History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith
22. Of the Melchisedek Priesthood three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.
23. The Twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or especial witnesses of the name of Christ, in all the world, thus differing from other officers in the Church, in the duties of their calling;
24. And they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned.
25. The Seventy are also called to preach the Gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling;
26. And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve especial witnesses or Apostles, just named.
27. And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
28. (A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
29. Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three Presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchisedek, and were righteous and holy men.
30. The decisions of these quorums or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness and lowliness of heart, meekness and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity;
31. Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
32. And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of the Church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision.
33. The Twelve are 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, first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.
34. The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve, or the Traveling High Council, in building up the Church, and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations; first unto the Gentiles, and then to the Jews;
35. The Twelve being sent out, holding the keys to open the door by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.
36. The standing High Councils at the Stakes of Zion form a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the Church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the Presidency, or to the traveling High Council.
37. The High Council in Zion form a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the Church, in all their decisions, to the councils of the Twelve at the Stakes of Zion.
38. It is the duty of the traveling High Council, to call upon the Seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the Gospel, instead of any others,
39. It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the Church, to ordain evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation.
40. The order of this Priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.
41. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner:
42. From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of sixty-nine years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam's) death, and received the promise of God, by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth.
43. Because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age.
44. Enos was ordained at the age of an hundred and thirty-four years and four months, by the hand of Adam.
45. God called upon Cainan in the wilderness, in the fortieth year of his age, and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak; he was eighty-seven years old when he received his ordination.
46. Mahalaleel was four hundred and ninety-six years and seven days old, when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
47. Jared was two hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
48. Enoch was twenty-five year old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, and he was sixty-five when Adam blessed him.
49. And he saw the Lord, and he walked with Him, and was before His face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty year old when he was translated.
50. Methuselah was one hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam.
51. Lamech was thirty-two years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.
52. Noah was ten years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.
53. Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all High Priests, with the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
54. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael the Prince, the Archangel.
55. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee; and thou art a prince over them for ever.
56. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.
57. These things were all written in the Book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time.
58. It is the duty of the Twelve, also, to ordain and set in order all the other officers of the Church agreeable to the revelation which says:
59. To the Church of Christ in the land of Zion, in addition to the Church laws, respecting Church business.
60. Verily, I say unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts, there must needs be presiding Elders, to preside over those who are of the office of an Elder;
61. And also Priests to preside over those who are of the office of a Priest;
62. And also Teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a Teacher, in like manner; and also the Deacons;
63. Wherefore from Deacon to Teacher, and from Teacher to Priest, and from Priest to Elder, severally as they are appointed, according to the covenants and commandments of the Church;
64. Then comes the High Priesthood, which is the greatest of all.
65. 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,
66. Or in other words, the presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church.
67. From the same comes the administering of ordinances, and blessings upon the Church, by the laying on of the hands.
68. Wherefore, the office of a Bishop is not equal