_I. The Traveling High Council_.--This Council consists of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. They are a traveling presiding high council; and, laboring under the first presidency of the church, they have the right to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all the world.[90] Whenever they sit as a high council, there is no appeal from their decisions--that is, they can only be called in question by the general authorities of the church in the event of transgression.[91] _II. The Standing High Councils at the Stakes of Zion_.--The church is divided into branches or wards with appropriate officers; and these branches, wards, and settlements of the Saints are grouped for convenience into stakes of Zion. In {336} each stake there is a standing high council, limited in its jurisdiction to the affairs of that particular stake where it is located. _III. Temporary High Councils_.--The high priests abroad, that is, outside of the organized stakes of Zion, whenever the parties to a difficulty, or either of them request it, and the high priests abroad deem the case of sufficient importance to justify such action, are authorized to organize a temporary high council to try the case, appointing one of their own number to preside over the council during its continuance. Otherwise the council is to be organized after the pattern and proceed in the same manner as those at the stakes of Zion. "It shall be the duty of said council to transmit immediately, a copy of its proceedings, with a full statement of the testimony accompanying their decision, to the high council of the seat of the first presidency of the church. Should the parties, or either of them, be dissatisfied with the decision of said council, they may appeal to the high council of the seat of the first presidency of the church, and have a re-hearing, which case shall then be conducted according to the former pattern written, as though no such decision had been made." [92] 14. Organization of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.--As early as June, 1829, the Lord revealed that there would be twelve especial witnesses or apostles called to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth. But it was not until several months after the prophet returned from the Zion's Camp expedition that such a quorum was organized. In the month of February, 1835, however, a general conference was called, and the three especial witnesses to the Book of Mormon selected the men--under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, for they were appointed to that mission by revelation--who were to {337} constitute the quorum of the twelve apostles[93] or especial witnesses.