Visual history of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1832-2025
Source: YouTube
A photographic history of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Frist Presidency was organized in 1832, with Joseph Smith as president, followed by the Quorum of the Twelve in 1835. After Joseph Smith's death, the Church was led for three years by the Quorum of the Twelve, with Brigham Young as president, before the First Presidency was reorganized.
Commentary by Admin:
Jesus condemns the Pharisees as blind guides who lead the people into a pit of sin and destruction. Matthew 15:14
Interestingly the first 'Apostles' were chosen by Jesus Christ Himself, and not of a priestly hierachy of men. They were chosen NOT because they were old, theologians, or wise and learned men.
Instead Jesus chose men from a variety of diverse and unexpected professions;
The first group were fishermen. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked as fishermen. Matthew 4:18-22 relates that Andrew and Peter were fishing, plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets with their father. The Bible states that these two men weren’t just fishermen, but business owners, along with their father, for they employed others in the business. Thomas, Nathaniel and Philip may have also worked as fishermen, for they were all together and fishing when Jesus appeared to them in John 21:2-8, following his resurrection.
Matthew, called Levi in Luke, worked as a tax collector for the Roman government. He would have acquired some education and reputation to achieve this job. His job provided him with considerable wealth, because tax collectors earned a portion of what they collected, as noted in the story of Zacchaeus, another famous tax collector who followed Jesus. Matthew invited Jesus home and threw a party that included many of his sinful friends. Matthew’s wealth may have helped fund Jesus' ministry.
Simon was known as the Zealot, not strictly a profession, and as a Canaanite. Zealots engaged in politics and anarchy, attempting to overthrow the Roman government. He may have been a politician or a revolutionary. When he joined Jesus, he remained zealous, but with allegiance to Jesus rather than political revolution.
Others of the Apostles, the Bible provides no information on the professions of Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Thaddaeus or James, the son of Alphaeus.
Judas a thief, served as the treasurer in Jesus' band, and John 12:4-6 identifies him as a thief and an embezzler. The Bible doesn’t tell us what he did prior to becoming an apostle. Each of the Gospels identify him as the one who betrayed Jesus. Matthew’s; Gospel Matthew 27:3-10 notes that Judas suffered remorse over his betrayal and hung himself after he tried to give the money back to the high priests. They used the 30 pieces of silver to buy a burial site for the poor. (potters field)
It does provide information about Paul, who became an apostle after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He was a Pharisee and may have taught religion or worked in political office. During his missionary journeys, Paul supported himself as a tent maker according to Acts 18:1-3.
The Bible tells us how God repeatly chooses humble, simple men, (sheperds, and fishermen) as phophets and leaders. Only when Israel rebelled against God, demanding a King to rule over them did it go wrong. 1 Samuel 8-10 leading to God's warning and the implications of human leadership over divine guidance. One needs only read 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles to see how time and time again many wicked and evil leaders arose. We get the government we deserve, still true today. When we reject Gods' rule in our land we end up with wicked government.