The struggle for leadership of the LDS Church between Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young still echoes today. One lasting outcome is the practice of dissolving the First Presidency at the prophet’s death—a move meant to underscore that Rigdon was never recognized as Joseph Smith’s rightful successor. Historian John Hamer of the Community of Christ joins us to examine Rigdon’s claims, even arguing that Sidney may have had the strongest case for leadership. We’ll also explore the church Rigdon established, now the third-largest “Mormon” denomination. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion!
Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/
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Gospel Tangents
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We delve deep into the complexities of LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and RLDS (Community of Christ) succession after the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, and how this crisis shaped the leadership structures and beliefs of both churches.
LDS Succession after Joseph Smith’s Death (1844)
- Lack of a Defined System: There was no pre-existing system for succession written in the Doctrine and Covenants. The process that unfolded was largely shaped by the personalities and power dynamics of the time.
- Sidney Rigdon’s Claim: Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith’s counselor in the First Presidency, claimed the role of “guardian” of the church. This was akin to a regent in a monarchy, intended to lead until Joseph Smith III, who was then a child, could assume leadership.
- Brigham Young’s Maneuver: Brigham Young argued that following the martyrdom, a prophet in the flesh was no longer needed, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles should act as the First Presidency. This led to the group initially being called “Twelve-ites” by other branches.
- Timeframe to Leadership: It took three years for Brigham Young to transition from the president of the Quorum of the Twelve to the official prophet of the church. During this period, he acted as “acting president”.
Elimination of Rivals and Decentralization of Power:
◦ William Marks and the Standing High Council: William Marks, president of the Standing High Council, was seen as a rival to Brigham Young. The Standing High Council, which had previously held equal or even superior authority to the traveling Quorum of the Twelve, particularly in organized stakes, was effectively demoted into stake high councils. This move eliminated an institutional rival and concentrated power.
◦ Presiding Bishopric: Similarly, the powerful role of the Presiding Bishop, who controlled temporalities and could act as a leadership rival, was demoted by Brigham Young, who created numerous bishops, reducing the role to a congregational position.
- Retroactive Legitimacy: The LDS Church’s practice of dissolving the First Presidency upon the prophet’s death and the automatic succession of the senior-most apostle were established to retroactively delegitimize Sidney Rigdon’s claim and ensure the legitimacy of subsequent LDS presidents. This automatic succession became rapid over time, especially after Joseph F. Smith, as leaders realized the difficulty of running the church without a quick transition.
- Non-Apostolic First Presidency: In the early church, the First Presidency (including Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon) was distinct from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Sidney Rigdon’s Church and the Bickertonites
- Rigdon’s Failed Efforts: After excommunicating each other, Sidney Rigdon started his own church in Pittsburgh, which eventually atomized.. John Hamer’s ancestor, William Winchester, briefly served as one of Rigdon’s apostles.
- Emergence of the Bickertonites: The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) originated from a branch in Pittsburgh led by William Bickerton, who had been Rigdon’s last apostle. This group reorganized after William Bickerton and his followers broke with Brigham Young’s church when polygamy was publicly announced in 1852. The Bickertonites are considered the only viable part of the “Rigdonite branch”.
RLDS (Community of Christ) Succession
- Joseph Smith III’s Legitimacy: The RLDS church’s legitimacy for Joseph Smith III’s presidency rested on two main pillars:
◦ Appointment by Predecessor: Joseph Smith Jr. had indicated his son as a successor, supported by a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants stating the prophet has “power… to appoint another in his stead”. Joseph Smith III himself later emphasized this “appointment” principle for future successions.
◦ Royal Line of Joseph: Many members desired a leader from the “seed of Joseph” (the Smith family line). This idea was heavily promoted by William Smith, Joseph Jr.’s brother, who published pamphlets arguing for the importance of lineage, citing the Book of Mormon and the New Testament example of James (Jesus’s brother) leading the early Christian church. William Smith was a problematic figure, excommunicated for polygamy, but his arguments influenced the early Reorganization.
- World Conference Authority: Technically, the General Conference (World Conference), a legislative body, held the authority to select the church president, and Joseph Smith III was initially voted into the role.
Leadership Conflicts and Modernization:
◦ Frederick Madison Smith: Joseph Smith III’s eldest son, with a Ph.D., became the third prophet-president. He differed significantly from his father, aiming to modernize and bureaucratize the church.
◦ “Supreme Directional Control”: F.M. Smith introduced this controversial policy, vesting supreme control in the First Presidency. This led to a major conflict with his brother, Israel A. Smith, who was in the Presiding Bishopric, resulting in the entire Presiding Bishopric’s resignation. F.M. Smith ultimately used a “prophetic trump card”—a revelation—to assert his authority.
◦ RC Evans: Joseph Smith III’s talented first counselor and orator, who expected to be appointed successor. When F.M. Smith was appointed instead, Evans became very critical. Despite being granted the significant role of Presiding Bishop of Canada, he continued to oppose F.M. Smith and eventually left the church, taking a large portion of the Toronto congregation to form his own church. RC Evans died shortly thereafter in the Spanish flu pandemic, and his church eventually dissolved.
- F.M. Smith’s Legacy: John Hamer views F.M. Smith as the “second reinventor” of the Reorganization, driving significant growth and establishing modern programs like hospitals and orphanages, focusing on the social gospel. He was the last president to generate such substantial growth for the church.
The discussion also briefly touches on the Kirtland Temple, where the RLDS Church (Community of Christ) did not permit weddings or baptisms for the dead due to a desire to avoid association with LDS temple practices. John Hamer personally distinguishes between “temples” (like Kirtland) and “endowment houses” (smaller, standardized LDS temples), based on the level of sacrifice involved in their construction.
Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
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