"James Blakeslie dropped for HERESY and Jahie Savage for the same, and their Priesthood taken from them. ZENOS H. GURLEY, ALSO PRIESTHOOD TAKEN FROM HIM. * * *" (Voree Record—Conference at Enoch's Grove, Beaver Island, July 9, 1852.)
DOUBTS FOLLOWED AFTER EXCOMMUNICATION.
By 1851, after about five years of active service, he became convinced that James J. Strang was not a Servant of God. Manifestations followed which satisfied him that he should help organize another Church. Accordingly, he and Jason W. Briggs united their efforts and organized what is known as the "NEW ORGANIZATION," which subsequently emerged into the "Re-Organized Church," in 1860—16 years after the Martyrdom. Zenos H. Gurley, after following the Twelve Apostles as the presiding Quorum of the Church, and holding the position as Senior President of the Twenty-first Quorum of Seventy up to the time of the exodus of the Church from Nauvoo, in 1846, left the Church and joined James J. Strang, remaining with this organization until he and Briggs CREATED THE "NEW ORGANIZATION." In 1860 he assisted William Marks in ordaining the President of the "Reorganization." The question naturally arises, DID HE HAVE ANY AUTHORITY? We prefer to answer this question by simply quoting the statement found in the "Saints Herald," Vol. 4, Page 158.
"Whenever individuals claiming authority under THE CHURCH AS ORGANIZED BY THE FIRST JOSEPH became members of ANY FACTION, THEY IMMEDIATELY BECAME DIVESTED OF ALL AUTHORITY." ("Saints Herald," Vol 4, No. 10, Page 158.)
GURLEY'S DOUBTS FOLLOW HIS FAMILY.
Zenos H. Gurley ("an apostle") had been able to convert many to this organization, yet he was not satisfied in his own mind. In connection with Jason W. Briggs (founder of the "Reorganization), he forsook the Church they claimed had been built upon "revelations" from divers persons, ("Saints Herald" Vol. 33, Pages 248-249.) The reasons why these men withdrew from the "Reorganization" were as follows: That they could not believe in:
1st—"The literal gathering of the Church into Jackson and the adjoining counties in the State of Missouri (or any one or more places) known as a local Zion."
2d—"Temple building and ceremonial endowments therein."
3d—"Baptism for the dead."
4th—"Tithing as a law applicable to the Church."