Members of The Original Quorum, Prior To 1844
In 1835, the Three Witnesses were asked by Joseph Smith, Jr. to select the original twelve members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve. They announced their choices at a meeting on February 14, 1835. The Three Witnesses also ordained the twelve chosen men to the priesthood office of apostle by the laying on of hands.
Below is a list of members of the quorum prior to the succession crisis of 1844. Ten of the eighteen followed Brigham Young to Utah Territory and remained part of the Quorum in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Two would rejoined with Brigham Young and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), but they would never resume their former places in the Quorum. Five members would go on to join with or create different sects, including the Rigdonite, Strangite, Whitmerite and Hedrickite, with varying degrees of recognition to there apostleship claims.
| Name | Dates Ordained | Post-succession crisis affiliations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas B. Marsh | April 26, 1835 | Excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1838. Later rejoined with Brigham Young and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1857, but did not resume his former places in the Quorum. | |
| David W. Patten | February 15, 1835 | Remained an Apostle under Joseph Smith until he was killed in 1838. | |
| Brigham Young | February 14, 1835 | Young became the 2nd President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1847. | |
| Heber C. Kimball | February 14, 1835 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1847, Kimball became First Counselor to Brigham Young. | |
| Orson Hyde | February 15, 1835 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1847, Hyde became President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. | |
| William E. McLellin | February 15, 1835 | Excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint in 1838. After 1844, McLellin joined for a short time multiple sects, including the Rigdonite, Strangite, Whitmerite and Hedrickite sects, each of which recognized his apostleship. | |
| Parley P. Pratt | February 21, 1835 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844 and continued within the Quorum until he was killed in 1857. | |
| Luke S. Johnson | February 15, 1835 | Excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint in 1838. Later rejoined with Brigham Young and the LDS Church in 1846, but did not resume his former places in the Quorum. | |
| William Smith | February 15, 1835 | On May 24, 1845, Smith succeeded his late brother Hyrum Smith as the Presiding Patriarch of the church, but was disfellowshipped from the church and removed as both apostle and patriarch in 1845. Following 1845, Smith broke with the LDS Church and Brigham Young and held various positions in the Strangite sect and his own Williamite sect. Ultimately Smith joined with the RLDS Church (Community of Christ). While Smith believed that he was entitled to become the presiding patriarch or a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the RLDS Church, he did not resume his place in the quorum and remained a high priest for the remainder of his life. | |
| Orson Pratt | April 26, 1835 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844 and continued within the Quorum until his death in 1881. | |
| John F. Boynton | February 15, 1835 | Excommunicated 1838, joined with the short-lived Parrishites. After 1844 Boynton left Mormonism and never rejoining any Latter Day Saint sects. | |
| Lyman E. Johnson | February 14, 1835 | Withdrew from the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) in 1837 and was excommunicated in 1838. Johnson died in 1859, never rejoining any Latter Day Saint sect. | |
| John E. Page | December 19, 1838 | After 1844, Page joined with the Strangite and Brewsterite for a time. Page went on to be an apostle in the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) or "Hedrickite" church. | |
| John Taylor | December 19, 1838 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1880, Taylor became 3rd President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | |
| Wilford Woodruff | April 26, 1839 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1880, Woodruff became 4th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | |
| George A. Smith | April 26, 1839 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1868, Smith became First Counselor to Brigham Young. | |
| Willard Richards | April 14, 1840 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young after 1844. In 1847, Richards became Second Counselor to Brigham Young. | |
| Lyman Wight | April 8, 1841 | Wight broke with all sects in 1844. Wight was ordained president of his own church, known as the Wightites. However, he later sided with the claims of William Smith and eventually of Joseph Smith III and the RLDS Church. | |
| Amasa M. Lyman | August 1842 | Remained with the LDS Church and Brigham Young from 1844 to 1870. Was a LDS Apostle until 1867 and was excommunicated in 1870. Lyman joined with the Godbeite after 1870. |
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