President Brigham Young Leads the Saints
Brigham Young, ca. 1846
The tragic murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in June 1844 sent shockwaves through Nauvoo. Thousand experienced a sense of deep personal loss; it was difficult to conceive of another filing Joseph’s shoes. Despair and bewilderment combined with pervasive sorrow as the reality of the calamity settled over the city.
Some, fearing that the internal dissension that had contributed to the Prophet’s death would intensify, must have wondered whether the Church could survive. The smooth transition that we all currently take for granted following the death of the President of the Church, has not always been so. Much of the way we do things now has slowly been worked out over time.
This lesson discusses the process of succession in the Presidency of the Church and describes how Brigham Young began to prepare the Saints for their westward trek to the Salt Lake Valley.
OVERVIEW:
Reading assignment: Doctrine and Covenants 107:22–24; Our Heritage,pages 66–71.
- The Prophet Joseph Smith gave the Twelve the keys of the kingdom and taught the principles of succession in the Presidency.
- After Joseph Smith’s martyrdom, the Twelve presided over the Church until Brigham Young was sustained as President.
- Before leaving Nauvoo, the Saints received temple ordinances.
- The Saints experienced trials and miracles as they began journeying west.
Here is the handout for this week’s lesson: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 33.
pax vobiscum
Filed under: Gospel Doctrine Tagged: | Christianity, Church History, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Doctrine, History, LDS, LDS Church Sucession, Mormon, Religion
