Chapter XXII (2)

We now close our epistle by saying unto you, the Lord has commanded
us to purify ourselves, to wash our hands and our feet, that He may
testify to His Father and our Father, to His God and our God, that
we are clean from the blood of this generation; and before we could
wash our hands and our feet, we were constrained to write this
letter. Therefore, with the feelings of inexpressible anxiety for
your welfare, we say again, Repent, repent, or Zion must suffer,
for the scourge and judgment must come upon her.

Let the Bishop read this to the Elders, that they may warn the
members of the scourge that is coming, except they repent. Tell
them to read the Book of Mormon, and obey it; read the commandments
that are printed, and obey them; yea, humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that peradventure He may turn away His anger
from you. Tell them that they have not come up to Zion to sit down
in idleness, neglecting the things of God, but they are to be
diligent and faithful in obeying the new covenant.

There is one clause in Brother Joseph's letter which you may not
understand; that is this, "If the people of Zion did not repent,
the Lord would seek another place, and another people." Zion is
the place where the temple will be built, and the people gathered,
but all people upon that holy land being under condemnation, the
Lord will cut off, if they repent not, and bring another race
upon it, that will serve Him. The Lord will seek another place to
bring forth and prepare his word to go forth to the nations, and
as we said before, so we say again. {321} Brother Joseph will not
settle in Zion, except she repent, and serve God, and obey the new
covenant. With this explanation, the conference sanctions Brother
Joseph's letter.

Brethren, the conference meets again this evening to hear this
letter read, and if it meet their minds, we have all agreed to
kneel down before the Lord, and cry unto Him with all our hearts,
that this epistle, and Brother Joseph's, and the revelations also,
may have their desired effect, and accomplish the thing whereunto
they are sent, and that they may stimulate you to cleanse Zion,
that she mourn not. Therefore when you get this, know ye that a
conference of twelve High Priests have cried unto the Lord for
you, and are still crying, saying, Spare thy people, O Lord, and
give not thy heritage to reproach. We now feel that our garments
are clean from you, and all men, when we have washed our feet and
hands, according to the commandment.

We have written plainly at this time, but we believe not harshly.
Plainness is what the Lord requires, and we should not feel
ourselves clear, unless we had done so; and if the things we have
told you be not attended to, you will not long have occasion to
say, or to think rather, that we may be wrong in what we have
stated. Your unworthy brethren are determined to pray unto the Lord
for Zion, as long as we can shed the sympathetic tear, or feel any
spirit to supplicate the throne of grace in her behalf.

The School of the Prophets will commence, if the Lord will, in two
or three days. It is a general time of health with us. The cause
of God seems to be rapidly advancing in the eastern country; the
gifts are beginning to break forth so as to astonish the world,
and even believers marvel at the power and goodness of God. Thanks
be rendered to His holy name for what He is doing. We are your
unworthy brethren in the Lord, and may the Lord help us all to do
His will, that we may at last be saved in His kingdom.

Orson Hyde,

Hyrum Smith.

N. B.--We stated that Brother Gilbert, when he was in Kirtland,
knew that William was in Cleveland last fall. We wrote this upon
the strength of hearsay; but William being left at St. Louis,
strengthened our suppositions that such was the fact. We stated
further respecting this matter, or this item, than the testimony
will warrant us. With this exception the conference sanctions this
letter.

O. H.

H. S.

Footnotes

1. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. lxxxvii.

2. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. lxxxviii. This is the revelation referred to as "The Olive Leaf," plucked from the Tree of Paradise, in the Prophet's letter of January 11, 1833. See page 316.

3. This name is also spelled Sexton in the Ms. History. Mr. Seaton lived at Rochester, New York, and published a paper there, but the name of the paper cannot be ascertained.

