History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE APOSTOLATE. 345
first instance by reason of seniority or ordination,
usually becomes president of the church. The office
of the twelve is to preach and teach throughout the
world, regulating the affairs of the church everywhere
under the direction of the first presidency,
calling to their aid therein the seventies.
An apostle may administer in the several offices of
the church, particularly in spiritual matters. 11 The
office of a patriarch is to give patriarchal blessings;
the office of a member of a seventy is to travel and
preach the gospel; but a patriarch, a high-priest, a
president of the twelve, apostatized, and in 1S38 Patten was killed, which
left Young at the head of the list, and he became president of the twelve.
Geo. A. Smith was ordained in 1S39, and Lyman Wight not long after. In
1S44, according to Elder Phelps, the following names were on the roll:
Young, Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Hyde, Richards, Taylor, William Smith,
Woodruff, George A. Smith, Orson Pratt, Page, and Wight. During this
year Wm Smith and Page apostatized, and were replaced by Amasa M.
Lyman and Ezra T. Benson. Early iu 1S45, Young, Kimball, and Richards
were chosen to the first presidency, and Wight was disfellowshipped
for apostasy; the vacancies thus caused were filled by appointing Chas C.
Rich, Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards. In 1S57, Geo.
Q. Cannon was appointed, vice P. P. Pratt, deceased. In 1867, Lyman was
dropped and Jos. F. Smith appointed. In 1SG8, Geo. A. Smith became one
of the first presidency, and Brigham Young, jun., succeeded him. Albert
Carrington was appointed in 1809 in place of Benson, deceased, and Moses
Thatcher in 1879, vice Hyde, deceased in 1S7S; which left the twelve in the
following order: John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, Chas C. Rich,
Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon,
Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith, Albert Carrington, Moses Thatcher, Pratt
being the only remaining member of the original twelve. Juv. Inst., xiv.
12S-9. The vacancies caused by the elevation of John Taylor to the presidency
in 1SS0, with George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as councillors,
were partially filled by the appointment of Francis M. Lyman and John
H. Smith. 8. L. Tribune, Oct. 11, 1880. Orson Pratt died Oct. 1SS1, and a
year later Geo. Teasdaleand Heber J. Grant were elected. Hand-book of Eef,
89-90. Up to 1S77, the twelve received no pay for their services; but the conference
of Oct. voted §1,500 a year to each apostle. ' This is the first sum
that has ever been publicly appropriated to any council of the church for the
performance of their duties to the people. When I went to Europe in 1866, I
borrowed the means and gave my note; on my return I had to pay back my
indebtedness.' Richards' Narr., MS., 59-60.
11 In 1S45 was issued at New York and Liverpool, Proclamation of the
Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; to all the
Kings of the World; to the President of the United States of America; to the
Governors of the several states, and to the riders and people of all nations,
Greeting, ' Know ye that the kingdom of God has come,' etc. The tract goes
on to say that 'Jehovah has been pleased once more to speak from the
heavens,' by which means the apostleship of Christ has been restored, in
preparation for his coming, which is now near at hand. Then are recited the
leading points of faith, with allusions to the history of the church, and calls
to repentance.