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The document discusses various resources and books related to Android development, specifically focusing on Android Wear applications. It highlights the importance of expanding development capabilities for wearable technology and provides links to multiple titles that cover different aspects of Android programming. The author, Steven F. Daniel, is an experienced developer with a background in creating applications for various platforms, including Android Wear.

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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
17 views

Android Wearable Programming Expand on your Android development capabilities by building applications for Android Wear 1st Edition Steven F. Daniel instant download

The document discusses various resources and books related to Android development, specifically focusing on Android Wear applications. It highlights the importance of expanding development capabilities for wearable technology and provides links to multiple titles that cover different aspects of Android programming. The author, Steven F. Daniel, is an experienced developer with a background in creating applications for various platforms, including Android Wear.

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Android Wearable
Programming

Expand on your Android development capabilities by


building applications for Android Wear

Steven F. Daniel

BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI

www.allitebooks.com
Android Wearable Programming

Copyright © 2015 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in
critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy
of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is
sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt
Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages
caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the
companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals.
However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: July 2015

Production reference: 1270715

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.


Livery Place
35 Livery Street
Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-78528-015-3

www.packtpub.com

Cover image by Evelyn Lam ([email protected])

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Credits

Author Project Coordinator


Steven F. Daniel Bijal Patel

Reviewers Proofreader
Marcus Gabilheri Safis Editing
Andreas Göransson
Dr. Jibo He Indexer
Tejal Soni
Qian He
Jason Salas
Graphics
Jason Monteiro
Commissioning Editor
Priya Singh
Production Coordinator
Aparna Bhagat
Acquisition Editor
Vivek Anantharaman
Cover Work
Aparna Bhagat
Content Development Editor
Amey Varangaonkar

Technical Editors
Utkarsha S. Kadam
Shiny Poojary

Copy Editor
Kausambhi Majumdar

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About the Author

Steven F. Daniel is the owner and founder of GENIESOFT STUDIOS


(http://www.geniesoftstudios.com/), a software development company based
in Melbourne, Victoria, that focuses primarily on developing games and business
applications for the iOS, Android, Mac OS X and Windows platforms. He is an
experienced software developer with more than 14 years of experience in developing
desktop and web-based applications for a number of companies, including: ANZ,
Department of Justice, BP Australia, and AXA Australia.

Steven is always interested in emerging technologies and is a member of the


SQL Server Special Interest Group (SQLSIG), Melbourne CocoaHeads, and
Java Community.

He was the cofounder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SoftMpire Pty Ltd., a
company that focused primarily on developing business applications for the iOS and
Android platforms.

Steven is the author of various book titles, such as Xcode 4 iOS Development Beginner's
Guide, iOS 5 Essentials, iPad Enterprise Application Development Blueprints, and
Xcode 4 Cookbook, all by Packt Publishing. You can check out his blog at http://www.
geniesoftstudios.com/blog/ or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/
GenieSoftStudio.

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Acknowledgments
No book is the product of just the author — he just happens to be the one with his
name on the cover. A number of people contributed to the success of this book and
it would take more space than I have to thank each one individually.

I would personally like to thank two special people who have been an inspiration
and who have provided me with so much support during the writing of this book:
Vivek Anantharaman, my acquisition editor, who is the reason that this book
exists, for being a wonderful guide throughout this whole process, and Amey
Varangaonkar for his understanding and support, as well as his brilliant suggestive
approaches during the chapter rewrites. Thank you for everything, guys.

Lastly, to my reviewers: thank you so much for your valuable suggestions and
improvements, making this book what it is today. I am extremely grateful to each
and every one of you.

Also, thanks to the entire Packt Publishing team for working so diligently to help
bring out a high-quality product. Finally, a big thank you to the engineers at Google
for creating the Android platform and providing developers with the tools to create
fun and sophisticated applications.

Finally, I'd like to thank all of my friends for their support, understanding, and
encouragement during the writing process. It is a privilege to know each and
every one of you.

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About the Reviewers

Marcus Gabilheri is a computer science student at Oklahoma State University.


He was born in Brazil but lived in Spain for 11 years. He moved to the United States
to be with his wife, Carissa Gabilheri, and decided to go back to school in the U.S. to
follow his passion for programming. As a student at OSU, he has won the University's
Mobile App Competition 2 years in a row. Marcus actively participates in the
developer community as a Google Developer Group organizer and advocates Android
development as well other technologies. He works as a mobile and web developer for
Oklahoma State University and enjoys developing Android apps in his spare time. His
latest achievement was in the Google Fit developer's challenge, where he was one of
the 12 grand-prize winners of the challenge with his fitness app, FitHub.

I would like to thank my wife, Carissa Gabilheri, for understanding


and putting up with all the late nights and uncountable hours that
I spend in front of my computer. I would also like to say special
thanks to my mother, Adriana Andreo, and my grandmother, Maria
Antonia Andreo, for raising me by themselves and to my parents-in-
law, Randy and Donna Wilson, for accepting me into their family
when I moved from Brazil to the U.S.

Andreas Göransson has been programming mobile phones since before


smartphones became popular. He has previously written two books on Android
development and has been involved in several open source projects. Beyond his
interest in working on the family farm, he is very interested in emerging technologies,
specifically, Internet of Things, wearable devices, and cloud-based services.

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Dr. Jibo He is currently an assistant professor at Wichita State University. He
graduated from Peking University in 2007 and the University of Illinois in 2012
with a research specialty in engineering psychology. He won the Star of Tomorrow
Award from Microsoft and was voted the Most Valuable Graduate by the University
of Illinois. He directs the Human Automation Interaction Lab at Wichita State
University. His lab does research on user experience, mobile devices, driving safety,
aviation psychology, and human computer interaction. The goal of his research is
to understand the human cognitive processes and develop technologies to improve
performance, increase user experience, and mitigate human error. He has experience
in developing for Google Glass, Android, iPhone, and smartwatches.

Qian He is an enthusiastic digital gadget lover and experienced software engineer.


He got his bachelor's degree in software engineering from Beijing Institute of
Technology. After working at IBM and studying at University of Chinese Academy
of Sciences, he decided to pursue a doctorate degree in the United States. Currently,
he is studying computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His main
research fields are ubiquitous computing and mobile health. Over the last few years,
Qian has been interested in wearable devices and has built several famous fitness
apps for Android / Android Wear / Pebble.

Jason Salas is a product manager, developer, sportscaster, author, and filmmaker


who enjoys a perpetual summer on the island of Guam.

He runs the R&D group for Guam's largest media company, where he also
co-anchors the nightly news.

Jason coauthored Designing and Developing for Google Glass (http://www.amazon.


com/dp/1491946458/ref=cm_sw_su_dp), by O'Reilly Media, published an e-book
about the trials and tribulations of a season in a semipro football league, and
previously contributed to a book on Microsoft Hailstorm. He's also a member of the
Football Writers Association of America.

You can find Jason at https://plus.google.com/+JasonSalas/posts.

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To my favorite uncle, Benjamin Jacob Daniel, for always making me smile and
inspiring me to work hard and achieve my dreams, I miss you a lot.

Chan Ban Guan, for the continued patience, encouragement, and support,
and most of all for believing in me during the writing of this book.

To my family, for their love and support, and always believing in me


throughout the writing of this book.

This book would not have been possible without everyone's love and understanding
and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Table of Contents
Preface v
Chapter 1: Understanding Android Wearables and Building
Your First Android Wear App 1
Introducing Android wearables 2
Understanding the Android Wear architecture 3
Setting up an Android development environment 6
Installing the Android Wear support library 7
Setting up and configuring the Android (AVD) Emulator 8
Building a simple Android wearable application 10
Creating the mobile activity component 12
Creating the Android Wear activity component 14
Summary 19
Chapter 2: Creating Notifications 21
Introducing Android notifications 22
Creating a basic notification for wearables 23
Specifying the form factors 24
Adding and customizing a blank activity 25
Adding dependencies to Gradle scripts 26
Creating a custom notification for wearables 33
Receiving voice input within a notification 39
Receiving multiple notifications through a process called
page stacking 43
Summary 49
Chapter 3: Creating, Debugging, and Packaging Wearable Apps 51
Creating an Android wearable watch face app 52
Presenting information inside the WatchFace class 55
Creating a custom watch face service class 60

[i]
Table of Contents

Debug your Android wearable app over Bluetooth 69


Running apps directly on an Android Wear device 71
The Android wearable user interface guidelines 76
Packaging your Android wearable application 77
Summary 83
Chapter 4: Sending and Syncing Data 85
Creating a wearable send and receive application 86
Creating a UI for the mobile activity 92
Creating a UI for the wear activity 94
Establishing connections for the mobile activity 99
Sending messages to the Android wearable 101
Receiving messages using MessageAPI 104
Transferring image data to the Android wearable 111
Receiving image data using DataApi 114
Summary 120
Chapter 5: Working with Google Glass 121
Installing the Glass Development Kit preview 122
Installing the Google USB drivers for Windows 124
Creating and building a Google Glass application 127
Setting the theme for the Google Glass app 131
Configuring the project to run on Google Glass 131
Creating the custom menu resource file 134
Configuring the AndroidManifests file 137
Creating the custom camera layout resource file 139
Incorporating a voice input within Google Glass 141
Accessing camera through Google Glass 144
Incorporating the Google Maps API with Google Glass 149
Modifying the Google Glass main activity UI 154
Launching the app within Google Glass 157
An introduction to GDK and the Google Mirror API 157
The Mirror API playground 158
The Google Glassware principle design guidelines 160
Summary 161

[ ii ]
Table of Contents

Chapter 6: Designing and Customizing Interfaces


for Android TV 163
Creating and building an Android TV application 164
Customizing the Android TV user interface 167
Creating the CustomHeadersFragment class 168
Creating the CustomRowsFragment class 172
Creating the CustomFrameLayout class 176
Creating the SearchActivity class 179
Creating the SearchFragment class 182
Creating the custom activity layout resource file 185
The Android TV user interface design guidelines 193
Summary 194
Index 195

[ iii ]
Preface
Android Wear is becoming extremely popular, and offers a great opportunity for
developers to learn how to build applications for the Android Wear platform, which
is a special version of the core Android OS, and has been tailored for wearable
computing devices such as smartwatches. These wearable devices come with a brand
new user interface, which is the result of Google working with their customers to
understand how they use their phones today and how they can be more in touch
with their environment.

