The
following charts identify the general leadership of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints; local church leadership in , Illinois, and in
Europe; city officials in Nauvoo; and the
officers of other relevant organizations between 1 August and 31
December
1843.
First Presidency
Throughout
the period covered in this volume, JS served as of the church, with functioning as an associate president and and as counselors.
Hyrum Smith was previously a counselor in the presidency, but shortly
after he succeeded his father as church patriarch in December 1840, a
January 1841 revelation indicated that Law should take his place in the
presidency and that Hyrum Smith should have the “blessing and glory, and
honor and priesthood and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put
upon . . . .” The
revelation also identified Hyrum Smith as “a prophet and a seer and a
revelator.” Later
church historians applied the term “associate president” to Hyrum
Smith’s unusual position. Although this title was not used during his
lifetime, it seems to accurately describe his role in relation to
JS.
JS and were estranged from one another through much of
1843. As a result, Rigdon’s authority in the presidency during this
period was tenuous at best. On 4 February 1843, JS told that he had decided to make him “councillr to the
fir[s]t Presidency,” possibly to replace Rigdon. Lyman’s appointment was not announced
publicly. Although JS and
Rigdon reconciled a week later, JS again considered removing Rigdon from
the presidency in late March over suspicions that Rigdon had conspired
with former counselor . On 13 August, JS
publicly accused Rigdon of disloyalty and prevailed upon a church
congregation to withdraw Rigdon’s ministerial license
pending an investigation. Evidence suggests that JS privately
Lyman to replace Rigdon sometime in early
October. Though JS openly expressed his dissatisfaction
with Rigdon during the opening session of the church’s October
conference, the assembly ultimately voted to retain Rigdon as a member
of the First Presidency.
August–December 1843
Joseph Smith, president
, associate president
, counselor
, counselor
, counselor
Church Patriarch
was appointed of the in 1834 and served
in that position until his death in September 1840. Prior to his death, Smith ordained his son as his successor. In 1841, JS dictated a revelation that appointed to the First Presidency so that Hyrum Smith could
“take the office of priesthood and patriarch, which was appointed unto
him by his father by blessing and also by right.” That same revelation
appointed Hyrum Smith, as patriarch, to hold the sealing power and to be
“a prophet and a seer and a revelator unto my church as well as my
servant Joseph.”
Hyrum Smith functioned in this office for the remainder of his life.
August–December 1843
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
When the
was originally organized in
1835, the group included the first six men listed in this chart. By 1841, the other six
members of the original quorum had died or become disaffected. The final six men on the list joined
the quorum between 1838 and 1841 to replace those members.
August–December 1843
Presidents of the Seventy
Three
of the were organized in 1835 and 1836, but by 1837, all
seventies were included in one quorum. Unlike most quorums in the
church, which were presided over by a presidency consisting of one
president and two counselors, the Quorums of the Seventy were presided
over by seven presidents. In 1835, JS instructed that “the seventh
president of these presidents is to preside over the six.” Throughout the period
covered in this volume, the same seven men served as presidents of the
Seventy. It is uncertain whether any one of the presidents was presiding
over the others during the period covered in this volume. The order in
which they are listed reflects the order in which they were named in an
1841 revelation regarding the church in .