Friday, 5.—Attended school, and assisted the committee to make arrangements to supply the third and fourth classes with books; concluded to divide a Bible into several parts, for the benefit of said classes; continued my studies in the Hebrew; received several visitors, and attended various duties.
Arrangements of Quorums to Receive Spiritual Blessings.
Saturday, 6.—Called the anointed together to receive the seal of all their blessings. The High Priests and Elders in the council room as usual, the Seventy with the Twelve in the second room, and the Bishops in the third. I labored with each of these quorums for some time to bring them to the order which God had shown to me, which is as follows: The first part to be spent in solemn prayer before God, without any talking or confusion; and the conclusion with a sealing prayer by President Rigdon, when all the quorums were to shout with one accord a solemn hosanna to God and the Lamb, with an Amen, Amen and Amen; and then all take seats and lift up their hearts in silent prayer to God, and if any obtain a prophecy or vision, to rise and speak that all may be edified and rejoice together.
I had considerable trouble to get all the quorums united in this order. I went from room to room repeatedly, and charged each separately, assuring them that it was according to the mind of God, yet, notwithstanding all my labor, while I was in the east room with the Bishops' quorum, I felt, by the Spirit, that something was wrong in the quorum of Elders in the west room, and I immediately requested Presidents Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith to go in and see what was the matter. The quorum of Elders had not observed the order which I had given them, and were reminded of it by President Don Carlos Smith, and mildly requested to preserve order, and continue in prayer. Some of them replied that they had a teacher of their own, and did not wish to be troubled by others. This caused the Spirit of the Lord to withdraw; this interrupted the meeting, and this quorum lost their blessing in a great measure.
The other quorums were more careful, and the quorum of the Seventy enjoyed a great flow of the Holy Spirit. Many arose and spoke, testifying that they were filled with the Holy Ghost, which was like fire in their bones, so that they could not hold their peace, but were constrained to cry hosanna to God and the Lamb, and glory in the highest.
Visions in the Kirtland Temple.
President William Smith, one of the Twelve, saw a vision of the Twelve, and Seven in council together in old England, and prophesied that a great work would be done by them in the old countries, and God was already beginning to work in the hearts of the people.
President Zebedee Coltrin, one of the Seven, saw a vision of the Lord's host. And others were filled with the Spirit, and spake with tongues and prophesied. This was a time of rejoicing long to be remembered. Praise the Lord.
Sunday, 7.—Attended meeting at the usual hour. The quorums were seated according to their official standing in the Church. The Bishop of Zion and his counselors occupied the forenoon in confession and exhortation. The Bishop of Kirtland and his counselors occupied the stand in the afternoon. The discourses of these two quorums were interesting. A number of letters of commendation were presented and read, a vote was called, and all were received into the Church in Kirtland. Bread was broken and blessed, and while it was passing, President Rigdon commenced speaking from Acts 2, and continued about fifteen minutes. His reasoning was good. The wine was then blessed and passed, after which meeting dismissed.
In the evening, met with the Presidency in the loft of the printing office, in company with the presidency of the Seventy, to choose other Seventy also. Blessed one of the Zion brethren. Dismissed and retired.