William Morley Black follows the prophet

That settled it with me. So far all that I had met was in harmony with my feelings and judgment. But a little test was coming. We had finished the Tithing Building, and for want of better work I went to hauling wood. A Brother Woolsey let me have a yoke of oxen and a wagon and boarded me giving me half the wood that I hauled. It took three days to get a load. Each week I earned a load of wood for which I generally got $8.00, making $1.25 a day, and that was considered good wages.


One day President Wells told me that I had been selected as one of a party to go to Sanpete Valley and to aid in making a settlement. I did not wish to go, as I had been told that It was a cold frosty place, too high in altitude for agricultural purposes, and I felt that my condition would not be bettered. Again I could not see just what right the President had to call me. I understood and expected them to guide me in spiritual matters, but this was of a temporal nature and beyond their jurisdiction. These were my thoughts and this pioneer call was the first trial to my faith. I am pleased to say the pause was only for a moment. On reflection God's dealing with Noah, Abraham, Moses, Lehi, and Nephi was strong evidence that reasoning and traditions were incorrect. Was not God the author of the world as well as the Gospel? If he built the earth, why not govern it? If it requires union of spirit and matter to bring exaltation of men, then it must be that the priesthood has a right to direct in material or temporal things as well as in spiritual things.

The next time I met Brother Wells I told him I was willing to go to Sanpete or anywhere else. I want my descendants who may read this sketch to bear in mind that I was a new disciple and my mind was still steeped in the ideas and thoughts of sectarianism, and obedience to the requirements of the priesthood was a new doctrine to me. But the call set me to thinking and studying, and led to an increase in knowledge.