Therefore, after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Twelve assumed by authority of their office, the duty to preside over the Church. Later, when through revelation the quorum of the First Presidency was reorganized with three presidents--Brigham Young and Counselors Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, they claimed, and rightfully, that since they were ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith and from him had received all the keys and powers of the Priesthood which the Prophet held, it would have been superfluous to have been ordained again. They were in this capacity, however, set apart and sustained by the unanimous vote of the Saints, which was essential to make such ordination of force in the Church. There is an abundance of testimony to prove that the Prophet did so ordain the Twelve, some of which can be found in the Times and Seasons, volume 5, pages 651, 664, and 698; also in the Millennial Star, volume 10, page 115. We repeat that Brigham Young received all the keys, powers, authority and Priesthood, that were held by Joseph Smith, that enabled him to preside over the High Priesthood, from the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo in the winter of 1843-4." This important question was settled long ago by the entire body of the Saints who accepted the leadership of the Twelve, after the departure of the Prophet and Patriarch, and sustained President Young in his office. It was settled by the approval of the Almighty of the marvelous work He accomplished, and which could not have been done without divine aid and guidance. To ascribe the mighty deeds Brigham Young performed through the power of the divine Spirit which rested upon him, to the spirit that is the originator of succession, rebellion, apostasy, and falsehood, is to come dangerously near blasphemy. What is it but a repetition of the sin of the adversaries of our Lord who, although they knew that "no man can do the miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2): yet proclaimed to the people: "He hath an unclean spirit," (Mark 3:30). What is it but to assail the disciple with a weapon that was in vain directed against the Master? There was some excuse for difference of opinion on the subject of succession, immediately after the martyrdom, because the people were not in possession of full information, but there is no excuse now. To use a familiar illustration: At the time of an election citizens are expected to have different opinions as to candidates for office; they are expected to work for those whose views and principles they support. But when the question is settled at the polls, loyalty demands that all accept the verdict and work together for the common interests of the community. The body of the Latter-day Saints having accepted, as guided by the Holy Spirit, the leadership of the Twelve, there was no longer any valid reason for seeking the leadership of other shepherds.