Joseph Smith, Jr.

“ We ask thee, holy Father, to remember those who have been driven by the inhabitants of Jackson county Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance, and break off, O Lord, this yoke of affliction that has been put upon them. Thou knowest, O Lord, that they have been greatly oppressed and afflicted, by wicked men, and our hearts flow out in sorrow because of their grevious burdens. ”

“ Grant me the privilege of saying then, that however hasty, or harsh, I may have spoken, at any time to you, it has been done for the express purpose of endeavouring, to warn exhort, admonish, and rescue you, from falling into difficulties, and sorrows which I foresaw you plunging into, by giving way to that wicked spirit, which you call your passions, which you should curbe and break down, and put under your feet, which if you do not you, never can be saved, in my view, in the Kingdom of God.
God requires the will of his creatures, to be swallowed up in his will. ”

“ And now we ask the [e] , holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of men: we ask the [e] , O Lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build; for thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation: and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people. ”

“ Remember, O Lord, the presidents, even all the presidents of thy church, that thy right hand may exalt them with all their families, and their immediate connexions, that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting remembrance from generation to generation. ”

“ I assure you sir that I have ever entertained the best of feelings towards you, and have recognized you as a friend in whom I could repose unlimited confidence and with whom I have acted in good faith, and I am not a little surprized on this occasion, that you should treat us with such marked contempt and then upbraid us with adding insult to wrong; small as you may consider our minds, we have sufficient discernment to discover this insult, although offered by your honour, and sufficient good manners not to insult or wrong any man. ”

“ This day my Soul has desired the salvation of Brother Ezra, Thayr [Thayer] . Also Brother Noah, Packard. Came to my house and let the Chappel Committee have one thousand dollers, by loan, for the building the house of the Lord; Oh may God bless him with an hundred fold! even of the things of Earth, for this ritious act. My heart is full of desire to day, to be blessed of the God, of Abraham; with prosperity, untill I will be able to pay all my depts; for it is the delight of my soul to be honest. Oh Lord that thou knowes [t] right well! help me and I will give to the poor. ”

“ I have risen up out of obscurity, but was looked up to when but a youth, in temporal things: It is not necessary that God should give us all things at first or in his first commission to us, but in his second. John saw the angel deliver the gospel in the last days, which would not be necessary if it was already, in the world, this expression would be inconsistent, the small lights that God has given, is sufficient to lead us out of babylon, when we get out we shall have the greater light. ”

“ O ye heavens! whose azure arches rise immensely high and strech immeasurably wide, grand ampitheater of nature, throne of the eternal God bow to hear the prayer of a poor wretched bewildered way wanderer to eternity. ”

“ I then called upon the quorums and congregation of saints to acknowledge the 12 Apostles who were present as Prophets and Seers and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the keys of the kingdom, to unlock it or cause it to be done among all nations them; and uphold them by their prayers, which they assented to by rising, # I then called upon the quorums and congregation of saints to acknowledge the high council of Kirtland in all the authorities of the Melchisedec priesthood and uphold them by their prayers which they assented to by rising. ”

“ President Rigdon then arose /and observed that instead of preaching the time would be occupied, by the presidency and twelve in speaking each in their turn untill they had all spoken, the Lord poured out his spirit upon us, and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other and the congregation were soon overwhelmed in tears and some of our hearts were too big for utterance, the gift of toungs, come upon us also like the rushing of a mighty wind, and my soul was filled with the glory of God. ”

“ And as thou hast said, in a revelation given unto us, calling us thy friends, saying Call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you; and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom: Seek learning; even by study, and also by faith, Organize yourselves ”

“ The item to which I wish the more particularly to call your attention to night is the ordinance of washing of feet, this we have not done as yet but it is necessary now as much as it was in the days of the Saviour, and we must have a place prepared, that we may attend to this ordinance, aside from the world; we have not desired much from the hand of the Lord, with that faith and obediance that we ought, yet we have enjoyed great blessings, and we are not so sensible of this as we should be: when or wher [e] has God suffered one of the witnesses or first Elders of this church to fall? ”

“ Hiram Smith, and V. Knights, and paid said [K] nights $2045 two hundred and forty five dollars, I also paid, or have it in my power to pay, J. Lewis for which, blessing, I feel hartily, to thank my heavenly Father, and ask him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to enable us to extricate ourselves, from all the embarasments whatever that we may not be brought into disrepute, in any respect, that our enemys may not have any power over us; spent the day at home, devoted some time in studying the hebrew language. ”

“ Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth: have mercy upon the rulers of our land may those principles which were so honorably and nobly defended: viz, the constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever. ”

“ But I am determined that nothing on my part shall be lacking to adjust and amicably dispose of and settle all family difficulties, on this day, that the ensuing year, and years, be they many or few may be spent in righteousness before God, and I know that the cloud will burst and satans kingdom be laid in ruins with all his black designs, and the saints come forth like gold seven times tried in the fire, being made perfect throug [h] sufferings, and temptations, and the blessings of heaven and earth multiplyed upon our heads which may God grant for Christ sake Amen
Br. ”

