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PRIESTHOOD, 1956
1956: Mar.: The Priesthood of the Nephites.
“Question: While studying our Book of Mormon lesson in our Sunday School class our attention was called to the statement in the Teachers’ Supplement which says that the Nephites did not have the Aaronic Priesthood. Members of the class questioned the authenticity of this and called attention to the words in Moroni, chapter three, which clearly state that they ordained priests and teachers, to preach repentance and remission of sins. Then we read in Second Nephi 5:26, that Nephi consecrated Jacob and Joseph ‘that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.’ Will you kindly put us straight on this matter?
Answer: After the tribes of Israel were brought out of Egypt the Lord proposed to make them a royal priesthood, conferring on members of all the tribes the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood; but when they made a golden calf to worship in the absence of Moses and were in constant murmuring and rebellion, the Lord denied them this great honor and took Moses and the Higher Priesthood from them, and decreed that this priesthood should not be given them and that they ‘should not enter into his rest, while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.’ (D&C 84:22-27; Numbers chapters 1-3) From that time until the coming of our Redeemer, Israel was subject to the Aaronic Priesthood and the ‘carnal law,’ which was added. Instead of taking the firstborn of the families, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi and made them the priests of the people. ‘For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel.’ (Numbers 1:48-49)
The Nephites were descendants of Joseph. Lehi discovered this when reading the brass plates. He was a descendant of Manassah, and Ishmael, who accompanied him with his family, was of the tribe of Ephraim. Therefore, there were no Levites who accompanied Lehi to the Western Hemisphere. Under these conditions the Nephites officiated by virtue of the Melchizedek Priesthood from the days of Lehi to the days of the appearance of our Savior among them. It is true that Nephi ‘consecrated Jacob and Joseph’ that they should be priests and teachers over the land of the Nephites, but the fact that plural terms priests and teachers were used indicates that this was not a reference to the definite office in the priesthood in either case, but it was a general assignment to teach, direct, and admonish the people. Otherwise the terms priest and teacher would have been given, in the singular. Additional light is thrown on this appointment showing that these two brothers of Nephi held the Melchizedek Priesthood, in the sixth chapter, second verse of 2 Nephi, where Jacob makes this explanation regarding the priesthood which he and Joseph held:
Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety, behold ye know that I have spoken unto you exceeding many things.
This seems to be a confirmation of the ordinations that he and his brother Joseph received in the Melchizedek Priesthood. All through the Book of Mormon we find references to the Nephites officiating by virtue of the Higher Priesthood after the holy order. Alma, discoursing on the subject before the people of the city of Ammonahah said:
And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. (Alma 13:1)
In the opening verses of Alma, chapter 43, Mormon records the following:
And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth.
Now we will say no more concerning their preachings, except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called.
From these and numerous other passages we learn that it was by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood that the Nephites administered from the time they left Jerusalem until the time of the coming of Jesus Christ. By the power of this priesthood they baptized, confirmed, and ordained. During these years they also observed the law of Moses. They offered sacrifice and performed the duties which in Israel had been assigned to the priests and Levites. They observed in every detail the requirements of the law. When the Savior came to them, he fulfilled the carnal law and did away with the sacrifice by the shedding of blood of animals. He informed the Nephites that in him the law of Moses was fulfilled.
When the Savior came to the Nephites, he established the Church in its fulness among them, and he informed them that former things had passed away, for they were all fulfilled in him. He gave the Nephites all the authority of the priesthood which we exercise today. Therefore we are justified in the belief that not only was the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred, but also the Aaronic, just as we have it in the Church today; and this Aaronic Priesthood remained with them from this time until, through wickedness, all priesthood ceased. We may be assured that in the days of Moroni the Nephites did ordain teachers and priests in the Aaronic Priesthood; but before the visit of the Savior they officiated in the Melchizedek Priesthood.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Your Question,” IE 59(3):142-143, Mar., 1956)
Mar.: Annual confidential visits.
“MONTHLY REPORTS
. . . .
The annual visits called for under this heading are those made by quorum presidencies to quorum members during the month. It has been suggested on other occasions, and instructions have been placed in The Improvement Era, for quorum presidencies to begin their annual visits among the quorum members early in the year in order that they might have sufficient time to get better acquainted with each of their quorum members. By following this suggestion, Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidencies could do a more thorough job in making the annual visits and cound utilize the information obtained thereby to the best advantage of all quorum members.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(3):192, Mar., 1956)
May: Ordinations and settings apart in MP.
“MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD–ORDINATIONS AND SETTINGS APART
The Holy Melchizedek Priesthood
First–Priesthood Defined:
a. Priesthood is power–the power of God.
Priesthood is the power by which the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son perform all their works in righteousness both in heaven and on earth. It is the power by which the Divine Creator organized the heavens and the earth and set the laws into operation which govern the various heavenly bodies. It is the power by which the works of God have been accomlished during the past or are accomplished at the present time and will continue to be accomplished in the future.
b. Priesthood is God’s channel of revealing knowledge.
From age to age throughout the various gospel dispensations, according to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
{The Holy Melchizedek Priesthood} is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven.
It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time. (TPJS, pp. 166-167)
c. Knowledge of God revealed through the priesthood.
In modern revelation we are informed that it is through their ‘power of godliness’ and through the power of the priesthood that holy men have been and may be privileged to ‘see the face of God, even the Father, and live.’ The Lord revealed the following great truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
[D&C 84:19-21]
d. Priesthood is the power of God delegated to man.
According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, priesthood is the ‘power of God delegated to man to act in his stead here upon this earth.’ Those to whom this priesthood has been given have the power to officiate in the ordinances of the gospel, to speak in the name of the Lord, and to perform all the duties pertaining to the building up of the kingdom of God upon the earth.
e. Priesthood is sealing power of gospel ordinances.
