A charge was given to these brethren by President Oliver Cowdery, and items of valuable instruction were imparted by President Joseph Smith. In this way another important step in the development of the Priesthood and the organization of the Church was accomplished.
On the 28th of February, 1835, another meeting was called and selection was made from those who went to Missouri in Zion's Camp to create the first quorum of seventy. Hazen Aldrich, Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sherman and Sylvester Smith were called to the office of presidents of this quorum of seventy. These brethren and those appointed to form the quorum[3] were ordained under the hands of the First Presidency. This was another step toward the completion of the ministry and perfect development of the latter day work. Each step came in its turn, and in like manner the doctrines of the kingdom were unfolded, here a little and there a little, until the perfect organization was established on the earth.
Another conference was called March 7, for the purpose of blessing those who had assisted, by labor or other means, in the building of the Kirtland Temple, which was nearing completion. This conference continued during the 8th, and all those who were available were blessed with special blessings who had assisted in this necessary work preparatory to the receiving of the promised endowment.
The Twelve Apostles met in council, March 12, 1835, and were appointed by the presidency to a mission through the Eastern States, visiting the branches and regulating the affairs of the Church therein. March 28, as they were about ready to depart, they sought the Prophet for a blessing by revelation from the Lord. "We have unitedly asked God our heavenly Father to grant unto us," they said, "through his seer a revelation of his mind and will concerning our duty the coming season, even a great revelation, that will enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity, and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of darkness." They were not disappointed, for the Lord gave unto them a great revelation on Priesthood (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 107) in which the various offices, and the powers pertaining thereto, were fully defined. It was explained that there are two Priesthoods in the Church, "namely, the Melchizedek and the Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood, is because Melchizedek was such a great High Priest. Before his day it was called _The Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God;_ but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the Church in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood. All other authorities or offices in the Church are appendages to this Priesthood."[4] Immediately following the giving of this revelation which sets forth the duties of the twelve, the apostles started on their first missionary journey as they had been appointed.