“ Make your own desision, I will do you good altho you mar me, or slay me, by so doing my garments, shall be clear of your sins, and if at any time you should concider me to be an imposter, for heavens sake leave me in the hands of God, and not think to take vengance on me your self.
Tyrany ursurpation, and to take mens rights ever has and ever shall be banished from my heart. ”

“ I need not tell you that in former times, I have preached the word; and endeavored to be instant in season [and] out of season, to reprove rebuke exhort and faithfully to discharge that trust reposed in me. But oh! with what grief & lamentable sorrow and anguish do I have to relate that I have fallen, from that princely station where unto our God has called me. Reasons why are unnecessary. ”

“ I found the Twelve Apostles assembled with this quorem & I proceeded with the quorem of the presedincy to instruct them & also the seven presidents of the seventy Elders to call upon God with uplifted hands to seal the blessings which had been promised to them by the holy anointing As I organized this quorem with the presedincy in this room, Pres. Sylvester Smith saw a piller of fire rest down & abide upon the heads of the quorem as we stood in the midst of the Twelve. ”

“ The feet of the Image, is the government of these united States, other Nations & Kingdoms are looking up to her, for an example, of union freedom and equal rights, and therefore worship her, like as Daniel saw in the vision, although they are begining to loose confidence in her, seeing the broils and discord that distract, her political & religious horizon ”

“ The policy of the wicked spirit, is to separate what God has joined togather and unite what He has separated, which he has succeded in doing to admiration, in the present state of society, which is like unto Iron and clay, there is confusion in all things, both both Political and religious, and notwithstanding all the efforts that are made to bring about a union, society remains disunited, and all attempts to unite her are as fruitless, as to attemp [t] to unite Iron & Clay. ”

“ President S. Rigdon made a request to have some of the presidency lay their hands upon him and rebuke a severe affliction, in his face which troubles him most at night Eldr's H. Smith and D. Whitmer by my request laid hands upon him and prayed for him and rebuked his disease in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the whole assembly said responded Amen
Elder D W. Patten also made a request in behalf of his wife for our prayers for her, that she might be healed. ”

“ I am severely afflicted with a cold. Today Robert Rathbone [Rathbun] and George Morey arrived from Zion
27 November 1835 • Friday much afflicted with my cold, yet able to be about and I am determined to overcom in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, spent the day in stud reading Hebrew at home.
The weather continues cold and unpleasant. Br. Parrish my scribe being afflicted with a cold, asked me to lay my hands on him in the name of the Lord I did so, and in return I asked him to lay his hands on me & we were both relieved. ”

“ Oliver Cowdery Clerk
28 November 1835 • Saturday at home, spent the morning in compareing our journal.
This Elder Josiah Clark called this morning to see me, he lives in Cam [pb] el County K [entucky] about three miles above Cincinate.
I am conciderably recovered from my cold, & I think I shall be able in a few days to translate again, with the blessing of God. The weather is still cold and stormy, the snow is falling, & winter seems to be closing in verry fast, all nature shrinks before the chilling blasts of rigid winter. ”

“ AD. 1824 I seal the blessings of a father, thy father is no more. blessings of Abraham Isaac & Jacob. strength health healed of all infirmities. Satan have no power to afflict Lord guard thee by his holy Angels name written in heaven eyes opened to see visions Angels minister unto thee a companion lead thee to the house of God see the glory of God fill the house see the end of this generation have power to stand against all the power of satan & overcome through the faith which is in Jesus. ”

“ And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee. ”

“ And also because he left the place just previous to the dedication of the Lords house to bring us the temporal means previously named.
Soon after this, the word of the Lord came to us through Presdt J. Smith Jun that those who had entered the holy place must not leave the house untill morning but send for such things as were necessary, and also, that during our stay we must cleans [e] our feet and partake of the sacrament that we might be made holy before Him, and thereby be qualified to officiate in our calling upon the morrow in washing the feet of the Elders. ”

“ With these things lying before us, we are told by your honour that it may be gratifying to small minds to add insult to wrong; and you also informed me in your note, that you was not unprepared for the inteligence it contained, which is virtually saying that you intended the abuse you have heaped upon us. ”

“ Joseph Smith Jn, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Hirum Smith John Whitmer, Sidn [e] y Rigdon, Samuel H. Smith, Frederick G. Williams, and Wm. W. Phelps, assembled and united in prayer, with one voice before the Lord for the following blessings:
That the Lord will give us means sufficient to deliver us from all our afflictions and difficulties, wherein we are placed by means of our debts; that he will open the way and deliver Zion in the appointed time and that without the shedding of blood ”

“ Marvle not that the Lord has condescended to speak from the heavens and give you instructions whereby you may learn your duty: he has heard your prayers, and witnessed your humility; and holds forth the hand of paternal affection, for your return; the angels rejoice over you, while the saints are willing to receive you again into fellowship. ”