On the 14th. Day of February AD 1835, a or general meeting was called in Ohio by the of the in order to consult measures relative to the welfare thereof. The Three special witnesses of the Book of Mormon being present, that part of the revelation given in N.Y. June 1829 relative to the chooseing of , was taken into consideration, and it was ascertained that the time had come when they should be chosen: consequently They proceeded by the spirit of prophecy and revelation to choose and set apart from among all the of the church the following persons to fill that high and responsible station: (Viz)
1
7
2
8
3
9
4
10
5
11
Lyman
6
12
.
These were under the hands of the Three Witnesses and great blessings were pronounced upon the head of each one by the spirit of prophecy and to be obtained through faithfulness. [p. 1]
At least nine of these twelve held the office of high priest. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and John F. Boynton were apparently the only three holding the office of elder. However, it appears the term elder was at times used to refer to anyone holding an office in the greater priesthood. (See, for example, “Kirtland, Ohio, June 3, 1836,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:335.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.