrary is a fool. I want you to learn
O Israel what is for the happiness & peace of this
city & people. If, our enemies are determined to
oppress us & deprive us of our rights & privileges
as they have done & if the Authorities that be
on the earth will not assist us in our rights nor
give us that protection which the Laws & Constitu-
tion of the United States & of thi[s] state garre-
ntees unto us: then we will claim them from
higher power from heaven & from God
Almighty & the Constitution &c I SWEAR
I will not deal so mildly with them again
for the time has come when forbearance is no
longer a virtue, And if you are again taken
unlawfully asyou are at liberty to give loose to
Blood and Thunder But act with Almighty Power.
But good luck for me as it always has been in evry
time of trouble friends though strangers were
raised up unto me & assisted me. The time has
come when the veil is torn of[f] from the state of
Illinois & they have deliverd me from the state
of Missouri: friends that were raised up unto me
would have spilt their Blood for me to have delive-
red me then I told them not I would be delivered

By the power of God & Generalship & I have
brought them to Nauvoo & treated them kindly
I have had the privilege of rewarding them
good for evil, they took me unlawfully treated
me rigorously, strove to deprive me of my
rights & would have run me to Missouri to have
been murdered if providence had not inter-
posed: but now they are in my hands, I took
them into my house set them at the head
of my table & set the best before them my
house afforded & they were waited upon by
my wife whome they deprived of seeing
me when I was taken. I shall be discharged
by the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, were I
before any good tribunal I should be
discharged. But Befor I will bear this
unhallowed persecution any longer I will
spill my Blood their is a time when bearing
it longer is a sin. I will not bear it longer
I will spil the last drop of Blood I have and
all that will not bear it longer say AH And
the cry of AH rung throughout the congrega-
tion we must stop paying the lawyiers money
for I have learned they dont know any thing
for I know more than they all. Whosoever
believeth that there is power in the charters
of Nauvoo shall be saved he that believeth not
shall not come here. If a lawyer shall say
their is more power in other places & charters
than in Nauvoo believeth it not I have converted
this canditate for Congres Mr Walker I
suppose when I see him converted I will
vote for him & not before I have been with
these lawyers & they have treated me well
But I am here in Nauvoo & the Missourian to

& when they will get out I dont know perhaps
when some others may. However you may
feel about the high hand of oppression, I wish
you to restrain your hand from violence.
^against these men who arestd me^
My word is at stake a hair of their heads shall
not be harmed. My life is pledged to carry out this
great work. I know how readily you are to do right
you have done great things & manifested your love
in flying to my assistance on this occasion. I
could not have done better myself, And I Bless
you in the name of the Lord with all Blessings
may you not have to suffer as you have here-
tofore. I know the Almighty will bless all good men
he will bless you: and the time has come when
their shall be such a flocking to the Standard
of Liberty as never has been, Nor never shal be
hereafter. what an erie of things has commenced
Shall the Prophecys be esstablished by the swords
Shall we allways bear, No. Will not the state
of Missouri stay her hand in her unhallowed
persecutions against the Saints; if not, I
restrain you not any longer, I say in the name
of Jesus Christ I this day turn the key that
opens the heavens to restrain you no longer from
this time forth. I will lead you to battle & if
you are not afraid to die & feel disposed to spill
your Blood in your own defence you will not
offend me. Be not the aggressor bear untill they
strike on the one cheek offer the other & they
will be sure to strike that [Matthew 5:39], then defend yourselves
& God shall bear you off. Will any part of
Illinois say we shall not have our rights treat them
as strangers & not friends & let them go to Hell
Say some we will mob you, mob & be damed. if
I [am] under the necssity of giving up our charted

rights, privileges & freedom which our fathers
fought bled & died for & which the Constitution
of the United States & & this State garrentee
unto us, I will do it at the point of the
Bayonet & sword. Many Lawyiers contend
for those thing which are against the rights of
men & I can ownly excuse them because of their
ignorance. Go forth & Advocate the laws &
rights of the people ye lawyiers if not dont get
into my hands or under the lash of my tongue
Lawyiers say the powers of the Nauvoo charters
are dangerous, But I ask is the Constitution of
the United States or of this state dangerous, No
neither isare the charters granted unto Nauvoo
by the legislator of Illinois dangerous, & those that
say they are are fools. We have not our
rights, those which the Constitution of the
U. S. A grant, & which our charters grant
we have not enjoyed unmolested, Missouri
& all wicked men will raise the hugh & cry
against us and are not satisfyed. But how
are you going to help yourselves what will
mobocrats do in the midst of this people, If
mobs come upon you any more here, dung
your gardings with them. But says one you
will get up excitement we will get up no excitement
except what we can find an escape from
We will rise up Washington like & break of[f]
the wait that bears us down & we will not
be mobed.

To give you an account
of my Journey, I will give you an anecdote that
may be pleasing. A few days before I was taken
I rode with my wife through a Neighborhood to
visit some friends & I said to Mrs Smith here
is a good people I felt this by the spirit of God

the next day I was in their hands a prisioner
with Wilson who said as he drove up
ha, ha ha By God we have got the prophet, he
gloried much in it, But he is now our prisioner
When Reynolds of Missouri & Wilson of Carthage
came to take me the first salutation was (instead
of taping me on the sho^u^lder & saying you are my prision
er) with two cocked pistols to my head God damn
you I will shoot you I will shoot you God damn you
I will shoot you nearly 50 times first & last I asked
them what they wanted to shoot me for, if you
make any resistance. O vary well says I I
have no resistance to make they then dragged
me away & while on the road I asked them by
what authority they did these things they said
by a writ from the Govornors of Missouri & Illinois
I then told them I wanted a writ o[f] Habeas
Corpus, the reply was God damn you you shant
have it; I told a man to Go to Dixon & get me a
writ of Habeas Corpus the reply was by
Willson God dam you you shant have it I will
shoot you. I sent for a lawyier to come one
came & Reynolds shut the door in his face & would
not let me speak to him & said again God damn
you I will shoot you I turned to him opened my
bosom & told him to shoot away & I did it freeq-
uently, I told Mr Reynolds that I would have
council to speak to & the Lawyers came to me
& I got a writ of Habeas Corpus for mysel[f] & got
a writ for Reynolds & Wilson for unlawful
procedings towards me & cruel treatment they
could not get out of town that night, I pleged my
honor to my counci[l] that the Nauvoo charter had
power to investigate the subject & we came to
Nauvoo by common consent & I am now

June 30
a prisioner of higher authority yes higher
Authority before yourselves. The charter
expressly says that the city council shall have
power to enact all laws for the benefit &
convenience of said city not contrary to
the Constitutions of the United States or
of this state & the city ordinance says the
Municipal Court shall have power to give writs
of Habeas Corpus arising under the ordinances
of the city; Their is nothing but what we
have power over excepted restricted by
the Constitution of the United States or
of this state. It is in accordance with the
Constitution of the U. S. A But says the mob
what dangerous powers, But the Constitution
of the United nor of this state is not danger
ous against good men, but bad men the
breakers of the law so with the laws of the
country & so with the laws of Nauvoo they
are dangerous to mobs but not good men that
wish to keep the law. We do not go out of
Nauvoo to disturb any body or any city towon
or place why need they be troubled about
us let them not meddle with our affairs but
let us alone. After we have been deprived
of our rights & privileges as citizenship driven
from town to town place to place state
to state, with the sacrifice of our homes &
lands & our Blood been shed & many murde
red & all this becaus of our religion, because
we worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of our own consience [##Articles of Faith 1:11#] shall we longer
bear these cruelties which have been heaped
upon us for the last ten years in the face
of heaven & in open open violation of

the Constitution & laws of these United States
& of this state. May God forbid, I will not bear
it, if they take away my rights I will fights,
for my rights, manfully & righteously untill
I am used up with Blood & thunder sword &
pistol. We have done nothing against law or right
As touching our city charter & laws their is a
secret in it, what is it our laws go behind
the writ & investigate the subject ie of Habeas
Corpus while other laws do not go behind the
writ you speak of Lawyiers, I am a Lawyier
to But the Almighty God has taught me the prin-
ciple of law & the true meaning of the writ of Habes
Corpus is to defend the Innocent & investigat the
subject go behind the writ & if the form of a writ
is wright that is issued against an innocent
man He should not be dragged to another
state & there put to death or in jeaperdy life
or limb because of prejudice when he is innocent
the benefits of the Constitution & law is for all
alike & the great [E]loheem God has given me the
privilege of having the benefits of the Constitution
& the writ of Habeas Corpus & I am bold to ask
for this privilege this day & to ask you to carry
out this privilege principle And all who are in
favor of carrying out this great principle
make it manifest by raising the right hand
& their was a sea of hands a universal vote, here
is truly the committy of the whole

In speaking
of my Journaley to Nauvoo I will relate a circums-
tance when Mr Cyrus Walker first came to me they
said I should not speak to any man & they would
shoot any man that should speak to me An old
man came up & said I should have council &
said he was not afraid of their pistols & they took

me from him, & I had an opportunity to have
killed him but I had no temptation to do it to
him nor any other man, my worst enemy not
even Boggs in fact he would have more hell
to live in the reflection of his past life than to
die. My freedom commenced from the time
the old man came to me & would talk to me
we came direct from Papa grove to Nauvoo
we got our writ directed to the nearest
court having authority to try try the case &
we came to Nauvoo. It did my soul good to
see your feelings & love manifest towards me
I thank God that I have the honor to lead so
virtuous & honest a people to be your leader &
lawyier as Moses to the children of Israel
Hosannah Hosannah Hosannah Hosannah
to the name of the Most High God I commend
you to his grace & may the Blessings of heaven
rest upon you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Furthermore if Missouri continues her warfare
& continues to Issue her writs against me & this peopl
unlawfully & unjustly as they have done & our
rights are trampled upon & they under take to take
away my wrights I swaire with uplifted hands to
Heaven I will spill my Blood in its defence they
shall not take away our rights, & if they dont
stop leading me by the nose I will lead them by
the nose & if they dont let me alone I will turn
up the world I will make war, when we shake
our own bushes we want to ketch our own fruit
The Lawyiers themselves acknowledge that we
have all power granted us in our charters that we
could ask for, that we had more power than
any other court in the state for all other courts were restricted

while ours was not & I thank God Almighty for
it & I will not be rode down to Hell by the
Missourians any longer, & it is my privilege to
speak in my own defence & appeal to your honor [FIGURES]

After this interesting & decisive address was deliverd
in the presence of about seven or eight thousand the
multitude dispersed & went to their homes

July 1, 1843 ~ Saturday

July 1^st 1843 The Municipal Court opened at
8 oclock AM President Joseph Smith made
some remarks to the lawyiers his council, As he was
a prisioner before the court. President Joseph Smith
then called upon Hiram Smith, Brigham Young
P P Pratt Lyman Wight & Sidney Rigdon who
were duly sworn & gave in their testimony, which
occupied most of the day they went through the
whole scene of the persecution from Jackson
County to the time of their expulsion from the
state by force of Armes & it was certainly
the most heart rending scene or rehearsal of it that
ever saluted the ears of any tribunal in a cifilized
government it would have disgraced an arab or
Hotentot, not ownly theft, Arson, Burgalry, prisons
chains, expelsion rape & Murder were practiced
upon the Saints without any redress but even
President Joseph Smith with his companions in
prision loaded with chains were FED with nothing
for FIVE Days in succession but the Flesh of their
OWN BRETHREN which was actaully cooked &
given to them to eat & while hearing this part of the
testimony my Blood boiled within & the spirit of war

rested upon me for the space of two days. The
Lawyiers were shocked to the soul each one made
a speach at the close of the testimony & they exhort'd
us to stand for our rights stand or fall sink or
swim live or die the whole testimony will
be published to the world in pamphlet form &
probably other wise & will stand as a history to
future generations of the unparelled persecutions
of the state of Missouri against the Saints of
the last days

July 2, 1843 ~ Sunday

July 2nd Sunday met at the grove near the temple
A large congregation assembled & was addressed
in an interesting manner by Elder O Hyde
from the 3 ch of the Epistle of John the Divine
2, 3 & 4 verses & said much to the edifycation
of the people After elder Hyde closed, Mr Walker
& three other Lawyers spoke in rotation & upheld
President Joseph Smith in his procedings & spoke
of the unlawful conduct of his enemies

July 3, 1843 ~ Monday

July 3rd A special conference of elders was called
& one or two appointed to go to each county in the
state of Illinois An address was deliverd to the
Elders By President Rigdon who made some
useful remarks among others he said, all that
greatness consisted in, in public speaking with any
man was in delivering a chain of Ideas that the
man had well matured speaking of things that
he knew & not of things that he did not know
for should he speak of things he does not know
he would set a trap to be caught in, But when
a person understands the subject thorougholy upon
which he is speaking he knows how to defend it
This is all the greatest man on earth can do is to

tell the truth & speak of things he knows.
The Elders were also addressed by Elder B Young

July 4, 1843 ~ Tuesday

JULY 4^th 1843

[FIGURE] As the Romans took particular notice of any
singular event as ominous of Good or evil so I
will record a small circumstance that took place
in my house this morning. Soon after I arose
in the morning on this 4^th Day of July my
sword while hanging in its usual place unsheathed
of itself & the scabbard droped upon the
floor leaving the bear blade suspended from the
peg upon which it hung

As this is the 4^th we call it a happy day for
Nauvoo. At a vary early hour people began to
assemble at the grove & at 11 oclock near 13000
thousand persons had congregated, who were
addressed in a vary able and appropriat
manner by Elder Orson Hyde lately from
Palestine, and who has recently been appointed
on a mission to St Petersburgh, Russia. A
constant accession of Numbers swelled the
congregation to 15,000 as near as could be estimated
& at 2 oclock they were again addressed by
Elder Parley P. Pratt in a masterly discourse
followed By President Joseph Smith upon
the subject of the late arest & persecution
who clearly vindicated his innocence &
showed the corruption of his pursueers in
a tru light. Three steamers arived in the
afternoon—one from St Louis one from
Quincy & one from Burlington—bringing altogether

about 900 visitoring ladies and gentlemen
to our city. On the arival of each boat they
were escorted to the stand by the Nauvoo
band and the escort companies whare convenient
seats were provided & whare they were
welcomed by the firing of cannon which brought
to our minds the last words of the patriot
Jefferson: Let this day be celebrated by the
firing of cannon &c. The legion was not
out.

