| 770 broke out at Havanna [Havana], and it was reported that five hundred had perished daily, and Oporto was experiencing the same calamity. An influenza was raging at St. Petersburgh [Petersburg], Russia; more than one hundred thousand were suffering from its influence, and it was reported to be more violent at Moscow. So dreadful was the effects of the cholera which spread consternation among the inhabitants of the earth, that it was reported that the eyes of some of the afflicted, burst from their sockets. A treaty was entered into about this time, with several tribes of Indians, some to be located on the east of the Winnebago lake, an others to be removed west of the Mississippi. See Evening and Morning Star, p. 190
Great preparations were making to commence a house of the Lord; and, notwithstanding the church was poor, yet, our unity, harmony and charity abounded to strengthen us to do the commandments of the Lord.
Note. A. A council had previously been held in Morton township, Medina county, Ohio at which Sidney Rigdon presided. The council took into consideration the standing of Baldwin Welton, Aaron Smith, and - Hays, elders; and James Braden priest; and decided that their ordinations were illegal, and that the churches should not receive them in their several offices. The doings of the council were received, and sanctioned by the first presidency, viz: Joseph Smith jun., Sidney Rigdon, and F. G. Williams, and entered on record in Kirtland, May 4th, 1833. See B. 291.
To the Church of Christ in *****
We feel under obligations to write to you as well as to all the brethren of the different branches; and we do this, that you, with us may exert yourselves to bring about the fulfilment [fulfillment] of the command of the Lord concerning the establishing, or preparing a house, wherein the elders, who have been commanded of the Lord so to do, may gather themselves together, and prepare all things, and call a solemn assembly, and treasure up words of wisdom, that they may go forth to the Gentiles for the last time; and now, in order to accomplish this, we are directed, yea, we are under the necessity to call on the whole church, as a body, that they make every possible exertion to aid temporally, as well as spiritually, in this great work that the Lord is beginning, and is about to accomplish; and unless we fulfil [fulfill] this command, viz: establish an house, and prepare all things necessary whereby the elders may gather into a school, called the school of the prophets, and receive that instruction which the Lord designs they should receive, we may all despair of obtaining the great blessing that God has promised to the faithful of the church of Christ: therefore, it is as important, as our salvation, that we obey this, above mentioned command, as well as all the commandments of the Lord.
Therefore, brethren, we wrote this epistle to you, to stir up your minds to make that exertion which the Lord requires of you, to lend a temporal aid in these things above written; and in order that you may know how to conduct the business, we will relate what we have done are doing here.
We have met in conference, and agreed to form a subscription and circulate it through the churches; and also appointed Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter a committee to superintend this business, viz: of circulating subscriptions, to establish a fund to build a house, and to aid the elders to attend this school; and subscriptions are now in circulation among us, and our Heavenly Father is opening the hearts of our brethren beyond the expectation of many; and not one brother among us, as yet, refuses to exert himself to do something as a temporal means to bring about the establishing of this house, and school; and we say, may our Heavenly Father open your hearts also, that you, with us, may gather together something to aid as a temporal benefit.
Probably you had better call the officers of the church immediately together, and appoint some one to circulate a subscription, that each individual, after signing, may have a sufficient time to make preparations to pay what he signs, for it will be necessary, wherever the brethren are, at a distance from Kirtland, that they exert themselves to send on their gift or assistance, as soon as they can to Kirtland; though they can, if ;hey believe best, wait on those that sign until the first of September, and ;hen collect in and send it to Kirtland.
These considerations we have written to you knowing it to be your duty thus to do; and may the Lord help you, to exert yourselves with us, in raising the means to bring about the glorious work of the Lord; and may we all be kept by the grace of God unto eternal life. Amen.
HYRUM SMITH, }
REYNOLDS CAHOON, } Com'tee.
JARED CARTER, }
ELDER KIMBALL'S JOURNAL.
We esteem it a privilege to extract a sketch of scenes gone-by, from the Journal of Elder H. C. Kimball. The saints, when regailing [regaling] on such samples of brotherly love, &C., can ascertain the value of good works and good men; and, if they are alike wise, they can cast in
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