On the afternoon of Saturday, October 8th, an Epistle from
President Wilford Woodruff, in behalf of the Twelve Apos-
tles, was read by Bishop Orson F. Whitney, the following be-
ing a brief synopsis of it:
As some of the Apostles are
prevented, by circumstances well known to the Saints, from
appearing in public, the Church will naturally look for
some expression from them concerning their feelings and
hopes respecting the work of our God. Especially at the pre-
sent time is deep interest felt in the utterances of the Apostles,
because of the loss which the Church has sustained in the
Death of President John Taylor.
Twice before has the Church mourned the death of its Presi-
dent, and each time the event has produced a profound
impression upon its members. In this instance this
sad event is invested with more significance than it
would have been had it occurred in the ordinary way
President Taylor died in exile.
For about two years and a half he had been compelled
to live in seclusion, and to refrain from all public as-
sociation with the people whom he loved more than his
life.
Through his decease the Church is called the third time to
mourn the departure of the man who has stood as its Presi-
dent and as the Prophet, Seer and Revealator to this genera-
tion. The experience which the Saints have gained in pass-
ing through these trials has been of exceeding value to them.
They have learned that God can take care of His own work, and
that they need not worry nor yield to anxiety or doubt concerning
its management.
For some time before his death the Prophet Joseph was in-
spired of the Lord to anticipate his own departure from earth-
ly scenes. This was shown in various ways; but especially in
the great anxiety which he displayed to bestow upon the
Twelve Apostles all the keys and authority of the Holy Priest-
President Woodruff's personal testimony.
I, Wilford Woodruff, being the last man living in the
flesh who was present upon that occasion feel it a duty I
owe to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to
the House of Isreal, and to the whole world to bear this my
last testimony to all nations, that in the winter of 1843-4,
Joseph Smith, the Prophet of God, called the Twelve Apostles
together in the City of Nauvoo, and spent many days
with us in giving us our endowments, and teaching us
those glorious principles which God had revealed to him.
And upon one occasion he stood upon his feet in our
midst for nearly three hours declaring unto us the great and
last dispensation which God had set His hand to perform up-
on the earth in these last days. The room was filled as if with
consuming fire; the Prophet was clothed upon with much
of the power of God, and his face shone and was transpar-
ently clear, and he closed that speech, never-to-be-forgotten
in time or eternity, with the following language:
"Brethern, I have had great sorrow of heart for fear that I might be
taken from the earth with the keys of the Kindom of God upon me, with-
out sealing them upon the heads of other men. God has sealed upon
my head all the keys of the Kingdom of God necessary for organizing and
building up of the Church, Zion, and Kingdom of God upon the earth,
and to prepare the Saints for the coming of the Son of Man. Now bre-
thern, I thank God I have lived to see the day that I have been enabled
to give you your endowments, and I have now sealed upon your heads
all the powers of the Aaronic and Melchisedek Priesthoods and Apos-
tleship, with all the keys and powers thereof, which God has sealed upon
me; and I now roll off all the labor, burden and care of this Church
and Kingdom of God upon your shoulders, and I now command you
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to round up your shoulders, and
bear off this Church and Kingdom of God before heaven and earth, and
before God, angels and men; and if you don't do it you will be damned"
And the same spirit that filled the room at that time burns
in my bosom while I record this testimony, and the Prophet
of God appointed no one else but the Twelve Apostles to stand
at the head of the Church and direct its affairs.