Elder Heber J. Grant Dear Brother: You asked me a question the last time we met ehich I was not prepared to answer at the time it was given. I have gibven the subject some thought and reflection and I now feel prepared to answer the question according to my views. You asked me if I knew any reason in case of the death of the President of the Church why the Twelve Apostles should not choose some other person to be the President of the Church instead of the Twelve President of the Twelve Apostles. I think I do know of several good sound reasons which I will now give you. In the first place there are two or three plain truths which are eternal, everlasting, un- changeable, and immovable as the pillars of heaven (as far as this dispensation is concerned) which have been established by the revelation of God through the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. These truths stare us in the face. First, when the President of the Church dies, who then is the presiding authority of the Church? It is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (ordained and organized by the revelations of God and none else). Then while these Twelve Apostles preside over the Church, who is the President of the Church[?] It is the President of the Twelve Apostles. And he is virtually as much the President of the Church while presiding over Twelve men as he is when organized into the Presidency of the Church and presid- ing over two men. And this principle has been carried out now for 57 years, ever since the organization of the Church. When Joseph Smith the Prophet was martyred, the Twelve Apostles stepped forth as the presiding authority of the Church, as ordained of God, with Brigham Young at their head to preside over the Church and direct its affairs. And when the Twelve Apostles came to organize the First Presidency, which of the Twelve stepped forth to claim the right to preside over Brigham Young? Not one, nor any other man except Sidney Rigdon, an apostate. Why did Brigham Young claim the right of the Presidency? Because he was the President of the Church while presiding over Twelve men as two men. When President Young died who was the presiding authority of the Church? The Twelve Apostles and none else. And who was the President of the Church? John Taylor. Why? Because he was the President of the Twelve Apostles. And when the Twelve Apostles came to organize the First Presidency again, which of the Twelve Apostles was moved upon to claim the right to preside over the Church above John Taylor? Such a thing did enter into the heart of one of the Twelve Apostles, nor any other man, except Daniel H. Wlells, and he said he had a revelation that Joseph F. Smith was the man to preside over the Church. There was not one of the Twelve Apostles believed a word of it, and Brother George Q. Cannon was the most opposed to it of any man in the Quorum of the Twelve. Because President John Taylor was the President of the Twelve Apostles, and he had been virtually the President of the Church since the death of Brigham Young. (Now if Brother Cannon has become converted from this theory, or any of the Twelve, they certainly must have some very strong reasons for it. () Now, Brother Grant, I have given you one of the reasons why I consider the President of the Twelve should be the President of the church in case of the death of the Presi-