that about last JuneI was invited to a private meeting in which an effort was made to adopt some plan to get rid of the dissenters, there were Some things I did not like and opposed it with others & it failed. After that I met — & he told me I ought not to have any thing to do with it that they would do as they pleased, I took his advice, I learned afterwards that they had Secret meetings, but I was never invited none of the 1st Presidency was present at the meeting above refered to, we have a rule in the Church authorizing any member to consecrate or give voluntaryly his surplus property to the church for charitable purposes, last Summer preached a Sermon Commonly called the salt sermon, which seemed to have for its object to produce a feeling among the people to get rid of the dissenters for crimes alleged & because they disagreed with them, in a few days there seemed considerable excitement among the people, & the dissenters left. as I adresed them they were in danger, I was afterwards invited to one of those meetings where an oath in substance the same as testified to by was administered, the Society was ultimately organized into companies and captains of tens & 50s. were appointed. I took exceptions only as to the teachings as to the duties of that society wherein it was said if one brother got into any kind of a difficulty it was the duty of the rest to help him out right or wrong, at the second or at least the last meeting I attended the presidency to wit Jos. Smith Jr & & also was there, there was at this meeting a ceremony of introducing the Offices of the Society to the presidency, who pronounced blessings on each of them as introduced exhorting to faithfulness in their Calling & they should have blessings. after this Prest Smith got up & made general remarks about in substance as follows, relating the oppressions the society had suffered and they wanted to be prepared for further events but said he wished to do nothing unlawful & if the people would let him alone they would preach the gospel & live in peace, towards the close he observed to the people that they should obey the presi [p. [30]]