The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power - D.Michael Quinn

D. Michael Quinn, a former research assistant to the Church Historian's Office, has accumulated many sources to paint the history he portrays. He shows the reader that the "church" as it is structured today with defined Priesthood offices and responsibilities was not how it always was. These offices evolved over time and as such required previous revelations to be revised and events from the past to be retroactively documented to fit Joseph Smith's evolving concept of "church" and authority.

Quinn then moves onto the succession crisis after the death of Joseph Smith and how there were MANY valid succession claims, each with considered merit. The problem being that Joseph Smith never felt the need to declare his replacement as he believed he would usher in the millennium and there would be no need to prepare a replacement any time soon (despite the fact he named various men as his successor over the years).

Half the book (as with all Quinn books) is made up of footnotes and sources. As Joseph Smith himself stated "No man knows my history" and this rendition is Quinn's (informed) version and subject to rare cases of personal conjecture. However, whatever your view, you cannot fault his research efforts.

In summary, this book, provides evidence that the early LDS church had no qualms in rewriting history to hide or change previously recorded events that either contradict the current doctrinal standpoint, or past accounts that undermine their authority claims as God's true church.

Highlights for me:

Organising a Church

• The concept of "church" evolved over time - early revelations rejected the idea of an "organised" church (p.5). D&C 4 rejects the need for Priesthood authority - instead, "faith, hope, charity & love" qualifies someone to represent God (p. 6).

• Book of Commandments Section 10: Joseph Smith was commanded to translate Book of Mormon and be granted "no other gift". This revelation was later altered to indicate this was the first of many gifts, justifying Joseph Smith setting up a church and his many future roles (p. 9). 

• The church was organised in Manchester (not Fayette) as recorded in the 1833 Book of Commandments (later edited) (p. 296).

Priesthood

• No evidence for angelic visitations restoring the Priesthoods found prior to 1835. Instead, lots of evidence that there was no need for priesthood (pp. 15-27).

• Footnote #141: Joseph Smith defined the office of "Elder" as the highest church office in 1830. Then the office of high priest became the highest office in 1831. In 1843, the office of patriarch was declared the highest office in the church. After Joseph Smith's death, Brigham Young defines office of Apostle the highest authority on earth  (p. 317).

• In 1843, the Melchizedek priesthood was extended to women through an endowment ceremony, rather than ordination to a church office (p. 36).

Bishop

• D&C 107 requires a man to be ordained a high priest before he could be ordained a bishop. However, Edward Partridge served as a bishop without high priest ordination - as the office of high priest did not exist until 4 months after Partridge was ordained a bishop (p. 70).

Apostle

• In 1830, "Elder" was the highest office in the Church ("apostle" was not an ordained office until 1835). Instead, an "apostle" was one who had visions, specifically, an original witness of the Book of Mormon: 1 (Joseph Smith) + 3 witnesses + 8 witnesses = 12 apostles (pp. 11-12).

• Prior to 1832, "apostle" was a term referring to missionaries (p. 57).

• According to Brigham Young, he and Heber C Kimball were ordained Apostles in 1835, but they were Elders only - they were not ordained to the high priesthood (pp. 30, 351).

• Apostles in 1835 had no authority to ordain or set apart any Stake offices. As stated in revelation, the Twelve apostles had no authority where there was a Stake High Council (p. 57).

• The Twelve apostles had no jurisdiction in a Stake, but were a travelling high council instead, to preside "where there is no presidency established". This was retroactively replaced later by Brigham Young with "where there is a presidency established" - where "presidency" is referring to a Stake (p. 59).

• The Twelve apostles were far from next in line to the 1st Presidency (in 1836, they were ranked 6th) (pp. 60-61).

• D&C 107:22-24 Apostles were NOT to choose the 1st Presidency (rather were on equal standing with the 1st Presidency). The stake high council has higher power than the Twelve within Zion (pp. 157-158).

• The Seventy were also ordained apostles according to Brigham Young (p.68).

Patriarch

• The Patriarch gave patriarchal blessings to the fatherless. Otherwise, it was fathers who gave these blessings to their children, unless they granted "permission" to the Patriarch. This policy later changed (p. 52).

• John Young Snr. was ordained Patriarch in Aug 1834 before Joseph Smith Snr. who was ordained Patriarch on 6 Dec 1834 (not 18 Dec 1833 as recorded in official history) (pp. 46-47).

• Joseph Smith's 1833 priesthood plan for Zion excludes any reference to Apostles or Patriarch (p. 50).

The Danites (pp. 93-103)

• Joseph Smith discusses killing an anti-Mormon (Grandison Newell) - June 1837 (p. 91).

• Quorum of the Twelve president Thomas B Marsh is excommunicated for speaking out about the Danite atrocities (p. 97).

• Motivation for the Bogg's extermination order and the attack on Haun's Mill was from the Mormon actions in the Battle of Crooked River, where Mormons attacked and killed State troops (p. 100).

• Statement by Joseph Smith justifying breaking God's commandments (e.g. killing a man - leading to the concept of Blood Atonement) (p. 112).

• The above view justifies Orrin Porter Rockwell shooting Boggs. Two accounts testify Joseph Smith authorised it (p. 113).

Martydom

• Joseph Smith, while in Carthage Jail sends orders to the Nauvoo Legion to come to Carthage and free him (June 26th). This was ignored, unbeknown to Joseph Smith. When on June 27th, 250 men approached Carthage Jail, Joseph Smith made comment they were the men coming to rescue him (p. 141).