The following is a
synopsis of the Address of President Joseph Smith
while speaking in his own defence before about
15,000 souls

If the people will give ear a momen[t]
I will address them, with few words in my own
defence as touching my arest. In the first
place I will state to those that can hear me
that I never spent more than six months
in Missouri except while in prison, while I
was there I was at work for the suppor[t] of
my family. I never was a prisioner of war
during my stay for I had not made war, I
never took a pistol, a gun, or sword & the much
that has been said on this subject is false I
have been willing to go before any governor
Judge or treibunal whare justice could be done
& have the subject investigated. I could not
have committee treason in that state while
there I had no controll any whare in temporal
things while there but in spiritual I was
driven from that state by force of
arms under the exterminating order of
Govornor Boggs. I have never commited
treason the people know vary well I

have Been a peaceable citizen but
their has been a great hugh & cry about
Jo Smith Govornor Bogs being shot, No
crime can be done but what it is laid to
Jo Smith. Here I was again dragged to
the United States court, & was cleared
& now it comes again, But as often as
God sees fit for me to suffer I am ready
But I am as innocent of these crimes as the
Angels in heaven. I am not an enemy to manki-
nd I am a friend to Mankind. I ^am^ not an enemy
to Missouri nor any any governors or people
As to the military station I hold & the cause
of my holding it is as follows. When we came
here the state required us to bear arms & do
military duty according to law, & as the Church
had just been driven from the state of Missou-
ri & robed of all their property & arms they were
poor & destitute of armes: they were liable to
be fined for not doing duty when they had not
arms to do it with, they came to me for advice
I advised them to organize themselves into inde-
pendant companies, & demand arms of the
state, this they did. Again their were many
Elders having licence to preach which by law
exhonorated them from Military duty but the
officers would not release them on this ground
I then told the Saints that though I was clear
from Military duty by law in consequence
of lameness in one of my legs, yet I would
set them the example & would do duty my-
self, they then said they were willing to do duty
if they could be formed into an independant
company & I could be at their head & upon
this ground came the Nauvoo Legion & I

holding the office of Lieutenant General
not that I seek for power, & with regard
to elections some say we all vote together &
vote as I say: But I never tell any man how to vote
or who to vote for. But I will show you how
we have been situated by bringing a comparison
Should their be a Methodist society here &
two candidates running for office: one says
if you will vote for me & put me in governor
I will exterminate the Methodist take away their
charters &c. The other candidate says if I am
Govornor I will give all an equal privilege, which
would the Methodist vote for, of course they would
vote in mass for the candidate that would give
them their rights; thus it has Been with us
Joseps Duncon said if the people would elect
him he would exterminate the mormons & take
away their charters. As to Mr Ford he made no
such threats, but manifested a spirit in his spea-
ches to give every man their rights; hence the
Church universally voted for mr Ford &
he was elected govornor, But he has
issued writs against me the first time the
Missourians made a demand for me & this is
the second one he has issued for me which has
caused me much trouble & expense. President
Smith Also rehearsed the account of his being
taken By Reynolds & Wilson & the unlawful
treatment he received at their hands

The multitute gave good attention
& much prejudice seemed to be removed

July 5, 1843 ~ Wednesday

July 5^th My masons got together to comme
nce laying Brick on my house but our door &
window frames not being made part of them
went home sbut some staid but performed but
little work

July 6, 1843 ~ Thursday

6^th I had an interview with Br Fidoe who has
taken the job of Building my house he informed
the fraims were not yet made & thought it
best to dismiiss the masons for a season we did so
& I prepaired myself in the afternoon to start on
my mission for the east next morning got my
trunk & things ready &c & sent them up to A
Morrisons landing &c
[FIGURE]

July 7, 1843 ~ Friday

July 7^th I Arose early in the morning laid hands
upon Mrs Woodruff & Blessed her & our daughter
Sarah Emma Phebe Amelia & went to Morrison
landing & spent most of the day at Br L Wights
But at 3 o'clock P.M we left A Morrisons
wharf on Board of steem Boat Rapids in company
with Elders B. Young G. A Smith, E P Magin &
his sister. It is a plesent day & we are all in good spirits
fare to St Louis is $2.50 We arived in Warsaw in
two hours & a half & at Quincy in five & three duall
quarters of an hour. Sister Magin stoped at
Quincy.

July 8, 1843 ~ Saturday

8^th We arose in the morning all well. arived at
the mouth of the Illinois River a quarter Befor
10 o'clok making 19=25 hours & 21 minutes from
Nauvoo. We arived at St Louis at 3 oclock P.M
making Just 24 hours from Nauvoo distance 800 m

I called upon Mr W^m Philips No 54 Main
street St Louis, & Bought of him the following

Bill of paper for Taylor & Woodruff in co

The following is the Bill of paper & Ink Bought
By Milliken for Taylor & Woodruff of Mr Philips

The whole amount Due Mr Philips including
the above $13.35 is to July 8^th $88.35

I Bought a keg of 6 gal of Molasses 28 ct $1.68
& shiped it with my Paper on Board of the Ospray

I Received $5 of E. P. Magin for the Fac Similees [facsimiles] $5.

We called at Mr H. C. Corners watch Maker
No 4 second st St Louis

We went on board of the Lancer bound for
Cincinnati & engaged our passage to Cincinnati
for $5 each we spent the night on board of
her lying in St Louis

July 9, 1843 ~ Sunday

9^th We left St Louis at half past 9 oclok AM
we passed the city with full head of steem

It was quite a cold rainy morning. We passed
the shot towers about 6 miles below the city
on a steep Bluff we passed the rock tower
at 6 oclock PM

July 10, 1843 ~ Monday

10^th We enterd the mouth of the Bold Ohio
about 2 o'clok in the morning distance from St Louis
to the mouth of the Ohio 180 miles

We reached Padukah at 8 oclok & Smithland
at 10 o'clock at the mouth of the Cumberland R.
we passed the Rok Cave & had a fair view of it

July 11, 1843 ~ Tuesday

11^th A cold Rainy day we felt quite unwell
esspecially Elder Magin. The River rose during the
night

July 12, 1843 ~ Wednesday

12^th A cold raw morning we passed Albeny Ia
at 7 oclok. When we arived at Louisville at
the foot of the canal Elder Young &
myself walked into the city of Louisville
about 2 miles we called & visited the man
called the Kentuckey Baby By the name
of [blank] Porter his hight was 7 feet
7 inches—a thin spare man his wait was
250 lb we spent about 2 hours in
Louisville I visited a paper ware house
& prised their paper & could obtain good
printing paper for 10 ct. per lb & good
Book paper from 12 to 20 cts per lb
lb

July 13, 1843 ~ Thursday

13^th We passed Vevey at 8 oclock, we
had a plesant view of President
Harrison's Tomb as we passed along
We reached Cincinnat at half past
5 oclock spent the night at Br Timothy Bakers

at Elm street Between fifth & sixth st
Elder Smith was quite sick through
the night. I dreamed that Br Joseph
was taken with another writ to be tried
in Illinois Elder B Young also dreamed
that we were called home
the distance from the mouth of the
Ohio to Cincinnati is 538 miles

July 14, 1843 ~ Friday

14^th We had an interview in the
morning with Br Hedlock & Jerman
& spent the day walking about the
city Elder Grant informed me that
he had sent a Barrel of Plaster to
Br Taylor to Nauvoo we all wrote
letters to our wives & sent them
15^th we saw By Br Far who was goi[n]g
direct to Nauvoo

July 15, 1843 ~ Saturday

July
15^th Saturday I called upon Mr J. W. Eley
in Cincinnati & carried him the deeds &
papers from E Robinson of Nauvoo &
Mr Eley excepted them & fulfilled his contr-
act by Doing up the goods in Boxes & shiped
them to A Johnson in care of A. Morrison
Nauvoo. He sent $30 reams of paper for
the Times his price in trade was $5.50;
for cash $4.50 He forwarded 20 Reams
for the neighbor trade Price was $4, for
cash $3.00 After seeing the goods Boxed
up & shiped on Board of the Lancet to St Louis
at 20 cts per cwt I went in company with Elder

B. Young to Br Piews & spent the night

July 16, 1843 ~ Sunday

16^th Sunday we met at a privat house in
the city with the Saints & I spoke to the peop-
le & was followed By Elder B Young this is
the first time that I ever attempted to preach
in Cincinnati. At the close of the meeting
Elder Young & myself went on to the ferry Boat
& crossed the River & took dinner with Br
Derby we then took each of us a horse that had
been brought to us & rode 8 miles back into
Kentucky over the hills streams rocks & valleys
to Mr Colbertsons who had professed to be a
Saint & an Elder in the Church but had lost his faith
if he ever had any as had also Br Youtsey in
the same neighbourhood they had got their eye
fixed more upon strayburys [strawberries] & raspburrys (as they
were cultivating 10 or 15 acres of them for market)
than they had upon the mark or the prize of the
high calling in Christ Jesus, we found they
had neither of them any faith in the work. we
theire was an appointment given out for us
to preach at 4 oclock but we did not arive untill
it was to late. we had a good supper of red
raspburys. I took a severe cold during the
day & evening & was about sick distance 10 m

July 17, 1843 ~ Monday

17^th I felt quite unwell in the morning with
my cold. We went down to the Raspbury
patch with Mr James Colbertson & saw the
mannor they cultivated & picked the buries
After conversing awhile with him we left
him & started back for Cincinnati on foot
we had got about half way, when we were
overtaken by Br Collins Penberton who had
been to Kirtland & was returning home was

within two miles of his house & wished us
to go home with him & spend the night we
did so, & found him in a valley a little
like the valley of Peidmont their was three
or four families with him that had come
up with Elder Blakesley & all got out of
money on the way & they had gone up
in that valley near the licking river to
cut wood to Boat down to Cincinnati
Market to Get money to go to Nauvoo, they
all appeared glad to see us we had a meeting
in the evening & Blessed their children, 8 in
No. Elder Blakesley had got money & gone on to
Nauvoo had just arived when we left, we
had a hard shower of rain during the
evening & night which made it much cooler

July 18, 1843 ~ Tuesday

18^th We left the valley of Peidmont or
Mormontown as the Elder called it & we
tooked a skiff in company with Br Pemberton
& rode down the licking river & crossed to
the city of Cincinnati. Called upon Br
Maryweather who has the charge of the
sale of Brandworths Pills on 3rd st Between
Walnut & Main. She offerd us $1 each I told
her to give it to Elder Smith & she did so 10 m

July 19, 1843 ~ Wednesday

19^th I took canal packet in company with Elder
B Young rode to Lockland fare 50 ct each $1.00
stoped & spent ^the night^ (upon a pinch) with Mr David
Martin He had been baptized into the Church but
was fearful & unbelieveing we had the privilege
however of spending the night with him & lying
upon a patent Bedstead wupon which it is said that
neither a Bedbug or flea will stay on it But the reason

why yet remains a secret. He did not ask us
our names untill we left next morning distance 10 m

