| 207 remained of my associates that I could call brother. At times how dark, how dark was the future!
". . . Could I at that time have been permitted to realize what I have enjoyed with you and other dear saints within a few weeks past, how gladly would I have stemmed the torrent, and said with the apostle, 'I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.' Well, thank God, he who commenced this work will carry it forward, and I rejoice. My past experience strengthens me for the future. Then we were alone; our brethren around us having been taught that Strang was Joseph's successor, could only look upon us as apostates when they became acquainted with our position. We seemed to be hedged in. Darkness was all around us on every side. Light was only above us. Well, thank God, we proved him to be a present helper. A few days after we had entered into this covenant, while Brother Newkirk was in secret prayer, the Holy Spirit rested upon him. He arose and spoke in tongues, and started homewards, speaking in tongues and praising God. His wife heard him and met him, and shortly afterward she received the same gift and blessing. These gifts were the first fruits of the reformation.
"About this time Brother David Powell came from Beloit (about fifty miles distant), bringing with him a revelation which had been given to Jason W. Briggs, sometime in the previous November, declaring that the Lord would in his own due time call upon the seed of Joseph Smith to come forth, and set in order the quorums; in a word, to fill his father's place. He was commanded to write it and send it to all the churches. There were some ideas in the revelation that I could not receive. I was entirely unacquainted with the order of the priesthood as it really is, nevertheless I knew that God would raise up a prophet, but who he was, or where he would come from, I did not know.
"About ten or fifteen days after I had heard of this revelation, while sitting by my evening fire, my boys came running into my room, declaring with great earnestness that their little sister was up to Brother Newkirk's, speaking and
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