Jonathan Dunham, Phineas H. Young, David D. Yearsley, and David Fullmer, volunteered to go; and Alphonzo Young, James Emmett, George D. Watt, and Daniel Spencer were requested to go. Voted the above persons to be notified to meet with the council on Friday evening next, at the assembly room, WILLARD RICHARDS, Clerk. {224} _Thursday, 22.--_At home. Ice continues to run in the river. Very pleasant, cool nights. _Friday, 23.--_W. W. Phelps received a letter from John Whitmer in relation to certain records, and a book containing some of the early history of the Church which had been written by my clerks, and was Church property, and which had been fraudulently detained from my possession by John Whitmer; to which Dr. Richards replied. [Sidenote: The Western Exploring Equipment.] Met with the Twelve in the assembly room concerning the Oregon and California Exploring Expedition; Hyrum and Sidney present. I told them I wanted an exploration of all that mountain country. Perhaps it would be best to go direct to Santa Fe. "Send twenty-five men: let them preach the Gospel wherever they go. Let that man go that can raise $500, a good horse and mule, a double barrel gun, one-barrel rifle, and the other smooth bore, a saddle and bridle, a pair of revolving pistols, bowie-knife, and a good sabre. Appoint a leader, and let them beat up for volunteers. I want every man that goes to be a king and a priest. When he gets on the mountains he may want to talk with his God; when with the savage nations have power to govern, &c. If we don't get volunteers, wait till after the election." George D. Watt said, "Gentlemen, I shall go." Samuel Bent, Joseph A. Kelting, David Fullmer, James Emmett, Daniel Spencer, Samuel Rolfe, Daniel Avery, and Samuel W. Richards, volunteered to go. _Saturday, 24.--_At home. Had an interview with Brother Phelps at nine o'clock. Seth Palmer, Amos Fielding, Charles Shumway, and John S. Fullmer volunteered to go to Oregon and California. Fifteen hundred copies of my "Views" out of press. Very pleasant the past two weeks; the pleasantest February I ever saw. {225} President Brigham Young went to Knowlton's settlement on Bear creek, and preached. _Sunday, 25.--_I preached at the temple block. Hyrum also preached. [Sidenote: A Prophecy of Deliverance of the Saints] Evening, I attended prayer-meeting in the assembly room, We prayed that "General Joseph Smith's Views of the Powers and Policy of the United States," might be spread far and wide, and be the means of opening the hearts of the people. I gave some important instructions, and prophesied that within five years we should be out of the power of our old enemies, whether they were apostates or of the world; and told the brethren to record it, that when it comes to pass they need not say they had forgotten the saying. Some rain in the evening; cloudy and foggy. _Monday, 26.--_At home. A cold wind from the north. Rainy, dull day.