Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of SuccessionSmith, Joseph Fielding
History
Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Latter Day Saint churches -- Government; Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- Government
These revelations, extracts from which I have read, were all given
between September, 1830, and the first of March, 1831. At that time
the Church was less than one year old, and was not fully organized
with its various officers as we have it today. The quorums of Apostles
and Seventies were not called till 1835--over four years subsequent to
these revelations. When they were given the Prophet Joseph was young
and inexperienced, and this law was laid down for the government of
the Church as it existed at that time, as these revelations clearly
indicate. You will notice from these passages, that the Lord was to
choose another in the Prophet's stead in case of his removal through
transgression, or for any other cause, during that incipient stage of
the history of the Church. It was necessary at that time that some
provision be made for the perpetuity of the prophetic office, in case
that Joseph Smith should not prove faithful to the great trust in
the days of his preparation and qualification, and before he became
thoroughly seasoned and fitted for this important calling. In such an
emergency the power of necessity must have been conferred by Joseph
Smith on his successor, for he held the keys; therefore, the Lord
declared that in case of the prophet's transgression or removal, he
would still retain the power in that case to ordain his successor and
to confer upon such successor, whom the Lord was to choose, the keys
and authority that had been conferred upon him.
It must also be remembered that the Prophet Joseph, like the prophets
of old and even the Savior Himself, had to continue from grace to grace
and "increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God," and with
him, as with the Master, "he received not a fulnesss at first;" but
through trials, tribulations, and varied experiences, had to prove
his worthiness before God in order that he might hold the keys of the
kingdom. It was during this period of preparation that the expression
in the revelations quoted were given regarding the appointment of
a successor; but later the Lord revealed more of His will, and the
Church was established with all the proper officers and quorums for
its guidance and perpetuity, when death should remove its President.
Moreover, while in these revelations the Lord prepared the means of
a successor in case of the transgression or removal of Joseph Smith,
later when he had proved himself and evinced before God through his
faithfulness that he was worthy of the trust placed in him, the Lord
declared that the keys of the kingdom should never be taken from him in
the following words:
"Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily, I say unto you my son,
thy sins are forgiven thee according to thy petition, for thy
prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears;
Therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of
the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the
last time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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