History of the James’s baptism and ordination by the Smith brothers, blessings that foretell his calling, and the details of the Letter of Appointment.
1a And now it appears that this letter was written on this wise:
1b In February, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-four, James J. Strang, in company with Aaron Smith and under his teaching, visited Nauvoo, the city of the saints, and there was more fully instructed by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon in the gospel.
2a On the twenty-fifth day of February, in that year, he was baptized by Joseph Smith, who gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and blessed him with many and great blessings, and said,
2b I seal upon thy head, against God’s own good time, the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood,
2c And afterwards, but in the same ordinance, Thou shalt hold the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, shalt walk with Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and shalt talk with God face to face.
3a And on the third day of March, in the same year, he was ordained an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by the laying on of hands of Hyrum Smith, according to the testimony of the Spirit of prophecy and the word of the Holy Ghost, and he said,
3b I perceive, by the Spirit which is within me, that thou shalt carry the gospel with the Spirit like flaming fire to many nations, and by thee shall God save the pure of his people.
4a At this time much was said of the necessities of the saints, for want of a suitable country for settlement where they could avoid persecution and continual molestation,
4b And the prophet Joseph asked counsel of James J. Strang, who was greatly learned in geography in regard to many countries, especially California, New Mexico, and Oregon.
4c And he advised an exploration of those countries for determining what facilities for settlement they offered, and gave much information in regard to them, both for the guidance of the explorers and to determine what parts were worth exploration.
5a He also advised a settlement of the saints to be formed immediately on White River in Wisconsin, to consist of mechanics and artisans from the northern and eastern states and provinces of America and from Europe,
5b Because the climate of Nauvoo is unfavorable to the health of such, and the place does not furnish business wherewith to employ them;
5c Both which difficulties would be entirely obviated by such an arrangement, and many other advantages would be gained in peaceable, law-abiding neighbors, cheapness of access, and facility of building.
6 The exploration of the Nebraska country, New Mexico, and upper California was immediately determined on, and arrangements commenced for sending out twenty-five explorers during the following summer.
7a It was enjoined upon James J. Strang by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon to return to Wisconsin and make more full examinations of the country with direct reference to the advantages it might offer to the saints,
7b And to write to Joseph the results of that examination, upon which he would determine, by the best light that God should give him, what ought to be done. 8a Aaron Smith concurred with James J. Strang in recommending a gathering
in Wisconsin, and counselled the selection of the country on White River as the place for planting a stake of Zion;
8b And it was agreed by all that the thing should be looked upon with favor and prosecuted with vigor to a final result.
9a On the twenty-fourth day of May, eighteen hundred and forty-four, James
J. Strang, having completed his examinations and inquiries, wrote the result in a letter to Joseph Smith, to which Aaron Smith a few days after added a note concurring therein and attesting the facts therein stated.
10a This letter contained a minute statement of the advantages for the settlement of the saints which the southeastern section of Wisconsin offered, more especially for the building of a town on White River, immediately west of Burlington.
10b It was put in the post office at Burlington, directed to Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, about the last of May, by Aaron Smith.
11a Moreover, the preceding letter is in answer thereto, and was mailed at Nauvoo on the nineteenth day of June, which plainly appears by the postmark thereon,
11b And directed to James J. Strang at Burlington, in Wisconsin, at which place it arrived by mail at the time before stated, and was taken from the post office on the same day by Caleb P. Barnes, an attorney-at-law,
11c And by him delivered to James J. Strang in the presence of Aaron Smith, who immediately sat down together and opened and read the letter.