Android Wearable Programming provides a practical approach to developing


and building Android apps using the Android Studio Integrated Development
Environment. The new Android Studio IDE has introduced a specialized development
environment that has been welcomed by the emerging Android community. This IDE
is perfect to develop Android Wear apps because of the tight integration it has with the
Wear development APIs, and also the streamlined build cycle with Gradle that helps
to minimize a lot of manual configuration that the developer would need to do in
other IDEs.

In this book, I have tried my best to keep the code simple and easy to understand
by providing a step-by-step approach, with lots of screenshots at each step to make
it easier to follow. You will soon be mastering the different aspects of Android
Wear programming, as well as the technology and skills needed to create your
own applications for the Android Wear platform.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any queries,


or if you just want to drop by and say "Hello".

[v]
Preface

What this book covers


Chapter 1, Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App,
describes the background of the Android Wear platform architecture and shows you
how to set up and configure the Android development environment, before finally
looking at how to create a simple Android Wear app.

Chapter 2, Creating Notifications, introduces you to Android notifications, where you


will learn how to create basic and custom notification messages. You will learn how
to incorporate voice capabilities to read out the content of the notification, before
learning how to group multiple notification messages using page-stacking.

Chapter 3, Creating, Debugging, and Packaging Wearable Apps, focuses on designing and
creating custom watch faces to present information within the Android wearable
watch area. You will learn how to effectively debug your app over Bluetooth, before
finally learning how to package your wearable app so that it can be used within the
handheld mobile device.

Chapter 4, Sending and Syncing Data, introduces you to the Data Layer API and
the Message API frameworks, so that you can synchronize image data from the
handheld device with the wearable, as well as use the Message API to communicate
between the handheld and the wearable to send and receive messages.

Chapter 5, Working with Google Glass, explores how to build effective user interfaces
for the Google Glass platform by creating user interfaces that display content that
responds to voice input commands, before finally learning how we can access the
Glass camera to take a snapshot and save the image to local storage.

Chapter 6, Designing and Customizing Interfaces for Android TV, provides you with the
background and understanding of how to effectively present your app within the
main user interface and how you can design your app by following the Android
TV UI Patterns to help users get the content they want quickly. Also, you will learn
how to create and use fragments that allow information to be presented within the
Android TV interface to represent your content.

What you need for this book


For this book, you need a computer running a Windows, Mac OS, or Linux system.
You will also need to have the Android Studio IDE and both Java and Java Runtime
Environment installed on your system.

[ vi ]
Preface

Who this book is for


This book is intended for developers who have a working experience of the
application development principles for the Android platform and wish to expand
their Android capabilities by developing applications for Android wearables
using the key features of Android Studio. It's assumed that you are familiar
with object-oriented programming and the Java programming language.

Conventions
In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between
different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an
explanation of their meaning.

Code words in text are shown as follows: "We can include other contexts through
the use of the include directive."

A block of code is set as follows:


public class MainActivity extends ActionBarActivity {

// Set up our Notification message ID


int NOTIFICATION_ID = 001;

When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the
relevant lines or items are set in bold:
dependencies {
compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:21.0.3'
compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:20.0.+'
}

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:


$ ./adb forward tcp:4444 localabstract:/adb-hub
$ ./adb connect localhost:4444

[ vii ]

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Preface

New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the
screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: "Next, click
on the Install packages button as shown in the preceding screenshot."

Warnings or important notes appear in a box like this.

Tips and tricks appear like this.

Reader feedback
Feedback from our readers is always welcome. Let us know what you think about
this book—what you liked or disliked. Reader feedback is important for us as it
helps us develop titles that you will really get the most out of.

To send us general feedback, simply e-mail [email protected], and mention


the book's title in the subject of your message.

If there is a topic that you have expertise in and you are interested in either writing
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Customer support
Now that you are the proud owner of a Packt book, we have a number of things
to help you to get the most from your purchase.

Downloading the example code


You can download the example code files from your account at http://www.
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[ viii ]
Preface

Errata
Although we have taken every care to ensure the accuracy of our content, mistakes
do happen. If you find a mistake in one of our books—maybe a mistake in the text or
the code—we would be grateful if you could report this to us. By doing so, you can
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com/submit-errata, selecting your book, clicking on the Errata Submission Form
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information will appear under the Errata section.

Piracy
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If you come across any illegal copies of our works in any form on the Internet, please
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Please contact us at [email protected] with a link to the suspected


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We appreciate your help in protecting our authors and our ability to bring you
valuable content.

Questions
If you have a problem with any aspect of this book, you can contact us at
[email protected], and we will do our best to address the problem.

[ ix ]
Understanding Android
Wearables and Building Your
First Android Wear App
When Google announced Android Wear at their Google I/O conference back in
March 2014, developers were excited and started embracing this technology to
see what types of applications they could create to communicate between the
Android handheld device and Android wearable, while making our day-to-day
lives a lot easier.

Android wearables bring a personal touch by allowing consumers to interact with


their devices on a different level, and are aimed at reducing people's interaction
with their mobile phones. This could include receiving a simple notification message
reminding you to pick up something on your way home from work, or that you have
an upcoming appointment. There is even an ability to receive messages from your
favorite social networking application, for example, Facebook.

This chapter provides you with a theoretical background of Android, and how to
develop applications for the Android Wear platform from Google. This platform
allows your Android wearable device to communicate with your phone wirelessly
over Bluetooth, and many manufactures like Samsung and LG have embraced this
technology and created wearable devices, such as the Samsung Gear Live and
the LG G Watch R smartwatches.

[1]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

In later chapters, we will be working with some of these APIs and seeing how we can
incorporate these in our applications to communicate between our Android phone
and Android Wear devices.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Introducing Android wearables


• Understanding the Android Wear architecture
• Building a simple Android wearable application

Introducing Android wearables


Android Wear is a special version of the core Android OS that has been tailored for
wearable computing devices such as smartwatches. These wearable devices come
with a brand new user interface, which is a result of Google working with their
customers to understand how they use their phones today and can be more in
touch with their environment.

Android Wear provides consumers with a more personal interaction with their
devices. These tiny supercomputers can show you information and suggestions
when you need them. Given the wide variety of Android applications currently
on the market, you'll receive the latest posts and updates from your favorite social
apps and notifications from shopping apps.

Android wearables are great for fitness fanatics too. They allow you to better monitor
your health and fitness by showing your fitness summary in terms of real-time speed,
distance, and time information right on your wrist for your run, cycle, or walk.

Android Wear also lets you access and control other devices from your wrist by
simply saying OK Google to fire up a music playlist on your phone or cast your
favorite movie directly onto your TV. You can also receive instant messages
from your favorite social networking app, for example, Facebook. With Android
wearables, there's a lot of possibilities, and developers are jumping right in and
creating some stunning apps already.

[2]
Chapter 1

An example of an Android wearable device can be seen in the following screenshot:

Understanding the Android Wear


architecture
Android Wear works by communicating wirelessly over Bluetooth between the
wearable and a handheld device (typically a smartphone) running Android 4.3 or
higher. When the handheld device has been paired with the wearable device, the
operating system begins sending a series of notification messages automatically to
the watch, along with any wearable-specific rich notification parameters, such as
voice input for actions and any specific pieces that provide additional information.

When a connection has been established between the Android device and the
wearable, over Google Play service, notification messages can be then exchanged
between the handheld device and the wearable to trigger appropriate actions on
each device.

The architecture of any typical wearable application has been set out by Google in
their design guideline documents that focus primarily on the new Material design
theme for Android 5.0 applications. This design document provides the developer
with a comprehensive framework to create visual, motion, and interaction design
across each of the various Android platforms and devices.

[3]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

Since Android Wear runs as a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device, developers
need to ensure that they design their applications to run efficiently so that they don't
impact the device's battery. This is very important when designing the custom watch
faces or apps that use location service functionality.

The following image describes the architecture between the handheld device and the
wearable device. In the next section, we will take a look into some of the wearable
APIs that come as part of Google Play services, and explain their purpose when it
comes to communicating between the mobile device and the wearable:

.apk
wearable.apk
Awesome App
Play Store
Data API Play Services
Node API
Message API Intents somehow Outer World
wearable .apk

Android 4.4W Bluetooth Android Wear

Once the connection is established, you can then start looking at sending and
synching data between the two devices. When a connection between two devices has
been established, each node can handle any given number of different functions. For
example, one node can handle the camera part on the mobile, while another node
could keep track of a user's GPS coordinates on the wearable device.

In the following list, we will explain each of the APIs, which are presented in the
preceding screenshot. In later chapters, we will be using these in more depth,
so at this stage, I will just be providing a brief introduction:

• Node API: The NodeApi class is responsible for keeping track of all
connected or disconnected nodes that have been established within the
wearable network by using the NodeListener interface method. When
a node establishes a connection between the handheld and the wearable,
MessageApi quietly begins to send a message from the wearable device to
the handheld device that it is paired with, which the user is signed in to with
their Google account. This sends a notification to the NodeListener method
that then begins to get information about each node.

