"The mighty God, and even the Lord hath spoken, and called the

earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out

of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall

come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him,

and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to

the heavens from above, and to the earth (that He may judge the

people). Gather my Saints together unto me; those that have made

covenant with me by sacrifice."

We might offer many other quotations from the Scriptures, but

believing them to be familiar to the Saints, we forbear.

We would wish the Saints to understand that, when they come here,

they must not expect perfection, or that all will be harmony,

peace, and love; if they indulge these ideas, they will undoubtedly

be deceived, for here there are persons, not only from different

states, but from different nations, who, although they feel a

great attachment to the cause of truth, have their prejudices of

education, and, consequently, it requires some time before these

things can be overcome. Again, there {273} are many that creep in

unawares, and endeavor to sow discord, strife, and animosity in our

midst, and by so doing, bring evil upon the Saints. These things

we have to bear with, and these things will prevail either to a

greater or less extent until "the floor be thoroughly purged," and

"the chaff be burnt up." Therefore, let those who come up to this

place be determined to keep the commandments of God, and not be

discouraged by those things we have enumerated, and then they will

be prospered--the intelligence of heaven will be communicated to

them, and they will, eventually, see eye to eye, and rejoice in the

full fruition of that glory which is reserved for the righteous.

In order to erect the Temple of the Lord, great exertions will be

required on the part of the Saints, so that they may build a house

which shall be accepted by the Almighty, and in which His power and

glory shall be manifested. Therefore let those who can freely make

a sacrifice of their time, their talents, and their property, for

the prosperity of the kingdom, and for the love they have to the

cause of truth, bid adieu to their homes and pleasant places of

abode, and unite with us in the great work of the last days, and

share in the tribulation, that they may ultimately share in the

glory and triumph.

We wish it likewise to be distinctly understood, that we claim

no privilege but what we feel cheerfully disposed to share with

our fellow citizens of every denomination, and every sentiment of

religion; and therefore say, that so far from being restricted

to our own faith, let all those who desire to locate themselves

in this place, or the vicinity, come, and we will hail them as

citizens and friends, and shall feel it not only a duty, but a

privilege, to reciprocate the kindness we have received from the

benevolent and kind-hearted citizens of the state of Illinois.

Joseph Smith,

Sidney Rigdon,

Hyrum Smith,

Presidents of the Church.

Nauvoo, January 15th, 1841.

Footnotes:

1. For the nature of the charges see ch. xiii.

{274}

CHAPTER XV.

Reconstruction of Church Affairs at Nauvoo--Revelation--Municipal

Organization of Nauvoo--Installation of Civic and Military Officers.

_Friday, January 15, 1841_.--I published the following in the _Times

and Seasons_--

_Reproof of John E. Page and Orson Hyde_.

Elders Orson Hyde and John E. Page are informed that the Lord

is not well pleased with them, in consequence of delaying their

mission, (John E. Page in particular) and they are requested,

by the First Presidency, to hasten their journey towards their

destination.

_Sunday, 17_.--Elder Brigham Young preached twice in the Music Hall,

Liverpool.

_Monday, 18_.--Elders Brigham Young and Willard Richards commenced

reading the Book of Mormon, and writing an index to the English edition.

_Tuesday, 19_.--Elder Amos Fielding has baptized twenty-nine at

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

I received the following revelation: [1]

_Revelation Given to Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, January 19th, 1841_.

Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am

well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have

made, for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show

forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.

Your prayers are acceptable before me, and in answer to them I say

unto you, that you are now called immediately to make a solemn

proclamation of my Gospel, and of this Stake which I have planted

to be a {275} corner-stone of Zion, which shall be polished with

the refinement which is after the similitude of a palace.

This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to

the four corners thereof; to the honorable President elect, and the

high-minded Governors of the nation in which you live, and to all

the nations of the earth, scattered abroad.

Let it be written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the

Holy Ghost, which shall be in you at the time of the writing of the

same;

For it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost to know my will

concerning those kings and authorities, even what shall befall them

in a time to come.

For, behold! I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light

and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her.

Call ye, therefore, upon them with loud proclamation, and with your

testimony, fearing them not, for they are as grass, and all their

glory as the flower thereof which soon falleth, that they may be

left also without excuse,

And that I may visit them in the day of visitation, when I shall

unveil the face of my covering, to appoint the portion of the

oppressor among hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth, if

they reject my servants and my testimony which I have revealed unto

them.

And again, I will visit and soften their hearts, many of them for

your good, that ye may find grace in their eyes, that they may

come to the light of truth, and the Gentiles to the exaltation or

lifting up of Zion.

For the day of my visitation cometh speedily, in an hour when ye

think not of, and where shall be the safety of my people, and

refuge for those who shall be left of them?

Awake, O kings of the earth! Come ye, O, come ye, with your gold

and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of the

daughters of Zion.

And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Robert B. Thompson

help you to write this proclamation, for I am well pleased with

him, and that he should be with you;

Let him, therefore, hearken to your counsel, and I will bless him

with a multiplicity of blessings; let him be faithful and true in

all things from henceforth, and he shall be great in mine eyes;

But let him remember that his stewardship will I require at his

hands.

And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum

Smith, for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his

heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith

the Lord.

Again, let my servant John C. Bennett, help you in your labor in

sending my word to the kings and people of the earth, and stand

by {276} you, even you my servant Joseph Smith, in the hour of

affliction, and his reward shall not fail, if he receive counsel;

And for his love he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he do

this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work which he hath done,

which I accept, if he continue, and will crown him with blessings

and great glory.

And again, I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant Lyman

Wight should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of

meekness confessing me before the world, and I will bear him up as

on eagle's wings, and he shall beget glory and honor to himself,

and unto my name.

That when he shall finish his work, that I may receive him unto

myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at

this time, and also my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged

servant Joseph Smith, Sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right

hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine.

And again, verily I say unto you, my servant George Miller is

without guile: he may be trusted because of the integrity of his

heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord,

love him;

I therefore say unto you, I seal upon his head the office of a

bishopric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may

receive the consecrations of mine house, that he may administer

blessing upon the heads of the poor of my people, saith the Lord.

Let no man despise my servant George, for he shall honor me.

Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John

Snider, and others, build a house unto my name, such an one as my

servant Joseph shall show unto them; upon the place which he shall

show unto them also.

And it shall be for a house for boarding, a house that strangers

may come from afar to lodge therein; therefore let it be a good

house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveler may find

health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord;

and the cornerstone I have appointed for Zion.

This house shall be a healthy habitation if it be built unto my

name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall

not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the

Lord your God will not dwell therein.

And again, verily I say unto you, let all my Saints come from afar;

And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say

unto them: Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your

precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who

have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring

the box-tree, and the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with

all the precious trees of the earth;

{277} And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc,

and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house

to my name for the Most High to dwell therein;

For there is not a place found on earth that He may come and

restore again that which was lost unto you, or which He hath taken

away, even the fullness of the Priesthood;

For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my

Saints, may be baptized for those who are dead;

For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable

to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to

build a house unto me.

But I command you, all ye my Saints, to build a house unto me; and

I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and

during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.

But behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your

dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these

things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a

church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.

For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time

to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the

dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before

the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be

acceptable unto me.

For therein are the keys of the holy Priesthood, ordained that you

may receive honor and glory.

And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are

scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord;

For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in

Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be

the places for your baptisms for your dead.

And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be

acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you

have built to my name? For, for this cause I commanded Moses that

he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in

the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that

those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before

the world was;

Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and

your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn

assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons of

Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places, wherein you

receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the

beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the

glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by

the ordinance of my holy house which my people are always commanded

to build unto my holy name.

{278} And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my

name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein, unto my people;

For I deign to reveal unto my Church things which have been kept

hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to

the dispensation of the fullness of times;

And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to

this house, and the Priesthood thereof; and the place whereon it

shall be built;

And ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated

building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to

build it;

If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that

it shall be made holy;

And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of

my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily

I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of

these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because

they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and

charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.

And it shall come to pass, that if you build a house unto my name,

and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath

which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which ye expect

at my hands, saith the Lord;

For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings,

wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your

follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before

me, saith the Lord.

Verily, verily I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to

any of the sons of men, to do a work unto my name, and those sons

of men go with all their might, and with all they have, to perform

that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come

upon them, and hinder them from performing that work; behold, it

behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those

sons of men, but to accept of their offerings;

And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and

commandments, I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my

work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent

not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.

Therefore for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those

whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in

Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith

the Lord your God.

And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and

{279} anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the

third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not and hate

me, saith the Lord your God.

And this I make an example unto you, for your consolation

concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work, and have

been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression,

saith the Lord your God;

For I am the Lord your God, and will save all those of your

brethren who have been pure in heart, and have been slain in the

land of Missouri, saith the Lord.

And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a

house to my name, even in this place that you may prove yourselves

unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command

you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality,

and eternal life.

And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house which I

have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it

be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my

servant Joseph, and his house have place therein, from generation

to generation;

For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing

shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him,

And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth,

even so I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee and in thy seed,

shall the kindred of the earth be blessed.

Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place

in that house, from generation to generation, for ever and ever,

saith the Lord.

And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House, and let it

be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting place for the

weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the

glory of this, the corner-stone thereof;

That he may receive also the counsel from those whom I have set to

be as plants of renown, and as watchmen upon her walls.

Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and

my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant

Peter Haws, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a

president over their quorum for the purpose of building that house.

And they shall form a constitution whereby they may receive stock

for the building of that house.

And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of

stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen

thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house;

{280} But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen

thousand dollars stock from any one man;

And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for

a share of stock from any one man in that house;

And they shall not be permitted to receive any man as a stockholder

in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands

at the time he receives stock;

And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands,

he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into

their hands, he shall not receive any stock in that house.

And if any pay stock into their hands, it shall be for stock in

that house, for himself, and for his generation after him, from

generation to generation, so long as he and his heirs shall hold

that stock, and do not sell or convey the stock away out of their

hands by their own free will and act, if you will do my will, saith

the Lord your God.

And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant George Miller,

and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my

servant Peter Haws, receive any stock into their hands, in moneys

or in properties, wherein they receive the real value of moneys,

they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other

purpose, only in that house;

And if they do appropriate any portion of that stock anywhere else,

only in that house, without the consent of the stockholder, and do

not repay fourfold for the stock which they appropriate anywhere

else, only in that house, they shall be accursed, and shall be

moved out of their place, saith the Lord God, for I, the Lord, am

God, and cannot be mocked in any of these things.

Verily I say unto you, let my servant Joseph pay stock into their

hands for the building of that house, as seemeth him good; but my

servant Joseph cannot pay over fifteen thousand dollars stock in

that house, nor under fifty dollars; neither can any other man,

saith the Lord.

