not finished. I know, too, that it was a matter of common talk among members of the church that changes were made in the designs, after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; and that those portions that were completed so as to be occupied were not in accordance with the original plans.

"LAMONI, Iowa, June 26, 1897."

"JOSEPH SMITH.

"Inasmuch as the subject of the temple built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Nauvoo, Illinois, has been in controversy in the past and sometimes of late called up; and as some have claimed that the temple was finished according to the revelation or command of God, and endowments legally given therein, I wish to make a statement and leave my testimony in history, that perhaps it may correct an error, and free some minds which may be in doubt upon the matter.

"When a boy I was privileged to wander all over the building, and sometimes when the man in charge did not feel like climbing up the many flights of stairs, which led into the cupola to show visitors the wonderful building and beautiful view to be had from the dome, he requested me to show them. I well remember that on one of those occasions I ventured out of the small door on the east side of the rounded top which was covered with bright tin. I walked all around it, and as I approached the door the gentleman whom I was guide to caught me and drew me in, and lectured me for my imprudence, declaring that he would not dare do it.

"The offices in the corner to the left of main entrance on the ground floor were finished, but not furnished. The auditorium or main meeting room was temporarily finished; the seats and pulpit were only temporary.

"The upper auditorium; the plastering was not done, the floor was only the rough boards, intended only for the lining, was laid, and from this floor upward the stairs, except in the tower, or circular main stairs, were also temporary; the upper floor which was to have been divided into numerous rooms was laid, and partitioned off with cotton factory cloth, and used for some purposes before the saints were driven away.

"I was told that the cloth of those partitions was subsequently used for wagon covers, by the saints on their journey across the plains.

"To my knowledge the temple never was finished, and those who have been led to believe it was, have been deceived. I make this statement freely for the benefit of the present and future generations.

“AUDUBON, Minnesota, July 2, 1897.”

"ALEXANDER H. SMITH.

"REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG, DELIVERED AT THE TEMPLE, ST. GEORGE, JANUARY 1, 1877.

"I cannot consent in my feelings to retire from this house without exercising my strength, the strength of my lungs, stomach, and speaking organs, in speaking to this people. I hardly dare say what is in my heart to say to this people. Perhaps it would not be prudent, but I will say a few encouraging things to the Latter Day Saints; that is, they ought to be encouraging. We that are here are enjoying a privilege that we have no knowledge of any other people enjoying since the days of Adam; that is, to have a temple completed, wherein all the ordinances of the house of God can be be

stowed upon his people. Brethren and sisters, do you understand this? It seems that a great many of the people know nothing about it. It is true that Solomon built a temple for the purpose of giving endowments, but from what we can learn of the history of that time they gave very few if any endowments, and one of the high priests was murdered by wicked and corrupt men, who had already begun to apostatize, because he would not reveal those things appertaining to the priesthood that were forbidden him to reveal until he came to the proper place. I will not say but what Enoch had temples and officiated therein, but we have no account of it. We know that he raised up a people so pure and holy that they were not permitted to remain with the wicked inhabitants of the earth, but were taken to another place. We as Latter Day Saints have been laboring for over forty years, and the revelations given us in the first were to establish the kingdom by gathering the saints, building temples, and organizing the people as the family of

Dedicated These temples were not built.

May, 18469

heaven here on the earth. We reared up a temple in Kirtland, but we had no basement in it, nor a font, nor preparations to give endowments for the living or the dead. It was left by the saints before it was completed, they going to Missouri. Joseph located the site for the Temple Block in Jackson County, Missouri, and pointed out the southeast corner of the temple in the year 1831; also laid the corner stone for a temple in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. These temples were not built. We built one in Nauvoo. I could pick out several before me now that were there when it was built, and know just how much was finished and what was done. It is true we left brethren there with instructions finish it, and they got it nearly completed before it was burned; but the saints did not enjoy it. Now we have a which will all be finished in a few days, and of which there is enough completed to commence work therein, which has not been done since the days of Adam, that we have any knowledge of. Now those that can see the spiritual atmosphere can see that many of the saints are still glued to this earth and lusting and longing for the things of this world in which there is no profit. It is true, we should look after the things of this world and devote all to the building up of the kingdom of God.'"-Journal of Discourses, vol. 18, pp. 303, 304.

and ordinances performedtemple in it.

Joseph Smith gives as a fitting close to the history of 1841. a partial list of publications issued for and against the church. 15

15 The following list shows some of the books, pamphlets, letters, etc., etc., published for and against the Latter Day Saints in 1841.

"A Proclamation to the Saints scattered abroad;" January 15, by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith.

Twenty-three numbers of the Times and Seasons, were published at

Nauvoo.

Twelve numbers of the Millennial Star were published in England by Parley P Pratt.

First edition of the "Book of Mormon," published in England, 21st January, by Elders B. Young and W. Richards.

A third edition of the "Voice of Warning," was published in Manchester, England, by Parley P. Pratt.

