thed my sword, and will never return it
until the blood of the Prophet Joseph, and Hyrum, and those who
were slain in Missouri, is avenged. This whole nation is guilty
of shedding their blood, by assenting to the deed and holding its
peace. Now," said he, "betray me, any who dare do so!"

Everyone who passed through his endowments in the Temple was
placed under the most sacred obligations to avenge the blood of
the Prophet, whenever opportunity offered, and teach their
children to do the same.

Once I heard Mother Smith, the mother of Joseph the Prophet,
plead with Brigham, with tears, not to rob young Joseph, her
grandchild, of his birthright, which his father, the Prophet,
bestowed upon him previous to his death. Young Joseph should have
succeeded his father as the leader of the Church; it was his
right in the line of the Priesthood.

"I know it," replied Brigham; "don't worry or take any trouble,
Mother Smith; by so doing you are only laying the knife to the
throat of the child. If it be known that he is the rightful
successor of his father the enemies of the Priesthood will seek
his life. He is too young to lead his people now, but when he
arrives at mature age he shall have his place. No one shall rob
him of it."

Brigham sought to establish himself as the leader of the Church.
Many years, however, passed away before he dared assume or claim
to be the rightful successor of Joseph, the Seer, Prophet, and
Revelator to the Church. When the time arrived, according to
Brigham's own words, for Joseph to receive his own, Joseph came,
but Brigham received him not. He said that Joseph lacked the true
spirit. Joseph's mother had married a Gentile lawyer, and had
infused the Gentile spirit into him. Joseph denied the doctrine
of celestial marriage.

Brigham barred young Joseph from preaching in the Tabernacle, and
raised a storm against him. He took Joseph's cousin, George A.
Smith, as his first counselor. This he did as a matter of policy
to prevent George A. from using his influence in favor of Joseph
as the leader of the people, which he otherwise would have done.
He also ordained John Smith, the son of Hyrum the Patriarch, to
the office of Patriarch, and his brother, Joseph F. Smith, to the
office of one of the twelve apostles, thus securing their
influence, telling them also that had young Joseph been willing
to act in harmony with them, the heads of the Church, he could
have had his place, but that he was too m