| 549 things, as I have said, it will be one of the most important records ever seen, for every such decision will ever after remain as items of doctrine and covenants.
"'The council then expressed their approbation concerning the foregoing remarks of President Smith, and appointed Orson Hyde and William E. McLellin clerks for the meeting.
"'President Smith proposed the following question: What importance is there attached to the calling of these Twelve Apostles, different from the other callings or officers of the church?
"'After the question was discussed by Counselors Patten, Young, Smith, and McLellin, President Joseph Smith, Jr., gave the following decision:-
"'They are the Twelve Apostles, who are called to the office of Traveling High Council, who are to preside over all the churches of the saints, among the Gentiles, where there is a Presidency established; and they are to travel and preach among the Gentiles, until the Lord shall command them to go to the Jews. They are to hold the keys of this ministry, to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations, and to preach the gospel to every creature. This is the power, authority, and virtue of their apostleships.
"'OLIVER COWDERY, Clerk.'
"'On the 28th, the church in council assembled, commenced selecting certain individuals from the number of those who went up to Zion with me, in the camp; and the following are the names of those who were ordained and blessed at that time, to begin the organization of the First Quorum of the Seventies, according to the visions and revelations which I have received; the Seventies to constitute Traveling Quorums, to go into all the earth, whithersoever the Twelve Apostles should call them:-
Hiram Winters, Lorenzo Booth, John D. Parker,
Elias Hutchins, Zera S. Cole, Daniel Stearns,
Henry Shibley, Leonard Rich, Hiram Stratton,
Roger Orton, Harrison Burgess, Sylvester Smith,
J. B. Smith, Alden Burdick, William Pratt,
Harvey Stanley, William F. Cahoon, Ezra Thayre,
Jedediah M. Grant, Harper Riggs, Levi W. Hancock,
Lyman Sherman, Bradford Elliot, Solomon Warner,
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