| 263 whether I should ever be called to take any part in that work; but that if I were, I was ready, and that it would have to be made clear to me, in person, as well as to others what that work was; that I could not move upon the evidence given to others only. That they might be assured that I should not go to Salt Lake to affiliate with them there. And finally, that if it should be made clear to me that it was my duty to cast the fortunes of my life and my labor with the work and the people that they were representing, I should without hesitation do it, but that I could not then do so. Upon this understanding we parted, Elder Gurley returning to report the result of their mission; Elder Briggs declining to accompany him home, for reasons known to himself; and I to my farmer's work. Elder Briggs stopped in the city and neighborhood for nearly a year, worked for me a part of the time, and returned at his leisure."-Life of Joseph the Prophet, pp. 756-769.
This makes clear the reasons of Joseph Smith for rejecting the Utah faction; also his reason for postponing a decisive answer to the Reorganization.
Again, he wrote concerning his decision to accept the Reorganization, and of subsequent events, as follows:-
"During the year 1859 the question of my connection with my father's work was finally determined. I became satisfied that it was my duty. The queries heretofore referred to were one by one being settled; until the final one, where and with whom should my life-labor lie? was the only one left. This was determined by a similar manifestation to others that I had received to this effect: 'The Saints reorganizing at Zarahemla and other places, is the only organized portion of the church accepted by me. I have given them my Spirit, and will continue to do so while they remain humble and faithful.'
"This was in the fall of 1859, and in the winter I resolved to put myself in communication with the brethren of the Reorganized Church. In accordance with this resolution I wrote the following letter to Elder William Marks, then residing at Shabbona Grove, DeKalb County, Illinois,
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