Priesthood is a power by which all the ordinances of the gospel are performed and are made valid in this world and also in the world to come. Only those contracts, ordinances, and blessings which are sealed upon church members by the power of the priesthood will be recognized throughout the eternities by Elohim and his Only Begotten Son. These ordinances must also have the added sanctification, approval, and sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise or Holy Ghost.
f. Church organized through the power of the priesthood.
Priesthood is authority by which prophets in the various gospel dispensations have organized the Church of Jesus Christ. At no time in history could the true Church be on the earth unless priesthood was here. Thus, Joseph Smith organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation through the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood or ‘Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God.’
Keys to the Priesthood
First–Meaning of ‘Keys to the Priesthood.’
According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Melchizedek Priesthood holds ‘the keys of the kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth.’ (TPJS, p. 166)
Not only has the priesthood been given to worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but some of them have also received what has been termed by the Lord as the ‘keys of the priesthood.’ These keys constitute the power by which the priesthood is made available for the use of men in building up the Church and the kingdom of God here on the earth. There is a symbolism involved in the word keys, a key being an instrument to unlock or open a door; thus the keys of the kingdom or the keys of the priesthood constitute the power by which the kingdom is opened or unlocked for men.
Second–Priesthood and Keys of the Priesthood defined by President Joseph F. Smith.
The priesthood in general is the authority given to man to act for God. Every man ordained to any degree of the priesthood, has this authority delegated to him.
But it is necessary that every act performed under this authority shall be done at the proper time and place, in the proper way, and after the proper order. The power of directing these labors constitutes the keys of the priesthood. In their fulness, the keys are held by only one person at a time, the prophet and president of the Church. He may delegate any portion of this power to another, in which case that person holds the keys of that particular labor. Thus, the president of the temple, the president of a stake, the bishop of a ward, the president of a mission, the president of a quorum, each holds the keys of the labors performed in that particular body or locality. His priesthood is not increased by his special appointment, for a seventy who presides over a mission has no more priesthood than the seventy who labors under his direction; and the president of an elders’ quorum, for example, has no more priesthood than any member of that quorum, but he holds the power directing the official labors performed in the mission or the quorum, or in other words the keys of that division of that work. So it is throughout all the ramifications of the priesthood–a distinction must be carefully made between the general authority, and the directing authority of the labors performed by that authority. (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 168-169)
Third–Restoration of the ‘Keys to the Priesthood.’
On April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, Moses appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and bestowed upon them the keys of missionary work. We quote Joseph’s statement in the Doctrine and Covenants: ‘Moses . . . committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the lands of the north.’ After Moses left, Elias appeared and ‘committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.’ After this vision had closed, Elijah came to Joseph and Oliver and conferred upon them the keys of temple work, or in other words, he gave to them the power and the authority to ‘turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,’ declaring, ‘Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed unto your hands; and by this you may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.’
The Prophet Joseph Smith described the restoration of various other keys of the priesthood in the following words:
Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; . . .
And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of diverse angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!
It is evident from the foregoing that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received from heavenly messengers all the priesthood and keyis necessary for the salvation of both the living and the dead in building the Church and kingdom of God here upon the earth. Thus the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times was ushered in, it being necessary
. . . that a whole and complete and perfection union, and welding together of dispensations and keys and powers and glories should take place and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. (D&C 128:18)
Thus the keys of the kingdom of God and of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood were restored to earth, being given to Joseph Smith, God’s anointed prophet, seer, revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Fourth–Keys held by the President of the Church.
There is only one man upon the earth at a time who holds all the keys of the priesthood, which keys include all of those pertinent to the building of the Church and kingdom of God here upon the earth. That person is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In referring to the various keys which had been brought from heaven to earth and conferred upon the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord declared:
For I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelations which are sealed until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead. (D&C 28:7)
Therefore, the keys of the kingdom of God and of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood are vested in the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith and continuing on through his successors, each President of the Church has received the same keys and authority down to the present time. Thus all the keys pertaining to revelations for church guidance, pertaining to priesthood and the ordinances performed therein, and the functioning of all the organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ pertinent to the growth and building of the kingdom of God and the saving of souls are held by the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (To be continued.)
(“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(5):346-347, May, 1956)
Jun.: MP Ordinations and Settings Apart (continued).
“MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD–ORDINATIONS AND SETTINGS APART (continued).
Introductory Statement
This article is a continuation of the one which appeared in the May issue of The Improvement Era. (May 1956.) In that article special emphasis was given to a definition of the Melchizedek Priesthood and also to a discussion of the meaning of keys to the Melchizedek Priesthood. The fact was pointed out that the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only man upon the earth at any given time who holds all the keys to the priesthood, which keys include a complete authorization to build every phase of the Church and kingdom of God here upon the earth. Thus President David O. McKay is the one who holds the ‘keys of the mysteries and revelations’ at the present time.
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
First–Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Through divine appointment and the keys and the power of the priesthood which he has received, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s divinely instituted mouthpiece and servant in his kingdom. He stands as the prophet, seer, and revelator to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ and also to the people of the world who will given heed to his inspired instructions. It is to the President of the Church, and to him only, that the Lord gives revelations for general Church guidance. He is the divinely chosen and authorized representative of the Lord here on earth, having been divinely appointed to stand at the head of the kingdom. He serves under the direction of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, over whose Church he officially presides here in mortality.
Second–President of the Melchizedek Priesthood:
The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also receives the appointment of president of the Melchizedek Priesthood of the entire Church. He functions in that great capacity in connection with his appointment as prophet, seer, revelator, trustee-in-trust and President of the Church. In this calling he is assisted by two Counselors, those three constituting the presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Third–Delegation of Keys by the President of the Church:
Since, under the direction of our Lord and Master, the President stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ here upon the earth and holds all the keys pertinent to the building of the kingdom of God, and since he cannot attend to all the work in the Church himself, he delegates authority to others. It is his right, and his only, to bestow or delegate the bestowal of the keys on holders of the priesthood who receive appointments to various positions. Likewise it is his right to withdraw those keys, release brethren from their positions, and bestow or authorize the bestowal of keys on new appointees, as he may determine. These things are done as occasions may require in accordance with the appointments of men to various positions in the Church and their releases and replacements by other worthy brethren.
