| 713 of the church, could repeal their decisions, and appoint whom they pleased to rule over them.
There is also another presidency which may be read at pleasure, on the 124 page of said Doctrine and Covenants; the 6th paragraph reads as follows:
"The president of the church, who is also the president of the council, is appointed by revelation, and acknowledged, in his administration, by the voice of the church; and it is according to the dignity of his office, that he should preside over the council of the church; and it is his privilege to be assisted by two other presidents, appointed after the same manner that he himself was appointed; and in case of the absence of one or both of those who are appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the council without an assistant: and in case that he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them."
All that is necessary to remark on this subject, is that this presidency is over the high council of a stake, and has no more relevancy to the first presidency over the whole church, than a county judge has to president of the United States; in fact the high council being a tribunal for transgressors-perhaps it may justly rank as a judge to the president of the United states. No man of common sense would ever think of boosting up a man as president of a stake, to be like Moses. No, never. He is a Cushi, that proclaims such doctrine, and needs to tarry in Jericho till his beard grows.
The third presidency mentioned in said Doctrine and Covenants, is, on page 107 and reads:
"Wherefore, it must needs be that one be appointed of the high priesthood, to preside over the priesthood; and he shall be called president of the high priesthood of the church, or, in other words, the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the church. From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands."
This presidency is different from the other two, and means the presidency over the quorum of the high priesthood. It has nothing to do with the "first presidency" over the whole church, more than to send out high priests to preside over branches, stakes, &c., in any part of the vineyard, under the direction of the Twelve. Neither has it any thing to do with the presidency over the high council, more than to act in union. Having said so much on these three presidents, let it suffice.
The Twelve are still a different presidency, because they compose a quorum that cannot be dispensed with; while, according to the very nature of the case, the before mentioned presidencies can. If there be no quorum of the first presidency, the Twelve must act in its place. If there be no stake organized, then there is no need of a high council; and so of the others, without a designated place. Not so with the Twelve, they are never twice chosen; vacancies may be filled, as was the case with Judas, or with some of our modern apostacies [apostasies]. The revelation for choosing them on the 258 and 9 pages of the said Doctrine and Covenants, is:
"And now behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile, and unto Jew: yea, even twelve: and the twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name: and the twelve are they who shall desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart: and if they desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature: and they are they who are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written; and you have that which is written before you: wherefore you must perform it according to the words which are written. And now I speak unto the twelve:-Behold my grace is sufficient for you: you must walk uprightly before me and sin not.-And behold you are they who are ordained of me to ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men: and I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it. These words are not of men, nor of man, but of me: wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you: for they are given by my spirit unto you: and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power, you could not have them: wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words."
In addition to this, a revelation directly to the Twelve, besides many other things, says, as recorded on the 417 page of said Doctrine and Covenants:
"For unto you (the twelve) and those (the first presidency) who are appointed with you to be your counsellors [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 [fullness] of times, which power you hold in connection with all those who
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