July 20, 1843 ~ Thursday

20^th We walked 2 miles to Br Jackson
who was cradling wheat we went with him to his
house he gave us a sovreign to assist us on our Journey
we then walked back to the city of Cincinnati &
we were weary with our Journey making
15 miles we had walked 15 mi

July 21, 1843 ~ Friday

21 I wrote 3 Letters one to E Robinson
one to Elias Smith & one to Mrs P W. Woodruff
all of which I sent By Mr Holdridge

July 22, 1843 ~ Saturday

22^nd Saturday we left Cincinnati at 11 oclok
on board of the Adolade for Pittsburg

July 23, 1843 ~ Sunday

23 Sunday A foggy morning passed by Kentucky
to virginia spent the night on a sand bar

July 24, 1843 ~ Monday

24^th Got of[f] a sand bar at half past 7 oclok
got along well through the day I dreamed at
night of seeing Mrs Woodruff & Elder Cordon
told me that I had a fine child I saw Br
Joseph dressed in Military thought their was
to be a meeting in Nauvoo &c

July 25, 1843 ~ Tuesday

25 Got along well through the day consider[in]g
the low water Susan Cornelia Woodruff
was born at half past 11 oclock

July 26, 1843 ~ Wednesday

26^th Passed wheeling stoped at Wellsville, Br
Little & wife stoped here. We passed
a snag Boat employed by [the] Government to keep
the river clear of snags, we run onto a bar
sand at night & remained untill morning

July 27, 1843 ~ Thursday

27^th As the water was so low we could not
get up the river we stoped near Beaver
passed through the town to Bridgewater here
we took stage for Pittsburgh 28 miles on the
way we stoped at Econemy the town
founded by Mr wrap it is esstablished sumthing
upon the principles of shakerism they raise
much grain fruit & make wine from the pur
juse of the grape. we drank a glass of it
which was vary nice we arived at Pittsburgh
at 6 oclock. Distance from Cincinnatti to Pittsburgh 469 1/2 miles

We soon found Br Small who informed us
that there was a meeting at the Temperance
Hall By the Church of Latter Day Saints
we went to the Hall & about the first persons
we saw was Elders H. C. Kimball & O. Pratt
& we herd the voice of Elder J E Page
preaching He Hammered the sects during
his discourse, & at the closed He informed
the people of our arival which made six
of the quorum of the Twelve in the city
we were all truly glad to strike hand with
each other once more I spent the night
with Br [blank] Beck

July 28, 1843 ~ Friday

28^th We spent the fore part of the day
walking about. We met in council at
2 oclok at Br Richard Savorry Elder B Young
enquired concerning the procedings of the Twelve
at Cincinnati found that Elders H C Kimball, O Pratt
& J. E Page Held a conference organized the Church
& left for Pittsburgh Elder Page stayed & in
few days disunnoled what had been done

& reorganized the Church but it left the Church
in no better situation. Elder Young reproved
Elder Page some for undoing alone what three
of the quorum had done together. He also spoke
of the instruction that Br Joseph spoke of
ie to be gentle & mild in our teaching & not to
Battle the sects any more at present but win
the affections of the people, we had a good time
to the people together

we met in the evening at Jeremiah Cooper's house
I opened the meeting by Prayer. Elder B
Young arose & addressed the Saints in a vary inter-
esting manner & tried to instill into their minds to
be prepared to Harken to the word of the Lord &
obey his commandments & obey the things that
the prophet tells us to do & was followed By
Elders H C Kimball & G. A. Smith who bore testimony
of the work of God I spent the night at Br
James McDaniel's

Pittsburgh resembles the
English cities in consequence of their burning so
much stone cole which covers the cities with
smoke soot & Blackness. Its Population is 35,000
it has 120 preachers of the Gospel, 95 churches
& 21 Denominations, & It contains a Church
of Latter Day Saints Numbering 75

July 29, 1843 ~ Saturday

29^th I spent the Day at Br Mc DanielsDowell writings
& reading We met in the evening at Br
Savorys to teach the Elders. Elder B Young
first addressed the meeting [FIGURE] The following
isare some of the principles taught the Elders
By Elders Young. He says relative to government
that A man should in the first place presidie
over himself, his passions, his person, bring himself
into subjection to the Law of God, then Preside

over his children & his wife in wrighteousnes
then he will be capable of Presiding over a
branch of the Church but many Elders are
contending about presiding over churches, when
they are not capable of presiding over themselve
or the least child I have they have.

Again the first Principle of our cause & work is to
understand that their is a prophet in the Church
& that he is at the head of the Church on Earth. who
called Joseph Smith to be a prophet? Did the people
or God. God & not the people called him, had the
people gatherd together & appointed one of their
number to be a Prophet He would have been
accountable to the people but inasmuch as he
was called of God & not the people he is accountab[le]
to God & the Angel that committed the Gospel
to him & not to any man on earth. The Twelve
are accountable to the Prophet & his council
& not to the Church for the course they persue
& we have learned to go & do as the Prophet
tells us to do

July 30, 1843 ~ Sunday

30^th Sunday six of the quorum of the Twelve
met at Temperance Hall in Pittsburgh
with the Saints. Elder G. A. Smith opened the
meeting by prayer Elder W. Woodruff
Addressed the people bore testimony of the work
& spoke the things that were given by the
Spirit of God, among other things said that
the Church of God was organized with
Prophets & Apostles, but what is the use of
Prophets & Apostles if their is not to be revelations
given & work for the apostles to do they certainly
are not needed, if the work of Prophets &
Apostles are not to be received, but the vary Idie
of those offices exhisteding is a proof of revelation & gifts &c

I was followed by Elder G A Smith who also
bore testimony of the work of God & among other
things said that whenever God sent a witness
or messenger to deliver a message to the inhabitants
of the earth he does not require that messenger
to prove the truth of his assesrtion but deliver his
message as God has commanded him

In the after part of the day, Elder J. E. Page
addressed the meeting & bore testimony of the
work & was followed by Elder O. Pratt who
reasoned soundly upon the prophesyes

In the evening at early candle light the meeting
was addressed by Elder H. C. Kimball who gave
some of his experiance & bore testimony to the
work of the Lord much to our edifycation
He was followed by Elder B Young who
also bore testimony to the work of the Lord
and among the many remarks he made he
argued in the following manner. Why do the people
oppose the gifts & graces. If a man can get faith
by the power of God & the gift of the Holy Gost so as to
lay hands upon his wife & children or friends
when they lie sick & languishing nigh unto death
& command the fever, or disease, or the power
of the destroyer, or even death itself to depart to
cease its work, to be still & the person is relieved
I ask what harm is their in all this, or if a man
by faith & humility before God can get the
testimony of Jesus Christ & prophecy of things to
come or speak in tongues or cast out devils, I
ask what harm in all this, does it do any harm
No it does not. I know the New Testament
is true for I have proved it according to the
pattern given by believing in Christ obeying

the gospel & knowing the signs do follow,
then I ask does these things harm any one, No
they do not. In speaking of the kingdom of
God, He said the kingdom must be together
the people must be together, & gatherd into
one place. For How would the king of france
or England look undertaking to reign over a
kingdom when the people were scatterd all
over the world except in france or England
they could not reign over a people unless a people
were with those kings to reign over, so with the
Saints they must be gatherd together & this work has
already commenced, & who is the Author of this
work & gathering, Josephs Smith the Prophet of
God as an instrument in the hands of God is the
Author of it, he is the greatest man on earth
No other man of this age has power to
assemble such a great people from all the Nations
of the earth with all their varied dispositions
as assimulate them & cement them together
so that they will be subject to rule & order
this the Prophet is doing & what makes a
great king president or man is to have a
great People to rule over.

We had an
interesting time through the day. After meetig
closed I went home with Elder Charles Beck
& spent the night

July 31, 1843 ~ Monday

31^st Our Quorum assembled together & walked
over Pittsburgh. We first visited Mr Curlings
Glass works & saw them to work through each
branch of it we saw them make pressed, stampd
& ground or cut & plain tumblers & large
jars &c. We next went onto the bluff above
the city & had a view of the New Basin that

is to contain the water to be forced into it from
the Alleghaney River to water the city from this
place we had a fair view of the city below & it
truly sends forth its colums of smoke & blackness that
arises from the cole fires that propels the numer
ous engines as the main spring of all the founderies
manufacturies & works of the valey of the city
of Pittsburgh. We then desended the hill & visited
the city water works or resurvoy The building
is 150 feet long 110 feet wide containing two
engines of 200 Horse power each to drive a force
pump to force the water from the Alleganey River
into the bason on the bluff to water the city as
above spoken of the whole cost of this building
resurvoy & Bason, was $200,000 The building
is after the Roman order The whole Archatecture
design, & making & finishing the building was
executed by Elder Charles Beck a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
We visited Miltonbergers Iron works through each
branch of it, we saw the keel laid for an Iron
steem ship of war 140 foot keel, for Lake Erie
Br G. A. Smith & myself spent the night with Elder Beck

August 1, 1843 ~ Tuesday

Aug 1^st We crossed the Allagany River into the
town of Allegany & spent the day at C Seechrist &
returned in the evening. Their is three Bridges &
one canal crosses the Allegany River from Pittsburgh
within a short distance of each other. We attended
meeting in the evening & Elder Young preached
was followed By Elders Page & Kimball we spent
the night with Elder Charles Beck

August 2, 1843 ~ Wednesday

2nd Elder Beck Paid $48.00 for the passage of
the Twelve to Baltimore A collection was taken
up of about $20 to assist the quorun to Philadelphia

August 3, 1843 ~ Thursday

Aug 3^rd We parted with the Saints in Pittsburgh
& took stage for Baltimore their was six of
us of the quorum of the Twelve viz
B Young, H. C. Kimball, O. Pratt, J. E. Page
W. Woodruff & G. A. Smith. We traveld
about 25 miles along the River & over the
mountains whare Rocks Hung in mases almost
over our heads & on the other side was yawning
gulfs below, we came onto the National Road
at Washington Pa We Rode all day & all night
in the stage about 120 miles we arived next
morning at Cumberland, we passed through
Brownville & Uniontown

^{We had a talk with a man President Young says the twelve may put it in our} Jour[nals]^

August 4, 1843 ~ Friday

4^th We Took the rail cars at Cumberland
at 8 oclock A.M & passed through many miles
of Deep Mountaineous cutting ^stoped at Harpers ferry^ & arived at
Baltimore ^[FIGURE] MD^ about 6 oclock we here took the
Steemboat George washington ^&^ crossed the Bay
of Chesepeke to Frenchtown we here took the
Rail road again to New Castle [FIGURE] Del then the steem
Boat to Philadelphia where we arived at
4 oclock on the 5^th Aug Being 48 hours from
Pittsburgh to Philadelphia By Stage, Rail road
& Steem Boat the whole Distance 430 miles

August 5, 1843 ~ Saturday

5^th We were distributed among the Saints
in Philadelphia at the following places
Elder B. Young at Br P Hesse 36 old York
Road
Elder H. C. Kimball at 34 old York Road at
Sister Jeffres
Elder J E page & G A Smith at Elder wm
Wharton No Elizabeth St opposite the wel
Elder G A Smith at Methodist Chapel

Elder O Pratt at Sister Nickolsons at 6 ^st
2 doors Below Rase ^st -[sassafras]-
& myself at Br [blank] Hammers at 12 Logan st
street near spring garden market after getting
som Breakfast we went to rest as we had not
slep any for two nights of any account during
the afternoon & evening we had the hardest
storm & rain & wind that had been known for
many years in & about the city of Philadelphia
much damage was done houses unroofed,
gutters filled with water, streams suddenly
rose, bridges, lumber & houses carried away, a
number of persons were drowned &c &c

August 6, 1843 ~ Sunday

6^th Sunday in the fore part of the day I attended
meeting of the Millerites in company with Elder
Young & others. Mr Litz preached from
Jer 24 ch concerning the good & bad figs. isn speaking
of the covenant made to Abraham in giving him the
land of Canaan, he said it was not to seeds but seed
which was Christ, so the land belong to Jesus Christ
& not the Jews but Jesus Christ had rented it to the
Jews at 6 per cent or for evry 10^th & the ownly
terms on which it was given to the Jews, & that
they were robing God all the while, will a man
rob God &c & the Land was taken away from
the Jews & who shall have the land not
the Jews the natural seed. But those that are
Baptised into Jesus Christ & his spiritual children,
the kingdom was to be taken from the Jews &
given to a Nation Bringing forth the fruits there
of which will take place when Christ come
with his Church & Body & will then take
Jerrusalem. -[Why did he not say that it has already
been given to the gentiles & they have also fallen away]-

Tehe Jews as a nation will not go to the land
of Jerrusalem & when Jesus Christ comes the
Jews will No more be his people. I will admit
that the Jews will go with the other Nations
against Jerrusalem to Battle against the Lord
& his Saints & fight against Jerrusalem &
the Lord shall go forth & fight against the
Nations & the Jews among the rest & that the
Jews will fight agains Jerrusalem if the Jews
ever go to Jerrusalem they will not go as Jews
but all Christians as Christ Body &c &c

The above was the arguments presented by
the milerite to do away with the literal fulfill-
ment of the Bible concerning the return of
the Jews & the rebuilding of Jerrusalem.
But most of his arguments were fals &
groundless

In the Afternoon we met with the Saints
In the Canaanite Church in Julia Ann St
about 300 Saints were present, meeting
was opened by Elder Grant & Elder B. Young
Addressed the congregation to considerable
length & laid a good foundation among other
things said, that a man or woman may ask
of God & get a witness & testimony from God
concerning any work or messenger that is sent
unto them But if a person asks for a thing that
does not concern him, such as governing the
Church what shall the prophet or the Twelve
do &c he will not get an answer if he does it
will not be from God.

