--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1840 to 1841. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 2 number: 12 published: 1841-04-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Laying the corner stone of the Temple. General Conference,” *Times and Seasons* 2, no. 12 (April 15, 1841): 380–381." printed_title: Laying the corner stone of the Temple. General Conference. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-04-15_2_12 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v2n12.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-04-15_2_12 start_page: 380 end_page: 381 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1841 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-04-15_2_12 publication_year: 1841 --- # Laying the corner stone of the Temple. General Conference "Oh! that I could paint the scenes Which on my heart are sketch'd" The general conference of the church together with the laying of the corner stones of the Temple of our God, now building in this city, have long been anticipated by the saints of the Most High, both far and near, with great pleasure, when they should once more behold the foundation of a house laid in which they might worship the God of their fathers. It frequently happens, that our anticipations of pleasure and delight, are raised to such a height that even exceeds the enjoyment itself, but we are happy to say, this was not the case with the immense multitude who witnessed the proceedings of the sixth of April, and subsequent days of conference. The scenes were of such a character, the enjoyment so intense, that left anticipation far behind. However anxious we are to portray the grandeur and majesty of the celebrations, the union and order which every way prevailed, we are confident, we shall come very far short of doing them justice. For some days prior to the sixth, the accession of strangers to our city was great, and on the wide spread prairie, which bounds our city, might be seen various kinds of vehicles wending their way from different points of the compass to the city of Nauvoo, while the fery [ferry] boats on the Mississippi were constantly employed in wafting travellers [travelers] across its rolling and extensive bosom. Among the citizens, all was bustle and preparation, anxious to accomodate [accommodate] their friends who flocked in from distant parts, and who they expected to share with them the festivity of the day, and the pleasures of the scene. At length, the long expected morn arrived, and before the king of day had tipped the eastern horizon with his rays, were preparations for the celebration of the day going on. Shortly after sun rise, the loud peals from the artilery [artillery] were heard, calling the various companies of the legion to the field, who were appointed to take a conspicuous part in the days proceedings. The citizens from the vicinity, now began to pour in from all quarters, a continuous train, for about three hours and continued to swell the vast assembly. At eight o'clock A. M. Major General Bennett left his quarters to organize and prepare the Legion for the duties of the day, which consisted of about fourteen companies, several in uniform besides several companies from Iowa, and other parts of the county, which joined them on the occasion. At half past nine Lieut. General Smith was informed that the Legion was organized and ready for review, and immediately accompanied by his staff, consisting of four Aids-de-camp, and twelve guards, nearly all in splendid uniforms, took his march to the parade ground. On their approach they were met by the Band, beautifuly [beautifully] equiped [equipped], who received them with a flourish of trumpets and a regular salute, and then struck up a lively air, marching in front of the stand of the Lieut. General. On his approach to the parade ground the artilery [artillery] was again fired, and the Legion gave an appropiate [appropriate] salute while passing. This was indeed a glorious sight, such as we never saw, nor did we ever expect to see such a one in the west. The several companies, presented a beautiful and interresting [interesting] spectacle, several of them being uniformed and equipped, while the rich and costly dresses of the officers, would have become a Bonaparte or a Washington. After the arrival of Lieut. General Smith, the ladies who had made a beautiful silk flag, drove up in a carriage to present it to the Legion. Maj. General Bennett, very politely attended on them, and conducted them in front of Lieut. General Smith, who immediately alighted from his charger, and walked up to the ladies, who presented the flag, making an appropiate [appropriate] address. Lieut. General Smith, acknowledged the honor confered [conferred] upon the Legion, and stated that as long as he had the command, it should never be disgraced; and then politely bowing to the ladies gave it into the hands of Maj. General Bennett, who placed it in possession of Cornet Robinson, and it was soon seen gracefully waving in front of the Legion. During the time of presentation, the Band struck up a lively air, and another salute was fired from the artilery [artillery]. After the presentation of the flag, Lieut. General Smith, accompanied by his suit, reviewed the Legion, which bresented [presented] a very imposing appearance, the different officers salating [saluting] as he passed. Lieut. General Smith then took his former stand and the whole Legion by companies passed before him in review.