History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 1260
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<​December 10​> are also satisfied. I have handed your request to the Editor of the “Times and Seasons”, who will forward you the desired papers. I am glad that settled with you the 2.500 dollars note, but sorry that you suffered yourself to lose in the sale of the land you had of him. As regards the Cooks Mills Tavern stand and the one hundred and thirty seven acres of pine land which you propose to allow the Church three thousand dollars for, I have to say in reply, that I have consulted, not only my own feelings as “Sole Trustee in Trust,” for the Church, but also the feelings of those of the Church whose opinions I can always rely upon in such matters, and the conclusion is that thirty two hundred dollars is the least, the property ought to be sold for. You can, therefore have it for three thousand two hundred, which is considerably less than it cost the Church; we are willing to make a partial sacrifice in the property, but under the circumstances, think that you can afford to give us two hundred dollars more than you proposed— The health of our place is at this time pretty good, and we hope it may continue to improve, with the improvement of the I remain, very respectfully yours &c Joseph Smith.” [HC 4:469]
11 December 1841 • Saturday
<​11​> Saturday 11. late this evening while sitting in Council with the Twelve, in my new on Water Street, I directed , President of the Twelve <​Apostles​> to go immediately and instruct the building Committee in their duty, and forbid their receiving any more property for the building of the until they received it <​from the Trustee in Trust​> and if the Committee did not give heed to the instruction, and attend to their duty, to put them in the way so to do.
Elder <​has​> left for ; it not being — — — — — considered unnecessary for him to tarry there any longer
Since I have been engaged in laying the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ <​of Latter Day Saints​> I have been prevented in various ways from continuing my Journal. and the History, in a manner satisfactory to myself, or in justice to the cause. Long imprisonments, vexatious and long continued Law Suits— The treachery of some of my Clerks; the death of others; and the poverty of myself and brethren from a continued plunder and driving, have prevented my handing down to posterity a connected memorandum of events, desirable to all lovers of truth. Yet I have continued to keep up a Journal in the best manner my circumstances would allow, and dictate for my history from time to time, as I have had oppertunity, so that the labors and suffering of the first Elders and Saints of this last kingdom might not wholly be lost to the world.
12 December 1841 • Sunday
<​12​> <​I preached in the morning at Snyder’s Hotel. In the evening the Twelve met in Council at bro ’s.​>
13 December 1841 • Monday
<​13​> Monday 13. I appointed Recorder for the , and my private Secretary, and General Clerk, and he commenced his labors in my new Office in the .
Some time in the fall of 1839, Daniel S. Witter of the [HC 4:470] Steam Mill at solicited the First Presidency of the Church to make a Settlement on the School Section No. 16. one mile South of : and the Solicitations were continued by D. S. Witter [p. 1260]
December 10 are also satisfied. I have handed your request to the Editor of the “Times and Seasons”, who will forward you the desired papers. I am glad that settled with you the 2.500 dollars note, but sorry that you suffered yourself to lose in the sale of the land you had of him. As regards the Cooks Mills Tavern stand and the one hundred and thirty seven acres of pine land which you propose to allow the Church three thousand dollars for, I have to say in reply, that I have consulted, not only my own feelings as “Sole Trustee in Trust,” for the Church, but also the feelings of those of the Church whose opinions I can always rely upon in such matters, and the conclusion is that thirty two hundred dollars is the least, the property ought to be sold for. You can, therefore have it for three thousand two hundred, which is considerably less than it cost the Church; we are willing to make a partial sacrifice in the property, but under the circumstances, think that you can afford to give us two hundred dollars more than you proposed— The health of our place is at this time pretty good, and we hope it may continue to improve, with the improvement of the I remain, very respectfully yours &c Joseph Smith.” [HC 4:469]
11 December 1841 • Saturday
11 Saturday 11. late this evening while sitting in Council with the Twelve, in my new on Water Street, I directed , President of the Twelve Apostles to go immediately and instruct the building Committee in their duty, and forbid their receiving any more property for the building of the until they received it from the Trustee in Trust and if the Committee did not give heed to the instruction, and attend to their duty, to put them in the way so to do.
Elder has left for ; it not being — — — — — considered unnecessary for him to tarry there any longer
Since I have been engaged in laying the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I have been prevented in various ways from continuing my Journal. and the History, in a manner satisfactory to myself, or in justice to the cause. Long imprisonments, vexatious and long continued Law Suits— The treachery of some of my Clerks; the death of others; and the poverty of myself and brethren from a continued plunder and driving, have prevented my handing down to posterity a connected memorandum of events, desirable to all lovers of truth. Yet I have continued to keep up a Journal in the best manner my circumstances would allow, and dictate for my history from time to time, as I have had oppertunity, so that the labors and suffering of the first Elders and Saints of this last kingdom might not wholly be lost to the world.
12 December 1841 • Sunday
12 I preached in the morning at Snyder’s Hotel. In the evening the Twelve met in Council at bro ’s.
13 December 1841 • Monday
13 Monday 13. I appointed Recorder for the , and my private Secretary, and General Clerk, and he commenced his labors in my new Office in the .
Some time in the fall of 1839, Daniel S. Witter of the [HC 4:470] Steam Mill at solicited the First Presidency of the Church to make a Settlement on the School Section No. 16. one mile South of : and the Solicitations were continued by D. S. Witter [p. 1260]
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