ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

A short notice only was given that a solemn assembly would be called of the official members of this church on the 6th inst. for the purpose of washing, anointing, washing of feet, receiving instruction and the further organization of the ministry. We gave notice to a few churches by mail, and more would have been apprized had we been notified in due season to do so ourselves.

We proceed to give a synopsis of the proceedings. Meetings were held by the different quorums, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, to wash and anoint such of their respective members as had not been washed and anointed, that all might be prepared for the meeting on the sixth.

At an early hour on Thursday, the sixth, the official members assembled in the house of the Lord, where the time, for the first two or three hours was spent by the different quorums in washing of feet, singing, praying and preparing to receive instruction from the Presidents of the church. The Presidents together with the Seventies and their presidents repaired to the west room in the attic story, where, for want of time the preceding evening, it became necessary to seal the anointing of those who had recently been anointed and not sealed.

Another subject of vital importance to the church, was the establishing of the grades of the different quorums. It was ascertained that all but one, of the presidents of the seventies, were high priests and when they had ordained and set apart from the quorum of elders, into the quorum of seventies, they had confered upon them the high-priesthood also: this was declared to be wrong, and not according to the order of heaven. New presidents of the seventies were accordingly ordained to fill the place of such of them as were high priests, and the ex officio presidents and such of the seventies as had been legally ordained to the high priesthood, were directed to unite with the quorum of high priests. After closing the particular business in the quorum of the seventies to which we have just alluded, all the quorums assembled in the lower room of the Lords house where they were addressed by the presidents from the stand.

Joseph Smith jr. rose and spoke on the subject of the Priesthood. The Melchisedec High priesthood, he said was no other than the priesthood of the Son of God. There are certain ordinances which belong to the priesthood, and certain results flow from it.

The presidents, or presidency are over the church, and revelations of the mind and will of God to the church are to come through the presidency. This is the order of heaven and the power and privilege of this priesthood. It is also the privilege of any officer in this church, to obtain revelations so far as relates to his particular calling or duty in the church. All are bound by the principles of virtue and happiness, but one great privilege of this priesthood is to obtain revelations, as before observed, of the mind and will of God. It is also the privilege of the Melchisedec priesthood, to reprove, rebuke and admonish, as well as to receive revelations.

He here remarked something concerning the will of God, and said, that what God commanded, the one half of the church would condemn. A high Priest, is a member of the same Melchisedec priesthood, with the presidency, but not of the same power or authority in the church. The seventies are also members of the same priesthood, are a sort of travelling council, or priesthood, and may preside over a church or churches until a high priest can be had. The seventies are to be taken from the quorum of elders and are not to be high priests. They are subject to the direction and dictation of the twelve, who have the keys of the ministry. All are to preach the gospel, by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, and no man, said he, can preach the gospel without the Holy Ghost.

The Bishop was a high priest, and necessarily so, because he is to preside over that particular branch of church affairs that are denominated the lesser priesthood, and because we have no direct lineal descendant of Aaron to whom it would of right belong. He remarked that this was the same, or a branch of the same priesthood; and illustrated his position by the figure of the human body, which has different members, which have different offices to perform: all are necessary in their place, and the body is not complete without all the members. From a view of the requirements of the servants of God to preach the gospel, he remarked that few were qualified even to be priests, and if a priest understood his duty, his calling and ministry and preached by the Holy Ghost, his enjoyment is as great as if he were one of the presidency; and his services are necessary in the body, as are also those of teachers and deacons. Therefore in viewing the church as whole, we may strictly denominate it one priesthood.

He remarked that he rebuked and admonished his brethren frequently, and that because he loved them; not because he wished to incur their displeasure or mar their happiness.

Such a course of conduct was not calculated to gain the good will of all, but rather the ill will of many, and thereby the situation in which he stood was an important one. So you see, brethren the higher the authority, the greater the difficulty of the station. But these rebukes and admonitions became necessary from the perverseness of brethren, for their temporal as well as spiritual welfare. They actually constituted a part of the duties of his station and calling.

Others had other duties to perform that were important and far less enviable, and might be just as good, like the feet or hands in their relation to the human body, neither could claim priority, or say to the other I have no need of you. After all that has been said the greatest duty and the most important is, to preach the gospel.

He then alluded to the temporal affairs of the church in this place, stating the causes of the embarrassments of a pecuniary nature that were now pressing upon the heads of the church. He observed they began poor, were needy, destitute, and were truly afflicted by their enemies; yet the Lord commanded them to go forth and preach the gospel, to sacrifice their time, their talents, their good name and jeopardize their lives, and in addition to this, they were to build a house for the Lord, and prepare for the gathering of the saints.