"A Letter to Queen Victoria of England, Touching the Signs of the Times, and the Political Destiny of the World;" in pamphlet form, by Parley P. Pratt, Manchester, England.

Five hundred copies of “An Address to the Hebrews," in the Dutch

language, by O. Hyde. Published in Rotterdam, Holland; being the first pamphlet pertaining to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints written in a foreign language; July.

A pamphlet containing 116 pages, 8 vo., by O. Hyde, containing "A Synopsis of the Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;" addressed to the German nation in their own language.

A small selection of hymns, by Christopher Merkley.

"Evidences in proof of the Book of Mormon;" a work of 256 pages, 32 mo. Published at Batavia, New York, by Charles Thompson.

A lengthy "Address to the Citizens of Salem, Massachusetts, and Vicinity," by E. Snow and B. Winchester; October.

Gospel Reflector, a monthly periodical, by Benjamin Winchester. Published in Philadelphia.

"Proclamation and Warning to the Inhabitants of America," by Charles Thompson.

The editor of the Times and Seasons noticed the following:—

From the Upper Mississippian, a series of letters, entitled "Nauvoo, Mormon Religion," etc. The writer no doubt intended to give a fair statement, and in the main did; but respecting our faith (on some points), "The Book of Mormon," etc., he is widely from the mark.

An article was published in the North Staffordshire Mercury, showing the difference between the Baptists and Latter Day Saints; Hanley, February 16; Signed, "A Baptist;" replied to by Parley P. Pratt, who showed the difference between the Baptists and former-day Saints.

A severe article against the Latter Day Saints, which filled several columns of fine print, was published in the Edinburgh Intelligencer, of April 7, taken from the Athenæum, on the subject of the "Book of Mormon" and the Latter Day Saints; replied to by Parley P. Pratt, May.

Mr. J. B. Rollo, of Edinburgh, Scotland, published a pamphlet entitled "Mormonism Exposed:" replied to by Parley P. Pratt, July 10.

The Preston Chronicle of April 24, published a long article against the Latter Day Saints, which was replied to by Parley P. Pratt in the Millennial Star, July 10.

A bitter article was published in the Cheltenham Free Press of August 23, headed “Latter Day Saints' Swindle;" replied to by Parley P. Pratt in the Star of October.

"A few plain facts, showing the folly, wickedness, and imposition of the Rev. Timothy R. Matthews;" by George J. Adams, Bedford, Eng

land.

The St. Louis, Missouri, Atlas published a favorable article entitled, "The Latter Day Saints.'

The Joliet Courier published a favorable account of the late trial of Joseph Smith; Monmouth, June.

The Philadelphia Saturday Courier and the Public Ledger on July 10 published several articles anathematizing the Latter Day Saints.

A slanderous pamphlet entitled "Mormonism Unmasked;" by A. Gardner, of Rochdale, England.

The Mormons-Arrest of Joe Smith," was the heading of an article published in the New York Herald of Commerce, and copied in many of the eastern papers.

The Christian Messenger and Reformer published an account of the Latter Day Saints, collected from the book of E. D. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio.

Tom Sharp, editor of the Warsaw Signal, devoted his entire time to slander, lie against, and misrepresent the Latter Day Saints.-Millennial Star, vol. 19, pp. 8, 9.

CHAPTER 25

1842.

THE NEW YEAR-CORRECTIONS - BOOK OF ABRAHAM EPITOME OF FAITH EDITORIAL CHARGE-JOHN SNIDER AGENT — LADIES' RELIEF SOCIETY — GENERAL CONFERENCE JOHN E PAGE EXPLAINS THE WASP-THE TEMPLE-BOGGS SHOT - MORALS OF NAUVOO-THE PINERIES.

WE will open this chapter with the words of Joseph Smith, under date of January 6, 1842:

The new year.

"Thursday, 6th. The new year has been ushered in and continued thus far under the most favorable auspices, and the saints seem to be influenced by a kind and indulgent Providence in their dispositions and means to rear the temple of the Most High God, anxiously looking forth to the completion thereof as an event of the greatest importance to the church and the world, making the saints in Zion to rejoice, and the hypocrite and sinner to tremble. Truly this is a day long to be remembered by the saints of the last days, a day in which the God of heaven has begun to restore the ancient order of his kingdom unto his servants and his people; a day in which all things are concurring to bring about the completion of the fullness of the gospel, a fullness of the dispensation of dispensations, even the fullness of times; a day in which God has begun to make manifest and set in order his church, those things which have been, and those things which the ancient proph ets and wise men desired to see, but died without beholding it; a day in which those things begin to be made manifest which have been hid from before the foundation of the world, and which Jehovah has promised should be made known in his own due time, unto his servants, to prepare the earth for the return of his glory, even a celestial glory, and a kingdom of priests and kings to God and the Lamb for ever, on Mount Zion, or the hundred and forty and four