Book of Mormon Gospel Topics - Latter Day Saints

Leadership Succession

LDS Summary:

The LDS changed leadership succession from appointed by God and being a High Priest to based on the ages of the Apostles (inconsistent with LDS D&C Sections 28, 43, 102, and 112)

RLDS Summary:

The RLDS suceession is based on appointment from God and being a High Priest

Scripture Comparison: Both the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that God appoints the head of the Church, who has the keys to His revelations, and God appoints the successor of the head of the Church
LDS	RLDS / Restoration
LDS D&C Section 28 5 But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom; 6 And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; 7 For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.	RLDS D&C Section 27 2d But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom; and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church, for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelations, which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.

Scripture Comparison:

Both the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that God appoints the prophet through which He gives revelations and a prophet is appointed by the previous prophet. And, to NOT receive revelations through anyone that is not appointed by God.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

LDS D&C Section 43
1 O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you.
2 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

RLDS D&C Section 43
1a O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you: for, behold, verily, verily I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
1b And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
2a But verily, verily I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power, except to appoint another in his stead;
2b and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations, or commandments; and this I give unto you, that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
2c For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me, shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received, and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

Scripture Comparison:

Both the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that the Presidency is filled by revelation and that any one President or Councilor has authority to preside over the Council if the others in the Presidency are absent.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

LDS D&C Section 102
9 The president of the church, who is also the president of the council, is appointed by revelation, and acknowledged in his administration by the voice of the church.
10 And it is according to the dignity of his office that he should preside over the council of the church; and it is his privilege to be assisted by two other presidents, appointed after the same manner that he himself was appointed.
11 And in case of the absence of one or both of those who are appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the council without an assistant; and in case he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them.

RLDS D&C Section 99
6a The president of the church, who is also the president of the council, is appointed by revelation, and acknowledged, in his administration, by the voice of the church;
6b and it is according to the dignity of his office, that he should preside over the high council of the church; and it is his privilege to be assisted by two other presidents, appointed after the same manner that he himself was appointed;
6c and in case of the absence of one or both of those who are appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the council without an assistant; and in case that he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them.

Scripture Comparison:

Both the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that the Quorums of the Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Quorum of the Seventy all can have equal authority only if the full quorum is unanimous (or a unanimous majority if special circumstances do not permit as full Quorum).

Brigham Young tried to use this Section to change the church leadership from the Presidency to the Apostles.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

LDS D&C Section 107
23 The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
24 And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.
25 The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
26 And they form a quorum, equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named.
27 And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other—
28 A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise—
29 Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men.

RLDS D&C Section 104
11c The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ, in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
11d And they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.
11e The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world--thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling; and they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the twelve especial witnesses, or apostles, just named.
11f And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
11g (A majority may form a quorum, when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
11h Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchisedec, and were righteous and holy men.

Scripture Comparison:

Both the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that the Presidency is called by God ("whom I have sent") and leads the Twelve Apostles.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

LDS D&C Section 112
14 Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you, I say unto all the Twelve: Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.
15 Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come.
20 Whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me, and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name’s sake unto you.
30 For unto you, the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times,

RLDS D&C Section 105
6a Now, I say unto you,--and what I say unto you I say unto all the Twelve,--Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.
6b Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph, for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him, and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come.
7d whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me, and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those (the First Presidency) whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name's sake unto you.
12a For unto you (the Twelve), and those (the First Presidency), who are appointed with you, to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fullness of times,

May 2, 1835

Joseph Smith Jr. specified that Apostle seniority was based on age - not term of service

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

[LDS] History of the Church, Vol. 2, Chapter 15, page 219
Minutes of a General Council of the Priesthood, May 2, 1835
After the conference was opened, and the Twelve had taken their seats, President Joseph Smith, Jun., said that it would be the duty of the Twelve, when in council, to take their seats together according to age, the oldest to be seated at the head, and preside in the first council, the next oldest in the second, and so on until the youngest had presided; and then begin at the oldest again.

