"if I were to tell you all I know...you would rise up and kill me"
Joseph Smith
"On May 23, 1843, I listened to a discourse preached in the Nauvoo temple, which was then only partially finished.
Brother Joseph was talking on the pre-existence of our spirits,
and our relations to God in the spirit world, and our standing in the
family circle of our Father. Now I am telling the truth, and I
remember that while thus talking he suddenly
turned around to the Apostles sitting on the stand and said in effect:
'Brethren, if I were to rell you all I know of the kingdom of God, I do
know that you would rise up and kill me.' Brother Brigham arose
and said, 'Don't tell me anything that I can't bear, for I don't want
to apostatize.' Brother Joseph, addressing the Apostles,
then said: 'The weight of this kingdom has been as a millstone around
my neck, but I am going to roll it off on your shoulders, and then the
kingdom of God will go on.' There were eleven of the Apostles
present at this time. Among them I saw Parley Pratt, Orson Pratt,
Willard Richards, Geo. A. Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor. I don't remember the others." (Robert Horne, "Reminiscences of the Church in Nauvoo," Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 55, No. 36, Sept. 4, 1893, p. 585)