{"id":114059,"date":"2025-12-15T12:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T19:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=114059"},"modified":"2025-12-15T12:37:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T19:37:56","slug":"thoughts-on-the-twelve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2025\/12\/thoughts-on-the-twelve.html","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts on the Twelve"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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\"A<\/a>
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 5 December 2025. Front row, left to right: President Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Neil L. Andersen. Back row, left to right: Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Elder Ulisses Soares, Elder Patrick Kearon, and Elder G\u00e9rald Causs\u00e9.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new official portrait of the current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was recently released, and I\u2019ve shared it above. \u00a0Which makes this a good occasion, I think, to say a bit more about the Twelve, both now and historically.<\/p>\n

For one thing, I\u2019m very happy with the Quorum\u2019s growing internationalization. \u00a0Among its members are a German, a Brazilian, a Briton, and a Frenchman \u2014 at least two speakers of German (one native), two speakers of French (one native), two speakers of Portuguese (one native), and one speaker each of Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and Swedish.<\/p>\n

The role of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles\u00a0changed dramatically between its initial organization in 1835 and the assassination of Joseph Smith on 27 June 1844. \u00a0And then, through the events that followed the martyrdom in the summer of 1844, the Quorum assumed leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just last evening, I saw a fierce denunciation of the Twelve as usurpers and frauds. \u00a0It came from a man whom I take to be a former member of the Church, and he can cite scripture for his purpose. (Please compare Antonio\u2019s comment at William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice<\/em>, Act 1, Scene 3.) \u00a0Sadly, a number of others \u2014 most likely also alienated members and former members of the Church \u2014 chimed in to endorse his position. \u00a0But he\u2019s wrong, grievously wrong, and he\u2019s historically misinformed.<\/p>\n

In my judgment, by far the best historical treatment of the rise of the Twelve to the leadership of the Church in 1844 is Ronald K. Esplin\u2019s \u201cAll the Measures of Joseph\u201d: The Succession of 1844,\u201d<\/em> which was published in Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, ed., Joseph Smith: A Life Lived in Crescendo<\/em> (Orem: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2024). \u00a0And, in this context, I also recommend the article by Jeff Bradshaw that immediately follows Ron Esplin\u2019s magisterial discussion: \u00a0\u201cDennison Lott Harris\u2019 firsthand accounts of the conspiracy of Nauvoo and the transmission of apostolic keys.\u201d \u00a0(You can learn more about Joseph Smith: A Life Lived in Crescendo\u00a0<\/em>on the website of the Interpreter Foundation<\/a>. \u00a0And, by the way, it would make an excellent Christmas gift. \u00a0Spread the truth<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\"Jordan,<\/a>
The core of our Interpreter Foundation film crew is (from left to right) James Jordan, Mark Goodman, and Russell Richins. We\u2019ll \u00a0be filming further interviews at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City later this week. They are very, very good to work with.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Interpreter Foundation told the story of the 1844 succession crisis in its 2024 dramatic film Six Days in August<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0And we\u2019ll shortly launch a series of short online video features, entitled Becoming Brigham<\/em>, that will expand and comment upon that story and upon the leadership of Brigham Young and the Twelve. \u00a0Here is the one-pager that we developed some time ago to explain Becoming Brigham<\/em> to potential supporters:<\/p>\n

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\u201cI<\/em>\u2019<\/em>ll just reiterate here that we<\/em>\u2019<\/em>re grateful for your work on this series and excited to contribute where we can.<\/em>\u201d \u00a0Matt Grow<\/strong>, <\/strong>Managing Director of the Church History Department (Email April 23, 2025)<\/p>\n

Most people are aware of Brigham Young as a pivotal figure in American religious and frontier history. But Brigham is also often misunderstood, seen as a larger-than-life caricature rather than as a man.<\/p>\n

Who actually was Brigham? As a man, as a father, as a husband\u2014as a prophet?<\/p>\n

B<\/strong>ECOMING BRIGHAM<\/strong>, a video web series, debunks fictions as well as providing sometimes surprising new insights into the real Brigham Young.\u00a0 In producing this series, we are working closely with Brent Rogers, Managing Historian of the Church History Department, and have thus far completed interviews with the following historians: Thomas G. Alexander, James B. Allen, Susan Easton Black, LaJean Carruth, Gerrit Dirkmaat, Brett Dowdle, Ron Esplin, Matt Godfrey, Casey Griffiths, Brittany Chapman Nash, Reid Neilson, John Peterson, Paul Reeve, and Lisa Olsen Tait.<\/p>\n

Their insights into Brigham give a much fuller, richer picture of who he really was:<\/p>\n