Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

the Church after them, let them do it if

ham Young's speech, at

44, the conference bei

igdon to be the Guardi

l. XXV,

dispensation, and one that the church had not anticipated, the question very naturally arose: Upon what person or quorum devolved the responsibility of leadership-of Presidency? It is a matter of astonishment that so many arose as claim

ly suffered martyrdom with him at Carthage. At the time of the martyrdom of Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon was living at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, presiding over the branch of the church and preaching the gospel

ation was given 19th J

c. cxxiv

of God, but he also complained much; especially was this the case in respect to the hardships he endured in Missouri; and subsequently of his poverty and illness at Nauvoo. This habit of complaining doubtless did much to deprive him of the spirit of the Lord; for at times it bordered upon blasphemy. More than once he was heard to say that Jesus Christ was a fool in suffering as compared with himself! Having lost, in part at least, the spirit of the Lord, his interest in the church a

aints voted in his favor. "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again put him on me," said Joseph. "You may carry him, but I will not." And so confident was he that Sidney Rigdon would continue to fail in the performance of his duty, that he ordained Elder Amasa Lyman to succeed him, both as counselor and spokesman. "Some of the Elders did not understand how Elder Lyman could b

idney Rigdon, by Jededi

as as the flickering flame of a tallow dip, only-not the steady rays of the ever-shining sun. He longed to return to the east; and notwithstanding the word of the Lord commanding him to make his home at Nauvoo, h

e afternoon meeting urged William Marks to make a special appointment for the saints to assemble on the following Tuesday for that purpose. Elder Marks was in sympathy with Sidney Rigdon, but for some reason he refused to make the appointment for Tuesday, but made it for Thursday, the 8th of August. This was a most fortunate circumstance, since a sufficient number of the Twelve to make a majority of that quorum arrived on the evening of the 6th, and, of course, they were in time to be present at the meeting to be held on the 8th. The day previous to that meeting, however, the Twelve called a meeting of the high council and high priests, before which they called on Sidney Rigdon to mak

oseph Smith, Mill. S

r Brigham Yo

subject. . . . Joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and powers belonging to the apostleship which he himself held before he was taken away, and no man nor set of men can get between Josep

f Joseph Smith, Mill.

d upon the subject to be considered. Sidney Rigdon addressed the assembly, setting forth his claim to the "Guardianship" of the church. He had full opportunity to pre

that occasion that he was transfigured before the people, so that through him the saints heard the voice

it was the voice of Joseph himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard, but it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very pers

of in the Scriptures as happening to the Prophet Elisha, when Elijah was translated in his presence, seemed to have taken place with him. The mantle of the Prophet Joseph had been left for Brigham Young. . . . . The people said one to another: 'The Spirit of Joseph rests on Brigham;' they knew that he was the man chosen to lead them, and they honored him accordingly. . . . . As far as our observation went (we were only a boy at the time), the people were divided into three classes from the time of the death of Joseph up to this meeting of which we speak. One class felt clearly and understandingly that President Brigham Young was the man whose right it was to preside, he being the President of the Twelve Apostles, and that body bein

Staines, of that date, the fo

ce like the voice of the prophet Joseph. I thought it was he, and so did thousands who heard it. This was very satisfactory

Woodruff, describi

een him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have convinced me that it was n

is following a discourse on the subject of Priesthood and the Right of Succession, d

led and Elder Young addressed them at some length on the subject of appointing a leader for the church, representing the claims of the Twelve as the quoru

at our head, do I step forth to act in my calling in connection with the quorum of the Twelve, as Apostles of Jesus Christ unto this generation-Apostles

try it, and he will find out that there is power with the Apostles, which will carry them

are appointed by the finger of God. Here is Brigham, have his knees ever faltered? have his lips ever quivered? Here is Heber,[A] and the rest of the Twelve, an independent body, who have t

A: Heber C

n him. You cannot appoint a man at our head; but if you do want any other man or men t

have never seen the quorums built one upon another. There is an almighty foundation laid, and we can build a k

e Lord, that no man can put another between the Twelve and the prophet Joseph. Why? Because Joseph was their file leader, and he has committe

ut was found in transgression and apostasy, had been excommunicate

Star, Vol. XXV.,

called on Elder W. W. Phelps to speak in his behalf. Elder Phelps while evidently sympathizing with Elder Rigdon, supported the claims of th

ollow him and support him as you did Joseph. . . . . And I would say the same for the Twelve, don't make a covenant to support them unless you intend to abide by their counsel. . . . . . I want ev

ill. Star, Vol

wanted Elder Rigdon for a leader, when, at the request of the latter, the question on suppo

to Joseph, walk up into their calling, and hold the keys of this kingdom-every man, every woman, every quorum is now put in order, and you are now the sole controllers of it-all that are in favor of this in all the congregation of the Saints, manifest it by holding up

e church wanted to have Sidney R

e question was put to all the quorums and the whole congregation at once. And since the vote to sustain the Twelve was unanimous, there was no need of putting the question on

re the church. The saints had full opportunity and liberty to vote for him had t

" or the "voice of the people" in electing their leaders. I use the word "elect" advisedly, for though the manner of electing the officers of the church is by indirect means-by popular

means, it may be carried on by indirect means-it is just as much a f

Church, where there is a regularly organized branc

Doc. and Cov.

Presidency as well as to the h

dy, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, fait

oc. and Cov. s

d and ordained to that office;" they must also be "chosen by the body" and "upheld by the

ent of the Church. Suffice it to say that Joseph was the President of the Church, so long as he lived. The people chose to have it so. He always filled that responsible station by the voice of the people. . . . . The keys of the priesthood were committed to Josep

nal of Discourses

ide over them contrary to their voices, that is,

he people; and if a man possesses five grains of common sense, when he has the privilege of voting for or against a man, he will not vote for a man who will oppress the people; he wi

nal of Discourses

wers from the consent of the governed. We shall have occasion in the course of our argument, t

estionable integrity in the church, telling them that it was revealed to him before leaving Pittsburg that the church would reject him; but, nevertheless, he was the proper person to lead the church-to be its Guardian; for to that position he had been called of God, and held keys of authority higher than any ever conferred upon the Prophet Joseph-the keys of David which, according to his representations, gave him the power to open and no man could shut; to shut and no man could open; and the power to organize armies for the destruction of the Gentiles. In fact his fervid imagination pictured h

n Sidney Rigdon, by Eld

sed to both holding the meetings and ordaining the officers. His brethren sought to convince him of his error, but at this point he refused to be corrected. The quorum of the Twelve, with the presiding bishop of the church, held a council meeting to consider his conduct, and concluded to demand Elder Rigdon's

e before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the high priesthood; a

h of September, 1844, and proceeded to hear evidence in the case. The evidence established the insubordination of Elder Rigdon and the irregularity of his course, and a motion that he be excommunicated from the church

ney Rigdon's trial in Grant's pamph

ed as his headquarters. He sent missionaries to many branches of the church to represent his claims to the Presidency, but they succeeded in getting only slight support and that for the most part from among those we

organization which he founded prove the prop

the church after them, let them do it