| 724 even a fulness [fullness]; and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all: Amen.
JOSEPH SMITH jr.,
SIDNEY RIGDON,
F. G. WILLIAMS.
The following letter was written by John Murdock a high priest, (who had previously been with the church in Thompson,) to Salmon Gee, elder of the church in Thompson.
Kirtland, February 11, 1833.
Beloved brethren and sisters, in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I beseech you in rhe [the] bowels of merv [mercy] to remember the exhortation which I gave you while I was yet present with you, to beware of delusive spirits. I rejoice that our Heavenly Father hath blessed you greatly, as he has also me, in enabling me to speak the praises of God and the mysteries of the kingdom in other tongues according to the promise; and this without throwing me down, or wallowing me on the ground, or any thing unbecoming or immoral; also, without any external operation of the system; but it is the internal operation of the system; but it is the internal operation and power of the spirit of God, so that I know that those odd actions and strange noises are not caused by the spirit of the Lord as is represented by Brother King:-Therefore, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the spirit of the living God, according to, the authority of the holy priesthood committed to me, I command Brother Thomas King, (as though I were present,) to cease from your diabolical acts of enthusiasm, and also from acting as an elder in this church of Christ, until you come and give full testimony to the high priests in Kirtland, that you are worthy of that holy calling; because those are the things of God, and are to be used in the fear of God: and I now not only command you, but exhort you in behalf of your souls salvation, to submit, and let Brother Gee be upheld by the prayer of faith of every brother and sister, and if there be this union of spirit, and prayer of faith every false spirit shall be bound, and cast out from among you.
My beloved children in the bonds of the gospel, and the bowels of mercy, which is the everlasting love of God, I do beseech you to live faithful and in obedience to the commandments of God; and in the name of the Lord Jesus, I say, the blessings of God shall attend you.
JOHN MURDOCK.
February 12; having received Seaton's paper, from Rochester, New York, containing a part of my communication, written on the 4th of January, I wrote as follows;
To N. E Seaton, Rochester.
Dear Sir:
I was somewhat disappointed on receiving my paper with only a part of my letter inserted in it. The letter which I wrote you for publication, I wrote by the commandment of God, and I am quite anxious to have it all laid before the public for it is of importance to them: but I have no claim upon you, neither do I wish to urge you beyond that which is reasonable, to do it. I have only to appeal to your extended generosity to all religious societies that claim that Christ has come in the flesh; and also tell you what will be the consequence of a neglect to publish it.
Some parts of the letter were very severe upon the wickedness of sectarianism, I acknowledge; and the truth, remember, is hard and severe against all iniquity and wickedness, but this is no reason why it should not be published, but the very reason why it should. I lay the axe [ax] at the root of the tree, and I long to see many of the sturdy oaks, which have long cumbered the ground, fall prostrate. I now say unto you, that if you wish to clear your garments, from the blood of your readers, I exhort you to publish that letter entire; but if not the sin be upon your head. Accept, sir, the good wishes and tender regard of your unworthy servant.
JOSEPH SMITH jr.
February 13th; a council of high priests assembled to investigate the proceedings of Bro. Burr Riggs, who was accused of not magnifying his calling as high priest, but had been guilty of neglect of duty, of abusing the elders and of treating their admonitions with contempt. After the council had considered the case, Brother Riggs agreed to make satisfaction, but did not show much humility.
February 15th; in a council, I ordained Harpin Riggs and Isaac McWithy, elders.
February 17th; in conference, I ordained John Johnson to the office of elder.
February 26th; a special council of high priests assembled in Zion, to take into consideration the letter to Brother Phelps of the 11th of January, and the revelation called the olive leaf, referred to in my letter, and the epistle of Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith in behalf of the conference of high priests of the 14th of January: and Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps and John Carrill were appointed a committee to write an epistle from the conference to the brethren in Kirtland; which was written and sanctioned by the conference.
The same day a conference of high priests was again called in Kirtland, concerning Brother Burr Riggs, who was accused of neglecting to make satisfaction to the church as he had agreed, and disgracing the high priesthood by neglect of duty and saying he did not care how soon he was cut off from the church, &c,
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