In the history of creation, as given in the Bible Genesis, we find that the Lord commenced and ended the labor of creating the world in six days or periods of time. That also, he ceased his labors on the seventh day and devoted it to rest.
As we have shown in the article on pre-existence, in this work, these seven periods of creative time were occupied in the creation and perfection of spiritual organizations. These have since given life to the organizations formed out of the crude elements, from which all animal and vegetable life is formed.
When Adam was formed out of these elements, and the Lord made every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, to grow out of the ground, another series of creative days, or periods of time, commenced. The six days of labor, which, according to present reckoning, is supposed to be about six thousand years, has nearly passed away.
The Christian world anticipate the time when antagonisms will cease, and there will be a time of universal peace, called the Millennium. While the Christian sects may entertain various theories as to how this millennium will be brought about, and what will be its practical results, to the Latter-day Saints it assumes a well defined outline, as delineated in the sacred books.
Typical of these great, creative sabbaths, the Lord has commanded man to rest every seventh day, according to his reckoning, as measured by one revolution of the earth on its axis. The sabbath was instituted for man's especial benefit, for the Savior, when on the earth, declared that "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath;"Mark2. 27.
There is nothing to indicate that the sabbath was a new institution at the time Israel came out of Egypt, but, being the beginning of a new dispensation, the institution was strengthened by direct commandment. In about one month after their deliverance from Egypt, when the Lord had commenced to feed them on manna, they were commanded to gather on the sixth day enough for the seventh day also. This obviated the necessity of gathering food on the sabbath, for the Lord said, "To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord;"Exo. 16. 23.
In the third month after Israel came out of Egypt, amidst a wonderful display of his glory and power upon Mount Sinai, the Lord gave to Israel ten commandments, one of which was, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it;" 20. 8-11. This commandment is very sweeping and comprehensive, and the Lord makes it typical of the creative, sabbatic period of time.
In the Pentateuch the passages are quite numerous in which the children of Israel are reminded of the importance of keeping this commandment. The importance of keeping the sabbath day holy is urged upon Israel in the following passage, if possible, with still more force than in the Decalogue: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a SIGN between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you;" 31. 12-18.
A very important feature of this subject is expressed in the last verse. The keeping of the sabbath day was to be asignthroughout the generations of Israel, that the people continually remembered that it was the Lord that sanctified them through keeping his commandments.
Inverse14, the Lord says, "Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." The command is repeated in a little different form inverse15.
The sabbath was to be a perpetual covenant between the Lord and the children of Israel. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant;"verse16. Inverse17 they are commanded to observe it as a sign that they remember that the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh day.
In these quotations fromExo. 31, and in the Decalogue the most positive and weighty reasons are given by the Lord to the fathers of the house of Israel, for keeping the sabbath day. The obligation is evidently as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as it was upon their fathers, and they in like manner will reap the reward of obedience.
Israel was also required to give the land rest. "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard;"Lev. 25. 3, 4. After seven sabbaths of years had been numbered, making forty-nine years, then the fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee. This was a year of general release from all bondage. "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family;"verse10. Both the forty-ninth and fiftieth were years of rest for the land. This chapter should be well studied for information with regard to the sabbatic year.
The Lord, in his revelations through his prophet Joseph, has commanded the saints to keep the sabbath day holy. "For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. * * * And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full;"Doc. & Cov., 59. 10, 13. Inverse15-17, great blessings are promised as the result of keeping this commandment. To keep the sabbath holy is again positively enjoined upon the saints "And the inhabitants of Zion shall, also, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy;"Sec. 68. 29.
Bible.
Lev. 19. 3 shall fear every man his father and mother, and keep my sabbaths. 30.
26. 34 then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it is desolate.
Num. 15. 32-36 a young man stoned for breaking the sabbath.
Neh. 10. 31 the people covenanted not to buy victuals on the sabbath.
13. 15-22 Nehemiah sharply reproved the people for laboring on the sabbath.
Isa. 56. 2 blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath.
3-7 the eunuch and the stranger that keep the sabbath shall be blessed.
58. 13, 14 great blessings promised to those who keep the sabbath.Jer. 17. 21-27.
Sam. 2. 6 caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion.
Ezek. 20. 12 I gave my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them.
22. 26 have hid their eyes from my sabbaths.
Matt. 12. 8 for the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.
10-12 lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
The name, Israel, is used to designate the descendants of Abraham through Isaac his son, and Jacob his grandson. The Lord gave the name to Jacob the father of twelve sons, the heads of the tribes of Israel. "And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel;"Gen. 35. 9, 10.
Abraham was a direct descendant of Shem, the son of Noah, and his native land was Ur of the Chaldees;chap. 11. "Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed;" 12. 1-3.
The promise to Abram, that he should become a great nation, has been fulfilled in his chosen seed occupying the land of Palestine, as such, for fifteen hundred years. It will again be fulfilled when they become a nation on that land forever.
The history of the eastern hemisphere for the two thousand years which intervened between the calling of Abraham and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, witnesses that every nation that fought against Israel, or in any way oppressed them, passed away. Time will show the same general result, from the destruction of Jerusalem to the millennium.
