Twelve Apostles

 
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;
for his name is great and glorious above all other names.
 
1. WHEN the Lord your God shall send the gospel to the nations, he shall call and choose twelve Apostles, to be the witnesses of his name and Kingdom, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.1                                                            
35 words,
154 letters.
 
2. He shall appoint them Shepherds of the flock; under the direction of the Chief Shepherd:2  he shall make them Princes in his Kingdom:3  he shall appoint them to declare his Law unto all nations;4 and to execute it among the Saints who are scattered abroad.                              
45   words,
202 letters.
 
3. The Apostles, every one, shall have jurisdiction of the Churches beyond the Kingdom, by appointment of the Chief Shepherd: they shall exercise royal authority in the Kingdom, by the King’s Commandment. 
31   words,
164 letters.
 
4. Let them bear a faithful testimony to the nations: let them not shun to declare the
 
[1 Matt. x, 1, 8. Luke xxiv, 47, 48. Acts i, 8. D. & C. xliii, 5. [2 John xxi,16. [3 Matt. xix, 28. [4 Matt, xxviii, 16, 20. Mark xvi, 15. Luke xxiv, 47.
 
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whole counsel of God; and he shall give them rest from their labours; they shall be Princes forever.1
34 words,
147 letters.
 
5. One among them shall be Chief: to him shall they all give heed, as to a King among Princes:  yet shall the Chief Shepherd be King over them all:  they shall not rebel against his Commandment; and they shall be Princes in his Kingdom forever.
45 words,
189 letters.
Total—5 sec., 190 words, 856 letters.
 
1. The Priesthood of an Apostle is the highest in the Church of God.  But in that Priesthood there are different ranks, of which the Twelve is the lower, the highest being that of the Chief Shepherd, whether he is designated a Prophet, an Apostle, or a King.
2. The Prophet presides over the whole Church, and the whole Priesthood; and hence in this dispensation has usually been called First President; and his two associates or Viceroys, have been called members of the First Presidency, though in other ages they have oftenest all been called  Kings, Patriarchs, or Prophets.
3. The distinction in their duties is chiefly this:  that the First President is a Lawgiver, who teaches by revelation and commandment among all people, under the immediate direction of God, and assisted by the Viceroys, proclaims and executes the Law over all Priesthood, and among the children of God, at the places appointed for their dwelling.  Whereas the twelve Apostles have no authority over the local administration at the gathering places, but have the keys of opening the gospel to all nations, the government of the scattered Churches, and the general direction of the missions.