2. _The Book of Commandments:_ By the middle of September, 1831, the revelations which had been received by the Prophet for the direction of individuals and the Church had amounted to quite a number; and as the Church about that time assembled in Conference at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, and authorized W. W. Phelps to purchase a printing press to be set up at Independence, Missouri, it was resolved to make a collection of these revelations and publish them in book form under the title "The Book of Commandments." A special conference was held on this business on the first of November, at Hiram, on which occasion the "Lord's Preface" to the Book of Commandments was received by revelation through the Prophet. (This is now the Lord's Preface to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and stands as section 1.) The Prophet asked the conference what testimony they were willing to attach to this "Book of Commandments," which would shortly be sent to the world. A number of the brethren arose and said that they were willing to testify to the world that they knew that the revelations were of the Lord, and on the succeeding day--for the conference continued through two days--the brethren arose in turn and bore witness of the truth of the Book of Commandments. (History of the Church, Vol. I, p. 222, note.) The Prophet also received by inspiration the formal testimony which it was the intention evidently to have the brethren in attendance at the conference sign, (see note 3), but as the book was never completely printed, this testimony was not published, and its publication seems to have been neglected in subsequent collections and publications of the revelations. It was also resolved by the conference that the number of copies in the first edition to be printed at Independence, Missouri, should be 10,000, but finally in 1832, when the printing was begun, it was considered prudent only to print an edition of 3,000. (Church History, Vol. I, p. 270.) The work of printing began and was continued until 160 pages had been printed, when, on the 20th day of July, 1833, mob violence broke out at Independence, the house of W. W. Phelps, which contained the printing establishment, was thrown down and the printing materials taken possession of by the mob. Many papers were destroyed, and the family furniture thrown out of doors. A number of copies of the Book of Commandments, however, so far as printed, was saved by members of the Church, and one of these coming into the possession of the late President Wilford Woodruff, he deposited it with the Church Historian, in whose possession it now is, and accounted as among the precious documents of the collection of rare books and manuscripts in the Historian's office.