And there are others also who wish to know my will concerning them,

for they have asked it at my hands.

Therefore I say unto you concerning my servant Vinson Knight, if he

will do my will, let him put stock into that house for himself, and

for his generation after him, from generation to generation,

And let him lift up his voice long and loud, in the midst of the

people, to plead the cause of the poor and the needy, and let him

not fail, neither let his heart faint, and I will accept of his

offerings, for they shall not be unto me as the offerings of Cain,

for he shall be mine, saith the Lord.

{281} Let his family rejoice, and turn away their hearts from

affliction, for I have chosen him and anointed him, and he shall be

honored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins,

saith the Lord. Amen.

Verily I say unto you, let my servant Hyrum put stock into that

house as seemeth him good, for himself and his generation after

him, from generation to generation.

Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock into that house, for I, the

Lord, love him for the work he hath done, and will forgive all his

sins; therefore, let him be remembered for an interest in that

house from generation to generation.

Let my servant Isaac Galland be appointed among you, and be

ordained by my servant William Marks, and be blessed of him, to

go with my servant Hyrum, to accomplish the work that my servant

Joseph shall point out to them, and they shall be greatly blessed.

Let my servant William Marks pay stock into that house, as seemeth

him good, for himself and his generation, from generation to

generation.

Let my servant Henry G. Sherwood pay stock into that house,

as seemeth him good, for himself and his seed after him from

generation to generation.

Let my servant William Law pay stock into that house, for himself

and his seed after him, from generation to generation.

If he will do my will, let him not take his family unto the eastern

lands, even unto Kirtland; nevertheless, I, the Lord, will build

up Kirtland, but I, the Lord, have a scourge prepared for the

inhabitants thereof.

And with my servant Almon Babbitt, there are many things with which

I am not pleased; behold, he aspireth to establish his council

instead of the council which I have ordained, even the Presidency

of my Church, and he setteth up a golden calf for the worship of my

people.

Let no man go from this place who has come here essaying to keep my

commandments.

If they live here let them live unto me; and if they die, let them

die unto me; for they shall rest from all their labors here, and

shall continue their works.

Therefore let my servant William put his trust in me, and cease to

fear concerning his family, because of the sickness of the land.

If ye love me, keep my commandments, and the sickness of the land

shall redound to your glory.

Let my servant William go and proclaim my everlasting Gospel with

a loud voice, and with great joy, as he shall be moved upon by

{282} my Spirit, unto the inhabitants of Warsaw, and also unto

the inhabitants of Carthage, and also unto the inhabitants of

Burlington, and also unto the inhabitants of Madison, and await

patiently and diligently for further instructions at my general

conference, saith the Lord.

If he will do my will, let him from henceforth hearken to the

counsel of my servant Joseph, and with his interest support the

cause of the poor, and publish the new translation of my holy word

unto the inhabitants of the earth;

And if he will do this, I will bless him with a multiplicity of

blessings, that he shall not be forsaken, nor his seed be found

begging bread.

And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William be

appointed, ordained, and anointed as a counselor unto my servant

Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum; that my servant Hyrum may

take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch which was appointed

unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right.

That from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the Patriarchal

blessings upon the heads of all my people,

That whomsoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whomsoever he

curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth

shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth

shall be loosed in heaven;

And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a

prophet, and a seer and a revelator unto my Church, as well as my

servant Joseph.

That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he

shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto

him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with

the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and gifts

of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant

Oliver Cowdery;

That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall

show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance

from generation to generation forever and ever.

Let my servant William Law also receive the keys by which he

may ask and receive blessings; let him be humble before me, and

be without guile, and he shall receive of my Spirit, even the

Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things,

and shall give him in the very hour what he shall say.

And these signs shall follow him; he shall heal the sick, he shall

cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would

administer unto him deadly poison;

And he shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent cannot lay

{283} hold upon his heel, and he shall mount up in the imagination

of his thoughts as upon eagle's wings;

And what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not

withhold his voice.

Therefore, let my servant William cry aloud and spare not, with

joy and rejoicing, and with hosannas to Him that sitteth upon the

throne forever and ever, saith the Lord your God.

Behold I say unto you, I have a mission in store for my servant

William and my servant Hyrum, and for them alone; and let my

servant Joseph tarry at home, for he is needed; the remainder I

will show unto you hereafter. Even so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Sidney will serve

me and be counselor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise and come

up and stand in the office of his calling, and humble himself

before me;

And if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering, and

acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold, I, the Lord

your God, will heal him that he shall be healed; and he shall lift

up his voice again on the mountains, and be a spokesman before my

face.

Let him come and locate his family in the neighborhood in which my

servant Joseph resides,

And in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the

sound of a trump, and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the

wrath to come;

Let him assist my servant Joseph; and also let my servant William

Law assist my servant Joseph, in making a solemn proclamation unto

the kings of the earth, even as I have before said unto you;

If my servant Sidney will do my will, let him not remove his family

unto the eastern lands, but let him change their habitation even as

I have said.

Behold, it is not my will that he shall seek to find safety and

refuge out of the city which I have appointed unto you, even the

city of Nauvoo.

Verily I say unto you, even now, if he will hearken unto my voice,

it shall be well with him. Even so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Amos Davis pay

stock into the hands of those whom I have appointed to build a

house for boarding, even the Nauvoo House;

This let him do if he will have an interest, and let him hearken

unto the counsel of my servant Joseph, and labor with his own hands

that he may obtain the confidence of men;

And when he shall prove himself faithful in all things that shall

be entrusted unto his care, yea, even a few things, he shall be

made ruler over many;

{284} Let him therefore abase himself that he may be exalted. Even

so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Robert D. Foster

will obey my voice, let him build a house for my servant Joseph,

according to the contract which he has made with him, as the door

shall be open to him from time to time.

And let him repent of all his folly, and clothe himself with

charity, and cease to do evil, and lay aside all his hard speeches,

And pay stock also into the hands of the quorum of the Nauvoo House

for himself and for his generation after him, from generation to

generation,

And hearken unto the counsel of my servants Joseph and Hyrum and

William Law, and unto the authorities which I have called to lay

the foundation of Zion, and it shall be well with him for ever and

ever, Even so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, let no man pay stock to the

quorum of the Nauvoo House, unless he shall be a believer in the

Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith

the Lord your God;

For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall

be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your

God. Even so. Amen.

And again, verily I say unto you, let the quorum of the Nauvoo

House have a just recompense of wages for all their labors which

they do in building the Nauvoo House, and let their wages be as

shall be agreed among themselves, as pertaining to the price

thereof;

And let every man who pays stock bear his proportion of their

wages, if it must needs be, for their support, saith the Lord;

otherwise, their labors shall be accounted unto them for stock in

that house. Even so. Amen.

Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging

to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the

Priesthood which is after the order of Melchisedek, which is after

the order of my Only Begotten Son.

First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to

hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of

promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that

ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may

come upon you.

I give unto you my servant Joseph, to be a presiding elder over all

my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.

I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon, and my

servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First

Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church.

{285} I give unto you my servant Brigham Young, to be a President

over Twelve traveling Council;

Which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom

upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word

to every creature.

They are Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson

Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff,

Willard Richards, George A. Smith;

David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his Priesthood no

man taketh from him; but verily I say unto you, another may be

appointed unto the same calling.

And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a High Council, for the

corner stone of Zion;

Viz., Samuel Bent, Henry G. Sherwood, George W. Harris, Charles

C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David Dort, Dunbar Wilson;

(Seymour Brunson I have taken unto myself, no man taketh his

Priesthood, but another may be appointed unto the same Priesthood

in his stead; and verily I say unto you, let my servant Aaron

Johnson be ordained unto this calling in his stead); David Fullmer,

Alpheus Cutler, William Huntington.

And again, I give unto you Don C. Smith, to be a president over a

quorum of High Priests;

Which ordinance is instituted for the purpose of qualifying those

who shall be appointed standing presidents or servants over

different Stakes scattered abroad,

And they may travel also if they choose, but rather be ordained for

standing presidents, this is the office of their calling, saith the

Lord your God.

I give unto him Amasa Lyman, and Noah Packard, for Counselors, that

they may preside over the quorum of High Priests of my Church,

saith the Lord.

And again, I say unto you, I give unto you John A. Hicks, Samuel

Williams, and Jesse Baker, which Priesthood is to preside over

the quorum of elders, which quorum is instituted for standing

ministers, nevertheless they may travel, yet they are ordained to

be standing ministers to my Church, saith the Lord.

And again, I give unto you, Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield,

Daniel Miles, Henry Harriman, Zera Pulsipher, Levi Hancock, James

Foster, to preside over the quorum of seventies,

Which quorum is instituted for traveling elders to bear record of

my name in all the world, wherever the traveling High Council, my

apostles, shall send them to prepare a way before my face.

The difference between this quorum and the quorum of elders, is

{286} that one is to travel continually, and the other is to

preside over the churches from time to time; the one has the

responsibility of presiding from time to time, and the other has no

responsibility of presiding, saith the Lord your God.

And again, I say unto you, I give unto you Vinson Knight, Samuel H.

Smith and Shadrach Roundy, if he will receive it, to preside over

the bishopric; a knowledge of said bishopric is given unto you in

the book of Doctrine and Covenants.

And again, I say unto you, Samuel Rolfe and his counselors for

priests, and the president of the teachers and his counselors, and

also the president of the deacons and his counselors, and also the

president of the stake and his counselors;

The above offices I have given unto you, and the keys thereof, for

helps and for governments, for the work of the ministry, and the

perfecting of my Saints;

And a commandment I give unto you that you should fill all these

offices and approve of those names which I have mentioned, or else

disapprove of them at my general conference;

And that ye should prepare rooms for all these offices in my house

when you build it unto my name, saith the Lord your God. Even so.

Amen.

_Thursday, 21_.--Elders Brigham Young and Willard Richards completed

the index to the Book of Mormon, and it was immediately put in type,

which closed the printing of the first English edition.

_Sunday, 24_.--Elder Brigham Young preached twice at Liverpool on

election and reprobation.

[Sidenote: Hyrum Smith Installed as Patriarch.]

Hyrum Smith, who received the office of Patriarch in the Church, in

place of Joseph Smith, Sen., deceased, has by revelation been appointed

a Prophet and Revelator. William Law has by revelation been appointed

one of the First Presidency, in place of Hyrum Smith, appointed

Patriarch. George Miller has been appointed, by revelation, Bishop in

place of Edward Partridge, deceased.

_Saturday, 30_.--At a special conference of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints, held at Nauvoo pursuant to public notice, I was

unanimously elected sole Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints.

