Discourse, 26 May 1844, as Compiled by Leo Hawkins

I am the only man that ever has been able to keep a whole <​church​> together since the days of Adams— a <​large​> majority of the whole have stood by me:— <​neither​> Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus never did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as me— the followers of Jesus ran away from him, the Latter Day Saints never ran away from me yet. You know my daily walk and conversation. I am in the bosom of a virtuous and good family <​people​>. How I do love to hear the wolves howl: when they can get rid of me, the devil will also go. For the last three years I have a record of all my acts and proceedings <​for I have kept several good <​faithful​> and efficient Clerks in constant employ, they have accompanied me every where & carefullykept my history, and they have written down what I have done, where I have been & what I have said​>. There<​fore my enemies​> cannot charge me with any day or time <​or place— but what I have written testimony, to prove my actions, and my enemies​>— for & they cannot prove any thing against me. They have got wonderful things in the Land of Ham. I think the grand Jury have strained at a gnat and swallowed the camel. A man name Simpson says I made <​an​> affidavits against him &c Mr Simpson says I arrested him. I never arrested Mr Simpson in my life. He says I made <​an​> affidavits against him. I never made an affidavits against him in my life. I will prove it at <​in​> Court. <​I will tell you how it was:​> PLast winter I got ready with my children to go to the , to kill hogs. was going to drive. An Englishman came in and [p. 2]