I suppose that there are some present this afternoon who realize the hardships through which the pioneers had to pass that tried men's souls and that only the faithful were able to endure.
I have now shown that the great majority of the Latter-day Saints followed President Brigham Young and were true to the Church. We get a good idea of the number who scattered from the testimony of William W. Blair.
FEW JOINED REORGANITES.
Of the members of the Church who were in fellowship in 1844-6, the "Reorganized" Church has received no more, and likely less than 1,000 converts, which fact shows that the apostasy was not so great in 1844-6 as has been stated by the Senator from Michigan and members of the "Reorganization." This statement is based on the testimony of William W. Blair, one of the original members of the "Reorganized" Church, as he testified before the United States court of appeals for the Western district of Missouri, in 1894, in the temple lot suit, which was for the possession of property in the hands of the "Church of Christ," or "Hedrickites."
Before that court Mr. Blair, who was for many years a member of the presidency of the "Reorganized" Church, testified that "1,000 was probably too high an estimate for the members of the original Church, that had joined the 'Reorganized' Church." He could "approximately say," that 1,000 had joined the "Reorganized" Church, and "possibly that estimate was too large." (Record pp. 180, 181).
ORIGIN OF "REORGANIZED" CHURCH.
We will now consider the origin of this "Reorganized" Church. Many people have been lead to believe that this society had its origin at the martyrdom, or immediately following the martyrdom. But this is not the fact. Properly it did not come into existence until 1860—16 years after the martyrdom, but the two men who were mainly responsible for the organization commenced their work in 1852-3. These men were Jason W. Briggs and Zenas H. Gurley. Perhaps a brief outline of their lives would be interesting.
Jason W. Briggs who was really the founder of the "Reorganized" Church, or, who perhaps did more than any other one man to bring about that sect, was born June 25, 1821, at Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y. It is said he joined the Church at Potosi, Wis., about 1841, but most of the history of this man we get through the records of the "reorganization." His home was at Beloit, Wis., from 1842 to 1854.[3] He remained with the Church under the leadership of President Young and the Twelve until the year 1846 (Reorg. Hist., 3:737). It is interesting to note in this regard that the exodus commenced February 4, 1846, so we are quite safe in saying that this man was one of "the fair weather friends."
After the exodus he joined James J. Strang, and in his organization labored in the ministry quite extensively (Reorganite History 3; 737), filling short missions to various parts of New York and in Wisconsin.
In September of 1849, with B. G. Wright, he organized the Waukesha branch of Mr. Strang's church (Hist. Reorganized Church, 3; 737-8). Now, remember this was in September, 1849, and the organization of this branch was in the Strangite church. About this same time he also organized the Beloit branch for the same organization.[4]