| 203 Powell, and J. W. Briggs met at the house of the latter for consultation. After prayer, the gifts of tongues, interpretation, and prophecy were received, and increased light given, which determined the sending of Elders Lowe and Harrington to visit the branches eastward as far as Waukesha, and then northward to deliver the foregoing communication and statement, and to communicate to the saints in these regions the stand taken by the church at Beloit, and the reasons for it, which was in effect this: A withdrawal of confidence in any and all organizations and pretended leaders, or successors to the Presidency of the Church, entertaining a belief that the true successor of Joseph Smith would be his eldest son, who would in the 'due time' of the Lord be called to act in that capacity, and for which we would wait; and in the meantime preach the gospel, baptize, and form branches, and nothing more. Such a position it was believed the only tenable one. And every day, and at every interview with each other, this view of the case became more apparent, and the resolution to pursue that course became stronger. Thus imbued, the two elders mentioned went out, and the result was, wherever they went among saints, who had been misled by one or another of the factions which had arisen, they infused the same spirit, and planted, under God, the same hope. The branches visited, were one called the Nephi branch, in Walworth County, one at Voree, and one in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. David Powell at first hesitating to adopt the same course with the rest at the time, wrote a letter of inquiry to William Smith, asking explanations."-The Messenger, vol. 2, p. 5.
Continuing, Elder Briggs states:-
"Returning to Beloit, Bro. Powell called upon J. W. Briggs, with a letter from Henry E. Deam, living near Yellowstone, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, where a branch had been raised up by Zenos H. Gurley and H. P. Brown, who acknowledged James J. Strang, where Bro. Gurley then resided. Upon consultation it was agreed that a letter should be written to those two brethren, and on the l9th of February Bro. Powell started to visit them, and carried the
(page 203) |
