in a few days there seemed considerable excitement among the people, & the dissenters left, as I advised 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 of tens of and captains of tens and—fifties &c were appointed. I took exceptions only 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 rong. at the second or at least the last meeting I attended, the presidency, to wit Jos Smith Jr & , (and also ) was there There was at this meeting a ceremony of introducing the officers 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 president 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 future 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 presidency, & if the presidency led them astray they might destroy them.— In the last, or in some publick meeting Jos Smith Jr said if the people would let us alone we would preach the gospel to them in peace, but if they [p. [30]]