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.
said, this is not an unexpected matter at all <for me>, to be called up: I do not want you to think I am perfect. Somehow or other since went up into the , I have from some cause been placed in very peculiar circumstances. I think I never was placed in so high a screw since I was borne, for I have been screwed to the back bone. When Prest. Smith had goods last summer, we had better property, goods would not buy corn without some cash— instead of horses &c we took store pay. I have dealt out meal & flour to the hands to the last ounce, when I had not a morsel of meal, flour, or bread <left> in my house. if the Trustee, or the , or all <of them> will examine & see if I have too much, it shall go freely. <I call upon all the brethren, if they have any thing to bring it forward & have it adjusted.>
said he <I> felt <feel> it his <my> duty to defend the as far as he could <I can,> for I would as soon go to hell as be a committee man. I will make a comparison for the temple committee, a little boy once came in & said <told his Father> he had seen an Elephant on a tree, the people did not believe it, &c <but> ran out to see what it was, they looked, & it was only an owl.
said when was gone, kept the books, & they have found as many mistakes against as in his favor.
The conference then voted clear.
said I am not afraid or ashamed to appear [hole in page] before you; when I kept the books I had much other business & <on> my hands & made some mistakes.
The conference voted in favor of unanimously.
Prest. Joseph Smith stated that the business of the conference had closed, & the remainder of this Conference will be devoted to instruction. It is an insult to a meeting for persons to leave just before its close; if they must go out, let them go half an hour before. No Gentleman will go out of meeting just at closing.
Singing by the choir Prayer by Elder —
2½ pm
Conference again called to order Singing, Prayer by Elder , & singing—
Elder delivered a discourse from the Prophecy of Daniel on the Ancient of Days, for a synopsis of which see Times & Seasons page 204.
While the Choir was singing, Prest. Joseph remarked to , this day is a millenium, it is a millenium within these walls, for there is nothing but peace.
To a remark of ’s, that a man’s body changes every seven years, I <Prest. Joseph> replied there is no fundamental principle belonging to a human system that ever goes into another, in this world, or in the world to come: I care not what the principles <theories> of men are. We have the testimony that God will raise us up, & he has <the> power to do it. if any one supposes that any part of our bodies, that is, the fundamenttal parts thereof, ever goes into another body, he is mistaken.
Singing by the Choir— Prayer by Elder —
The ice <which had remained in made a bridge across the since last November,> moves awa[y] opposite , in considerable dimensions in immense masses. [p. 15]