History draft; handwriting of , John L. Smith, Jonathan Grimshaw, Robert L. Campbell, , , and ; 101 numbered pages plus several inserted pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 March 1843 to 31 December 1843.
<July 29> Council <of the > met in the evening at to teach the . said, A man should in the first place preside over himself, his passions, & his person, & bring himself into subjection to the Law of God; then preside over his children & his Wife in righteousness; then he will be capable of presiding over a of the ; but many Elders are contending about presiding over churches, when they are not capable of presiding over themselves, or the least child they have.
The first principle of our cause & work is, to understand that there is a Prophet in the Church, & that he is at the head of the Church <of Jesus Christ> on Earth.
Who called Joseph Smith to be a Prophet? Did the people, or God? God & not the people called him, had the people gathered together & appointed one of their number to be a Prophet, He would have been accountable to the people; but inasmuch as he was called by God & not the People, he is accountable to God only, & the Angel that <who> committed the Gospel to him, & not to any man on Earth— The Twelve are accountable to the Prophet— & his Council, & not to the Church for the course they pursue, & we have learned to go & do as the Prophet tells us—
< met in Utica, Elder in the Chair, 4 branches were represented, containing 7 Elders 5 6 2 & 159 Members 1 Elder 2 Priests 1 Teacher & 1 Deacon were .>
<Sunday July 30> I was very sick, my lungs oppressed & over heated thro preaching last Sunday, & called for my brother , , & to lay on hands & pray for me—
preached in the morning; after preaching called a special to appoint Recorders for the for the dead having started on his mission to Ireland— was appointed Gen. Recorder.
and , , , & Recorders for the Baptisms for the dead; in the afternoon the Clerks met to organize & prepare for their duties—
Brothers & preached in the morning; & in the afternoon; & in the evening— in the Temperance Hall in —
A Conference was held in Briton Livingston Co. Michigan, when < was chosen President, &> 9 were represented, comprising 5 Elders 6 7 & 1 & 225 Members. [p. 59]