When Jesus was upon the earth, He entered into His ministry and organized His church, thereby establishing its proper order.

"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13.)

All of the twelve apostles received the keys of the kingdom: "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 18:18.)

At the April 1974 general conference, President N. Eldon Tanner, then first counselor in the First Presidency, said that these scriptures provide evidence "that Jesus conferred upon each the fullness of the apostleship with its keys and authorities so that, should the time come, each could serve as senior apostle or the president of the Church in his turn. Peter, James, and John were set apart as the head of the Church to act as the First Presidency after Christ's departure.

"The Church in these latter days is based on that same principle. After Joseph Smith was chosen by the Lord, Peter, James, and John appeared and conferred upon him and Oliver Cowdery the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained them apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"In the Doctrine and Covenants we read that Joseph Smith, Jr., was called to be the first elder of the Church. The Lord said, ' . . . Thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ,

" 'Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith.' (D&C 21:1-2.)

"Though it was made known to the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in June of 1829, before the Church was organized, that there would be twelve apostles and how they were to be chosen, it was not until 1835 that the first Council of the Twelve was appointed. Then under the direction of the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon were directed to select the twelve who were to be ordained apostles. (Documentary History of the Church 2:186-87, D&C 18.)

"These men were chosen and ordained as apostles under the direction of Joseph the Prophet and were given the same authority as was given to Paul and other apostles during the time of Jesus Christ. It is recorded, 'And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned' (D&C 107:24), meaning the Presidency of the Church.

"Also we read in the Documentary History of the Church: 'President Smith next proceeded to explain the duty of the Twelve, and their authority, which is next to the present Presidency, . . . also the Twelve are not subject to any other than the First Presidency, viz., myself, . . . Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, who are now my Counselors; and where I am not [meaning when he dies] there is no First Presidency over the Twelve.' (DHC 2:373-74.)

"President Wilford Woodruff said: 'I say to the Latter-day Saints, the keys of the kingdom of God are here, and they are going to stay here, too, until the coming of the Son of Man. Let all Israel understand that. . . . No man who has ever breathed the breath of life can hold these keys of the kingdom of God and lead the people astray.' " (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff pp. 73-74.)