On the 3rd of July, 1835, Michael H. Chandler, came to Kirtland exhibiting four mummies and some rolls of papyrus covered with hieroglyphic figures. Mr. Chandler had been directed to the Prophet Joseph Smith as one who could translate the characters for him. At his request Joseph Smith gave a translation of a few of them which Mr. Chandler stated agreed with the decipherings of learned men who had examined them. He gave the Prophet a certificate to this effect. Shortly after this interview some of the Saints in Kirtland purchased the mummies and the manuscripts, and, with Oliver Cowdery and Wm. W. Phelps as scribes, the Prophet commenced to translate these records. To their great joy they discovered that one of these rolls contained writings of Abraham, or instructions given to him in Egypt from the Lord. The other contained writings of Joseph, son of Jacob. During the summer the Prophet prepared for the complete translation of the Book of Abraham, as it is called, which now appears in the Pearl of Great Price,[5] one of the accepted standard works of the Church. The Doctrine and Covenants A general assembly of the Church was held in Kirtland, August 17, 1835, to consider the labors, of a committee appointed by a general assembly of the Church, September 24, 1834, for the purpose of arranging the items of doctrine and the revelations for publication. This committee was composed of the following: Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams. The committee having finished their work they called a general assembly on the above date to consider their labors. It should be understood that the printing of the revelations according to the action of the conference of the Church, on a previous date in 1831, had miscarried, due to the destruction of the printing press in Independence in July, 1833, and the destruction of most of the forms which had been issued up to that time. At this general assembly Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, of the presidency, were in charge; the Prophet and Frederick G. Williams were at the time on a visit in Michigan. All the quorums of the Priesthood were arranged in order; Thomas Burdick, Warren Parrish and Sylvester Smith were appointed clerks. The usual procedure at conferences of the Church was followed, and the morning session was devoted to ordinations and the transaction of other important business. In the afternoon Oliver Cowdery introduced the "Book of Doctrine and Covenants of the Church" in behalf of the committee. Sidney Rigdon followed with instructions pertaining to the manner of voting, by which they intended to obtain the voice of the assembly for or against the book. Each of the councils and quorums of the Priesthood then by separate vote acknowledged the revelations which had been selected for a place in the book, as from the Lord, and the doctrine and covenants of their faith. A written acknowledgment from the Twelve Apostles, which had evidently been prepared before their