Apostles

My reading from the N.T. and study guide this morning was mostly about Jesus calling and ordaining His twelve apostles and the calling and ordination of apostles today.

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle. Christ chose His apostles from among His disciples. A disciple is any follower of a man or devotee. "The Holy Apostleship is an office and calling belonging to the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, at once exalted and specific, comprizing 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.

Those Jesus called to the apostleship in His day had associated with Him, personally, for some time, and witnessed His miracles and were taught by Him, face to face. Afterward His death and resurrection, one of the greatest apostles, ever, was called from beyond the veil. Paul was not one of the original twelve and did not have any personal association with the mortal Jesus. So how did he gain understanding and testimony sufficient to become an apostle? It was through revelation and the witness of the Holy Ghost, and from Jesus, Himself. That is how today's apostles gain knowledge and a strong enough testimony of Christ to serve in that sacred calling.
They are selected through inspiration from the One whose church this is. When a vacancy occurs in the quorum, he First Presidency and remaining apostles go to the Lord in earnest prayer to learn who He wants in that position. They each seek for revelation, and when the Lord's will is made known, all participants will be of one accord.

I am grateful to belong to a church that is presided over by men who have come to know, personally, in marvelous and sacred ways, that Jesus is truly the Christ, the very Son of God. I am so thankful for their counsel, which is "one" with the First Presidency's, and if followed, I will not be led astray by the "doctrines of men and the world." I am grateful to know that they are acting under the divine authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that the promise was made that this chosen body of men will never be allowed to lead the Church astray. I am very thankful to know that when they teach the Gospel, they are speaking the truth as it comes from the Lord, not according to their own "wisdom." I am grateful that the Lord has restored His Church to the earth, delegating His authority to His chosen apostles and prophets to lead it.