Question

Dear Gramps,

According to the priesthood lineage, it states that Brigham Young was ordained an Apostle by the Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris). Is it known who the mouthpiece was? Or is this information incorrect?

Sue

Answer

Dear Sue,

Indeed, Brigham Young was ordained an apostle by the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, but I doubt that it has been recorded who was the mouthpiece. The following reference is typical of the citations of this ordination:

Brigham Young was ordained an Apostle 14 Feb. 1835 by the Three Witnesses, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, who were empowered to do so that same day by the laying on of hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood in June or July 1829 by Peter, James and John; and these were ordained Apostles by Jesus Christ (Archibald F. Bennett, Saviors on Mount Zion, p.59).

However, Brigham Young was baptized nearly three years earlier, by Eleazar Miller. He was undoubtedly ordained to the priesthood before he was called to be an apostle, but I can find no record of who ordained him to the priesthood, or when.

Gramps