Thus it is through the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood and its keys that the President of the Church makes the numerous appointments of worthy men to positions of leadership throughout the Church; for example, such appointments as stake presidencies, Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidencies, mission presidencies, temple presidencies, and other appointments are made by authorization and authority of the President of the Church. Each of these appointees receives keys pertaining to his particular appointment.
Keys Bestowed Upon Presidencies
Keys accompany the position and calling of presidencies, but those keys are held only during a man’s term in office. The keys of the priesthood are given to presidencies, bestowed on them by the authorization of the President of the Church, are received for the purpose of directing the work to which they have been assigned.
Each presiding officer in the priesthood holds the keys of presidency which go with his particular appointment; and it is by virtue of the keys which he holds that he is entitled to direct the manner in which the other people in the organization over which he presides use their priesthood in building up the Church or kingdom. Thus, at the time of setting apart of stake presidents, and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidents, the ones officiating place their hands upon the heads of the appointees and bestow upon them the keys which pertain to their offices and callings. As has been pointed out, those brethren retain those keys while they are functioning in those positions, and when their terms of office are completed, the keys are withdrawn and given to their successors.
Keys of the Priesthood Received by the Twelve Apostles
The Prophet Joseph Smith bestowed the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the Twelve Apostles. This he did, so that when he was gone the keys to the kingdom would still be on the earth, and the marvelous program of the Church would continue to be carried forward effectively. President Wilford Woodruff gives us the foregoing facts in the following important and interesting statement:
The Prophet Joseph, I am now satisfied, had a thorough presentiment that that was the last meeting we would hold together here in the flesh. We had had our endowments; we had had all the blessings sealed upon our heads that were ever given to the apostles or prophets on the face of the earth. On that occasion the Prophet Joseph rose up and said to us: ‘Brethren, I have desired to live to see this temple built. I shall never live to see it, but you will. I have sealed upon your heads all the keys of the kingdom of God. I have sealed upon you every key, power, principle that the God of heaven has revealed to me. Now, no matter where I may go or what I may do, the kingdom rests upon you.’ (MS 51:546, 1889)
The meeting referred to by President Wilford Woodruff was the last one held by Joseph Smith with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before the Prophet’s martyrdom.
The apostles use the keys to their priesthood in connection with their appointment as members of the Quorum of the Twelve only under the direction of the First Presidency when that council is in existence in the Church. However, upon the death of the President of the Church, the Quorum of the First Presidency becomes disorganized and thereupon the keys to the priesthood, with all their powers and blessings, are held in their fulness by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Under those conditions the Twelve hold all of the powers, gifts, blessings, keys, and priesthood which had been centered in the President of the Church.
Twelve Apostles Serving as Presidency of the Church
Upon the death of the President of the Church, the right and authority of the Presidency rests upon the President of the Twelve Apostles, since that quorum holds the keys of the priesthood and of the kingdom. President John Taylor points out that following the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, President Brigham Young was sustained at the general conference in Nauvoo in October to be the ‘President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and one of the Twelve, and First Presidency of the Church.’ (The Gospel Kingdom, p. 192)
Brigham Young directed the Church in that capacity for three and one half years before he selected two Counselors, thereby filling the Council of the First Presidency of the Church. Brigham Young was sustained as President of the Church on December 27, 1847.
President John Taylor succeeded Brigham Young in the leadership of the Church. He described the system established by the Lord in selecting a new President of the Church in the following words:
I occupied the senior position in the quorum, and occupying that position, which was thoroughly understood by the Quorum of the Twelve, on the death of Brigham Young, as the Twelve assumed the presidency, and I was their president, it placed me in a position of the President of the Church, or, as expressed in our Conference meeting: ‘As President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as one of the Twelve Apostles, and of the presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (The Gospel Kingdom, p. 192)
When Wilford Woodruff, who had been serving for some time as the Preident of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was informed of the death of President John Taylor, he wrote the following his his journal:
President John Taylor’s death places the chief responsibility and care of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon my shoulders, in connection with the Twelve, which now becomes the presiding authority of the Church. This places me in a very peculiar situation. It is a position I have never looked for, but in the providence of God this new responsibility is thrown upon me. I pray God, my Heavenly Father, give me grace equal to my day. It is a high responsibility for any man, and it is a position which requires great wisdom. I never expected to outlive President Taylor, but God has ordained it otherwise. (Cowley, Wilford Woodruff, p. 560)
Upon the death of President Wilford Woodruff, September 2, 1898, Lorenzo Snow, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, stated:
The authority exercised by the First Presidency has been passed on to the Twelve Apostles. (Romney, The Life of Lorenzo Snow, p. 419)”
(To be continued.)
(“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(6):464-465, Jun., 1956)
5 Jun.: Women not to pray in Sacrament Meeting.
“We have been directed by the First Presidency to recommend that only those who bear the Priesthood be called upon to offer opening and closing prayers in sacrament meetings, including fast meetings.
The following is a direct quotation from a communication signed by the First Presidency:
Our sisters may participate in offering prayers in the meetings of the auxiliary organizations when desired, but we feel that the brethren holding the Priesthood should offer the prayers in sacrament meeting.
We commend these instructions to all bishoprics and branch presidencies and suggest their careful observance.” (Presiding Bishopric Circular Letter, 5 Jun., 1956; xerox)
Jul.: MP Ordinations and Settings Apart (concluded).
“MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD–ORDINATIONS AND SETTINGS APART (continued)
Reorganizing of the First Presidency Not to be Delayed
President John Taylor directed the Church in the capacity of President of the Twelve Apostles for over three years after the death of Brigham Young. It was on October 10, 1880, that he and two Counselors were sustained as the First Presidency of the Church.
