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1844 Succession to Joseph Smith
1844 Succession to Joseph Smith
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death.
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?
In the early 1800s, God called Joseph Smith to restore the true Church of Christ and to serve as its first leader (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:2). God also provided a plan of succession: that the next Church leader would be appointed by Joseph Smith and would not serve until after Joseph was gone (see Doctrine and Covenants 43:3–4). Before he died, Joseph Smith appointed his successor, but "he had not announced a clear plan for succession [to Church members]. . . . One Church member living near Nauvoo said he heard people advocating for several potential leaders."[1]
Possible Successors
Some individuals who were put forth as possible successors included:
- Brigham Young
- Sidney Rigdon
- James Strang
- William Marks
August 8, 1844
On August 8, Church members met to decide who should lead the Church. When Brigham Young (who was then serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) addressed the members, many reported that "Brigham sounded and appeared remarkably like Joseph Smith; others simply say that the 'mantle of Joseph' or the 'mantle of the prophets' rested on Brigham Young; and others state that they were given a witness 'by the spirit' that Brigham was to lead the Church."[2]
Quorum of the Twelve as Successors
These divine witnesses helped Church members to know that Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles had been given the authority to lead the Church after Joseph died. Orson Hyde wrote that Joseph, shortly before his death, met with the Twelve to confer upon them authority and declared, "Upon the shoulders of the Twelve must the responsibility of leading this church hence forth rest until you shall appoint others to succeed you."[3] Other Apostles shared similar testimonies of Joseph conferring upon them the authority to lead the Church:
- Parley P. Pratt: Said [Joseph], ‘I know not why; but for some reason I am constrained to hasten my preparations, and to confer upon the Twelve all the ordinances, keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood, and so set before them a pattern in all things pertaining to the sanctuary [the temple] and the endowment therein.’ Having done this, he rejoiced exceedingly; for, said he, the Lord is about to lay the burden on your shoulders and let me rest awhile."[4]
1844 Succession to Joseph Smith
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death.
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?
By studying these testimonies and experiences, and then seeking our own testimony, we can also know that Brigham Young was the divinely authorized successor to Joseph Smith.
1844 Succession to Joseph Smith
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death.
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?
- ↑ "Succession of Church Leadership," Church History Topics in Gospel Library.
- ↑ Lynn W. Jorgensen, "The Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Passes to Brother Brigham: One Hundred Twenty-nine Testimonies of a Collective Spiritual Witness," in John W. Welch, ed., Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations, 1820–1844 (Second Edition) (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press).
- ↑ "Appendix 3: Orson Hyde, Statement about Quorum of the Twelve, circa Late March 1845," josephsmithpapers.org.
- ↑ In the section "Before his death, Joseph Smith conferred upon the Twelve Apostles every priesthood key and power that the Lord had sealed upon him", in "Chapter 46: The Martyrdom: The Prophet Seals His Testimony with His Blood," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith.