d Hyde, to become weak-kneed and
turn over to the enemy. Col. G. M. Hinkle, Dr. Averard, Judge W.
W. Phelps, and others of the "tall" men of the Church followed
suit. I remember going with Brother Levi Stewart to some of those
fallen angels (in the days of our prosperity they had looked like
angels to me) to inquire what to do and what was to be the future
conduct of our people. G. M. Hinkle said that it was his opinion
our leaders, the Prophet Joseph and those with him in prison,
would be either hanged or imprisoned for life - that the members
of the Church would scatter to the four winds, and never gather
again in this dispensation.

We then went to Joseph's father and asked him for counsel. He
told us that the Saints would gather again in Illinois. We asked
him at what point, and he said:

"I do not know yet, but the further north we go the fewer
poisonous serpents we will find."

He then advised us to attend private meetings and be set apart to
the ministry. Public meetings could not be held by the terms of
the treaty. We did attend private meetings, and I was ordained in
the Quorum of Seventies, under the hands of Joseph Young and Levi
Hancock. Stewart was ordained to the lesser Priesthood, which
gave him authority to preach and baptize, but not to confirm.

The office that I held gave me authority to preach, baptize, and
confirm by the laying on of hands, for the reception of the Holy
Ghost, and to ordain and set apart Elders, Priests, Teachers, and
Deacons, and to ordain a Seventy or High Priest, as the office of
a Seventy belongs to the Melchisedek Priesthood; yet a Seventy or
High Priest is generally ordained and set apart by the presidents
of the several quorums.

After we were ordained we attended a private feast and blessing
meeting, at which my wife and I got our Patriarchal Blessing,
under the hands of Isaac Morley, Patriarch. This office properly
belongs to those that are ordained and set apart to that calling,
to bless the fatherless and the widow especially; but he can
bless others who ask it and pay one dollar for the blessing.
Often the widow and the poor are blessed free, but this is at the
option of the Patriarch. My Patriarchal Blessing was in the
following form:

"Brother John Doyle Lee: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and by
virtue and authority of the Holy Priesthood, in me vested, I lay
my hands upon thy head, and confer upon thee a Patriarchal or
Father's Blessing. Thou art of Ephr