135 years ago today - Mar 23, 1887

Members of first presidency and Twelve meet for "eleven hours and tried every way to cut and contrive a way to keep our property. It was decided to fight the law by proving there was no Church Incorporation and for fear of a decision against us, it was decided to loose all of the property." The federal government was confiscating Church property as part of their campaign against polygamy. Justus Morse swears in an affidavit that he had listened to Smith authorize a Danite meeting in Missouri to "suck the milk of the gentiles." Morse, who remained loyal to the prophet throughout his life, added that Smith explained "that we had been injured by the mob in Missouri, and to take from the gentiles was no sin." Morse also recalls that he and others were directed to assist each other when in difficulty by lying, "and to do it with such positiveness and assurance that no one would question our testimony."