{287} Also Saturday the 30th and Sunday 31st, a Conference was held at

Walnut Grove, Knox county, Illinois; Elder William Smith presiding; 113

members, 14 Elders were present; several branches were represented, and

several persons baptized.

[Sidenote: First Election of Municipal Officers in Nauvoo.]

_Monday, 1_.--The first election in Nauvoo, for members of the

City Council took place, and the following persons were elected by

majorities varying from 330 to 337 votes; to wit, for Mayor, John C.

Bennett; Aldermen, William Marks, Samuel H. Smith, Daniel H. Wells,

Newel K. Whitney; Councilors, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon,

Charles C. Rich, John T. Barnett, Wilson Law, Don Carlos Smith, John P.

Greene, Vinson Knight.

City Of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, Feb. 1, A. D. 1841.

_To the County Recorder of the County of Hancock_:

Dear Sir:--At a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints, at this place on Saturday, the 30th day of January, A.

D. 1841, I was elected sole Trustee for said Church, to hold my

office during life (my successors to be the First Presidency of

said Church) and vested with plenary powers, as sole Trustee in

Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to

receive, acquire, manage or convey property, real, personal, or

mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said Church, agreeably to

the provisions of an act entitled, "An Act Concerning Religious

Societies," approved February 6, 1835.

Joseph Smith, (L. S.)

State Of Illinois Hancock Co., ss.

This day personally appeared before me, Daniel H. Wells, a justice

of the peace, within and for the county of Hancock, County

aforesaid, Isaac Galland, Robert B. Thompson, and John C. Bennett,

who being duly sworn, depose and say that the foregoing certificate

of Joseph Smith is true.

Isaac Galland,

Robert B. Thompson

John C. Bennett.

Sworn to and subscribed this third day of February in the year of

our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one before me,

Daniel H. Wells,

Justice of the Peace.

{288} The above is recorded in the county records at Carthage, in book

No. 1, of Bonds and Mortgages, page 95, No. 87.

_Wednesday 3_.--Elder Taylor reports 160 baptized in Liverpool,

England; in Ireland about 25; in the Isle of Man, 70; Hawarden, 30.

Elder Lorenzo Snow is laboring in London.

[Sidenote: Nauvoo City Council Organized.]

The City Council of Nauvoo was organized; the opening prayer was

offered by myself, after which the Mayor-elect delivered his inaugural

address as published in the _Times and Seasons_, page 316, as follows:

Inaugural Address.

City Of Nauvoo, Illinois, Feb. 3rd, 1841.

_Gentlemen of the City Council, Aldermen and Councillors_:

Having been elected to the Mayoralty of this city by the unanimous

suffrage of all parties and interests, I now enter upon the duties

devolving upon me as your Chief Magistrate under a deep sense of

the responsibilities of the station. I trust that the confidence

reposed in me, by my fellow citizens, has not been misplaced, and

for the honor conferred they will accept my warmest sentiments

of gratitude. By the munificence and wise legislation of noble,

high-minded, and patriotic statesmen, and the grace of God, we

have been blessed with one of the most liberal corporate acts ever

granted by a legislative assembly. As the presiding officer of

the law-making department of the municipal government, it will be

expected that I communicate to you, from time to time, by oral or

written messages, for your deliberative consideration and action,

such matters as may suggest themselves to me in relation to the

public weal; and upon this occasion I beg leave to present the

following as matters of paramount importance:

The 21st section of the addenda to the 13th section of the City

Charter, concedes to you plenary power "to tax, restrain, prohibit

and suppress, tippling houses, dram shops," etc., etc., and I now

recommend, in the strongest possible terms, that you take prompt,

strong, and decisive measures to "prohibit and suppress" all such

establishments. It is true you have the power "to tax," or license

and tolerate, them, and thus add to the city finances; but I

consider it much better to raise revenue by an advalorem tax on the

property of sober men, than by licensing dram shops, or taxing the

signs of the inebriated worshipers at the shrine of Bacchus. The

revels of bacchanalians in the {289} houses of blasphemy and noise

will always prove a disgrace to a moral people. Public sentiment

will do much to suppress the vice of intemperance, and its

concomitant evil results; but ample experience has incontrovertibly

proven that it cannot do all--the law must be brought to the

rescue, and an effective prohibitory ordinance enacted. This cannot

be done at a better time than at the present. Let us commence

correctly, and the great work of reform, at least so far as our

peaceful city is concerned, can be summarily consummated. It would

be difficult to calculate the vast amount of evil and crime that

would be prevented, and the great good that would accrue to the

public at large by fostering the cause of temperance; but suffice

it to say that the one would be commensurate to the other. No

sales of spirituous liquors whatever, in a less quantity than

a quart, except in cases of sickness on the recommendation of

a physician or surgeon duly accredited by the Chancellor and

Regents of the University, should be tolerated. The liberty of

selling the intoxicating cup is a false liberty--it enslaves,

degrades, destroys; and wretchedness and want are attendant on

every step,--its touch, like that of the poison upas, is death.

Liberty to do good should be cheerfully and freely accorded to

every man; but liberty to do evil, which is licentiousness, should

be peremptorily prohibited. The public good imperiously demands

it--and the cause of humanity pleads for help. The protecting

aegis of the corporation should be thrown around every moral and

religious institution of the day, which is in any way calculated to

ennoble, or ameliorate the condition of the human family.

The immediate organization of the University, as contemplated in

the 24th section of the act incorporating our city, cannot be

too forcibly impressed upon you at this time. As all matters in

relation to mental culture, and public instruction, from common

schools up to the highest branches of a full collegiate course in

the arts, sciences, and learned professions, will devolve upon the

Chancellor and Regents of the University, they should be speedily

elected, and instructed to perfect their plan, and enter upon its

execution with as little delay as possible. The wheels of education

should never be clogged, or retrograde, but roll progressively from

the Alpha to the Omega of a most perfect, liberal, and thorough

course of university attainments. The following observations

in relation to false education, from Alexander's Messenger, so

perfectly accords with my feelings and views on this highly

important subject, that I cannot do better than incorporate them in

this message.

"Among the changes for the worse, which the world has witnessed

within the last century, we include that specious, superficial,

incomplete way of doing certain things, which were formerly thought

to be deserving of care, labor and attention. It would seem that

appearance is now considered of more moment than reality. The

modern mode of {290} education is an example in point. Children

are so instructed as to acquire a smattering of everything, and as

a matter of consequence, they know nothing properly. Seminaries

and academies deal out their moral and natural philosophy, their

geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy, their chemistry, botany,

and mineralogy, until the mind of the pupil becomes a chaos; and,

like the stomach when it is overloaded with a variety of food,

it digests nothing, but converts the superabundant nutriment to

poison. This mode of education answers one purpose--it enables

people to seem learned; and seemingly, by a great many, is

thought all sufficient. Thus we are schooled in quackery, and are

early taught to regard showy and superficial attainments as most

desirable. Every boarding school Miss is a Plato in petticoats,

without an ounce of that genuine knowledge, that true philosophy,

which would enable her to be useful in the world, and to escape

those perils with which she must necessarily be encompassed. Young

people are taught to use a variety of hard terms, which they

understand but imperfectly--to repeat lessons which they are unable

to apply--to astonish their grandmothers with a display of their

parrot-like acquisitions; but their mental energies are clogged

and torpified with a variety of learned lumber, most of which is

discarded from the brain long before its possessor knows how to use

it. This is the quackery of education.

"The effects of the erring system are not easily obliterated. The

habit of using words without thought, sticks to the unfortunate

student through life, and should he ever learn to think, he

cannot express his ideas without the most tedious and perplexing

verbosity. This is, more or less, the fault of every writer in

the nineteenth century. The sense is encumbered with sound. The

scribbler appears to imagine that if he puts a sufficient number

of words together he has done his part; and, alas! how many books

are written on this principle. Thus literature, and even science

itself, is overloaded with froth and flummery. Verbalizing has

become fashionable and indispensable, and one line from an ancient

author will furnish the materials for a modern treatise."

Our University should be a "utilitarian" institution--and

competent, industrious teachers and professors should be

immediately elected for the several departments. "Knowledge is

power,"--foster education and we are forever free! Nothing can be

done which is more certainly calculated to perpetuate the free

institutions of our common country, for which our progenitors

"fought and bled, and died," than the general diffusion of

useful knowledge amongst the people. Education should always

be of a purely practical character, for such, and such alone,

is calculated to perfect the happiness and prosperity of our

fellow-citizens--ignorance, impudence, and false knowledge, are

equally detestible,--shame and confusion follow in their train. As

you now {291} possess the power, afford the most ample facilities

to the Regents to make their plans complete; and thus enable them

to set a glorious example to the world at large. The most liberal

policy should attend the organization of the University, and equal

honors and privileges should be extended to all classes of the

community.

In order to carry out the provisions of the 25th section of the

act incorporating our city, I would recommend the immediate

organization of the Legion. Comprising, as it does, the entire

military power of our city, with a provision allowing any citizen

of Hancock county to unite by voluntary enrollment, early

facilities should be afforded the court martial for perfecting

their plans of drill, rules, and regulations. Nothing is more

necessary to the preservation of order and the supremacy of the

laws, than the perfect organization of our military forces, under

a uniform and rigid discipline and approved judicious drill; and

to this end I desire to see all the departments and cohorts of

the Legion put in immediate requisition. The Legion should be all

powerful, panoplied with justice and equity, to consummate the

designs of its projectors--at all times ready, as minute men,

to serve the state in such way and manner as may, from time to

time, be pointed out by the Governor. You have long sought an

opportunity of showing your attachment to the state government

of Illinois--it is now afforded; the Legion should maintain the

constitution and the laws, and be ready at all times for the public

defense. The winged warrior of the air perches upon the pole of

American liberty, and the beast that has the temerity to ruffle her

feathers should be made to feel the power of her talons; and until

she ceases to be our proud national emblem we should not cease

to show our attachment to Illinois. Should the tocsin of alarm

ever be sounded, and the Legion called to the tented field by our

Executive, I hope to see it able, under one of the proudest mottoes

that ever blazed upon a warrior's shield--_Sicut patribus sit Deus

nobis_; "as God was with our fathers, so may He be with us"--to

fight the battles of our country, as victors, and as freemen; the

juice of the uva, or the spirit of insubordination should never

enter our camp,--but we should stand, ever stand, as a united

people--one and indivisible.

