Discourse, 26 May 1844, as Compiled by Leo Hawkins
Source Note
JS, Discourse, , Hancock Co., IL, 26 May 1844; handwriting of with insertions by and Jonathan Grimshaw; dockets in handwriting of Robert L. Campbell and Jonathan Grimshaw; nine pages; JS Collection, CHL.
I am the only man that ever has been able to keep a whole <church> together since the days of Adams— a <large> majority of the whole have stood by me:— <neither> Paul, John, Peter <n>or Jesus never did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as me— the followers of Jesus ran away from him, the Latter Day Saints never ran away from me yet. You know my daily walk and conversation. I am in the bosom of a virtuous and good family <people>. How I do love to hear the wolves howl: when they can get rid of me, the devil will also go. For the last three years I have a record of all my acts and proceedings <for I have kept several good <faithful> and efficient Clerks in constant employ, they have accompanied me every where & carefully kept my history, and they have written down what I have done, where I have been & what I have said>. they <therefore my enemies> cannot charge me with any day or time <or place but what I have written testimony, to prove my actions, and my enemies>— for<&> they cannot prove any thing against me. They have got wonderful things in the Land of Ham. I think the grand Jury have strained at a gnat and swallowed the camel. A man named says I made <an> affidavits against him &c says I arrested him. I never arrested in my life. He says I made <an> affidavits against him. I never made an affidavits against him in my life. I will prove it at <in> Court. <I will tell you how it was:> last winter I got ready with my children to go to the , to kill hogs. was going to drive. An Englishman came in and [p. [2]]