4. The Prophet states subsequently that he wrote this communication by commandment of the Lord. The general condition of the world as noted by the Prophet at the commencement of this chapter, was doubtless the occasion of the Lord sending forth such a note of warning to the inhabitants of the earth as is here presented. It should be said, however, in addition to what is here set down, i.e. at the beginning of the chapter--that the "plague," or Asiatic cholera, which first broke out in India, spread also throughout the United States in that same year. One historian, speaking of its ravages in the United States, says: "It was on the 21st of June, 1832, that the eastern plague, known as the Asiatic cholera, made its first appearance in the United States, in the city of New York. Its rapid spread produced universal panic, though it was less fatal in the South Atlantic States than in the north and in the valley of the Mississippi. Thousands of persons of all ages and conditions died of it within a few months. The most robust constitutions in many instances became victims of its malignancy within thirty-six hours from its first attack."--History U. S., Stephens, p. 450.

5. This is the revelation beginning on p. 302, and section lxxxviii of the Doctrine and Covenants.

6. See p. 301, verses 119-136.

7. "Kirtland Mills" and "Kirtland" are identical. The name "Kirtland Mills" arose from the existence of some mills on the banks of the branch of the Chagrin river on which Kirtland is situated.

8. See p. 292, verse 76.

9. See p. 291, verses 55-59.

{322} Chapter XXIII.

The Enjoyment of Spiritual Blessings in the Church--The Word of Wisdom.

[Sidenote: The Enjoyment of Spiritual Gifts.]

This winter [1832-33] was spent in translating the Scriptures; in the School of the Prophets; and sitting in conferences. I had many glorious seasons of refreshing. The gifts which follow them that believe and obey the Gospel, as tokens that the Lord is ever the same in His dealings with the humble lovers and followers of truth, began to be poured out among us, as in ancient days;--for as we, viz.: Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebedee Coltrin, [1] Joseph Smith, Sen., Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman E. Johnson, [2] Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, High Priests; and Levi Hancock, [3] and William Smith, [4] Elders, were assembled in {323} conference, on the 22nd day of January, I spoke to the conference in another tongue, and was followed in the same gift by Brother Zebedee Coltrin, and he by Brother William Smith, after which the Lord poured out His Spirit in a miraculous manner, until all the Elders spake in tongues, and several members, both male and female, exercised the same gift. Great and glorious were the divine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Praises were sung to God and the Lamb; speaking and praying, all in tongues, occupied the conference until a late hour at night, so rejoiced were we at the return of these long absent blessings.

[Sidenote: Ordinance of the Washing of Feet.]

On the 23rd of January, we again assembled in conference; when, after much speaking, singing, praying, and praising God, all in tongues, we proceeded to the washing of feet (according to the practice recorded in the 13th chapter of John's Gospel), as commanded of the Lord. Each Elder washed his own feet first, after which I girded myself with a towel and washed the feet of all of them, wiping them with the towel with which I was girded. Among the number, my father presented himself, but before I washed his feet, I asked of him a father's blessing, which he granted by laying his hands upon my head, in the name of Jesus Christ, and declaring that I should continue in the Priest's office until Christ comes. At the close of the scene, Brother Frederick G. Williams, being moved upon by the Holy Ghost, washed my feet in token of his fixed determination to be with me in suffering, or in journeying, in life or in death, and to be continually on my right hand; in which I accepted him in the name of the Lord.

[Sidenote: The Elders Pronounced Clean.]

I then said to the Elders, As I have done so do ye; wash ye, therefore, one another's feet; and by the power of the Holy Ghost I pronounced them all clean from the blood of this generation; but if any of them should sin wilfully after they were thus cleansed, and sealed up unto eternal life, they should be given over unto the buffetings of Satan until {324} the day of redemption. Having continued all day in fasting, and prayer, and ordinances, we closed by partaking of the Lord's supper. I blessed the bread and wine in the name of the Lord, when we all ate and drank, and were filled; then we sang a hymn, and the meeting adjourned.

[Sidenote: Revision of the New Testament Completed.]

I completed the translation and review of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833 and sealed it up, no more to be opened till it arrived in Zion. [5]

An Epistle

_Of the First Presidency, to the Church of Christ in Thompson, Geauga County, Ohio_.

Kirtland, February 6th, 1833.