He also remarked in
conversation or inquired who had the Melchezedek
priesthood that if any in the Church had it he did not
know it For any person to have the fulness of that

priesthood must be a king & a Priest a
person may have a portion of that Priesthood the
same as Governors or Judges of England have
power from the King to transact business but
yet he is not the king of England. A person may
be anointed king & priest before they receive
their kingdom &c. At the close of the meeting
I dim returned to Br Hammers & in the evening
Elder O. Pratt Preached & was followd
by few remarks from Elder G A Smith

August 7, 1843 ~ Monday

7^th Spent the day with the Brethren visiting
the Saints &c we find in to days papers
an account of the destruction of property & loss
of lives by the storm on saturday about
thirty lives were lost & 500,000 dollars worth
of property destroyed the Iron suspension
bridge the first built in the world (so said,
with the canal Bridge & 50 other Bridges
on the Chester Creek Pa are washed away

August 8, 1843 ~ Tuesday

8^th In company with the Twelve and about
150 Saints we left the city on Board of a
steemer for an excursion. As we glided over
the water we passed the New frigate Rariton
of sixty four guns which had been lanched but
a short time & saw the building that coverd
the Pensylvania 170 gun ship the Largest
in the world, we Past on to Gloster Point
& spent the day in the following amusment drinkig
Ice water Lemonaid, & feasting, sailing, fishing,
swinging, walking singing, & discussing vario
us subjects &c. The following subject arose
for discussion is the Prosperity of any religious
denomination a posative evidence that they

are right. Elder J. E. Page contended for the
affirmative & Elder J M Grant for the negative
After which the chairman arose & said that
Prosperity of any people was no positive evidence
of their being right & decided accordingly which
was Elder B Young. After taking our suppers
we returned to the boat & crossed again to
the city. Elder Page Preached in the evening
But I returned home to Br Hammers & spent
the night. Distance of the day 12 m

On my return to the city my mind was deeply
9^th A vary rainy day exercised concerning
Mrs Woodruff which continued through the
evening with the impression that she was in distresse
or afflicted, I prayed for her before the Lord
& my mind was relieved

August 9, 1843 ~ Wednesday

9^th A vary rainy day I spent the time writing
I accompanied Elders O Pratt & J M Grant
in the evening to the Navy Yard to attend
a prayer meeting with the Saints I preached
1 1/2 hours & was followed by Elder O. Pratt
& returned home distance 6 mils
[FIGURE]

August 10, 1843 ~ Thursday

10^th Elders B Young O Pratt G. A. Smith
P Hesse & myself visited the State house
in Philadelphia we went on to the steeple
whare we had a fair view of the whole
city which was an interesting view of the
city from thiss steeple we could have a fair
view of the Alms House, Jerard Colledgge, the
cathedrals, & spires towers &c. We then went
into the Independance Hall, here we saw the
place whare the Patriots signed the declara
tion of Independance we set in the chairss

that John Hancock sat in at the time
he signed that instrument. we saw the
stature of Washington, the painting of
Lafeyette & others. We had a view of
the painting presented by Benjamin West
to the city corporation representing the
situation of Paul & Barnabas when they
were set apart to the ministry theis
Building was erected in AD 1733
we called at the mint but no business
doing & we returnd home had a rainy after
noon

August 11, 1843 ~ Friday

11^th We spent the day in visiting various part
of the city esspecially Peals Musium we
went all through it & found it to be quite
interesting two things of Note we examined
closely the body of the Mermaid found & the
Mamouth skeleton, we saw several hundr
ed portraits of Distinguished men &c
We Also visited the mint but the works
were not in operation. The engine rollers, &
dies and all the mashinery was the highest
polished & best finished of any works I
ever saw. After finisheding the walk of the
day our quorum divided & attended prayer
meetings in various parts of the city I accompa-
nied Elder Pratt & Grant to the Navy yard
I spoke over one hour & was followed by Elder
O Pratt

August 12, 1843 ~ Saturday

12^th We dined at Sister Poltries she made
our quorum a present of $12 dollars in
silver making $2 eaech of us in the evening
we had an interesting meeting with the Elders

All of the quorum present spoke Elders
Young & Kimball gave instruction & we
bore testimony to the truth of the word

August 13, 1843 ~ Sunday

13^th In the morning Elder Grant & myself
walked to the Navy Yard & I preached
& was followed by Elder Grant. In the
afternoon we met with the Saints & Elder
O Pratt Preached, upon the subject of Zion
from the Psalmes of David, & In the evening
Elders B Young H C Kimball & myself occupied
the time I addressed the people first & told my
experience & felt much of the Spirit of God in
bearing testimony that Joseph Smith Sen [Jr.] was
a Prophet of God that the Book of Mormon
was true & that the work we was engaged in
was of God I was followed by Elders Kimball
& Young who also bore testimony of the work
of God by the power of God

August 14, 1843 ~ Monday

14^th I took the parting hand with the Saints
& in company with Elders O. Pratt & Wm Moore
I took steem Boat & traveld 40 miles to
Shoolkill & then walked 6 miles to Mr Mosleys
& Preached toin the meeting house I spoke &
was followed by Elder Pratt it was a rainy
night Distance of the day 46 m

August 15, 1843 ~ Tuesday

15^th Rode 18 miles & walked 3 & took supper
with Br [blank] then Rode 6 miles
to Mr Hoofmans whare I spent the night
distance of the day 27 miles

[FIGURE] During this days ride we passed over the
ground of the Brandywine Battle saw
whare the action commenced whare the

Americans Retreated & a part of them surren-
dered it was near Chadd^s ford saw whare
Gen Washington led away the remainder of
the army

August 16, 1843 ~ Wednesday

16^th In company with Elder Moore I rode to Br
John Neff'^s in Strasburgh Lancaster Co Pa
& spent the night with him found him strong in the
faith & manifested a disposition to do the will of God
to sell his property & go to Nauvoo to take stock in
the Nauvoo House &c I had an interesting time
with them. Sister Barbara, showed me two
Letters from Elder Julian Moses. I passed by Br
Edward Hunters former residence I found the
country throughout this region to be exceding
rich & fertile, wheat, corn, oats & clover in
great abundance the distance of this day was 25 m

August 17, 1843 ~ Thursday

17^th I wrote two Letters one to Julian Moses
& one to Orson Spencer of New Haven Ct
I took the parting hand with Br Neff^s family &
rode to Elder Elijah Malin, west Nantmeal
Chester Co Pa Br Malin was the Presiding Elder
I spent the night at his house distance of the {day} 25 m

August 18, 1843 ~ Friday

18^th I spent the day writing I wrote two
Letters one to Sister Betsy Cossett &
one to Br Dwight Webster and in the evening
I met with Elder O. Pratt & others & held a meeting
at west Nantmeal Seminary. I spoke & was followed
by Elder O. Pratt we spent the night at Mr
Henry Buckwater'^s 3 miles

August 19, 1843 ~ Saturday

19^th We commenced a two days meeting ain
a groove at Br Millers in Uwehland township
I preached in the forenoon & Elder O Pratt in the
Afternoon I spent the night at Br Millers distance {of the day} 12 [miles]

The following was composed by Elder Lorenzo
Barnes, which I took from An Album at the
house of Mr Mosleys Centerville New Castle Co Del

Virtue

Virtue, O virtue thou Jem from Above
More charming than beauty more endearing than love
More precious than Jewels and jems of the earth
Or titles of honour decending by Birth

Behold the Bright rainbow that circles the skye
While bending to earth with its bow far on high
Its colors of Beauty with rapture behold
In order and splendor enchanting unfold

But what are the colors that are to be seen
In the bow of the cloud of red blue and green
Compared with those colors which virtue combine
Those heaven born treasures displayed in the mind

The bow of the cloud's soon faded and gone
Its painted on rain and receds with the storm
But virtue a Princes in glory arayed
Which time cannot varnish nor eternity fade

Virtues dominion is not among clouds
Nor oft is she seen mid the gay and the proud
Her throne is her purity her kingdom in mind
With modesty Prudence and meekness combined

Thus Elvira let virtue be ever your aim
Its light and its glory emblazen your name
Then charmes o'er your temples forever shall bloom
They'll flourish through time and revive o'er the tomb

Lorenzo D. Barnes

August 20, 1843 ~ Sunday

Aug 20
20^th Sunday I wrote a letter to Elder M. Holmes
Before meeting we assembled at the grove at
the time appointed & a good congregation came
together I addressed them in the fore part of the day
from the following words "If our gospel be hid it
be hid from them that are lost &c I felt much of
the spirit of testimony & felt that there were
many hearts to receive, at the close of the meet-
ing the people flocked around the stand to obtain
our Fac similee's of the plates and Books &c they
Bought $4.75 worth of them. We dined at
Br Harts during intermission we lade hands upon
Br Malin the presiding Elder & several other Elders
In the afternoon the congregation again assembled
& was addressed by Elder O Pratt he spoke in
much of the power & demonstration of the spirit of
God from Rev 22 ch first clause of the 3rd vers and
there shall be no more curse He commenced with the
fall the curse that came on the earth & continued the
subject untill the end & every curse was taken off traced
the subject through the Millinnium second advent of
Christ, the Binding of Satan, peace for one thousand
years the numerous increase of the inhabitants of the
earth, & the letting loose of Satan, his going up with
the hosts of the earth that he had deceived & compassing
the camp of the Saints & the Beloved city & fire came
down from Heaven & devoured them. A great white
throne appeared, the Saints & cities were cought up
to God, the Heavens & earth passed away & the Lord
made a new heavens & new earth the Saints cities &
new Jerrusalem &c came down from God out of
heaven & rested upon the new earth & the last enemy
destroyed was death then Jesus Christ deliverd it up
to his father as pure &c

At the close of the meeting the people administed
to our necessities they gave us $11.75 which we
divided among us Elder Pratt administered the
ordinance of Baptism to one person which we
confirmed at the waters edge we then took
the parting hand with the Saints & rode home with
Priest John Bowen [to] Lionville Chester Co Pa & spent
the night we Blessed the family distance of the day 3 m
[FIGURE] I dreamed last night that I was in Nauvoo & our
cow was lost & I thought it Best to advertise her that
we might find her But I hope she is not lost

August 21, 1843 ~ Monday

21^st I took the parting hand with the Saints & we
rode to Oakland Hotel there took railroad to
Philadelphia, in company with James Sloam
& his wife we saw Elder Grant found the rest
of the twelve had left the city for New York
distance of the day fare $3. 40 miles

August 22, 1843 ~ Tuesday

22nd Spent part of the day at Br Hammers
visited fairmount the Philadelphia waterworks
& found it to be a splended sceneery [FIGURE] I spent
the evening in company with Elders O. Pratt
J. M. Grant & B. Winchester

August 23, 1843 ~ Wednesday

23 I took the parting hand with the Saints & in
company with Elders O. Pratt J. M Grant &
J Sloan & wife took rail road to New York, arived
in the evening called upon Br McClain 182 Canal
st then upon Elder Foster 145 Walker St
Br Burge No 1 McDudle St attended meeting
at Columbian Hall & spent the night at Elder Fosters
Distance to N Y 100 mil

August 24, 1843 ~ Thursday

24^th I called upon Br Ilus Carter he gave me a bundle
of papers from Nauvoo & also a letter from

Mrs Woodruff informing me of the birth of
a daughter 17 days after I left home the babe not
3 days old when I left home, mother & child doing
well I was truly glad to hear from home I dined with
Br Ilus Carter I wrote a letter in answer to Mrs
Woodruff & attended meeting with the Saints
& spent the night with Br Foster

August 25, 1843 ~ Friday

25^th I attended Baptism in the morning & Bathed
in the sea spent the day visiting the Saints attended
meeting in the evening at the Hall spent the night
with Br Foster

I wrote a letter to Elder J Taylor sent for papers

August 26, 1843 ~ Saturday

26^th Aug 1843 The quorum of the Twelve
met with the Saints in New York in conference
meeting opened by prayer President Young
arose & addressed the meeting in an interesting
manner upon the subject of the gathering, the
Building of the Nauvoo House & Temple. He spoke
of the Priesthood & said that it was a perfect
system of goverment and made many useful
remarks.

