| 34 but when their attention was thus called to it, many at once received it as the solution of the question of presidency. William Smith taught also in connection with this, that it was his right, as the only surviving brother of the former President, and uncle and natural guardian of the seed of Joseph, to stand, during the interim, as President pro tem. And in this there seemed a general acquiescence on the part of the saints among whom he labored; and he was so acknowledged, and began to organize, choosing Lyman Wight 1 and Aaron Hook as counselors pro tem., to the President pro tem., and Joseph Wood as Counselor and Spokesman. Many branches, and nearly all the saints in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin were identified with this movement, and among them was enjoyed a large measure of the spiritual gifts.
"During the spring and summer of 1851, Palestine, in Lee County, Illinois, had been designated as a stake, and become the residence of William Smith, Wood, Hook, and others; and the two former had visited most of the branches in Wisconsin, among which was the one at Beloit, Rock County. This branch was originally raised up by the labors and ministry of Jason W Briggs, in 1843, who was their presiding elder at the time of this movement.'" . . . -Life of Joseph the Prophet, by Tullidge, pp. 576, 577.
In the further completion of his organization he chose a quorum of Twelve Apostles, but a majority of them did not accept the appointment. They were:-
1. WILLIAM P. ELDRIDGE, 7. IRVIN CARTER,
2. ANDREW BALLANTYNE, 8. GEORGE BAILY,
3. SPENCER SMITH, 9. EDWIN CADWELL,
4. JOSEPH D. GOODALE, 10. ALVA SMITH,
5. STEPHEN CURTIS, 11. JASON W. BRIGGS,
6. ORANGE L. WIGHT, 12. IRA J. PATTEN.
1 Evidently Lyman Wight refused to accept this appointment. for he wrote under date of December 26,1851: "I was sent with this company to this place, by Bro. Joseph in his lifetime. Brigham offered to revoke it on his own responsibility, and appoint to me a new mission. Mr. Strang offered to let me go on, provided I would give strict adherence to his mandates. William Smith proffered to receive me as I was, provided I would receive him as president of the Church and Joseph Wood as God's spokesman. For an absolute refusal I was disfellowshiped by all three," etc.-Manuscript.
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