Times and Seasons 2 (1 September 1841): 521-22[1]

President Joseph Smith now arriving proceeded to state to the conference at considerable length, the object of their present meeting, and in addition to what President [Brigham] Young had stated in the morning, said that the time had come when the twelve should be called upon to stand in their place next to the first presidency, [2] and attend to the settling of emigrants and the business of the church at the stakes, and assist to bear off the kingdom victoriously to the nations; [3] and as they had been faithful, and had borne the burden in the heat of the day that it was right that they should have an opportunity of provididing something for themselves and families, and at the same time relieve him so that he might attend to the business of translating. [4]

—16 August 1841

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 4:403, and Teachings, p. 190. The source for entries in History of the Church and Teachings is the Times and Seasons account. The following remarks were made by Joseph Smith at a special conference held in Nauvoo. The purpose of the meeting was to "select men of experience to send forth into the vineyard, take measures to assist emigrants who may arrive at the places of gathering, and prevent impositions being practiced upon them by unprincipled speculators" (see History of the Church, 4:402).

[2] See 27 June 1839, note 8.

[3] This is an interesting foreshadowing of the role that the Quorum of the Twelve would assume at Joseph's death. Language such as this undoubtedly made it easier for the Twelve to succeed to the Presidency.

[4] That is, the translation of both the Bible and the Book of Abraham.