Kirtland, when I was there. We had more or less to bless, confirm, and baptize, every Sabbath. This same day our school section was sold at auction, and although entirely a prairie, it brought, on a year's credit, from $3.50 to $10.20 per acre, making our first school fund $5,070.00!! Land cannot be had round town now much less than ten dollars per acre.

"Our numbers increase daily, and notwithstanding the season has been cold and backward, no one has lacked a meal, or went hungry. Provisions have risen, but not as high as accounts say they are abroad. Public notice has been given by the mob in Daviess County, north of us, for the Mormons to leave that county by the first of August, and go into Caldwell: our enemies will not slumber till Satan knows the bigness of his lot. Our town gains some; we have about one hundred buildings, eight of which are stores. If the brethren abroad are wise, and will come on with means, and help enter the land, and populate the county, and build the Lord's house, we shall soon have one of the most precious spots on the globe; God grant that it may be so. Of late we receive little news from you, and we think much of that is exaggerated. As ever,

"W. W. PHELPS.

"N. B. Please say in your Messenger and Advocate, a Post office has been established at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri."-Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. 13.

Caldwell militia

About this time the Caldwell regiment of the State militia was regularly organized, composed mostly of members of the church. Their officers received their commission under the hands of Governor Boggs. Lyman Wight, in his private journal under date of August 2, 1837, states:

"We held an election to make choice of a colonel to take the command of the regiment in Caldwell County. I received a unanimous vote for that office, which was two hundred and thirty-six votes, whereupon I received a commission from under the hands of Lilburn W. Boggs."

Of this event the History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri, has this:

"The militia of the county, all or nearly all Mormons, organized and mustered, and a regiment was formed under the laws of the State, of which either 'General' George M. Hinkle or Lyman Wight was Colonel."- Page 117.

We are thus particular to mention this because careless writers often write of this regiment as the "Mormon militia," and the uninformed conclude that their only authority was from the church; when the fact is they were regularly organized and a part of the State troops. It is also true that subsequently when this regiment took an active part in putting down riots and quelling mobs, Colonel Wight acted under orders from his military superiors, as will appear from General Parks' address on October 18, 1838.2

About this time two deaths occurred in the High Council at Far West; viz., Jesse Hitchcock and Peter Whitmer, Jr. Their places were filled by the selection of Thomas Grover and George Morey.

On August 5 a meeting was held in Far West, of which Joseph writes:

2 Gentlemen, I deplore your situation. I regret that transactions of this nature should have transpired in our once happy State. Your condition is certainly not an enviable one, surrounded by mobs on one side, and popular opinion and prejudice against you on the other. Gladly would I fly to your relief with my troops, but I fear it would be worse for you: most of them have relations living in this county, and will not fight against them. One of my principal captains; namely, Samuel Bogart, and his men, have already mutinized and have refused to obey my command. I can only say to you, gentlemen, follow the command of Colonel Wight, whom I have commanded to disperse all mobs found in Daviess County, or to make them prisoners and bring them before the civil authorities forthwith. I wish to be distinctly understood that Colonel Wight is vested with power and authority from me to disperse from your midst all who may be found on the side of mobocracy in the county of Daviess. I deeply regret, gentlemen, (knowing as I do the vigilance and perseverance of Colonel Wight in the cause of freedom and rights of man,) that I could not even be a soldier under his command in quelling the hellish outrages I have witnessed. In conclusion, gentlemen, be vigilant and persevere and allay every excitement of mobocracy. I have visited your place frequently; find you to be an industrious and thriving people, willing to abide the laws of the land. And I deeply regret that you could not live in peace and enjoy the privileges of freedom. I shall now, gentlemen, return and dismiss my troops and put Captain Bogart under an arrest, leave the sole charge with Colonel Wight, whom I deem sufficiently qualified to perform according to law in all military operations necessary."-Times and Seasons, vol. 4, p. 266.

Resolve to build a temple.

"The same day, August 5, the Presidency, High Council, and all the authorities of the church in Missouri, assembled in council at Far West, and unanimously resolved to go on moderately and build a house unto the name of the Lord in Far West, as they had means, and appointed Edward Partridge treasurer, to receive all the donations and subscriptions for the erection of the house of the Lord; Isaac Morley to be his secretary. Also voted that the committee; viz., Jacob Whitmer, Elisha H. Groves, and George M. Hinkle, stand until President David Whitmer goes to and returns from Kirtland; also that the building committee of the house of the Lord have no store connected with building the house, but that every firm or individual that embarks in that business, have, own, and claim such property as their own private individual property and stewardship."-Millennial Star, vol. 16, pp. 54, 55.