President Wilford Woodruff directed the Church for nearly two years as President of the Twelve Apostles before he selected two Counselors and was sustained as President of the Church.
Not very long before his departure from this sphere of action, President Wilford Woodruff told the brethren, his immediate associates, that it was not the will of the Lord that in teh future there should be a lengthy period elapse between the death of the President of the Church and reorganization of the First Presidency. (JI 36:660)
Following the death of President Woodruff, President Heber J. Grant stated:
Brother Snow told us {the Twelve Apostles} that he was instructed of the Lord in the Temple the night after President Woodruff died to organize the Presidency of the Church at once. (Romney, The Life of Lorenzo Snow, p. 421)
On September 2, 1898, President Woodruff died. Acting in harmony with the Lord’s instructions through his prophets, only eleven days after the death of President Woodruff, the apostles met in the Salt Lake Temple in a council meeting, with President George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith occupying their proper positions in the quorum. At this meeting ‘Lorenzo Snow was unanimously sustained by the apostles as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’ (ibid., p. 420) In his address of acceptance, President Snow said:
He knew that the action taken by the Council was according to the mind and will of the Lord, for it had been shown him several days earlier that the First Presidency should be reorganized before the next conference. (ibid., p. 421)
President of the Twelve Apostles to Become
President of the Church
On March 28, 1887, in response to the following question: ‘Do you know of any reason in case of the death of the President of the Church why the Twelve Apostles should not choose some other person than the President of the Twelve to be President of the Church?’ President Wilford Woodruff wrote:
I know several reasons why they should not. First, at the death of the President of the Church the Twelve Apostles become the presiding authority of the Church, and the President of the Twelve is really the President of the Church by virtue of his office as much while presiding over the Twelve Apostles as while presiding over his two counselors. . . . Second, in case of the death of the President of the Church it takes the majority of the Twelve Apostles to appoint the President of the Church, and it is very unreasonable to suppose that the majority of the Quorum could be converted to depart from the course marked out by inspiration and followed by the Apostles at the death of Christ and by the Twelve Apostles at the death of Joseph Smith. (Cowley, Wilford Woodruff, p. 561)
Selecting, Sustaining, Ordaining, and Setting Apart a President of the Church
First–Selecting the New President of the Church:
Upon the death of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ, the First Presidency becomes disorganized. In the cases where the counselors of the deceased President previously had been ordained apostles, following the death of the President of the Church, these counselors take their rightful position in the Quorum of the Twelve according to the dates of their ordinations. It may be that the position of one of them would be President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The official action of selecting and sustaining a new President of the Church is done in a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The President of the Twelve is selected to succeed the deceased President as prophet, seer, revelator, trustee-in-trust and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is sustained by the unanimous consent and approval of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve. This action is taken under the inspiration of the Lord and in complete harmony with the system instituted through inspiration by Christ’s apostles following his death and also the system established through inspiration from the Lord following the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This certain pattern has been established in the kingdom of God.
Since it is the established practice to select, appoint, and sustain the President of the Twelve Apostles to succeed the deceased President, the apostle who is serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve at the time the selection of a new President is made is the one appointed to be President of the Church.
On each occasion, except in the cases of President Joseph F. Smith and President David O. McKay, the President of the Twelve Apostles had been serving for some time in that capacity when he was chosen and ordained to be the President of the Church. In the cases of those two brethren, however, prior to the death of the President of the Church, they had been serving as Counselors in the First Presidency. In each case upon the death of the President of the church, each of these brethren took his rightful position in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which position was that of President of the quorum. Thus these two cases were identical with the others who received the appointment of President of the Church in that they were at the time of their appointment officially acting in the capacity of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Second–Sustaining the President of the Church by the Vote of the Priesthood and the Body of the Church:
After the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has been selected, appointed, and sustained by apostles to be President of the Church of Jesus Christ, the one chosen is thereupon presented to the priesthood of the Church, as well as to the body of the Church, at a general conference for a sustaining vote. He is sustained in the position of trustee-in-trust and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, prophet, seer, and revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ. Each quorum of the priesthood votes separately; and the body of the Church also gives its sustaining vote.
Third–Setting Apart of the President of the Church:
The person appointed by the Lord and approved by the common consent of the members of the Church to be the President is set apart to that position. This setting apart to the position of President of the Church is done by the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It is through the power and authority of the priesthood and the keys which are held by the Twelve Apostles which give the member of the Twelve officiating the right, authorization, and power of God to confirm all the keys, powers, graces, and blessings upon the President of the Church and to set him apart to that great and holy position in the kingdom of God. As President Joseph Fielding Smith has said: ‘The Twelve, therefore, in the setting apart of the President do not give him any additional priesthood, but confirm upon him that which he has already received; they set him apart to the office, which is their right to do.’
Counselors to the President of the Church
First–The President Selects his Counselors:
It is the prerogative of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is the right of presidents serving in other positions of the Church, to select his counselors. The President of the Church is at liberty to select his Counselors anywhere within the entire Church, wherever he may find the men the Lord wants to fill those positions. He may be inspired by the Lord to select the counselors who had served under the previous President, but he has no obligation to do so. He may see fit through the direction and inspiration of the Lord to select his Counselors from among the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, from the members of the First Council of the Seventy, from the Assistants to the Apostles, from the Presiding Bishopric, or from the membership of the Church at large. There have been examples of each of these in the history of the Church.
Second–Sustaining the Counselors in the First Presidency:
After they have been approved by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Counselors in the First Presidency are sustained at a general conference of the Church in a way similar to that which was described for the sustaining of the President of the Church.
Third–Setting Apart of the Counselors:
The Counselors in the First Presidency are set apart to their office and calling by the President of the Church.
