| 724 and sustain him by our faith, confidence, and prayers, as one of the First Presidency."-Gospel Herald, vol. 5, p. 17.
Whether he increased his faithfulness or whether his skepticism was tolerated does not appear, but he retained his standing with this organization, at least until June 6, 1850, when he signed, in connection with J. J. Strang and G. J. Adams as a presidency, a call for a "general assembly" to be held at St. James, Beaver Island, July 1 to 6, 1850. (Gospel Herald, vol. 5, p. 96.)
Several times prior to this his name also appeared in Strangite publications in connection with the presidency. We have seen no mention of him in connection with this faction after June 6, 1850, though he may have continued with them for a time thereafter. The next mention of Elder Marks coming to our notice was in connection with Charles B. Thompson, who, on April 9. 1853, received a revelation appointing Richard Stevens, William Marks, and Harvey Childs a "locating" committee. (See this volume, page 55.)
In 1855 he entered into an organization with John E. Page, John Landers, John Gaylord, Russell Huntley, W. W. Blair, and others; but this was of short duration.
On June 11, 1859, at a special conference held at Amboy, Illinois, William Marks was received into the Reorganization upon his original baptism, and his ordination as an high priest was recognized. From this time on he was a prominent character in the history of the church. At the same conference that he was received he was appointed with Elders Z. H. Gurley., Sen., and James Blakeslee a committee to publish a hymn book.
At the Semiannual Conference of October, 1859, held at the barn of I. L. Rogers, in Kendall County, Illinois, there were measures taken to publish a periodical as related on pages 238 to 240 of this volume. Elder Marks was associated with Z. H. Gurley and W. W. Blair as a publishing committee.
In March, 1860, as related in this volume (pp. 264, 265), when President Joseph Smith decided to identify himself with the Reorganization, he placed himself in communication
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