Chapter I: Appointments

LOCAL REVELATIONS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS.

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.)

REVELATIONS ON PERMANENT ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD.

Subsequently, when the Prophet had proved his faithfulness, the Lord revealed to him, March 8, 1833, the following revelation declaring that the keys of the kingdom would never be taken from him:

"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. Verily, I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall
never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in
the world to come; Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be
given to another; yea, even unto the church." (Doc. & Cov., sec.
90:1-4; Reorganized edition, D&C 87:1-2.)

In the year 1835 the twelve apostles were chosen according to the revelation of June, 1829, and received a commission equal in power and authority to that of the First Presidency. Following is the language of the revelation:

"And they (the Twelve) form a quorum, equal in authority and power
to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doc. & Cov. sec.
107:24; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Thus it is seen that these early revelations which were local in their application, given for special needs, were superseded by later ones. In the former we learn "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." In the latter we are told that Joseph has proved his faithfulness and that "Verily, I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come, Nevertheless through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea even to the church." In accordance with these later revelations there was soon after given THROUGH THE PROPHET to {493} the church the order of the Priesthood, with all its offices and their authority and power. One of these quorums (the quorum of the twelve apostles) was authorized to "ordain and set in order all the other officers in the church," which of course includes the First Presidency. (Doc.& Cov., sec. 107:58; Reorganized Edition, sec. 104:30.)

These superseding revelations are so plain on this matter that one has but to have an ordinary knowledge of English to understand them. It is not to be wondered at that the church unitedly so interpreted them at the Prophet's death.

And so, under the Twelve, was the temple work prosecuted to completion, and preparations made for the journey west.