It is claimed that according to the revelations, the prophet Joseph was
to choose his successor. First let us examine the ground upon which
this claim is made. A number of revelations concerning the perpetuation
of the prophetic office were received in the early history of the
church. The first one was to Oliver Cowdery, September, 1830 (Doc.&
Cov., D&C 28:2-7; Reorganized edition, sec. 27:2.) The second came in
December, 1830 (Doc. & Cov., sec. 35:17-19, Reorganized Edition, {490}
sec. 34:4.) The third in February, 1831 (Doc. & Cov., sec. 43:1-4;
Reorganized Edition, sec. 43:1-2.) The conditions which brought forth
the above revelations were as follows:
While the prophet was in Fayette, N.Y., with the Whitmer family, he
discovered "that Satan had been lying in wait to deceive and seeking
whom he might devour." Brother Hiram Page had in his possession
a certain stone, by which he claimed to have obtained certain
"revelations" concerning the upbuilding of Zion, the order of the
Church, etc., all of which were entirely at variance with the plan of
our Father in Heaven. Many believed in these spurious revelations,
especially the Whitmer family and Oliver Cowdery. Under these
circumstances the Prophet received the following revelation to Oliver
Cowdery:
"And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or
teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church,
thou mayest do it. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment,
but by wisdom; and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head
and at the head of the church, for I have given him the keys of
the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall
appoint unto them another in his stead."
Again in December, 1830, Sidney Rigdon came to visit the Prophet at
Fayette, N.Y., to inquire of the Lord concerning his duties, and
possibly for instruction and encouragement from the Prophet. Shortly
after his arrival the following revelation was received:
"And I have sent forth the fullness of my Gospel by the hand of
my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him, and I have
given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have
been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the
world and the things which shall come forth from this time unto the
time of my coming, IF HE ABIDE IN ME, AND IF NOT, ANOTHER WILL I
PLANT IN HIS STEAD. Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail
not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that
knoweth all things."
Also, in February, 1831, a woman by the name of Hubble made great
pretensions of receiving revelations. She professed to be a prophetess
of the Lord and claimed that she should become a teacher in the church.
She deceived some who were not able to detect her in her hypocrisy.
That the saints might not be deceived, the Lord gave the following
revelation:
"O harken, ye elders of my church, and give an ear to the word
which I shall speak unto you; for behold, verily, verily, I say
unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a {491} law, unto
my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive
commandments and revelations from my hand. And this ye shall know
assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive
commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in
me. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be
appointed unto this gift except it be through him, FOR IF IT BE
TAKEN FROM HIM, he shall not have power except to appoint another
in his stead; and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive
not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations
or commandments; and this I give unto you that you may not be
deceived, that you may know they are not of me."
From a careful reading of these revelations and in the light of the
circumstances arising, we draw self-evident conclusions as follows:
lst.--Some of the saints were being deceived by spurious revelations.
2nd.--It was necessary that the saints know that the Prophetic office
and the keys of the priesthood could be held and perpetuated only
through him who had received that power.
3rd.--That in case of transgression or unfaithfulness he would retain
the power to appoint his successor.
Thus the wisdom of the Lord in providing against the weakness of men.
All of these revelations were given before the quorums of the
priesthood were organized and before the Prophet had proven himself
faithful or in the days of his "preparation and qualification." During
all the trying scenes of life the Prophet did not transgress, but
proved his worthiness before God; therefore, there was no necessity for
him to confer upon his successor the Keys and Authority of his office
on account of any transgression during this early period before the
various quorums of the Priesthood were organized as we have them today.
Our Reorganization friends admit this to be the fact. We read in the
Saints Herald of August 18, 1888 (this being the official organ of the
Reorganized Church), the following:
"Joseph Smith was taken away, dying a martyr, of which death he was
conscious, and made preparations before it occurred. HE WAS NOT
ACCUSED BY THE LORD OF TRANSGRESSIONS, AND THE GIFT THAT HAD BEEN
CONFERRED UPON HIM TAKEN FROM HIM; NOR WAS THERE A COMMAND GIVEN
HIM TO APPOINT ANOTHER IN HIS STEAD, BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN {492}
UNWORTHY, AND THE LORD PROPOSED TO DEPOSE HIM FROM HIS OFFICE. IT
WAS ONLY IN THE EVENT OF THE GIFT BEING TAKEN FROM HIM, THAT HE WAS
TO SO APPOINT ANOTHER. THIS EVENT DID NOT OCCUR." (Volume 35, No.
33.)