[Sidenote: Arrival of Delegation from the Church in Missouri.] The High Council of the Church also met this day at my house for the purpose of giving an audience or hearing to Lyman Wight and Parley P. Pratt, delegates from the Church in Missouri, to represent to us the state of the Church in that place. _Minutes of Council Meeting_. President Joseph opened the Council by prayer. Two of the standing Councilors were absent, namely, Joseph Coe and John Smith. Hyrum Smith was chosen to act in the place of John Smith, and John P. Greene to act in the place of Joseph Coe. Thus the High Council was organized, and six Councilors were appointed to speak. Brothers Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight, messengers from Zion, arose, and laid their business before the Council, and delivered their message, the substance of which was: when, how and by what means Zion was to be redeemed from her enemies. They said that our brethren who had been driven away from their lands and scattered abroad, had found so much favor in the eyes of the people [of Clay county, Mo.,] that they could obtain food and raiment of them for their labor, insomuch that they were comfortable. But the idea of their being driven away from the land of Zion pained their very souls, and they desired of God, by earnest prayer, to return with songs of everlasting joy, as said Isaiah, the prophet. They also said that none of their lands were sold into the hands of our enemies, except a piece of thirty acres owned by Brother William E. McLellin, which he sold into the hands of the enemy, and seven acres more which he would have sold to the enemy if a brother had not come forward and purchased it and paid him his money. Brother Joseph then arose, and said that he was going to Zion, to assist in redeeming it. He called for the voice of the Council to sanction his going, which was given without a dissenting voice. He then called for volunteers to go with him, when some thirty or forty volunteered to go, who were present at the Council. It was a question whether the company should go by water or by land, and after a short investigation it was decided unanimously that they go by land. Joseph Smith, Jun., was nominated to be the commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel, and the leader of those who volunteered to go and assist in {40} the redemption of Zion; the nomination was seconded and carried by the vote of all present. Council then adjourned by prayer and thanksgiving. Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery, Clerks. [Sidenote: The Prophet seeks Volunteers to Redeem Zion.] _February 26_.--I started from home to obtain volunteers for Zion, in compliance with the foregoing revelation and action of the High Council; and on the 27th, stayed at Brother Roundy's.