Thursday, 22.—At home, attending to my domestic concerns.
Prayer for Special Blessings.
Friday 23.—At home. At four o' clock, afternoon, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, Samuel H. Smith, Frederick G. Williams and W. W. Phelps assembled, and we united in prayer, with one voice, before the Lord, for the following blessings: That the Lord would give us means sufficient to deliver us from all our afflictions and difficulties wherein we are placed by reason of our debts; that He would open the way and deliver Zion in the appointed time, and that without the shedding of blood; that He would hold our lives precious, and grant that we may live to the common age of man, and never fall into the hands nor power of the mob in Missouri, nor in any other place; that He would also preserve our posterity, that none of them fall, even unto the end of time; that He would give us blessings of the earth sufficient to carry us to Zion, and that we may purchase inheritances in that land, even enough to carry on and accomplish the work unto which He has appointed us; and also that He would assist all others who desire, according to His commandments, to go up and purchase inheritances, and all this easily and without perplexity and trouble; and finally, that in the end He would save us in His celestial kingdom. Amen.
Saturday, 24.—Mr. Goodrich and wife called to see the ancient [Egyptian] records, and also Dr. Frederick G. Williams to see the mummies. Brothers Hawkes and Carpenter, from Michigan, visited us and tarried over night.
Meetings in Kirtland.
Sunday, 25.—Attended meeting with Brothers Hawkes and Carpenter. President Rigdon preached in the fore-noon, Elder Lyman E. Johnson in the afternoon, after which Elder Seymour Brunson joined Brother William Perry and Sister Eliza Brown in matrimony, and I blessed them with long life and prosperity in the name of Jesus Christ.
In the evening I attended prayer meeting, opened it, and exhorted the brethren and sisters about one hour. The Lord poured out His Spirit, and some glorious things were spoken in the gift of tongues and interpreted concerning the redemption of Zion.
Trial of Samuel Smith for Neglect of Military Duty.
Monday, 26.—Went to Chardon to attend the County Court in company with my brothers Hyrum, Samuel H., and Don Carlos Smith. Brother Samuel was called in question before this Court for not doing military duty, and was fined because we had not our conference minutes with us for testimony to prove that Frederick G. Williams was clerk of the conference. This testimony we should have carried with us had it not been for the neglect of our counsel or lawyer, who did not put us in possession of this information [i.e. that we would need such testimony]. This we felt was a want of fidelity to his client, and we consider it a base insult, practiced upon us on account of our faith, that the ungodly might have unlawful power over us, and trample us under their unhallowed feet. And in consequence of this neglect, a fine was imposed upon Brother Samuel of twenty dollars, including costs, for which he was obliged to sell his cow to defray the expenses of the same. And I say, in the name of Jesus Christ, that the money which they have thus unjustly taken shall be a testimony against them, and canker, and eat their flesh as fire.
A Prayer and Promise.