• Footnote #197: Contrary to the account given in History of the Church, Joseph Smith jumped out the window of Carthage jail prior to being shot. Once on the ground, he was propped up against the well, stabbed with bayonets, shot and killed (p. 374-375).

• Joseph Smith prophesied a year before his died he could not be killed within 5 years of that time. In addition, the temple would be completed before he died - an assurance direct from the Almighty. Early Mormons believed Joseph Smith would usher in the Second Coming, hence no need to plan a succession (p. 144).

• Joseph Smith in the day and weeks leading to his death disbanded the Council of Fifty, asked all minutes destroyed, told the brethren to destroy their temple garments and was to abandon polygamy (pp. 145-148). Opinion is that he was ditching the controversial aspects of his regime to avoid prosecution and/or acknowledge he had gone too far.

Succession

• Hyrum publicly designated as Joseph Smith's successor ("by birth-right") - July 1843 (p. 55).

• Emma publicly promotes William Marks, president of the Nauvoo High Council, as successor (both are anti-polygamy). Note the Stake High Council have higher authority than the travelling Twelve apostles (p. 159).

• The History of the Church is edited after Joseph Smith's death, adding a line to counter the 1st Presidency's power over the Twelve (p. 161).

• Footnote #117: Heber C  Kimball testifies of Brigham Young's transformation into image of Joseph Smith…but was not even present!!! (p. 394)

• Brigham Young ordained 400+ men to the office of seventy, transferring them from previously held Stake overseen offices (deacons, teachers, priests & elders). Now there were 35 quorums of Seventy, transferring 2500 men from stake jurisdiction (High Council) to the Twelve - the Seventy were under the jurisdiction of the Twelve in accordance with the 1835 revelation. Thus, most priesthood holders were now under Brigham Young's jurisdiction. Brigham Young also called 80 high priests to leave Nauvoo & preside over branches, thus putting them under the authority of the Twelve. Three months later he repeats this with another 50 high priests (pp. 174-175).

• 4 Feb 1845, Brigham Young calls the Council of Fifty for the first time since 1844, not inviting those who opposed to him, who were subsequently dropped, along with all non-Mormons (p. 176).

• Brigham Young wants to form a presidency separated from the Quorum of the Twelve, thus separating the Apostles from church governance. Many meetings are held and many votes in opposition (pp. 245-249).

• Brigham Young & his counsellors are never ordained or set apart. Lorenzo Snow is the first president to be set apart and NOT ordained (1898). Not until 1951 does David O McKay becomes the first President to be "ordained" (pp. 252-253).

• In 1875, Brigham Young demotes 2 senior apostles (Orson Pratt & Orson Hyde), making John Taylor next in line. However Brigham Young does not sustain him as President of the Twelve due to previous conflicts. Brigham Young (who dies in 1877) had no intention of letting John Taylor become the next President (p. 254).

• The senior apostle was not automatically the next Church president - there was a push to have younger apostles take on this mantle (p. 255).

• In 1970 (the death of David O McKay), it is proposed that Joseph F Smith NOT become the next president due to failing mental state and health, and instead ordain Harold B Lee.  The Twelve entertain this idea. However, Smith does a deal with Lee who supports him as President and Lee becomes 1st counsellor. However the first phase of this idea is ratified in 1978 when the "emeritus" status is introduced to the Seventy for failing health/mind members (pp. 257-260).

• Footnote #47: From 1835, seniority in the Quorum of Twelve was by age, with changes in this occurring through to today being longest serving quorum member (p. 456).

Miscellaneous

• Prior to 1835, no mention of Elijah in accounts of Joseph Smith history. Instead, in 1838, Joseph Smith added a previously unknown 1823 revelation into the Moroni visitation story, regarding Elijah and the concepts of restoring "keys" (p. 35).

• Joseph Smith performs marriage in Ohio (Nov 1835) - the bride was undivorced and Joseph Smith held no licence to do so (p. 88).

• Joseph Smith violates the laws in regards to performing marriages. Other Mormon ethics involving counterfeiting, stealing, threats, physical attacks, killing, bribery etc (p. 89).

• Word of Wisdom revelation encourages the use of "mild drinks" made from barley…in other words…beer! (p. 619)

• Joseph Smith "translates" the Kinderhook plates, later confirmed to be a hoax (so what did Joseph Smith mean then by "translate"? (p. 638)

• Adam introduced in 1839 as the archangel "Michael" and as supreme key to authority (p. 36).

• John Smith, Assistant 1st Presidency member was in charge of the migration efforts from Missouri to Illinois, NOT Brigham Young, as emphasised in official Church History (pp. 63-64).

• "Wards" were established in Nauvoo & were political boundaries. They became ecclesiastical boundaries later in Salt Lake City (pp. 72-73).

• The pre-1842 view was separation of church and state. This reversed in 1842 (p. 111).

• Everyone who received endowments in the Nauvoo Temple were added to the "Anointed Quorum" and attended a prayer meeting in temple. They were also members of the "First Quorum". However once they numbered in the thousands (within weeks) the temple could no longer accommodate them and this practice ceased (p. 537).

• Brigham Young announces the Millennium has already commenced (p. 178).

• Eleusium Mysteries (1837) describe most aspects of the temple ceremonies (p. 626).

• In 1845, curses are added to the endowment ceremony, against the murderers of Joseph Smith (p. 179).