SECTION
120
The
members of the Quorum of Twelve who were present at the General
Conference of 1887 remained in Kirtland and on April 21, 1887, issued
an “Epistle” which discussed the duties of branch and district
presidents and other matters. The Quorum revised this “Epistle”
in 1888 and then asked the General Conference to endorse it. Action
was postponed until 1889 and then until 1890. Under these
circumstances the Quorum of Twelve asked the President of the Church
to seek divine guidance, and in response to their prayers the
following revelation was received through President Joseph Smith. It
is dated April 8, 1890, at Lamoni, Iowa, and is addressed to “The
First Presidency and Traveling High Council” (the Council of
Twelve).
1a.
The epistle is to be left without approval, or disapproval by the
conference, as the judgment of the Quorum of the Twelve, until
further experience shall have tested the matters therein stated.
1b. In
the meantime, branches and their officers, and districts and their
officers are to be considered as provided for by my law to carry on
the work of the ministry in caring for the membership of the church,
and to relieve the Twelve and Seventy from the vexation and anxiety
of looking after local organizations when effected.
1c.
When branches and districts are organized, they should be so
organized by direction of the conferences, or by the personal
presence and direction of the Twelve, or some member of that quorum
who may be in charge, if practicable;
1d.
or, if a branch, by the president of the district with the consent,
knowledge, and direction of the missionary in charge, when
circumstances prevent the missionary in charge being present.
2a. A
branch may be presided over by a high priest, an elder, priest,
teacher, or deacon, chosen and sustained by the vote of the branch.
2b.
Districts may be presided over by a high priest, or an elder, who
shall be received and sustained in his office by the vote of the
district.
2c. If
a branch, or district be large, he who is chosen to preside should be
an high priest, if there be one possessed of the spirit of wisdom to
administer in the office of president;
2d. or
if an elder be chosen who may by experience be found qualified to
preside, as soon as practicable thereafter he should be ordained an
high priest by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the one
ordaining, and by direction of a high council, or General Conference,
as required in the law.
3a.
There should be no conflict or jealousy of authority between the
quorums of the church; all are necessary and equally honorable, each
in its place.
3b.
The Twelve and Seventy are traveling ministers and preachers of the
gospel, to persuade men to obey the truth;
3c.
the high priests and elders holding the same priesthood are the
standing ministers of the church, having the watchcare of the
membership and nurturing and sustaining them, under the direction and
instruction of the Presidency and the Twelve.
3d.
The Seventy when traveling by the voice of the church, or sent by the
Twelve to minister the word where the Twelve cannot go, are in the
powers of their ministration apostles-those sent-and in meetings
where no organization exists should preside, if no member of the
Twelve or Presidency be present.
4a. In
both branches and districts the presiding officers should be
considered and respected in their offices;
4b.
nevertheless, the traveling presiding councils of the church being
made by the law, their calling and the voice of the church the
directing, regulating and advising authorities of the church, and
representing it abroad, should when present in either district or
branch be regarded and considered as the leading representative
authorities of the church, and be respected as such, their counsel
and advice be sought and respected when given;
4c.
and in cases of conflict, or extremity, their decision should be
listened to and regarded, subject to the appeal and adjudication
provided for in the law.
5. He
that heareth him that is sent heareth the Lord who sent him, if he be
called of God and be sent by the voice of the church.
6. In
these matters there is no conflict in the law.
7a. In
matters of personal importance and conduct arising in branches or
districts, the authorities of those branches and districts should be
authorized and permitted to settle them;
7b.
the traveling councils taking cognizance of those only in which the
law and usages of the church are involved, and the general interests
of the church are concerned.
7c.
Where cases of difficulty are of long standing, the council may
require local authorities to adjust them; and in case of failure to
do so, may regulate them as required by their office and duty; and
this that the work and church may not be put to shame and the
preaching of the word be hindered.
8.
That the traveling council of the Twelve may be better prepared to
act as a quorum, my servant A. H. Smith may be chosen president of
the Twelve, and any one of the council be chosen to act as its
secretary, until the quorum be filled, or other instruction be given.
9a.
Those who were presented by the high priests for ordination to their
number, if approved by the council of the high priests now present,
and the conference, may be ordained;
9b.
and from their number there may be selected by a committee of
conference composed of one of the First Presidency, the president of
the Twelve and one other to be chosen by the Council of Twelve, the
president of the high priests and one other to be chosen by that
council of their number,
9c. a
sufficient number to fill the vacancies now existing in the high
council, that the high council may be properly organized and prepared
to hear matters of grave importance when presented to them.
9d.
And this committee shall make these selections according to the
spirit of wisdom and revelation that shall be given unto them, to
provide that such council may be convened at any General Conference
when emergency may demand, by reason of their residing at or near to
places where conferences may be held.
10a.
The presidents of Seventy are instructed to select from the several
quorums of elders such as are qualified and in a condition to take
upon them the office of Seventy, that they may be ordained unto the
filling of the first quorum of Seventy.
10b.
In making these selections the presidents of Seventy should confer
with the several quorums before so selecting, and be guided by wisdom
and the spirit of revelation, choosing none but men of good repute.
