| 524 were, with nothing, as to means, yet the way opened as we proceeded, and the saints rejoiced.
"October. The former part of October was spent in arranging matters respecting the Lord's house and the printing office; for it had previously been published that the Evening and Morning Star would be discontinued, and a new paper, entitled The Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate, issued in its place.
"Having accomplished all that could be done at present, on the 16th of the month, I, in company with my brother, Hyrum Smith, and Elders David Whitmer, F. G. Williams, Oliver Cowdery, and Roger Orton, left Kirtland for the purpose of visiting some saints in the State of Michigan, where, after a tolerably pleasant journey, we arrived at Pontiac on the 20th.
"While on our way up the lake, on board the steamer Monroe, Elder Cowdery had a short discourse with a man calling his name Elmer. He said he was 'personally acquainted with Joe Smith;' had 'heard him preach his lies,' and now 'since he was dead,' 'he was glad!' He had heard Joe Smith preach in Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York, five years since; he knew it to be him, that 'he was a dark complexioned man,' etc. He appeared to exult the most in that Joe was dead, and made his observations in my presence. I concluded he had learned it from the popular priests of the day, who, through fear that their craft will be injured, if their systems are compared with the truth, seek to ridicule those that teach it; and thus am I suffering under the tongue of slander, for Christ's sake, unceasingly. God have mercy on such, if they will quit their lying. I need not state my complexion to those that have seen me; and those who have read my history thus far, will recollect that five years ago, I was not a preacher, as Elmer represented; neither was I ever in Bainbridge.
"After preaching, and teaching the saints, as long as our time would allow, we returned to Kirtland, greatly refreshed from our journey, and much pleased with our friends in that section of the Lord's vineyard.
"It now being the last of the month, and the elders beginning to come in, it was necessary to make preparations for
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