take ten men and whip out the but if the time has not yet come let us use policy and wisdom to sustain ourselves for the time being. All that he is waiting for is the time and the place. If this is the time and the place, then let us go to work and rise up and destroy without fear.
The said he wished to take an expression of the minds of this council as to whether they were satisfied that and Mr Babbit had done all they could to sustain our Charters. He has not heard a man say but that he believed you had done all you could. He put the matter to vote whether the council were satisfied &c and the vote was unanimous in the affirmative.
The said we are perfectly satisfied. He (the ) said if you had had the power [p. [109]]
“Mr Babbit” may refer to Jacob B. Backenstos. Young and others had earlier expressed support for Babbitt’s efforts. A 29 January 1845 draft of an unsent letter from church leaders assured Babbitt “that we are perfectly satisfied with your defence of our rights in the house.” In a letter that was published in the Times and Seasons,Eliza R. Snow assured Babbitt that “there seems to be not a single doubt entertained by your friends here concerning your diligence, ability, and faithfulness.” (Letter, Nauvoo, IL, to Almon Babbitt, [Springfield, IL], 29 Jan. 1845, draft, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; “Copy of a Letter, to A. W. Babbitt Esq. at Springfield,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1845, 6:822.)
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.