Day 183

• Principle: Apostles are special witnesses of the Lord unto all nation and every creature.
• Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 26:23 - 26:37
  • How do the special witnesses of the Lord teach people?  If they are about the Lord’s work why do they say they ‘have suffered all manner of afflictions’?
• Read Luke 6:12-16 about the calling of the twelve apostles.  
  • Talmage taught the distinction between a disciple and an apostle:
    • “Discipleship is general; any follower of a man or devotee to a principle may be called a disciple. The Holy Apostleship is an office and calling belonging to the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, at once exalted and specific, comprising as a distinguishing function that of personal and special witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ as the one and only Redeemer and Savior of mankind. The apostleship is an individual bestowal, and as such is conferred only through ordination.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 227.)
  • Harold B. Lee taught about the unique calling of an apostle as a witness:
    • “May I impose to bear my own testimony. I was visiting with one of the missionaries some years ago when two missionaries came to me with what seemed to be a very difficult question, to them. A young Methodist minister had laughed at them when they had said that apostles were necessary today in order for the true church to be upon the earth. And they said the minister said: ‘Do you realize that when they met to choose one to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judas, that they said it had to be one who companied with them and had been a witness of all things pertaining to the mission and resurrection of the Lord? How can you say you have apostles, if that be the measure of an apostle?’ And so these young men said, ‘What shall we answer?’ I said to them: ‘Go back and ask your minister friend two questions. First, how did the Apostle Paul gain what was necessary to be called an apostle? He didn’t know the Lord; had no personal acquaintance. He hadn’t accompanied the apostles. He hadn’t been a witness of the ministry, nor the resurrection of the Lord. How did he gain his testimony sufficient to be an apostle? Now the second question you ask him: How does he know that all who are today apostles have not likewise received that witness?’ I bear witness to you that those who hold the apostolic calling may, and do know of the reality of the mission of the Lord.” (“Born of the Spirit,” Address to Seminary and Institute Faculty, 26 June 1962.)
• The following table (Below) provides additional information about the original twelve apostles
• Additional Study
  • Gordon B. Hinckley, “Special Witnesses for Christ”, April 1984
  • Book of Mormon Stories, Children’s Songbook No. 118
  • We Ever Pray for Thee, Hymns No. 23