The Mormons were now building a temple after the pattern of the one at
Kirtland, Ohio, and I believe of the same size. They had already built a
saw mill so they could manufacture their own lumber. They had built a
large building made of logs hewn on both sides. This was fitted up as a
printing office and Strang edited a paper called the "Northern
Islander." The printing office still remains and was turned into a hotel
and is known as the Gibson House of St. James. The Mormons were a very
busy people. Those that were improving their farms and building their
homes had nothing to do, as a rule, with the making of Strang's laws. He
had his council men, his twelve apostles, besides elders under the
apostles, members of the households of twelve. They did the voting and
had all to do with making the laws, that is the laws that governed the
conduct of their people. Strang had the revelations and the council of
twelve voted it a law. And they had the power to enforce the law and
punish any who disobeyed. So far the King had preached against polygamy
and said that it should not be allowed, although there were a number of
Mormons that had a number of wives apiece. Strang allowed it to be so,
as he said they had practiced the law according to Joseph Smith's
doctrine, and having several wives apiece he told them they might keep
them, but that no more should be taken. So the men who had more than one
wife kept them. Strang had many people now to control, every boat
during the summer season brought more converts, as he had several
apostles traveling constantly about the country making new converts to
their faith. Strang instructed them to make all things to appear at its
best, so the people were made to believe the Island was truly the
"promised land."