The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the time when the Lord should favor Israel, said, "All they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish;" 41. 11. "I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood;" 49. 26. "I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over;" 51. 22, 23.
The first Nephi saw the final result, as between Israel and their enemies, some six hundred years before the birth of our Savior. Speaking of the time when they should be brought out of captivity, and gathered to the lands of their inheritance, he says, "And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood. And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord;" 1Nephi22. 13, 14.
The sacred and profane history of the world evidences that all people, outside of the covenant seed of Abraham, when brought into association with that seed, have exhibited an instinctive antagonism to them. As a result, there are few nations that have not oppressed them, when there has been opportunity.
The quotations made on this subject, and many more not noticed, show that Israel will rule over all these in the future. As a result the future princes of the earth will be of that lineage. Then will be fulfilled another very important promise which the Lord made to Abraham: "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;"Gen. 22. 17.
The promise in the following,verse18, which is also repeated in a number of places in the sacred writings, is a very important one: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." It was through the lineage of Abraham that Jesus came in the flesh to redeem the world. It was only to the seed of Abraham that he personally ministered while in the flesh.
He was born in Bethlehem of Judea, almost under the walls of Jerusalem;Luke, chap. 2. He grew up in Nazareth, a city of Galilee;verse39. He was baptized in Jordan, the chief river of the land of promise;Matt. 3. 13. His chosen twelve disciples were of the house of Israel. They were sent first to preach the Gospel to the house of Israel: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;"Matt. 10. 5, 6.
All the labors of Christ's earthly mission were in the midst of Israel. Among them he was slain for the sins of the world; his body was laid in a tomb cut in the rock of the promised land; in the midst of those with whose fathers he had covenanted he ascended up to his Father.
After his resurrection he told his disciples that Christ must needs suffer and rise from the dead, "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem;"Luke24. 47.
So necessary did Jesus consider it, that the blessings and power of the Gospel should go forth to the world from the house of Israel, that just before his ascension he commanded his disciples, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high;"verse49.
Jesus once said to his Jewish disciples, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd;"John10. 16. While ministering among the Nephites, after his resurrection, he told them what he had said to his disciples at Jerusalem, and also that they were the other sheep which he referred to.
He further said to the Nephites, "And they (that is his disciples at Jerusalem) understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understand not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching; * * and they understand me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice; that I should not manifest my self unto them, save it were by the Holy Ghost. But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me;" 3Nephi15. 22-24.
In another place the Lord told the Nephites how the promise to Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed," would be fulfilled. "And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles;" 20. 27.
Thus we are assured that Jesus never has ministered in person to the Gentiles, and there are no promises for the future to them which involve such administration. In this dispensation, all the blessings of the everlasting Gospel have been restored to the earth, through the agency of the house of Israel. Of them a people will be prepared, and through them a kingdom will be established, over which the Savior will reign on the earth. Then Israel will be the head of nations, and the promise made to Abraham, "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," will fully be realized.
For further information on this subject see the following subjects in this work:Gathering of Israel, Apostacy of the Primitive Church, andMillennial Reign.
Bible.
Exo. 3. 6 I am the God of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
15 this is my name forever, and my memorial unto all generations.
6. 7 will take you to me for a people, and will be to you a God.
19. 5 ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.
6 ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.
23. 22 I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
29. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God.
Num. 6. 27 they shall put my name upon Israel, and I will bless them.
24. 9 blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Deut. 7. 15 I will lay them on all them that hate thee.
26. 18, 19 to make thee high above all nations, and an holy people.
27. 9 this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God.
2Chron. 9. 8 because the Lord loved Israel, to establish them forever.
Psalm105. 6 ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen.
135. 4 Lord hath chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
137. 8, 9 O Babylon, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Isa. 10. 5-19 Assyria to be taken and destroyed.
14. 2 they shall take them captives whose captives they were.
29. 7, 8 all the nations that fight against Ariel shall be as a dream.
41. 8 Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend. 9.
43. 10 my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen. 20.
45. 4 Israel, mine elect. I have even called thee by name.
49. 24, 25 even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away.
26 I will feed them that oppress thee on their own flesh.
54. 15 whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall. 17.
Jer. 2. 3 all that devour him shall offend; evil shall consume upon them.
10. 25 pour out thy fury on the heathen, for they have eaten up Jacob.
30. 11 though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, I will not make a full end of thee. 16, 24.
Heb. 8. 10 I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.
The writings of every dispensation of the Priesthood evidence that the Creator provided a place of confinement or retention, where intelligences await future events concerning themselves.
Several hundred years before the flood, the Lord, speaking to Enoch concerning the wicked, said: "Behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them;"P. of G. P., page20.
The idea of a pit or prison for man, appears to have been quite definite in the mind of Job; speaking of God's dealings with man, he says, "He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword;" 33. 18.
