Brigham and Heber, in the absence of their fellow Apostles—the remainder of the Twelve who had not gone over to the enemy, being in prison for the Gospel's sake, or away on missions—proceeded to set in order the Church at Far West, which was more or less scattered and demoralized from the effects of the recent persecution. They were obliged to move secretly and with the utmost caution, their lives and liberties being in jeopardy from apostate spies and prowling mobocrats. They reorganized the High Council, "expressed their fellowship with all who desired to do right," and filled the vacancies occasioned by the absence of brethren who had fled out of the state to save their lives.
On the nineteenth of December, they ordained John Taylor and John E.
Page to the apostleship.
The next step of the Apostles was to arrange for the exodus of the Saints en masse, from this land of tyrants, traitors and mobocrats, the blood-stained soil of Missouri.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY INSTRUCT THE APOSTLES—BRIGHAM YOUNG CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF THE TWELVE—THE EXODUS BEGUN—HEBER TARRIES IN MISSOURI TO MINISTER TO HIS IMPRISONED BRETHREN—HIS FAITHFUL BUT FRUITLESS EFFORTS FOR THEIR RELEASE—THE LORD SPEAKS TO HEBER.
From Liberty Jail, January 16th, 1839, the First Presidency addressed the following letter of instructions to the Apostles:
"BROTHERS H. C. KIMBALL AND B. YOUNG:
"Joseph Smith Jun., Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, prisoners for Jesus' sake, send greeting:
"In obedience to your request in your letter, we say to you as follows: It is not wisdom for you to go out of Caldwell with your families yet for a little season, until we are out of prison, after which you may act at your pleasure; but though you take your families out of the State, it will be necessary for you to return, and leave as before designed, on the 26th of April.
"Inasmuch as we are in prison, for a little season, if need be, the management of the affairs of the Church devolves on you, that is the Twelve.