| 81 prayers were determined to uphold him in his high and holy calling, provided he had still maintained his integrity before God.
"We had publicly and privately condemned and rejected many of the doctrines and practices of the Church of Latter Day Saints. And we had determined to practice virtue and holiness before the Lord continually, provided we could only know what he required of us. We had the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Book of Commandments, so far as they had been published in Zion in 1833; but with all the light we could draw from them, we did not know in our present situation what to do. We lacked wisdom. We did not wish to act upon a mere opinion of our own, of any other man or set of men. We wanted to know the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently we humbled ourselves before him in mighty prayer, each one present calling upon God vocally, the one after the other; all being agreed to inquire of the Lord, as touching our priesthood, our baptisms, and the establishing and building up of the Church of Christ.
"We thank and magnify the name of the Lord God who revealed himself to all holy men since the world began who called upon him in faith, as we did; for he heard our united solemn prayer of faith, and the pattern was given to us, by which we could go forward and act and thus build up the church unto the Lord, but not unto man. Yes, we fearlessly declare that the Lord then and there gave us intelligence 'to discern the true principles of his kingdom, that we might again build up his church as from the beginning. To build it up according to his law.' And through his seer, the Lord has since said when addressing me, "Therefore he shall continue to do all things according to the pattern that I have shown to him.' As to our priesthood, the Lord said: 'I the Lord yet acknowledge the authority and ministry of all those of my church who are now willing to forsake all unrighteousness and cleave unto me; notwithstanding all their imperfections, inasmuch as they repent I will be gracious unto them.'
"As to our baptisms the Lord said, 'It is my will inasmuch
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