"After mature and candid deliberation, I am fully and
satisfactorily convinced that Mr. Sidney Rigdon's claims to the
Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
are not founded in truth. I have been deceived by his specious
pretenses and now feel to warn every one over whom I may have
any influence to beware of him, and his pretended visions and
revelations. The Twelve are the proper persons to lead the Church."
"WILLIAM MARKS."
After making this acknowledgment he was received back into fellowship,
but did not again obtain his former position. Later he became
dissatisfied and withdrew from the Church and was excommunicated.
During the exodus he joined James J. Strang, and in 1846 was called
to be a counselor to James J. Strang in his organization. (History
of "Reorganized" Church, 3:723). For a time he was also president
of Strang's "Stake of Zion," and also a bishop in his organization
(History of "Reorganized" Church, 3:44 and 723). First a "bishop," then
"president of the 'Stake of Zion,' and then "counselor" in Strang's
presidency. In 1852 he became a member of Charles B. Thompson's church
(Reorg. Hist., 3:55 and 3:724). In 1855 he left Thompson and entered
into an organization with John E. Page and others (Reorg. Hist.,
3:724); and on June 11, 1859, he was received into the "Reorganization"
on his original baptism," "and they recognized his original ordination
to the Priesthood, although he had been disfellowshiped by the church
that conferred that Priesthood. After he was disfellowshiped in 1844
and later left the Church and wandered around through the organizations
of James J. Strang, Charles B. Thompson and John E. Page, receiving
"ordinations," and honors, and positions, in these movements, he was
then received into the "Reorganized" Church on his original baptism.
Now, I ask the question in all candor of any fair minded Latter-day
Saint--Did he after this, in 1860, have any authority or Priesthood to
confer upon Joseph Smith of the "Reorganization," much less the keys
and position of president of the High Priesthood; keys that he never
did hold?[6]