| 1059 that they be no more cast down forever. We then united in the laying on of hands.
Elder Rigdon, Cowdery and Coltrin, laid their hands on my head and conferred upon me all the blessings necessary to qualify me to stand before the Lord, in my calling, and be returned again in peace, and triumph, to enjoy the society of my brethren.
Those present then laid their hands upon Elder Rigdon, and confirmed upon him the blessings of wisdom and knowledge to preside over the church in my absence; to have the spirit to assist Elder Cowdery in conducting the Star, and arrange the covenants, and the blessings of old age and peace till Zion is built up and Kirtland established, till all his enemies are under his feet, and a crown of eternal life in the kingdom of God with us.
Previously to blessing Elder Rigdon, we laid hands on Elder Cowdery, and confirmed upon him the blessings of wisdom and understanding sufficient for his station, that he be qualified to assist Elder Rigdon in arranging the church covenants, which are soon to be published; and have intelligence in all things to do the work of printing.
After blessing Elder Rigdon we laid our hands upon Brother Zebedee, and confirmed the blessings of wisdom to preach the gospel even till it spreads to the Islands of the seas, and to be spared to see three score years and ten, and see Zion built up and Kirtland established forever, and even at last to receive a crown of life. Our hearts rejoiced and we were comforted with the holy spirit.
Sunday, April 20th, Elder Rigdon entertained a large congregation of saints with an interesting discourse upon the dispensation of the fullness of times, &c.
The Governor of Missouri wrote to the brethren as follows, in reply to their last letter.
"City of Jefferson, April 20th, 1834.
To Messrs. W. W. Phelps, E. Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, and A. S. Gilbert.
Gentlemen, yours of the 10th inst. was received yesterday, in which you request me, as Executive of this State, to join in an appeal to the President of the Untied States for the protection in the enjoyment of your rights in Jackson county. It will readily occur to you, no doubt, the possibility of your having asked of the President, protection in a way that he, no more than the Ezecutive [Executive] of this State, can render. If you have for that which I may be of opinion he has power to grant, I should have no objection to join in urging it upon him; but I could no more as the President, however willing I am to see your society restored and protected in their rights, to do that which I may believe he has no power to do, than I could do such an act myself. If you will send me a copy of your petition to the president, I will judge of his rights to grant it, and if of opinion he possesses the power, I will write in favor of its exercise.
I am now in correspondence with the federal government, on the subject of deposits of munitions of war on our Northern and Western borders, and have no doubt but shall succed [succeed] in procuring one, which will be located, if left to me, (and the Secretary at war seems willing to be governed by the opinion of the executive of this State,) some where near the State line, either in Jackson or Clay counties. The establishment will be an 'Arsenal' and will probably be placed under the command of a Lieutenant of the army. This will afford you the best means of military protection, the nature of your case will admit, although I can see no direct impropriety in making the subject of this paragraph public, yet I should prefer it not to be so considered for your present, as the erection of an Arsenal is only in expectancy.
Permit me to suggest to you that as you now have greatly the advantage of your adversaries in public estimation, that there is a great propriety in retaining that advantage, which you can easily do by keeping you adversaries in the wrong. The laws, both civil and military seem deficient in affording your society proper protection, nevertheless public sentiment is a powerful corrector of error, and you should make it your policy to continue to deserve it.
With much respect, and great regard,
I am your obed't serv't,
DANIEL DUNKLIN.
On the 21st I attended conference, and had a glorious time. Some volunteered to go to Zion, and others donated sixty six and thirty seven cents, for the benefit of the scattered brethren in Zion. The following are extracts from the minutes of the conference:
"This day a conference of Elders assembled at the dwelling house of brother Carpenter, President Joseph Smith Jun., read the 2nd chap. of Joel's prophecy, prayed and addressed the conference as follows:
It is very difficult for us to communicate to the churches all that God has revealed to us, in consequence of tradition; for we are differently situated from any other people that ever existed upon this earth; consequently those former revelations cannot be suited to our conditions; they were given to other people, who were before us; but in the last days, God was to call a remnant, in which was to be deliverance, as well as in Jerusalem and Zion. Now if God should give no more revelations, where
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