[4]
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• Message API: The MessageApi class is responsible for sending across short
messages to each of the connected network nodes between the wearable
and the handheld device. Once a message has been received, a background
listener service on the receiving side (MessageListener) will be called so
that it can get the message.
• Data API: The DataApi class is responsible for synching data between the
connected Android wearable and the handheld device, and takes care of
providing the synching mechanism on both sides. In addition to synching
data, the big appeal of the data API is that when a user's connection gets
disconnected from the paired smartphone, the data will be automatically
transferred when the connection is restored, without the user needing to
worry about handling data issues. When the data API receives messages
from MessageApi, a background listening service on the receiving side
(addListener) will be called as part of the DataListener interface method.
Once the addListener method determines that a change has occurred, a call
is made to the onDataChanged method.

It is extremely important that you remember to implement


WearableListenerService on both the Android wearable and
the handheld device in order to listen for the events received by
WearableListenerService.
It is worthwhile to mention that all of the Android Wear APIs are
included in Google Play services 5.0. It's important to note that wear itself
supports only 4.3 devices and above. This is basically due to the fact that
Android Wear requires Bluetooth LE, which is only available in 4.3 and
above versions.

In the following chapters of this book, we will be taking a look at how to implement
some of these APIs to communicate between our Android device and our wearable
device, so stay tuned.

[5]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

Setting up an Android development


environment
In this section, we are going to look at the key concepts to get you started with
Android Wear development. Google recommends using Android Studio for
development, because of the tight integration it has with the Wear development
APIs, as well as the streamlined build cycle with Gradle, that helps minimize a lot
of the manual configuration that the developer would need to do in other IDEs.

Before you begin, and as a prerequisite to starting to work with Android Studio,
you will need to ensure that your system has the latest version of the Java Runtime
Environment (JRE) installed for the version of the operating system that you are using.

To determine if your system has the JRE or the Java Development Kit
(JDK) installed, open a new terminal window and issue the following
command from the command line:
java –version

Once you have determined if you have Java installed, you can proceed to download
Android Studio for your version of the operating system. The Android Studio
package can be downloaded from the Android developer tools web page at
http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/studio.html.

Android Studio for Windows systems can be downloaded from


https://dl.google.com/dl/android/studio/install/1.2.2.0/android-
studio-bundle-141.1980579-windows.exe.

Android Studio for Mac OS X systems can be downloaded from


https://dl.google.com/dl/android/studio/install/1.2.2.0/android-
studio-ide-141.1980579-mac.dmg.

Android Studio for Linux systems can be downloaded from


https://dl.google.com/dl/android/studio/ide-zips/1.2.2.0/android-
studio-ide-141.1980579-linux.zip.

Now that you have downloaded and installed Android Studio, you can begin
installing the Android 4.4W (API 20) for your system:

1. Launch Android SDK Manager by using the SDK Manager in Android


to download API level 20 (4.4 KitKat Wear).

[6]
Chapter 1

2. Select and click on the Android 4.4W.2 (API 20) package:

You will notice that we have chosen to install the Android Wear system images for
both ARM and Intel. Intel delivers greater performance while running your app
using the Android Emulator, but you can select the appropriate one for your chipset.
If you decide to install both, the Android Studio IDE at design time will inform you
which one is supported.

In the next section, we will need to install the Android Wear support libraries for
our Android Wear application that will allow your Android wearable app to target
a specific version of the Android SDK APIs.

Installing the Android Wear support library


The Android Wear support library contains a set of numerous code libraries that
allow you to target a specific version of the Android SDK APIs. Each library contains
a different set of features that can help to improve the look of your application, and
with the release of Android 5.0 you can incorporate Material design as well as add
support for rich notification features.

[7]

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Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

The benefit of using the latest Android Wear support libraries is that it allows your
applications to take advantage of the new and improved features for devices that are
running Android 5.0 and above. However, while your app can still run on devices
running Android 1.6 and above, some features will not be available:

Scroll down to the Extras folder, and select the Android Support Library, as shown
in the preceding screenshot. Next, click on the Install packages button as shown in
the preceding screenshot.

If you are using Android Studio for your Android Wear development, this can
provide you with a much easier and more convenient way of adding the Android
Wear support library to your existing applications. Android Studio uses a module
model, where the mobile and wear modules are part of a single project.

Setting up and configuring the Android (AVD)


Emulator
In our next step, we will need to set up and configure our Android Wear Emulator.
This will allow us to test our Android Wear apps that we will be developing
throughout this book.

[8]
Chapter 1

Open your Android Virtual Device (AVD) manager and create a new virtual device
for your Android Wear, as shown in the following screenshot:

Before we end this section, it is worth mentioning that while Android Emulator is the
most powerful and convenient tool that you will use throughout your development
of Android apps, it is important for developers to understand the types of limitations
it comes with, which are explained in the following points:

• The Android Emulator simulates real handheld device behavior, but not
specific hardware implementations
• Sensor information, such as satellite location, battery, and power settings,
as well as network connectivity, is all simulated using your computer
• Access to the camera hardware is not fully functional
• There is no ability to place or receive phone calls, or send SMS messages,
as these are all simulated
• There is no support for USB available

[9]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

As you can see, using the Android emulator is not recommended as a substitute for
testing your apps on a true handset or device. Now that we have set up all of the
preliminary configurations, we can start to build our Android Wear application.

Building a simple Android wearable


application
In this section, we will take a look at how to create a simple Hello World Android
Wear application by performing the following steps:

1. Launch Android Studio, and then navigate to the File | New Project option.
2. Next, enter in HelloAndroidWear for the Application name field.
3. Then provide a name for the Company Domain field.
4. Next, choose Project location where you would like to save your
application code:

[ 10 ]
Chapter 1

5. Finally, click on the Next button to proceed to the next step. On the second
wizard screen, we need to specify the form factors using which our
application will run. On this screen, we choose the Minimum SDK versions
for phone and tablet, Android TV, and Android Wear.
6. Click the Phone and Tablet option and choose the API 19: Android 4.4
(KitKat) option for Minimum SDK. Choosing this option allows your
application to target more devices that are active on the Google Play Store,
with the added cost of having fewer features available for these devices.
7. Next, click on the Wear option and choose the API 20: Android 4.4
(KitKat Wear) option for Minimum SDK:

8. Next, click on the Next button to proceed to the next step in the wizard.

[ 11 ]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

In our next step, we will be taking a look at how to add a blank activity to our
application for its mobile section.

An activity is basically an application component that provides a screen


with which users can interact in order to do something, such as dial the
phone, take a photo, send an e-mail, or view a map.
Each activity is given a container to draw its user interface. The container
typically fills the screen, but may be smaller than the screen and float on
top of other windows.

Creating the mobile activity component


Android Wear applications are actually built with two modules: mobile and wear. In
this section, we will take a look at how to add a blank activity for the mobile portion
of our Android Wear application. Although in this chapter we won't be using this
to communicate with our Android wearable device, in later chapters, when we
learn about notifications and how to send these between the mobile device and the
wearable, we will be using this component in more detail.

To add an activity for mobile, perform the following steps:

1. From the Add an activity to Mobile screen, choose the Blank Activity option
from the list of activities:

[ 12 ]
Chapter 1

2. Now, click on the Next button to proceed to the next step in the wizard.
In our next step, we need to set up and customize our Blank Activity
properties that can be used by our application. Here, we specify the name
of the activity, layouts, and title, as well as its menu resource name that it
will be using (if it contains a menu bar).

3. From the Customize the Activity screen, accept the default properties that
have been created for you by the wizard:

4. Click on the Next button to proceed to the next step in the wizard.

[ 13 ]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

Creating the Android Wear activity component


In this section, we will take a look at how to add a blank activity for the wearable
portion of our Android Wear application. This will be used to determine how our
Android wearable behaves. Once added, this will contain two different watch views:
one containing round watch faces and the other containing a square watch look.

To add an activity for Wear, follow these steps:

1. From the Add an activity to Wear screen, choose the Blank Wear Activity
option:

2. Click on the Next button to proceed to the final step in the wizard.
In our final step, we need to customize our Blank Wear Activity properties
that can be used by our Android wearable. Here, we specify the name of the
activity as well as the layouts for the watch faces for round and rectangle.

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Chapter 1

3. From the Customize the Activity screen, accept the default properties that
have been created for you by the wizard:

4. Next, click on the Finish button to proceed, and your Android wearable
project will be generated for you. After a few moments, the Android Studio
window will be displayed with your project loaded.

When you take a look at the project that the wizard created for you, the first thing
you will notice is that it contains two modules: mobile and wear. The mobile portion
of our project is the application that will run on a phone device that will be used to
communicate with our wearable device. The wear portion is the application that will
be installed on the Android wearable device.

[ 15 ]
Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

When developing Android wearable applications, these cannot simply


be packaged separately and uploaded to the Google Play Store. You
must package both your mobile and wearable app into a single APK
application. This is so that when a user installs your application on their
Android device, the wear app will automatically be transferred to the
paired wear device.

As you can see in the following screenshot, the default project structure that our
wizard created for us doesn't seem to do anything special—it simply contains the
skeleton structure of any Android wearable app. In our next step, we will look at
how we can write our own code for the Wear module of our application:

In our next step, we will begin modifying our MainActivity class file to display
our custom Android wearable welcome message to the user within the wearable
watch face :

1. Open the HelloAndroidWear project from within our Project


Navigator window.