I would earnestly recommend the construction of a wing-dam in the

Mississippi, at the mouth of the ravine at or near the head of

Main street, and the excavation of a ship canal from that point

to a point terminating in a grand reservoir on the bank of said

river, east of the foot of said street, a distance of about two

miles. This would afford, at the various outlets, the most ample

water power for propelling any amount of machinery for mill and

manufacturing purposes, so essentially necessary to the building

up of a great commercial city in the heart of one of the most

productive and delightful countries on earth. I {292} would

advise that an agent be immediately appointed on behalf of the

city corporation, to negotiate with eastern capitalists for the

completion of this great work, on the most advantageous terms, even

to the conveyance of the privilege for a term of years. This work

finished, and the future greatness of this city is placed upon an

imperishable basis. In addition to the great advantages that will

otherwise accrue to the city and country by the construction of

this noble work, it would afford the best harbor for steamboats,

for winter quarters, on this magnificent stream.

The public health requires that the low lands, bordering on the

Mississippi, should be immediately drained, and the entire timber

removed. This can and will be one of the most healthful cities

in the west, provided you take prompt and decisive action in the

premises. A board of health should be appointed and vested with the

usual powers and prerogatives.

The Governor, council of revision, and legislature of Illinois,

should be held in everlasting remembrance by our people--they

burst the chains of slavery and proclaimed us forever free! A vote

of thanks, couched in the strongest language possible, should be

tendered them in our corporate capacity; and, when this is done,

Quincy, our first noble city of refuge, when we came from the

slaughter in Missouri with our garments stained with blood, should

not be forgotten.

As the Chief Magistrate of your city I am determined to execute all

state laws and city ordinances passed in pursuance to law, to the

very letter, should it require the strong arm of military power

to enable me to do so. As an officer I know no man; the peaceful,

unoffending in the full exercise of all his civil, political, and

religious rights, and the guilty violator of law shall be punished,

without respect to persons.

All of which is respectfully submitted. [2]

John C. Bennett.

The following persons were elected by the council to their offices,

to-wit--Henry G. Sherwood, marshal; James Sloan, recorder; Robert

B. Thompson, treasurer; James Robinson, assessor; Austin Cowles,

supervisor of streets. I presented to the city council the following

resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

{293} Resolved by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, that the

unfeigned thanks of this community be respectfully tendered to the

Governor, Council of Revision, and Legislature of the state of

Illinois, as a feeble testimonial of their respect and esteem for

noble, high-minded, and patriotic statesmen; and as an evidence of

gratitude for the signal powers recently conferred; also that the

citizens of Quincy be held in everlasting remembrance, for their

unparalleled liberality and marked kindness to our people, when in

their greatest state of suffering and want.

I presented a bill for an ordinance concerning the University of

Nauvoo, which passed as follows:

Sec.1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that the "University of the City of Nauvoo," be, and the same

is hereby organized by the appointment of the following Board

of Trustees, to-wit--John C. Bennett, chancellor; William Law,

registrar; and Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, William

Marks, Samuel H. Smith, Daniel H. Wells, Newel K. Whitney, Charles

C. Rich, John T. Barnett, Wilson Law, Don Carlos Smith, John P.

Greene, Vinson Knight, Isaac Galland, Elias Higbee, Robert D.

Foster, James Adams, Robert B. Thompson, Samuel Bennett, Ebenezer

Robinson, John Snider, George Miller, and Lenos M. Knight, Regents

of the "University of the City of Nauvoo;" as contemplated in

the 24th section of "An Act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo,"

approved December 16, 1840.

Sec. 2. The board named in the first section of this ordinance,

shall hold its first meeting at the office of Joseph Smith, on

Tuesday, the 9th day of February, 1841, at 2 o'clock p. m.

Passed February 3, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

I also presented a bill for an ordinance organizing the Nauvoo Legion,

which passed the same day, as follows:

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that the inhabitants of the City of Nauvoo, and such citizens of

Hancock county as may unite by voluntary enrollment, be, and they

are hereby organized into a body of independent military men, to be

called the "Nauvoo Legion," as contemplated in the 25th section of

"An Act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo," approved December 16,

1840.

Sec. 2. The Legion shall be, and is hereby divided into two

cohorts; the horse troops to constitute the first cohort, and the

foot troops to constitute the second cohort.

{294} Sec. 3. The general officers of the Legion shall consist of a

lieutenant-general, as the chief commanding and reviewing officer,

and president of the court martial and Legion; a major-general,

as the second in command in the Legion, the secretary of the

court martial and Legion, and adjutant and inspector-general;

a brigadier-general, as the commander of the first cohort; and

brigadier-general, as commander of the second cohort.

Sec. 4. The staff of the lieutenant-general shall consist of two

principal aids-de-camp, with the rank of colonels of cavalry; and a

guard of twelve aids-de-camp, with the rank of captain of infantry;

and a drill officer, with the rank of colonel of dragoons, who

shall likewise be the chief officer of the guard.

Sec. 5. The staff of the major-general shall consist of an

adjutant, a surgeon-in-chief, a cornet, a quarter-master, a

paymaster, a commissary, and a chaplain, with the rank of colonels

of infantry; a surgeon for each cohort, a quarter-master-sergeant,

sergeant-major, and chief musician, with the rank of captains of

light infantry, and two musicians, with the rank of captains of

infantry.

Sec. 6. The staff of each brigadier-general shall consist of one

aid-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel of infantry,

provided that the said brigadiers shall have access to the staff of

the major-general, when not otherwise in service.

Sec. 7. No officer shall hereafter be elected by the various

companies of the Legion, except upon the nomination of the

court-martial; and it is hereby made the duty of the court-martial

to nominate at least two candidates for each vacant office,

whenever such vacancies occur.

Sec. 8. The court-martial shall fill and supply all offices

ranking between captains and brigadier-generals by granting brevet

commissions to the most worthy company officers of the line, who

shall thereafter take rank, and command according to the date of

their brevets, provided that their original place in the line shall

not thereby be vacated.

Sec. 9. The court-martial, consisting of all the military officers,

commissioned or entitled to commissions, within the limits of the

city corporation, shall meet at the office of Joseph Smith, on

Thursday, the 4th day of February, 1841, at 10 o'clock a. m.; and

then and there proceed to elect the general officers of the Legion,

as contemplated in the 3rd section of this ordinance.

Sec. 10. The court-martial shall adopt for the Legion, as nearly as

may be, and so far as applicable, the discipline, drill, uniform,

rule, and regulations of the United States army.

Passed February 8, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

{295} Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Don C. Smith, and Charles C. Rich were

duly sworn as members of the City Council. [3]

The following addition has been made to the Charter of the Nauvoo

Legion by the legislature--

Any citizen of Hancock county may, by voluntary enrollment, attach

himself to the Nauvoo Legion, with all the privileges, which

appertain to that independent military body.

I gave a general invitation to my friends to enroll themselves, so as

to have a perfect organization by the fourth of July. I was appointed

chairman of several committees, viz.: "On the Canal," "For Vacating

the Town of Commerce," "Vending Spirituous Liquors," "Code of City

Ordinances", "Board of Health," &c. Council adjourned to the 8th.

_Thursday, 4_.

_Minutes of the Meeting which Organized the Nauvoo Legion_.

Pursuant to an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

entitled, "An ordinance organizing the Nauvoo Legion," passed

February 3, 1841, a court-martial, composed of the commissioned

officers of the militia of the state of Illinois, within the city

of Nauvoo, assembled at the office of Joseph Smith, on Thursday

at 10 o'clock a. m., the 4th day of February, 1841: present--John

C. Bennett, quarter-master general of the state of Illinois;

Lieutenant-Colonel Don Carlos Smith; Captains Charles C. Rich,

Wilson Law, Albert P. Rockwood, William Law, Titus Billings,

Stephen Markham; first lieutenants, Francis M. Higbee, John T.

Barnett, John D. Parker, Benjamin S. Wilber, Amos Davis; second

lieutenants, Chancy L. Higbee, Nelson Higgins, David H. Redfield,

Hosea Stout, Stephen Winchester, Thomas Rich; third lieutenants,

John C. Annis, and Alexander Badlam. The court was {296} called

to order by General Bennett. On motion, Joseph Smith and Hugh

McFall were requested to sit in the court. The court-martial then

proceeded to the election of the general officers of the Legion;

whereupon Joseph Smith was duly elected lieutenant-general of

the Nauvoo Legion, and John C. Bennett, major-general. Colonel

Wilson Law was elected brigadier-general of the first cohort, and

Lieutenant-Colonel Don Carlos Smith brigadier-general of the second

cohort, by unanimous vote of the court-martial. Lieutenant-general

Joseph Smith, after being duly sworn into office, appointed the

following named persons for his staff, to-wit--Captain A. P.

Rockwood to be drill officer; Captains William Law and Robert B.

Thompson, aids-de-camp; and James Allred, Thomas Grover, C. M.

Kreymeyer, John L. Butler, John Snider, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds

Cahoon, Elias Higbee, Henry G. Sherwood, Shadrack Roundy, Samuel H.

Smith, and Vinson Knight, guards, and assistant aids-de-camp. The

Legion, at its organization, was composed of six companies.

_Friday, 5_.--Elder Reuben Hedlock is laboring in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Church in that place numbers 55, and the spirit of enquiry

increases.

_Saturday, 6_.

_Minutes of a Council at Brother Richard Harrison's, 72 Burlington

Street, Liverpool, for organizing a company of Saints going to New

Orleans on the ship "Sheffield," Captain Porter_.

Elders Brigham Young, Willard Richards, John Taylor, and other

officers, present. Elder Hyrum Clark was chosen president, and

Thomas Walmsley, Miles Romney, Edward Martin, John Taylor, Francis

Clark, and John Riley, counselors to President Clark. Edward

Martin, clerk and historian. Peter Maughan and John Taylor were

ordained Elders. President Clark and his counselors were blessed

and set apart for their mission.

_Sunday, 7_.--Ship _Sheffield_ sailed from Liverpool with 235 Saints.

_Monday, 8_.--Levi Richards writes from Lugwardine--

_To the Editor of the Star_:

Since Stanley Hill conference, I have attended about thirty

council meetings of Church officers, in eleven different places

in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, making a

circuit of nearly one hundred miles. Union and harmony prevail

among them, and a {297} disposition to add to their faith. New

places are frequently opened for preaching, which is generally

supplied. Many are baptized every week, although the ice has to

yield its natural claims, and be put aside. The gift of healing is

manifested to quite an extent in this region. The gift of tongues

is received in most of the branches where I am acquainted. The

spirit of persecution is not yet wholly cast out of the world: for

recently preaching was held for the first time in Pendock parish,

eight miles from Ledbury, when a congregation, respectable in

numbers and appearance, were compelled to retire prematurely, in

consequence of the quantity of gravel thrown upon the roof and

against the windows. The mob were numerous, and pelted the Saints

on their way home with mud. The meeting was held at the shop of a

tradesman, who had been clerk of the parish, but was so fortunate

as to obey the Gospel, and be turned out of his stewardship; and

his wife was dismissed from her school, for the same reason, by the

parson of the parish. More or less of the Saints are turned out of

employ, and out of their houses, for obeying the Gospel.

