RLDS Church History Context

RLDS History Context Results


Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 18 Page: 347 (~1863-1864)

Read Previous Page / Next Page
347 the Prophet ordained President of the Church? He was ordained an Apostle and thus being a Presiding High Priest was accepted by the Church and sustained in that capacity.

"Priesthood is conferred by ordination; Presidency is another thing. It does not come by ordination, using that term in the same sense as in reference to conferring Priesthood, nor does it come by lineage. It is by choice and appointment and the common consent of the Church; but the person so chosen must have been ordained to the proper Priesthood to be qualified for the position."-True Succession in Church Presidency, p. 153.

The Reorganization has objected to these proceedings on the following grounds: That they are both irregular and illegal. For a part of the Quorum of Twelve to take such an important action without notice to other members of their own quorum would be irregular, even if the quorum had authority to do such a thing; but there is no warrant in the law for the Quorum of the Twelve to create a First Presidency. For the small minority present at Kanesville to elect a Presidency without notice to the majority, was both irregular and illegal. Even if they had been legally chosen, there is no warrant in law for them to occupy until regularly ordained. To do so is in violation of the law, which says: "He that is ordained of me, shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before," etc. (Doctrine and Covenants 43:2.) It is not claimed that Brigham Young had any other ordination than that which was common to other members of his quorum, hence he had no more authority of presidency than had any of his colleagues. According to the theory that all the Twelve were ordained presidents, the right to the Presidency of the Church was vested in William Smith, J. E. Page, and Lyman Wight as much so as in Young or any of his associates. Further, Brigham Young was not eligible to election for the reason that the law provides that Joseph Smith's blessing should be placed upon his posterity. It says of him: "For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him," etc. (Doctrine and Covenants 107:18.)

(page 347)

Read Previous Page / Next Page