At the Far West temple site, in jeopardy if detected by anti-Mormons, apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Pratt, and John E. Page ordain Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith as apostles to fulfill one of Joseph Smith's earlier revelations. The "thus saith the Lord" revelation stated that on this day they were to lay the cornerstone for the Far West temple. Shortly after midnight they roll a large stone to the corner of the temple lot to fulfill the revelation. Eighteen other Mormons, including four women, also brave the mobs by attending this ceremony.
Note: Wilford Woodruff recorded the following in his journal:
... The events of this day are worthy of record for a Revelation of God & commandment is this day fulfilled & that to under Circumstances which to all human appearance could not have been done. The Lord had given a Commandment to the Twelve to assemble upon the building spot of the house of the Lord in far west Caldwell Co Mo on the 26th day of April & there take the parting hand with the Saints to go to the nations of the earth. But persecution had arisen to such an highth that about ten thousand souls of the Saints had been driven from the State, & the city far west almost made desolate & lade waste while at the same time the Presidency Joseph & his council with other Elders were in prision & they had been under the sentance of death several times because of their religion & they would have been put to death had not the Lord saved them for their lives were in his hands & notwithstanding the lives of those men were preserved yet there were about thirty five souls martered & put to death. David W. Patten one of the Twelve Apostles were among the marterd. And not ownly so but the Missourians had sworn that the revelation above alluded to should not be fulfilled.
It was in the midst of these imbaressments that we mooved forward to the building spot of the house of the Lord in the City of far west & held a Council & fulfilled the revelation & Commandment & took our leave of the Saints & rode 32 miles & Camped. 32 miles.
... Resolved that the following persons should be no more fellowshiped ...
The Council then proceded to the building spot of the Lords house ... Willford Woodruff & George A. Smith ... to the office of the Twelve to fill the place of those who had fallen. ...
Elder Alpheus Cutler then placed the stone before alluded to in its regular position after which in consequence of the peculiar situation of the Saints he thought it wisdom to adjourn untill some future time when the Lord should open the way expressing his determination then to procede with the building. ...
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
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