In the afternoon the conference again
met Prayr By Elder Page the meeting was addressed
by Elder Kimball, spoke in parables, gather in the
wheat and tares thrash the wheat & the mill will
blow away the chaff &c Said an Elder would
get a people together & could get the priest &
people to receive the work if they did not whip
the sect so like a shepherd who would call up a
buck & a flock of sheep & hand them a little salt
& Just as they begin to eat hit him with a club
across the head & the sheep will run away.

Elder G. A. Smith followed & bore testimony of the
work told several anecdotes one from Lyman Wight

said that a man told of a story so big about his
cheese house that a woman did not believ it & asked
a servant if it was true He said that his master
did not let him go into the cheese house but one thing
he new that his master had a tremendous
great cheese house & a great mill of four run of
stone that was carryed by the whay that runs
from the cheese house so let the Elders tel
about the whey but not about what is in the
cheese house as long as they have not seen it
let the misteries alone & speak of things that
you understand. He spoke of his collegiate
education he received from President Joseph
Smith which was, to preach short sermans
& make short prayers which had done him
much good in life.

Elder B Young next spoke
& made some useful remarks said the scriptures
had been mistifyed to that degree that the greatest
divine of the day is as ignorant as the dumm ass
concerning the things of God they dont know their
right hand from their left & we are trying to
revere it to make it so simple that the people
can understand it. Place a man in this room
that is ignorant of science & take evry thing out
that we can see & then ask him if their is
any thing in the room, he says no nothing but
we two. I tel him that there is millions of live
animals in the room even we breath them & I
will show him by the aid of glasses that their
is live animals in one drop of water eight feet long
but he dont believe it untill he sees it through
glasses so with the unbeliever he does not
believe in God, in Angels, in spirits because he
cannot see them, but let him have spiritual
glasses or obey the commandments of God &

get the spirit of God & then he can see & many
other usful remarks he made. A Hymn was
then sung. Then several question were asked

1^st Can any member officer in any branch
of the Church say their word is law & should
be obayed (No) Is it right for anA priest to be
joined to a Teacher to go & visit the houses of
each member when their duty is set forth in
the covenants. (Yes any members that are
officers from High priest to Deacon may visit
the church or members & be set apart for this
purpose if the Church will receive it)

[2] I instruction If Elders or High Priest are
on an Island & cannot get word from the
Prophet or the Twelve [they] may get a revelation
concerning themselves, the Twelve may get
a revelation in any part of the world concer-
ning the building up the kingdom as they have
to esstablished the kingdom in all parts of the
world, so any person can ask the Lord for a
witness concerning himself he can get an answ
er to himself but not to lead the Church that
Belongs to the head of the Church

3^rd Can a Church make buy laws as expediences
for themselves that are not specifyed
in any revelation (yes if they wish, they may
make laws to stick their fingers in their eyes
if they wish, but it is like sticking their finger
through a not hole, in the wall to see what
custom will do

4^th When any person is ordained legally
by the vote of the Church to any office can
he be releaced from that office & priesthood
(No) and hold his standing in the Church (No)

Elder young made many useful remark
conference Adjourned untill tomorrow

August 27, 1843 ~ Sunday

27^th Conference met at half past 10 oclock accor
ding to adjournment. meeting opened by singing
Prayer by Elder Grant. Meeting was then addressed
by Elder W. Woodruff from 2^nd Epistle of Peter
1^st Ch 20, 21 verses He remarked that if the prophe-
sies that had been fulfilled were fulfilled litterally
in kike manner would those prophesies which
are still to be fullfilled, be done litterally. And
that the gathering of the Saints, the building of
Zion, the gathering of the Jews, the rebuilding
of Jerrusalem, the esstablishing of the Church
& kingdom of God in the last days The preaching
of the gospel to all the world wasis an event looked
for by the latter day Saints, & notwithstanding
these things are unpopular & not looked for or
believed in by the world yet we feel incouraged
to persevere & press forward in assisting to accom-
plish these great & glorious things with a firm
belief that they will as truly be brought to pass
and perfected as those things prophesied were in
ancient days. He also bore testimony of the
Truth of the Book of Mormon, covenants, & A
prophet of God.

Elder Kimball followed &
made some Appropriate remarks, when the
meeting adjourned two hourse.

Elder J. E. Page
addressed the meeting in the afternoon, on the
testimony of the Book of the Book of Mormon &
that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He quoted
to many passages in the doctrins & covenants &
Book of Mormon that prophesied of things that
should take place which had actually come to
pass according to the prophesies. He spoke quite
lengthy upon the subject & brought much
testimony to proove the truth of the position
He Had taken. At the close of his discourse
some Church business was attended to as
Elder L. R. Foster was about to go to Nauvoo
It was necessary that another should be appointed
in his stead to preside in New York

A vote was call to know if they ^the Church^ was perfectly
satisfyed with Elders Foster's labours & procedings
as Presiding Elder in the Church; the vote was
unanimous. Elder Foster resigned his office &
Elder Geo^e T Leach was appointed president
of the Church in New York By a vot of the same
After which several children were blessed & the
meeting adjourned untill evening; At which time
Elder O. Pratt addressed the people concerning
the Book of Mormon He spoke in an edifying
manner concerning the Book of Mormon its
history what it was &c that it was a History of
nearly one half of the globe & the people that
inhabited it, that it gave a history of all those
cities that have been of late discoverd by Carthe-
-rwood's & Stephens, that it named those cities
That it spoke of the esstablishing of our goverm-
ent & what is more highly interesting it reveals
its final fate & destiny, so that by reading the
Book of mormon you can clearly see what will
befal this nation, and what will be its final end.
In that Book you will find recorded the pure
principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught
by himself on the continant of America so plain
that no two persons could disagree as to the points
of doctrin set forth, many interesting remarks
he made upon this subject then bore testimony
of the truth of Joseph Smith ^sen [jr.] being a true
Prophet of God & that the Book of Mormon was
true & that the Church of the Latter day Saints
was the true church of God, & after finishing his
testimony he commenced and preached another
sermon & spoke in all a little short of two
hours, after he closed we blessed 5 children
& attended to some other duties we dismissed the
people. I dined with Br Ilus Carter & spent the
night with Elde[r] Foster Mr Carter attended meeting
in the morning

August 28, 1843 ~ Monday

Aug 28^th I met with the Twelve in the morning
& spent several hours together. I mailed a letter
to Elder J. Taylor containing 10 subscribers for
the Times & Seasons I dined at Br Ilus Carters
& convers with Mrs Carter & Mrs Snow
I had a Minuature taken by Mr Miller taken
as a Present to Mrs Woodruff Price $4.50
I called upon Miss Mary Sloan who
seemed much pleased to see me & spoke
about going to Nauvoo, desired much to go. I
returned to Br Ilus Carters & took tea
saw Mrs Sloan spent the evening with Ilus
before I left him he spoke of sending some
dry goods & carpeting to me at Nauvoo to
sell for him. I spent the night at Elder
Fosters distance of the day 6 mile

August 29, 1843 ~ Tuesday

29^th I left new York in company with
Elders Davis, Wandell, & Walley on
Board of the Mutual Safety to Noryorkwalk I
was sea sick I stoped at the house of Albert
Gregory & we Preached at night in the town
house & spent the night with Br Gregory
distance of the day 45 miles

August 30, 1843 ~ Wednesday

30^th I went out with Br Gregory & Davis
to keth [catch] oysters we caught abov 2 Bushels
we had a meal to roast. I visited the Saints
in evening, & Preach to the Saints & had a
good time spent the night with Br Gregory

August 31, 1843 ~ Thursday

31^st We left the saints in Norwalk & took
steem Boat to Bridgport & stage to New Haven
we stoped at S. Browns Tavern then walked
to Burr Frost at Westville & spent the night
distance of the day, (Fare to N Haven $1.25) 40 m

September 1, 1843 ~ Friday

Sept 1^st We walked to New Haven from thenc
to Fair Haven & called upon Mr Smith Tuttle
who would open doors for preaching we spent
part of the day with him & returned to westville
& preached at night at Br Frost to a small
number we spent the night at Br Frost

September 2, 1843 ~ Saturday

2^nd We walked to New Haven & called upon
Lewis Allen No. 10 Collage st, we dined at
Brown's Tavern I then took the parting hand
with Elder Davis & took the stage for
Farmington I had many peculiar reflections
while passing through this town whare I had
spent much of my youth I arived at my
fathers house in the evening & found my
father & mother well, Eunice & Br Webster
was better than they had been I was glad to
see my fathers Family one more & enter under
the roof of my youth it gives me peculiar
reflections to pass through the town & over the
places whare I have spent my youth in company
with Brothers & friends who now sleep in the
dust I spent the night at Father Woodruff
I found my Father attending Both saw & grist
mill alone although he was 65 years of age
[FIGURE] I received a letter from Mrs Woodruff
which I was glad to get felt to rejoice to
hear from my family again Distance of the day 30 m

September 3, 1843 ~ Sunday

3^rd Sunday I walked on the canal bank in
the morning & surveyed the meadows the river
the mill alone whare I had walked with the
my Brothers & sister & with my Bosom Friend
in days that are past but now I am alone

after musing awhile on past scenes with a
mixture of pleasure & pain rather more pain
than pleasure I returned to the house spent
the day with the family & in the evening I
preached to the people had a goodly number
present, after meeting I Baptized two
persons James Hooker & [blank] Smith
& spent a plesant evening & another night under
my Fathers roof

September 4, 1843 ~ Monday

4^th I wrote two letters one to Phebe
& inclosed a $5 dollar Bill to her I also
wrote A letter to Azmon Woodruff

September 5, 1843 ~ Tuesday

5^th I again was called to take the parting hand
with Father Woodruff may the Lord preserve
us to meet again I left Farmington in company
with Mother, Eunice & Sister Mary Smith &
passed through the pine woods to Avon saw the
old Bogue Hills & house & place of my nativity
we called at Mrs Judds, had a view of Aunt
Wheelers place as we passed along and arived at
Aunt Cossetts in the afternoon. Sister Mary
had a vary poor turn it seemed for a little
as though she would die it was the stopage
of Blood at the heart would rush to the head
she was bled Administered to & was soon relieved
Cousin Betsey & myself rode to Terriffville to
see aunt Bulah spent a little time & returned
home to our friends at Aunt Cossetts & spent
the night distance of the day 16 miles

September 6, 1843 ~ Wednesday

6^th It was difficult to make up my mind whether
to go on to day or stay I finally concluded to
tarry I took the parting hand with Mother

& eunice & Sister Mary who started for
home in Farmington I stayed & spent the
night in symsbury & preached in the
evening in the school house, to a small congregation
who gave good attention Aunt Cossett &
family & Bulah was present & seemed to enjoy
themselves well . . .

A sad accident
happened to James Camp & wife in Farmington
on Saturday the 2^nd Aug they were both flung
from their carriage Mr Camp was badly brused
& Mrs Camp was killed so sudden that she
ownly spoke once. It was a great trial to the
family

September 7, 1843 ~ Thursday

7^th I took stage & rode to Westfield &
called upon Ashbel Dewey the presiding
Elder at Little River, gave out an appointment
for a meeting with the Saints & met with
them at Br Samuel Ensign'^s had a good
meeting the Church in this place consists of
39 members, & in the Town of Russel their
is a branch of the Church of 15 members 10
8 miles west of Westfield Mass distance 20 m

September 8, 1843 ~ Friday

8^th I left the Saints at Westfield & took the
rail cares & rode to Boston in the second class
fare was $2.30 arived at Boston at 7 oclok
Distance to Boston 120 miles

On my arival to the city I found Elder G. A
Smith & another Br waiting for me at the railroad
we carried our trunks to a Brothers & went to
meeting at Boylston Hall Cornor of Boylston
& washington streets here I had the privile [a]gain
of meeting again with some of the Twelve viz
H C Kimball J. E. Page, O. Pratt, & G. A. Smith.

