"We believe it just to preach the Gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond servants; neither preach the Gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters; nor to meddle with or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we believe to be unlawful, and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude."
A hymn was then sung. President Sidney Rigdon returned thanks; after which the assembly was blessed by the Presidency with uplifted hands, and dismissed.
OLIVER COWDERY,
SIDNEY RIGDON, Presidents.
THOMAS BURDICK,
WARREN PARRISH,
SYLVESTER SMITH, Clerks.[[4]]
Footnotes
[1]. The use of the term "organized" here means merely that the various councils and quorums were arranged by their respective presidencies in the order proper for that assembly, not that they were then organized in the sense of bringing them into existence.
[2]. In this testimony of the Twelve to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, as published in the History of Joseph Smith in the Millennial Star, the names of the Apostles were not appended, but it is thought proper that they should be inserted here in the order in which they stood in the quorum. The document was undoubtedly prepared before the departure of the Twelve for the east, as it was well known that the work of the committee on selection and compilation would present the Doctrine and Covenants to a general assembly before the Twelve would return.