Elder Rigdon received a letter last Sunday, informing him that the Nauvoo post office was abolished. He foolishly supposed it genuine, neglected his duty, and started for Carthage to learn more about it, but was met by Mr. Hamilton, an old mail contractor, who satisfied him it was a hoax; and he returned home, and the mail arrived as usual today.
Friday, 21.—I rode out in the city, and in the afternoon went to my farm.
There was an officer's drill of the Nauvoo Legion.
Nauvoo Legion Drill.
Saturday, 22.—The cohorts of the legion were in exercise this day. My staff came out with me, and spent the day in riding, exercising, and organizing, and sitting in court-martial, to ascertain to what staff Robert D. Foster, Surgeon-General, Hugh McFall, Adjudant-General, and Daniel H. Wells, Commissary-General, belonged.
Sunday, 23.—Nine to ten a.m. at home; heard read Truthiana, No. 6, also the minutes of special conference, which I revised.
Special Conference.
Eleven, a.m., meeting at the Temple-stand; Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, George A. Smith, and Willard Richards present.
Orson Hyde prayed.
President Brigham Young preached on the subject of salvation, and the Twelve commenced their mission to build the Nauvoo House. For the salvation of the Church it was necessary that the public buildings should be erected, etc.
Parley P. Pratt preached in the afternoon, showing the rapid progress of Nauvoo during the past three years.
Peter Haws called for twenty-five hands to go with him to the Pine country, to get lumber for the Nauvoo House.
President Brigham Young instructed the laborers on the Nauvoo House to commence next morning, even if they had to beg food of their neighbors to commence with; and requested families to board hands till means could be procured.
Monday, 24.—In the morning I took my children a pleasure ride in the carriage.
Visit of the Twelve to Augusta, Iowa.
At one p.m. President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Willard Richards met in council in my office, and agreed to go to Augusta, Iowa, to spend the next Sabbath and devise means to secure the property which has been purchased of Moffat by the Nauvoo House trustees, and voted John Cairnes go on a mission to England; Peter Haws and James Brown to Tuscaloosa, Alabama; that Elder Murray Seaman be instructed to return home immediately; and that Mr. Lucien Woodworth be respectfully requested immediately to furnish the Twelve with a draft of the exterior and interior of the Nauvoo House.