[Sidenote: Nauvoo Council Opened by Prayer.]

City Council met according to adjournment and opened by prayer, which

was made a standing rule of the council. I reported a bill for the

survey of a canal through the city, which was accepted; and I was

appointed to contract for its survey. I also reported a bill for an

ordinance on temperance, which was read and laid over.

_Wednesday, 10_.--Elder James Burnham writes from Overton, Flintshire,

North Wales--

I have organized two branches, with about 150 members; and we are

continually baptizing, whether it be cold or hot. There is great

opposition.

[Sidenote: The _Echo_ Company.]

_Thursday, 11_.--Elders Young, Richards, and Taylor, in council at 72

Burlington Street, Liverpool, set apart, by the laying on of hands,

Elder Daniel Browett, to take charge of a company of Saints, about to

sail for New Orleans on ship _Echo_, Captain Wood; and John Cheese,

David Wilding, James Lavender, William Jenkins, Robert Harris, and John

Ellison, to be his counselors. Robert Harris was ordained an Elder, and

Elder Browett was appointed clerk and historian of the company.

{298} _Saturday, 13_.--Elder Orson Hyde sailed from New York for

Liverpool, on his way to Jerusalem, accompanied by Elder George J.

Adams.

_Sunday, 14_.

_Minutes of the London Conference_.

A conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was

held at Barrett's Academy, 57 King Square, Goswell Road, London,

on Sunday, the 14th of February, 1841, there being present--Elders

Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, William Pitt,

and four Priests. The meeting was called to order by Elder Kimball

at 2 o'clock p. m. Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Pitt,

that Elder Woodruff be president of this conference; carried

unanimously. Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Woodruff,

that Dr. W. Copeland be clerk; carried unanimously. The meeting

opened by Elder Kimball with prayer and singing. The president then

called upon the official members to represent their respective

branches. The church at Ipswich was represented by Elder Pitt,

as consisting of twelve members, one Elder, one Priest, and one

Teacher. The church at Bedford was represented by Robert Williams,

Priest, as consisting of forty-two members, one Priest, seven

moved, two died. The church at Woolwich was represented by John

Griffith, Priest, as consisting of six members, one Priest. The

church in London was represented by Elder Kimball as consisting of

forty-six members, one Elder, two Priests: excellent prospects of a

continued increase. James Allen was ordained an Elder, and Thomas

Barnes a Priest. Robert Williams was ordained an Elder, to preside

over the branch at Bedford; and William Smith and John Sheffield

were ordained Priests. Richard Bates was ordained a Priest, in the

branch of Woolwich, and A. Painter a Teacher--all under the hands

of Elders Kimball, Woodruff and Snow. It was then moved by Elder

Kimball, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Elder Snow be appointed

president of this [the Woolwich] conference, also to take the

superintendency of the branch in London. Much valuable instruction

was given by Elders Kimball and Woodruff in relation to the duties

of the official members. It was then moved by Elder Kimball,

and seconded by Elder Snow, that this conference be adjourned

to Sunday, 16th of May, 1841. The conference was then closed at

half-past five, by singing and prayer.

Dr. W. Copeland, Clerk.

_Monday, 15_.--As chairman of the committee [on the vending of

spirituous liquors] I reported a bill to the City {299} Council, which,

after a long discussion, passed into "An ordinance in relation to

temperance."

Ordinance.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that all persons and establishments whatever, in this city, are

prohibited from vending whisky in a less quantity than a gallon, or

other spirituous liquors in a less quantity than a quart, to any

person whatever, excepting on the recommendation of a physician,

duly accredited in writing, by the Chancellor and Regents of the

University of the City of Nauvoo; and any person guilty of any act

contrary to the prohibition contained in this ordinance, shall, on

conviction thereof before the Mayor or municipal court, be fined

in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars, at the discretion

of said Mayor or municipal court; and any person or persons who

shall attempt to evade this ordinance by giving away liquor, or by

any other means, shall be considered alike amenable, and fined as

aforesaid.

Passed February 15, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

In the discussion of the foregoing bill, I spoke at great length on the

use of liquors, and showed that they were unnecessary, and operate as a

poison in the stomach, and that roots and herbs can be found to effect

all necessary purposes.

_Tuesday, 16_.

_Missouri's "White-washing_."

Resolved by the Senate [of the state of Missouri], the House

of Representatives concurring, that two thousand copies of the

evidence taken before the examining court in relation to "Mormon"

difficulties, and such of the letters, orders, and correspondence

on that subject, on file in the office of the secretary of state,

as may be selected by a joint committee of the two houses, shall be

published in pamphlet form, under the direction of the secretary of

state; that one copy, in lieu of the manuscript copies, heretofore

ordered, be sent to our delegation in Congress, to be laid before

the House to which they respectively belong, one to each member of

Congress, and the residue be distributed among the Mormons of the

general assembly.

Approved February 16, 1841. [4]

{300} Is this Missouri's last struggle to retrieve her lost character

to publish to the world a one-sided statement of her robberies,

murders, and extermination which she had committed without provocation,

at a time when not one Saint was left in Missouri to tell the truth

about them?

The ship _Echo_ sailed from Liverpool for New Orleans, with 109 Saints,

led by Daniel Browett.

_Saturday, 20_.--Elder Brigham Young went to Harwarden and preached

twice on Sunday.

Elders William Kay and Thomas Richardson introduced the Gospel into the

City of Hereford.

The court-martial of the Nauvoo Legion, by a unanimous vote, adopted

the following resolutions, to-wit--

_Legion Resolutions_.

That no person whatever, residing within the limits of the City

of Nauvoo, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, excepting such as

are exempted by the laws of the United States, shall be exempt

from military duty, unless exempted by a special act of this

court; and the fines for neglecting or refusing to appear on the

days of general parade were fixed at the following rates: for

generals, $25; colonels, $20; captains, $15; lieutenants, $10; and

musicians and privates, $5; and for company parade at the following

rates--for commissioned officers, $5; non-commissioned officers,

$3; musicians and privates, $2. The 1st and 6th of April, and the

3rd of July, were fixed upon as days for general parade for this

year.

Ordered that Edward P. Duzette enlist and organize a band of music,

not exceeding twenty men. It was also reported that John Scott had

been elected captain in the place of William Law, and Lieutenant

Hosea Stout in the place of Albert P. Rockwood, who has been

promoted.

_Monday, 22_.--I laid before the City Council the following--

Resolution.

Resolved by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, that the

freedom of the city be, and the same hereby is, conferred on the

present Governor, lieutenant-governor, council of revision, and

members of both houses of the general assembly, of the state of

Illinois, as an evidence {301} of our gratitude for their great

liberality and kindness to this community, during the present

winter, which was adopted unanimously.

I also presented the following bill for "An ordinance in relation to

the University."

Ordinance.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that all matters and powers whatever in relation to common schools,

and all other institutions of learning within the City of Nauvoo

be, and the same hereby are transferred from the City Council of

the City of Nauvoo, to the chancellor and regents of the University

of the City of Nauvoo.

Passed February 22, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

_Tuesday, 23_.--Elder Kington writes from Bristol, England, that eight

have been baptized in that place.

An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois,

represented in the general assembly, that George Miller, Lyman

Wight, John Snider, and Peter Haws, and their associates, are

hereby declared a body corporate, under the name and style of the

"Nauvoo House Association;" and they are hereby authorized to erect

and furnish a public house of entertainment, to be called the

"Nauvoo House."

Sec. 2. The above-named George Miller, Lyman Wight, John Snider,

and Peter Haws, and their associates, are hereby declared to be the

trustees of the association, with full power and authority to hold

in joint tenancy, by themselves and their successors in office, a

certain lot in the City of Nauvoo, in the county of Hancock, and

state of Illinois, known and designated on the plat of said city,

as the south half of lot numbered fifty-six, for the purpose of

erecting thereon the house contemplated in the first section of

this act.

Sec. 3. The said trustees are further authorized and empowered

to obtain by stock subscription, by themselves or their duly

authorized agents, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand

dollars, which shall be divided into shares of fifty dollars each.

Sec. 4. No individual shall be permitted to hold more than three

hundred, nor less than one share of stock, and certificates of

stock shall {302} be delivered to subscribers, so soon as their

subscriptions are paid in and not before.

Sec. 5. As soon as the contemplated house shall have been completed

and furnished, the stockholders shall appoint such agents as the

trustees may deem necessary in the management of the affairs of

said association.

Sec. 6. The trustees shall have power to sue and be sued, plead and

be impleaded in any court in this state, in the name and style of

the "Trustees of the Nauvoo House Association."

Sec. 7. They shall also take the general care and supervision in

procuring materials for said house, and constructing and erecting

the same, and further to superintend its general management, and to

do and perform all matters and things which may be necessary to be

done, in order to secure the interest and promote the objects of

this association.

Sec. 8. This association shall continue twenty years from the

passage of this act, and the house herein provided for shall be

kept for the accommodation of strangers, travelers, and all other

persons who may resort therein for rest and refreshment.

Sec. 9. It is moreover established as a perpetual rule of said

house, to be observed by all persons who may keep or occupy the

same that spirituous liquors of every description are prohibited,

and that such liquor shall never be vended as a beverage, or

introduced into common use, in said house.

Sec. 10. And whereas Joseph Smith has furnished the said

association with the ground whereon to erect said house, it is

further declared that the said Smith and his heirs shall hold, by

perpetual succession, a suite of rooms in the said house, to be set

apart and conveyed in due form of law to him and his heirs by the

said trustees, as soon as the same are completed.

Sec. 11. The Board of Trustees shall appoint one of their number as

president thereof.

Approved February 23, 1841.

Thomas Carlin,

Governor.

W. L. D. Ewing,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

S.H. Anderson,

Speaker of the Senate.

State of Illinois,

Office of Secretary of State, s. s.

I, Stephen A. Douglas, Secretary of State, do hereby certify the

{303} foregoing to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law

on file in my office.

Witness my hand and the seal of State.

Springfield, February 24, A. D. 1841.

[SEAL.]

S. A. Douglas,

Secretary of State.

An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo Agricultural and Manufacturing

Association in the County of Hancock.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois,

represented in the general assembly, that Sidney Rigdon, George

W. Robinson, Samuel James, Wilson Law, Daniel H. Wells, Hyrum

Smith, George Miller, William Marks, Peter Haws, Vinson Knight,

John Scott, Don Carlos Smith, William Huntington, Sen., Ebenezer

Robinson, Robert B. Thompson, William Law, James Allred, John T.

