THE TWELVE APOSTLES.
The Twelve Apostles, or the twelve traveling counselors, are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; and they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned—the decisions of each being unanimous. Doc. & Cov., sec. 107, verses 23, 24. In verse 33 they "are to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the church, agreeable to the institution of heaven: to build up the church and regulate the affairs of the same in all nations; first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews."
The foregoing laconic description of their duties is so comprehensive that we will not detail further than to refer the student to verses 23, 24, 35, 38, 39, 58 for further description of the duties of the Twelve Apostles.
In sec. 112, verses 30-32, the Lord says to them: "For unto you, (the Twelve,) and those (the First Presidency) who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times, which power you hold in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation."
At the dedication of the Temple in Kirtland, the Prophet Joseph "called upon the quorums and the congregation of Saints to acknowledge the Twelve Apostles, who were present, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators, and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the keys of the kingdom, to unlock it, or cause it to be done, among them, and uphold them with their prayers, which they assented to by rising:" His. of Joseph Smith, March 27, 1836.
The following is a list of the names, time of birth and date of membership of the First Presidency and of the Twelve Apostles of this Dispensation, given in the order in which they were set apart to those offices, so far as we have ascertained:
Lyman E. Johnson was born October 24, 1811, at Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle at the organization of the first Council of Apostles, at Kirtland, February 14, 1835, and was cut off from the Council and the church April 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri.
Brigham Young was born June 1, 1801, at Whittingham, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland. From the apostacy of Thomas B. Marsh in October, 1838, he was President of the Twelve, and from December 27, 1847, was sustained as First President of the church, with Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as his counselors. This position he occupied until his death, on the 29th of August, 1877.
Heber C. Kimball was born June 14, 1801, at Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland, and was first counselor to President Brigham Young, from December 27, 1847, until his death, on the 22d of June 1868.
Orson Hyde was born January 8, 1805, at Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland, and died at Spring City, Utah, November 28, 1878.
David W. Patten was born in the State of New York, about A. D. 1800; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was fatally shot, by a mob, at Crooked River, Missouri, on the 25th of October, 1838, and died the same day, firm in the faith.
Luke S. Johnson was born November 3, 1807, at Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was disfellowshipped September 3, 1837, at Kirtland, and was cut off at Far West, April 13, 1838.
William E. McLellin was born in Tennessee, supposed in 1806; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off May 11, 1838, at Far West.
John F. Boynton was born September 20, 1811, at Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off September 3, 1837, at Kirtland.
William Smith was born March 13, 1811, at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was deprived of the apostleship October 7, 1845, in Nauvoo, and was excommunicated October 12, 1845.
Parley P. Pratt was born April 12, 1807, at Burlington, Otsege County, New York; was ordained an apostle February 21, 1835, at Kirtland, and was assassinated near Van Buren, in Arkansas, May 14, 1857.
Thomas B. Marsh was born November 1, 1799, at Acton, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle April 25 or 26, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off for apostacy, at Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1839.
Orson Pratt was born September 19, 1811, at Hartford, Washington County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1835, at Kirtland. He died at his residence in Salt Lake City, October 3, 1881.
John Taylor was born November 1, 1808, at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West, Missouri. He was President of the Twelve from the death of Brigham Young, and has been sustained as First President of the church since October 10, 1880, with apostles George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as his counselors.
John E. Page was born February 25, 1799, at Trenton, Oneida County, New York; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West, Missouri. He was cut off June 27, 1846.
Wilford Woodruff was born March 1, 1807, at Avon, Hartford County, Connecticut; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West, Missouri. Since October 10, 1880, has been sustained as President of the Twelve Apostles.
George A. Smith was born June 26, 1817, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West, Missouri. He was appointed and sustained first counselor to President Brigham Young, at the October Conference, 1868. He continued to hold this office until his death, September 1, 1875.
Willard Richards was born June 24, 1804, at Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle April 14, 1840, at Preston, Lancashire, England, by President Brigham Young and the Council of Apostles held there on that day. He was second counselor to President Young from December 27, 1847, until his death, March 11, 1854.
Lyman Wight was born May 9, 1796, at Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 8, 1841, at Nauvoo. He was excommunicated February 12, 1849.
Amasa M. Lyman was born March 30, 1813, at Lyman, Grafton County, New Hampshire; was ordained an apostle August 20, 1842, at Nauvoo. He was deprived of his apostleship October 8, 1867, and excommunicated May 12, 1870.