[ 16 ]
Chapter 1

2. From the Project Navigator window, expand the Wear section, select,
and expand the java section.
3. Modify the following code in the MainActivity.java file of the project:
private TextView watchTextView;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
final WatchViewStub theWatchView = (WatchViewStub)
theWatchView.setOnLayoutInflatedListener(new
WatchViewStub.OnLayoutInflatedListener() {
@Override
public void onLayoutInflated(WatchViewStub
theWatchView) {
watchTextView = (TextView)
theWatchView.findViewById(R.id.text);
watchTextView.setText("Android Wear Rocks!");
}
});
}

Downloading the example code


You can download the example code files for all Packt books you
have purchased from your account at http://www.packtpub.com.
If you purchased this book elsewhere, you can visit http://www.
packtpub.com/support and register to have the files e-mailed
directly to you.

In the preceding code snippet, we start by creating a new activity, which is handled
by the onCreate method. This method is responsible for starting the activity when
the application is launched and the emulator sets up the content, prior to displaying
the watch layouts on the screen using the setContentView method.

Next, we declare an instance of WatchViewStub, which is used to detect the specific


watch type being used at runtime and allows you to inflate a rectangular or round
layout. Since we cannot access these child views until inflation has completed, we
implement the OnLayoutInflatedListener interface to handle this, which allows
us to get a reference to the child views by using the findViewById class. Once we
have established this reference, we can then proceed to update the watchTextView
with our Android Wear Rocks! text.

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Understanding Android Wearables and Building Your First Android Wear App

When we make a call to invoke the onLayoutInflated method


from inside our WatchViewStub class, this will begin to load the
corresponding layout resource for either the rect_activity_main.
xml file for our square view or the round_activity_main.xml
file for our round watch views. Once the view has inflated within its
parent view, this will then get added to the view hierarchy chain of
your application prior to making it visible.
If you would like to learn more about the activity lifecycle and the
different states that it takes on, you can refer to the documentation at
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/
Activity.html#ActivityLifecycle.

Now, we can finally compile, build, and run our application. Click on the green
button labeled B in the preceding screenshot or simply press
CMD + F9, and choose Android Virtual Device from the list of Android Emulators:

Once the emulator has launched and after a few moments, you should see your app
displayed, as shown in the preceding screenshot.

[ 18 ]
Chapter 1

Summary
In this chapter, we explored the features and key concepts of the Android Wear
platform; we discussed about the Android Wear architecture; and then we moved
on to look at how to configure our Android environment, setting up the Android
SDK and AVD, before finally taking a look at how to build our simple Android
wearable app.

In the next chapter, we will cover the features of Android notifications and explore
the different ways that we can send notifications between the handheld device and
the Android wearable to create basic and custom notifications. We will learn how
we can use the Android voice capabilities to allow the user to respond to notification
messages by using just their voice, and how we can use a method called page
stacking to receive multiple notifications.

[ 19 ]
Creating Notifications
This chapter provides you with a background of essential features of Android
notifications and how we can use these to send messages between a handheld device
and a wearable device.

We will be taking a look at how we can use different notification methods to develop
an application that shows how we can create basic and custom notifications. You will
also learn how you can incorporate and make use of Android's voice capabilities to
respond to notification messages that are contained within a notification.

At the end of the chapter, we will take a look at how we can use notification stacking
to display multiple notification messages within a notification.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Introducing Android notifications


• Creating a basic notification for wearables
• Creating a custom notification for wearables
• Receiving voice input within a notification
• Receiving multiple notifications through a process called page stacking

[ 21 ]
Creating Notifications

Introducing Android notifications


Android notification is basically a way of communicating with the user. This is
done by letting the user know of an upcoming appointment or of an incoming call
or SMS message. The user can then decide how to respond to the option presented
to him/her.

Notifications in wear are the result of events that happen on the paired smartphone,
which are then mirrored on the wearable device, or contextual events like location-
aware events or time, and date-based reminders. Android notification messaging
works by communicating between the handheld device and wearable device over
Bluetooth. When the connection has been established, the Google Play Service
notification messages can be exchanged between the handheld device and the
wearable. An example of a notification message that has been sent from the Android
handheld device to the Android wearable can be seen in the following screenshot:

In the next sections, we will be taking a look at the different ways we can send
notifications and how we can respond to them.

[ 22 ]
Other documents randomly have
different content
This is the case with murderers. They could not be baptized for the
remission of sins for they had shed innocent blood.

Again: The doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows:—If you


have power to seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be wise.
The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters
unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory. * * * * *
* * I will walk through the gate of heaven and claim what I seal, and
those that follow me and my counsel.

The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have. I have been
afraid to ask God to kill my enemies, lest some of them should,
peradventure, repent.

I asked a short time since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands of
the Governor of Missouri, and if it needs must be to accomplish it, to
take him away; and the next news that came pouring down from there
was, that Governor Reynolds had shot himself. And I would now say,
"Beware, O earth, how you fight against the Saints of God and shed
innocent blood; for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him,
and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them.

The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a
forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to
come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the
capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the
house of Israel, and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to
His Temple, which is last of all.

Messiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for He made the
world, and was that spiritual rock unto Moses in the wilderness. Elijah
was to come and prepare the way and build up the kingdom before the
coming of the great day of the Lord, although the spirit of Elias might
begin it.

I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the
Lord, He gave a sign and said, "In the days of Noah I set a bow in the
heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be
seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and
harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it
shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great
distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not
far distant.

But I will take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name
of the Lord, that Christ will not come this year, as Father Miller has
prophesied, for we have seen the bow; and I also prophesy, in the name
of the Lord, that Christ will not come in forty years; and if God ever
spoke by my mouth, He will not come in that length of time. Brethren,
when you go home, write this down, that it may be remembered.

Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that He
would come. Go and read the Scriptures, and you cannot find anything
that specifies the exact hour He would come; and all that say so are
false teachers.

There are some important things concerning the office of the Messiah
in the organization of the world, which I will speak of hereafter, May
God Almighty bless you and pour out His Spirit upon you, is the
prayer of your unworthy servant. Amen.

At half-past three p.m., I met with the Twelve, Bishop Miller and the
Temple Committee, in the Nauvoo Mansion.

The following letter from Lyman Wight and others was read:—

Letter:—Lyman Wight to the First Presidency—Preaching the Gospel


to the Indians and Proposing to Migrate to Texas.

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Feb. 15, 1844.

To the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of
Christ of Latter-day Saints.

DEAR BRETHREN,—Through the goodness and mercy of God, the


Eternal Father, and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are
permitted to write and send by a special messenger a concise account
of our lumbering operations, together with the apparent prospects of
the introduction and spread of the Gospel among the Chippewa and
Menomanee Indians, and also the projects of our hearts in regard to
future operations in spreading the Gospel south in all the extent of
America, and the consequences growing out of the same, all of which
we beg leave to submit to your consideration that we may have your
concurrence, or such views as shall be in accordance with the mind
and will of the Lord, and govern ourselves in accordance therewith.

Since we have been here lumbering, we have had many difficulties to


encounter; but the main hindrance to our successful operations was the
feeding, clothing, and transporting a great many lazy, idle men, who
have not produced anything by their pretended labor, and thus eating
up all that the diligent and honest could produce by their unceasing
application to labor; and we have not yet got entirely clear of such
persons.

But under all these mighty clogs and hindrances, we have been able to
accomplish and have in progress, so that we can deliver in Nauvoo
about one million feet of lumber by the last of July next, which will be
a great deal more than what is necessary to build the Temple and the
Nauvoo House. Besides all this, we have made valuable improvements
here,—all the result of much labor done under trying circumstances.

We have recently ascertained that the lands from the falls of Black
River to its sources are the property of the Menomanee Indians, and
the general government having urged them to move off the lands in the
vicinity of Green Bay to their own lands. The Indians say they will,
provided the Government will remove all strange Indians and
trespassing white men off their lands; consequently, the agent and
superintendent of Indian Affairs are taking such steps as will stop all
further trespassing on the Indian lands, on the Wisconsin, Black and
Chippewa rivers, under the penalties of the laws relative to the cases.

We sent Brothers Miller and Daniels, in company with the principal


chief of the Menomanee Indians, overland to the Wisconsin river, to
ascertain more about the matter. They saw the agent; found him a
gruff, austere man, determined to stop all trespassing on Indian lands.

The Indians are willing to sell privileges to individuals for lumbering


and cutting timber, as they have hitherto done; but the agent is opposed
to it. Thus a difficulty arises between themselves.

Now, as regards the introduction of the Gospel of Christ among the


Indians here, it will require more exertion, to all appearances, to check
the enthusiastic ardor of these our red brethren, until the full principles
of faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shall be reasoned into their
minds, than to urge them on to receive it. They have great confidence
in us.

The country belonging to these northern Indians is a dreary, cold


region, and to a great extent, cranberry marshes, pine barrens, and
swamps, with a small amount of good lands, scarce of game, and only
valuable in mill privileges and facilities for lumbering purposes.

As to mineral resources, they have not been fully developed. There is


no doubt as to the abundance of iron ore, but uncertain as to quality.

Now, under all these circumstances, a few of us here have arrived at


this conclusion in our minds (such as can undergo all things,)—that as
the Gospel has not been fully opened in all the South and
Southwestern States, as also Texas, Mexico, Brazil, &c., together with
the West Indian Islands, having produced lumber enough to build the
Temple and Nauvoo House,—also having an influence over the
Indians, so as to induce them to sell their lands to the United States,
and go to a climate southwest, (all according to the policy of the U. S.
Government),—and having also become convinced that the Church at
Nauvoo or in the Eastern States will not build the Nauvoo House
according to the commandment, neither the Temple in a reasonable
time, and that we have, so far as we have made trials, got means in the
south,—we have in our minds to go to the table-lands of Texas, to a
point we may find to be the most eligible, there locate, and let it be a
place of gathering for all the South (they being incumbered with that
unfortunate race of beings, the negroes); and for us to employ our time
and talents in gathering together means to build according to the
commandments of our God, and spread the Gospel to the nations
according to the will of our Heavenly Father. We, therefore, our
beloved brethren, send our worthy Brother Young, with a few of our
thoughts, on paper, that you may take the subject-matter under
consideration, and return us such instructions as may be according to
the mind and will of the Lord our God.

