| 569 thousand whom John the Revelator saw, which should come to pass in the restitution of all things.
"Conference held at Zarahemla, at which the stake was discontinued. A branch organized and John Smith appointed president."-Millennial Star, vol. 19, pp. 21, 22.
Saturday, January 15, 1842, Joseph Smith began reading the Book of Mormon for the purpose of correcting some mistakes in the first edition. 1 This work continued from time to time as opportunity offered.
Nothing more of peculiar importance occurred except the general routine of business until March 1, 1842. On this date President Smith writes:-
"I commenced publishing my translation of the Book of Abraham, in the Times and Seasons."
These extracts, as we understand, are from a translation of a roll of manuscript found with some Egyptian mummies purchased of a traveler who visited Kirtland, Ohio, a few years before for the purpose of exhibiting the mummies. The church has never to our knowledge taken any action on this work, either to indorse [endorse] or condemn; so it cannot be said to be a church publication; nor can the church be held to answer for the correctness of its teachings. Joseph Smith, as the translator, is committed of course to the correctness of the translation, but not necessarily to the indorsement [endorsement] of its historical or doctrinal contents.
About this time, at the request of Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago. Illinois, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, Joseph Smith wrote a sketch of the rise and progress of the church, which sketch was published soon after in that paper. This production closed with a plain and comprehensive epitome of the faith and doctrine of the church. 2
1 Saturday, 15th. I commenced reading the book of Mormon, at page 64, American stereotype edition (the previous pages having been corrected), for the purpose of correcting the stereotype plates of some errors which escaped notice in the first edition.-Millennial Star, vol. 19, p 22.
2 We believe In God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
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