Joseph Smith Personally Confirms William Burgess Despite Being Out of Turn

In February 1835 at Kirtland, approximately thirty-five people had been baptized during the week and came to church on Sunday for confirmation. William Burgess sat in the third row of seats as Jared Carter and Elder Cahoon were confirming the baptized members. After confirming all the people in the first row, 'the Prophet held up his hand for them to stop, and came to where I was and confirmed me, then went back to the stand and told the brethren to go on with the confirming.' This divine intervention by Joseph Smith to personally confirm young William Burgess out of order, followed by his return to the stand to resume the normal order, demonstrated the Prophet's spiritual sensitivity to individuals and his attentiveness to divine prompting regarding specific members.