The Number at the First Meeting.
The doors were then opened. Presidents Rigdon, Cowdery and myself seated the congregation as they came in, and, according to the best calculation we could make, we received between nine and ten hundred, which were as many as could be comfortably seated. We then informed the doorkeepers that we could receive no more, and a multitude were deprived of the benefits of the meeting on account of the house not being sufficiently capacious to receive them; and I felt to regret that any of my brethren and sisters should be deprived of the meeting, and I recommended them to repair to the schoolhouse and hold a meeting, which they did, and filled that house also, and yet many were left out.
Arrangement of the Assembly.
The assembly was then organized in the following manner, viz.: west end of the house, Presidents Frederick G. Williams, Joseph Smith, Sen., and William W. Phelps occupying the first pulpit for the Melchisedek Priesthood; Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun., Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon, the second pulpit; Presidents David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and John Whitmer, the third pulpit; the fourth was occupied by the President of the High Priests' quorum and his counselors, and two choristers. The Twelve Apostles on the right, in the three highest seats. The President of the Elders, his counselors and clerk, in the seat immediately below the Twelve. The High Council of Kirtland, consisting of twelve, on the left in the three first seats. The fourth seat, and next below the High Council, was occupied by Elders Warren A. Cowdery and Warren Parrish, who served as scribes. The pulpits in the east end of the house, for the Aaronic Priesthood, were occupied as follows: The Bishop of Kirtland and his counselors, in the first pulpit; the Bishop of Zion and his counselors, in the second pulpit; the president of the Priests and his counselors, in the third pulpit: the president of the Teachers and his counselors, and one chorister in the fourth pulpit; the High Council of Zion, consisting of twelve counselors, on the right; the president of the Deacons and his counselors, in the seat below them; the seven presidents of Seventies, on the left. The choir of singers were seated in the four corners of the room, in seats prepared for that purpose.
Received by contribution—nine hundred and sixty-three dollars.
At nine o'clock a. m. President Sidney Rigdon commenced the services of the day by reading the 96th and 24th Psalms.
An excellent choir of singers, led by M. C. Davis, sung the following hymn:
Tune—Sterling.
Ere long the veil will rend in twain, The King descend with all His train; The earth shall shake with awful fright, And all creation feel His might.
The angel's trumpet long shall sound, And wake the nations under ground; Throughout the vast domain of space 'Twill echo forth from place to place.
Lift up your heads, ye Saints, in peace, The Savior comes for your release; The day of the redeemed has come; The Saints shall all be welcomed home.
Behold the church! it soars on high, To meet the Saints amid the sky, To hail the King in clouds of fire, And strike and tune the immortal lyre.
Hosanna! now the trump shall sound, Proclaim the joys of heaven around, When all the Saints together join In songs of love, and all divine.
With Enoch here we all shall meet, And worship at Messiah's feet, Unite our hands and hearts in love, And reign on thrones with Christ above.
The city that was seen of old, Whose walls were jasper, streets were gold, We'll now inherit, throned in might—The Father and the Son's delight.
Celestial crowns we shall receive, And glories great our God shall give; While loud hosannas we'll proclaim, And sound aloud our Savior's name.
Our hearts and tongues shall join in one, To praise the Father and the Son; While all the heavens shall shout again, And all creation say, Amen.[[1]]
President Rigdon addressed the throne of grace in a devout and appropriate manner, and the following hymn was sung:
Tune—Weymouth.
O happy souls, who pray Where God appoints to hear! O happy Saints, who pay Their constant service there! We'll praise Him still, And happy we Who love the way To Zion's hill.
No burning heats by day, Nor blasts of evening air, Shall take our health away, If God be with us there. He is our sun, And He our shade To guard the head By night or noon.
God is the only Lord, Our shield and our defense; With gifts His hands are stored; We draw our blessings thence. He will bestow On Jacob's race Peculiar grace, And glory too.[[2]]