Elder J E Page Addressed the meeting. I
spent the night with Elder Kimball He read
me a letter from his wife which was interesting
may the Lord Bless Joseph give him a victory over
his enemies & support him in evry trial & prepare
the Saints for that which is to come I pray

September 9, 1843 ~ Saturday

Conference
of
the quorum of the Twelve Apostles
met [in] the Boston church at Boylston Hall
on the 9^th Day of Sept 1843

There were present of the quorum of the Twelve
Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball, P. P. Pratt
O Pratt [blank] J. E. Page, W. Woodruff
& G A Smith

Conference opened by prayer By Elder G A Smith
President Young called for Business

Elder E P Magin represented the Boston
Branch containing members 182
[Elder E P Magin represented the] Peterboro [Branch containing members] 88
strong in faith of gathering

Elder B. F. Gruid represented the
Lowel Branch consisting of members 48

Elder Snow represented the Salem Branch 75 or 80
12 or 15 to start west next Tuesday & another
company to start the 1^st of October which
will take about half of the Church

Elder Lewis Represented the Church in
New Bebford containing members 100
many of them not active not more than
one third of them come to meeting have
not had had a preacher lately if a good one
was to come good might be done

E P Magin represented the Church in
Gilsom N. H. containing members 42
among the No are two cousins of
President Joseph Smith one the postmaster
of the Place

Elder Bryant represented the Georgetown
Branch containing members 30
But not much of the spirit of gathering
Elder E Snow remarked he did not wonder
they had not the spirit of gathering when their
Presiding Elder Nathaniel Holmes & his son
Elder Milton Holmes has setteled down with
the Church manifesting No disposition to gather
themselves it was no wonder the Church had
not the spirit of it

Elder Jesse Haven represented the Church in
North Bridge members 41
they were scattered in several towns large
majority have the spirit of gathering one cut
off 1 died 1 set asid the majority in full faith

E P Magin represented New Salem Branch
from 45 to 50
And Wendall 40
And Leveratt 35
generally in good standing

Elders Rogers informs that several families was
to start from Leveratt next Wednesday
He represents the Westfield Branch members 39
Cabitsville 10
Northbridge Branch 37
Farmington Ct 12
Scattering 13

Elder P. P. Pratt arose and remarked that
some tell us that they have taught the gathering
according to the scriptures, but to teach the
gathering from the scriptures alone is not
sufficient for By this they would be left in
doubt they would not know whether to
gather to Jerrusalem to Africa or America.
It is right to teach ^the gathering^ according to the scripturs
but we are not left to this alone, we know &
all the Saints allught to know that God has
pointed out a place & time of gathering and
has raised up a Prophet to bring it about of
which we are witnesses, we have not got to go
a long round about the time & place is pointed
out the foundations of the city & Templ laid
and a people already gatherd & we know &whare
to go, & to reject the revelations of God that have
pointed out these things to us ownly brings condem
nations, & if this is not the case then our faith
is vain & our works & hopes are vain also
we have already got the opinions of men enough
concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. But
we need the voice of a Prophet in such a case
& we have it & I am willing to risk my all
upon it. And if the Elders understand the
principal of gathering and teach it correctly
the people would have the correct spirit of
gathering.

E. P. Magin arose & said he made the remark
that he had made taught the gathering according
to the scriptures, But he considerd all modern
revelations scripture as well as those given
anciently. P. P. Pratt sayed they agreed
their was no disagreement &c

Elder B. Young arose & said, he wished to
make a few general remarks concerning the
subject of our faith. We hear the Elders
represent the feelings of the Brethren concerning
the gathering. The spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ
is a gathering spirit & the its tendency is to gather
the virtuous & good the honest & meek of the
earth, & in fine the saints of God. The time has
come when the Lord is determin to fullfill his
purpose. Had we lived in the days of Jesus Christ
we would say we would receive his work. But
Judge ye if the people are better now than then
they are not. When the full set time iwas come
the Lord came in the flesh to do his work whether
the people were prepared or not. And now the full
set time is come for the Lord God Almighty to set
his hand to redeem Israel we are not bound to
make the people believe but to preach the gospel &
then our garments are clear. The Lord does not
require evry soul to leave his home as soon as he
believes but he requirs him to harken to council &
follow that course that the lord points out, the
spirit of the Lord & this work is on the elect, and
those that keep up with the work must be on
the alert also. When the Lord says gather
yourselves together why do you ask the Lord what
for, is it not the principle of the Saints to mingle
together to promote the great cause in which we
are engaged. Say you cannot the Lord save
us as well whare we are as to gather together. Yes
if the Lord sayes so but if he commands us to
come out & gather together, He will not save us
by staying at home. Have you not received the
gospel yes, then do you believe the gospel what
we say. Have you not received the Holy Ghost

By receiving the gospel which we have brought
unto you, yes & thousands have & it stands as a
testimony that God has got a Prophet on the
earth, you might have been baptized seventy
times seven in any way except the way God had
ordained and pointed out & you would not have
received the Holy Ghost, this also is a
testimony to you. Are ye ingaged in the great
work with us ye will say yes, can ye do
any good? yes ye can. The sectarian world
send the Bible to the nations of the earth, the
people put in sixpence fifty cts or a dollar into
the box & send Bibles through the world.
Then cannot we do sumthing yes, the Lord
requires us to build a house unto his name
that the ordinances & blessings of his kingdom
may be revealed & that the Elders may be
endowed & go forth & gather together the Blood
of Ephraim the people of God from the ends of
the earth. Can you get an endowment in Boston
No & ownly in that place that God has pointed
out. Now query could moses have got the law had
he staid in the midst of the children of Israel had
he not gone to the mountains? The Lord says
go & do so & so stand before Phario, pull off your
shoes for the ground is Holy &c Moses obeyed
& obtained blessings, but if he had not obeyed
he would not have obtained the blessing. But why
query about it has the Lord spoken yes then
this is enough. I do not care whether the people
gather or not if they dont want to, I do not wish
to save the people against their will, I wish you
to have your choice either to gather with the
righteous or stay with the wicked, I would like
to have all people bow down to the Lord Jesus Christ
but it is one of the decrees of the Lord that all

persons shall act upon their agency, which
was the case even with the angels that fell
from heaven

Now will you help us
to build the Nauvoo House & Temple if so you
will be blessed if not we will build it alone
And if you dont harken you will not have
the spirit of the Lord, for the spirit of the
Lord is on the moove. The Apostles tried to
gather the people together in their day. Christ said he
would gather the Jews oft as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings but they would not [Matthew 23:37] [Luke 13:34]
God and Angels dont care whether men hear or forbear
they will carry on their work for the full set
time is come and we care about it we must
build a house & get an endowment & preach the
gospel, warn the people, gather the Saints, build
up Zion & finish our work & be prepared for
the coming of Christ. Now we want to send
missionaries to the Islands can you do sumthing
for them & that is not all we want you to
do we want you to give us sumthing to build
a temple we want what you have to spare.
But are you afraid that you will not have
enough for youself when you get there. But
how easy it is for the Lord to take it away from
you By fire & otherwise. E. P. Magin had an ^Ivory^ cane
I asked him for it but he din give it to me but
he soon lost it & it did neither of us any good
But the Lord can give & take away. Jacob with
his faith obtained all the best cattle that his
Father in law had. Who blesses you and all the
people God, but do the people acknowledge the hand
of God in all these things No, they turn away
from him & do not acknowledge him or realize
from whom their Blessings flow. Let me tell
you a secret when the Lord shakes the earth

And the Hills fall down & vallies are exhalted
then for Brass the Lord will bring gold for Iron
silver for stones Iron &c, then you will have
no use for gold, for money & gods as you now
have But the Lord will think as much of it
then as now. Let us have some of your gold
to take to Nauvoo to make a temple & Nauvoo,
House so that when the Kings Princs & Nobles
of the earth call at Nauvoo to enquire after
the wisdom of Zion that they may have a place
to entertain them, & that the weary travellor may
be refreshed, is their wisdom in Zion, we
think so & the world begin to think so, let the
world come forward & translate the plates that
have of late come forth, if they have wisdom
to do it. The Lord intends to take away the gods
of the gods of the gentiles the Lord pulleth down
& buildeth up at his own pleasure dont be afraid
of a dollar A hundred or a thousand dollars I
would not I have made a sacrafice a good many
times, the Lord has promised A hundred fold &
I have taken this course to get rich, to give all
I had & God has given many blessings in consequ
ence. If I have been to bold in asking, then be
to bold in giving give your all and God will repay
as much again adjurned untill half past 2 oclok

Met according to adjournment meeting opened by
singing & Prayer By Elder P. P. Pratt who arose
and said I have a few remarks to make concerning
the subject spoken of in the fornoon By Elder
B. Young who said your all we wanted all
your gold silver & precious things &c we
not ownly want your all as pertains to gold
silver &c but we want you, your wives &

children, & all you have. I dont know that
I can give you a better pattern of what we want
than the case of Joseph in Egypt. An Israel-
ite will get all he can, they are vary great to
go ahead. The Egyptians believed in dreams
& by this peculiar gift Joseph entered into a great
scheme of speculation, he used the gift of dreams
to become great in the eyes of the Egyptians,
had great political influence came out on the kings
horse in great splendor, & lade up corn in great
abundance during the seven years Plenty & in time
of famine got all the gold, silver, cattle, property
their own persons, this speculation was from
A Josephite and it was like an Israelite, it was
like Noah, Lot, Christ, &c & it is a fair sample of
our speculation. God is the origin of Power
the Sovreign, & he has a right to reign, & their
will be good times & goverment when the world
will acknowledge the God of heaven their lawgiver
& If I could live under his goverment I should
be thankful, then our prayer would be answered
may thy kingdom come &c untill that time we
must pray for it. This Joseph in Egypt the
speculator what a great & good man he was I
love him I admire his course, & I Believe a little
of his Blood is in my veins. But had Joseph
been like the religious world at the present day he
would not have rode the kings horse & wore his
robe & had nothing to do with gold & silver, & do no
good, save no corn, build no store houses, do none
of these things for fear of speculation. But He done
differently. And their is a prophesy about the modern
Prophet Joseph, being raised & supported by the power
of God to do a work on the earth. And he has been
raised up & the Lord has been with him & evry

formed against him has been broaken. He
has had rising of thirty law suits to pass
through & yet he has overcome & no accusation
has been susstained against him, but he will
lay a plan to speculate as large as Ancient Joseph
did, what Elder Young said is good, and even
now we want you to take that course that
will save you. Build up a city & Temples &
enjoy them & do as the Lord tells you & harken
to councils. we have a prophet to tell us what to
do, and we should get as much wisdom as the
world, if the world want a rail road built all
they have to do is to open Books the people
subscribe stock & a rail road is soon built & an
income is brought. And the Saints ought to
be as well united as the world, & do the things
that God has required, that a great nation may
be saved from all Nations. The old gentleman
that rules the nations has ruled long enough
and if I was an Infidel I would like to have
the Lord raise up a Joseph or Daniel or sumbody
to raise up a change for the good of the world
and thank Heaven he has begun to raise them
up to do the great work of God & it will continue
untill the saying goes forth that the Lord
has built up Zion. I read that Gold, silver, power
thrones & dominions will be connected with the
great work of God in the last days, then let us
wake up and enlarge our hearts & prepare for
the great & glorious work, does the Saints here
in Boston know that they are Identifyed
with laying the foundation of a great & mighty
work that is to enclude all the great and
glorious work that is to be fulfilled in the last
dispensation & fulness of times And

And I Prophecy in the name of the Lord
that whether Boston Saints or who may stand
for it or rise against it, that almost numberless
milions will selebrate that day when the founda-
tion of this work was laid.