We have thought it best to sell the mills here, if you think it expedient.
We feel greatly encouraged to spend and be spent in the cause of
Christ, according to the will of our Heavenly Father.

You will, therefore, after due deliberation, send us, by the hands of
Brother Young, such instructions as may be the result of your
deliberations.

Holding ourselves ready under all circumstances in life to try to do all


things whatsoever commanded or instructed to do by those ordained to
direct the officers of the Church of Jesus Christ; subscribing ourselves
yours truly, while life shall endure,

Lyman Wight,

George Miller,

Phineas R. Bird,

Pierce Hawley,

John Young.

Select Committee to write expressly the views of the branch of the


Church at Black River Falls.

Joseph Smith, P. C.,

Brigham Young, P. T.,

Willard Richards, Clerk.


Also a letter to myself from Lyman Wight and others—

Letter:—Lyman Wight to President Joseph Smith—Suggesting a


Southwest Movement for the Church.

BLACK RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN TERRITORY,

February 15th, 1844.

To Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day


Saints, and to the Twelve Apostles, greeting:—

Believing a concert of action in all things in this Church to be highly


important, we deem it necessary, under existing circumstances, to
make you acquainted with our views, feelings, and temporal and
spiritual prospects, as they now exist.

We wrote you last fall a full and complete description of this country
as high as the falls on Black River, without exaggeration, giving a
slight description of the Pinery.

With the exception of several renegades and false brethren, things


passed smoothly until some time in the month of January, when we
were visited by three different tribes of Lamanites upon the most
friendly terms, receiving us as their counselors, both temporal and
spiritual.

The names of those tribes are Menomanees, Chippewa, and


Winnebagoes. They informed us that all the land above the falls
belongs to the Menomanee tribe, and that the agents and the governor,
the general agent in the northwest of all the Indian affairs, had agreed
with them to remove all the lumbermen from Black River, Chippewa,
and Lemanware rivers, by their request; but after a lengthy
conversation with them, they felt to treat us as their friends, and not
their enemies.

We dispatched two messengers—namely, George Miller and Cyrus


Daniels, to go immediately to Wisconsin, where they met with the
agent, who gave them to understand we could get the timber, which is
already cut, at a reasonable rate, and for any future prospect we will be
under the necessity of entering into a contract.

We calculate the present prospect for lumber betwixt this and the last
of July next will be from eight to twelve hundred thousand feet, which
we deem will be all sufficient to finish the two houses, which will
accomplish the mission on which we started to this country.

We, therefore, as a branch and a member of the body of the Church of


Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose the following committee—
namely, Lyman Wight, George Miller, Pierce Hawley, Phineas R. Bird
and John Young, to correspond with your reverend council, giving you
our views concerning matters and things, and requesting your counsel
on the same.

This committee views it inexpedient to purchase standing timber on so


rapid and unnavigable a stream for the purpose of making lumber to
gain wealth.

The Lamanites owning this land, notwithstanding their great anxiety to


receive the Gospel and the Book of Mormon, have a strong desire, if
counseled by us so to do, to go south-west, where game is more
plentiful as their only resource here for a living is the pitiful annuities
and proceeds from their pine timber, which timber is the only
inducement to the Government to purchase their lands.

This committee is therefore led to take a brief view of the south and
western part of North America, together with the Floridas, Texas, West
India Islands, and the adjacent islands to the Gulf of Mexico, together
with the Lamanites bordering on the United Territories from Green
Bay to the Mexican Gulf, all crying with one voice, through the
medium of their chiefs, Give us an understanding of your doctrine and
principles, for we perceive that your ways are equal, and your
righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of all the missionaries that
we have yet become acquainted with,—that your conduct with one
another is like that of ours, and that all your feasts and attendant
ceremonies are precisely like ours.
Your servants, the committee, have viewed the Colorado river, with all
its beautiful hills and valleys and fertile soil, with deep regret, when
viewing the countless thousands of inhabitants on either side thereof,
without the knowledge of God or the doctrine of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and say in their hearts, Would it be
expedient to form a mission of those true and full-blooded
Ephraimites, who, from principle, and the love of the truth, have borne
the most extreme burdens, fatigue, and hunger, to prosecute the
mission, to procure lumber sufficient to build the two houses, to open
the door to all the regions which we have named, which regions have
never yet had an opportunity to hear the Gospel and to be made
acquainted with the plan of salvation? or shall they continue to suffer
the fatigues of hunger, wet and cold, in a rigid, inclement climate, for
the pitiful sum that it shall avail them, after undergoing those
hazardous perils? or shall they, like Timothy and Titus, with Paul,
hazard the perils of the sea and land through the Southern States and
West India Islands, and all the Lamanite world, go forth and proclaim
to them the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and teach
them to build up Zion?

Are there not thousands of the rich planters who would embrace the
Gospel, and, if they had a place to plant their slaves, give all the
proceeds of their yearly labor, if rightly taught, for building up the
kingdom, being directed by the President of the whole Church to make
the right application? We answer, Yes, we believe they would.

Your servants, the committee, are of the opinion that a concerted and
reciprocity of action between the North and the South would greatly
advance the building up of the kingdom.

The committee is well informed of the Cherokee and the Chocktaw


nations who live between the state of Arkansas and the Colorado river
of the Texans, owning large plantations and thousands of slaves, and
that they are also very desirous to have an interview with the Elders of
this Church, upon the principles of the Book of Mormon.

This committee is of the opinion that they can choose soldiers for this
expedition who are as undeviating in the principles of the doctrine of
Christ and the Book of Mormon as the sun in his daily course, and as
indefatigable in their exertions in this cause as the earth is in its daily
revolution.

This committee views it as a matter of investigation, whether would


the Southerner, with his slaves and abundance of wealth, do better to
take them to some slave-holding point, keep them in lively exercise
according to his former customs and habits turning over his yearly
proceeds into the hands of the Trustee-in-Trust for the whole Church,
or to abolish slavery and settle himself in a climate uncongenial to his
nature and entirely derogatory to his former occupations in life?

After having procured the lumber for those two houses, the committee
is of the opinion that the preaching of the Gospel and raising funds in
the south would be a far more speedy way of accomplishing the work
than any other that could be introduced at the present time.

We, your servants, therefore, will wait patiently the result of your
council, and submit ourselves to the same with all cheerfulness, our
only object being to advance the cause and kingdom of God, stand
ready to take hold wherever your wise council may consider it to be of
the most advantage.

This committee view with deep regret the many different teachings this
Church has received concerning the distribution of their property, such
as raising funds for the printing of tracts, evidences of the Book of
Mormon, and pamphlets of various descriptions, which we consider
has not advanced the cause in the least degree, but has tended directly
to sap the foundation of building the houses.

We therefore believe that no person embracing the doctrine of the


Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should give any part or
parcel of the property without a direct counsel, written or oral, from
the First Presidency of the Church.

Whereas the committee having appointed George Miller and Lyman


Wight to write the views of the committee, each wrote separate and
apart, having laid the same before the committee, the committee
resolved that both productions be sent without alterations.

We, the committee, conclude by subscribing ourselves your friends


and well-wishers in the Lord, praying a speedy answer from your
worthy council, or the word of the Lord.

LYMAN WIGHT,

GEORGE MILLER,

PHINEAS R. BIRD,

PIERCE HAWLEY,

JOHN YOUNG,

Select Committee to write expressing the views of the branch of the


Church at Black River Falls.

Joseph Smith, Sen., P. C.

Brigham Young, P. T.

William Richards, Clerk.

The brethren went into council on the subject matter of the letters during the
evening.

Monday 11.—At home till nine; then spent the day in council in the lodge
room over Henry Miller's house.

Special Council Meeting on Wight and Miller Letters.

Present—Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C.


Kimball, Willard Richards, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, John Taylor,
George A. Smith, William W. Phelps, John M. Bernhisel, Lucien
Woodworth, George Miller, Alexander Badlam, Peter Haws, Erastus
Snow, Reynolds Cahoon, Amos Fielding, Alpheus Cutler, Levi
Richards, Newel K. Whitney, Lorenzo D. Wasson, and William
Clayton, whom I organized into a special council, to take into
consideration the subject matter contained in the above letters, and also
the best policy for this people to adopt to obtain their rights from the
nation and insure protection for themselves and children; and to secure
a resting place in the mountains, or some uninhabited region, where we
can enjoy the liberty of conscience guaranteed to us by the
Constitution of our country, rendered doubly sacred by the precious
blood of our fathers, and denied to us by the present authorities, who
have smuggled themselves into power in the States and Nation.

Footnotes:

1. Nauvoo was unfortunate in being overrun with pettifogging lawyers at


this time, and it was to these, doubtless, that the disparaging remarks of
both the Prophet and Hyrum, respecting lawyers referred. It is unfortunate
that they did not segregate the pettifoggers from the worthy men of the
profession; than whom no class of citizens, and no other profession, render
more valuable service to the state.
CHAPTER XI.
ORSON PRATT SENT TO WASHINGTON
AS AGENT OF NAUVOO—AMOS
FIELDING TO ENGLAND, DITTO—
COMMENT ON THE CANDIDACY OF
JOSEPH SMITH FOR PRESIDENT OF
THE U.S.—CONSPIRACIES OF THE
LAWS, HIGBEES, FOSTERS, ET AL.
AGAINST JOSEPH SMITH—THE
PROPHET'S MEMORIAL TO
CONGRESS==OCCUPATION OF THE
WEST CONTEMPLATED.