Fourth–Counselors in the First Presidency as Apostles:
The Counselors to the President of the Church are high priests. They may or they may not be ordained to the office of apostle. If the President of the Church chooses to bestow the apostolic calling upon his counselors, he receives the approval of the Quorum of the Twelve. Then the counselors are presented to the body of the Church for its sustaining vote in regards to their appointment as apostles. They are thereafter ordained apostles by the President of the Church. KUpon receiving the apostolic appointment and ordination, the counselors take their places in the line of apostles according to the date of their ordination; however, they do not serve as members of the Quorum of the Twelve at that time, since they are serving as Counselors to the President of the Church.
If the President of the Church does not desire to have his Counselors ordained to the office of apostles, they serve as his Counselors as high priets in the Church who have been especially called and set apart to be General Authorities and Counselors to the President of the Church. Under those circumstances, upon the death of the President of the Church, his Counselors would take their proper places in the high priests’ quorums in their stakes and carry forward in accordance with any appointments which they may receive.” (IE 59(7):528-529, Jul., 1956)
Aug.: MP–Its appendages and keys.
“MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD–ITS APPENDAGES AND KEYS
Priesthood and Its Appendages
First–Priesthood Defined:
Priesthood is the power of God–the power by which the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son perform all their works in righteousness in heaven and on earth. It is the power by which God has accomplished his great works in the past, through which he operates at the present, and through which he will continue to accomplish his marvelous achievements in the future.
Priesthood is also ‘the power of God delegated to man to act in his stead here upon the earth.’ It is through the priesthood that all the ordinances of the gospel are performed and made binding. It is the authority by which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in this the last dispensation, and it is also the authority by which the Church through the various dispensations has functioned under the direction of the holy prophets.
Priesthood contains the sealing power of all of the gospel ordinances; thus all contracts, ordinances, and blessings which are sealed upon Church program. Other individuals through the priesthood and sanctified through the sealing power of the Holy Spirit of Promise. [an obvious typo–apparently a deletion in typesetting]
[“A serious error appears on the Melchizedek Priesthood pages of the August issue. The fifth line of the third paragraph in page 592 is entirely out of place. With the correct line (which we now italicize) that paragraph should read:
Priesthood contains the sealing power of all of the gospel ordinances; thus all contracts, ordinances, and blessings which are sealed upon Church members must be done through the priesthood and sanctified through the sealing power of the Holy Spirit of Promise.”
(IE 59(9):666, Sep., 1956)
The vitality and enduring strength and power of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is resident in the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the divine authority derived from God. The Savior has endowed his Church with ‘the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God’ through which every ordinance of the gospel performed on or in behalf of worthy individuals will endure eternally and be officially recognized, sanctioned, and sanctified by the Father and the Son.
Second–Appendages to the Priesthood:
According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘All Priesthood is Melchizedek, but there are different portions or degrees of it.’ (TPJS, p. 180)
In his most recent book, Doctrines of Salvation, volume 3, President Joseph Fielding Smith asks the question, ‘How many priesthoods are there?’ and then answers as follows:
The answer is that there is one priesthood, but the Lord divided it into two divisions known as the Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood. We sometimes speak of the Levitical Priesthood which is a part of the Aaronic Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood embraces the offices that have to do with the temporal matters of the Church, the crying of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins.
When the Lord says there are two priesthoods, he is speaking of divisions of the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph Smith has explained to us as recorded in the conference minutes, October 5, 1840: ‘Its {priesthood’s} institution was prior to “the foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God shouted for joy,” and is the highest and holiest priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers, and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it.’ (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:103)
Since the Melchizedek Priesthood includes the Aaronic Priesthood, when a male member of the Church of Jesus Christ has had the Melchizedek Priesthood bestowed upon him and has been ordained to the office of an elder, a seventy, or a high priest, by virtue of that ordination he holds the Aaronic Priesthood also. Thus one holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, when duly authorized, has authority to officiate in the various functions of the Aaronic Priesthood.
In order that the program of the Church may be carried forward effectively and the kingdom of God built in righteousness, the Lord not only established two grand divisions in the priesthood but he also instituted offices in each of these divisions. The Melchizedek Priesthood holders receive appointments either as elders, seventies, or high priests; and the offices in the Aaronic Priesthood are deacons, teachers, and priests. Presidencies are set apart to preside over each of these offices and callings in the priesthood. Also, there are other offices in the priesthood such as apostles, patriarchs, and bishops. All of these offices and callings constitute various appointments in the priesthood and thereby are appendages thereto. To quote President Joseph Fielding Smith:
. . . not only is the office of the bishop and elder an appendage to the priesthood, but so is every other office, for they all grow out of the priesthood. The apostle, high priest, seventy, and every other office is an appendage to the priesthood.
The Lord has, himself, declared that all authorities or offices in the Church are appendages to the priesthood; that is to say, they are circumscribed by priesthood and grow out of it. (ibid., pp. 105-106)
Third–Receiving all the Priesthood with Restriction on Its Use:
When the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood is conferred upon a male member of the Church of Jesus Christ, he receives all of the priesthood, but he is not authorized officially to function in all the offices in the priesthood. It may be that he receives the office of elder, seventy, or high priest, and the office that he receives designates his calling and appointments. On this subject President Joseph Fielding Smith stated:
When an elder is ordained, he receives the Melchizedek Priesthood and then the office of elder, seventy, or a high priest, as the case may be, and the office which he receives designates the nature of his duties. (ibid., p. 105)
Keys of the Priesthood
First–Keys of Directing Priesthood Activities:
The Lord has established his Church and kingdom as a ‘house of order.’ To prevent any confusion, it is necessary that every act performed through the power of the priesthood should be done at the proper time and place as well as in the proper way and after the proper order. Thus it is necessary that all Church functions performed by holders of the priesthood be directed along certain channels. The power of directing these laborers constitutes the keys to the priesthood; for example, a temple president carries forward his work along a certain channel because the right to do so has been delegated to him by the one holding the keys to all functions of the priesthood, namely, the President of the Church. The same fact holds true with mission presidencies, stake presidencies, quorum presidencies, bishoprics, and all other official laborers in God’s vineyard. While these presidencies are given the keys and thereby are duly authorized to carry forward their particular assignments, they are not given at that particular time the keys of directing other phases of the Church program. Other individuals are given those keys.
