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November 3, 1835

On February 14, 1835, Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris) organized and ordained the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[1] In the months following their call, the Prophet continued instructing them on their apostolic duties.[2] In a revelation that Joseph received later that year, their role was further clarified. The Twelve were to act as “traveling councilors” and as “special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world.” They were likewise to be “a Traveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23, 33). Consistent with the actions of the original Twelve Apostles in the New Testament and Joseph’s revelation, the apostles were to be “sent forth” to bear witness of Christ.[3] Later that spring, the Twelve departed for a mission to the eastern states.[4]

As the Prophet worked on erecting the temple in Kirtland and gathering funds for its construction, he began hearing disturbing reports among the Twelve during their mission. Specifically, he was made aware of complaints from Elder Orson Hyde and Elder William McLellin concerning the Kirtland school run by Sidney Rigdon. He was also apparently concerned with the unequal distribution of money among certain members of the Twelve during their mission. Perhaps the most distressing incidents, however, were the heated arguments between the Prophet and his brother William, also a member of the Twelve.[5]

During a high council meeting in Kirtland in late October, William Smith brought a woman forward who was accused of abusing her stepdaughter. One of the witnesses in the case was Lucy Mack Smith, William’s and Joseph’s mother. As Lucy testified, Joseph interrupted her during her testimony because the council had already resolved something she had brought up. In response, William stood up angrily and rebuked his brother for not believing their mother’s testimony. The day after William’s outburst, Joseph and William met with their brother Hyrum to clear the air.[6] However, William left even more upset at his brother. Joseph’s journal notes how William “arose abruptly and declared that he wanted no more to do with us or the church, and said we might take his license, for he would have nothing to do with us.”[7] Later that evening, however, the Prophet received a revelation while praying that his brother would “return to the church and repair the wrong that he had done.”[8] Because of this confirmation, it makes sense that the revelation encourages the other eleven apostles to be patient with William and his actions.

On November 5, two days after the revelation was received, Orson Hyde and William McLellin had the revelation read to them. After expressing some consternation, they “examined their own hearts” and “acknowledged it to be the word of the Lord.”[9] Brigham Young also heard it and was “perfectly satisfied” with the revelation. Although William and Joseph continued to have their difficulties throughout the winter, they finally reconciled on January 1, 1836.[10]

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Thus came the word of the Lord unto me, concerning the Twelve, saying—behold, they are under condemnation, because they have not been sufficiently humble in my sight. And in consequence of their covetous desires—in that they have not dealt equally with each other in the division of the moneys which came into their hands, nevertheless some of them dealt equally, therefore they shall be rewarded—verily, I say unto you, they must all humble themselves before me, before they will be accounted worthy to receive an endowment to go forth in my name unto all nations.

As for my servant William Smith, let the eleven humble themselves in prayer and in faith, and wait on me in patience. And my servant William shall return, and I will yet make him a polished shaft in my quiver, in bringing down the wickedness and abominations of men. And there shall be none mightier than he in his day and generation; nevertheless, if he repent not speedily he shall be brought low and shall be chastened sorely for all his iniquities he has committed against me.

Nevertheless, the sin which he hath sinned against me is not even now more grievous than the sin with which my servant David W. Patten and my servant Orson Hyde and my servant William E. McLellin have sinned against me, and the residue are not sufficiently humble before me. Behold the parable which I spake concerning a man having twelve sons. For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter to them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one, be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here, and to the other be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there, and looketh upon his sons, and saith I am just? Ye will answer and say no man, and ye answer truly.

Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord your God—I appointed these twelve that they should be equal in their ministry and in their portion and in their evangelical rights; wherefore they have sinned a very grievous sin, inasmuch as they have made themselves unequal and have not hearkened unto my voice. Therefore, let them repent speedily and prepare their hearts for the solemn assembly and for the great day which is to come. Verily, thus saith the Lord. Amen.

Notes

[1] JSP, D4:219–33; see further Lawrence R. Flake, Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 317–19; Richard E. Turley Jr., “The Calling of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy in 1835,” in Joseph Smith and the Doctrinal Restoration: The 34th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium, ed. W. Jeffrey Marsh (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2005), 369–80.

[2] JSP, D5:33.

[3] In Greek, the word apostle means “one who is sent” or “one sent forth,” and thereby a “messenger” or “agent”; see Luke 6:13.

[4] May 4–9, 1835, Record of the Twelve, The Joseph Smith Papers, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper

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[5] Richard Lyman Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 297–302.

[6] JSP, D5:34-35.

[7] JSP, J1:81.

[8] JSP, J1:82.

[9] JSP, J1:84.

[10] JSP, J1:141.