Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Priesthood
Perhaps many people already know these topics better than I do, but yesterday I was reading from an essay by Charles R. Harrell and I learned a few interesting things about the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
For example, did you know that there are no first-hand accounts of this event and nobody knows for sure the date of such restoration? However, it happened in a time of great distress. This second-hand description comes from Mr. Everett, who overheard a conversation between Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, a few days before their martyrdom.
Joseph and Oliver at the time of the restoration were held at the home of the Justice of Peace of Colesville because of their preaching. They were helped to escape by their attorney and it was night and they traveled through brush and water and mud, felled over logs, etc. until Oliver was exhausted; then Joseph Smith helped him along through the brush and water, almost carrying him. They traveled all night, and just at the break of day Oliver gave out entirely and exclaimed, “O Lord! Brother Joseph, how long have we got to endure this thing?” They sat down on a log to rest and Joseph said that at that very time Peter, James, and John came to them and ordained them to the Apostleship. They had 16 or 17 miles to get back to Mr. Hales, but Oliver did not complain any molre of fatigue.
