Visit Pottawatamie Indians.
In the evening had a talk with three Indian chiefs, who had come as a delegation from the Pottawatamie tribe, who complained of having their cattle, horses, &c., stolen. They were much troubled, and wanted to know what they should do. They had borne their grievances patiently.
The quorum of the Twelve met in my office.
Wednesday, 19.—Went to the office at nine o'clock, to attend a municipal court in case of Dana vs. Dr. Brink, on appeal from mayor's decision of March 10.
Mayor's Court at Nauvoo.
At half past nine called to order and issued an attachment against William Marks, George W. Harris, Orson Spencer, Gustavus Hills, Daniel H. Wells, Hiram Kimball, and Newel K. Whitney, associate-justices, to bring them before the court forthwith to answer for contempt. Aldermen Harris, Spencer, Hills and Whitney appeared, and were excused upon condition of their paying the costs of attachment and marshal's fees. Daniel H. Wells was excused on account of absence from the city.
Half-past twelve p.m. court opened, original papers being called for. The clerk (James Sloan) inquired if the execution would issue from the court. "Sit down," said the mayor, "and attend to your own business. If anything is wanted you will be told time enough." Counsel for Brink moved that the case be dismissed for want of jurisdiction in the court below. Much law was quoted on both sides.
The court decided that the mayor had jurisdiction but the municipal court had not, being authorized only by the charter to try appeals in cases arising under the ordinances of the city. The case arose under the statutes of Illinois, and should have been appealed directly to the Circuit Court, and dismissed the appeal accordingly; and then stated that a legal bond for appeal was not presented till after the twenty days had expired, and therefore it could not now be legally appealed to the Circuit Court.
After adjournment, while conversing with Dr. Brink and Mr. Marr, I told them I had been called to thousands of cases in sickness, and I have never failed in administering comfort where the patient has thrown himself unreservedly on me, and the reason is that I never prescribed anything that would injure the patient, if it did him no good.
I have lost a father, brother, and child, because in my anxiety I depended more on the judgment of other men than my own, while I have raised up others who were lower than they were. By-the-by, I will say that that man, (pointing to Levi Richards) is the best physician I have ever been acquainted with. People will seldom die of disease, provided we know it seasonably, and treat it mildly, patiently and perseveringly, and do not use harsh means.
It is like the Irishman's digging down the mountain. He does not put his shoulder to it to push it over, but puts it in his wheelbarrow, and carries it away day after day, and perseveres in it until the whole mountain is removed. So we should persevere in the use of simple remedies, and not push against the constitution of the patient, day after day; and the disease will be removed and the patient saved. It is better to save the life of a man than to raise one from the dead.
At three p.m. I met with Brigham Young, William Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Geo. A. Smith, and Willard Richards, of the quorum of the Twelve, in my office, and told them to go in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and tell Lucien Woodworth to put the hands on the Nauvoo House, and begin the work, and be patient till means can be provided.
Call on the inhabitants of Nauvoo, and get them to bring in their means, then go to La Harpe and serve them the same. Thus commence your career, "and never stand still the Master appears:" for it is necessary the house should be built. Out of the stock that is handed to me, you shall receive as you have need; for the laborer is worthy of his hire.
I hereby command the hands to go to work on the house. Tell Woodworth to put them on and he shall be backed up in it. You must get cash, property, lands, horses, cattle, flour, corn, wheat, &c. The grain can be ground in this place.
If you can get hands onto the Nauvoo House, it will give such an impetus to the work, that it will take all the devils out of hell to stop it.
Let the Twelve Apostles keep together. You will do more good to keep together, not travel together all the time, but meet in conference from place to place, and associate together, and not be found long apart from each other. Then travel from here to Maine, till you make a perfect highway for the Saints.
It is better for you to be together; for it is difficult for a man to have strength of lungs and health to be instant in season and out of season, under all circumstances; and you can assist each other. And when you go to spend a day or two in a place, you will find the people will gather together in great companies. If twelve men cannot build that house, they are poor tools.
