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

led "Re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," commonly called the "Josephite Church." This organization is still in existence, and has for its President, Jo

e President of the church foun

, informs us that in the spring of 1850, William Smith, whose acquaintance

the Church. . . . This principle, though pretty clearly shown in the books, had been almost entirely overlooked or forgotten by the s

s, by the preaching

s supplement to Joseph

e Prophet

ence, in October, 1851, at which was proclaimed a belief in and practice of polygamy. Among those who attended this conference of William Smith's church was Jason W. Briggs, who, after returning to his home in Wisconsin, was much perplexed over the condition of the church. While pondering in his heart the situation, on the 18th of

em my spirit; and in my own due time will I call upon the seed of Joseph Smith, and I will bring one forth, and he shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside over the High Priesthood of my Church; and then

edition of Life of Jose

riggs was commanded to

e, Waukesha and

ote A:

ccurred in another part of Wisconsin, in what is called the "Yellow Stone Branch."[A] This "branch" belonged to that organization founded by James J. Strang, and was presided over by

ocated was in La Fayette Co., South Western Wisconsin. Beloit wher

ith, nor any that had claimed to be prophets, si

oseph the Prophet, Jos

ork-especially of that prophecy which speaks of the house of the Lord in the last days being established in the top of the mountains, and all nations flowing unto it[A]-he thought then of Strang's Bea

A: Isaia

and go forth and preach the gospel and say that

ever, could not wholly accept the "revelation" of Mr. Briggs. It had been "revealed" to him that God would raise up a prophet, but who it would be had not been made known to him. About ten or fifteen days after the arrival of Mr. Briggs's messenger, word was brought to Mr. Gurley that his little daughter was

Through whom

ph Smith is Joseph Sm

is his right by lineag

o

e church, and the allegiance of the branch pledged to the "seed" of Joseph Smith the prophet. The above "revelation" made it possible for Mr. Gurley to unite with Mr. Briggs, and word was accordingly sent to the latter, that e

hip with those men who had presumed to lead the church, charging them wit

igh Priest in the Melchisedek Priesthood, must of necessity be of the se

f all legal ordinations in the church; that the whole law of the church is contained in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants; that there was no stake of Zion to which the saints are commanded at present to gather;

county, Illinois, founded by William Smith's church, went to pieces and a number of the

of authority to preside in the church that was forming, pending the coming forth of "young Joseph" to be its president. The pamphlet which the June co

ghest priesthood in the church is to preside, and represent the rightful

ing who held the highest authority as many unwarrantab

he law should be ignored, and all within the limit recognized. This excluded all above an

oseph the Prophet, Jos

the whole body of so-called high priests were to preside. During the winter of 1853, the "spirit" intimated to Mr. Gurley, that they must "organize;" but this they kne

A: Ibid,

oseph the Prophet, Jos

ose ordained apostles by William Smith recognized by God?" The answer was that those ordinations were not acceptable-were

e A: Ibi

e Lord, 'I will require t

high priests and one senior president of the seventies among the

and for the senior President of seventies to ordain seventies; but when done what would it accomplish? Nothing, just nothing. We were in trouble-deep trouble

oseph the Prophet, Jos

ommandment was given appointing a day of fasting and prayer, and the Lord promised to show

. And who among us will he acknowledge as the represent

as obtained through a "revelation" to one H. H

appointed by the conference to select seven men from among you, who shall compose the majority of the Twelve, for it is my will that that quorum should not be filled up at present. Let the President of the conference, assisted by two others, ordain them. The senior of them shall stand as the represe

seph, the Prophet, Jose

e at the conference. Ethan Griffith, William Cline and Cyrus Newkirk were appointed the committee to select the seven "apostles" to form the majority of the quorum of the Twelve. The men selected were Zenas H. [Father] Gurley, Henry H. Deam, Jason W. Briggs, Daniel B. Razy, John Cunningham, George White and Reuben Newkirk. It was voted that a "stake of Zion" be organ

take the oversight of them, as you shall give

oseph the Prophet, Jos

ent, April, 1860, is called by the Josephite historian Tullidge, "an apostolic interval." During that interval the Josephite church seemed not

e appointed a committee to present this message to Mr. Smith, which they did at his home near Nauvoo. According to Mr. Smith's own amount of this visit, these messengers did not meet with a very cordial reception; and when Mr. Briggs vehemently urged the matter upon him, a

oseph the Prophet, Jos

r president ended on this occasion in disappointment, though before leaving Nauvoo the

other that Josephite history speaks of, was it urged upon Joseph Smith that he h

of the church in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan were urged to send representatives, as it was desirable to choose a high council and organize and set in order all the quorums under the F

ming, and while keeping soul and body together by labor and from his fees as justice of the peace, was confronted with the question of his

bove acts see his auto

phite ed., p

. Smith states as his reason for sending for Mr. Marks that he was president of the stake of Zion at Nauvoo at the death of Joseph, the prophet; that he had retained his faith in Mormonism as taught by Joseph and Hyrum; and hence his council would

that he afterwards so reported to some of his followers. As late as June, 1891, Mr L. D. Hickey, a Strangite, wrote a tract entitled, "Who was the Successor of Joseph Smith?" in which the following occurs: "Nov. 6 1846, James J. Strang was commanded to go and anoint and ordain Joseph Smith, the son of the martyr, to the same priesthood his uncle Hyrum held. We have all the proof we want that James did obey God; and that left the son of Joseph as one of the Presidents of the church, and the Book of Rules says in case of the death of either of

t his mother's home in Nauvoo, and held an interview with them. It was finally decided that Mr. Smith and his mother should attend the ensuing

ant any more of that sort. If God has called you, we want to know it. If he has

oseph the Prophet, Jos

ence that Mr. Smith had been called, blessed and anointed by Joseph the prophet to be the President of the church, and to possess the right to that position by virtue of lineage, the reply of Mr. Marks to Mr. Smith's proposition to take the Presidency of the Reorganized church seems unaccountably cold, and too much burdened with doubt and ind

usion of which it was moved that he be received as a prophet,-the successor of his father. The motion was carried by a

sent this Church to y

ri

e Mr. Smith

for its tameness; but I quote a few sentences that may be of special interest; fir

pointing to the position I am about to assume. I wish to say that I have come here not to be dictated by any me

adership, that the position came by right of lineage, yet I know that if I attempted to lead as a prophet by these considerations, and not by

velation

I am to associate with, at least with those of them with whom I have conversed. I am not very convers

ons" were indeed "peculiar," one only h

octrine that shall not be approved

prophets, when some sought to have him give out no pro

liveth what the Lord saith u

A: I Kings

Brigham Young who shortly after being

my will all the time

n't guide the ship,

lpoo

Orson Spencer, Jan. 2

X, p.

ition of the son of the great prophet, and the position in which the Almighty God of heaven placed his father. The

. . Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me. For his words ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in a

Doc. and Co

rd higher than that assumed by his son, who claims to be his successor, and yet stands pledged to p

priesthood and President of the church by William Marks, Zenas H. Gurley, Samuel Powers and W. W. Blair. Mr. Marks was president o

pamphlet,) pp. 10, II, also The Saint

ther streams; one of which, represented by Mr. Gurley and his following, flows from Strangism; and the other, represented by Mr. Briggs and his following, flows from t