14^th Sunday The meeting was opened
by singing, & Prayer By w woodruff
Then Joseph the Seer arose & said
It is not wisdom that we should have all
knowledge at once presented before us but
that we should have a little then we can
comprehend it. He then read the
second epistle of Peter 1^st ch 16 to last vers
& dwelt upon the 19^th vers with som remarks
Ad[d] to your faith knowledge &c The principle
of knowledge is the principle of Salvation
the Principle can be comprehended, for
any one that cannot get knowledge to be
saved will be damned. The Principl of
Salvation is given to us through the kno-
wledge of Jesus Christ. Salvation is
nothing more or less than to triumph over
all our enemies & put them under our feet
& when we have power to put all enemies under
our feet in this world & a knowledge to triumph
over all evil spirits in the world to come then
we are saved as in the case of Jesus he was
to reign untill he had put all enemies under
his feet & the last enemy was death

perhaps there are principle here that few
men have thought of. No power ^person^ can have
this Salvation except through a tabernacle

Now in this world mankind are naturly
selfish, ambitious & striving to excell one
above another while yet some are willing
to build up others as well as themselves so in
the other world their is a variety of spirits
some who seek to excell, & this was the
case with the devil when he fell he sought
for things which were unlawful hence he was
cast down & it is said he drew away many
with him & the greatness of his punishment
is that he shall not have a tabernacle this
is his punishment. So the devil thinking to
thwart the decree of God by going up & down
in the earth seeking whome he may destroy
any person that he can find that will yield to
him he will bind ^him^ & take possession of the
Body & reign there glorying in it mightily not
thinking that he had got a stolen tabernacle
& by & by some one of Authority will come
along & cast him out & restore the tabernacle
to his rightful owner but the bevil steals
a tabernacle because he hias not one of his own
but if he steals one he is liable to be turned out
of doors

Now their is some grand secrett here
& keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding
the aApostle exhorts them to make their calling
Add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance
&c [2 Peter 1:5-6] yet he exhorts them to make their calling
& election shure [2 Peter 1:10] & though they had herd the
audible voice from heaven bearing testinoy [testimony]
that Jesus was the son of God yet he says
we have a more sure word of Prophecy whare
unto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a
light shining in a dark place [2 Peter 1:19]. Now wharein
could they have a more sure word of prophecy

than to hear the voice of God saying this is
my Beloved son &c Now for the secret & grand
[FIGURE] key. though they might hear the voice of God
& know that Jesus was the son of God this woudd
be no evidence that their election & calling
& election was made shure that they had
part with Christ & was a Joint heir with
him, they then would want that more
sure word of prophecy that they were sealed
in the heavens & had the promise of eternal
live in the kingdom of God then having this
promise sealed unto them it was as an anchor
to the soul sure & steadfast though the thun-
ders might roll, & lightnings flash & earthquakes
Bellow & war gather thick around yet this
hope & knowledge would support the soul
in evry hour of trial trouble & tribulation
Then knowledge through our Lord &
savior Jesus Christ is the grand key [FIGURE]
that unlocks the glories & misteries of
the kingdom of heaven. Compair this
principle once with Christondom at the present
day & whare are they with all their
boasted religion piety & sacredness while
at the same time they are crying out
against Prophets Apostles, Angels Revelations
Prophesyings, & visions &c. why they are
Just ripening for the damnation of hell, they
will be damned for they reject the most
glorious principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ
& treat with disdain & trample under foot
the main key that unlocks the heavens
& puts in our possession the glories of the
celestial world. Yes I say such will be damned
with all their professed godliness

Then I would exhort you to go on & continue
to call upon God untill you make your calling
& election sure for yourselves by obtaining
this more sure word of Prophesey & wait
patiently for the promise untill you obtain it
Many other vary useful remarks were made
on the occasion By Joseph the Seer

Elder G. A. Smith followed with a few remarks
I also followed him & meeting closed for
one hour, & we met again. I opened meeting
& spoke upon revelation obeying the commandments
by building the Nauvoo House
was followed By G. A. Smith on the same subjct
Elder Lorenzo Snow then spoke sumwhat
lengthy concerning his mishion to England which
was interesting then our meeting closed

We all rode to Lima & took supper with Calvin
Bebe & while we were conversing with Br
Joseph & Br Morley Br Joseph made the
following remarks. The way to get along in
any important matters was to gather unto
yourself wise men experienced & aged men
to assist in council in all times of trouble
handsome men are not oft wise & strongminded
men but the strength of a strong minded
man will create corse features like the rough &
strong bough of the oak. You will always
discover in the first glance of a man in the outlines
of his features sumthing of the mind of the
man

Excitement has almost become the
essens of my life when that dies away I feel
almost lost when a man is reigned up contin-
ually by excitement he becomes strong &

gains power & knowledge but when he relaxes
for a season he looses much of his power
& knowledge But in all matters temporal or
spiritual Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ
or in leading an army to Battle victory almost
entirely depends upon good order & moderation
(in going to Battle moove slow dress up into a line
& though your enemy rush upon you with fury
meet them slow but firmly let not confusion
or terror seize your Breast But meet them
firmly & strike a heavy Blow & conquer.

A man can bear a heavy Burdben by practice
& continueing to increase it. The inhabitants
of this continant anciently were so constituted
& were so determined & persevering either
in righteousness or wickedness that God
visited them immediately either with great
Judgments or Blessings. But the present generation
if they were going to Battle if they Godt any
assistance from God would have to obtain it
it By faith