The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had not had twelve members since September 3, 1837, when لوك جونسون [لغات أخرى], John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson were disfellowshipped and removed from the Quorum. Since that time, William E. McLellin had been excommunicated and removed from the Quorum and David W. Patten had been killed. The ordinations of Taylor and John E. Page brought membership in the Quorum of the Twelve to nine members.
Merrill, Lund, and Cannon were ordained at the same time to fill three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that had been created by the excommunication of ألبرت كارينغتون؛ the death of Taylor and the reorganization of the First Presidency[لغات أخرى]; and the death of إراستوس سنو.
