"He remembered forcibly the sayings of the first presidents of Seventy, that we should so live that no charge can be brought against us. A few years ago the men in high standing in this Church (the Twelve) were as little as we are. They obtained their exaltation by patient submission to right, and minding their own business. * * * There are many young men in this quorum able to travel a great way. You will be called on to go, also to receive your endowment. Keep always meek and a teachable spirit. The willow always bends in the breeze and is also firm in the root. Though many have gone out from the Church."—now remember this—"YET it increases as fast as ever and evinces to the world as great affinity and identity to the eternal plan of Jehovah as ever it did."
This does not sound much like a falling away or a dissolution of the Church, does it? And this is the testimony of Zenas H. Gurley given before he left the Church. Again, on the 3rd of January, 1846, the minutes say:
"Zenas H. Gurley enlarged on the subject of liberally donating to the Church necessities. God said He has so shaped the scheme of salvation as that to be saved and appear approved of God, we must sacrifice of all that we possess. * * He felt filled with the Spirit. The course the Church is pursuing has been spoken of by Jesus Christ and the holy prophets of olden time."
There is his endorsement of the course of the Church. And on January 10, 1846:
"Zenas H. Gurley arose and said that the presidents of the quorum had received their endowment."
Continuing he said—mark you, he was one of those presidents:
"He observed that it was remarkable for an unusual outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He felt for the quorum that they should receive their endowment. The Church authorities, the quorum of Seventy in succession, to furnish the people engaged in the endowment, one day each, and he wanted the quorum (Twenty-first) to acquit themselves from every obligation."
It may be interesting to know that this man and his wife were endowed in the Temple January 6, 1846. Here is the testimony of Zenas H. Gurley in relation to the Temple ceremonies when he was in full fellowship in the Church and was in possession of the spirit of his calling. At that time he declared most emphatically that on that occasion the Spirit of the Lord was unusual in its outpouring. If that is true and he could testify to it then, there cannot be anything so very bad in these glorious privileges of which he testified. In later years when he had lost the spirit of the Gospel and was fighting the work he had formerly upheld, he denounced in bitterness these sacred ordinances that he on this occasion sanctioned. His former testimony is the one that is consistent.
On the 17th of January, 1846, the minutes say:
"President Zenas H. Gurley arose and said * * The business before the meeting was the arranging for a donation for the benefit of those of the Priesthood engaged in the Temple. (Not on the Temple but in it). He beautifully observed that it was his design, and also his council's to exalt the Twenty-first quorum, and the quorum should reciprocally return the favor; give support and influence towards its welfare."