March 25, 1981

I have been reading the journal of Brigham Young and I have found it to be very revealing. It has answered one question which I have had regarding why the saints persisted in working on the Nauvoo Temple when they knew they were going to leave it. They were doing ordinance work right up until the time they left. Brigham Young never left the temple day or night. Literally thousands received their endowments before they left and hundereds of them died on the way. Brigham said they hoped it may be preserved and some way they may be able to return some day and reclaim it. But if it was the will of the Lord that it be destroyed rather than be desecrated he would not complain. I can’t hardly comprehend the torment and suffering they went through and they number of people who were cut away from the church because of their iniquities.