fought manfully for its fulfilment, and Brigham who has made it his principal stock in trade to raise the hopes and aspirations of his followers, will both remain as before, unchallenged in their claims to a "priesthood that is infallible." Such is faith!
While the troubles in Missouri were raging, the Prophet deemed it advisable not to provoke the fury of the mob by his presence, and therefore concluded to labour elsewhere while he still showered upon the Saints encouraging revelations. The anti-Mormons offered to buy the lands from which their antagonists had been driven and to pay them for their improvements, but negotiation was impossible. "The Lord" had commanded them to gather in Missouri and had pointed out with his own finger the place for the Temple in Independence. They could not sell their inheritances without also selling the revelations of "the Lord," his promises and the prophecies of his servant. Joseph counselled the Saints not to sell, and they obeyed, and to this day many of the faithful rejoice in the possession of their title-deeds. When Federal troops, during the rebellion, swept through those counties of western Missouri laying waste and devastating everywhere they went, the Saints in Utah saw in them the avenging angels of the Lord, and their hopes of an early return to Jackson county revived.
Joseph, during the troubles in Missouri, was closely occupied with the building of the Temple in Kirtland, and raising the means to continue that work was a herculean task. To these labours he added a mission to the Eastern States and to the Canadas. About this time it was also decided to revive the Star, that had been so ruthlessly dealt with in Missouri, under the designation of the Latter-Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate, at Kirtland. During his mission abroad, Joseph baptized many into the Church, and " his hands were strengthened," though the people around him were poor and apostacy began to trouble him.
Up to this time Joseph had been a Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator; but now another rôle was opened to him—he was to become a military leader and restore the Saints to their possessions in Jackson county. A lengthened revelation was given in February, 1834, to raise "the strength of the Lord's house," and go up to Missouri to redeem Zion, and the