Barnett, Theodore Turley, John C. Bennett, Elias Higbee, Isaac

Higbee, Joseph Smith, Alpheus Cutler, Israel Barlow, R. D. Foster,

John F. Olney, John Snider, Leonard Soby, Orson Pratt, James

Kelley, Sidney A. Knowlton, John P. Greene, John F. Weld, and

their associates and successors, are hereby constituted a body

corporate and politic, by the name of "The Nauvoo Agricultural and

Manufacturing Association," and by that name shall be capable of

suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and

being answered, in all courts and places, and may have a common

seal, and may alter the same at pleasure.

Sec. 2. The sole object and purpose of said association shall be

for the promotion of agriculture and husbandry in all its branches,

and for the manufacture of flour, lumber, and such other useful

articles as are necessary for the ordinary purposes of life.

Sec. 3. The capital stock of said association shall be one hundred

thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to the sum

of three hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares of

fifty dollars, which shall be considered personal property, and

be assignable in such manner as the said corporation may, by its

by-laws, provide; which capital stock shall be exclusively devoted

to the object and purposes set forth in the second section of this

act, and to no other object and purposes, and to the same end the

said corporation shall have power to purchase, hold, and convey

real estate, and other property, to the amount of its capital.

Sec. 4. Said corporation shall have power, by the trustees, or a

majority of them present at any regularly called meeting, to make

by-laws for its own government, for the purpose of carrying out

the objects {304} of this association, provided the same are not

repugnant to the laws and constitution of this state, or of the

United States.

Sec. 5. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and William Law shall be

commissioners to receive subscriptions for, and distribute said

capital stock for said corporation; said commissioners, or a

majority of them, shall, within six months after the passage of

this act, either by themselves or their duly appointed agents, open

a subscription book for said stock at such times and places as they

shall appoint, and at the time of subscription for such stock, at

least ten per cent upon each share subscribed for, shall be paid

to said commissioners, or their duly appointed agents; and the

remainder of said stock, so subscribed for, shall be paid in such

sums, and at such times, as shall be provided for by the by-laws of

said corporation.

Sec. 6. In case the stock of said corporation shall not all

be taken up within one year from the passage of this act, the

duties of said commissioners shall cease, and the trustees of

said corporation, or a quorum thereof, may thereafter receive

subscriptions to said stock, from time to time, until the whole

shall be subscribed.

Sec. 7. The stock, property, and concerns of said corporation

shall be managed by twenty trustees, who shall be stockholders of

said corporation, any five of whom, to be designated by a majority

of the trustees, shall form a quorum for the transaction of all

ordinary business of said corporation, the election of which

trustees shall be annual. The first mentioned twenty persons, whose

names are recited in the first section of this act, shall be the

first trustees of said corporation, and shall hold their offices

until the first Monday in September, A. D. 1841, and until others

shall be elected in their places.

Sec. 8. The trustees of said corporation for every subsequent year

shall be elected on the first Monday in September, in each and

every year, at such place as the trustees for the time being shall

appoint, and of which election they shall give at least fifteen

days previous notice by advertisement in some newspaper, in or near

the City of Nauvoo. At every election of trustees, each stockholder

shall be entitled to one vote on each share of stock owned by

him: provided that no stockholder shall be entitled to more than

twenty votes, and said stockholders, may vote either in person or

by proxy. The election for trustees shall be conducted in such

manner as shall be pointed out by the by-laws of said corporation,

and whenever a vacancy shall happen by death, resignation, or

otherwise, among the trustees, the remaining trustees shall have

power to fill such vacancy, until the next general election for

trustees.

Sec. 9. The trustees of said corporation, as soon as may be, after

their appointment or election under this act, shall proceed to

elect, {305} out of their number, a president, treasurer, and

secretary, who shall respectively hold their offices during one

year, and until others shall be elected to fill their places, and

whose duties shall be defined and prescribed by the by-laws of the

corporation; and said trustees shall also appoint such agents and

other persons as may be necessary to conduct the proper business,

and accomplish the declared objects of said corporation, and shall

likewise have power to fill any vacancy occasioned by the death,

resignation, or removal of any officer of said corporation.

Sec. 10. This act shall be construed as a public act, and continue

in force for the period of twenty years. And the trustees appointed

under the provisions of this act, shall hold their first meeting at

the City of Nauvoo, on the first Monday of April, A. D. 1841.

Approved February 27, 1841.

Thomas Carlin,

Governor.

W. L. D. Ewing,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

S. H. Anderson.

Speaker of the Senate.

State of Illinois, Office of Secretary of State.

I, Lyman Trumbull, Secretary of State, do hereby certify the

foregoing to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law on the

file in my office.

Given Under My Hand And Seal Of State, Springfield, March 10, 1841.

Lyman Trumbull,

Secretary of State.

_Wednesday, 24_.--Elder Brigham Young returned to Liverpool, and on the

25th attended a patriarchal blessing meeting at Brother Dumville's.

Father Melling officiated; Elder James Whitehead, scribe.

_Saturday, 27_.--President Brigham Young went to Manchester, and

preached in Lombard Street room on Sunday, the 28th.

[Sidenote: Division of Nauvoo into Municipal Wards.]

_Monday, March 1_.--The City Council divided the city into four wards,

at my suggestion, to-wit: all the district of country within the city

limits, north of the center of Knight street, and west of the center of

Wells street, shall constitute the first ward. North of the center of

Knight street and east of the center of Wells street, the second ward.

South {306} of the center of Knight street, and east of the center of

Wells street, the third ward. South of the center of Knight street, and

west of the center of Wells street, the fourth ward.

I attended the City Council, and presented a bill for "An ordinance in

relation to Religious Societies."

_Ordinance on Religious Liberty in Nauvoo_.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of

Nauvoo, that the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists,

Latter-day Saints, Quakers, Episcopals, Universalists, Unitarians,

Mohammedans, and all other religious sects and denominations

whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges, in this

city; and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, and abusing

or otherwise depreciating another in consequence of his religion,

or of disturbing or interrupting any religious meeting within the

limits of this city, he shall, on conviction thereof before the

Mayor or Municipal Court, be considered a disturber of the public

peace, and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or

imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of

said Mayor or Court.

Sec. 2. It is hereby made the duty of all Municipal officers to

notice and report to the Mayor any breach or violation of this,

or any other ordinance of this city, that may come within their

knowledge, or of which they may be advised; and any officer

aforesaid, is hereby fully authorized to arrest all such violators

of rule, law and order, either with or without process.

Passed March 1, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

I also presented a bill as follows:

_An Ordinance in Relation to Public Meetings_.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that in order to guarantee the constitutional right of free

discussion upon all subjects, the citizens of this city, may

from time to time peaceably assemble themselves together for all

peaceable or lawful purposes whatever; and should any person

be guilty of disturbing or interrupting any such meeting or

assemblage, he shall on conviction thereof before the Mayor or

Municipal Court, be considered a disturber of the public peace,

and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred {307} dollars, or

imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of

said mayor or court.

Sec. 2. Should any person be guilty of exciting the people to riot

or rebellion, or of participating in a mob, or any other unlawful

riotous or tumultuous assemblage of the people, or of refusing to

obey any civil officer, executing the ordinances of the city, or

the general laws of the state or United States, or of neglecting or

refusing to obey promptly, any military order for the due execution

of said law or ordinances, he shall, on conviction thereof as

aforesaid, be fined or imprisoned, or both, as aforesaid.

Passed March 1, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

I also offered a bill for "An ordinance, creating certain additional

City Officers."

Ordinance.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,

that in addition to the city officers heretofore elected, there

shall be elected by the City Council, one high constable for each

ward; one surveyor and engineer, one market master, one weigher

and sealer, and one collector for the city, whose duties shall

hereafter be defined by ordinance.

Passed March 1, 1841.

John C. Bennett, Mayor.

James Sloan, Recorder.

I presented the following report:

Committee's Report.

Your committee, to whom was referred that portion of the address

of his honor, the Mayor, which recommended the propriety of

vacating the town plats, Commerce, and the City of Commerce, and

incorporating them with the city plat of Nauvoo, would respectfully

report--That they consider the recommendation contained in the

address as one of great importance to the future welfare and

prosperity of this city, and if carried into effect would make the

streets regular and uniform, and materially tend to beautify this

city. We would therefore respectfully recommend that the survey of

the City of Nauvoo be carried through the town plats of Commerce

and the City of Commerce, as soon as it may be practicable.

We would therefore recommend to the council the passage of the

following resolution--That the town plats of Commerce, and Commerce

City be vacated, and that the same stand vacated from this time

forth, {308} and forever; and that the same be incorporated with

the City of Nauvoo, from this time henceforth and forever.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Joseph Smith, Chairman.

The report was received and adopted, and an ordinance passed

accordingly.

A vote of thanks, and the freedom of the city were conferred on the

Honorable Richard M. Young, United States Senator for Illinois.

_Tuesday, 2_.--Elder Brigham Young visited Oldham, and returned on

Wednesday, 3rd, to Manchester. Elders Orson Hyde and George J. Adams

arrived in Liverpool.

_Thursday, 4_.--Elder Willard Richards left Liverpool for Preston, and

was followed by Elders Hyde, Adams, and Fielding on the 5th.

General William Henry Harrison was inaugurated President of the United

States.

_Friday, 5_.--Elder Parley P. Pratt removed the _Star_ office to 47

Oxford Road, Manchester.

_Sunday, 7_.--Elders Young and Kimball preached at the Carpenter's

Hall, Manchester.

[Sidenote: Appointment of City Officers.]

_Monday, 8_.--I attended the City Council. The following appointments

were made, viz: Alanson Ripley, city surveyor; Theodore Turley, weigher

and sealer; James Robinson, assessor; Stephen Markham, market master;

James Allred was sworn supervisor of streets, and James Allred, Dimick

B. Huntington, and George Morey, high constables.

I gave my views on several local measures proposed by the council.

_Wednesday, 10_.

_Letter of Brigham Young to the Editor of the Star--On Family

Prayer_.

Liverpool, March 10, 1841.

_To the Editor of the Star_:

Dear Brother:--I feel anxious to address a few lines to you, on the

subject of family prayer (and shall feel obliged by your inserting

the {309} same in your next _Star_), for the purpose of imparting

instruction to the brethren in general. Having traveled through

many branches of the Church in England, I have found it to be a

general custom among the brethren I visited, that when any of the

Traveling Elders are present, they wait for the Elder to go forward

in family prayer, instead of attending to that duty themselves.

That is not right; and I would say to them that it would be

better for them to understand their duty on this subject. My dear

brethren, remember that the Lord holds all of us responsible for

our conduct here. He held our father Adam responsible for his

conduct, but no more than He does us, in proportion to the station

we hold. The kings of the earth will have to give an account to

God, for their conduct in a kingly capacity. Kings are heads of

nations, governors are heads of provinces; so are fathers or

husbands governors of their own houses, and should act accordingly.