Thus it was easy to see this must involve them. They had no temporal means in the beginning commensurate with such an undertaking, but this work must be done, this place had to be built up. He further remarked that it must yet be built up, that more houses must be built. He observed that large contracts had been entered into for land on all sides where our enemies had signed away their right. We are indebted to them to be sure, but our brethren abroad have only to come with their money, take these contracts, relieve their brethren of the pecuniary embarrassments under which they now labor, and procure for themselves a peaceable place of rest among us. He then closed at about 4 P. M. by uttering a prophesy saying this place must be built up, and would be built up, and that every brother that would take hold and help secure and discharge those contracts that had been made, should be rich.

President, Hyrum Smith then rose and addressed the audience. The main drift of his remarks alluded to the temporal affairs of the church. He censured those who counselled such brethren as moved to this place, when they were not authorized to give advice.

He also alluded in terms of disapprobation, to the practice of some individuals in getting money from brethren that come in, when it ought to be appropriated to the discharge of heavy debts that are now hanging over the heads of the church, or the payments of the land contracts which had been made for the benefit of the saints in this place. He closed his remarks by plain practical advice and exhortation, at 25 minutes before 5 P. M.

President Oliver Cowdery rose immediately and made a few brief and pertinent remarks relative to the preaching of the gospel and teaching the people.

He opposed the idea of elders attempting to preach or teach that which they did not know, saying that this generation could bear no more than is already revealed, therefore, elders, to any that attempt to teach, or preach the gospel, ought to study diligently & attentively the things that God has revealed and commanded and press the necessity of obedience to them. He made but few other remarks and then closed.

President Sidney Rigdon rose a little before five P. M. and said that the object of this mission & ministry, was the gathering together of the saints. The preaching of the gospel was the first thing. Nothing can effect the gathering of the saints but that. A place to gather them is also important and both are to be had in view, when we preach.

He then alluded to the debt that had been contracted by the committee for building the Lord's house, and further said that the elders must go forth and do their duty. Others, he said had a duty to do and they must to theirs, or trouble would, most assuredly come upon them. It was the will of God he said that all should be industrious, in extricating themselves from debt.

In the course of his remarks he stated three principle items, that constituted nearly the aggregate of debt that now remained unliquidated. The first he said was a charge of six thousand dollars of which he was able to speak definitely from correct data, which was appropriated and expended in consequence of the brethren being driven by a lawless mob from their possessions in Jackson county Mo.

Another was building this house. The nature of this debt had been changed, and was now a merchant debt. (Id,) the committee had purchased goods, and these goods had been sold to workmen, and for materials for the building, consequently the committee were curtailed in their available means to make remittances for them, and a great share of that debt remained unliquidated. He stated from minutes that were furnished him during the time he was remarking upon this item, that the unliquidated debt for the building was rising of thirteen thousand dollars.

This, he said, was to lay a foundation for the gathering of Israel. Another item of debt was for the purchase of land, that there might be a place of rest, a place of safety, a place that the saints might lawfully call their own. The elders that now go abroad to preach, have a duty to do that they can do understandingly.

When they speak upon the subject of the gathering, they can urge the necessity and propriety of the measure from the facts that we have a place for them, and not only so, it is the will of God that they should come.

He then stated the sum in round numbers that he thought would be sufficient to meet the whole debt, which must be met that we might dwell in peace. This, said he, will make this stake of Zion safe. This is no fiction, but a solemn fact, a reality. He felt assured the object might be accomplished if all will exert themselves.

All cannot go out from home to labor in preaching and proclaiming the gospel, but such as cannot go can contribute, or in some way assist, the families of those who can go.

He then uttered a prediction, that if all would exert themselves as they might, three months should not pass away before we can shout victory over the adversary.

He exhorted all not to prey upon each other, for the time being, and say pay me what thou owest, but contribute all in their power to discharge the great debts that now hang over the church. He exhorted to diligence, to faithfulness, and on these, promised deliverance; and thus closed his address at half past five P. M.

Bread and water were then distributed liberally among all the quorums, and it was truly a refreshing season to soul and body. The meeting was then dismissed by a benediction.

Many brethren and sisters assembled in the evening for prayer and exhortation, and some few tarried nearly all night.

Thus ended our anniversary, and we hope and trust good was done. Important instructions were certainly given and enforced with an energy of expression and a clearness of thought and perception, not to be mistaken: and believing as we do, that a general good feeling pervaded the whole audience, we trust that it will be a time long to be remembered from important items of instructions being treasured up into good and honest hearts. ED.