Fulfillment of the Revelation regarding the Twelve Apostles' Departure from Far West

On April 26, 1839, despite threats from hostile mobs and the Saints’ expulsion from Missouri, a small company returned to the Temple lot at Far West to fulfill the revelation directing the Twelve to assemble there and depart on their mission. The records name Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, John E. Page, and Alpheus Cutler among those present. They held a conference, offered prayer, ordained members to the Quorum and Seventies, and took leave of the Saints; the account also describes laying the cornerstone and departing from the site in fulfillment of the revelation. Theodore Turley confirmed the fulfillment to Isaac Russell.

On April 26, 1839, before the Twelve Apostles arrived at the Temple lot, they held a council where they officially excommunicated 31 apostates, including Isaac Russell and his wife Mary, for their activities against the Church. After the ordinations of Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, the Twelve also ordained Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, who had recently been liberated from Richmond prison, to the office of the Seventies. During the proceedings, the group sang the hymns 'Mission of the Twelve' and 'Adam-ondi-Ahman' before offering vocal prayers in the order of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and George A. Smith. The departing group also took the parting hand with 17 specific Saints, including Elias Smith, Stephen Markham, and Theodore Turley, before riding 32 miles from the site that evening. Alpheus Cutler then placed the corner stone into its regular position and expressed his determination to proceed with building the house when the Lord should open the way.