Heads of families should always take the charge of family worship,

and call their family together at a seasonable hour, and not wait

for every person to get through with all they may have to say or

do. If it were my prerogative to adopt a plan for family prayer,

it would be the following: Call your family or household together

every morning and evening, previous to coming to the table, and

bow before the Lord to offer up your thanksgiving for His mercies

and providential care of you. Let the head of the family dictate;

I mean the man, not the woman. If an Elder should happen to be

present, the head of the house can call upon him, if he chooses so

to do, and not wait for a stranger to take the lead at such times;

by so doing we shall obtain the favor of our Heavenly Father, and

it will have a tendency to teach our children to walk in the way

they should go, which may God grant for Christ's sake. Amen.

Brigham Young.

Governor Carlin issued the following Commission--

Appointment of Joseph Smith Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion.

_Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinois, to all to whom

these presents shall come: Greeting_--

Know ye that Joseph Smith, having been duly elected to the office

of lieutenant-general, Nauvoo Legion, of the militia of the

State of Illinois, I, Thomas Carlin, governor of said state, do

commission him lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion, to take

rank from the fifth day of February, 1841. He is, therefore,

carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of said office,

by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging;

and I do strictly require all officers and soldiers {310} under his

command to be obedient to his orders: and he is to obey such orders

and directions as he shall receive, from time to time, from the

commander-in-chief or his superior officer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the

great seal of state to be hereunto affixed. Done at Springfield,

this tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and forty-one, and of the independence of the United States

the sixty-fifth.

By the Governor,

[SEAL]

Thomas Carlin.

Lyman Trumball,

Secretary of State.

The commission was endorsed on the back as follows--

Headquarters, Nauvoo Legion, City of Nauvoo, Illinois, March 15,

1841--Oath of office administered by me, the day and year above

written.

John C. Bennett,

Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion.

_Thursday, 11_.--Elders Young, Kimball, Richards, and Taylor met in

Liverpool.

_Monday, 15_.--I attended the City Council, and took part in the

discussion concerning Mr. Annis' mill, in the southwest part of the

city.

Elder Wilford Woodruff attended a conference at Gadfield Elm; 408

members in eighteen branches represented.

_Thursday, 16_.--Elder George A. Smith attended a conference at

Macclesfield, which branch contains ninety one members, one Elder, six

Priests, five Teachers, and three Deacons. In consequence of incessant

preaching, his lungs are much affected.

_Wednesday, 17_.--Ship _Alesto_ sailed from Liverpool for New Orleans,

with 54 Saints, led by Elders Thomas Smith and William Moss.

Elders Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, and Father Melling went to

Preston; Elders Young and Hedlock to Hawarden, and George A. Smith to

Leek.

_Thursday, 18_.--Elder George A. Smith attended a {311} council of

the officers and members of the Church at Leek, numbering sixty-three

members, one Elder, six Priests, two Teachers, and two Deacons. Stephen

Nixon was ordained an Elder; and John Hudson, Jacob Gibson, and Joseph

Knight Priests; and Frederick Rushton and Edwin Rushton, Teachers.

_Saturday, 20_.

_An Inquiry_.

City Of Nauvoo, March 20, 1841.

Brother William Allred, Bishop of the stake at Pleasant Vale, and

also Brother Henry W. Miller, president of the stake at Freedom,

desire President Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord His will

concerning them.

I inquired of the Lord concerning the foregoing question, and received

the following answer--

_Revelation_.

Let my servants, William Allred and Henry W. Miller, have an agency

for the selling of stock for the Nauvoo House, and assist my

servants Lyman Wight, Peter Haws, George Miller, and John Snider,

in building said house; and let my servants William Allred and

Henry W. Miller take stock in the house, that the poor of my people

may have employment, and that accommodations may be made for the

strangers who shall come to visit this place, and for this purpose

let them devote all their properties, saith the Lord.

About this time I received a revelation, given in the City of Nauvoo,

in answer to the following interrogatory--"What is the will of the

Lord, concerning the Saints in the Territory of Iowa?" [5]

_Revelation_.

"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I say unto you, if those who call

themselves by my name, and are essaying to be my Saints, if they

will do my will and keep my commandments concerning them; let them

gather themselves together, unto the place which I shall appoint

unto them by my servant Joseph, and build up cities unto my name,

that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to

come. Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite

to the City of {312} Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named

upon it. And let all those who come from the east, and the west,

and the north, and the south, that have desires to dwell therein,

take up their inheritances in the same, as well as in the City of

Nashville, or in the City of Nauvoo, and in all the stakes which I

have appointed, saith the Lord."

_Sunday, 21_.--Elder George A. Smith preached at Leek, and confirmed

one.

[Sidenote: Organization of the Lesser Priesthood at Nauvoo.]

The Lesser Priesthood was organized in the City of Nauvoo, March 21,

1841, by Bishops Whitney, Miller, Higbee, and Knight. Samuel Rolf

was chosen president of the Priests' quorum, and Stephen Markham and

Hezekiah Peck, his counselors. Elisha Everett was chosen president

of Teachers, and James W. Huntsman and James Hendricks, counselors.

Phinehas R. Bird was chosen president of Deacons, and David Wood and

William W. Lane counselors.

Footnotes:

1. See Doctrine and Covenants, section cxxiv.

2. The foregoing speech is not printed in the "History of Joseph

Smith" as published in the _Deseret News_ and _Millennial Star_, but

such is the prominence of John C. Bennett in the period of the history

now reached, and such the despicable part he later plays, that, as

affording an insight into his character, the speech becomes important,

hence given here _in extenso_, as it was published in the _Times and

Seasons_, Vol. II, No. 8.

3. Following is the form of oath taken:

We, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Don C. Smith, and Charles C. Rich, do

solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God that we will support the

Constitution of the United States, and of the State of Illinois, and

that we will well and truly perform the duties of councilors of the

City of Nauvoo, according to law, and the best of our abilities.

Joseph Smith,

Hyrum Smith,

Don C. Smith,

Charles C. Rich.

December 3, 1841.

4. For a proper characterization of this document see Vol. III, this

History, p. 256.

5. See Doctrine and Covenants, section cxxv.

{313}

Chapter XVI.

The First Foreign Mission of the Church 1837-1841.

_Tuesday, March 23, 1841_.--Elder Young returned to Liverpool, and

Elder Richards wrote the following history of the "Mission to England,

or the first foreign mission of the Latter-day Saints."

_History of the British Mission_.

About the first of June, 1837, Elder Heber C. Kimball was called by

the Spirit of Revelation, and set apart by the First Presidency of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then at Kirtland,

Ohio, North America, to preside over a mission to England,

accompanied by Elder Orson Hyde, who was set apart for the same

work at the same time. In a few days Brother Joseph Fielding,

Priest, was set apart; and on the eve of the 12th, Elder Willard

Richards, (having been absent several months on a long journey, and

having returned the day previous) was called and set apart for the

same mission.

The following morning, Tuesday, 13th, these brethren gave the

parting hand, bid farewell to home, and, without purse or scrip,

started for England. They were accompanied twelve miles to Fairport

on Lake Erie by Elders Brigham Young, John P. Greene and Brother

Levi Richards, and Sisters Kimball, Greene and Fielding (Brother

R. B. Thompson and wife accompanied the mission to Buffalo, and

Brother Fitch Brigham to Utica) and others with whom they parted in

the afternoon, and went on board a steamer for Buffalo; where they

arrived next day.

At this place the brethren expected to receive some means

from Canada, to assist them on their journey, but they were

disappointed. In the evening they took passage on a canal boat,

and arrived in Albany on the 19th (Elder Hyde having gone forward

to New York from Rochester.) Brother Fielding proceeded to New

York, and on the 20th Elder Kimball accompanied Elder Richards to

his father's house in Richmond, Massachusetts, thirty miles east,

where they spent one day, and having received some assistance

from his friends, bade them {314} farewell for the last time (his

father and mother having since died, also a sister whom he had

left in Kirtland) and on the 21st returned to Albany, and arrived

in New York on the 22nd, where they found Brothers Orson Hyde and

Fielding, also Elders John Goodson and Isaac Russell, John Snider,

Priest,(who had come from Canada to join the mission) anxiously

awaiting their arrival, so that they might take passage on the

_United States_, which was to sail next day, but they arrived too

late.

In New York Elder Richards received some further means, quite

providentially, and on the 23rd the brethren engaged passage to

Liverpool, on board the _Garrick_, which was to sail on the 1st of

July.

In the meantime the brethren received every possible assistance

from Elder Elijah Fordham. At that time he was the only member of

the Church residing in the city [New York], and having no house of

his own, he procured his father's storehouse for the use of the

brethren, where they lodged on the floor, amid straw and blankets,

one week, eating their cold morsel, and conversing with the people

as they had opportunity; for no place could be procured to preach

in, and there was no one to receive them into their houses.

Sunday, the 25th, the brethren held a council at their lodgings

(Mr. Fordham's store), and organized ready for taking their

departure.

On the 29th the brethren sealed, superscribed, and forwarded one

hundred and eighty of Elder Orson Hyde's "Timely Warnings" to the

ministers of the different denominations in the city, and went

on board the _Garrick_, which hauled out into the river and cast

anchor.

July 1st, the ship weighed anchor and was towed to Sandy Hook by

a steamer, where she spread sail, and in four hours and a half

was out of sight of land. With the exception of a strong wind on

the 12th, there was generally a gentle breeze from the northwest

during the voyage. On the 16th, Elder Orson Hyde preached on the

aft quarter deck. On the 18th Cape Clear was visible (eighteen days

out of sight of land;) and on the morning of the 20th, the brethren

landed in Liverpool twenty days from New York. Here Elders Kimball,

Hyde, and Richards found themselves on a foreign shore, surrounded

by strangers, without the first farthing in their possession; but

the brethren unitedly took lodgings in a private house in Union

Street, till after the inspection of the ship; and on Saturday,

the 22nd, took coach for Preston. When they had alighted from the

coach, and were standing by their trunks in front of the hotel in

Preston, a large flag was unfurled over their heads on which was

printed in golden letters, "_Truth will prevail_;" at the sight of

which their hearts rejoiced, and they cried aloud, "Amen, thanks be

unto God, Truth Will Prevail."

{315} Brother Joseph Fielding lodged with his brother, Rev.

James Fielding, then a preacher in Vauxhall-road Chapel, and the

remainder of the brethren took lodgings in St. Wilford Street, Fox

Street. The same evening the Elders visited the Rev. Mr. Fielding,

by his request at his lodgings. He had previously been apprized of

the coming forth of this work in America, through the medium of

letters from his relatives and others and had requested his church

to pray that God would send them His servants, and exhorted his

people to receive their message when they should come.

