Historians Corner Vol. 2 | No. 2e This is the final part of this series on “The Making of the Presidents of the Church.” To see the previous four parts in this series please consult the column archive here: Historians Corner. Joseph Smith, Jr. (Prophet-President 1830 to 1844). The story of Joseph Smith, Jr., becoming and serving as the church’s first Prophet-President truly consists of the foundational stories of the church itself. And as with other columns in this series, there is far too much to begin to cover in detail within the constraints of this column. In very brief summary, Mark Scherer lists the “four key events” that shaped the early Restoration era: “the family history of Joseph Smith, Jr., the First Vision and its impact, the Book of Mormon, and the formal organization of the church.”[1] Scherer devotes a chapter to the Smith family history, but this sentence is all we will devote to it here. Similarly, he provides a detailed background and history of the “First Vision” and how it has become central to the church’s history over the years. Joseph Smith, Jr., in his 1842 account of the First Vision[2] says that it occurred on a “beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty.” He “retired to the woods to pray” in response to the scriptural direction “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...” (James 1:5). The vision was a highly spiritual experience in which young Joseph (only 15 years old at the time) was given to see two “personages”: God, and Jesus Christ. The question on Joseph’s heart was which church to join. The personages counseled him to join none of them.[3] This experience set Joseph Smith, Jr., on his lifelong quest to seek the mind and will of God and translate that into a church organization of which God and Jesus would approve. The Book of Mormon also has a long story all its own that we will not cover here. Publication began in March 1830.[4] The formal organization of the church occurred on April 6, 1830. By the time April 6, 1830, rolls around, Joseph Smith, Jr., has been at the centre of the First Vision event, and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon and its publication. All along the way he has had a group of strong supporters who have recognized his leadership and accepted his spiritual authority. Many “inspired” instructions and directions were provided to this group by Joseph under the prophetic influence of the Holy Spirit. Many (though not necessarily all of them) can be found as sections 1 through 16 of today’s Book of Doctrine and Covenants[5]. Joseph is, without question, viewed as the leader of this “group.” The legal organization of the group into a church finally formalizes his leadership as described in the following scriptures. In section 17 of the Doctrine and Covenants, v. 1(a) and (b) we read: 1 a. The rise of the church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeably to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April; b. which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jr., who was called of God and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the first elder of this church; and to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second elder of this church, and ordained under his hand: c. and this according to the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory both now and forever. Amen.[6] Joseph has been “called of God,” “ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ,” and he is “to be the first elder of this church.”[7] In the introduction to section 19, we read: The ordinations did take place at the organization meeting, after the other brethren participating had indicated their willingness to accept Joseph and Oliver as their teachers and leaders.[8] And then in verses 1(a) and (b): 1 a. Behold, there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ; b. being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith;...[9] The titles of leadership become more specific here: seer, translator, prophet, apostle, elder, along with the direction to lay the foundation of the church and to build it up. In future business meetings of the church over the next fourteen years Joseph Smith, Jr., is regularly “sustained” as the leader of the church. He remained in this position until his assassination in 1844 – and all of those fourteen years is an entirely different story! This concludes our series on “The Making of the Presidents of the Church.” I hope you have enjoyed this historical review as we prepare for the formal acceptance of our next Prophet-President (and “Seer and Revelator” – if we use the full, traditional title) in June of 2025. May we prayerfully and faithfully approach that event. And as Stassi Cramm is escorted into the Conference Chamber, presumably following her approval and for her ordination, may we enthusiastically and joyfully sing our thanks and praise: “We thank you, O God, for our prophets who guide us in witness today...”[10] Thank you for reading. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions. [1] Mark A. Scherer, The Journey of a People: The Era of Restoration, 1820 to 1844, Community of Christ Seminary Press, Independence, Missouri, USA, 2013; p. 137.
[2] For a detailed analysis of a series of accounts of the First Vision written by Joseph Smith, Jr., in his lifetime, see: Richard P. Howard, “An Analysis of Six Contemporary Accounts Touching Joseph Smith’s First Vision.” In Restoration Studies I: A Collection of Essays About the History, Beliefs, and Practices of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Edited by Maurice L. Draper and Clare D. Vlahos. Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1980, 95-117. [3] Sherer, p. 54 [4] Ibid, p. 120. See all of Scherer’s chapter six, “The Book of Mormon Story,” for a detailed history. [5] Book of Doctrine and Covenants: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God, and Given in the Order of Their Dates, Community of Christ, Herald Publishing House, Independence, MO.: 2007 [6] Community of Christ. Doctrine and Covenants . Herald Publishing House. Kindle Edition. [7] Ibid. [8] Ibid. [9] Ibid. [10] William Fowler and Randall Pratt, in Community of Christ Sings, Community of Christ, Independence, MO; Herald Publishing House, 2013. Hymn #180 Comments are closed.
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