| 587 under and in consonance with the laws of the land were plainly shown. "He that keepeth the law of God, keepeth the law of the land," is one of the principles of the Reorganized Church. If the prophet ever practiced polygamy, the speaker never knew it. Mr. Smith closed by reciting how he had successfully preached Mormonism in the very court-room where Joseph and Hyrum were arraigned, and had baptized even in Bear Creek. After the services a number of the Utah polygamous church members, who were present, shook hands with Mr. Smith pleasantly enough. Among these were Messrs. Wooley, Hatch, and Olsen, of the Legislature; Patriarch John Smith, and Proprietor Hall, of the Valley House.
January 25 Elder David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, died at Richmond, Missouri. It is related by those who were with him in his last moments, that three days before his death Mr. Whitmer called his family and some friends to his bedside, and addressing himself to the attending physician, he said: "Doctor Buchanan, I want you to say whether or not I am in my right mind, before I give my dying testimony." The Doctor answered: "Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have just had a conversation with you." He then addressed himself to all around his bedside in these words:
Now you must all be faithful in Christ. I want to say to you all, the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon), is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death-bed. All be faithful in Christ and your reward will be according to your works. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ for ever, world without end. Amen.
On January 29 the Saints' chapel at Logan, Iowa, was dedicated by Elder Charles Derry, assisted by Elders Phineas Cadwell and W. W. Whiting.
The San Francisco Call of January 30 mentions the work of President Joseph Smith in that city. The San Francisco Chronicle also gives favorable notice, each paper giving a synopsis of a discourse delivered by President Smith at a hall, number 71 New Montgomery Street.
February 6 a branch was organized at Stanberry, Missouri, by James Thomas, and on February 26 the Beaver Falls Branch was organized at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
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