Commenting on how and when the Quorum of
the Twelve are equal to the First Presidency (cf. D&C 107:23-24, 33-35,
38-39, 58), Joseph F. Smith noted the following:
. . . I want here to
correct an impression that has grown up to some extent among the people, and
that is, that the Twelve Apostles possess equal authority with the First
Presidency in the Church. This is correct when there is no other Presidency but
the Twelve Apostles; but so long as there are three presiding elders who
possess the presiding authority in the Church, the authority of the Twelve
Apostles is not equal to theirs. If it were so, there would be two equal
authorities and two equal quorums in the Priesthood, running parallel, and that
could not be, because there must be a head. Therefore, so long as there is a
First Presidency in the church they hold supreme authority in the church, and
the Twelve Apostles are subject unto them and do not possess the same authority
as they do as a presiding quorum. When the Presidency are not here, or when the
Lord takes away the man who is called to be the President of the Church, and
the quorum of the three Presidents is thereby dissolved, then the authority of
the Twelve rises to the dignity of Presidents of the Church and not till then.
Some people have thought also that the quorum of Seventies possess equal
authority with the First Presidency and with the Twelve. So they would if there
was no Presidency and no Twelve, and only seventy Elders called Seventies in
the Church, but their Authority is not equal to that of the First Presidency
while the First Presidency lives, nor to that of the Twelve Apostles. (Elders
Journal IV, No. 3, Nov. 1, 1906, p. 43)