[1]. The Colesville branch of the Church numbered about sixty souls.Statement made by Oliver Cowdery in "John Whitmer's History of the Church," ch. ix.
[2]. Speaking of this second of August meeting, in addition to what the Prophet relates in his narrative, John Whitmer, in his "History of the Church," (ch. ix) gives the following interesting details from a statement of Oliver Cowdery's: "On the second day of August, 1831, Rigdon stood up and asked, saying,
"'Do you receive this land for the land of your inheritance with thankful hearts from the Lord?'
"Answer from all: 'We do.'
"'Do you pledge yourselves to keep the law of God in this land which you never have kept in your own lands?'
"'We do.'
"'Do you pledge yourselves to see that others of your brethren who shall come hither do keep the laws of God?'
"'We do.'
"After prayer, he arose and said: 'I now pronounce this land consecrated and dedicated unto the Lord for a possession and inheritance for the Saints, and for all the faithful servants of the Lord to the remotest ages of time. In the name of Jesus Christ, having authority from Him. Amen.'"
[3]. This is the Washington longitude. It is between ninety-five and ninety-six degrees west longitude from Greenwich.