The Twelve then took their seats according to age as follows: Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke S. Johnson William Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson.

[RLDS] Church History, Vol. 1, Chapter 21, page 560
May 2. A grand Council was held in Kirtland...After the conference was opened, and the Twelve had taken their seats, President Joseph Smith, Jr., said that it would be the duty of the Twelve, when in council, to take their seats together according to age, the oldest to be seated at the head, and preside in the fist council, the next oldest in the second, and so on until the youngest had presided; and then begin at the oldest again, etc.

The Twelve then took their seats according to age, as follows: Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke Johnson, William Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson.

June 27, 1844 At the death of Joseph Smith Jr., Lyman Wight was the oldest Apostle (born May 9, 1796), then John E. Page (born February 25, 1799), then Brigham Young (born June 1, 1801)
LDS	RLDS / Restoration

August 8, 1844

After Joseph Smith Jr. was killed and the church leadership could be assembled, a special meeting was convened. The membership voted to sustain the Apostles to remain as Apostles.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 16, page 638, August 8, 1844
The meeting had been previously called, as stated, to choose a guardian, or trustee for said church.

After he had explained matters so satisfactorily that every saint could see that Elijah's mantle had truly fallen upon the 'Twelve,' he ashed [asked] the saints what they wanted. Do you want a guardian, a prophet, a spokesman, or what do you want? If you want any of these officers, signify it by raising your right hand. Not a hand was raised.

Elder [Brigham] Young again resumed; I do not ask this audience to make my council; act for yourselves; if elder Rigdon is your choice manifest it: if the Twelve be the men to counsel you to finish the great work laid out by our departed prophet, say so; and so not break your covenant by murmuring hereafter. When the whole subject was properly explained and understood, and counsellor [counselor] Rigdon refused to have his name voted for as a spokesman or guardian, the question was put, 'all in favor of supporting the Twelve in their calling, (every quorum, man and woman,) signify it by the uplifted hand;' and the vote was unanimous, no hand being raised in the negative.

August 15, 1844

An Epistle of the Twelve (Letter written by the Apostles). After stating that the Apostles will stand in their own place, they state that prophets will be subject to the direction of the Apostles (contradicting LDS D&C 112 / RLDS D&C 105 which states the First Presidency / Prophet leads the Apostles).

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

LDS History of the Church, Vol. 7, Chap. 20, page 250
Let no man presume for a moment that his place will be filled by another; for, remember he stands in his own place, and always will; and the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation stand in their own place and always will, both in time and in eternity, to minister, preside and regulate the affairs of the whole church.

How vain are the imaginations of the children of men, to presume for a moment that the slaughter of one, two or a hundred of the leaders of this church could destroy an organization, so perfect in itself and so harmoniously arranged that it will stand while one member of it is left alive upon the earth. Brethren be not alarmed, for if the Twelve should be taken away still there are powers and offices in existence which will bear the kingdom of God triumphantly victorious in all the world. This church may have prophets many, and apostles many, but they are all to stand in due time in their proper organization, under the direction of those who hold the keys

RLDS History of the Church, Vol. 3, Chap. 1, page 14
Let no man presume for a moment that his place will be filled by another; for, remember he stands in his own place, and always will; and the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation stand in their own place and always will, both in time and in eternity, to minister, preside, and regulate the affairs of the whole church

How vain are the imaginations of the children of men, to presume for a moment that the slaughter of one, two, or a hundred of the leaders of this church could destroy an organization, so perfect in itself and so harmoniously arranged that it will stand while one member of it is left alive upon the earth. Brethren, be not alarmed, for if the Twelve should be taken away, still there are powers and offices in existence which will bear the kingdom of God triumphantly victorious in all the world. This church may have prophets many, and apostles many, but they are all to stand in due time in their proper organization, under the direction of those who hold the keys.