_Dear Brethren_,

We salute you, by this our epistle, in the bonds of love, rejoicing
in your steadfastness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord: and we desire your prosperity in the ways of truth and
righteousness, praying for you continually, that your faith fail
not, and that you may overcome all the evils with which you are
surrounded, and become pure and holy before God, even our Father,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

It has seemed good unto the Holy Spirit and unto us, to send this
our epistle to you by the hand of our beloved Brother Salmon Gee,
your messenger, who has been ordained by us, in obedience to the
commandments of God, to the office of Elder to preside over the
Church in {325} Thompson, taking the oversight thereof, to lead
you and to teach the things which are according to godliness; in
whom we have great confidence, as we presume also you have, we
therefore say to you, yea, not us only, but the Lord also, receive
him as such, knowing that the Lord has appointed him to this office
for your good, holding him up by your prayers, praying for him
continually that he may be endowed with wisdom and understanding in
the knowledge of the Lord, that through him you may be kept from
evil spirits, and all strifes and dissensions, and grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Brethren beloved, continue in brotherly love, walk in meekness,
watching unto prayer, that you be not overcome. Follow after peace,
as said our beloved brother Paul, that you may be the children of
our Heavenly Father, and not give occasion for stumbling, to Saint
or sinner. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that we may be enabled
to do the work whereunto we are called, that you may enjoy the
mysteries of God, even a fulness; and may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Joseph Smith, Jun.,

Sidney Rigdon,

Frederick G. Williams.

[Sidenote: John Murdock's Message to the Thompson Branch.]

The following letter was written by John Murdock, a High Priest, (who had previously been with the Church in Thompson), to Salmon Gee, Elder of the Church in Thompson:

Kirtland, February 11, 1833.

Beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
I beseech you in the bowels of mercy to remember the exhortation
which I gave you while I was yet present with you, to beware of
delusive spirits. I rejoice that our Heavenly Father hath blessed
you greatly, as He also has me, in enabling me to speak the praises
of God and the mysteries of the kingdom in other tongues according
to promise: and this without throwing me down or wallowing me on
the ground, or any thing unbecoming or immoral; also, without any
external operation of the system, but it is the internal operation
and power of the Spirit of God, so that I know that those odd
actions and strange noises are not caused by the Spirit of the
Lord as is represented by Brother King. Therefore in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of the living God, according
to the authority of the Holy Priesthood committed to me, I command
Brother Thomas King, (as though I were present), to {326} cease
from your diabolical acts of enthusiasm, and also from acting as
an Elder in this Church of Christ, until you come and give full
testimony to the High Priests in Kirtland, that you are worthy of
that holy calling; because those are the things of God, and are to
be used in the fear of God: and I now not only command you, but
exhort you in behalf of your soul's salvation, to submit, and let
Brother Gee be upheld by the prayer of faith of every brother and
sister, and if there be this union of spirit, and prayer of faith,
every false spirit shall be bound, and cast out from among you.

My beloved children in the bonds of the Gospel, and the bowels of
mercy, which is the everlasting love of God, I do beseech you to
live faithful and in obedience to the commandments of God; and
in the name of the Lord Jesus, I say, the blessings of God shall
attend you.

John Murdock.

[Sidenote: Concerning the Prophet's Communication to Seaton.]

_February 12_.--Having received Seaton's paper, from Rochester, New York, containing a part of my communication, written on the 4th of January, I wrote as follows:

_To N. E. Seaton, Rochester_.

Dear Sir:--I was somewhat disappointed on receiving my paper with
only a part of my letter inserted in it. The letter which I wrote
you for publication, I wrote by the commandment of God, and I am
quite anxious to have it all laid before the public, for it is of
importance to them: but I have no claim upon you, neither do I wish
to urge you, beyond that which is reasonable, to do it. I have only
to appeal to your extended generosity to all religious societies
that claim that Christ has come in the flesh; and also to tell you
what will be the consequence of a neglect to publish it.

Some parts of the letter were very severe upon the wickedness of
sectarianism, I acknowledge; and the truth, remember, is hard and
severe against all iniquity and wickedness, but this is no reason
why it should not be published, but the very reason why it should
be. I lay the ax at the root of the tree, and I long to see many
of the sturdy oaks, which have long cumbered the ground, fall
prostrate. I now say unto you, that if you wish to clear your
garments from the blood of your readers, I exhort you to publish
that letter entire; but if not, the sin be upon your head. Accept,
sir the good wishes and tender regard of your unworthy servant,

Joseph Smith, Jun.

