History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

94
THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
The first presidency is organized on the 8th of March,
Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams being
Smith's councillors. Money flows in, and a council
of high priests, March 23d, orders the purchasing for
$11,100 of three farms at Kirtland, upon which the
saints may build a stake, or support, in Zion, 29 and the
foundations of the temple are laid, for here they will
remain for five years and make money until the western
Zion shall be made ready and a temple built
there also. On the land is a valuable quarry of stone,
and good clay for bricks; they also buy a tannery.
In April the school of the prophets closes, to reopen in
the autumn. Shederlaomach is made by revelation a
member of the united firm. It is not the will of the
Lord to print any of the new translation in the Star; but
when it is published, it will all go to the world together,
in a volume by itself, and the new testament and the
book of Mormon will be printed together. Those
preparing to go to Zion should organize.
Commandment comes to lay at Kirtland the foundation
of the city of the stake in Zion, with a house
of the Lord, a school-house for the instruction of
elders, a house for the presidency, a house of worship
and for the school of the prophets, an endowment
house with a room for the school of apostles,
and a house in which to print the translation of the
scriptures. A church is established in Medina county,
29 'The church that was to be established in Jackson county was called Zion,
the centre of gathering, and those established by revelation in other places
were called stakes of Zion, or stakes; hence the stake at Kirtland, the stake at
Far West, etc. Each stake was to have a presidency, consisting of three high
priests, chosen and set apart for that purpose, whose jurisdiction was confined
to the limits of the stake over which they took the watch care.' Kidder's
JSlormonism, 121-2. A stake of Zion is an organization comprising a presidency,
high priests, and its council of 12 high priests. The latter is a tribunal
for the trial of brethren. It is a court of appeal from the bishops, and
has also jurisdiction in spiritual matters. Richards' Narrative, MS., 55.
For origin of name, see Doctrine and Convenants (1876), 263. 'The next
year, 1833, commenced with something like a change of operations. Instead
of selling their possessions in Ohio, they again began to buy up improved
land, mills, and water privileges. It would seem that the Missouri
country began to look rather dreary to the prophet and his head men, supposing
that they could not enjoy their power there as well as in Ohio.' Howe's
Mormonism Unveiled, 130.