I was engaged in reading at home until time for meeting, when I went to the tabernacle. Pres. Woodruff spoke first: "There has been a warfare between the powers of light and darkness ever since the fall of Lucifer. The Lord raises up holy men and prophets at various times to warn the wicked of their destruction unless then repent, and thus He never allows them to be destroyed without first giving them an opportunity to repent of their sins and be saved. Joseph Smith was one of these men. He did a mighty work for the good of mankind, but as is the case with other prophets, he has been misunderstood. He had enemies among his nearest friends, for at one time in Kirtland [Ohio] members of the Twelve, and even the witnesses to the Book of Mormon turned against him, and sought to take his life. They were smart men according to the ideas of men, and sought to direct the affairs of the church, and this was the cause of the apostasy. Only two of the apostles who were then in Kirtland stood faithfully by the Prophet. I was a seventy, and was visited by the apostates, but I told them they would all go to hell if they did not repent. One apostle stood in the aisle of the Kirtland temple and cursed the Prophet. As the sacrament was passed to him, he seized a piece of bread and threw it into his mouth, like a mad dog. He thus ate and drank damnation to his soul. He afterwards drowned himself. No man will ever see a representation of these scenes. We are too near the end. Those whom God has now chosen will be true to the end. We should watch and pray, however, that we fail not. I hope I may live to see the union of the Priesthood and people. All that has been spoken will be fulfilled. When Joseph and Hyrum [Smith] met with nine of the apostles for the last time, shortly before his death, he was transfigured before them, his face shone like amber, and gave us all the keys of the kingdoms. He told us we must warn the world or God would hold us accountable. I am the only one of that quorum now left. These apostles and the Presidency are united. Whatever we do that is wrong we will have to atone for. I want you elders to cease troubling about who God and the other holy personages are. We know enough about them for our salvation, and when we get where they are we will know more."