Sunday the 28th. As they had no place in which to preach, the seven

brethren went to Vauxhall Chapel to hear the Rev. Mr. Fielding;

and at the close of the morning service, Mr. Fielding gave public

notice that an Elder of the Latter-day Saints would preach in the

afternoon in his pulpit. This was voluntary with Mr. Fielding as no

one had requested the privilege; and in the afternoon, according to

the notice, Elder Kimball gave a brief history of the rise of the

Church and the first principles of the Gospel, and Elder Hyde bore

testimony; after which the Rev. Mr. Fielding requested the brethren

to give out an appointment for the evening, when Elder Goodson

preached, and Elder Joseph Fielding bore testimony.

At the close Mr. Fielding again gave leave for preaching at the

same place on Wednesday evening, when Elder Hyde preached and Elder

Richards bore testimony; and from that time the Rev. Mr. Fielding

closed his doors against the Elders and began to oppose the work,

and stated that the Elders promised to say nothing about baptism

in their preaching before he ever consented to let them preach in

his pulpit; whereas the subject of the Elders preaching in his

chapel had not been named between the parties, before Mr. Fielding

gave out the public appointment before referred to: much less (if

possible) that they would "say nothing about baptism."

Nine of Mr. Fielding's members offered themselves for baptism; and

Mr. Fielding presented himself before the Elders, and forbade their

baptizing them, but he received for answer, that "they were of

age and could act for themselves." On Sunday, the 30th, they were

baptized under the hands of Elder Kimball; Brother George D. Watt

being the first who offered himself for baptism in England, and is

now an Elder laboring in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Elder Russell preached in the market place in the afternoon, and

from that day the doors of private houses were opened on almost

every hand for the Elders.

July 31st, a council of the Elders decided that Elders Goodson and

Richards should go on a mission to Bedford, and Elder Russell and

Priest Snider on a mission to Alston, Cumberland; and after a night

{316} of prayer, praise and thanksgiving, the brethren took their

departure on the morning of the first of August for their several

stations.

The Rev. Mr. Fielding continued to oppose the doctrine of baptism

for a season; but finding that he was likely to lose all his "best

members," he offered to baptize them himself; but they being aware

that he had no authority, declined his friendly offer, whereupon

he engaged the Rev. Mr. Giles, a Baptist minister in Preston,

of as little authority as himself, to do the baptizing for his

flock; but this iniquitous scheme succeeded little better than the

other--only one coming forward to his baptism, so far as we have

heard. Mr. Fielding's people also stated that he acted the part of

a hypocrite and deceived them, when he read the letters to them in

public, which he received from America, by keeping back that part

which treated on baptism, which, since the foregoing failure he has

opposed.

Elders Kimball and Hyde, and Priest Fielding continued to preach

daily in different parts of Preston, and on Wednesday and Thursday

(August 2nd and 3rd), the meetings were attended by Miss Jeanetta

Richards who was visiting her friends in Preston, and on Friday she

requested baptism, which was attended to by Elder Kimball, after

which she was confirmed at the water side by Elders Kimball and

Hyde, it being the first confirmation in a foreign land in these

last days.

The day following Sister Richards returned home to her friends,

and informed her father, the Rev. Joseph Richards, an Independent

minister at Walker-fold, Chaidgely, whom she had found at Preston,

what she had done, and requested him to send for Elder Kimball to

preach in his chapel. Mr. Richards complied with his daughter's

request. Elder Kimball arrived at Walker-fold Saturday eve, August

12, and the day following preached three times in Mr. Richards'

pulpit, to crowded assemblies; also twice during the week, and

twice the Sunday following, being most kindly and cordially

entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Richard's for nine days, during which

time Elder Kimball baptized several in the neighborhood.

After a short visit to Preston, where Elder Hyde continued to

preach and baptize, Elder Kimball returned to Walker-fold, and

continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richards' house for

some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood; and from

thence the work went forth to Clitheroe, Waddington, Downham,

Cathburn, Thornley, and Ribchester, through the labors of Brothers

Kimball and Fielding.

Elders Goodson and Richards arrived in Bedford on the 2nd of

August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R.

Matthews from Brother Joseph Fielding (Mrs. Matthew's brother),

they immediately waited on Mr. Matthews, who expressed great joy at

their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm

with the {317} Elders through the streets of Bedford, calling on

the members of his church, and inviting them to attend the lectures

of the Elders at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews

had previously been apprized of the Saints in America through

the medium of the Rev. James Fielding of Preston and the letters

from America, before referred to. In the evening, his church

assembled in the vestry, and Elders Goodson and Richards continued

to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three

following evenings in the same place, with the entire approbation

of Mr. Matthews, who, at the close of the lectures, publicly bore

testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to

know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in

return wished to know why he did not set them the example.

After this Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood

for the Elders to preach in, under the pretense that some of the

proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the Elders

occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the

preaching of the Elders, and also spent a great share of his time,

from day to day, in conversation with them.

Mr. Matthews told the Elders that he had received two ordinations,

one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an impostor, and

another from the Church of England, which he acknowledged to be

descended from the Church of Rome, and he further acknowledged that

he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of

God's house.

On the 10th Mrs. Braddock and four others were baptized by Elder

Goodson. Soon after this, Mr. Joseph Saville, member of Mr.

Matthews' church, being very desirous of receiving baptism at the

same time with Mr. Matthews, waited on him at his house, in company

with Elders Goodson and Richards and Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Saville

mutually agreed to meet the Elders on the bank of the river Ouse

at a specified hour in the afternoon, and attend to the ordinance

of baptism. At the hour appointed Mr. Saville met the Elders at

the place previously designated by Mr. Matthews; but as he (the

latter) did not make his appearance according to promise, after

waiting for him an hour, Mr. Saville was baptized, when the Elders

repaired to Mr. Matthews' to learn the cause of his not fulfilling

his engagement, and were informed by Mr. Matthews' family that he

had gone out into the country to preach.

In a day or two it was currently rumored that Mr. Matthews had

baptized himself, and this rumor was afterwards confirmed by

Mrs. Matthews, who stated to Elder Kimball at Preston, that Mr.

Matthews had baptized himself, reasoning upon this principle within

himself: "If I {318} have authority to administer the sacrament

to my people, why not have authority to baptize myself," &c.--and

all this after Mr. Matthews had acknowledged to Elders Goodson and

Richards that he had no authority to administer in the ordinances

of God's house; and altogether regardless of the words of the

Apostles (Heb. v: 4), "No man taketh this honor unto himself but he

that is called of God as was Aaron."

By the foregoing it is plainly to be seen, that Mr. Matthews has

attempted to take that upon himself which was never conferred upon

him by the spirit of revelation, either by God, His angels, or His

servants; viz., the holy Priesthood; and from that period, Mr.

Matthews began to preach baptism, and baptized those who felt it

their duty to be baptized, and then invited them to the penitent

form to get remission of their sins; but finding that would not

answer all the design which he intended, he afterwards began to

baptize for the remission of sins.

Mr. Matthews appears to have well understood that counterfeit

coin is more current the nearer it approximates to the true, and

governed himself accordingly; for he continued to preach faith,

repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, the second coming

of Christ, &c., &c., adding one thing to another in imitation of

truth, as fast as it answered his purpose, from those doctrines

which he had heard from the Latter-day Saints; but it was some

time before he arrived at that heaven-daring conscience-seared

hardihood, to lay hands on those whom he had baptized for the

reception of the Holy Ghost, and at the same time he acknowledged

that he had not got the Holy Ghost himself, by praying that he

might receive it--(Query. How can a man communicate that which he

is not in possession of?) and he now calls his church "The Church

of Latter-day Saints."

Thus has Mr. Matthews been running about from Bedford to Liverpool,

from Liverpool to Northampton, from Northampton to Bedford,

and other places, crying aloud in public and private, that the

Latter-day Saints and their doctrines came from hell; at the same

time he has been preaching the same doctrines, calls his church by

the same name, is administering in the same ordinances, just as

though he fully believed that the doctrines and sacraments of hell

would be sanctified and made holy and heavenly, when administered

by the tongue and hands of an impostor.

About the time that Mr. Matthews rejected the truth in Bedford, his

son (as Mr. Matthews called him), the Rev. Robert Aitkin, commenced

his attack on the principles of righteousness in Preston; and while

furiously pounding his pulpit with the Book of Mormon, and warning

his people to beware of the Latter-day Saints and their doctrines,

saying, that they and their record came from hell; called upon his

people to use all their efforts to put down the work of God, or

stop the progress of the {319} Latter-day Saints; and, if it could

not be put down without, prayed that God would smite the leaders;

and from that time to the present, his prayer has been answered on

his own head.

After Mr. Aitkin had preached against the corruptions of the Church

of England for years, and established many flourishing chapels in

Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, Burslem, London, &c.; after he had

been visited by the Elders of the Church of Latter-day Saints,

and acknowledged to them at one time that baptism was right, but

he could find no man who had authority to baptize; and at another

time, that he was afraid of them, and rejected their testimony; and

last of all would not receive the Elders into his house; after all

this, and deserted by a part of his flock, he has fled from the

remainder because he was an hireling, and cared not for the sheep;

yes, he has deserted his "Christian Society"--ceased to be an

Aitkenite, and dissolved his co-partnership with Father Matthews,

as may well be supposed, returned, and, taken "holy order" in

"Mother Church," against the corruptions of which he testified so

diligently from year to year, and is now about to enter on his

parochial duties in St. John the Evangelist's Church, Hope street,

Liverpool, for no other reason, that the writer knows of, only that

he could find no one who had authority to baptize for the remission

of sins, and not possessing the faith of his father, Matthews, to

believe that the doctrines of the pit would become holy and gospel

doctrines when taught by the tongue of wickedness and imposture,

he has concluded thus publicly to acknowledge himself a servant of

those very errors he has so long contended against, for the sake of

filthy lucre.

About the 12th of September, Elder Goodson and Priest Snider

returned to Preston, and soon after sailed for America.

Some years previously, the principles of the Temperance Society

(originally established in America), were introduced into England,

and Preston was the first town to receive them. Among the many

interesting and valuable items held forth by the Temperance people,

it was often remarked by them that Temperance was the fore-runner

of the Gospel, which prophecy proved true; for when the fullness

of the Gospel came from America to England, it was first preached

in Preston, and through the influence of the Temperance Society,

the Latter-day Saint, procured the use of the Temperance Hall

in Preston (a commodious building, originally erected for cock

fighting) for their chapel, and commenced meeting therein on the

3rd of September, 1837, and continued until they were ejected

through the influence of others, the Temperance Society not having

it entirely at their control. Similar favors have been received

from several other Temperance Societies in England, for which the

Lord reward them.