‘The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all offices in the church in all ages of the world.’ (D&C 107:8) Therefore, the highest office in the Melchizedek Priesthood, as well as in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the office of the First Presidency, consisting of the President and his two Counselors. The members of the First Presidency of the Church, who also function as the Presidency of the High Priesthood, ‘have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church,’ since they hold ‘the keys of all the spiritual blessings in the church–‘ (D&C 107:9, 18). It is under their direction and authorization that all the appendates to the Melchizedek Priesthood operate.
Second–Keys of Sealing Power:
The keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood hold the sealing power for all the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Except the ordinances be sealed upon the individual, they are not valid in the sight of God and are not binding in the world to come.
Third–Keys Held by Elijah:
The Old Testament record closes with Malachi’s promise of the coming of Elijah. Of what significance to the world was Elijah’s coming? The Prophet Joseph Smith answered that question clearly as follows:
Elijah was the last prophet that held the keys of the priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and deliver the keys of the priesthood, in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing; but the sons of Levi were too prejudiced. ‘And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord,’ etc. Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood: and without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:128-129)
Fourth–Keys of Sealing Power Restored by Elijah:
According to President Joseph Fielding Smith, the special dispensation of the Prophet Elijah was the keys of sealing power. To quote:
The Lord gave unto Elijah the keys of the presidency in his time–the keys of the kingdom, the keys of the sealing power; and it is that sealing power which gave him the right and authority to officiate. And the Lord said unto him, ‘That which you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.’ That is how great his power was, and in that day Elijah stood up and officiated for the people in the sealing power. . . . (ibid., p. 127)
Elijah restored to this Church, and, if they would receive it, to the world, the keys of the sealing power; and that sealing power puts the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done in this Church and more particularly those that are performed in the temples of the Lord. . . .
Some members of the Church have been confused in thinking that Elijah came with keys of baptism for the dead or of salvation for the dead. Elijah’s keys were greater than that. They were the keys of sealing, and those keys of sealing pertain to the living and embrace the dead who are willing to repent. (ibid., pp. 129-130)
Fifth–Keys Held by Presidents of the Church:
The following excellent discussion of the priesthood and the President of the Church was given by President Joseph Fielding Smith:
While the majority of the male members hold the priesthood and are called to officiate in a general way in the ordinances of the gospel, yet we, one and all, should realize that it is the power vested in the President of the Church by virtue of the keys he holds, which come from Elijah in particular and from the other prophets of old in general, which makes valid the authority which we possess. Without that central authority with its commanding keys and the privilege extended to the men holding the priesthood by this one person who presides, the act of those who are ordained to the priesthood could not be administered in righteousness.
Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek Priesthood out of which all the officers come; but the ordinances of the gospel which are performed by virtue of that High Priesthood receive their final sanction and approval by the virtue of the keys of authority. In other words they are bound in heaven as well as on earth by virtue of the sealing power. (ibid., p. 139)
The President of the Church holds the keys over all the Church. In him is concentrated the power of the priesthood. He holds all the keys of every nature, pertaining to the dispensation of the fulness of times. All the keys of former dispensations which have been revealed are vested in him.
We are taught that a new and everlasting covenant of the gospel embraces the fulness of the gospel–every covenant, contract, bond, obligation, vow, authority–and the keys of this authority are held by the President of the Church, who is President of the High Priesthood, ‘and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred.’ (ibid., p. 135)
The man who holds these keys by virtue of his right, that right which God himself has vested in him, has the right to delegate authority and to withdraw authority as he sees fit and receive inspiration so to do.
No man, I do not care who he is or how much priesthood he holds, has the right to officiate in any ordinance of this gospel for any soul contrary to the sanction and approval of the man who holds the keys of authority in the Church. Now the Lord has told us that. . . .
Remember there is only one man on the face of the earth who holds the sealing power of the priesthood, and he can delegate that power unto others that they may act, and that they may seal on earth, and it is valid, it is binding, so long as he sanctions it; if he withdraws it, no man can exercise that power. (ibid., pp. 135-136)”
(“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(8):592-593, Aug., 1956)
Sep.: The 12 Apostles.
“THE TWELVE APOSTLES
The Apostolic Calling
First–General Statement Regarding Duties of the Apostles:
Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called upon to perform a multitude of tasks; however, their principal asignments may be listed under the following headings: first, bearing witness of Jesus Christ; second, proclaiming the everlasting gospel at home and abroad; and third, building up and regulating the Church. These assignments are all fulfilled under the direction of the First Presidency. President Joseph Fielding Smith made the following statement regarding the calling of the apostles:
The true calling of the apostles of Jesus Christ is to hold the fulness of the priesthood and to proclaim the gospel in all the world. They hold the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:144)
Second–Modern Revelation Regarding Duties of the Apostles:
In modern revelation the Lord outlined the work and duties of the apostles as follows:
[D&C 107:23-24, 33, 58]
Third–Apostles and Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ:
The twelve men who constitute the Council of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are endowed with the power and responsibility to serve as special witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is their privilege to have the inspiration and necessary guidance of the Holy Ghost to fit and qualify them for this important mission. In the words of President Joseph Fielding Smith:
All men may, by virtue of the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost, become witnesses for Christ. In fact, that is just what every elder in the Church should be, but there is a special calling which is given to the Twelve special witnesses that separates them from the other elders of the Church in the nature of their calling as witnesses. These twelve men hold the fulness of authority, keys, and priesthood, to open up the way for the preaching of the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue. Others who go forth go under their direction and are subject to them. This work of proselyting is in their hands, and under the council of the First Presidency they are called upon to conduct all of the affairs of the Church and the preaching of the gospel to every creature. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:146)
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
First–The Number of Apostles:
When Jesus Christ was upon the earth in the Meridian of Time he called and ordained twelve men to the position of apostles. They constituted the Quorum or Council of the Twelve. (Mk. 3:14)
In setting up his kingdom in the latter days, the Lord through special revelation has designated that there should be twelve men upon whom the apostleship is conferred, and these men constitute a quorum known as the Council of the Twelve. This body is the second quorum in the priesthood, equal in authority but subservient to the First Presidency, which constitutes the first quorum of the priesthood in the Church.
