you a promise that you shall be delivered this once out of your bondage, inasmuch as you obtain a chance to loan money by hundreds and thousands, even till you have obtained enough to deliver yourselves out of bondage.”  This was a command to borrow money, in order to free themselves from the debt that oppressed them.  They made the attempt, but failed to get sufficient to meet their exigencies.  This led to another expedient.

In 1835, Smith, Rigdon, and others, formed a mercantile house, and purchased goods in Cleveland and in Buffalo to a very large amount, on a credit of six months.  In the fall other houses were formed, and goods purchased in the eastern cities to a still greater amount.  A great part of the goods of these houses went to pay the workmen on the temple, and many were sold on credit, so that when the notes came due the house was not able to meet them.  Smith, Rigdon, and Co., then attempted to borrow money, by issuing their notes, payable at different periods after date.  This expedient not being effectual, the idea of a bank suggested itself.  Accordingly, in 1837, the far-famed Kirkland bank was put into operation, without any charter.

This institution, by which so many have been swindled, was formed after the following manner.  Subscribers for stock were allowed to pay the amount of their subscriptions in town lots, at five or six times their real value; others paid in personal property at a high valuation; and some paid the cash.  When the notes were first issued, they were current in the vicinity, and Smith took advantage of their credit to pay off with them the debts he and the brethren had contracted in the neighbourhood for land and other purchases.  The eastern creditors, however, refused to take their notes.  This led to the expedient of exchanging them for the notes of other banks.

Accordingly, the elders were sent off the country to barter Kirkland money, which they did with great zeal, and continued the operation until the notes were not worth sixpence to the dollar.  As might have been expected, this institution exploded after a few months, involving Smith and his brethren in inextricable difficulties.  The consequence was that he and most of the members of the church set off.  In the spring of 1838, for Missouri, pursued by their creditors, but to no effect.

We must now go back for a short period to state another circumstance.  In 1836 an endowment meeting, or solemn assembly, was called, to be held in the temple at Kirkland.  It was given out that those who were in attendance at the meeting should receive an endowment or blessing similar to that experienced by the disciples of Christ on the day of Pentecost.  When the day arrived, great numbers convened from the different churches in the country.  They spent the day In fasting and prayer, and in washing and perfuming their bodies; they also washed their feet and anointed their heads with what they called holy oil, and pronounced blessings.