In sec. 107, on Priesthood, instructions are given how to organize various councils and presidencies, in which is, verse 22, "Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church." Verse 9, "The Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church;" and, as in verses 18, 19, to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church"—to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven—to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.
In verses 91-2, "The duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses. Yea, to be a Seer, a revelator, a translator and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church." In this light and sense does the church uphold, by their vote, their faith and their prayers, the First Presidency of the church, or the Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the church.
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.