It was made known, shortly after the bestowal of the Melchizedek Priesthood, that the Church of Jesus Christ was to be organized. It was after Joseph Smith and his companions had engaged in solemn prayer that the word of the Lord came to them in the home of Father Peter Whitmer, "commanding us," the Prophet writes, "that I should ordain Oliver Cowdery to be an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ; and that he also should ordain me to the same office; and then to ordain others, as it should be made known unto us from time to time. We were, however, commanded to defer this our ordination until such times as it should be practicable to have our brethren, who had been and who should be baptized, assembled together, when we must have their sanction to our thus proceeding to ordain each other, and have them decide by vote whether they were willing to accept us as spiritual teachers or not; when also we were commanded to bless bread and break it with them, and to take wine, bless it, and drink it with them; afterward proceed to ordain each other according to commandment; then call out such men as the Spirit should indicate, and ordain them; and then attend to the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon all those whom we had previously baptized, doing all things in the name of the Lord." Fulfilment of the Promise On the sixth day of April, 1830, the time for the fulfilment of this promise arrived, Joseph and a few of those who had been baptized met in the house of Peter Whitmer, Sen., and proceeded, as the Lord had instructed them, to organize the Church. It was on a Tuesday, and there were six in number, namely, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., David Whitmer and Samuel H. Smith. The small, but momentous meeting, was opened by solemn prayer. Those present then proceeded to express their willingness, as instructed by divine commandment, to accept Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as their teachers in the things of the kingdom of God. Then they were called upon to declare whether or not they were willing to proceed to organize the Church of Jesus Christ. To both propositions they consented with unanimous voice. "I then laid my hands upon Oliver Cowdery," says the Prophet, "and ordained him an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; after which he ordained me also to the office of elder of said Church. We then took bread, blessed it, and brake it with them; and also wine, blessed, and drank it with them. We then laid our hands on each individual member of the Church present, that they might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and be confirmed members of the Church of Christ. The Holy Ghost was poured out upon us to a very marked degree, some prophesied, whilst we all praised the Lord, and rejoiced exceedingly."