| 206 Strang's work) ever effect this great work?' I answered, 'No, Lord.' I felt ashamed to think that I had ever thought so. The voice then said, 'Rise up, cast off all that claim to be prophets, and go forth and preach the gospel, and say that God will raise up a prophet to complete his work.' I said, 'Yea, Lord.'
"As I left the house my mind was dwelling upon what had just transpired. Although the Spirit had told me that God would raise up a prophet to complete his work, it did not enter my mind at that time that I would realize the work in its present form. My whole desires were that those dear souls around me might enjoy the gifts and blessings of the gospel as the saints did in Joseph's time, and be saved from those meshes of iniquity which thousands had run into. A few weeks afterward, while reading a paragraph in the Book of Covenants, which says, 'If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light,' the Spirit said unto me again, 'Rise up, cast off all that claim to be prophets, and go forth and preach the gospel, and say that God will raise up a prophet to complete his work.' I answered, 'I will do it, God being my helper.' From that time I began to look about in earnest for a starting point. I examined the book carefully and saw at once that the teachings of the day were contrary to the law, and resolved that although I had but one talent, yet in the name of Israel's God I would go forward and leave the result with him.
"At this time I was laboring with Bro. Reuben Newkirk, a young and worthy brother. I explained my visions to him, and he indorsed [endorsed] them at once. The Spirit of God was with us, and day after day was spent in holding council about the matter, until one day (being at work together in a lone place) we joined hands, and in a most solemn manner entered into a covenant, calling God to witness, that we would from that hour renounce all that claimed to be prophets, and take the Bible, Book of Mormon, Book of Covenants, and the Holy Spirit for our guide. This was a new era in my existence. In Joseph's time I had stood with thousands of the servants of God, and counted it an honor to call them brethren, but alas, how changed the scene! One, only one
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