{327} [Sidenote: Case of Burr Riggs.]

_February 13_.--A council of High Priests assembled to investigate the proceedings of Brother Burr Riggs, who was accused of failing to magnify his calling as High Priest, and had been guilty of neglect of duty, of abusing the Elders, and of treating their admonitions with contempt. After the council had considered the case, Brother Riggs agreed to make satisfaction, but did not show much humility.

_February 15_.--In a council I ordained Harpin Riggs, and Isaac McWethy Elders.

_February 17_.--In conference I ordained John Johnson to the office of Elder.

[Sidenote: Consideration of Missouri Correspondence of the 11th and 12th of January.]

_February 26_.--A special council of High Priests assembled in Zion, to take into consideration my letter to Brother Phelps, of the 11th of January, and the revelation called the Olive Leaf, referred to in my letter, and the epistle of Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith of the 14th of January, in behalf of the conference of High Priests: and Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps, and John Corrill were appointed a committee to write an epistle from the conference to the brethren in Kirtland; which was written and sanctioned by the conference.

[Sidenote: Excommunication of Burr Riggs.]

The same day a conference of High Priests was again called in Kirtland, concerning Brother Burr Riggs, who was accused of neglecting to make satisfaction to the Church as he had agreed, and disgracing the High Priesthood by neglect of duty, and saying he did not care how soon he was cut off from the Church. He was cut off by a unanimous vote of the council.

_February 27_.--I received the following revelation:

The Word of Wisdom. [6]

_A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests,
assembled in Kirtland, and the church; and also the Saints in Zion.
To {328} be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but
by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and
will of God in the temporal salvation of all Saints in the last
days; given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity
of the weak and the weakest of all Saints, who are or can be called
Saints_.

1. Behold, verily, thus said the Lord unto you, in consequence
of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of
conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn
you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation,

2. That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among
you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your
Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your
sacraments before him.

3. And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of
the vine, of your own make.

4. And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the
washing of your bodies.

5. And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly,
and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick
cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

6. And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

7. And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath
ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man.

8. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season
thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

9. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I,
the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving;
nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

10. And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used only in
times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

11. All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to
be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the
field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or
creep on the earth.

12. And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of
famine and excess of hunger.

13. All grain is good for the food of man, as also the fruit of the
vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the
ground.

14. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for
the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts
of the {329} field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild
drinks, as also other grain.

15. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings,
walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in
their naval and marrow to their bones,

16. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even
hidden treasures;

17. And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint;

18. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying
angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay
them. Amen.

[Sidenote: A Word of Comfort to the Prophet]

_March 8_.--I received the following revelation:

Revelation. [7]

1. Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy
sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers
and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears;

2. Therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of
the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the
last time.

3. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be
taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world
to come;

4. Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another;
yea, even unto the church.

5. And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how
they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are
brought under condemnation thereby; and stumble and fall, when the
storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat
upon their house.

6. And again verily I say unto thy brethren, Sidney Rigdon and
Frederick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they
are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last
kingdom,

7. As also through your administration the keys of the school of
the prophets, which I have commanded to be organized,

8. That thereby they may be perfected in their ministry for the
salvation of Zion, and of the nations of Israel, and of the
Gentiles, as many as will believe;

{330} 9. That through your administration they may receive the
word, and through their administration the word may go forth unto
the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold,
and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews:

10. And then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be
revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations,
the house of Joseph, of the Gospel of their salvation.

11. For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall
hear the fulness of the Gospel in his own tongue, and in his own
language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the
administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the
revelation of Jesus Christ.

12. And now, verily I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment
that you continue in the ministry and Presidency,

13. And when you have finished the translation of the Prophets, you
shall from thenceforth preside over the affairs of the Church and
the school;

14. And from time to time, as shall be manifested by the Comforter,
receive revelations to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom,

15. And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become
acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and
people.

16. And this shall be your business and mission in all your lives,
to preside in council, and set in order all the affairs of this
church and kingdom.

17. Be not ashamed, neither confounded; but be admonished in all
your high-mindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your
souls.

18. Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far
from you.

