Nov 25^th Took the parting hand with Elder Sherwood
I then set out in company with Elder S^m^oot on foot in a hard
snowstorm for Kirtland we came in sight of the
Temple of the Lord before we reached the village & I
truly felt to rejoice at the sight as it was the first
time that mine eyes ever beheld the house of the Lord
built by commandment & Revelation. We soon entered
the village & I spent one of the happiest days of my life at
this time in visiting Kirtland & the House of the Lord &
the Presidents & Elders of the Church I was truly
edified to again strike hands with President Joseph
Smith Jr. & many other beloved saints of God who are
rolling on the mighty work of God & of Israel after
being seperated from them for 2 1/2 years & amoung
the rest I was filled with joy with the priviledg of
again meeting with Elder Warren Parrish & also being
made acquainted with his companion Sister Parrish. Ther
is an enjoyment in meeting our brethren & companions
in tribulations that the world knows not off because it
flows from a celestial source. After spending a short
time in conversing with my friends A more important
scene was now to open to my view than Kings ever
saw or Princes ever Knew in this generation which
was to visit the Temple of the Lord & its contents
Elder Smoot & myself visited each appartment of the
House accompanied by Elder Parrish & I must confess
the scenery is indisscribable When I entered the
threshhold of the house & Passed theinto athe lower room
their was great solemnity if not Awe immediately overwh-
elmed me I felt indeed as if my footsteps were in the
Temple of the Lord After walking into the Pulpets, erected
for the Priesthoods & viewing the curtains all bespeaking
that grandure, solemnity & order that nothing short
of wisdom from God could invent. We then visited
the upper rooms & there viewed four Egyptian Mumies
& also the Book of Abram written by his own

hand & not ownly the hyieroglyphicks but also many figures
of the that this precious treasure contains are calculated
to make a lasting impression upon the mind which is not
to be erased many other important views I was Privileged
with in the upper story the school rooms, belfry &c.
all indicating great Architecture & wisdom we then
spent some time in visiting the Bank & Printing office
But wonder on wonder strikes my sense to look into
the casket of the great work of Israels God in these
last Days as the Prophet exclaims he does things
we looked not for [Isaiah 64:3]: Two & a half years since I left
Kirtland with my Brethren in their Poverty to go fourth
to visit our brethren in tribulation in Zion then our
Brethren in Kirtland were poor, despised, & even looked
upon dBy the pomp of Babylon with Disdain & disgrace
who stood waiting with eager eyes to beholbd them
sink into forgetfulness. But how changed the scene
now I behold a cheerfulness beaming upon every
countenance that indicates Prosperity & the noise
of the ax & the hammer & the sight of their walls &
dwellings newly erected & their Bank & market &
esspecially house of God speaks in language loud as
thunder that the Saints will have a city in prosp-
erity in spite of all the fals Prophets of Baal or
even earth or hell because God is with them &
his Temple stands in honor of his Kingdom while
babylon begins to wonder & will soon perish
we spent the day with Elder Parrish {Distance} 9 mile

The money I expended i expended in my travels
from Paducah KY to Kirtland Ohio fees aboard
steam Boats & stagees, board lodgings &c was
$16.65 Also I Paid $5.00 for a cloak making
$21.65 in all