| 738 the case of Brother Lake, from Wooster who came professing to have received revelations. On investigation, it was unanimously agreed that said Lake was under the influence of an evil spirit, and his license, as priest was taken from him.
On the 15th, I received the following revelation to Enoch, March, 1833:
Verily, thus saith the Lord, I give unto the united order, organized agreeable to the commandment previously given, a revelation and commandment concerning my servant Shederlaomach, that ye shall receive him into the order. What I say unto one I say unto all.
And again, I say unto you, my servant Shederlaomach, you shall be a lively member in this order; and inasmuch as you are faithful in keeping all former commandments, you shall be blessed forever. Amen.
Great joy and satisfaction continually beamed in the countenances of the school of the prophets and the saints, on account of the things revealed, and our progress in the knowledge of God.
On the 18th of March, the high priests assembled in the school room of the prophets and were organized according to revelation, in prayer by S. Rigdon. Doctor Hurlbut was ordained an elder; after which Elder Rigdon expressed a desire that himself and Brother F. G. Williams should be ordained to the office, to which they had been called, viz: that of presidents of the high priesthood, and to be equal in holding the keys of the kingdom with Brother Joseph Smith, junior, according to the revelation given on the 8th of March, 1833.
Accordingly I laid my hands on Brother Sidney and Frederick and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom, and to assist in the presidency of the high priesthood, as my counsellors [counselors]; after which, I exhorted the brethren to faithfulness, and diligence in keeping the commandments of God, and gave much instruction for the benefit of the saints, with a promise that the pure in heart would see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understandings opened by the spirit of God so as to behold many things.
I then blessed the bread and wine, and distributed a portion to each, after which many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Savior, and concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what they saw, &c.
March 23rd. A council was called for the purpose of appointing a committee to purchase land in Kirtland, upon which the saints might build a stake of Zion. Brothers Joseph Coe and Moses Daily were appointed to ascertain the terms of sale of certain farms; and that Brother Ezra Thayer ascertain the price of Peter French's farm; and the brethren agreed to continue in prayer and fasting for the ultimate success of their mission.
After an absence of about three hours, Brothers Coe and Daily returned and reported that Elijah Smith's farm could be obtained for four thousand dollars; and Mr. Morley's for twenty one hundred; and Brother Thayre reported that Peter French would sell his farm for five thousand dollars. The council decided to purchase the farms, and appointed Ezra Thayre [Thayer] and Joseph Coe to superintend the purchase, and they were ordained under the hands of Sidney Rigdon, and set apart as general agents of the church for that purpose.
On the 26th of March, a council of high priests, twenty one in number, convened for the general welfare of the church, in what was then called Zion, in Jackson county, Missouri, on account of a revelation, my letter, and an epistle from the church in Kirtland, a solemn assembly had been called, and a sincere and humble repentance manifested, insomuch [inasmuch], that on the 26th of February, one month previous, a general epistle had been written in conference, which was satisfactory to the presidency and church at Kirtland.
At the sitting of the council of the 26th of March, according to the plan taught at the solemn assembly, which was, that the seven high priests who were sent from Kirtland to build up Zion, viz: Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Sidney Gilbert, Bishop Partridge, and his two councillors [councilors], should stand at the head of affairs, relating to the church, in that section of the Lord's vineyard; and these seven men, with the common consent of the branches, comprising the church, were to appoint presiding elders, to take the watch care of the several branches, as they were appointed. Now, therefore, as many of the high priests, and elders, went up to Zion and commenced regulating and setting the branches in order, allowing themselves as much power by the authority of their priesthood, and gift of the Holy Ghost, as those set apart and appointed to preside over the branches; it became necessary to call the council now spoken of, to set in order the elders of Israel; when, after a long discussion, it was decided from the revelations, that the order taught in the solemn assembly, was correct; and that the elders, when they arrived at Zion, were bound by the authorities set in the church, to be submissive to the powers that be: their labors and callings being more particularly to push the people together
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