In addition to the twelve men who constitute the Council of the Twelve Apostles, the President of the Church is always an apostle. As was pointed out in the August 1956 Era, the two Counselors in the First Presidency may or may not be apostles. At the present time, however, both of them are apostles; thus fifteen ordained apostles are in the Church. It should be kept in mind that the Quorum of the Twelve would always be limited to twelve men unless the Lord himself changed the order.
Second–President of the Quorum of the Twelve:
According to the date of his ordination, the senior member of the Council of the Twelve not only serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, but he is also set apart as President of the Council of the Twelve, and he officiates in that capacity. He is set apart to that position by the President of the Church or under the direction of the President.
It is he who, with the approval of the First Presidency, directs much of the work of the various General Authorities. He presides over and conducts all meetings of the Council over which he presides, as well as the meetings which other General Authorities attend which are not attended by the First Presidency. In case of his absence, the next apostle in seniority present presides over and conducts the meeting.
Third–Apostles as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators:
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve through revelation from the Lord have been called and ordained to be prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are sustained by the body of the Church at various conferences to those positions or callings. In regard to this subject President Joseph Fielding Smith has written:
The Twelve Apostles have been sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators, ever since the time of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. There is only one man at a time who holds the keys of revelation for the Church. The Twelve Apostles may receive revelation to guide them in their labors and to assist them in setting in order priesthood and organizations of the Church. When they are sent out into a stake by authority, they have all the power to receive revelation, to make changes, and to conduct the affairs according to the will of the Lord. But they do not receive revelations for the guidance of the whole Church, only wherein one of them may succeed to the Presidency. In other words the right to receive revelation and guidance to the whole Church is vested in each of the Twelve which he could exercise should he succeed to the Presidency. But this power is dormant while the President of the Church is living. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:156-157)
Fourth–Apostles Are Always High Priests:
President Joseph Fielding Smith makes it clear that apostles are always high priests. To quote:
All of the apostles are high priests and are so ordained. They belong to a quorum of high priests separate and distinct from the high priests quorum in a stake. The First Presidency is a presidency of high priests, as stated in the revelation, and since every apostle has the priesthood and keys to enable him to serve as presidency of the Church, he necessarily must be a high priest. (ibid., 3:157)
Fifth–Apostles and the Keys of the Kingdom:
Shortly before his death, the Prophet Joseph Smith bestowed upon the Twelve Apostles all the keys and ordinances and priesthood necessary for them to carry on the great work of building up the kingdom of God and bringing to pass the salvation of the human family. In reference to this event, Elder Orson Hyde, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve at that time, said:
Before I went east on the 4th of April last [1844], we were in council with Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks; said Brother Joseph in one of those councils, ‘There is something going to happen; I don’t know what it is, but the Lord bids me to hasten and give you your endowment before the temple is finished.’ He conducted us through every ordinance of the holy priesthood, and when he had gone through with all of the ordinances, he rejoiced very much, and said, ‘Now if they kill me, you have got all the keys, and all the ordinances, and you can confer them upon others, and the host of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up‘; and now, said he, ‘On your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest. (TS 5:651)
Another member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Wilford Woodruff, remarked as follows in regard to this subject:
They {the Twelve} received their endowment, and actually received the keys to the kingdom of God, and oracles of God, keys of revelation, and the pattern of heavenly things; and thus addressing the Twelve {Joseph} exclaimed, ‘Upon your shoulders the kingdom rests, and you must round up your shoulders and bear it, for I have had to do it until now.’ (TS 5:698)
A third testimony bearing witness to the foregoing facts comes to us from Sister Bathsheba W. Smith, the wife of Elder George A. Smith, one of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve to whom these keys were given. Her testimony is as follows:
In the year 1844, a short time before the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it was my privilege to attend the regular prayer circle meeting in the upper room over the Prophet’s store. There were present at this meeting most of the Twelve Apostles, their wives and a number of prominent brethren and their wives. On that occasion the Prophet arose and spoke at great length, and during his remarks I heard him say that he had conferred upon the heads of the Twelve Apostles all the keys and power pertaining to the priesthood, and that upon the heads of the Twelve Apostles the burden of the kingdom rested, and that they would have to carry it. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:155)
As has been pointed out, the Twelve Apostles have been given the keys to the priesthood and the keys to the kingdom of God. They are functioning in their positions as apostles under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, which Presidency is actively in possession and use of the keys of the priesthood; however, when the President of the Church dies, the Twelve Apostles are the rightful heirs and possessors of the keys of the kingdom, and the priesthood, and are fully authorized to carry forward all of the work of God here upon the earth pertaining to the great program of the Church.
As was pointed out in the July, 1956, Era, it is through the power, calling, and appointment that this body of God’s chosen servants possess, and under divine inspiration and revelation, that a successor to the President of the Church is appointed, sustained, and set apart; and that position is always filled by the apostle who has been serving as President of the Twelve.
