Wilford Woodruff records in his journal that the apostles were directed to organize prayer circles.
Wilford Woodruff, Journal entry for July 25, 1858, Journal (January 1, 1854 – December 31, 1859), Wilford Woodruff Papers
25 I spent the day at the President office most
of the day the Presidency wished the Twelve to get
up a company each one of them to Form a Prayer Circle
the following are the names of the company given to
me to meet on wednesday evening at the Endowment
Room to Form a prayer circle viz
Wilford Woodruff
Edward Hunter
Leonard Hardy
J. C. Little
A Hoagland
A O Smoot
S. M. Blair
E. F Sheets
G. D. Grant
R. T. Burton
Wm. H. Kimball
Johnathan Pugmire
R. L. Campbell
^Wilford Woodruff Jr
David O Calder
Arza Hinkley
John T Caine
[blank] Willey^
President
B. Young
H. C. Kimball
D. H. Wells
O. Hyde
O. Pratt
W. Woodruff
J. Taylor
E. T. Benson
F. D. Richards
John Young
L. D. Young
E. Snow
A. Carrington
Fred. Kesler
P. H. Young
F. Little
Stephen Taylor
B. Stringham
R. Golden
Jos M. Simmons
Wm Nixon
Ed. Ellsworth
John Y. Green
Henry Heath
Dan Johnson
Jas M. Barlow
Niles Olsen
A Moffat
J. W. Young
Jas A. Little
Howard Stringham
Arza Hinkley
W. H. Kimball
Jas Ferguson
R. T Burton
John Kay
Jos A Young
Brigham Young Jr
E. K. Hanks
N. V. Jones
J. R. Winder
J. W. Cummings
Frank B. Woolley
H. B. Clawson
Seymour Young
Nelson Empy
Chas Decker
Howard Spencer
Lacy Stillson
G Stringham
Howard Spencer
Hugh Mc. Ilwraith
I notifyed them to attend
during the Evening I called upon
President Young with E T Benson
& he wished the Twelve & some others
to accompany him to the Big Cotton
wood Canyon tomorrow night