Kirtland December 4th— 1831

Hearken and listen to the voice of the Lord o ye who  have assembled yourselves together who are the high priests of  my church to whom the kingdom and power have been given  for verily thus saith the Lord it is expedient in me for a  Bishop to be appointed unto you or of you to unto the chur ch in this part of the Lords vineyard and verily in this  thing ye have done wisely for it is required of the Lord at the  hand of every steward to render an account of his stewardship  both in time and in eternity for he who is faithfull and  wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mantions  prepared for them of my father verily I say unto you the Elders  of the church in this part of my vinyard shall render an account  of their stewardship unto the Bishop which shall be appointed  of me in this part of my vinyard these things shall be had  on record to be handed over unto the Bishop in Zion and the  duty of the Bishop shall be made known by the commandments  which have been given and by the voice of the conference

And now I say unto you my servent Newel [K. Whitney] is the man who  shall be appointed and ordained unto this power this is the will  of the Lord your God your Redeemer even so Amen— [p. [1]]