12. In the absence of his counselors the president of the stake has power to preside over the council without an assistant; and in case that he himself is absent, his counselors have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them. In the absence of all the presidency then the senior member of the council may preside. 13. Doc. & Cov., Sec. cvii: 76, 82-84. 14. This special court was once organized; before it Sidney Rigdon, one of the Presidency of the Church, was tried and condemned in 1844. 15. Bishops, when acting as judges, high councilors, presidents and all witnesses before these church tribunals act without compensation, hence these courts are without expense to the litigants. 16. Matt. xx: 20-28. 17. I Peter v: 2-5. 18. _Mill. Star,_ Vol. xiv. (Supplement), pp. 20, 26. 19. Doc. and Cov. Sec. xx: 65. 20. Doc. and Cov. Sec. xxvi. 21. Doc. and Cov., Sec. cvii. 22. Doc. and Cov., Sec. cxxi. 23. Doc. and Cov., Sec. cxxi and cxxii. CHAPTER XXV. TESTIMONY TO THE INSPIRATION AND DIVINE CALLING OF JOSEPH SMITH DERIVED FROM THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THE WORK HE INTRODUCED. Next to the evidence of divine inspiration to be seen in the organization of the church and the spirit of its government, are those which may be seen in what I shall call the comprehensiveness of the great work founded by Joseph Smith. I mean by this that the New Dispensation contemplates the fulfillment of all things predicted by the prophets; the gathering of Israel, the redemption of Jerusalem, the founding of a city called Zion or New Jerusalem, the ushering in of a reign of peace and righteousness on earth, with Christ as king; the completion of the work of God relative to the salvation of the human race and such a final redemption of the earth as shall convert it into a celestial sphere, the happy abode of such of its inhabitants as have obeyed and are sanctified by celestial laws. These items have already been alluded to in a former chapter; [1] but it is now my purpose to consider some of them more in detail, and to that consideration this chapter and the one following are devoted. That Israel--by which I mean all the twelve tribes which sprang from the twelve sons of Jacob, together with their descendants scattered among all the nations of the Gentiles--that Israel will be gathered together and re-established upon the lands covenanted by the Lord to their forefathers is abundantly evident from the prophecies of the scripture.