| 679 the correctness of his views, he was baptized by Mr. Smith. Subsequently he heard Elder Miles Grant and other leading ministers of the Adventist Church, and became a partial believer in the soul-sleeping theory, though he rejected some of the other cardinal points of the doctrine of the Adventists; hence could not identify himself with them.
On December 31, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen Marr Pierce. In 1861 he moved into Illinois. Here he continued his labors as a minister for some time, when he removed to Iowa, and was one of the organizers of what was known as the Iowa Association of the Church of God, for which he acted as secretary and state evangelist. While laboring in this capacity as an evangelist, he met Elders Jason W. Briggs and I. L. Rogers. They attended his meeting, and were led by what they heard to believe that he had imbibed much of the truth, and was honest in his presentation of his views; and as Elder Briggs expressed it, "Like Apollos, needed some one to show him the way of life more perfectly." So Elder Briggs assumed the role of Aquila and explained the word of God to him. He found in Mr. Smith a willing hearer though an able disputant. These friendly discussions led Mr. Smith to inquire of God, when he received light concerning the truth of the story that had been told him about the restored gospel. On March 13,1866, he relates that he heard a voice above him quoting the words, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ," etc. The voice said, "Have you received the Holy Ghost?" He answered, "I do not think that the Holy Ghost is given now." The voice answered, "The promise is to all that are called. Is there any body called to-day?" He replied, "God is calling people with the gospel." This conversation was continued at some length, and he became convinced not only that baptism was necessary by one holding authority, but that the promise of the Holy Ghost was extended to him as well as to others. He again inquired of Elder Briggs as to the authority which he held, and became satisfied that the authority was resident in the one with whom he was conversing; consequently, on the 14th day of March, 1866, he was baptized and ordained an elder by Elder Jason W. Briggs.
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