G A Smith Arose and said that he was pleased
with the many remarks that had been made
this day you can see a similarity between the
two Josephs & the Laws that were given. Says
one who believes that God who dwells in heaven
will speak about building a house &c in this day
of religion & science But the day was when the salv-
ation or damnation of a whole world hung upon
a small circumstance even in the days of Noah the
building of an ark, had the Editors of this day
lived then I think they would have said and
written more against it than they have against
Joseph Smiths Revelations. You talk about God
condesending to speak of small things in the last
days but no more so than it was in the days
of Moses for we read in the bible how God comm-
anded the children of Israel when they found
a birds nest to take the young to themselves but
to let the dam go free, what for, wy that their
days might de [be] long in the land which their God
Lord their God giveth them, so come to the point
it was a great thing at last, yet connecting this with
the word of the Lord concerning eating Beetles &
grashoppers was as small business for the Lord to
talk about as it was for the Lord to command
the Saints to Build a tavern. This Boarding
house when done will do much good for
the spreading of the work to all nations. But
what good could arise from eating Beetles & grasshopers
I cannot say

Sept

All the prophesies have aimed at the gathering
of the people & saving of them in the last days.
But my advise is if you cannot take hold of
the work & go through the whole course to stop &
go no further, we do not want to deceive you
Our traditions have been to be variy religious
weare long faces, never tell a story or laugh &c
this was the case with the long faced Christians in
Mo & they were the first to strike a dagger to the
our hearts. If I wear a strange hat it is not
because of my religion for whare the religion
of a man is in his hat or coat it is not vary extensive
any whare els. And whenever I have seen Elders
trying to preach sumthing large to get a name the
mysteries &c I have believed that such have got yet
much to learn. As many are desireous of hearing
mysteries I will rehears a short sermon or misteriy
Elder Kimball has been of long standing in the
Church Preached much, done much good, brought
many souls into the kingdom & had great influene
&c. Elder Amasa Liyman & myself went into
a place to preach whare the Elders had preached
all the mysteries, they wanted us to preached
mysteries, we told them we were not qualified
to preach miysteries but if they would send
for Elder Kimball he could preache the mysteries
so they sent abot 40 miles for Elder Kimball
& brought him down as they were so anxious
to hear the mysteries & when he came, he
had a large congregation assembled & he arose
before them & remarked that he had understood
they had sent for him to come & preach the
mysteries to them. I am fully competent
to do it & am happy of having the privilege
And I want the attention of all, & when

evry mind was streached eager for the
mysteries. He says the first miystery I shall
present before you is this. Elder Amasa
Lyman wants a Pair of Pantaloons, & it is a
great mystery that an Elder in this church should
want a pair of Briches, & esspecially that
the people should know that they want it &
the remainder of his miysteries were like unto
& the consequence of this serman was that Elder
Lyman got a pair of Pantaloons & Elder Kimball
a Barrel of flour for his family.

Elder B. Young arose & said I will make an apology
for my remarks in the fore part of the day
some may think I spoke vary plain. But the
Apology I have to make is I will turn Tompsonian
doctor & give the composition without sweetning
This work is all, it is my all. If this work does
not live God knows I dont want to live, And I
want you to understand it, that he that gathereth
not with us scattereth. And they that have tasted
the Bitter cup feel it. Wake up ye Elders that
have sought to build yourselves up & not the king-
dom of God. Wake up ye that have daubbed
with untempered morter. Harken & hear me
for I say unto you that if you do not help us build
the Temple & Nauvoo House, you shall not inherit
the land of Zion. If you do not help build up
Zion & the cause of God you shall not partake of
their Blessings Many Elders seek to Build them-
selves up & not the work of God. But when any
one does this no matter who he may be he will
not prosper even if it was one of the Twelve
Those of the Twelve & others of the Elders that
have apostitized I have known their hearts

their breathings & known their moovments
they thought I did not know much But I knew
all about them, & when I see men preaching
to build themselves up & not Zion I know what
it will end in. But say you I am young I
dont care if you are young do you know what
you are about, if so preach & labour for
the building up of the city of Zion concentrat
your means & influence there & not scatter
abroad. Be faithful or you will not be chosen
for the day of chosing is at the door, why
be afraid of a sacrafice I have given my all
many times & am willing to do it again. I
would be glad to hear the Lord say through m
his servant Joseph, let my servant Brigham
give again all that he has. I would obey in a
moment if it took the last coat of[f] from
my Back

Elder Kimball sayes I get up of necessity to
say a few words I am quite unwell, But I feel
the importance of this work. I have been a
member of this Church 12 years I came out of
the Baptist church & Joined this & I have passed
through evry thing but death, & we have come
here to call for help to build the Houses & I
have spent $30 to get here & collected $15 dollars
We were commanded to come of the Lord But
it seems as though but few felt interested in it
Here I see three Brethren going to the far
distant Islands. I could weep for them they have
but little money to help themselves. I feel inter-
ested in this great work we have come out to
Reep but do we have time to Reep new grain

No for it takes all our time to try to save the
that is reap. you think that Elder Young
has put the flail on rather heavy. But it is
nothing to be compaired with the Threshing
you will get in Zion, & those that have the harde-
st heads have to be thrashed the hardest,
but dont be troubled about the chaff when
it comes to the barns God will prepare a great
wind Mill that will blow all the chaff away
I speak in Parables. I compare the Saints
to a good cow, when you milk her clean she
will always have an abundance of milk to give, but
you milk her a little & she will soon dry up
So with the Saints if they do but little in building
up Zion they soon have but little to do with, this
was the case in Cincinnati I had a dream concer[nin]g
the Saints there. I thought I was in a field of
wheat that was stacked up & we had got to draw
it into the barn come to open the stack the bun-
dles would all fall to peices & it was filled
with clusters of Rats & mice, who had been
eting up the grain. I thought these Rats &
mice were the Elders & official members who
had been in & lain on the Church, lived on the
wheat eaten then up instead of building up
New churches. So that when the Twelve
came along they could not get any thing for
the Temple or Nauvoo House, or Hardly a place
to stay the rats had eat up the wheat so & we
had to go to the world for a home to stay while
we were their, we are not Polished stones like
Elder Babbit, Elder Adams, Elder Blakesley &
Elder Magin &c But we are rough stones out
of the mountain, & when we roll through
the forest & nock the bark of[f] from the trees
it does not hurt us even if we should get a

cornor nocked of[f] occasionally for the more
the roll about & knock the corners of[f] the better we
are but if we were pollished & smooth when
we get the cornors knkocked of[f] it would deface
us. This is the case with Joseph Smith he
never professed to be a dressed smooth polished
stone but was rough out of the mountain
& has been rolling among the rocks & trees &
has not hurt him at all but he will be as
smooth & polished in the end as any other
stone, while many that were so vary poliched &
smooth in the beginning get badly defaced
and spoiled while theiry are rolling about.

P P Pratt said some are going to Zion the
rest want to know what they shall do. Isaiah
said, I will take one of a city & two of a family
& bring them to Zion & I will feed then with
Pastures after my own heardt that will feed
you with knowledge & understanding [##Jeremiah 3:14-15]. And
inasmuch as you harken to council you will
know what the will of the Lord is concerning
you in all things.

O Pratt arose & said I do not know that
I can say any thing to impress the subject upon
your minds that has been spoken upon more
fully than has been done. There are some things
howevere I wish to mention; we have learned
from what we hear this day about the blessings
that will be given when the Temple is finished
I will speak of some of the consequences that
will follow if we do not obey. The Lord has
said he will reveal things that have been hid from
the foundation of the world.

No former age or generation of the world has
had the same things revealed. But the Lord
says if you build that house in that time you
shall be blessed, if not you shall be rejected as
a Church with your dead saith the Lord [Doctrine and Covenants 124:32], so
if that house is not built, then in vain is all
our cares, faith, & works our meetings & hopes
are veign. But if few do their duty they
will get the Blessing, & we are determined to
do our duty & set these principles before the
Saints we will turn this responsibility upon
the heads of the Saints & clear our garments
& then the Lord is able to endow all the
faithful in some other place. The Lord
gave a revelation several years since & said
gather together your wise men & send up your
moneys & buy lands if not you shall not have
an inheritance but your enemies are upon
you. We went through & told the Saints thes
things but did the Churches do as god comm-
anded, No they did not & the Revelation was
fulfilled & the Saints driven out. The Lord
says the SChurch shall give heed to the
words of the Prophet as he is to hold the keys
of the kingdom of God in this life & the world
to come then it is of much consequence that
you give heed to his word, you can ask God if
the work is true & he will give you a testimony
I doubt in my own mind if any man can stand
what they will have to pass through unless they
do get a witness for themselves, & I pray
you to give heed to the words the Twelve have
taught you & ask God to help you

The Conference was Adjourned untill 10 oclock
tomorrow morning

September 10, 1843 ~ Sunday

Sept 10^th 1843 Sunday Morning

Conference met according to adjournment
Meeting was opened by singing & Prayer By Elder
Magin after which Elder W. Woodruff arose
& addressed the assembly from Amos 3 ch 7 ve[rse]
'Surely the Lord God will do nothing dut [but] he
revealeth his secrets ^un^to his servents the Prophets'
The speaker Remarked that according to the
Testimony of the scriptures in all ages of the world
whenever God was abot to Bring a Judgment upon
the world or accomplish any great work, the first
thing the Lord has done has been to raise up a prophet
& reveal unto him his secrets & send him to warn the
people, that they may be left without excuse. This
was the case in the days of Noah & Lot. God was
about to Bring Judgments upon the people & he raised
up prophet & warned them of it but they did not
give heed to them But rejected their Testimony
& the Judgments came upon them & they were
destroyed, while the prophets were saved by persui-
ng the course marked out by the Lord. Jesus Christ
Testifyed to the Jews of the things that awaited
them as a nation the fall of Jerrusalem & their
dispersion among the gentile world but they did
not believe it yet the secret of all these things
was revealed to the Prophet & Apostles & they
Believed it & looked for its fulfillment, & it
came to Pass as it was predicted, though conterary
to the expectations of the Jewish Nations. In like
manner do we look for the certain fulfillment of
those tremendous events upon the heads of the
gentile world, which have been spoken of & pointed
out by all the Holy Prophets & Apostles since the world
began who have spoken as they were moved upon
by the power of God & the gift of the Holy Ghost

events which more deeply consern the gentile
world than the overthrow of Jerrusalem & the disper-
sion of the Jews did the Jewish Nation, for
while they stumbled at the stone they were broken
but while it falls upon the heads of the gentile
world it will grind them to pow[d]edr. And the full
set time is come for the Lord to set his hand to
accomplish thies mighty events. And as the Lord
has done in other ages, so he has done now he has
raised up a Prophet & ^is^ revealing unto him his secrets
& through that Prophet He has brought to light the
fullness of the everlasting Gospel to the present
generation, & is again once more for the last time
esstablishing his Church upon the foundation of
the Ancient Apostles & Prophets Christ Jesus
Being the chief corner stone. In the Church is
now found Judges as at the first & councillors as
at the beginning. The Church is composed of Apostles
& Prophets, Pasters & Teachers, gifts & graces for
the perfecting of the Saints the work of the
ministry & the edifying of the body of Christ
The Lord has raised up servents & sent into the
vineyard to prune the vineyard once more for
the last time, to Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
to warn the Nations that they may be left without
excuse in the day of their visitation & to gather the
honest in heart & the meek of the earth that Zion
may be built up & the Prophets fulfilled; one of
the secrets that God has revealed unto his Prophet
in these days is the Book of Mormon, & it was a
secret to the whole world untill it was revealed
unto Joseph Smith, home [whom] God has raised up as a
Prophet Seer & Revelator unto his people. This
record contains an account of the ancient inhabita
nts of this continant who over spread this land with
cities from sea to sea, the ruins of which still remain

as a standing monument of their arts, science
power & greatness. it also points out the essta-
blishing of this owur own Nation & also its progress
decline, & fall, & those predictions contained in
the Book of Mormon, the stick of Joseph in
the hands of Ephraim will as truly be fulfilled
as those contained in the Bible the stick & record
of Judah [Ezekiel 37:16], & Both of these records contained
Prophesys of Great import, concerning the
gentile nations & esspecially this land & nation which
are not yet fulfilled, but must shortly come
to pass, yea its fulfillments is nigh even at the door
Though the secretts which God is revealing
through his servant the prophet [Amos 3:7] in the last days, may
be unpopular & unbelieved by the world
yet their unbelief will not make the truth
of God without effct eny more than it did
in the days of Lot & Noah or in the fall of Jer-
rusalem. When Jesus Christ said their should
not be left one stone upon another in the Temple
that should not be throw^n^ down [Matthew 24:2] The Jewsish
nation did not believe it neither would they
receive such testimony but they were ready
to look at outward circumstances, & ready to say
who can prevail against us what nation like
onto our nation, we have held the giving of the
Law the articles, the Urim & Thumim, the
Lawgiver has never departed from between
our feet. We have held the power of government
from generation to generation & what nation now
hath power to prevail against us, & through this
ordor of reasoning they were Blinded & knew not
the day of their visitation they understood not
the things that belonged to their peace. They
rejected their Lord & king, contended against

