From that first Sunday the reformation spread until it had reached every corner of the new Zion.
The leaders took up the accusing cry,--the Elders, Bishops, High Priests, and Counsellors.

Missionaries were appointed for the outlying settlements, and meetings were held daily in every center, with a general renewing of covenants.
Brigham, who had warmly seconded Joel Rae's opening discourse, was now, not unnaturally, the leader of the reformation, and in his preaching to the Saints while Joel Rae lay sick he committed no faults of vagueness.
For profane swearing he rebuked his people: "You Elders in Israel will go to the canons for wood, get a little brush-whipped, and then curse and swear--damn and curse your oxen and swear by Him who created you.
You rip and curse as bad as any pirates ever did!" For the sin of cattle-stealing he denounced them.

A fence high enough to keep out cattle-thieves, he told them, must be high enough to keep out the Devil.
Sometimes his grievance would have a personal basis, as when he told them: "I have gone to work and made roads to the canon for wood; and I have cut wood down and piled it up, and then I have not got it.

I wonder if any of you can say as much about the wood I have left there.

I could tell stories of Elders that found and took my wood that should make professional thieves blush.