| 666 Rigdon sustains his authority; I never believed he had lost it through transgression; I believe he is the man to receive the oracles from Brother Joseph and give them to the church; all I want is to have the thing right, I am ready to confess it as any other man. (read several extracts from D. & C.)
When this organization is broken up there is a quorum broken up which is of great power and authority, and I always thought it ought to have been continued. The church has always supposed that the Twelve were to bear the gospel to all the world, and when they are absent, who will preside over the church? We know that it tis [is] necessary for individuals to preside over the whole church. Now, we are losing this office and power and authority, but I feel as though we dont [don't] want to lose any thing. I feel that we ought to keep up the organization, if it is right to do so.
When Elder Rigdon first came from Pittsburgh he said it was his place to receive the oracles, but there was a delicacy in Brother Rigdon in presenting his claims to the people; he supposed there would have been some individuals who would have taken up the case.-It appears from what has been stated this morning, that the questions have been put which seems to bring a contradiction. If Elder Rigdon has done any thing worthy of being severed from the church, I feel to go with the church, and to be satisfied with what they do. I dont [don't] know that I can see any thing worthy of cutting him off at the present time. Probably I am prejudiced in his favor; if it is wrong I hope the brethren will forgive me. When I have set with the High Council I have always tried to divest myself of prejudice. I am willing that the High Council and church should act on his case, if they think best. I felt as though there was a great many men here who were saying hard things against him and nobody to speak a word for him, and I have volunteered to say a few words in his defence [defense].
I have had a conversation with Elder Rigdon and I cannot find that he has committed a crime. The church has never cut off any person without a crime was proven against him. Now is there a man in the church who has received the ordination of a prophet, seer and revelator? If there is I want to see him.-There has men been ordained prophets, priests and kings, but I have never heard of anyone being ordained a seer and revelator. I think I am knowing to all the ordinations, but I dont [don't] know of a man who has been ordained to the office and calling Brother Sidney has; and if he is cut off, who will we have to obtain revelations? A man must be in possession of this power to be able to ordain a prophet, and a seer and a revelator. If there is a man ordained to lead this people, I do not know it. I dont [don't] believe there are sufficient revelations given to lead this people, and I am fully of the belief that this people cannot build the kingdom except it is done by revelation.
President Young arose and replied-I feel it a duty to make some remarks in reply to what Brother Marks has said with regard to Brother Rigdon's character. I have not been beyond the last fall conference to fetch evidence.-There was enought [enough] brought forward at the conference, and abundance more could have been presented, but Brother Hyrum plead so hard it was kept back. Brother Rigdon did enough when he came from Missouri, to cut him off from the priesthood. He said he never would follow Brother Joseph's revelations any more, contrary to his own convenience. He said Jesus Christ was a fool to him in sufferings; was this not enough to cut him off? There was enough to cut him off long ago, but Brother Marks has endeavored to soft soap the people. I have known that Brother Marks "had no evidence but the written word;" But if this people have no evidence but the written word, it is quite time to go to the river and be baptised [baptized] for the remission of their sins. Who cannot see that Elder Rigdon would sacrifice this people? Brother Marks says, if there are any ordained to offices equal with Elder Rigdon he dont [don't] know it. He dont [don't] know all the ordinations, nor he wont till he knows something more than the written word.
I know the reason why Brother Joseph said all was right between him and Elder Rigdon; he (Rigdon) was whining all the while because of his sufferings. He wanted to go back to Kirtland. Brother Hyrum went to Brother Joseph and plead with him again, and begged of Joseph to "bless him-hold on to him, for I believe he will yet straighten out," and he finally got him ordained. But did he help Brother Joseph after this? No. There was then another revelation given for him to move his family near to Brother Joseph. He finally did, but did he then go to Brother Joseph and assist him in his councils? He did not.
If I had the same feelings towards this people that Elder Rigdon and some others have I should hope you would cast us off to-day. Elder Rigdon is now preaching secretly to the people, to have them go back to Pittsburgh-go back to the "leeks and onions." He has prophesied in the name of God that we wont
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