19. Now, verily I say unto you, let there be a place provided as
soon as it is possible, for the family of thy counselor and scribe,
even Frederick G. Williams.

20. And let mine aged servant, Joseph Smith, Sen., continue with
his family upon the place where he now lives, and let it not be
sold until the mouth of the Lord shall name.

21. And let my counselor, even Sidney Rigdon, remain where he now
resides, until the mouth of the Lord shall name.

22. And let the Bishop search diligently to obtain an agent, and
let him be a man who has got riches in store--a man of God, and of
strong faith;

23. That thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that
the storehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before
the eyes of the people.

{331} 24. Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all
things shall work together for your good if ye walk uprightly and
remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

25. Let your families be small, especially mine aged servant Joseph
Smith's, Sen., as pertaining to those who do not belong to your
families;

26. That those things that are provided for you, to bring to pass
my work, be not taken from you and given to those that are not
worthy,

27. And thereby you be hindered in accomplishing those things which
I have commanded you.

28. And again, verily I say unto you, it is my will that my
handmaid, Vienna Jaques, should receive money to bear her expenses,
and go up unto the land of Zion;

29. And the residue of the money may be consecrated unto me, and
she be rewarded in mine own due time.

30. Verily I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes that she
should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from
the hand of the Bishop,

31. That she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful,
and not be idle in her days from henceforth.

32. And behold, verily I say unto you, that ye shall write this
commandment, and say unto your brethren in Zion, in love greeting,
that I have called you also to preside over Zion in mine own due
time:

33. Therefore, let them cease wearying me concerning this matter.

34. Behold, I say unto you that your brethren in Zion begin to
repent, and the angels rejoice over them;

35. Nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things, and I am
not well pleased with my servant William E. M'Lellin, neither with
my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the Bishop also, and others have
many things to repent of;

36. But verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord, will contend with
Zion, and plead with her strong ones, and chasten her until she
overcomes and is clean before me:

37. For she shall not be removed out of her place. I the Lord, have
spoken it. Amen.

[Sidenote: The Apocrypha.]

_March 9_.--Having come to that portion of the ancient writings called the Apocrypha, I received the following:

Revelation. [8]

1. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha,
{332} there are many things contained therein that are true, and it
is mostly translated correctly.

2. There are many things contained therein that are not true, which
are interpolations by the hands of men.

3. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the
Apocrypha should be translated.

4. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit
manifesteth truth;

5. And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit, shall obtain benefit
therefrom;

6. And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited.
Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.

[Sidenote: A Mission to the East Appointed.]

_March 12_.--A council of High Priests assembled in the school room and decided that Horace Cowin and Zerubbabel Snow, Amasa M. Lyman [9] and William F. Cahoon, Jenkins Salisbury and Truman Wait, journey east on a mission, two by two, {333} paired as their names are written. Brothers Cowin and Salisbury were ordained at the same time.

[Sidenote: Case of Brother Lake.]

_March 15_.--A council was called to consider the case of Brother Lake, from Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, who came professing to have received revelations. On investigation, it was unanimously agreed, that said Brother Lake was under the influence of an evil spirit, and that his license as Priest be taken from him.

The same day I received the following:

_Revelation to Enoch (Joseph Smith, Jun.,) given to the Saints in
Kirtland_. [10]

1. Verily, thus saith the Lord, I give unto the united order,
organized agreeable to the commandment previously given, a
revelation and commandment concerning my servant Shederlaomach
(Frederick G. Williams), that ye shall receive him into the order.
What I say unto one I say unto all.

2. And again, I say unto you my servant Shederlaomach, (Frederick
G. Williams), you shall be a lively member in this order, and
inasmuch as you are faithful in keeping all former commandments you
shall be blessed forever. Amen.

Footnotes

1. Zebedee Coltrin was born at Ovid, Seneca county, New York, September 7, 1804. He was the son of John and Sarah Coltrin; and was baptized into the Church soon after its organization.

