"President Joseph Smith, Jr., being our foreman in the quarry; the Presidency, high priests, and elders all alike assisting. Those who had teams assisted in drawing the stone to the house. These all laboring one day in the week, brought as many stones to the house as supplied the masons through the whole week. We continued in this manner until the walls of the house were reared. The committee who were appointed by revelation to superintend the building of the house were, Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter. These men used every exertion in their power to forward the work."

The corner stone of the Temple was laid July 24, 1833, and for nearly three years the labor of construction was carried on day and night with unceasing and enthusiastic sacrifice. The Temple was dedicated March 27, 1836. It was a day of mysterious and emotional enthusiasm; for four days and four nights following, the Saints abandoned themselves to an excited religious fervor. There were four hundred and sixteen elders, priests, teachers and deacons assembled in the Temple, and there were gathered there many thousands from all over Northern Ohio.

Joseph Smith, Jr. was in the atmosphere of his highest power. Visions appeared to him; among those present he announced Moses, Elijah and Elisha. These ancient prophets appeared, so he announced, and bestowed upon him supreme power over things spiritual and temporal. Angels freely communicated with him. on this eventful day, and they mingled freely in the throng, but were not visible to any mortal eyes save his. Brigham Young also appeared in great glory.

He was seized with the "gift of tongues," and although his sermon was unintelligible, every one of the faithful knew it was the language of inspiration. There were other signs and wonders. Hovering over the Temple was seen a pillar of fire, and in the air, supernatural sounds of heavenly music were heard. The ceremony of washing the feet was performed on the night of March 27, and each Saint performed this service for another. The Mormon records tell that many remained in the Temple all night "gloryfying God and prophesying." These scenes kept up until March 31, and on their termination, the Saints felt as if they had really reached the Promised Land.

The Kirtland temple was built on elevated ground and it may be seen a long distance off; it is three miles southeast of Willoughby and six miles direct from Lake Erie. It is a massive structure of rough stone plastered over with cement and marked in imitation of regular courses of masonry. It is sixty by eighty feet and three stories high beside the basement. In the front wall, over the largest window is the inscription, "House of the Lord, built by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, A. D. 1834.' The first and second stories are auditoriums, 55 by 65 feet. The attic or third story is divided into five apartments. In each of the auditoriums are four pulpits, one rising above the other and each holding three persons. These pulpits were designed for the priesthood of Aaron and Melchisedec. Such is this queer structure as it stands to-day. It is an architectural monstrosity and yet it remains as a historic memorial of great human endeavor and enthusiasm. For that day and that people, it was a

courageous undertaking, and its cost-sixty thousand dollars-was itself of great magnitude when we bear in mind the scarcity of money at that time.

The next few years of the Church at Kirtland saw the ecclesiastical machinery increased with a view both to more effective organization and a more imposing symbolism. On March 18, 1833, the first Presidency was established, consisting of Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams. These three were also to be presidents of the High Council, which was created February 17, 1834. This body was composed of the following High Priests: Joseph Smith, Sr., John Smith, Joseph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, Jared Carter, Oliver Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith and Luke Johnson. This was the judiciary of the Church, and was the Court of Last Appeal for all disputes. In the language of the Mormon record: "The High Council was appointed by revelation for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the Church, which could not be settled by the Church or the Bishop's Council to the satisfaction of the Party."

On May 3, 1834, the Elders formally chose the name of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" to designate the new spiritual organization. Following this action other important church measures were adopted, looking to its perfection. On February 14, 1835, a quorum of Twelve Apostles was organized, consisting of Lyman E. Johnson, Brigham Young. Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, David W. Patton, Luke Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, Orson Pratt, William Smith, Thomas B. March and

Parley P. Pratt. On February 28 two Quorums of Seventy were organized. These were the active ministers of the church. They were under the direction of the Twelve Apostles and these in turn were appointed by and acted under the authority of the Presidency. When the general assembly of the church was held on August 17 the "Book of Doctrines and Covenants" was declared to be the rule of faith and Mormon life. On January 4, 1836 a Hebrew professorship was established, and on June 12, 1837, Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde headed a body of foreign missionaries who were sent to England to convert its people to the Mormon faith.

Having reached a point where the church had nearly a perfect organization, almost autocratic power and an increasing membership, it turned into the dangerous channel of money-making and financial investment. The period was one of speculation, and notwithstanding the divine guidance assumed by the Church, it fell into the error of worldly ways. This took the form first of real estate ventures and afterward of banking. Smith himself in his autobiography gives a frank history of the troubles that the church encountered. Says he: "At this time the spirit of speculation in lands and property of all kinds, which were so prevalent throughout the whole nation was taking deep root in the church; as the fruits of this spirit evil surmisings, fault-finding, disunion, dissension and apostasy followed in quick succession, and it seemed as though all the powers of earth and hell were combining their influence in an especial manner to overthrow the church at once and make a final end. The enemy

abroad and apostates in our midst united in their scheme; flour and provisions were turned toward other markets; and many became disaffected toward me, as though I were the sole cause of those very evils I was most strenuously striving against, and which were actually brought upon us by the brethren not giving heed to my counsel. No quorum in the church was entirely exempt from the influence of those false spirits who were striving against me for the mastery; even some of the Twelve were so far lost to their high and responsible calling, as to begin to take sides with the enemy."

The facts are, however, that among the most conspicuous real estate speculators in the church were Joseph Smith, Jr., his father and other relatives. The books of the recorder's office at Chardon are silent witnesses to this fact. A plat, made in April and recorded in May, 1837, provided for a city to be known as "Kirtland City." The Temple was located in the center. The plat shows that there were to be two hundred and twenty-five blocks of twenty lots each, making forty-five hundred city lots in all. In the syndicate putting this allotment on the market, we read names familiar in the church. They were Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph Smith, Jr. and his wife Emma, Eliza R. Snow, the Mormon poetess, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Heber C. Kimball and Sidney Rigdon. Whether the proceeds of this vast real estate project were to go into the church treasury is not known, for rack and ruin came upon the dream of a boom town before it was realized.