| 685 The writer of this sketch succeeded him in that field, and can testify by being actually upon the ground and having opportunity to know his work and its effect, that he was almost universally beloved by the Saints, and his work was of a permanent character. None who regarded his advice and counsel had any reason to regret it.
Returning to America in 1897 he continued his ministerial work; and in the amount of work performed was not surpassed by men who are many years his junior.
In 1902 he was removed from the Quorum of Twelve in harmony with a vision seen by the President of the church and accepted by the church as divine guidance. By the terms of this vision he was assigned to a position in the evangelical ministry, but this he did not accept; and in the General Conference of that year presented the following document as his reasons for declining:
"To President and Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Greeting: After mature consideration of the contents of the document now before the body, I very respectfully offer the following statements: First. Said document is descriptive of a vision seen by President Joseph Smith without one line of authorization to ordain and set apart those men he claims to have seen or that passed before him in vision, in the several positions named. I, therefore, however strong the implication may appear that I was by ordination to be placed among the patriarchs, or fill the position of a patriarch, wish to respectfully decline; for, though the description of the vision is put in no uncertain sound, there is a deathlike silence through the entire document so far as a command to ordain this or these my servants, etc., is concerned.
"Second. My present position was authorized in the year 1873 through President Joseph Smith, section 117: 4, Doctrine and Covenants. I accepted, and the good Lord by the Holy Spirit bore evidence to my soul, and by virtue of this evidence from that time until now I have been testifying to the people wherever sent of having set to my seal that God is true.
"Third. My having been seen by President Smith in vision
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