President Wallace B. Smith submitted the following letter of instruction to the World Conference on Sunday, April 14, 1996, and to the quorums, councils, and orders of the church the following day. Conference delegates voted on April 15, 1996, to include this document in the Doctrine and Covenants. The pastoral letter referred to in the document is published in Rules and Resolutions—1996 supplement.
W. Grant McMurray was ordained April 15, 1996, as president of the high Priesthood and as prophet, seer, and revelator to the church. President McMurray presented a letter the following day to the World Conference reconstituting the Quorum of the First Presidency and making other changes in the Council of Twelve Apostles and Presiding Bishopric. He requested that instruction "not be included in the Doctrine and Covenants, leaving for the permanent canon of scripture words of counsel that may have a more enduring purpose in our sacred writings that the language by which we convey changes within the presiding quorum."
To the Councils, Quorums, and Orders, to the World Conference, and to the Church:
1 In confirmation of the instructions contained in the pastoral letter dated September 19, 1995, naming him as successor in the office of President, my servant W. Grant McMurray is called and should be ordained without delay as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and as President of the High Priesthood and the Church, to the end that prophetic guidance and vision may continue to be brought to the church through the ministry of the Spirit.
2 Upon the ordination of his successor, Wallace B. Smith shall lay down the responsibilities of President and be retired with the title of President Emeritus.
3 Thus it is established according to my will and thus the conditions are fulfilled whereby succession in Presidency in my church is effected. Let it be so. Amen.
Your servant,
Wallace B. Smith
President of the Church