| 346 from the further fact that they persistently refuse to answer questions regarding it, as will be seen by correspondence with Historian Richards. (See pages 25-27 this volume.)
Since writing the correspondence referred to above, letters have come into our possession from F. D. Richards, Church Historian, and C. W. Penrose, his assistant, in which each commits himself to the position that such ordinations did not take place. Elder Richards writes from Salt Lake City, Utah, March 7,1898, to J. B. Clark, of Eula, Alabama. The following is an extract from his letter:-
"In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no one has ever been ordained to be President of the Church. In the beginning the Lord sent Peter, James and John, and they ordained Joseph Smith an Apostle and he was instructed how to organize and build up the Church in this dispensation. When the Prophet and Apostle Joseph Smith was taken from us, Brigham Young, being President of the Twelve Apostles, it devolved upon him to preside over the Church, as the Apostle is the highest office known in the Church of Christ. So also, when the Prophet and Apostle Brigham Young died, John Taylor, being President of the Twelve Apostles, it devolved upon him. In the same manner, when he departed, Wilford Woodruff, being President of the Twelve Apostles, the Presidency devolved upon him. Neither Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor nor Wilford Woodruff were ordained Presidents of the Church. It is not according to the order of the Church to ordain Presidents of the Church, for there is no such order of the Priesthood known in the Church."-True Succession in Church Presidency, p. 154.
The following is an extract from Elder Penrose's letter to J. O. Long, of Higdon, Alabama, dated Historian's Office, No. 60 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 18,1898:-
"No man is ordained President of the Church. He is ordained to that Priesthood which qualifies him for the position of President when chosen and sustained by the Church. The question might be asked, when was Joseph
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