This is peculiar in this: that it appears from subsequent events that these authorities were hasty in resolving to build a temple without a direct command of God. When Joseph Smith arrived at Far West, three months later, the High Council, on November 6, 1837, Joseph Smith being present, "voted unanimously, that it is the opinion of this council that there is sufficient room in this country for the churches to continue gathering from abroad; also that the building of the house of the Lord be postponed, till the Lord shall reveal it to be his will to be commenced."- Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. 89.

Concerning this, Andrew Jensen in his "Historical Record," page 434, has this to say:

"Consequently Joseph and Sidney, accompanied by William Smith and Vinson Knight, started from Kirtland September 27, and arrived in Far West, Missouri, about the 1st of November. While there Joseph met in council with the elders and saints, and regulated matters connected with the town site of Far West. It was also decided that there was sufficient room in the county for the saints to continue gathering there from abroad. The previous summer (August 5. 1837) the authorities of the church in Missouri had resolved in council to go on moderately and build a house unto the

name of the Lord in Far West. When Joseph arrived there he counseled that the building of that house should be postponed until the Lord should reveal it to be his will to have it commenced."

From this it appears that Joseph's counsel was (and the High Council concurred) not to commence the building of a temple until commanded of God.

From this it will appear that the Kirtland Temple is the only one standing to-day, the building of which is approved of God.

On August 20, 1837, Charles C. Rich was ordained President of the High Priests' Quorum in Missouri, and Henry Green President of the Elders in Caldwell County.

On November 7 a general assembly of the church in Missouri was held at Far West, the minutes of which as pub. lished in the Millennial Star, are as follows:

"Minutes of a conference at Far West, Missouri, November 7, 1837.

"At a general assembly of the Church of Latter Day Saints, assembled at Far West, to take into consideration and transact the business of said church, Elder Thomas B. Marsh was chosen as moderator, and Oliver Cowdery clerk.

General a.sembly.

"After singing, the moderator addressed the throne of grace in prayer, after which President Sidney Rigdon explained the object of the meeting, giving a relation of the recent reorganization of the church in Kirtland. The minutes of said meeting were read by the moderator, who also nominated Joseph Smith, Jr., the First President of the whole church, to preside over the same.

"All were requested (male and female) to vote, and he was unanimously chosen.

"He then made a few remarks, accepting the appointment, requesting the prayers of the church in his behalf.

"President Smith then nominated President Sidney Rigdon to be one of his counselors, who was unanimously chosen.

"He then nominated Frederick G. Williams to be his next counselor, who was objected to by Elder Lyman Wight in a

few remarks, referring to a certain letter written to this place by the said F. G. Williams.

"Also Elder Marsh objected to President Williams.

"Elder James Emmet also objected to President Williams. "Bishop E. Partridge said he seconded President Williams' nomination, and should vote for him; and as to said letter, he had heard it, and saw nothing so criminal in it. "President David Whitmer also made a few remarks in President Williams' favor.

"Elder Marsh made further remarks.

"Elder Thomas Grover also objected to President Williams.

"President S. Rigdon then nominated President Hyrum Smith to take President Williams' place.

"He then called for a vote in favor of President Williams, who was rejected.

"He then called for a vote in favor of President Hyrum Smith, which was carried unanimously.

"Some few remarks were made by President David Whitmer and Sydney Rigdon.

"David Whitmer was nominated as the president of this branch of the church, and was objected to by Elder Marsh. "Bishop E. Partridge said he should vote for President Whitmer.

"Elder William E. McLellin made a few remarks.

"Elder George M. Hinkle made a few remarks in favor of President Whitmer; also Elder King Follet.

"Elder Caleb Baldwin spoke against President Whitmer; also Elder Seymour Brunson.

"Elder Elisha H. Groves spoke in favor of President Whitmer.

"Further remarks from Elder McLellin by request of President Whitmer, who made satisfaction for him.

"Remarks from President Joseph Smith, Jr., who called for an expression, which was carried by almost an unanimous vote in favor of President Whitmer.

"President Joseph Smith, Jr., then nominated John Whitmer for an assistant president, who was objected to, and Elder Marsh spoke in opposition to him, and read a list of