14 For the same reasons in me that it is not expedient to fill the quorums of the First Presidency and the Twelve, who are apostles and high priests, it is not expedient that a patriarch for the church should be indicated and appointed.
15 My servant Thomas W. Smith is in my hand; and his bishopric shall be continued for a season; if he fully recover he will enter again into the work; if I take him unto myself, another will be appointed in his stead when the quorum is filled.
16a And now I say unto you mine elders, apostles and high priests of my church, Continue ye in the ministry unto which you have been called; and if ye cannot fully agree on all the points of the law, be patient and be not contentious; so far as you can agree work together without heat, confusion, or malice.
16b Ye are equal in worth of position and place in the work of the church; and if in honor ye shall prefer one another, ye will not strive for precedence or place in duty or privilege, and shall be blessed of me.
17a Yea, verily, thus saith the Lord, unto the elders of the church: continue in steadfastness and faith.
17b Let nothing separate you from each other and the work whereunto you have been called; and I will be with you by my Spirit and presence of power unto the end. Amen. JOSEPH SMITH
DC 123 Intro: SECTION 123
This section is a report of the Joint Council held in compliance with the instruction of Doctrine and Covenants 122:13. It was included in the Doctrine and Covenants at the request of the Council of Twelve and concurred in by the General Conference of 1895. It is not a revelation. The Conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix.
JOINT COUNCIL
1a In compliance with the requirement of paragraph thirteen of the revelation received during conference and by agreement between the quorums affected, the First Presidency, the Twelve, and the Bishopric met in joint council in the editor's room of the Herald Office at nine a.m., Friday, April 20, 1894.
1b There were present: Joseph Smith and W.W. Blair, of the First Presidency; Alexander H. Smith, E.C. Briggs, James Caffall, W.H. Kelley, J.H. Lake, J.R. Lambert, Heman C. Smith, Joseph Luff, and Gomer T. Griffiths, of the Twelve; E.L. Kelly, G.H. Hilliard, and E.A. Blakeslee, of the Bishopric.
2a President Joseph Smith was chosen to preside, and E.A. Blakeslee to act as secretary.
2b A. H. Smith offered prayer, after which the President made a few remarks bearing upon the object of the council, and advising forbearance and toleration in speech and feeling, regardless of the distance between those present in their judgment upon the matters under discussion.
