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into bonds for the faithful performance of their duties, to the satisfaction of the Church authorities. A conference was held in the town of Oakland, Oakland County, Michigan, on the 24th and 25th of January, 1845, presided over by Elder G. Savage. Fourteen branches were represented. Some were ordained to the ministry, and several called as missionaries to travel and preach the gospel. A conference was held at Norwalk, Conn., January 1st and 2nd, 1845, presided over by Elder Lane. was there resolved, "That the sisters organize themselves into a sewing society, to furnish worthy traveling Elders with such cloth* * ing as they need. * And that the brethren assist the sisters in their laudable and praiseworthy undertaking by applying one shilling per week, in purchasing materials for the sisters to make up into clothing." A conference was held in the city of Hartford, Conn., January 4th, 1845. Elder Sirrine was appointed president. 'Four branches were represented. The meetings were well attended, and the gospel preached in plainness." A conference was held at Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan, on the 1st of February, 1845.

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Elder Charles Dalton presided. It continued for three days. One was held in the Franklin Hall, St. Louis, February 10th, 1845. There were represented, four High Priests, eighteen Seventies, twentyfive Elders, fifteen Priests, six Teachers, six Deacons, and three hundred and twenty members. was resolved by the conference "that we view with mingled emotions of grief and surprise the proceedings of the highest court in the State of Illinois, in taking away the chartered rights of NauVoo. If they were granted wrong they were taken wrong. Resolved, that although surrounded by apostates from the Church, who exhibit no better spirit than the murderers of the Prophet and Patriarch, yet we feel perfectly safe in the midst. of an enlightened people, who alike know how to appreciate political liberty and religious freedom; and who have too much respect for the sanctity of constitutional rights. to trample upon the laws and rights of others." Resolved, "that we will use every exertion in our power to uphold and sustain the Twelve Apostles, as the present head; and also to use a unity of effort, to help rear the temple of God."

A conference was held in Manchester, England, February 16th, 1845. President Wilford Woodruff presided. Much business was accomplished, and a good spirit prevailed. President Woodruff attended conference at Bradford, in Yorkshire, England, on the 23rd of February, 1845.

One was held at Waynesville, Ohio, March 8th, 1845. Elder J. Bair presided. Seven branches were represented. President Wilford Woodruff attended conference in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on the 16th of March, 1845, and in the city of Edinburg, on Sunday, March 23rd, 1845. One was held near Alquina, Fayette County, Ia., in the month of March, 1845. Elder David Pettegrew presided. Conference was held in the district of Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, February 15th, 1845. Elder A. O. Smoot presided. Five branches were represented.

One was held in the city of Quincy, Ill., on the 9th of March, 1845. General conference was held in the city of Nauvoo, on the 6th of April, 1845. Times and Seasons, Vol. VI. p. 169. Nine of the quorum of the Twelve were present. The general Church authorities were unanimously sustained by the vote of the conference. It was moved "that accept the labors of Joseph Smith as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator to the nineteenth century; and that we are satisfied that he lived

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according to his profession, and died a martyr to the truth." The motion was carried unanimously. It was moved "that we accept the labors of Hyrum Smith, believing that he lived according to his profession, and died a martyr to the truth." It was carried unanimously. The Twelve were sustained, as the First Presidency of the Church. The editor adds: "Never have we seen the time before when the people were more willing to receive and listen to counsel than now. The High Council have only one case in about seven weeks. Our magistrates have nothing to do. We have little or no use for charter or law. Every man is doing his best to cultivate the ground, and all are anxious to provide things "honestly in the sight of all men

-to honor our God, our country and its laws. Whenever a dispute or diffiulty arises, a word from the proper source puts all to right, and no resort to law. May God ever save us from the snares of men, this drainer of money, and this fruitful source of contention and strife." David John.

says that "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated; and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law, upon which it is predicated." If it is possible to get blessings only in compliance with law, the opposite holds true, and it is only by breaking law that we are visited with woe. Now, there is a very well known law, which I call just here the law of blackness. If I put my hand upon ink it becomes smutted. Every kingdom has its laws; the laws of physical purity and cleanliness demand that if I would be clean I must strictly avoid ink.

For every physical law and its reward and punishment, its attendant phenomena, there is a spiritual law with attendant results, which can be likened strongly unto the physical; or rather let us say, that the temporal is only a type of the spiritual, and whatever is created temporal has its complement in the spiritual world. So then, if I find myself compelled to handle spiritual ink, the stain will come upon my spirit. There it will be, no doubt, as visible to the spiritual eyes as the ink is to the natural eyes. There are all sorts of ink in the spiritual world. I think any of my readers can name many sorts of this article. So then, if we are obliged through unavoidable circumstances to handle the black stuff for a short period, let us make sure that we realize its inky character, and take measures to rub or wash it off as soon as can be possible. That is what we would do if the stain were on our natural hand. Why should we allow it to remain upon our spirit to corrode and canker that? Far more essential is it that we should proceed to give. our spirit a thorough cleansing from the vile smut, and in future avoid a repetition of the misfortune if at all possible.