_The following is from the Deseret News, May 11, 1907_.
A correspondent writing from Parker, Idaho, requests a reply, through
the columns of the "News" to the question, "By whom was President
Young ordained to the Presidency of the Church?" It appears that the
emissaries of the Reorganite Church have discovered in that question
a fruitful source of sophistical controversy, and that they are
triumphantly asking it wherever they go.
The proper reply is, he was ordained by the Prophet Joseph to that
calling, when the Prophet, prompted by the Holy Spirit, conferred upon
the Twelve Apostles the power and authority, he himself had received.
The following statement of facts by Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr., can be
verified by the authentic records of the Church:
"The Prophet Joseph earnestly desired that his brother Hyrum should
live to succeed him in the Presidency of the Church. In the year 1841,
by command of the Lord, he ordained him to this exalted position, as
is quite evident from the following, Section 124, verses 94-5, of the
Doctrine and Covenants:
"And from this time forth I appoint unto him (Hyrum Smith) that he
may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my Church as
well as my servant Joseph.
"That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that
he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show
unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned
with the same blessing and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and
gifts of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my
servant Oliver Cowdery."
From this revelation we learn that the Lord appointed Hyrum Smith both
as Patriarch and to act in concert with his brother Joseph in the
Presidency of the Church. In accordance with this revelation, Hyrum was
so ordained January 24, 1841. This was not in the sense of a counselor
to Joseph, for at this very appointment Hyrum was removed as counselor
to the President and William Law was ordained in his stead.
Joseph and Hyrum continued to so act from this time forth until their
martyrdom, June 27, 1844. Shortly before the martyrdom the Prophet
tried with all his power to persuade Hyrum not to accompany him to
Carthage, knowing full well the fate that awaited them there. Had
Hyrum stayed behind, and thereby remained in mortality, he would, by
virtue of his position and ordination received in 1841, have become
the president of the Church. His brother intended that this should be
(Times and Seasons, 5:683), but through his faithfulness to, and love
for, his brother, Hyrum fell a martyr before the Prophet Joseph did.
Now mark! The Lord, who knew that Hyrum should receive a martyr's crown
at Carthage, in the winter of 1843-4, commanded the Prophet to confer
upon the heads of the Twelve Apostles, every key, power, and principle,
that the Lord had sealed upon his head. The Prophet declared that he
knew not why, but the Lord commanded him to endow the Twelve with these
keys and Priesthood, and after it was done, he rejoiced very much,
saying in substance, "Now, if they kill me, you have all the keys and
all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the powers
of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will
be able to build it up, and upon your shoulders will the responsibility
of leading this people rest." (Times and Seasons, 5:651).
In this manner the Prophet ordained the Twelve Apostles, which body
constitutes the second quorum of the Church, equal in authority with
the First Presidency. (Doc. & Cov. 107:23-24) with the keys of the
kingdom, Brigham Young was president of the Twelve, and upon him
devolved the duty of presiding.
Therefore, after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Twelve
assumed by authority of their office, the duty to preside over the
Church. Later, when through revelation the quorum of the First
Presidency was reorganized with three presidents--Brigham Young and
Counselors Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, they claimed, and
rightfully, that since they were ordained under the hands of Joseph
Smith and from him had received all the keys and powers of the
Priesthood which the Prophet held, it would have been superfluous to
have been ordained again. They were in this capacity, however, set
apart and sustained by the unanimous vote of the Saints, which was
essential to make such ordination of force in the Church.
There is an abundance of testimony to prove that the Prophet did so
ordain the Twelve, some of which can be found in the Times and Seasons,
volume 5, pages 651, 664, and 698; also in the Millennial Star, volume
10, page 115.
We repeat that Brigham Young received all the keys, powers, authority
and Priesthood, that were held by Joseph Smith, that enabled him to
preside over the High Priesthood, from the Prophet Joseph Smith in
Nauvoo in the winter of 1843-4."
This important question was settled long ago by the entire body of the
Saints who accepted the leadership of the Twelve, after the departure
of the Prophet and Patriarch, and sustained President Young in his
office. It was settled by the approval of the Almighty of the marvelous
work He accomplished, and which could not have been done without
divine aid and guidance. To ascribe the mighty deeds Brigham Young
performed through the power of the divine Spirit which rested upon
him, to the spirit that is the originator of succession, rebellion,
apostasy, and falsehood, is to come dangerously near blasphemy. What
is it but a repetition of the sin of the adversaries of our Lord who,
although they knew that "no man can do the miracles that thou doest,
except God be with him" (John 3:2): yet proclaimed to the people: "He
hath an unclean spirit," (Mark 3:30). What is it but to assail the
disciple with a weapon that was in vain directed against the Master?
There was some excuse for difference of opinion on the subject of
succession, immediately after the martyrdom, because the people were
not in possession of full information, but there is no excuse now. To
use a familiar illustration: At the time of an election citizens are
expected to have different opinions as to candidates for office; they
are expected to work for those whose views and principles they support.
But when the question is settled at the polls, loyalty demands that all
accept the verdict and work together for the common interests of the
community. The body of the Latter-day Saints having accepted, as guided
by the Holy Spirit, the leadership of the Twelve, there was no longer
any valid reason for seeking the leadership of other shepherds.
The trouble with some of our "Reorganized" brethren is that they
look upon the members of the Church as a flock of sheep, that, like
other property, can be inherited. This is entirely contrary to the
fundamental principles of the Gospel. The Church belongs to Christ. The
leaders and officers are the servants of the Lord and the people of the
Lord. It follows that the Lord raises up whoever He pleases, to perform
the services necessary from time to time. Brigham Young was every way
equipped for the peculiar work needed during his time. Who could have
done what he did? Sidney Rigdon? Lyman Wight? James J. Strang? Or the
founders of the so-called "Reorganized" Church? Let the reader reflect
on the facts history records, and then decide for himself, remembering
that every tree is known by its fruit.