RLDS Church History Search

Chapter Context

RLDS History Context Results

Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 767

Read Previous Page / Next Page

767 seemed to apprehend. Had the true state of the case been understood, the many aspirants to Moses' seat would have had but few followers. I can see clearly now that blindness had smitten Israel upon that subject, for they were groping for a leader like blind men for a wall."

Elder Ells relates that while these conditions were obtaining he conversed on the situation with a Mr. Parish, who said: "If the Twelve go to hell I will go with them." Some years afterwards he was assassinated at Springville, Utah.

Elder Ells cast his lot with Sidney Rigdon; but of this movement he says: "On my arrival at Pittsburg [Pittsburgh], after leaving Nauvoo, I found Rigdon had changed his program, and intended to act for himself, renouncing the proposed guardianship for Joseph. I hesitated, but the darkness consequent upon the rejection enveloped me in its folds."

At the general conference, held in April, 1845, by Rigdon and his adherents, Josiah Ells was chosen one of the Twelve Apostles, and was also made a member of the Quorum of Seventy-three; but we have seen no indication that he was ever very active or zealous in this cause.

Elder Ells continues his narrative as follows: "From that time until the year 1860 we remained in the dark. In the beginning of that year several of the old saints met several times to hold religious meetings, and converse upon the past, and interchange opinions regarding the future. Upon one of these occasions, when speaking, the Spirit came upon me, and I testified that before long we should learn something respecting the kingdom-the object which we sought. Some few weeks afterwards, W. W. Blair came bringing the tidings that an organization had been effected by some of the saints, that Joseph, the eldest son of the Seer, had been chosen, and he had accepted the Presidency of the same. From previous manifestations, myself and wife were disposed to believe the tidings; but it seemed as if we were the only ones at that time who were so inclined. I appointed a meeting in view of the subject, but no person attended for

(page 767)

Read Previous Page / Next Page

Amazing Testimony: When a NON-Christian finds the Book of Mormon..

RLDS Church History Search