FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1844 Succession to Joseph Smith
Succession in the Presidency of the Church
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death. Some claim that Joseph Smith designated his son Joseph III as his successor.
Jump to details:
- Question: Did Brigham promise that Joseph Smith III would eventually take over the Church?
- Question: What indications were there that Brigham Young would be Joseph Smith's successor?
- Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Succession in the Presidency of the Church
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death. Some claim that Joseph Smith designated his son Joseph III as his successor.
Jump to details:
- Question: Did Brigham promise that Joseph Smith III would eventually take over the Church?
- Question: What indications were there that Brigham Young would be Joseph Smith's successor?
- Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Succession in the Presidency of the Church
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death. Some claim that Joseph Smith designated his son Joseph III as his successor.
Jump to details:
- Question: Did Brigham promise that Joseph Smith III would eventually take over the Church?
- Question: What indications were there that Brigham Young would be Joseph Smith's successor?
- Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Introduction to Question
Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other interested parties have wondered what the standards for presidential succession are in the Church and how they were set up under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. These standards are important to document as the perceived legitimacy of the Church as God's "only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" (Doctrine & Covenants 1:30) can be threatened by offshoot sects of Mormonism or other Mormon Gnostics if the standards are misunderstood.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Notes