Editing James the Great (section)

==Latter-day Saints==
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] teaches that in 1829 the Apostles James, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[John the Apostle|John]] appeared as heavenly messengers to [[Joseph Smith]] and [[Oliver Cowdery]] and conferred upon them the [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek priesthood]] authority of [[apostolic succession]], and thus exclusively on earth to their organization.<ref>[[Doctrine and Covenants]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/27?lang=eng&id=p12#12].</ref>

According to the teaching, this occurred sometime after May 15, 1829, when [[John the Baptist]] similarly appeared to Smith and Cowdery and conferred upon them the [[Aaronic priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Aaronic]], or lesser, priesthood, stating that he was doing so under the direction of James, Peter and John.<ref>[[Doctrine and Covenants]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/13?lang=eng&id=p1#p1].</ref>