Salt Lake County Utah

July 24th 1883

President Joseph F. Smith

Dear Brother

I can very well remember, that in the year 1843 and I think the month of August; but am not certain as to the day, the High Council met at Prest Hyrum Smith's office at Nauvoo and that Prest Hyrum Smith, your father, (as we were expecting) came into the council with a document, said to be the Revelation on plural marriage, for the purpose of reading it in the council. I was clerk of the council at that time, and supposed it would be filed in the Council for their future use. At that very time I had another appointment, and was excused by the council, supposing it would be filed there and come into my hands as clerk. I could then peruse it at my leasure.

When I returned, the Council had adjourned, and your father had gone, taking the revelation with him. . . . I saw several of the counsellors, who informed me as to the purport of the revelation which corresponded to what is published and now in the book of Doctrine and Covenants.

Austin Cowles then Counsellor to President W. Marks of the H. C. was present, and shortly afterward resigned his office saying merely that it was not well for him to remain in that position any longer. The next year, the "Nauvoo Expositor was started, in the first number of which said Cowles published an account of the re<a>ding of the revelation by your father in the council as before stated giving his version of what it contained. . . .

Yours very truly

Hosea Stout