-- Dec 18, 1846
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 18th I spent the day getting Br John Sherman Fowler ready to go to Missouri to get a load of Provisions for the family's use. In the evening I went to the store to trade out my bill of goods consisting of shugar Molasses, Salt, Salaratus, cotton cloth drilling striped shirting flannel cotton batting shoe thread coffee tea, a lantern 3 primmers calico and [.] amounting in all to $[ ].
Returned home. Mrs Woodruff took out of her family box her portrait to see the likeness of her little Joseph we had buried. (1)
-- Jan 17, 1847
Brigham Young addresses the assembled Saints "showing that the church had been led by Revelation just as much since the death of Joseph Smith as before, and that he was a great and good a man, and as great a Prophet as ever lived upon the earth, Jesus excepted. Joseph received his apostleship from Peter and his brethren, and the present apostles received their apostleship form Joseph the first apostle, and Oliver Cowdery, the second Apostle." Later at Municipal High Council meeting Young "cautioned the brethren against selling whiskey to the Indians . . ." (2)
-- Jan 21, 1847
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 21st I spent this day in Council with the Twelve And searching out the news of the day. I attended the High Council in the evening with the Twelve & Bishops But was quite unwell with cold and sore throat.
- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The following is A true copy of A Revelation given dated Winter quarters Camp of Israel Jan 14th 1847:
- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The word and will of the Lord concerning the camp of Israel In their journeyings to the west.
Let all the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into Companies with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and Statutes of the Lord our God: Let the companies be organized with Captains of Hundreds, Captains of Fifties, and captains of Tens with A President & his two councillors at their head, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles. And this shall be our Covenant that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord.
Let each Company provide themselves with all the Teams, waggons provisions, Clothing, and other necessaries for the journey that they can. When the companies are organized let them go to with their might to prepare for those who are to tarry.
Let each Company with their Captains, And Presidents, decide how many Can go next spring; then Choose out a sufficient number of able bodied and expert men, to take teams, Seeds, and Farming utensils, to go as Pioneers, to prepare for puting in spring crops.
Let each company bear an equal proportion, according to the dividend of their property, in taking the poor, the widows, the Fatherless, and the families of those who have gone into the Armey, that the Cries of the widow and the Fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord against this people.
Let each company prepare houses, and fields for raising grain, for those who are to remain behind this season. And this is the will of the Lord concerning his people; Let every man use all his influence and property &c to remove this people to the place whare the Lord shall locate a stake of Zion; And if ye do this with a pure heart in all faithfulness, ye shall be blessed. You shall be blessed in your flocks, and in your herds, and in your fields, and in your houses, and in your families.
Let my servents Ezra T. Benson and Erastus Snow organize a Company, and let my servants Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodruff organize A Company: Also let my Servants Amass Lyman and George A. Smith organize a company and Appoint Presidents and Captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens; And let my servants that have been Appointed go and teach this my will to the Saints that they may be ready to go to a land of peace.
Go thy way and do as I have told you; and fear not thine enemies for they shall not have power to stop my work. Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time, and if any man shall seek to build up himself and seeketh not my council he shall have no power, and his folley shall be made manifest. Seek ye and keep all your pledges one with another and covet not that which is thy brothers.
Keep yourselves from evil to take not the name of thy God in vane, for I am the Lord your God even the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. I am he who led the children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt and my arm is streched out in the last days to save my people Israel.
Cease to contend one with another. Cease to speak evil one of another. Cease drunkenness, and let your words tend to edefying one another. If thou borrowest of they neighbor, thou shalt restore that which thou hast borrowed. And if thou Canst not repay, then go straitway, and tell thy neighbor lest he condemn thee.
If thou shalt find that which thy neighbor has lost, thou shalt make diligent search, till thou shall deliver it to him again. Thou shall be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.
If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. If thou art sorrowful call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be Joyful.
Fear not thine enemies for they are in mine hands and I will do my pleasure with them. My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to recieve the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion. And he that will not bear Chastizment, is not worthy of my Kingdom.
Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself, and Calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that He may hear, for my spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble And Contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.
Thy brethren have rejected you and your testimony, even the Nation that has driven you out; and now Cometh the day of their Calamity, even the days of sorrow like a woman that is taken in travel; and their sorrow shall be great, unless they spedily repent! /Yea very spedily./ For they killed the prophets, and they that were sent unto them. And they have shed innocent Blood, which crieth from the ground against them.
Therefore marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure: thou canst not yet bear my glory, But thou shalt behold it, if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you from the days of Adam to Abraham; from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and the Apostles and from Jesus and his Apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did Call upon by mine Angels, my ministering servents and by mine own voice out of the Heavens, to bring forth my work, which foundation he did lay, and was faithful and I took him to myself.
Many have marvelled because of his death, but it was needful that He should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored and the wicked might be condemned.
Have I not deliverd you from your enemies, ownly in that I have left a witness of my name? Now, therefore, harken O ye people of my church; and ye Elders, listen together. You have recieved my kingdom. Be diligent in keeping all my Commandments, lest judgment come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you. So no more at present. Amen and Amen. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
