The other resolutions of importance adopted by the conference declared that the office of President of the church grew out of the authority of the presiding high priest in the high priesthood; that they recognize the validity of all legal ordinations in the church; that the whole law of the church is contained in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants; that there was no stake of Zion to which the saints are commanded at present to gather; and that it was the duty of the elders to cry repentance and remission of sins to this generation. A committee was appointed to write a pamphlet based on these resolutions entitled "A Word of Consolation to the Scattered Saints."
It was about this time, viz, during the summer of 1852, that the "stake of Zion" in Lee county, Illinois, founded by William Smith's church, went to pieces and a number of the members thereof joined this Josephite movement set on foot by Messrs. Briggs and Gurley.
The next conference of the Josephite church was held in October, 1852, at the Yellow Stone branch, and then more especially was considered the question of authority to preside in the church that was forming, pending the coming forth of "young Joseph" to be its president. The pamphlet which the June conference had ordered written, announced that the "highest authority presides always," and the deliberations of the conference resulted in the following:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this conference, the one holding the highest priesthood in the church is to preside, and represent the rightfull heir to the presidency of the high priesthood in a presiding capacity.
These men, however, found great difficulty in determining who held the highest authority as many unwarrantable ordinations had taken place in the various factions.
After earnest discussion it was determined that all ordinations not within the limits of the law should be ignored, and all within the limit recognized. This excluded all above an high priest, who being the highest recognized, was sustained as the presiding authority.[A]
[Footnote A: Life of Joseph the Prophet, Josephite edition, p. 592.]
I have been unable to learn, however, that any one of the high priests was selected to preside over the Josephite church at this juncture, and one is left to infer that the whole body of so-called high priests were to preside. During the winter of 1853, the "spirit" intimated to Mr. Gurley, that they must "organize;" but this they knew not how to do, further than they had done.[A] They were even unable to decide on the validity of the ordinations of the men who had attended the October conference.[B]
[Footnote A: Ibid, p. 594.]
[Footnote B: Life of Joseph the Prophet, Josephite edition, p. 594.]