| 5 "A High Council assembled at Kirtland for the purpose of filling the vacancies of the High Council of Zion. Presidents David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps, and fifteen high priests and elders present. President Phelps announced the death of Christian Whitmer on the 27th of November, 1835. Four councilors, namely, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, William E. McLellin, and Thomas B. Marsh, had been chosen apostles, or special witnesses; and Elisha E. Groves was appointed to take the place of P. P. Pratt in the High Council of Zion; Jesse Hitchcock in the place of William E. McLellin; G. M. Hinkle for O. Pratt; Elias Higbee for T. B. Marsh; and Peter Whitmer, Jr., for Christian Whitmer, deceased; who were ordained, at the time, to their office as councilors....
"Thursday, 7th. Attended a sumptuous feast at Bishop N. E. Whitney's. This feast was after the order of the Son of God-the lame, the halt, and blind were invited, according to the instruction of the Savior. Our meeting was opened by singing, and prayer by Father Smith; after which Bishop Whitney's father and mother, and a number of others, were blessed with a patriarchal blessing. We then received a bountiful refreshment, furnished by the liberality of the Bishop. The company was large, and before we partook, we had some of the songs of Zion sung; and our hearts were made glad while partaking of an antepast of those joys that will be poured upon the heads of the Saints, when they are gathered together on Mount Zion, to enjoy each other's society forevermore, even all the blessings of heaven, when there will be none to molest or make us afraid. Returned home, and spent the evening.
"Friday, 8th. Spent the day in the Hebrew school, and made rapid progress in our studies.
"The plastering and hard-finishing on the outside of the Lord's house was commenced on the 2d November, 1835, and finished this day. The job was let to Artemas Millet and Lorenzo Young, at one thousand dollars. Jacob Bump took the job of plastering the inside of the house throughout, at fifteen hundred dollars, and commenced
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