This day a general council of twenty-four high priests assembled at the house of Joseph Smith, Jun., by revelation, and proceeded to organize the ^ahigh council of the church of Christ, which was to consist of twelve high priests, and one or three presidents as the case might require.

 2 The ^ahigh council was appointed by revelation for the purpose of ^bsettling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church or the ^cbishop's council to the satisfaction of the parties.

 3 Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams were acknowledged presidents by the voice of the council; and Joseph Smith, Sen., John Smith, Joseph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, Jared Carter, Oliver Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith, and Luke Johnson, high priests, were chosen to be a standing council for the church, by the unanimous voice of the council.

 4 The above-named councilors were then asked whether they accepted their appointments, and whether they would act in that office according to the ^alaw of heaven, to which they all answered that they accepted their appointments, and would fill their offices according to the grace of God bestowed upon them.

 5 The number composing the council, who voted in the name and for the church in appointing the above-named councilors were forty-three, as follows: nine high priests, seventeen elders, four priests, and thirteen members.

 6 Voted: that the high council cannot have power to act without seven of the above-named councilors, or their regularly appointed successors are present.

 7 These seven shall have power to appoint other high priests, whom they may consider worthy and capable to act in the place of absent councilors.

 8 Voted: that whenever any vacancy shall occur by the death, removal from office for transgression, or removal from the bounds of this church government, of any one of the above-named councilors, it shall be filled by the nomination of the ^apresident or presidents, and sanctioned by the voice of a general council of high priests, convened for that purpose, to act in the name of the church.

 9 The president of the church, who is also the president of the council, is appointed by ^arevelation, and ^backnowledged in his administration by the voice of the church.

 10 And it is according to the dignity of his office that he should preside over the council of the church; and it is his privilege to be assisted by two other presidents, appointed after the same manner that he himself was appointed.

 11 And in case of the absence of one or both of those who are appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the council without an assistant; and in case he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them.

 12 Whenever a high council of the church of Christ is regularly organized, according to the foregoing pattern, it shall be the duty of the twelve councilors to cast lots by numbers, and thereby ascertain who of the twelve shall speak first, commencing with number one and so in succession to number twelve.

 13 Whenever this council convenes to act upon any case, the twelve councilors shall consider whether it is a difficult one or not; if it is not, two only of the councilors shall speak upon it, according to the form above written.

 14 But if it is thought to be difficult, four shall be appointed; and if more difficult, six; but in no case shall more than six be appointed to speak.

 15 The accused, in all cases, has a right to one-half of the council, to prevent insult or ^ainjustice.