When new church president Heber J. Grant was pondering whom to call as an apostle to replace the vacancy caused by the death of his predecessor, Joseph F. Smith, he decided to select his good friend Richard W. Young, as many suspected he would. As Grant met with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to announce his decision, he found himself saying that the Lord wanted Melvin J. Ballard to serve in the position. Grant used this experience to teach about revelation and to testify that the Lord gives inspiration to the President of the Church.