The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Brigham Young to William Smith—an apostle, patriarch, and younger brother to the Prophet Joseph Smith—in response to a previous letter. William had some significant disagreements over who was able to exercise the sealing authority in the Church, which allowed a husband and wife to be married and live as a family for time and all eternity. The following outlines Brigham Young’s understanding of the doctrine.[1]
You refer to “Joseph’s teachings upstairs in the brick store, that the Twelve have power to build up the kingdom of God, etc.” which the Twelve well recollect and they also recollect that Joseph said that the sealing power is always vested in one man, and that there never was nor never would be but one man on the earth at a time to hold the keys of the sealing power in the church, that all sealings must be performed by the man holding the keys or by his dictation, and that man is the president of the Church.
Hyrum held the patriarchal office legitimately. So do you. Hyrum was counselor. So are you. But the sealing was not in Hyrum legitimately neither did he act on the sealing principle only as he was dictated by Joseph. This was proven for Hyrum did undertake to seal without counsel and Joseph told him if he did not stop it he would go to hell and all those he sealed with him.
[1] Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877); General Correspondence, Outgoing, 1843-1876; 1845 June-August; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/a0a1a911-3045-4807-abfe-23d34f16ce3c/0/38 (accessed: September 12, 2021)
Prophets, Seers, and Revelators 