Sixth–Filling Vacancies in the Council of the Twelve:
The selection of men to fill vacancies in the Council of the Twelve is made by the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He does so through inspiration and revelation from the Lord. He is free to select from the male membership of the Church at large. Regarding the filling of vacancies in the Council of the Twelve, President Joseph Fielding Smith has written:
There is no set rule in regard to the choosing of apostles. For instance: The First Twelve chosen in this dispensation were selected by the Three Witnesses. Others, both in the day of the Prophet and since his day, have been chosen by direct revelation through the President of the Church. Others have been chosen as was Matthias in the days of the ancient apostles. At other times, the members of the Presidency and the Twelve present names which are considered by the First Presidency and the one was chosen by ‘lot,’ much as Matthias was. (ibid., 3:150)
Seventh–Sustaining the New Apostle:
After the selection has been made by the President of the Church of the man to fill the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve, the President of the Church presents his name to his Counselors for their sustenance and then to the members of the Quorum of the Twelve. Thereafter the person selected is presented to the body of the Church at a general conference for a sustaining vote.
Eighth–Ordination, Receiving the Keys, and Setting Apart:
These things having been accomplished, the brother is then ordained to the apostleship. This ordination is usually performed by the President of the Church; however, he could delegate one of the other brethren to perform the ordination.
At the time of his ordination, all the keys pertaining to the apostleship, to the priesthood, and to the building of the kingdom of God are bestowed upon the new apostle; and he is set apart to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and as one of the General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This has been the practice since the days of the Prophet Joseph. President Joseph Fielding Smith has written the following regarding the apostles receiving ‘the fulness of the keys and priesthood:’
President Brigham Young and the other members of the Council of the Twelve had the fulness of the keys and priesthood conferred upon them by the Prophet before his death, so that any one of them could act, each in turn, should he come to the Presidency, and all he would then need would be the setting apart. All of the members of the Council of the Twelve today have had conferred upon them all the keys and authority necessary to be exercised by anyone who might reach the Presidency, and then he would be set apart. (ibid., pp. 106-107)
Ninth–Tenure of the Apostles:
It has been the practice in the Church to retain the apostles in their positions as members of the Quorum of the Twelve as long as they remain faithful Latter-day Saints and honorable apostles. After having received the apostolic appointment, the vast majority of the apostles have retained that divine appointment and remained in the position as members of the Quorum of the Twelve until their deaths.”
(“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(9):666-667, 686, Sep., 1956)
Oct.: Assistants to the Twelve Apostles.
“ASSISTANTS TO THE TWELVE APOSTLES
Assistants to the Twelve Apostles Appointed
During recent years the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown so rapidly and the amount of work for the General Authorities has increased so tremendously that the First Presidency have seen a need for additional help to carry forward the program of the Church. President Heber J. Grant, the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ, holding the keys of the kingdom, selected five brethren to be Assistants to the Twelve Apostles. They were presented to the body of the Church at the general conference and sustained on April 6, 1941, to that position. The five brethren who constituted the first group of Assistants were: Marion G. Romney, Thomas E. McKay, Clifford E. Young, Alma Sonne, and Nicholas G. Smith. Since that time there have been additions made to the number of Assistants to the apostles.
Number of Assistants to the Apostles
At the present time the following seven outstanding men occupy the positions of Assistants to the Council of the Twelve: Thomas E. McKay, Clifford E. Young, Alma Sonne, ElRay L. Christiansen, John Longden, Hugh B. Brown, and Sterling W. Sill. In the future that number may be increased, and on the other hand, it may be decreased.
Sustaining and Setting Apart of Assistants
The Assistants to the Twelve Apostles are selected from the body of the Church by the President, approved by his Counselors and the Twelve Apostles, and then sustained by the body of the Church at a general conference as General Authorities and Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve. Thereafter they are set apart by the President of the Church or one whom he may designate to perform the ordinance.
Duties of the Assistants to the Apostles
The Assistants to the Twelve Apostles, working under the direction of the First Presidency and the Twelve, function with the other General Authorities in regulating the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ and in helping to build the kingdom of God. They receive any assignments that the First Presidency or the President of the Twelve and his associates desire to give them.
The Assistants to the Apostles at the present time are assigned to perform many of the tasks which the Twelve Apostles are assigned to do. They function as General Authorities of the Church in conducting stake conferences, in touring missions, in ordaining bishioprics, and in approving and setting apart presidencies of high priests’ quorums. They assist the Apostles in reorganizing stakes. They also interview prospective missionaries and recommend them for calls to missions. They co-operate with the First Council of the Seventy by ordaining seventies and setting apart presidencies of seventies’ quorums. They also receive assignments to perform temple marriages, and other such special assignments as the First Presidency may desire to give them; for example, President ElRay L. Christiansen is serving at the present time under special assignment as president of the Salt Lake Temple.
Assistants to the Apostles are High Priests
All of the Assistants to the Twelve Apostles are high priests. If an elder or a seventy should be selected to be an Assistant to the apostles, he would be ordained to the office of a high priest.
Assistants to the Apostles Do Not Constitute a Quorum
The Assistants to the Twelve Apostles do not constitute a quorum in the priesthood. Each of them belongs to the respective high priests’ quorum of the stake in which he lives. Since the Assistants to the Apostles do not constitute a quorum, they do not hold special meetings as a body of the priesthood.
The Assistants to the Apostles attend the meetings of the General Authorities to which they have been invited and over which the President of the Twelve Apostles or the President of the Church presides; for example, all of the General Authorities, with the exception of the First Presidency, assemble each Wednesday afternoon in a report meeting in which the Assistants to the Apostles, the members of the First Council of the Seventy, and the members of the Presiding Bishopric report the conferences they have attended or the missions they have toured. It is a general report and business meeting wherein the activities of the various phases of the Church programs are reported, and also where the General Authorities receive instructions from the President of the Twelve Apostles.
Also, the Assistants to the Apostles meet with other General Authorities as members of the general priesthood committee, as well as functioning on other committee assignments. Thus in every way in accordance with their scope of assignments, they are helping to regulate and administer the activities of the Church.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 59(10):752, Oct., 1956)