Shortly before she was to return to work at the Rowan County Courthouse, Kim Davis said she did not consider the marriage licenses being issued by her office to be valid without her authorization. Nevertheless, she said, she would not ask her deputies to do anything that could result in their imprisonment.

“I love my lord Jesus, all people and my job,” she said, minutes before her office’s 8 a.m. opening. “Today I put my faith in God and God alone.”