The First Quorum of Seventies may be composed of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, and the senior president of the first sixty-four quorums. These may form the Seventy referred to in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and may act in an official capacity as the First Quorum of Seventies.
The senior presidents of the other quorums, over and above the sixty-four, may meet with the First Quorum in their assemblies in any other than an official capacity; but in case of the absence of any of the members of the First Quorum, they can act, in the place of such members with the First Quorum during such absence, in any cases of importance that may arise.
The headquarters of the different quorums, and the records thereof, may be distributed throughout the various Wards and Stakes, under the direction of the First Seven Presidents, as the number of the Priesthood residing in such localities may seem to justify and any vacancies that exist, either in the presidency or membership of the different quorums may be filled by the ordination of persons residing in the locality in which the respective quorums are organized.
Any of the members or presidents of other quorums who are in good standing may have the privilege of joining the quorum located in the district in which they reside; but in such cases they should first obtain a certificate as to their standing in the quorum from which they desire to withdraw; to obtain which it would only be necessary to procure a certificate of their good standing from the Bishop of the Ward to which they belong, provided their names are found upon the record of their quorum as in good standing.
The presidents of the quorums residing in the district where their respective quorums are organized shall have a general supervision of all the Seventies residing in their district.
In all cases where members of quorums are called in question, a majority of their respective quorums will have jurisdiction in all cases involving their standing in the quorum, but in case there is not a majority residing in the district where the quorum is organized, or in the case of scattered members, the members present should investigate the matter and report their findings to the First Seven Presidents. Any complaints regarding the presidents of quorums should be made to the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, who may suspend such presidents, if their conduct seem to justify it, pending the action of the First Quorum. Any presidents or members from whom fellowship has been withdrawn by the quorums, should be reported to the High Council having jurisdiction.
The Seventies, when abroad, if anything should occur requiring their supervision, in the absence of other authorities, may act upon the case of any delinquent belonging to the Seventies, and should report their decisions to the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies.
Your Brethren in the gospel,
JOHN TAYLOR,
GEORGE Q. CANNON,
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A revelation given through President John Taylor, at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, on Saturday, April 14th, 1883, in answer to the question: "Show unto us thy will, O Lord, concerning the organization of the Seventies."
What ye have written is my will, and is acceptable unto me: and furthermore,
Thus saith the Lord unto the First Presidency, unto the Twelve, unto the Seventies and unto all my holy Priesthood, let not your hearts be troubled, neither be ye concerned about the management and organization of my Church and Priesthood and the accomplishment of my work. Fear me and observe my laws and I will reveal unto you, from time to time, through the channels that I have appointed, everything that shall be necessary for the future development and perfection of my Church, for the adjustment and rolling forth of my kingdom, and for the building up and the establishment of my Zion. For ye are my Priesthood and I am your God. Even so. Amen.
Under the instructions given in the foregoing communication and revelation, the First Council of the Seventy have proceeded with the work of increasing the quorums and managing their affairs. The quorums now number 151, giving to the foreign ministry of the Church a body of men numbering about ten thousand.
Footnotes
1. Hackett edition, in four volumes, now and always quoted.
2. I take occasion here to remark that by making reference to works such as Edersheim's Life of Jesus, Bible Dictionaries Ecclesiastical Histories, etc., it must not be understood that in making such references I approve the works, or even accept the correctness of the passages indicated. Such references are made that the student may consult the literature on a given point. He must make his own deductions as to the correctness of the statements and arguments of such authors. As for instance, in this very passage cited from Edersheim's really great work, I think him, in the main, wrong in his treatment of this subject of the Seventy, but our Seventies should know what so high an authority, as Edersheim is generally accepted to be, has said upon the subject.
3. It will be observed from this statement that the "Cephas," or "Peter" whom Paul "withstood to his face" at Antioch, was not the chief Apostle Peter, but another "Cephas" or "Peter," one of the Seventy. I fear, however, that the testimony in Galatians ii, as to its being Peter, the chief Apostle, with whom Paul had his unfortunate controversy, is too strong to be overturned by this inference in Eusebius.
LESSON II.
THE ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES OF THE SEVENTY.
| ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. The Priesthood. 1. Definition, and the Grouping of Powers and Officers. | Note 1; Alma xiii; Doc, & Cov. 84; Sec. 107; Compendium[1] pp. 64–73. History of the Church Vol. II, Chap. 33; Vol. IV, Chap. 11; Outlines Eccl. History, Part IV, Sec. v. The Gospel[2] pp. 210–216. |
| II. The Church: Defined. 1. The Depository of Revealed Truth. 2. Of Divine Authority--Her Commission. | Note 2. I Corinthians xii. Articles of Faith, (Talmadge) Lecture XI. Compendium pp. 157–158. Book of Mormon, Mosiah 5:7–12. Doc. & Cov. Sec. 76; 50–70. The Gospel pp. 216–227. |
| III. The Mission of the Church. 1. Proclamation of the Truth. 2. Perfecting the Lives of Those Who Receive Her Truth. | Note 3; Eph. iv:4–17. The Gospel pp. 216–227. History of the Church Vol. II. pp. 47. 476–480. |
| IV. The Foreign Ministry. 1. The Twelve Apostles. 2. The Seventy. 3. Special Duties of the Seventy. | Note 4, 5, 6. Doc. & Cov. Sec. 107; also Sec. 124; 138–140. History of the Church, Vol. III,[3] Chap. xxvi. Luke x; Outlines Eccl. History[4] Sec. v, p. 336–7, p. 360; also pp. 343–6. Also note 7. |
SPECIAL TEXT: "Wherefore now, let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence." Doc. and Cov., Sec. 107.
NOTES.