The Psalmist David called this place hell or place of departed spirits, for he said of the Lord, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;"Psalm16. 10. The latter part of the passage evidences that he was looking forward to the resurrection of Christ, to open the way for his release, "Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Speaking of the latter times, the Lord said, through the prophet Isaiah, "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. * * * And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited;" 24. 17, 21, 22. This passage from Isaiah is very definite on this subject. The assertion, "After many days shall they be visited," certainly infers that a time would come when they might be released.
The Lord speaking of another person says, "I theLordhave called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." The following verse shows that the Lord would call and keep this servant of his for a special work, and that was, "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house;" 42. 6, 7. This passage explains how those who would be gathered as prisoners into the pit, and be shut up in prison, were to be visited after many days. Of similar import isIsa. 49. 5-9.
The apostle Peter was evidently quite familiar with this subject: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing;" 1Pet. 3. 18-20. The Nephite, as well as the Jewish prophets, speak of a place of confinement for spirits; "Wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other;" 2Nephi9. 12.
These spirits, which are delivered from hell, are not the spirits of the righteous, for, in the thirteenth verse of the same chapter, the prophet says, "For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous."
These passages show us that the spirits of the wicked go to a prison, or hell, and the spirits of the righteous to the paradise of God, a place of light and freedom. Doubtless it was the same paradise which Jesus referred to, when he said to the thief on the cross, "To-day shall thou be with me in paradise;"Luke23. 43.
The Lord said, in a revelation to the prophet Joseph, "I am the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom; and verily, I say, even as many as have believed in my name. * * * But behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day, which shall come at the end of the earth; and even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not hear my voice but harden their hearts;"Doc. & Cov. 38. 4-6.
This subject is still more fully explained in another revelation, through Joseph, the Seer. After the Lord instructed him concerning the first resurrection he says, "And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the Gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh;" 88. 99. This verse informs us that when Christ comes there will be a class of spirits who will be redeemed from prison, because they will have paid the penalty of transgression, and will have accepted the Gospel which will have been preached to them in prison.
After the spirits who are prepared for redemption shall be brought out of prison by the resurrection, then "Another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then cometh the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation. And these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth;"verses100 and 101. That is, all the dead that remain after the redemption of those prepared, are those who are under condemnation, and they will not come forth through the resurrection until after the Millennium of a thousand years, and not until after the "little season" in which Satan will be loosed; or the end of the earth. It is mournful to think, that, even after so long a period of probation, or trial, there will be then of these spirits those who will still have to remain in the prison house, forverse102 says, "There are found among those who are to remain, until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still."
In another revelation we are informed, that a part of those who inherit a terrestrial glory, will be "The spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the Gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it;"sec. 76. 73, 74.
Bible.
Job17. 16 they shall go down to the bars of the pit.
33. 24 deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 28, 30.
Psalm9. 17 the wicked shall be turned into hell.
28. 1 lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down to the pit.
30. 3 thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
69. 15 let not the pit shut her mouth on me.
142. 7 bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.
143. 7 hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto those that go down to the pit.
Isa. 14. 15 yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
42. 16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not.
61. 1 to proclaim liberty to the captives, to open the prison to those that are bound.
Ezek. 26. 20 bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth.
31. 14-18 for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth. Thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude.
32. 18-32 several nations enumerated who were slain by the sword, and whose multitudes went down to the pit.
Zech. 9. 11 by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit.
Matt. 12. 32 whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him in this world, nor the world to come.
Luke12. 47, 48 some shall be beaten with few, some with many stripes.
Acts2. 34 for David is not ascended into heaven.
Rev. 5. 13 every creature which is in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
20. 7 when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.
Doctrine & Covenants.
Sec. 19. 6 it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment.
45. 17 as ye have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from your bodies to be a bondage, I will show you how the day of redemption will come. 45, 46.
54 and then shall the heathen nations be redeemed.
78. 12 be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, until the day of redemption.Sec. 82. 21.
It is revealed unto us inDoc. & Cov., 20. 2, 3, that Joseph Smith, Jun., was called of God and ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to be the first Elder of this church; and that Oliver Cowdery was also called of God, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second Elder of this church. Insec. 18. we are informed that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were called with that same calling with which the apostle Paul was called; but of Joseph Smith. Jun., the Lord said, 8thverse, "Marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me." Insec. 27. 12, the Savior says: "And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things which I revealed unto them."
Joseph, the first Apostle, continued as directed of the Lord from time to time to organize and develop the offices and ordinances of the church, for the saints were informed, insec. 43. 3, "Ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me."
Insec. 107, on Priesthood, instructions are given how to organize various councils and presidencies, in which is,verse22, "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."Verse9, "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 inverses18, 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.
Inverses91-2, "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, 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,verses23, 24. Inverse33 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 toverses23, 24, 35, 38, 39, 58 for further description of the duties of the Twelve Apostles.
Insec. 112,verses30-32, 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, March27, 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.
Mark3. 14 he ordained Twelve that they should be with him.
John15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
Acts1. 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.
1Cor. 12. 28 God hath set some in the church, first apostles.
2Cor. 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.
Jude17. words spoken before of the apostles of our Lord.
Rev. 18. 20 rejoice over her, ye holy apostles and prophets.
Book of Mormon.
3Nephi12. 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.
Mormon1. 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.