Look at explanatory section of the D&C to the section of the 12’s testimony of the D&C. By the time D&C 118 was given in 1838, not long after Joseph arrived in Far West, four of the 12 had left the church and been excommunicated.

William E. McLellin – publicly opposed church leaders on 11 May 1838 and was excommunicated that year. He was never rebaptized.

Luke S. Johnson – lost money in the Kirtland Safety Society and became bitter and withdrew from the church toward the end of 1837. He was rebaptized on 6 March 1846 and died in Salt Lake City in 1861.

Lyman E. Johnson – He also lost money and became bitter and was excommunicated on 13 April 1838. He never returned to the church.

John F. Boynton - He withdrew from the church with Luke S. Johnson and was excommunicated in 1837. He never returned to the church.
v. 1 – What did the Lord tell the prophet to do about the vacancies?
v. 3 – instructions to the 12 apostles. (Continue to preach.) What was the Lord’s promise? (families would be taken care of.)
v. 6 – New apostles called

John Taylor – He was not in Missouri when this call was made. He was from Canada. He was ordained 19 December 1838 by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. He later became President of the Church.

John E. Page – He was with John Taylor, en route from Canada where he had been on a mission and had baptized over 600 converts. They were traveling with Canadian Saints to Missouri to settle. He was ordained 19 December 1838. Although he was called, he did not got to England nor with Orson Hyde to his mission to Palestine. He was excommunicated and never returned to the church.

Wilford Woodruff – He was on a mission to Maine when he received his call. He led a group of New England converts to Missouri but the Saints were driven out before they arrived. He was ordained 26 April 1839 by Brigham Young when the apostles gathered at Far West to go to England. He later became President of the Church.

George A. Smith – He was ordained the same day as Wilford Woodruff at Far West when they left to go to England. He was a cousin to the prophet and was 22 when he was ordained an apostle. He was a participant in Zion’s camp, a counselor in the first Presidency to Brigham Young and a Church Historian.

Willard Richards – Where was he? He on a mission at England at this time. Remember that Heber Kimball left him in charge? He was ordained 14 April 1840, the only apostle to be ordained in England where he was ordained when the other apostles arrived. He later became second counselor to President Brigham Young.

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