Letter to the Council of the Twelve, 15 December 1840

May Grace, Mercy, and Peace rest upon you, from  God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Having several communications laying before me from  my Brethren the “Twelve

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

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” some of which have ere this merited  a reply, but <from> the multiplicity of business which necessarily engages  my attention I have delayed communicating to them, to the present  time. Be assured my beloved brethren, that I am no disinterested  observer of the things which are transpiring on the face of the whole  earth and amidst the general movements which are in progress,  none is of more importance than the glorious work in which you  are now engaged, consequently, I feel some anxiety on your  account, that you may, by your virtue, faith, diligence, and charity,  commend yourselves to one another, <to the Church of Christ

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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> and <to> your Father which is in  heaven, by whose grace you have been called to so holy a calling, and  be enabled to perform the great and responsible duties which rest  upon you. And I can assure you, that from the information I have  received, I feel satisfied, that you have not been remiss, <in your duty> but  that your diligence and faithfulness have been such, as must  secure you the Smiles of that God, whose servants you are, and  the good will of the saints throughout the world.

The spread of truth throughout England is certainly  pleasing; the contemplation of which, cannot but afford feelings  of no ordinary kind in the bosoms of those who have had to bear  the heat and burthen of the day, and who were its firm supporters and  strenuous advocates in infancy, while surrounded with circumstan ces the most unpropitious, and its destruction threatened on  all hands. But like the gallant Bark, that has braved the  Storm unhurt, spread her canvas to the breese, and nobly  cuts her way through the yielding wave, more conscious than  ever of the strength of her timbers and the experience and ca pabilities of her captain, Pilate and crew.

It is likewise very satisfactory to <my> mind, that there  has been such a good understanding existing between you,  and that the saints have <so> cheerfully, hearkened to council  and vie’d with each other in their labors of love; and in the  promotion of truth and righteousness; this is as it should be  in the Church of Jesus Christ. Unity is strength. “How pleasant [p. [1]]