I was also chosen a member of the Legislative Council, to which I devoted forty days, commencing in December, 1852. Occupied with these duties, and with the study of Spanish, the year 1852 was brought to a close.
January, 1853.-This month was mostly occupied in the legislative councils.
April 6th.—I attended a General Conference, on which occasion the corner stones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid by the First Presidency, Twelve and others. "The Temple Block is forty rods square, the lines running north and south, east and west, and contains ten acres. The center of the Temple is one hundred and fifty-six feet six inches due west from the center of the east line of the block. The length of said house, east and west, is one hundred and eighty-six and a half feet, including towers, and the width ninety-nine feet. On the east end there are three towers, as also on the west. Draw a line north and south, one hundred and eighteen and a half feet, through the center of the towers, and you have the north and south extent of ground plan, including pedestal."
I devoted the remainder of the season to the ministry, and to farming, building, etc., not wholly neglecting the study of Spanish.
At the August election I was returned to the Legislative Council by unanimous vote, and in December following I attended its session till the end of the year.
January, 1854.—Still in legislative session, which adjourned the latter part of this month.
The remainder of the winter was spent in the ministry; in the active duties of a Regent of the University of Deseret (being one of a Committee on the Deseret Alphabet and a New System of Orthography); in teaching a class in the Spanish language; in ministering in the ordinances of the endowments in the house of the Lord; and in studying, writing, etc.
At a General Conference, held on the 6th day of April, I was appointed to a second mission to California. Donations were contributed to aid me in said mission.
May 5th.—I took leave of my family and friends in Salt Lake City and started on my second mission to California.
Brother Thurston, a young man who had a mission to the isles, accompanied me. We had a small wagon, drawn by two mules.