Unit 12: Martyrdom, Succession, and the Western Exodus

Why was Joseph Smith killed? (List reasons from John Taylor's 1854 talk.)

the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor

the teaching and practice of plural marriage

Joseph Smith and the restored Church's political influence

Who were the Laws, the Fosters, and the Higbees, and how were they connected to the martyrdom?

they created the Nauvoo expositor which was destroyed by the Saints and angered many people

william law- formerly in presidency

higbees- adultery

What was the Nauvoo Expositor?

press created to defame the people of Nauvoo; charged Joseph with polygamy, political power, king follett doctrine, temple ceremonies, second annointing

Who was Thomas Ford, and what was his role related to the martyrdom?

governor who promised Joseph protection and then abandoned him

On what legal charges was Joseph Smith incarcerated in Carthage Jail?

treason

What was the succession crisis of 1844, and who were the key players?

6 day conflict of decided who would be the next prophet; sidney rigdon, brigham young

What were the supposed successors' various claims to authority?

rigdon- the death of Joseph Smith had not dissolved the First Presidency. As the last surviving member of this group, Rigdon should be the new leader.

young- first to receive his full endowment, and Smith later allowed him to perform the endowment ceremonies in his absence. Young was given many other prominent duties as he became one of Smith's closest colaborers.

richards- appointed acting president

What is the Church's process of prophetic succession today?

The First Presidency is automatically dissolved.

The two counselors in the First Presidency revert to their places of seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by the date on which a person was ordained to the Twelve, not by age.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, now numbering 14 and headed by the senior apostle, assumes Church leadership.

The senior apostle presides at a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve to consider two alternative propositions:

Should the First Presidency be reorganized at this time?

Should the Church continue to function with the Quorum of the Twelve presiding?

After discussion, a formal motion is made and accepted by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

If a motion to reorganize the First Presidency is passed, the Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects the new president of the Church. The new president chooses two counselors and the three of them become the new First Presidency. Throughout the history of the Church, the longest-serving apostle has always become the president of the Church when the First Presidency has been reorganized.

Following the reorganization of the First Presidency, the apostle who has served the second longest is sustained as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. When the second-longest-serving apostle has also been called into the First Presidency as a counselor, the third-longest-serving apostle becomes acting president of the Twelve.

The president of the Quorum of the Twelve, along with the rest of the apostles, sets apart* the new president of the Church through a formal laying on of hands. . .

What are the primary Joseph Smith-centric restoration churches, and how were they established?

Community of Christ (originally called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the RLDS church)—followers of Joseph Smith III.

Strangites (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)—followers of James Strang, who led a group to Michigan.

Bickertonites (The Church of Jesus Christ)—followers of Sidney Rigdon and/or William Bickerton.

Hedrickites (Church of Christ, Temple Lot)—followers of Granville Hedrick and unaffiliated restoration branches who regathered in Independence, Missouri.

FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)—breakoff from the Utah Latter-day Saint Church who primarily believe in continuing the practice of polygamy.

What was the Council of Fifty?

establish a theocracy, protect religious freedom

What factors contributed to the Saints' western exodus and settlement in Utah?

strip of nauvoo charter, enemies of the Church renewed and intensified their efforts to drive the Saints out of Illinois. Mobs began burning homes, farms, and mills in outlying Latter-day Saint communities, calls for saints to leave IL,