Tuesday, March 12, 1844.—At home in the morning. At eleven a.m., I told
Brother Cole I wanted the room over the store for more important purposes,
and wished him to remove the school to Henry Miller's house immediately;
which he did.

The brethren who were in council with me yesterday assembled there in the
afternoon and evening.

Gave the following recommend to Elder Orson Pratt.

Credentials of Orson Pratt as Agent for the City of Nauvoo.

CITY OF NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, March 12, 1844.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:—

We, the mayor and recorder of said city, do hereby certify that Orson
Pratt, Esq., the bearer, a councilor in city council of said city, is sent as
an agent by the authorities of said city or corporation to transact such
business as he may deem expedient and beneficial for the community
which he represents; and as such agent and gentleman of principle and
character, he by us is recommended to the due consideration of all the
executive officers of the government, both houses of Congress, and
gentlemen generally of the United States.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the seal
of said corporation at the time and place aforesaid.

[CORPORATION SEAL.]

JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor,

WILLARD RICHARDS, Recorder.

A dull cloudy day.

A meeting of the inhabitants of the Tenth ward was held this


evening at the schoolhouse on the hill, in Parley street, to take Co-operative
into consideration the propriety of establishing a store on the Store Planned.
principle of co-operation or reciprocity. The subject was fully
investigated, and the benefits of such an institution clearly pointed out.

The plan proposed for carrying out the object of the meeting was by shares
of five dollars each.

The leading feature of the institution was to give employment to our own
mechanics, by supplying the raw material, and manufacturing all sorts of
domestic goods, and furnishing the necessaries and comforts of life on the
lowest possible terms.

A committee was appointed to draft a plan for the government of said


institute, to be submitted for adoption or amendment at their next meeting;
after which an adjournment took place till next Tuesday evening, at half-
past: six o'clock, at the same place.

Wednesday, 13.—In special council from nine to twelve a.m. Orson Hyde,
Wilford Woodruff and James Emmett were present, in addition to those of
the preceding day. Willard Richards was appointed historian, and William
Clayton clerk of the council.

It was decided that Amos Fielding should return to England, when I and my
brother Hyrum gave him the following letter of attorney:—

Credentials of Elder Amos Fielding on Departing for England.

"This is to certify that the bearer thereof, our worthy brother Elder
Amos Fielding, hath been appointed by the First Presidency of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our agent, to transact such
business as may be deemed necessary for the benefit of said Church,
and such as he shall see proper throughout the island of Great Britain.

He is hereby authorized to receive moneys for the Temple in Nauvoo,


the poor, or for the Church; and the brethren will be safe should they
deposit money in his hands for any purpose pertaining to the Church
business in this place.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and placed the
corporation seal of City of Nauvoo this 13th day of March, A. D. 1844.

[CORPORATION SEAL.]

JOSEPH SMITH,

HYRUM SMITH.

Presiding Elders of the whole Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day


Saints.

Thursday, 14.—In special council over the store from nine till one.

At two, went to see Brother John Wilkie. He had sent to me to come and see
him. He wanted to know what he should do. I told him of the order of
tithing, &c., and he wanted I should come again.

At four, went to assembly room again. Lucien Woodworth sent on a mission


to Texas. At seven, adjourned to next Tuesday, at nine, a.m.
Friday 15.—Dull, cloudy day, north wind. Frosty night. Spent the day in
council.

Being in a strait to raise money to assist the hands in the Pine country, I sent
Elders Brigham and Willard Richards to borrow some money from Mr.
Orme, who, it is believed, had a large sum of money lying idle, but they did
not get any.

I copy from the Law of the Lord:—

John Wilkie. The Blessing of the Prophet upon Him.

"This day President Joseph Smith rode over to Brother John Wilkie's at
his special request, to give him some instructions relative to his duty in
regard to tithing and consecration.

Brother Wilkie has for a long time back been struggling with his
feelings, designing to do right, but laboring under many fears and
prejudices, in consequence of having in some degree given way to
believe the base reports circulated by individuals for the purpose of
injuring the authorities of the Church, and also from various other
causes. His faithful companion has persevered diligently, and with
fervent prayer has called upon God in his behalf, until she has realized
her utmost wishes.

Brother Wilkie now feels anxious to do right in all things, and


especially to pay his tithing to the full. President Joseph showed him
the principles of consecration and the means whereby he might realize
the fullness of the blessings of the celestial kingdom; and as an
evidence that he desired to do right, he paid over to the Trustee-in-
Trust the sum of three hundred dollars in gold and silver for the benefit
of the Temple, and which is now recorded on consecration.

He also signified his intention of paying more as soon as he could get


matters properly arranged. The president then pronounced a blessing
upon him and his companion, that they should have the blessing of
God to attend them in their basket and in their store—that they should
have the blessing of health and salvation and long life, inasmuch as
they would continue to walk in obedience to the commandments of
God.

May the Lord grant his Spirit and peace to abide upon Brother Wilkie
and his companion through the remainder of their days; may their
hearts expand and become enlarged to receive the fullness of the
blessings of the kingdom of heaven; may they have the light of eternal
truth continually springing up in them like a well of living water; may
they be shielded from the powers of Satan and the influence of
designing men, and their faith increase from day to day until they shall
have power to lay hold on the blessings of God and the gifts of the
Spirit until they are satisfied; and, finally, may they live to a good old
age; and when they have lived while they desire life, may they die in
peace and be received into the mansions of eternal life, and enjoy a
celestial glory forever and ever! Even so, amen.

The editors of the Times and Seasons published a short account of "Our
City and the Present Aspect of Affairs," which we insert.

STATUS OF NAUVOO IN THE SPRING OF 1844.

Believing that our patrons and friends are pleased to hear of our
prosperity, we feel happy in apprising them of the same, through the
columns of our paper.

Owing to the scarcity of provision and the pressure in the money


market during the past winter, commercial business has been
somewhat dull; consequently, those who were not previously prepared
have been obliged to employ the principal portion of their time in
obtaining the necessary means for the sustenance of their families:
therefore little improvement has been made. But old Boreas is now on
his receding march, and spring has commenced its return with all its
pleasantness.

Navigation is open, and steamboats are almost continually plying up


and down our majestic river. They have already brought several
families of emigrants to this place, who have cordially joined with
their friends and brethren in the great work of the upbuilding of Zion
and the rolling forth of the kingdom of God.

The work of improvement is now actively begun, and in every


direction may be heard the sound of the mason's trowel, the carpenter's
hammer, the teamster's voice, or, in other words, the hum of industry
and the voice of merriment. Indeed, to judge from the present
appearance, a greater amount of improvement will be done the ensuing
summer than in the preceding one.

Almost every stranger that enters our city is excited with astonishment
that so much has been done in so short a time; but we flatter ourselves,
from the known industry, perseverance, and diligence of the Saints,
that by the return of another winter so much more will be
accomplished, that his astonishment will be increased to wonder and
admiration.

Quite extensive preparations are being made by the farmers in this


vicinity for the cultivation of land; and should the season prove
favorable, we doubt not that nearly, if not a sufficient amount of
produce will be raised to supply the wants of the city and adjacent
country.

We are also pleased that we can inform our friends abroad that the
Saints here of late have taken hold of the work on the Temple with the
zeal and energy that in no small degree excites our admiration. Their
united efforts certainly speak to us that it is their determination that
this spacious edifice shall be enclosed, if not finished, this season.

And a word we would say to the Saints abroad, which is, that the
Temple is being built in compliance with a special commandment of
God not to a few individuals, but to all. Therefore we sincerely hope
you will contribute of your means as liberally as your circumstances
will allow, that the burden of the work may not rest upon a few, but
proportionately upon all.

Where is the true-hearted Saint that does not with joy and delight
contemplate the endowment of the servants of God and the blessings
He has promised to His people on condition that they speedily build
the Temple? Certainly you cannot reasonably expect to enjoy these
blessings if you refuse to contribute your share towards its erection.

It is a thing of importance, and much depends upon its


accomplishment: therefore we wish to forcibly impress the matter
upon your minds, hoping you will become aroused to a sense or your
duty—that every company of Saints, every Elder that comes here, and
every mail may bring money and other property for this important
work,—which, when completed, will stand, in one sense of the word,
as a firm pillar in Zion, and which will greatly facilitate the prosperity
of the great cause of truth which we all are actively engaged in.

Saturday, 16.—At home. At one p.m., I sat in council with Willard


Richards, Orrin P. Rockwell, and Bishop George Miller.

The Female Relief Society had two meetings in the assembly room, as it
would not hold all at once, and sanctioned the "Voice of Innocence from
Nauvoo."

Sunday, 17.—Last night, Nauvoo was visited by a very strong


wind from the west. It blew down a portion of the west wall Wind Storm at
of the new hall (28 by 40 feet on the ground,) which the Nauvoo.
Seventies had commenced on Bain street, and they had raised
for the roof.

The wind continued very strong all day. In the evening, had a smart
snowstorm, which covered the ground, was succeeded by a frosty night.

Attended prayer meeting.

Monday, 18.—The frost of last night was so severe as to form ice inside the
houses.

I stayed at home to recite German with Brother Neibaur.

Tuesday, 19.—Met in council in the assembly room. Elder Samuel Bent,


Uriah Brown, Samuel James, John D. Parker, Orrin P. Rockwell, Sidney
Rigdon, William Marks, and Orson Spencer met in council, in addition to
the former names.