President Young asked if any of the Twelve should go to England.
I replied—No! I don't want the Twelve to go to England this year. I have sent them to England, and they have broken the ice, and done well. And now I want to send some of the elders and try them.
Lorenzo Snow may stay at home till he gets rested. The Twelve must travel to save their lives. I feel all the veins and strata necessary for the Twelve to move in to save their lives.
You can never make anything out of Benjamin Winchester if you take him out of the channel he wants to be in. Send Samuel James to England, thus saith the Lord; also Reuben Hedlock; he ought to be a heavenly messenger wherever he goes. You need not be in a hurry. Send these two now; and when you think of some others, send them.
John Taylor, I believe you can do more good in the editorial department than preaching. You can write for thousands to read; while you can preach to but a few at a time. We have no one else we can trust the paper with, and hardly with you, for you suffer the paper to come out with so many mistakes.
Parley may stay at home and build his house.
Brother George A. Smith, I don't know how I can help him to a living, but to let him go and preach. If he will go, his lungs will hold out. The Lord will give him a good pair of lungs yet.
Wilford Woodruff can be spared from the printing office. If you both stay, you will disagree. I want Orson Pratt should go.
Brother Brigham asked if he should go. Yes, go.
I want John E. Page to be called away from Pittsburgh, and a good elder sent in his place. If he stays there much longer, he will get so as to sleep with his granny, he is so self-righteous. When he asked to go back there, he was going to tear up all Pittsburgh; and he cannot even get money enough to pay postage on his letters, or come and make us a visit.
Orson Hyde can go and travel; and I want you all to meet in Boston.
I want Elder Willard Richards to continue in the History at present. Perhaps he will have to travel some to save his life. The History is going out by little and little, in the papers, and cutting its way; so that, when it is completed, it will not raise a persecution against us.
When Lyman Wight comes home from Kirtland, I intend to send him right back again.
William Smith is going East with his sick wife.
Brother Kimball will also travel.
I want you to cast up a highway for the Saints from here to Maine.
Don't be scared about the Temple. Don't say anything against it, but make all men know that your mission is to build up the Nauvoo House.
It is not necessary that Jedediah and Joshua Grant should be ordained High Priests in order to preside. They are too young. They have got into Zebedee Coltrin's habit of clipping half their words, and I intend to break them of it. If a high priest comes along, and goes to snub either of them in their presidency, because they are Seventies, let them knock the man's teeth down his throat—I mean spiritually. You shall make a mighty wake as you go.
William Clayton, tell the Temple committee to put hands enough on that house (on the diagonal corner from the brick store), and finish it right off. The Lord hath need of other houses as well as a Temple.
I can sell $10,000 worth of property this spring, I will meet you at any conference in Maine, or any conference where you are, and stay as long as it is wisdom.
Take Jacob Zundall and Frederick H. Moeser, and tell them never to drink a drop of ale, wine, or any spirit, only that which flows right out from the presence of God; and send them to Germany; and when you meet with an Arab, send him to Arabia; when you find an Italian, send him to Italy; and a Frenchman, to France; or an Indian, that is suitable, send him among the Indians. Send them to the different places where they belong. Send somebody to Central America and to all Spanish America; and don't let a single corner of the earth go without a mission.
Write to Oliver Cowdery and ask him if he has not eaten husks long enough? If he is not almost ready to return, be clothed with robes of righteousness, and go up to Jerusalem? Orson Hyde hath need of him. (A letter was written accordingly.)
I returned home about half-past four p.m.
This evening located the site for a music hall on lot 4, block 67, on the corner of Woodruff and Young streets.
By a certificate of William Smith, of this date, we learn that Elder Benjamin Winchester has recently published a synopsis of concordance to the scriptures.
Thursday, 20.—I went out with Brother Manhard to show him some lots, and settled with him; and afterwards heard read a proof sheet of the elders' conference.
Sidney Rigdon's Alarm.