2. Lyman E. Johnson was born in Pomfret, Windsor county, Vermont, October 24, 1811. He was baptized into the Church in February, 1831, by Sidney Rigdon and was ordained an Elder under the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

3. Levi Ward Hancock was born April 7, 1803, in Old Springfield, Hampden county, Massachusetts. He was the youngest son of Thomas Hancock and Amy Ward Hancock. When Levi was about two years old his family removed from Massachusetts to Ohio, settling in Chagrin, Cayahoga county, not far from Kirtland. Here Levi grew to manhood, occupied chiefly in farming with his father. In 1827, however, he purchased a farm in Ashtabula county, which is in the extreme northeast part of Ohio. He was directly in the pathway of Elders Cowdery, Pratt, Whitmer and Peterson, when journeying westward on their mission to the Lamanites; and shortly after they passed through his neighborhood he followed them to Kirtland, where he was baptized on the 16th of November, 1830, by Elder Parley P. Pratt, and was soon afterwards ordained an Elder under the hands of Oliver Cowdery.

4. William Smith was the fifth son of Joseph Smith, Sen., and Lucy Smith. He was born in Royalton, Windsor county, Vermont, March 13, 1811; and was baptized soon after the Church was organized.

5. It was the intention of the Prophet to have this revised version of the Scriptures, which he had made with such laborious care, published in Zion, at the printing establishment of the Church in that place, (New Testament and Book of Mormon to be published together; see p. 341), but before the work could even be commenced, the persecution arose which made the undertaking impracticable. And such was the unsettled state of the Church throughout the remaining years of the Prophet's life that he found no opportunity to publish the revised Scriptures, and to this day there is no authoritative publication of his translation of the Old and New Testaments given to the world, except in such excerpts as appear in the Pearl of Great Price. On this subject the late President George Q. Cannon, in his "Life of Joseph Smith," remarks in a foot note (p. 142)--"We have heard President Brigham Young state that the Prophet, before his death, had spoken to him about going through the translation of the Scriptures again and perfecting it upon points of doctrine which the Lord had restrained him from giving in plainness and fulness at the time of which we write [2nd Feb., 1833]."

6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. lxxxix.

7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xc.

8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xci.

9. Amasa Mason Lyman was born in the township of Lyman, Grafton county, New Hampshire, on the 30th of March, 1813. He was the third son of Boswell Lyman and Martha Mason. His father dying when Amasa was about eight years of age, and some time later his mother marrying again, he was reared in the home of his grandfather, on the maternal side, Perez Mason, until he was eleven years of age. Perez Mason then retired from his farm to live with his eldest son, Perley Mason; with whom also, according to the wishes of his mother, Amasa lived during the next seven years. When young Lyman was in his eighteenth year he became thoughtful on the subject of religion and earnestly sought the favor of the Lord by righteous deportment, though without connecting himself with any of the religious sects. About one year later Elders Orson Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson passed through the section of New Hampshire where young Lyman lived, on a preaching tour. He believed the message proclaimed by these new evangels and was baptized on the 27th of April, 1832, by Elder Lyman E. Johnson, and confirmed on the following day by Elder Orson Pratt. In consequence of the ill feelings which arose in his uncle's family, owing to his joining the Church, Amasa departed from the home of his kindred, and set out on foot for the gathering place of the Saints in Ohio. After a journey of some seven hundred miles, in which he endured many hardships--for much of the journey was made on foot and with but scant means of subsistence--he arrived at Hiram in Portage county, and engaged to work for Father Johnson at ten dollars a month. It was at this time that the Prophet was making his home at Father Johnson's, though on the arrival of young Lyman at Hiram he was absent in Missouri. About the first of July, however, Joseph returned from his western journey, and Amasa had the joy of meeting the Prophet of the new dispensation. Of that meeting and the impressions it produced, he says: "Of the impressions produced I will here say, although there was nothing strange or different from other men in his personal appearance, yet when he grasped my hand in that cordial way (known to those who have met him in the honest simplicity of truth), I felt as one of old in the presence of the Lord; my strength seemed to be gone, so that it required an effort on my part to stand on my feet; but in all this there was no fear, but the serenity and peace of heaven pervaded my soul, and the still small voice of the Spirit whispered its living testimony in the depths of my soul, where it has ever remained, that he was the man of God."--Autobiographical Sketch of Amasa M. Lyman, _Millennial Star_, vol. xxvii, p. 473.

10. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xcii.

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