I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write . . . .

I was in Nauvoo on the 26th of May, 1846, for the last time, and left the city of the Saints feeling that most likely I was taking a final farewell of Nauvoo for this life. I looked upon the temple and city as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the sacrifices of His Saints.

The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of this church to lead you astray.

The Lord never had - and never will have to the end of time - a church on the earth without prophets, apostles, and inspired men. Whenever the Lord had a people on the earth that he acknowledged as such, that people were led by revelation.

If there was no other motive in view [except] to have the privilege of reading over our journals and for our children to read, it would pay for the time spent in writing it.

When we get into the spirit world, and the veil is withdrawn, we shall then perhaps understand the whys and wherefores.

This manifesto only refers to future marriages, and does not affect past conditions.