any point that might be agitated and now we cannot bear record
to the Church nor unto the world of the great & glorious manifestation
that have been made to us with that degree of power and authority
which we otherwise could if we had those decissions to publish abroad
Since the Twelve are now chosen I wish to tell them a course
which they may persue & be benefited here after in a point of light
of which they perhaps are not now aware. At all times when
you assemble in the capacity of a council to transact business let the
oldest of your Number preside & let one or more be appointed to keep
a record of your procedings & on the decission of evry important
item let it be what it may let such decission be noted down and
they will ever after words remain upon record as LAW covenants
& doctrin. Questions thus deci[d]ed might at the time appear unimportant
but should they be recorded & one of you lay hands upon them after
words you might find them of infinate worth not ownly to your
brethren but a feast also to your own souls"

"Should you assemble from time to time & procede to discuss import-
ant (subjects) or questions & pass decissions by & by upon them &
omit to record such decisions by & by you will be driven to straits
from which you will not be able to extricate yourselves & not being
in a situation to bring your faith to bear with sufficient perfection
or power to obtain the desired information. Now in consequence of
a neglect to write these things when God revealed them not essteeming
them of sufficient worth the spirit may withdraw & God may be angry
and here is a fountain of intelligence or knowledge of infinate
importance which is lost. what was the cause of this the answer
is slothfulness or a Neglect to appoint a man to occupy a few moments
in writing" " Here Let me prophesy the time will come when if
you neglect to do this you will fall by the Hands of unrighteous men
were you to be brought before the authorities and accused of any crime
or misdemienor and be as innocent as the angels of God unless you can
prove that you were some whare els your enemies will prevail against
you but if you can bring Twelve men to testify that you were in some
other place at that time you will escape there hands now if you
will be careful to keep minutes of these things as I have said it
will be one of the most important & interesting records ever seen
I have now laid these things before you [for] your consideration and you
are left to act according to your own Judgment"]- (See record of the
Twelve Historians office) ^and History of the Church February 1835^ I have thus refered to sume of the words of
Joseph to the Twelve Apostles at their organization. This shows the
feelings of the Prophet Joseph upon this subject I have had this
same subject upon my mind ever since I have been a member
of the Church I have been inspired & moved upon to keep a Journal
& write the affairs of this Church as far as I can I did not understand
why my feelings was exercised so much in the early age of this Church
but I understand it now I seldom ever heard Brother Joseph or the
Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as
a fish out of water untill I had written it then I felt right I
could write a sermon of Josephs a week after it was delivered almost
word for word & after it was written it was taken from me or from
my mind this was a gift from God unto me and I have kept a
Journal of almost evry day of my life for the last 24 years I could
tell each day what I had done, what company I was in & what
was transpiring around me and any teachings or councils from the
presidency of the Church except whare I knew that reporters had

any point that might be agitated and now we cannot bear record to the Church nor unto the world of the great & glorious manifestation that have been made to us with that degree of power and authority which we otherwise could if we had those decissions to publish abroad [FIGURE] Since the Twelve are now chosen I wish to tell them a course which they may persue & be benefited here after in a point of light of which they perhaps are not now aware. At all times when you assemble in the capacity of a council to transact business let the oldest of your Number preside & let one or more be appointed to keep a record of your procedings & on the decission of evry important item let it be what it may let such decission be noted down and they will ever after words remain upon record as LAW covenants & doctrin. Questions thus decided might at the time appear unimportant but should they be recorded & one of you lay hands upon them after words you might find them of infinate worth not ownly to your brethren but a feast also to your own souls"

"Should you assemble from time to time & procede to discuss important (subjects) or questions & pass decissions upon them & omit to record such decisions by & by you will be driven to straits from which you will not be able to extricate yourselves & not being in a situation to bring your faith to bear with sufficient perfection or power to obtain the desired information. Now in consequence of a neglect to write these things when God revealed them not essteeming them of sufficient worth the spirit may withdraw & God may be angry and here is a fountain of intelligence or knowledge of infinate importance which is lost. what was the cause of this the answer is slothfulness or Neglect to appoint a man to occupy a few moments in writing" "[FIGURE] Here Let me prophesy the time will come when if you neglect to do this you will fall by the Hands of unrighteous men were you to be brought before the authorities and accused of any crime or misdemienor and be as innocent as the angels of God unless you can prove that you were some whare els your Enemies will prevail against you but if you can bring Twelve men to testify that you were in some other place at that time you will escape there hands now if you will be careful to keep minutes of these things as I have said it will be one of the most important & interesting records ever seen I have now laid these things before you for your consideration and you are left to act according to your own Judgment"] (See record of the Twelve Historians office) and History of the Church February 1835 I have thus refered to sume of the words of Joseph to the Twelve Apostles at their organization. This shows the feelings of the Prophet Joseph upon this subject I have had this same subject upon my mind ever since I have been a member of the church I have been inspired & moved upon to keep a Journal & write the affairs of this church as far as I can I did not understand why my feelings was exercised so much in the early age of this church but I understand it now I seldom ever heard Brother Joseph or the Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as a fish out of water untill I had written it then I felt right I could write a sermon of Josephs a week after it was delivered almost word for word & after it was written it was taken from me or from my mind this was a gift from God unto me and I have kept a Journal of almost evry day of my life for the last 24 years I could tell each day what I had done, what company I was in & what was transpiring around me and any teachings or councils from the presidency of the Church except whare I knew that reporters had