Wilford Woodruff reports Joseph and Hyrum Smith teaching that Kirtland be a center of commerce where "Kings of the earth would come to behold the glory thereof."
Wilford Woodruff, Journal, April 6, 1837, The Wilford Woodruff Papers website, accessed February 20, 2024
President Hiram Smith followed Joseph with many useful remarks he also was clothed with much of the spirit of God. Joseph desired us to give heed to his words & teaching this once & be wigse that Zion & her stakes might spedily be redeemed he instructed us to be sure & thask those that enter the Kingdom to send up their wise men to Kirtland with there money to counsel with the presidency & purchase an interitance before they move their families or bring the poor to the places of gathering for to suffer. Also that we must keep in view the institution of the Kirtland Safety Society & if the Elders of Israel would be faithful & do what was in their power this once Kirtland should spedily be redeemed & become a strong hold not to be thrown down. Joseph presented us in some degree the plot of the city of Kirtland (which is the strong hold of the daughterof Zion) as it was given him by vision, it was great marvelous & glorious. the city extended to the east, west, north, & south, steam boats will come puffing into the city our Goods will be conveyed upon rail roads from Kirtland to many places & probably to Zion. houses of worship would be reared unto the most high beautiful streets was to be made for the Saints to walk in Kings of the earth would come to behold the glory thereof