[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Wind northwest very cold. President Young in office about noon. Wrote a letter. Dr. [Richards] very sick in morning, arose a little before 3. B. Young, H. C. Kimball, E. T. Benson, G. A. Smith, W. Richards, also J. M. Grant, George Grant, Bishop Miller. President Young invited Hosea Stout and the marshall in and proposed to the police to have a picnic and invite the Twelve, or the Twelve would have a party and invite the Old Police. Marshal said the police would make a bee the next day and invite the Twelve, then we would be equal.
At 6 p.m., municipal high council met in the council house. Present: E. T. Benson, H. C. Kimball, O. Pratt, B. Young, W. Richards, G. A. Smith, N. K. Whitney, and George Miller. Prayer by Willard Snow. (10) Minutes read and accepted. G. Miller reported about 70 days work during the last week in the Mill Dam. Called for a few men tomorrow and an almighty force wanted on Tuesday. Voted that Bishop Miller act in lieu of the Committee of Four to superintend the Mill Dam during its repairs. A vote was put to the bishops that all the disposable men in the city go on Tuesday, all got up. Also the high council and Twelve stood up.
B. Young said the Mill Dam was finished before the winter, the brethren dug the ditch gratuitously, the dam has now broken again, the brethren now called on to repair it without pay. If I had the means I would pay the men, but I cannot. Brother Miller says he can make it firm and good. He goes in the water himself. I shall try and visit the place myself, and if there is any way to obviate working in the water, IÂ'll counsel them, but if they have to work in the water IÂ'll find the liquor and cayenne pepper to warm them, and if they abide my counsel no man will be sick. I want you to feel as I feel on the subject and nothing will stop my going to the west, as the salvation of the inhabitants of the earth is worth more than all the world as it now is. God brings us into that capacity that will try our feelings.
That mill will be a blessing to those who come and fill our places. If things work right, the government will want to buy our mill and houses. I have already paid for that mill near $2,500. I have done the best I could for this people. What benefit is that mill to me when I and my family never got one bushel of corn ground in it. Let us grind a little corn before the pioneers start. I wonÂ't stop for the women, oxen, children, or anything, but go ahead. I want the bishops to see that the property of the people is not destroyed by water. Leave your sod houses and go into your wagons and tents, youÂ'll be healthy, but if you live in the sod houses youÂ'll sicken and die.
A week last Wednesday, I was taken sick suddenly and could not get back to the bed. When we get through the veil we can talk [about] how I felt. I felt like death grappled with me. I spoke I had been where Joseph and Hyrum were. ItÂ's hard coming to life again. I went into another world and recollected what I saw, but it went away again. Next day I was on the bed and fell asleep. I saw Joseph. He sat in a room in the southwest at a brilliant window. I shook hands and kissed him many times and asked why we not more together. He said itÂ's all right and we cannot live together yet. I said the brethren are very anxious to see you, he said we shall be separated a little season but you will by and by. He said it is right. I saw a railing between him and me. I said Brother Joseph you know the L.D.S. [Latter-day Saints] and their feelings and there is great inquiry about the sealings and keys. He said do you be sure to tell the people this one thing, the whole of the brethren. It is all important that they keep the speech of the Lord.
Teach them to humble themselves and keep the quiet speech, and get His speech. Said how it would descend and reflect upon man. Men would query. He showed me they can know the difference between the speech of the Lord and the enemy. The mind of man should always be open to receive the speech and receive the speech of the Lord if the mind is contracted. They would not know when to receive the speech of the Lord, and it would bring peace, joy, happiness, take away strife, malice, hatred, etc. When the still, small voice comes it will teach, instruct, reveal. If they do that, they will see that they are just where they were organized before they took tabernacles. He showed how they were organized and he showed they were organized perfectly from Adam to the latest generation; but darkness had covered the people and they donÂ't know what to do. Every personÂ's heart will be perfectly prepared to receive the station organized for him.
He was at the edge of the light. It was darkness where I was. He said you must go. I turned into the dark and woke up. I know it was the speech of Joseph. TheyÂ'll get just what they want. God wants men to be good righteous men and go into heaven. God does not want any man or woman to do a mean trick. Let us go and prepare a place, and where we are they may come. I actually went into eternity last Wednesday week, and came back again.
Those who have got cattle in the herds must lay to and help them. There are persons who have cattle in the stray herd and other herds, who are calculating not to pay for the herding. If a woman has six yoke of oxen and the herdsmen does $10 worth of work, he must be paid. Some will get a stray cow even from their nighest [nearest] neighbors, feed them with hay and salt [?] milking them. Some have taken oxen down to Missouri two or three times and would not let the owner have them without pay. ItÂ's wrong. I think we might hunt up cases where men have turned in oxen to the Beef Committee that did not belong to them. I must have this stopped. The disposition of many in this camp is to buy of the Gentiles and men who will gouge. The brethren and sisters have just paid away $500 in calicos, gloves, and such things. Why not this paid for pork for the journey. Adjourned to next Sunday evening, 6 oÂ'clock, this place.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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