In the evening rode with to see who was sick, at the old Post Office building up the .

Elder John Snider returned from his mission to

<​24​> Tuesday 24 was at home till <​noon​> when I rode out with — eve<​ning​> attended the .

<​26​> Thursday 26. In the [illegible] <​afternoon​> rode to the , and afterwards to ’s

<​27​> Friday 27. Rode on the Prairie with — Dined at brother ’s.

<​28​> Saturday 28. Played ball with the brethren a short time, Rode round the with Mr. Taylor, a Land agent from . some Snow fell, the ice began to give way in the , and a Steamer that had wintered at went over the Rapids.

<​29​> Sunday 29 I attended meeting at the . after reading the parable of the “Prodigal Son” and making some preliminary remarks, I stated that there were two questions which had been asked me concerning my subject of the last Sabbath which I had promised to answer in public, and would improve this opportunity. The question arose from the saying of Jesus “among these that are born of women there hath not risen a greater Prophet that John the Baptist, nevertheless he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.” How is it that John was considered one of the greatest of Prophets?” His Miracles could not have constituted his greatness First<​ly​> He was <​intrusted​> with a divine mission of preparing the way, before the face of the Lord. Who ever had such a trust. committed to him, before or since? No man! Secondly. He was <​in​>trusted with the important mission and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Who ever had <​the honor of doing​> that? Who ever had so great a privilege and glory? Who ever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, [HC 5:260] or rather in the sign of the Dove, in witness of that administration? The sign of the Dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the Devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a Personage and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of a Dove but in sign of a Dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be trans<​formed​> into a Dove, but the sign of the Dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the Dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence. Thirdly— John at that time was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the Kingdom there was then on the Earth, and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions, or be damd by their own law, and Christ himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which he had given to Moses on the Mount, and thereby magnified it, and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The Son of Zechariah wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power [p. 1458]