of seventies.^^ According to Elder John Jaques, to whose Uttle book on the priesthood I am indebted for this information, there were in 1882 seventy-six coun- cils of seventies, with seventy members in each council when complete. Elders are organized in councils of ninety-six, each council having a president and two councillors. Priests are organized in councils of forty-eight, each with a president — who must be a bishop — and two councillors. Teachers are organized in councils of twenty-four, and deacons in councils of twelve, each with a president and two councillors.^^
In the society of saints, there are territorial divi- sions into what are called Stakes of Zion. In Utah, these divisions correspond usually, but not necessa- rily, with the counties, each county being a stake.
^'^In February 1835, Joseph Smith, with the aid of the recently appointed apostles, proceeded to organize two quorums of the seventies, whose duties were to assist in the missionary work of the church. Each quorum had seven pi'esidents, and these constituted the councils of the two organizations. Jo- seph Youngsen, who gives an account of the seventies, gives the names of the presidents of the first quorum only, as follows: Hazen Aldrich, Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Leonai'd Kich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lymau Sherman, and Sylvester Smith. After noting the changes in the interval, he states that in 1878 the presidents were Young, sen., Hancock, Henry Hcrriman, Albert P. Rockwood, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates, and John Van Cott. Hist, of Organ, of Seventies, 1-8. In an account of the dedication of their hall at Nauvoo, in 1844, it is stated there were fifteen quorums — one thousand and fifty in all, if each quorum was full. Times and Seasons, vi. 794.
^^ For act of incorporation of Mormon church, 1851, see Utah, Acts Legist. (ed. 18G6), 108; <S'. L. C. Contributor, ii. 270; number and wealth of churches, Seventh Census Rept, 1851-2, 45; prayer in the family, Itohinsoii's Sinners and Saints, 243-4; church property, and law regulating it, Richards' Narr., MS., 83; church government. Ward's Husband in Utah, 10-17; Mil. Star, iii. 67; po- sitions of church ofiicials, /(/., xv. 709. As showing the relative standing of the church dignitaries, the order of voting, as presci'ibed at the conference which elected Taylor to the presidency in 1880, is given. The twelve apos- tles and their councillors; the patriarchs; presidents of stakes and their councillors, and the high-councils; the high-priests; the seventies; the elders; the bishops and their councillors; the lesser priesthood — priests, teachers, and deacons. The members of eacli order voted standmg and with the right hand uplifted, and finally the congregation voted in the same manner. ^S". L. City Tribune, Oct. 11, 1880. On faith and doctrine, see Jaciufs' Church of Jesus Christ, passim; Hand-book of Reference, passim; Jaques' Catechism, passim; Book of Doctrine and Covenants, passiui; Richards' and Little's Com- pendium, passim; Articles of Our Faith, passim; Pearl of Great Price, passim; 7'imes and Seasons, passim; Millennial Star, passim; Deserct Xeiv^, passim; Moffat's Catechism, passim; Pratt's Persecutions, passim; Pratt's Voice of Warning, passim; Reynolds' Bonk of Abraham, passim; and mauy other books, pamphlets, and periodicals by various members and dignitaries of the
