| 13 At Nauvoo, Brigham Young, as President of the Twelve, sustained by eight others of his quorum, 7 assumed control, interpreting the action of August 8,1844, as sustaining them as the presiding quorum of the church. They, however, declared that Joseph Smith's place was not to be filled by another.
In an epistle of the Twelve, signed Brigham Young President, written at Nauvoo, August 15, 1844, occurs the following, which clearly indicates that they then wished the saints to understand that no effort would be made to place anyone in the office left vacant by the death of Joseph Smith:-
"AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE.
"To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Nauvoo and all the world; Greeting.
"Beloved Brethren:-Forasmuch as the saints have been called to suffer deep affliction and persecution, and also to mourn the loss of our beloved Prophet and also our Patriarch, who have suffered a cruel martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus, having voluntarily yielded themselves to cruel murderers who had sworn to take their lives, and thus like good shepherds have laid down their lives for the sheep, therefore it becomes necessary for us to address you at this time on several important subjects.
"You are now without a prophet present with you in the flesh to guide you; but you are not without apostles, who hold the keys of power to seal on earth that which shall be sealed in heaven, and to preside over all the affairs of the church in all the world; being still under the direction of the same God, and being dictated by the same Spirit, having the same manifestations of the Holy Ghost to dictate all the affairs of the church in all the world, to build up the kingdom upon the foundation that the Prophet Joseph has laid, who still holds the keys of this last dispensation, and will hold them to all eternity, as a king and priest unto the most high God, ministering in heaven, on earth, or among the
7 William Smith, John E. Page, and Lyman Wight refused to indorse [endorse] the actions of their colleagues and denounced them as usurpers.
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