“Sunday, December 21st,” writes his clerk, “According to appointment on Sunday last a meeting was held in the east room. * * Seventy-five persons were present, Elder H. C. Kimball presiding.” After mentioning the names of the brethren and sisters, he says, “At five minutes before eleven the song, ‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’ was sung—Father John Smith then made a few remarks—blessed the bread and it was handed round by Bishop George Miller—The wine was blessed by Bishop Miller and handed round by him. While the wine was passing around Elder George A. Smith arose and addressed the congregation. He thanked God for the privileges this day enjoyed, and spoke of the difficulties under which the church had labored to attain to the blessings we now enjoy. Another thing he thanked God for—already had more than five hundred persons passed through, and therefore, if half of them should be like the foolish virgins and turn away from the truth, the principles of the holy priesthood would be Beyond the reach of mobs and the assaults of the adversaries of this Church. Order was one of the laws of heaven. When we come together * * and unite our hearts and act as one mind, the Lord will hear us and will answer our prayers. He related an instance of some children being healed and cured of the whooping cough in one night through the prayers of himself and Elder Woodruff in Michigan, while they were there on a mission. Said that whenever they could get an opportunity they retired to the wilderness or to an upper room, they did so * * * and were always answered. It would be a good thing for us * * every day and pray to God and in private circles. * * * We are different from what we were before we entered into this quorum. Speedy vengeance will now overtake the transgressor. When a man and his wife are united in feeling, and act in union, I believe that they can hold their children by prayer and faith, and will not be obliged to give them up to death until they are fourscore years old. Sometimes men trifle and destroy the confidence which each ought to have in the other, this prevents a union of faith and feeling. The apostacy of Thos. B. Marsh was caused by so small a thing as a pint of strippings—and his oaths brought the exterminating order which drove us all out of Missouri.

“The woman ought to be in subjection to the man—be careful to guard against loud laughter—against levity and talebearing. He expressed his unfeigned love for the brethren and his confidence in their endeavors to keep these rules. ‘The Spirit of God’ was then sung. Elder Kimball next addressed the meeting. He concurred in all that had been said, the observation of these things is most essential. About four years ago next May nine persons were admitted into the holy order—five are now living. B. Young, W. Richards, George Miller, N. K. Whitney and H. C. Kimball, two are dead, and two are worse than dead. You have not got all you will have if you are faithful.” He spoke of the necessity of women being in subjection to their husbands, “I am subject to my God, my wife is subject to me and will reverence me in my place, and I will try to make her happy. I do not want her to step forward and dictate to me any more than I dictate to President Young. In his absence I take his place according to his request. Shall we cease from loud laughter? * * Will you never slander your brother and sister? I will refer your minds to the covenants you have made, by an observance of these things you will have dreams and visions. *

* * We shall not be with you long. We cannot rest day nor night until we put you in possession of the priesthood. * * If we have made you clean every whit, go now to work and make others clean.” * * There are from seven to twelve persons who have met together every day to pray ever since Joseph’s death, and the people have been sustained upon this principle. Here is Brother Turley has been liberated by the power of God and not of man.

“Elder Cahoon bore testimony of the importance of those things which had been spoken, and rejoiced in the idea that the things he was taught in the beginning were the same things now taught and remembered, and it is so because they are eternal things.

“The assembly was then formed for prayer, and Elder John Taylor being mouth the whole congregation united with him in prayer.

* * At ten minutes past two the meeting was dismissed and another congregation met in the same room.

“At three o’clock sang ‘Hosanna’—prayer by Orson Hyde, after which by invitation of Elder Kimball who presided (President Young not having been at the temple today, and the duty of presiding having devolved upon Elder Kimball as the next in succession) Amasa Lyman addressed the assembly, he said, ‘Doubtless with most of the present assembly it is the beginning of a new era in their lives—they have come to a time they never saw before—they have come to the commencement of a knowledge of things, and it is necessary that they should be riveted on their minds. One important thing to be understood is this, that those portions of the priesthood which you have received are all essential matters.’