offered; then they could take a cheaper lot in the outskirts of
the city and have money left to fix up comfortably.

All classes, Jews and Gentiles, were allowed to settle there, one
man's money being as good as another's. No restrictions were
placed on the people; they had the right to trade with anyone
that suited them. All classes attended meetings, dances,
theaters, and other gatherings, and were permitted to eat and
drink together. The outsiders were invited to join in all of our
amusements. Ball was a favorite sport with the men, and the
Prophet frequently took a hand in the game. He appeared to treat
all men alike, and never condemned a man until he had given him a
fair trial to show what was in him.

Among the first things was the laying of the foundation of the
Temple. When this was done each man was required to do one day's
work in every ten days, in quarrying rock or doing other work for
the structure. A company was sent up the Mississippi River to the
Pineries to get out lumber for the Temple and other public
buildings. The money for city lots went into the Church treasury
to purchase materials for the Temple which could not be supplied
by the Saints' own labor.

At the conference in April, 1840, the Prophet delivered a lengthy
address upon the history and condition of the Saints. He reminded
the brethren that all had suffered alike for the sake of the
gospel. The rich and the poor had been brought to a common level
by persecution; many of the brethren owed debts that they had
been forced to contract in order to get out of Missouri alive. He
considered it unchristianlike for the brethren to demand the
payment of such debts; he did not wish to screen anyone from the
just payment of his debts, but he did think that it would be for
the glory of the Kingdom if the people, of their own will, freely
forgave each other all their existing indebtedness, one to the
other, renew their covenants with Almighty God and with each
other, refrain from evil, and live their religion. By this means
God's Holy Spirit would support and bless the people.

The people were then asked if they were in favor of thus bringing
about the year of jubilee. All that felt so inclined were asked
to make it known by raising their hands; every hand in the
audience was raised. The Prophet declared all debts of the
Saints, to and from each other, forgiven and wiped out. He then
gave the following words of advice to the people:

"I wish y