Joseph Smith, Jr.

“ We called upon the Father in the name of Jesus to go with the breth [r] en who were going up to the land of Zion, to give brother Joseph strength, and wisdom, and understanding sufficient to lead the people of the Lord, and to gather back and establish the saints upon the land of their inheritances, and organize them according to the will of heaven, that they be no more cast down forever. We then united and laid on hands: Brothers Sidney, Oliver, and Zebedee [Coltrin] laid hands upon bro. ”

“ And finally, that God in the name of Jesus would gather his elect speedily, and unveil his face that his saints might behold his glory and dwell with him; Amen. On the 13th of March A. D. 1833, Docter P. Hurlbut came to my house; I conversed with him considerably about the book of Mormon. He was ordained to the office of an elder in this Church under the hand of Sidney Rigdon on the 18th of March in the same year above written. ”

“ And that our children and our children's [children] may know of the same we here subscribe our names with our own hands before the Lord: Joseph Smith Jr /Oliver Cowdery. And now, O Father, as thou didst prosper our father Jacob, and bless him with protection and prosperity where ever he went from the time he made a like covenant before and with thee; and as thou didst, even the same night, open the heavens unto him and manifest great mercy and favor, and give him promises, so wilt thou do by us his sons ”

“ Zebedee, and confirmed the blessing of wisdom to preach the gospel, even till it spreads to the islands of the sea, and to be spared to see three score years and ten, and see Zion built up and Kirtland established forever, and even at last to receive a crown of life. Our hearts rejoiced, and we were comforted with the Holy Spirit, Amen.
20 April 1834—Sunday Brother Sidney Rigdon entertained a large congregation of saints, with an interesting discourse upon the "Dispensation of the fulness of times," &c. ”

“ Freeman Nickerson declared his full belief in the truth of the work is with his wife who is also convinced to be baptised on sunday great excitement prevailes in every place where we have been the result we leave in the hand of God. ”

“ Cowd [er] y blessed of the Lord is bro Oliver nevertheless there are two evils in him that he must needs forsake or he cannot altogeth [er] escape the buffitings of the adver [sar] y if he shall forsak [e] these evils he shall be forgiven and shall be made like unto the bow which the Lord hath set in the heavens he shall be a sign and an ensign unto the nations. ”

“ Nevertheless, one shall hunt after them as a man hunteth after an ass that hath strayed in the wilderness, & straitway findeth him and bringeth him into the fold. Thus shall the Lord watch over his generation that they may be saved: even so ”

“ Lambs tavern
6 October 1833—Sunday arrived at Springfield [Erie County, Pennsylvania] on the Sabbath found the Brotheren in meeting Brother sidney [Rigdon] spoke to the people &c and in the Evening held a meeting at Brother Ruds [John Rudd] had a great congregation paid good attention Oh God Seal our te [s] timony to their hearts Amen /Continued at springfield untill tuesday the 8th [October 1833] Journeyed that day to br. ”

“ Esthe [r] Birch [Burtch]
25 November 1833—Monday Brother Orson Hyde & John Gould returned from Zion and brough [t] the melencholly intelegen [ce] of the riot in Zion with the inhabitants in pers [ec] uting the brethren. ”