David Whitmer

“ Therefore, we see from the written word that there is only one twelve who are called apostles, and that they are placed first.
When it is God's own due time to gather up the scattered fragments of his kingdom which has been laid waste by men, then we suppose that God will place at the head of his church twelve disciples; but we of the Church of Christ will not place them there, unless God so commands us. This is God's work and not man's work. We do not believe in twelve man-made disciples.
I consider the Book of Doctrine and Covenants a creed of religious faith. ”

“ As I have stated, I am called to bear testimony that the Bible, as well as the Book of Mormon, is true: and no one should place the one book ahead of the other; they are one! The Book of Mormon tells us that many plain things have been taken from the Bible, so that the Gentiles stumble and contend about the true points of Christ's doctrine. It says that the Book of Mormon has been kept pure, and come forth pure so as to make plain the doctrine of Christ ”

“ He did so, placing the twelve apostles first, which he chose at Jerusalem: they are to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, and they are to judge the twelve disciples whom Christ chose on this land among the Nephites. ”