| 245 clearly indicated in the following extracts. Elder Magnus Fyrando, writing from Wanship, Utah, October 13, states:
Attended Brighamite conference on the 7th in the Tabernacle; heard Orson Pratt give an account of his mission east, also J. F. Smith. He said: "We are lacking part of church history, so went down to see if we could find some, but we found that we had all they had and a good deal more; went to David Whitmer to get the manuscript of the Book of Mormon, but found he would not part with it under any consideration; however he being an apostate had no right to it, but it belonged to the church, and it did not belong to any apostate." They then visited Kirtland; got the dimensions of the Temple; went to Plano to visit his cousin Joseph Smith, "but not to get him to come and lead the church; no, we don't want any apostate to lead the church as long as we have such good men among us (turning to J. Taylor and Orson Hyde) that have borne the burden and heat of the day, and never suffered the work to stand still. No, we want no apostates to led us. God will raise up men to lead his church."
In the Herald for October 15, President Joseph Smith expressed his views on the subject as follows:
From the Richmond, Missouri, Conservator, we learn that Messrs. O. Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, on their way east, visited Father David Whitmer, with the apparent object of obtaining from him the manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon, of which he has long been the honored custodian. That aged shepherd refused to surrender the manuscripts, properly regarding himself the rightful guardian of that record. Whatever may have been the circumstances under which these manuscripts were left in his care and keeping, we have no doubt but what Mr. Whitmer was honestly made their custodian; and we are pleased to see with what fidelity he guards the trust confided to him. Yes, we honor the steadfastness with which he retains that record; and while he so retains it he states unmistakably that he knows the book to be of divine origin, and that the testimony given by him so long ago, as found affixed to the first edition, and prefixed to later ones, is true and faithful, we are content that he shall still maintain his integrity and keep his trust inviolate.
As an instance showing how the doctrine taught by the Latter Day Saints had affected the adherents of other faiths, we insert an account of a "Prophetic Conference" held in New York City on November 1, 1878:
"THE PROPHETIC CONFERENCE."
A number of clergymen of different denominations, but having personal views respecting certain doctrines, lately agreed to meet in conference and put in form their views. This conference met in New York City, on the 1st of November, just passed, and embodied their belief in a few brief resolutions. We take pleasure in
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