In the afternoon, heavy, driving rain. Northwest wind. Dull, cold day.

Wednesday, 20.—Severely cold northwest wind, with a snow and hail storm
until ten a.m. Afternoon dull. West wind.

Spent the morning and afternoon in the assembly room, studying the
languages.

Elder Woodruff read me a letter which he had written to


Colonel Solomon Copeland concerning his nomination to be a Col. Copeland
candidate for the Vice-President of the United States. and the Vice-
Presidency.
The Illinois Springfield Register has the following:—

GENERAL JOSEPH SMITH A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.

It appears by the Nauvoo papers that the Mormon Prophet is actually a


candidate for the presidency. He has sent us his pamphlet, containing
an extract of his principles, from which it appears that he is up to the
hub for a United States bank and a protective tariff. On these points he
is much more explicit than Mr. Clay, who will not say that he is for a
bank, but talks all the time of restoring a national currency. Nor will
Mr. Clay say what kind of a tariff he is for. He says to the south that he
has not sufficiently examined the present tariff, but thinks very likely it
could be amended.

General Smith possesses no such fastidious delicacy. He comes right


out in favor of a bank and a tariff, taking the true Whig ground, and
ought to be regarded as the real Whig candidate for President, until Mr.
Clay can so far recover from his shuffling and dodging as to declare
his sentiments like a man.

At present we can form no opinion of Clay's principles, except as they


are professed by his friends in these parts.
Clay himself has adopted the notion which was once entertained by an
eminent grammarian, who denied that language was intended as a
means to express one's ideas, but insisted that it was invented on
purpose to aid us in concealing them.

The Iowa Democrat publishes the following:—

A New Candidate in the Field.

We see from the Nauvoo Neighbor that General Joseph Smith, the
great Mormon Prophet, has become a candidate for the next
presidency. We do not know whether he intends to submit his claims to
the National Convention, or not; but, judging from the language of his
own organ, we conclude that he considers himself a full team for all of
them.

All that we have to say on this point is, that if superior talent, genius,
and intelligence, combined with virtue, integrity, and enlarged views,
are any guarantee to General Smith's being elected, we think that he
will be a "full team of himself."

The Missouri Republican believes that it will be death to Van Buren,


and all agree that it must be injurious to the Democratic ranks,
inasmuch as it will throw the Mormon vote out of the field.

A traveler, having visited Nauvoo for a few days, wrote to the Times
and Seasons—

"Mr. Editor,—Before I take my departure, permit me to express my


views relative to the leading men of your city, where I have been these
few days.

I have been conversant with the great men of the age; and, last of all I
feel that I have met with the greatest, in the presence of your esteemed
Prophet, General Joseph Smith. From many reports, I had reason to
believe him a bigoted religionist, as ignorant of politics as the savages;
but, to my utter astonishment, on the short acquaintance, I have found
him as familiar in the cabinet of nations as with his Bible and in the
knowledge of that book I have not met with his equal in Europe or
America. Although I should beg leave to differ with him in some items
of faith, his nobleness of soul will not permit him to take offense at
me. No, sir; I find him open, frank, and generous,—as willing others
should enjoy their opinions as to enjoy his own.

The General appears perfectly at home on every subject, and his


familiarity with many languages affords him ample means to become
informed concerning all nations and principles, which with his familiar
and dignified deportment towards all must secure to his interest the
affections of every intelligent and virtuous man that may chance to fall
in his way, and I am astonished that so little is known abroad
concerning him.

Van Buren was my favorite, and I was astonished to see General


Smith's name as a competitor; but, since my late acquaintance, Mr. Van
Buren can never re-seat himself in the Presidential chair on my vote
while General Smith is in the field. Forming my opinions alone of the
talents of the two, and from what I have seen, I have no reason to
doubt but General Smith's integrity is equal to any other individual;
and I am satisfied he cannot easily be made the pliant tool of any
political party. I take him to be a man who stands far aloof from little
caucus quibblings and squabblings, while nations, governments, and
realms are wielded in his hand as familiarly as the top and hoop in the
hands of their little masters.

Free from all bigotry and superstition, he dives into every subject, and
it seems as though the world was not large enough to satisfy his
capacious soul, and from his conversation one might suppose him as
well acquainted with other worlds as this.

So far as I can discover, General Smith is the nation's man, and the
man who will exalt the nation, if the people will give him the
opportunity; and all parties will find a friend in him so far as right is
concerned.

General Smith's movements are perfectly anomalous in the estimation


of the public. All other great men have been considered wise in
drawing around them wise men; but I have frequently heard the
General called a fool because he has gathered the wisest of men to his
cabinet, who direct his movements; but this subject is too ridiculous to
dwell upon. Suffice it to say, so far as I have seen, he has wise men at
his side—superlatively wise, and more capable of managing the affairs
of a State than most men now engaged therein, which I consider much
to his credit, though I would by no means speak diminutively of my
old friend.

From my brief acquaintance, I consider General Smith (independent of


his peculiar religious views, in which by-the-by, I have discovered
neither vanity nor folly,) the sine qua non of the age to our nation's
prosperity. He has learned the all-important lesson "to profit by the
experience of those who have gone before;" so that, in short, General
Smith begins where other men leave off. I am aware this will appear a
bold assertion to some; but I would say to such, call, and form your
acquaintance, as I have done; then judge.

Thus, sir, you have a few leading items of my views of General Smith,
formed from personal acquaintance, which you are at liberty to dispose
of as you think proper. I anticipate the pleasure of renewing my
acquaintance with your citizens at a future day.

Yours respectfully,

A TRAVELER.

A writer in the Quincy Herald reflects very strongly upon the conduct of the
Quincy Whig, New York Tribune, and other newspapers, for publishing
slanderous falsehoods against the Saints.

Ten, p.m., commenced snowing again.

Thursday, 21.—A cold snow-storm through the night.


Origin of
In council in the assembly room, discussing the propriety of Memorial to
petitioning Congress for the privilege of raising troops to Congress.
protect the making of settlements in the uncivilized portions of our
continent.

Willard Richards was appointed a committee to draw up a memorial to


Congress.

Friday, 22.—Snow on the ground; cold, bleak north wind; cloudy.

At ten a.m., held Mayor's court, and afterwards read German in the reading
room.

In the afternoon, met with the Twelve in prayer at President Brigham


Young's house.

I advised the Seventies to pull down the remainder of the


walls and rebuild the Seventies' hall on a permanent basis The Seventies'
from the foundation and not erect for themselves a trap, but Hall,
build one two stories high, and strong enough to stand for a Instructions on
Rebuilding.
generation.

Saturday, 23.—Day warmer. Rode out with Clayton to endeavor to raise


money to furnish the hands in the Pinery with supplies. Visited the Temple
and public works.

Also called with William Clayton and Alexander Neibaur at Dr. Foster's. He
was gone to Appanoose, and Mrs. Foster was at Mr. Gilman's.

I here extract from William Clayton's journal:—

President Smith's Interview With Mrs. Foster.

We went down there and saw her, [Mrs. Foster]. President Joseph
asked Sister Foster if she ever in her life knew him guilty of an
immoral or indecent act. She answered, "No." He then explained his
reasons for asking; which were, he had been informed that Dr. Foster
had stated that Joseph made propositions to his wife calculated to lead
her astray from the path of virtue; and then asked if ever he had used
any indecent or insulting language to her. She answered, "Never." He
further asked if he ever preached anything like the "plurality of wife"
doctrine to her other than what he had preached in public? She said,
"No." He asked her if he ever proposed to have illicit intercourse with
her, and especially when he took dinner during the doctor's absence.
She said, "No." After some further conversation on the subject, we left.
Mrs. Gillman was present all the time. President Joseph and Neibaur
then went on foot to the farm.

Sunday, 24.—At ten, a.m., met at the stand near the Temple. [The following
very brief outline of the speeches is from the journal of Wilford Woodruff]:

Discourse of President Smith—Conspiracies in Nauvoo.

"President Joseph Smith addressed the people. The following is the


substance of what I heard him say:—

I have been informed by two gentlemen that a conspiracy is got up in


this place for the purpose of taking the life of President Joseph Smith,
his family, and all the Smith family, and the heads of the Church. One
of the gentlemen will give his name to the public, and the other wishes
it to be hid for the present: they will both testify to it on oath, and
make an affidavit upon it. The names of the persons revealed at the
head of the conspiracy are as follows:—Chancey L. Higbee, Dr.
Robert D. Foster, Mr. Joseph H. Jackson, William and Wilson Law.
And the lies that C. L. Higbee has hatched up as a foundation to work
upon are—he says that I had men's heads cut off in Missouri, and that I
had a sword run through the hearts of the people that I wanted to kill
and put out of the way. I won't swear out a warrant against them, for I
don't fear any of them: they would not scare off an old setting hen. I
intend to publish all the iniquity that I know of them. If I am guilty, I
am ready to bear it. There is sometimes honor among enemies. I am
willing to do anything for the good of the people. I will give the name
of one of the gentlemen who have divulged the plot: his name is M. G.
Eaton. He will swear to it: he is a bold fellow. Joseph H. Jackson said a
Smith should not be alive in two weeks,—not over two months
anyhow. Concerning the character of these men, I will say nothing
about it now; but if I hear anything more from them on this subject, I
will tell what I know about them.

Elder Orson Spencer addressed the people as follows:—

While listening to President Smith's remarks, I thought of a figure, i.e.,


if a physician was going to dissect a body, he would not be likely to
begin at the limbs but cut the head off first. So the adversary of the
Saints has laid a plan to cut off the head of the Church with the
intention of scattering and destroying the whole body. It was so in the
days of Jesus Christ; the enemies of the truth sought to kill Him, that
the body might be destroyed; which was also the case in the days of
Elijah, Daniel, and many of the ancients.