his word & Testimony & finally put him to death
on the cross with many who followed him. But
this did not hender the fulfillment of the words
of Jesus Christ concerning that nation the words of
the Lord had gone out of his mouth & could not
return unto him void, the things that belonged to
their Peace were hid from their ^eyes^. they were count
ed unworthy as a nation. The kingdom was to be rent
out of their hands & given to annother, the die was
cast & Judgment must come. The city was soon
surrounded by the roman army led on by the
inspired Titus, & a scene of calamity, judgment & woe
immediately overspread the inhaditants of that city
which was devoted to destruction, such a calamity
as never before had rested upon the nation of Israel
Blood flowed through their streets tens of thousands
fell by the edge of the sword, & thousands by famine
women were evil towards the children of their
own bosom in the straitness of the seige the scen-
ery of which shocked the roman soldiers as they
entered the city. The Jews were crucified in
such numbers by their enemies, that they coul[d] find
no more wood for crosses or room for their bodies
in their midst, & while dispair was in evry face
& evry heart sinking, while suffering under the
chastning hand of God their enemies rushed upon
them in the city to strike the last fatal blow & as
their last resort they rushed in to the Temple for
safety which was soon on fire & they sunk in the
midst of the flames with the cry of their suffering,
assending on high accompanied by the smoke of her
crackling spires & the remaining miserable few were
sold as slaves & driven like the dumb ass before his
burthen & scattered as corn is sifted in a sive through-
out the gentile nations world. Jerrusalem was raised
from its foundations & the Temple thrown down
& the foundation thereof plowed up that not

one stone was left upon another & Christ said that
Jerrusalem should be trodden down of the gentiles
untill the times of the gentiles be fulfilled which
has been the case to the vary letter untill the present
generation [Luke 21:24]. Will not God in like manner as truly
& faithfully bring to pass those great, important and
tremendious events upon the heads of the gentile
world which have been proclaimed by the Prophets
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, & many of the Holy
Prophets & Christ & the Apostles, on the continant of
Asia as well as th Lehi, Nephi, Alma & Moroni &
others who wrote on the continant of America
all of which have proclaimed these things as they
were moved upon by the spirit of Inspiration the
power of God & the gift of the Holy Ghost. The
Apostle says that no prophecy of the scriptures is of
any privat interpetation [2 Peter 1:20], but commandments
came not of old time by the will of man but
Holy men of God spake as they were moved upon
by the Holy Ghost [2 Peter 1:21]. Isaiah soul seemed to be on
fire & his mind wraped in the visions of the Almighty
while he declaired in the name of the Lord, that it
should come to pass in the last days that God should
set his hand again the second time to recover the
remnant of his people [Isaiah 11:11], assemble the outcast of Israel
gather together the dispersed of Judah [Isaiah 11:12], make men
go over dry shod [Isaiah 11:15], gather them to Jerrusalem on
Horses mules swift beasts & in charriots [Isaiah 66:20] to rebuild
Jerrusalem upon her own heaps [Jeremiah 30:18], while at the same
time the destroyer of the gentiles was on his way [Jeremiah 4:7]
& while God was turning the captivity of Israel, he
would put all their curses & aflictions upon the
heads of the gentiles their enemies, who had not
saught to recover them but to destroy them &
had troden them under foot from generation to
generation, at the same time the standard should
be lifted up that the honest in heart & the meek
among the gentiles should seek unto it & that

Zion should be redeemed & be built up a
Holy city, that the glory & power of God shou
ld rest upon her, & be seen upon her that
the watchman upon mount Ephraim might cry
arise ye & let us go up unto zion the city of the Lord
our God, that the gentiles might come to her light
& kings to the brightness of her rising. That the
Saints of God may have a place to flee to & stand in
Holy places while judgment works in the earth
that when the sword of God that is bathed in heav-
en falls upon Idumie or the world when the Lord
pleads with all flesh by sword & by fire & the slain
of the Lord is many that the Saints may escape these
calamities by fleeing to the places of refuge like Lot
& Noah, Isaiah in his 24 ch gives sumthing of an
account of the calamity & Judgments that shall come
upon the heads of the gentile nations, & this because
they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances
& broken the everlasting covenant. St Paul says
to his Roman Brethren that if the gentiles do not
continue in the goodness of God they like the house
of Israel should be cut off [Romans 11:20-22]. Though Babylon says I
sit as a queen am no widow & shall see no sorrow
The Revelator says, Therefore shall her plagues come
in one day death and mourning and famine & she
shall be utterly burned with fire for strong is
the Lord God who Judgeth her [Revelation 18:7-8]. Jesus presents
a parable of the Fig tree that when we see the signs
in the sun, moon moon stars, heavens & earth of
which he spoke we might know that his coming
is near that the generation in which those signs
appeared should not pass away untill all should be
fulfilled. Though Heaven & earth should pass away
his words should not pass away but should all be
fulfilled [Luke 21:7-33]

Those things are about to come to pass upon
the heads of the present generation notwithsta-
nding they are not looking for it neither do they
believe it yet their unbelief will not make the
truth of God without effect, the signs are
appearing in the heavens & on the earth and
all things indicate the fulfillment of th prophets
the fig tree is leaving summer is nigh. And the Lord
has sent his angels to lay the foundation of this
great and important work, then why should not
God reveal his secrets unto his servents the
Prophets [Amos 3:7] that the Saints might be led in
paths of safety that they may escape those
eveils that are about to engulf a whole genera-
tion in ruin

September 12, 1843 ~ Tuesday

Sept 12^th

I left Boston at 5 oclock in the
express train of cars for Portland and about
10 oclock while passeing through the Chesterwoods
6 miles south of Kennebunk the engine was
thrown from the track in consequence of a rail
being raised 8 inches by some designing miscrant
The force was such that It drove the engine
about 5 rods ahead and smashed it to peaces
with the Baggage cars piled top of it & the first
passengers cars followed in their ^its^ train & mounted the
pile ^about 8 feet high throwing the passenger from [her] seat^ and instantly killed. One Lady was brused but
not dangerous, another was slightly injured. The
lives of many were in danger, & it seemed a mystery
that so little injury comparatively was done. Four
cars were filled with passengers & had not the
force been broaken by the baggage cars many
lives would have been lost. The Baggage car
soon was on fire which was with difficulty
extinguished. The ruins had The fireman
was thrown about 3 rods & escaped with a slight
injury. But the engineer Mr Adams from
Portland was buried beneath the pile & instantly
Killed, the ruins had to be removed before the
body of the engineer could be obtained he has left
a wife & one child to mourn his loss No blame
could possibly be attached to him as the rail was
raised in such a manner that no warning was
given untill the engine & Baggage car was a pile of
ruins. Mr Thomas Hall opened his house for the
reception of the passengers & much praise is due to
the whol household for the attention that was paid
them. I spent most of the night here in the woods
& got chilled through, they sent to Portland
for another engine, which arived in time to
take us to portland in the morning on my arival

September 13, 1843 ~ Wednesday

^13^ I furnished the Editor of the American with
an account of the accident.

I visited Br Ezra Carter & his family I
wrote 2 letters one to the Editor of the
Boston Bee giving an account of the accident
& one to Elder Taylor with an account of the
accident & sent him 10 subscribers for the
papers & wrote a few words to Phebe.

I had an interview with Aunt Judith Carter
the first time I had seen her. I visited Ezra store
he is doing a good deal of business

I walked out to scarborough in the evening
& at arived at Father Carters in the evening
with blistered feet I came upon Mother so
sudden who was walking across the room
with a candle that she was as much surprised
as though I had rained down, the first salutat[io]n
was whare did you come from. I soon had hold of
Fabyan hand & his wife's Moother looked well I
dont see that she grows old any. Father and Sarah
Foss are at New York I cannot see them yet
After conversing with Mother & Fabyan untill
abot 9 oclok I prayed with them & Mother
lighted me to a bed in the front chamber whare
I spent the night alone, the first night I had
spent at Father Carters without Phebe being
with me, & I would have given ten dollars to
have had her with me on this occasion for
I felt lonely like a dove without its mate
But however after kneeling down by the
bed & praying for her & the children & our
friends I lay down upon the bed & soon fell
asleep & had a good nights rest

the whole distance of the day from Boston
to Scarbororough 110 miles

September 14, 1843 ~ Thursday

134^th I arose refreshed by sleep took Breakfast
with Mother, Mary & Rhoda Foss then got
into a waggon with Fabyan, & rode to sister
Foss whare I saw Elizabeth, then Rode to Br
Luther Scammans, saw Luther & the children
& Mother Scammans but Rhoda was out, but
she soon come in & the manner she shooked
my hand & kissed me want slow, she is an
affectionate sister. I took dinner with them
Br Scammans is expecting to come to Hancok
Co Illinois of [if] not Nauvoo in the spring Rhoda
now seems reconciled to come. Both Scammans
with their wifes will come. I had a good visit
with them. I then Rode to Saco. Fabyan
gave me a pair of calfskin Boots shoes we
next Rode to Mr Millikens here I found
Arthur & Lucy Milliken, & both home sick
enough to get Back to Nauvoo, they rejoiced
much to see me. Lucy was near her confinement
will stay untill spring was well both of them
We then started home. I called upon Mr
Makinny who with his wife sent much love to
Phebe. we got home to Fathers in the evening
quite chilled, took supper prayed with the
family & went to bed thought much of Phebe
O how I want to see her. distance of the day 15 miles

September 15, 1843 ~ Friday

15^th I thought of taking the cars for Boston but
I could not bear the thought of going without
seeing the Father & Sarah. It was rather a gloomy
day the rain poured down like a torrent I
wrote a letter to Shuah inasmuch as I could
not see her. Mother took me about the house
showed me her carpet that Iluse gave her & some
dresses & all the rooms. I went Into the back

Sept 15

chamber whare Phebe has spent so many
days with me, but it was vacant the want
there, it was gloomy. I turned away. I
went to see the bark mill or New wind mill
they had built it is not large enough & it
dont do well. Fabyan gave me soul leather
for two pair of shoes for myself & Phebe
& Willy & upper leather, to take home I walked
out in the orchard no apples ripe, seasons
growing shorter in Maine. I spent the night
as usual alone

September 16, 1843 ~ Saturday

16^th A plesent day I wrote in my journal &
talked with mother she done me up Babary
& dandalions to take to Phebe, & she gave me
three pair of stockings & four balls of yarn for
Phebe & one pair for the two Wilfords each
In the afternoon Arthur Milliken & Lucy
called upon us the first time they had been
to Father Carters. Luther Scammans & his
Brother also came we had a good time together
Lucy talked with Mother about Phebe, she
gave me a letter to take to her Mother & wished
me to call, & see her as soon as I get home
It seemed a great consolation to Lucy to
see one from Nauvoo. I parted with them
all abot sundown. I have just herd of the
death of Elleezene Patterson who died today
left a child one week old Also Capt Mark Lovett,
Major Josiah Libby wife cut her throat today
I believe she is not dead. Capt Benjamin Milliken
& his wife is dead so times go in Maine, all
societies are nearly Broaken up, in this region
As concerning Ezras family He looks feeble
& grows old his wife is well Ann Elizabeth is

well & sends her love to willy. I spent the eve-
ning conversing with Fabyan & Rhoda & Mother
about Mormonism the principles of it the gather[in]g
&c they seem to understand it putty well
Mother says if we follow the good spirit of the
Blessed Jesus we will do well. The two Scam-
mans & Fabyan are Saints in Principle Arthur
thinks it would be a good time to build up a
church here. we had prayers together, spoke
abot Phebe's sicknes on the road several years
since her recovery &c I took my light & went
to bed, fearing I should not see Father. But
Just as I was about to Blow the light out I herd
a waggon drive up I jumped out of Bed &
dressed me & went down & shure enough there
was father as natural as life I dont think that
that he looks any older that when I saw him
last he was well in good health I sat up & talked
with him untill 11 oclok about a good many
things & then went to bed & had a good night
rest

September 17, 1843 ~ Sunday

17^th Sunday Morning I arose & took breakfast
with Father & Mother it seemed quite natural to
see Father at the Table again Mary seems
Better than she has done. I soon saw sister Foss
coming along & I soon was saluted with the
shake of the hand & a kiss after setting awhile
we all went over to sister Foss. she walked with
me, Father & Mother rode. We had a plesent
time soon Arthur Milliken came & brought
me 14 copeys of the Doctrins & Covenants I
Paid him $4 dollars & if they are sold for $1 each
their will be $10 dollars due to sumbody. I had
a visit from Nathaniel Googin, he seems to be
a spiritual man had some light we spent the
afternoon in conversing about the Latter