Ezra T. Benson was born February 22, 1811, at Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle July 16, 1846, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He died at Ogden, September 3, 1869.
Charles C. Rich was born August 21, 1809, in Campbell County, Kentucky, and was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City. He died at Paris, Idaho, November 17, 1883.
Lorenzo Snow was born April 3, 1814, at Mantua, Portage County, Ohio; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.
Erastus Snow was born November 9, 1818, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.
Franklin D. Richards was born April 2, 1821, at Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.
George Q. Cannon was born January 11, 1827, at Liverpool, Lancashire, England; was ordained an apostle August 26, 1860, at Salt Lake City; was sustained first counselor to President John Taylor October 10, 1880.
Brigham Young, Jun., was born December 18, 1836, at Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio; was set apart as one of the Twelve Apostles October 9, 1868, in Salt Lake City.
Joseph F. Smith was born November 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri; was received into the Council of Apostles October 6, 1867, at Salt Lake City. He was sustained as second counselor to President John Taylor October 10, 1880.
Albert Carrington was born January 8, 1813, at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle July 3, 1870, at Salt Lake City.
Moses Thatcher was born February 2, 1842, at Sangamon County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle April 7, 1879, at Salt Lake City.
Francis M. Lyman was born January 12, 1840, near McComb, in McDonough County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt Lake City.
John H. Smith was born September 18, 1848, at Carbunca, Pottowattomie County, Iowa; was ordained an Apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt Lake City.
George Teasdale was born on the 8th of December, 1831, at London, England, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of October, 1882, by President John Taylor, assisted by George Q. Cannon and others of the apostles.
Heber J. Grant was born on the 22d of November, 1856, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of October, 1882, by President George Q. Cannon, assisted by President John Taylor and others of the apostles.
John W. Taylor was born on the 15th of May, 1858, at Provo City, Utah County, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 9th day of April, 1884, by President John Taylor, assisted by Counselors Geo. Q. Cannon, Jos. F. Smith and others of the apostles.
The first First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of the church, in Kirtland, were:
FIRST PRESIDENCY.
Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams.
TWELVE APOSTLES.
1. Thomas B. Marsh, 2. David W. Patten, 3. Brigham Young,
4. Heber C. Kimball, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William E. McLellin,
7. Parley P. Pratt, 8. Luke S. Johnson, 9. William Smith,
10. Orson Pratt, 11. John F. Boynton, 12. Lyman E. Johnson.
The persons composing the first Council of Twelve Apostles were chosen by the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, viz.: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, on the 14th day of February, 1835. They were ordained Apostles by Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, as stated in the History of Joseph Smith, under date of May 28, 1843.
In a revelation given through Joseph, the Seer, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, the Lord said to him: "Let my servant John Taylor, and also my servant John E. Page, and also my servant Wilford Woodruff, and also my servant Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the places of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointments."
When Frederick G. Williams was rejected from the First Presidency, on the 7th of November, 1837, at Far West, Hyrum Smith was appointed a counselor in his stead, which position he occupied until called to officiate as Patriarch to the church, after the death of his father, Joseph Smith, Sen., which occurred in Nauvoo, September 14, 1840, when William Law was appointed counselor to the Prophet Joseph in Hyrum's stead. This office Wm. Law occupied until the assassination of the Prophet and Patriarch, which occurred June 27, 1844, at Carthage, Illinois.
The First Presidency and Twelve Apostles as they stood in Nauvoo, after the apostacy of Luke S. Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson, Thomas B Marsh and Frederick G. Williams, and the ordination of Hyrum Smith to the office of Patriarch, were:
FIRST PRESIDENCY.
Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, William Law.
TWELVE APOSTLES.
1. Brigham Young, 2. Heber C. Kimball, 3. Parley P. Pratt,
4. Orson Pratt, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William Smith,
7. John Taylor, 8. John E. Page, 9. Wilford Woodruff,
10. Willard Richards, 11. George A. Smith, 12. Lyman Wight.
At a General Conference, held on December 27, 1847, at Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs,) Iowa, the Saints acknowledged Brigham Young President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards his Counselors. This action was confirmed at the General Conference, held in Salt Lake Valley, after the companies had arrived in the Fall of 1848.
In Salt Lake City, February, 1849, after the assassination of the Prophet Joseph, the apostacy of Sidney Rigdon, William Law, William Smith, John E. Page and Lyman Wight, the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles stood as follows:
FIRST PRESIDENCY.
Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards.
TWELVE APOSTLES.
1. Orson Hyde, 2. Parley P. Pratt, 3. Orson Pratt,
4. John Taylor, 5. Wilford Woodruff, 6. George A. Smith,
7. Amasa M. Lyman, 8. Ezra T. Benson, 9. Charles C. Rich,
10. Lorenzo Snow, 11. Erastus Snow, 12. Franklin D. Richards.
After the death of Counselor Willard Richards, March 11, 1854, President B. Young nominated, and the church sustained Jedediah M. Grant, at the General Conference April 6, 1854, as his second counselor. Elder Grant filled this office until his death, at Salt Lake City, December 1, 1856. He was born in Windsor, Broome County, New York, February 21, 1816.
John W. Young was born October 1st, 1844, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle November 22d, 1855, by President Brigham Young, assisted by Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant, at Salt Lake City; on the 4th of February, 1864, he was set apart to be assistant counselor to the First Presidency by his father, President Brigham Young, and on the 8th of October, 1876, was set apart as first counselor to President Brigham Young, by his father, assisted by Daniel H. Wells and Brigham Young, Jr, at Salt Lake City, which position he occupied until the death of President Young. Since then he has officiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.
Daniel H. Wells was born October 27, 1814, at Trenton, Oneida County, New York; was ordained an apostle and set apart to be second counselor in the First Presidency by President Brigham Young, January 4th, 1857. He held this office until the death of President Young; since then he has officiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.
Since the death of Presidents Brigham Young and George A. Smith, Elders Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Ezra T. Benson, Orson Pratt and Charles C. Rich, and the apostacy of Amasa M. Lyman, the First Presidency and Council of Apostles have been as follows, from April 9, 1884:
FIRST PRESIDENCY.
John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith.
TWELVE APOSTLES.
1. Wilford Woodruff, 2. Lorenzo Snow, 3. Erastus Snow,
4. Franklin D. Richards, 5. Brigham Young, 6. Albert Carrington,
7. Moses Thatcher, 8. Francis M. Lyman, 9. John H. Smith,
10. George Teasdale, 11. Heber J. Grant, 12. John W. Taylor.
Francis M. Lyman and John H. Smith were appointed and sustained at the General Conference in October, 1880, but were not ordained, on account of the absence of Elder Lyman, until the 27th day of that month.
Bible.
Matt. 10. 2-4 the names of the Twelve Apostles are these.
28. 19, 20 go ye therefore and teach all nations.
Mark 3. 14 he ordained Twelve that they should be with him.
John 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
Acts 1. 25 that ye may take part in this ministry and apostleship.
4. 35 laid them down at the apostles' feet.
16. 4 the decrees ordained of the apostles.
Rom. 1. 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship.
11. 13 inasmuch as I am an apostle of the Gentiles.
1 Cor. 12. 28 God hath set some in the church, first apostles.
2 Cor. 12. 12 truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you.
Eph. 2. 20 built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.
3. 5 as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets.
4. 11 and he gave some apostles and some prophets, etc.
Neh. 3. 1 the apostle and high priest of our profession.
Jude 17. words spoken before of the apostles of our Lord.
Rev. 18. 20 rejoice over her, ye holy apostles and prophets.
Book of Mormon.
3 Nephi 12. 1 give heed unto these Twelve whom I have chosen.
13. 25 ye are they I have chosen to minister to this people.
19. 4 Jesus chose twelve disciples among the Nephites.
Chap. 28. Jesus' ministry to his Twelve Disciples; three chosen to remain.
Mormon 1. 16 disciples taken out of the land on account of wickedness.
3. 19 Nephites to be judged by the Twelve whom Jesus chose.
Doctrine & Covenants.
Sec. 18. 9 called with the same calling as the apostle Paul.
27-47 calling of the Council of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.
19. 8 for it is meet for you to know, even as mine apostles.
20. 2, 3 Joseph Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery called and ordained apostles.
27. 12 with Peter, James and John, by whom I have ordained you apostles.
84. 63 you are mine apostles, even God's high priests. 64.
95. 4 prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time.
See A Pamphlet, Succession in the Priesthood, by John Taylor.
Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 19, page 111.
" " Geo. Q. Cannon, J. of D. Vol. 10, page 230.