Dear Sir:— I have been informed that a writ was issued against the Steam Ferry ‘New Purchase’ for wharfage on Tuesday last, but no such writ has been served or shown to me, and I am anxious to learn the facts of the case; if it is required I will pay wharfage with the greatest of pleasure, but I would dislike to have cost to pay in addition. I expect to visit this place with my boat at least once a week during the season; you will confer a favor on me by informing me in relation to the Ordinances regulating wharfage &c. It has been rumored that the ‘New Purchase’ was employed to convey to an armed force to attack the citizens in connexion with other companies on account of the late difficulties at your place, but it is not true. I assure you that the Boat will not be employed in any unlawful enterprise, and I further assure you that there is no unkind feeling existing in our place against the people of your place.

“Meeting in the , east of the , June 16th, 1844.

“Prayer by Bishop .

“Choir sung ‘Mortals awake.’

“President Joseph Smith read the 3rd Chap of Revelations, and took for his text 1st. Chap. 6th verse: ‘And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.’

“It is altogether correct in the translation; now you know that of late some malicious and corrupt men have sprung up and apostatized from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and they declare that the Prophet believes in a plurality of Gods, and lo and behold we have discovered a very great secret, they cry, The Prophet says there are many Gods, and this proves that he has fallen. [HC 6:473] It has been my intention for a long time to take up this subject, and lay it clearly before the people, and show what my faith is in relation to this interesting matter. I have contemplated the saying of Jesus (Luke 17 ch. 26 v.) ‘And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man’. And if it rains I’ll preach this doctrine, for the truth shall be preached. I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have selected this text for that express purpose. I wish to declare I have always, and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been preached by the Elders fifteen years. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage, and a Spirit, and these three constitute three distinct personages, and three Gods. If this is in accordance with the new testament lo and behold, we have three Gods any how, and they are plural; and who can contradict it. Our text says, ‘And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father.’ The Apostles have discovered that there were Gods above; for Paul says God was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. My object was to preach the Scriptures, and preach the doctrine they contain, there being a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am bold to declare I have taught all the strong [p. 101]