I met in Council with several of the
Twelve, many of the Seventies and High Priests. Dr. Richards read “The Word and
Will of the Lord” and all present voted unanimously to receive it.
I addressed the Assembly showing that
the church had been led by Revelation just as much since the death of Joseph
Smith as before, and that he was as great and good a man, and as great a
Prophet as ever lived upon the earth, Jesus excepted. (Brigham Young, January
17, 1847, in Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846-1847, comp. Elden
J. Watson [Salt Lake City: Elden J. Watson, 1971], 505)