7/6/17. Succession in the Presidency. The Last Charge Meeting. The Twelve on the Day of the Martyrdom

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1 Succession in the Presidency The Twelve on the Day of the Martyrdom Scott Woodward Rel. 225 Summer 2017 (Manuscript History of Brigham Young, , comp. Elden Jay Watson (1968), 171, LDS Church Archives) The first thing which I thought of [after learning of Joseph's martyrdom], was whether Joseph had taken the keys of the kingdom with him from the earth; brother Orson Pratt sat on my left; we were both leaning back on our chairs. Bringing my hand down on my knee, I said the keys of the kingdom are right here with the Church. The Last Charge Meeting Text March 26, Almost exactly 5 years from the day of the Liberty Jail letter, Joseph calls the last charge meeting. 1

2 The Five Year Prophecy Lyman Wight said that while they were in Liberty Jail in 1839 Joseph told him that he (Joseph) would not live to see forty years, but that he was not to speak of it until Joseph was dead. (Excerpt from Wilford Woodruff's journal in HC 7:212) Mother Smith remembered also that in Missouri she received a promise that in five years Joseph should have power over all his enemies. She did not anticipate his premature death. But when it occurred she wrote: The time had elapsed and the promise was fulfilled. (History of Joseph Smith, p. 325) Lucy Walker quoted him, I have the promise of life for five years, if I listen to the voice of the Spirit. Joseph Smith (Draft declaration of the Twelve Apostles, reporting March 1844 meeting of Twelve, Brigham Young Papers, LDS Church Archives; quoted by Boyd K. Packer in Ensign, May 1995, 7) Brethren, the Lord bids me hasten the work in which we are engaged. Some important scene is near to take place. It may be that my enemies will kill me; and in case they should, and the keys and power which rest on me not be imparted to you, they will be lost from the earth; Joseph Smith (Draft declaration of the Twelve Apostles, reporting March 1844 meeting of Twelve, Brigham Young Papers, LDS Church Archives; quoted by Boyd K. Packer in Ensign, May 1995, 7) but if I can only succeed in placing them upon your heads, then let me fall a victim to murderous hands if God will suffer it, and I can go with all pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that my work is done, and the foundation laid on which the kingdom of God is to be reared in this dispensation of the fulness of times. Joseph Smith (Draft declaration of the Twelve Apostles, reporting March 1844 meeting of Twelve, Brigham Young Papers, LDS Church Archives; quoted by Boyd K. Packer in Ensign, May 1995, 7) Upon the shoulders of the Twelve must the responsibility of leading this church henceforth rest until you shall appoint others to succeed you. Text Wilford Woodruff s Testimony 2

3 Wilford Woodruff March 1897 (The s of the Church Teacher's Manual, p.69) I bear my testimony that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, ordained of God to lay the foundation of His Church and Kingdom in the last dispensation and fullness of times. I bear my testimony that in the early spring of 1844 in Nauvoo, the Prophet Joseph Smith called the Twelve Apostles together and he delivered unto them the ordinances of the Church and Kingdom of God; and all of the keys and powers that God had bestowed upon him he sealed upon our heads. Wilford Woodruff March 1897 (The s of the Church Teacher's Manual, p.69) He told us we must round up our shoulders and bear off this Kingdom or we would be damned. I am the only man now living in the flesh who heard that testimony from his mouth, and I know this is true by the power of God manifest to him. At the meeting he stood on his feet about three hours and taught us the things of the Kingdom. His face was as clear as amber, and he was covered with a power that I have never seen in any man in the flesh before. Wilford Woodruff March 1897 (The s of the Church Teacher's Manual, p.69) The Prophet Joseph laid down his life for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ, and he will be crowned as a martyr in the presence of God and the Lamb. In all his testimonies to us, the power of God was visibly manifest in the Prophet Joseph. This is my testimony, spoken by myself into a talking machine on this the nineteenth day of March 1897, in the ninety-first year of my age. Wilford Woodruff. Wilford Woodruff s Testimony Who Should Lead the Church? 8 August, 1844 Sidney Rigdon Joseph Smith III James J. Strang 3

4 Who Should Lead the Church? On Saturday, 3 August, Sidney Rigdon returns from his self-imposed exile in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he had moved contrary to revelation (see D&C 124:108 9). Sidney returns with the expectation of taking over the Church. He spoke to the assembled Saints at the grove on Sunday, 4 August. He asserted that he had received a vision which he said the Lord had shown him that he should be the guardian appointed to build the church up to Joseph, as he had begun it. Why did Sidney Rigdon (or anyone of the others) not have legitimate claim to lead the Church? What did he specifically lack? Orson Hyde (Letter to Ebenezer Robinson, 19 Sept. 1844, printed in The Return, Vol. 2, No. 4, (April, 1890), p. 253) We have had a charge given us by our prophet, and that charge we intend to honor and magnify. It was given in March last. To us were committed the Keys of the Kingdom, and every gift, key and power, that Joseph ever had, confirmed upon our heads by an anointing, which Bro. Rigdon never did receive. Here is Rigdon, who was counselor to Joseph. I ask, where are Joseph and Hyrum? They are gone beyond the veil; and if Elder Rigdon wants to act as his counselor, he must go beyond the veil where he is. The Twelve are appointed by the finger of God. Here is Brigham, have his knees ever faltered? Have his lips ever quivered? Here is Heber and the rest of the Twelve, an independent body who have the keys of the priesthood the keys of the kingdom of God to deliver to all the world: this is true, so help me God. They stand next to Joseph, and are as the First Presidency of the Church. 4

5 Elder Rigdon claims to be spokesman to the Prophet. Very well, he was; but can he now act in that office? If he wants now to be a spokesman to the Prophet, he must go to the other side of the veil, for the Prophet is there, but Elder Rigdon is here. Why will Elder Rigdon be a fool?... Now, if you want Sidney Rigdon to lead you, or anybody else, you are welcome to them; but I tell you, in the name of the Lord that no man can put another between the Twelve and the Prophet Joseph. Why? Because Joseph was their file leader, and he has committed into their hands the keys of the kingdom in this last dispensation, for all the world. Then it happened Why did the Lord do this? Eyewitness Accounts of the Transfiguration ("Therefore, What?" CES Conference on the New Testament, 8 August 2000, BYU) No one had had to face such a thought before. No one had even considered the Church without Joseph as its prophet. And now this. It was a moment of almost spiritual bedlam in Nauvoo. But God did something that taught a great lesson to the people. To counter Sidney Rigdon and a few others vying for the prophetic office, the Lord made His will and power manifest in the matter as Brigham Young was transformed in visage and countenance before the people. You know the story very well. ("Therefore, What?" CES Conference on the New Testament, 8 August 2000, BYU) By momentarily giving Joseph s appearance and very manner of speech quite literally his mantle God said to the people, The keys of the kingdom are with the Twelve. Brigham is Joseph s rightful successor in leading the Church. That is the obvious and very important declaration about Church governance that the Lord was making. 5

6 ("Therefore, What?" CES Conference on the New Testament, 8 August 2000, BYU) But an even more important declaration was the manifestation of heavenly power itself. God s might and direct involvement in this issue was the truly important thing that was conveyed here not that was to be in charge or even that Joseph Smith had been in charge. The message was: God is in charge. What are we learning? ( Lord, I Believe, Ensign, May 2013) I know that Thomas S. Monson, who moves devotedly and buoyantly toward the 50th anniversary of his ordination as an Apostle, is the rightful successor to that prophetic mantle today. We have seen that mantle on him again in this conference. I know that 14 other men whom you sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators sustain him with their hands, their hearts, and their own apostolic keys. End 6