180 years ago today - Jan 16, 1839

Joseph Smith, in Liberty jail, writes a letter to "Brothers H. C. Kimball and B. Young," including the post-script: "Appoint the oldest of those of the twelve who were first appointed to be the President of your Quorum." Joseph (who may have thought the balding Kimball was older than Young) does not name the president of the Quorum. But because Brigham Young is thirteen days older than Heber, and because the senior Apostle Lyman E. Johnson had left the church, Young becomes the president of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Prophet's successor as president of the church.