I once heard a man say, who was opposed to this work, "That it might
be true, but it gave Joseph Smith power." True, said I; but if his power
be subordinate to the power of God, it is right. If a man set up a
kingdom by the power of God, then let others seek power from the
same source. God sets up kingdoms and pulls down kingdoms: this
makes men mad who will not submit to the kingdom of God. We all
know the result of the power of Moses, who was the representative of
God.

Judging from what is past, how will it be when God sets up His
kingdom in the last days? Whether there is a conspiracy now, or not, I
don't know; but no doubt there will be, if not now, for it has always
been so. In the days of the Nephites, they had their Gadianton robbers.
I have not any doubt but that the apostates will join with the other
wicked powers to try to put down the power of God, and I am glad to
have the power of the kingdom of God tested; I care not what sacrifice
I am called to make for such a kingdom. If it is friends, wealth, or even
life, at the purchase of such a kingdom, it is cheap. Did the ancient
Apostles, Prophets, or Saints who died pay too much for that
kingdom? They did not. It is necessary that men be put in possession
of the knowledge and mysteries of the kingdom of God, in order to sin
as far as they wish, that they may go to the highest pitch. How often
men lay down their lives for their country and other purposes. How
much better, then, to die for the cause of Zion! Good and righteous
men will administer justice and rebuke evil. The Church should be
cleansed from bad men, and the Lord will take His own way to cleanse
the Church.

We should lift up our voice against wickedness of all kinds. But will
the rulers of our land do it? No, they will not; they will be cowards
until there is no man to fight, and then be brave. When Government
will not do it, some man should take the helm of government that will
do it. Will it be called treason, if the God of heaven should set up a
kingdom? May the Lord give you more and more of His Spirit, light
and intelligence, until you are cemented together in union and love.
Amen.

Elder Sidney Rigdon addressed the meeting.

President Joseph Smith again arose and said—In relation to the power
over the minds of mankind which I hold, I would say, It is in
consequence of the power of truth in the doctrines which I have been
an instrument in the hands of God of presenting unto them, and not
because of any compulsion on my part. I wish to ask if ever I got any
of it unfairly? If I have not reproved you in the gate? I ask, Did I ever
exercise any compulsion over any man? Did I not give him the liberty
of disbelieving any doctrine I have preached, if he saw fit? Why do not
my enemies strike a blow at the doctrine? They cannot do it: it is truth,
and I defy all men to upset it. I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, "Repent ye of your sins and prepare the way for the
coming of the Son of Man; for the kingdom of God has come unto
you, and henceforth the ax is laid unto the root of the tree; and every
tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, God Almighty (and not Joe
Smith) shall hew it down and cast it into the fire."

After meeting, I rode out with Emma. The trees begin to bud forth.

In the evening, held a conversation with a large company of friends at my


door.

Elder R. H. Kinnamon writes that during the last 22 months he has baptized
over 100 persons while on a mission in Virginia and North Carolina,
organized two branches in Virginia, and calls are continually made for
preaching in every direction.

Monday, 25.—At home in the morning. After dinner rode up


to the upper landing to see the St. Louis Oak steamer. Learned Progress on
that a company of emigrants from England were expected Memorial to
Congress.
soon. Called at my office on returning, and heard read the
draft of a memorial to Congress which my clerk had been
writing, as a committee appointed by the council on Thursday last, and was
pleased with the instrument.

Millions of wild pigeons flying north, and millions of gnats dancing in the
air. Dull day. At night thunder, lightning and rain.

Tuesday, 26.—Dull day. From nine to twelve, noon, in council; also from
two to five p.m.

The memorial drawn up by Dr. Richards was read, discussed, and approved
by the general council.

Started this morning to go to Ramus with Brother Amasa Lyman. Rode as


far as the Temple, and found it so muddy that we turned back.

Issued a warrant on the complaint of Vernon H. Bruce, against Ianthus


Rolfe, for stealing two stone-cutter's tools.

I wrote the following:—

The Prophet's Memorial to Congress.

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the


United States of America, in Congress Assembled:

Your memorialist, a tree-born citizen or these United States,


respectfully showeth that from his infancy his soul has been filled with
the most intense and philanthropic interest for the welfare of his native
country; and being fired with an ardor which floods cannot quench,
crowns cannot conquer, nor diplomatic intrigue corrupt, to see those
principles which emanated from the bosoms of the fathers of seventy-
six, and which cost the noblest talents and richest blood of the nation,
maintained inviolate and perpetuated to future generations; and the
proud eagle of American freedom soar triumphant over every party
prejudice and local sinistry, and spread her golden pinions over every
member of the human family, who shall stretch forth their hands for
succor from the lion's paw or the oppressor's grasp; and firmly trusting
in the God of liberty, that He has designed universal peace and
goodwill, union, and brotherly love to all the great family of man, your
memorialist asks your honorable body to pass the following:—

ORDINANCE.

An Ordinance for the Protection of the Citizens of the United States


Emigrating to the Territories, and for the Extension of the Principles of
Universal Liberty.

PREAMBLE.

Whereas, many of the citizens of these United States have migrated


and are migrating to Texas, Oregon, and other lands contiguous to this
nation; and whereas, Texas has declared herself free and independent,
without the necessary power to protect her rights and liberties; and
whereas Oregon is without any organized government, and those who
emigrate thither are exposed to foreign invasion and domestic feuds;
and whereas the Oregon, by geographical location and discovery more
rightfully belongs to these United States than any other general
government; and whereas it is necessary that the emigrants of that
newly settling territory should receive protection; and whereas the
Texan Government has petitioned the United States to be received into
our Union, but yet retains her national existence; and whereas the
United States remember with gratitude the seasonable support they
received in alike situation from a LaFayette; and whereas the United
States desire to see the principles of her free institutions extended to all
men, especially where it can be done without the loss of blood and
treasure to the nation; and whereas there is an almost boundless extent
of territory on the west and south of these United States, where exists
little or no organization of protective Government; and whereas the
lands thus unknown; unowned, or unoccupied, are among some of the
richest and most fertile of the continent; and whereas many of the
inhabitants of the Union would gladly embrace the opportunity of
extending their researches and acquirements so soon as they can
receive protection in their enterprise, thereby adding strength,
durability, and wealth to the nation; and whereas the red man, the
robber, and the desperado have frequently interrupted such research
and acquisition without justifiable cause; and whereas Joseph Smith
has offered and does hereby offer these United States, to show his
loyalty to our Confederate Union and the Constitution of our Republic;
to prevent quarrel and bloodshed our frontiers; to extend the arm of
deliverance to Texas; to on protect the inhabitants of Oregon from
foreign aggressions and domestic broils; to prevent the crowned
nations from encircling us as a nation on our western and southern
borders, and save the eagle's talon from the lion's paw; to still the
tongue of slander, and show the world that a Republic can be, and not
be ungrateful; to open the vast regions of the unpeopled west and south
to our enlightened and enterprising yeomanry; to protect them in their
researches; to secure them in their locations, and thus strengthen the
Government and enlarge her borders; to extend her influence; to
inspire the nations with the spirit of freedom and win them to her
standard; to promote intelligence; to cultivate and establish peace
among all with whom we may have intercourse as neighbors; to settle
all existing difficulties among those not organized into an
acknowledged government bordering upon the United States and
Territories; to save the national revenue in the nation's coffers; to
supercede the necessity of a standing army on our western and
southern frontiers; to create and maintain the principles of peace and
suppress mobs, insurrections, and oppression in Oregon and all the
lands bordering upon the United States and not incorporated into any
acknowledged national government; to explore the unexplored regions
of our continent; to open new fields for enterprise to our citizens, and
protect them therein; to search out the antiquities of the land, and
thereby promote the arts and sciences, and general information; to
amalgamate the feelings of all with whom he may have intercourse on
the principles of equity, liberty, justice, humanity and benevolence; to
break down tyranny and oppression and exalt the standard of universal
peace, provided he shall be protected in those rights and privileges
which constitutionally belong to every citizen of this Republic;
therefore, that the said memorialist may have the privilege, and that no
citizen of the United States shall obstruct, or attempt to obstruct or
hinder, so good, so great, so noble an enterprise to carry out those
plans and principles as set forth in this preamble, and be shielded from
every opposition by evil and designing men.

Section 1. Be it ordained by the Senate and House of Representatives


of the United States of America, in Congress Assembled, that Joseph
Smith, of the city of Nauvoo, in the State of Illinois, is hereby
authorized and empowered to raise a company of one hundred
thousand armed volunteers in the United States and Territories, at such
times, and places and in such numbers, as he shall find necessary and
convenient for the purposes specified in the foregoing preamble, and to
execute the same.

Sec. 2. And be it further ordained that if any person or persons shall


hinder or attempt to hinder or molest the said Joseph Smith from
executing his designs in raising said volunteers, and marching and
transporting the same to the borders of the United States and
Territories, he, or they so hindering, molesting, or offending, shall be
punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars each for every
offense, or by hard labor on some public work not exceeding two
years, or both, at the discretion of the nearest District Court of the
United States, where the hindrance or offense shall be committed,
having jurisdiction.

Sec. 3. And be it further ordained, the more fully to remove all


obstructions and hindrances to the raising, enlisting, and marching the
volunteers as aforesaid, the said Joseph Smith is hereby constituted a
member of the army of these United States, and is authorized to act as
such in the United States and Territories, and on all lands bordering
upon the United States and Territories, for the purposes specified in the
foregoing preamble, provided said land shall not be within the
acknowledged jurisdiction of any acknowledged national government.
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