| 1013 that they might come up out of the fire as gold seven times tried.
"It has been said, that after a time, the Lord will accomplish a certain something: That after men had endeavored to build up kingdoms, and seen them crumble to the dust and disappear; he had said, 'He would build up a kingdom, which should stand forever, and become a universal kingdom:' and moreover the prophet said, 'it should break in pieces every other kingdom. If any man had preached this, he would have been considered guilty of treason. But those whom the christian world, consider as better men than we are, have said it; men, whom they say were better, and had knowledge, power, and virtue, more than they will now admit, is lawful for us in this enlightened age to enjoy.
"It has been said, that we should leave this country next spring; if the Lord is willing and the people have no objections. (And we don't care much, whether they have or not; we calculate to go, about next spring.) And we calculate to go the same people we are now; preserving the same principles which have caused us to grow and expand, as we have done. This people have grown, until there is not room for them to grow, and now they need transplanting, where they can have more room: and however much the people may seem disposed to not go, the sails are set, the wind is fair, and we are bound to weather the point, whether we will or no; for we are not at the helm; and whine and complain as much as you please, you have got to weather the point. Brother Kimball says, the whiners will have to go behind! so if you want to go in the company of the Twelve, you must not whine. Some persons suppose, that when they had once lost their all, they had suffered enough: to hear them talk you would suppose that John the Revelator, when they tried to boil him in oil; or the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, seven times heated;-never suffered half as much, nor felt half so uncomfortable as they. They have to get rich, and be made poor, about twenty times over, before they will come straight. I expect the rich will have to be made poor, until the poor are made rich; and then there will be nobody poor. When the rich are rich; and the poor are rich; then there will be nobody rich and nobody poor; for all will be on a level.
God did not say, that this man, or that man, should build up the kingdom, that was to break in pieces all other kingdoms; but He said He would do it himself; and whenever this people were unwilling, to do as the Lord would have them, he has taken his rod and scourged them, until they were forced to do it. The Lord once said, he would make Kirtland a strong hold for a time; and he has done it. He said in Missouri he would sustain the saints for a time;-and he did it. And when we came here, the Lord said, that if the people of the State of Illinois would maintain us in our rights, they would be blessed; if not, we might find it to our advantage to leave them.
The names of Company No. 5 were then called over, with orders to meet after meeting, at the old stand.
Elder Taylor made some remarks in behalf of the suffering poor, in the north part of town; and called upon all, to come forward to aid the bishops in supplying these poor families.
Elder G. A. Smith said, there were many coming to get leaders of companies appointed; and remarked, you need not be in a hurry, for the Twelve will take care to have proper captains appointed, in due time; and all will move on like clock work. But we must not hurry business.
The Patriarch John Smith, appointed four bishops to stand at the door, to take a collection for the benefit of the poor.
The choir sung and the meeting was dismissed, until 2 o'clock P. M.
Benediction by G. A. Smith.
All single men who want to come into the 1st company or company of the Twelve, were notified to give in their names.
At 2 o'clock, President B. Young came to the stand, and dismissed the meeting until to-morrow at 10 o'clock A. M. This was done, on account of a body of armed men having suddenly entered the city. Not knowing but this was a move by the mob, the President requested all the brethren to go home and prepare themselves for any emergency. He however soon ascertained, that W. B. Warren, Esq., was at the head of the troops, and that they had come in on business.
The President then informed the people of this fact; and requested them to retire to their homes in peace; concluding his remarks with these words "Be ye also ready."
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8, 1845.
Conference opened at the usual hour with singing and prayer.
Mohter [Mother] Lucy Smith, the aged and honored parent of Joseph Smith, having expressed a wish to say a few words to the congregation, she was invited upon the Stand. She spoke at considerable length, and in an audible manner, so as to be heard by a large portion of the vast assembly.
She commenced by saying that she was truly glad that the Lord had let her see so large a congregation. She had a great deal of advice
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