Oct 15, 1844 Brigham Young changed the meaning of the vote at the special conference held Aug 15, 1844 to a position that contradicts LDS D&C 102 / RLDS D&C 99 (the First Presidency are appointed by revelation). The vote only sustained the Apostles as Apostles, not as the Church Presidency.
LDS	RLDS / Restoration
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 19, page 683, Oct 15, 1844 You have all acknowledged that the Twelve were the presidents of the whole church when Joseph was not; and now he has stepped behind the vail [veil], he is not here, and the Twelve are the presidents of the whole church.

October 6, 1845

The General Conference minutes show that William Smith was an Apostle and in Nauvoo but was not present at the General Conference. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was not a "full Quorum" for the votes taken at the Conference (see LDS D&C Sectoin 107, RLDS D&C Section 104).

Other Missing Apostles from the Conference:
John E. Page - Not in Nauvoo
Wilford Woodruff - In England
Orson Hyde - Returned to Nauvoo from New York Oct 17
Lyman Wight - Moving Saints to Texas
Orson Pratt - In New York
Note: Amasa Lyman was not a member of the Quorum of Apostles at this time

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Times and Seasons, Vol 6. No. 16, November 1, 1845
Minutes of the first General Conference, which was ever held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the House of the Lord in the City of Joseph, commencing on Monday October 6th 1845, ten o'clock forenoon. Present-Elder Brigham Young President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; also Elders Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Willard Richards, John Taylor, George A. Smith, and Amasa Lyman: Patriarchs John Smith and Isaac Morley: Presiding Bishops Newel K. Whitney and George Miller: also the authorities of the church generally...Father John Smith, the President of the stake, then arose and presented the Twelve as the Presidents of the whole church; which was seconded and carried unanimously...It was next moved that William Smith be continued and sustained as one of the Twelve Apostles; seconded. Whereupon Elder Pratt arose and said, I have an objection to Brother William continuing in that office. I feel, as an individual, that I cannot, conscientiously, uphold and sustain Brother William as one of the Twelve Apostles, until he thinks different from what he does now. I have many reasons for this, but I will merely mention one or two, which must suffice for the present. In the first place, I have proof positive that he is an aspiring man; that he aspires to uproot and undermine the legal Presidency of the church, that he may occupy the place himself. This he has avowed openly in the east, which I can prove. I have been waiting in all long suffering, for an alteration in Brother William's course, but up to the present time, I have been disappointed. For these two reasons, I would plead for one, that we no longer sustain him in his office, till a proper investigation can be had, and he make satisfaction. I do this individually; I leave others to do as they please. The motion being seconded, a vote was then taken to sustain him, but was lost unanimously.

October 29, 1845

William Smith, an Apostle, was adamant that "Brigham Young is not lawfully or legally the prophet or head of the church." This explains why he did not attend the General Conference on Oct. 6 and why the Quorum of the Apostles were not unanimous when they voted to assume the Presidency of the Church. This means the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles did not have equal authority to the Presidency when they voted to assume the Presidency (see LDS D&C Section 107, RLDS D&C Section 104)

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Warsaw Signal, Vol 2. No. 32, October 29, 1845
What, my brethren, I would ask you, are the claims of Brigham Young to the keys of the church, above the rest of the Twelve? They are keys which Joseph never conferred on Brigham Young, nor was power ever given to him to lead the church in his place as his successor. The church is hereby warned against any such pretensions, as little Joseph, the son of Joseph Smith is the lawful heir to the officer, being the oldest son of the deceased prophet...Brigham Young is not lawfully or legally the prophet or head of the church, and that to claim such a right is usurpation and an act of tyranny; it is robbing the innocent -- the widow and the fatherless...Again, the position of the "Twelve" is defined in the same book, as merely a "traveling high council" to open and make known the kingdom abroad, and not as a local presidency...The Twelve did not ordain me one of their number, nor decree my lineage in the Smith family, and I shall never suffer myself to be controlled by Brigham Young or any of his coadjutors.

June 29, 1856

Heber C. Kimball states that Joseph Smith Jr's sons will "bear off this kingdom to the nations of the earth"

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, page 6, June 29, 1856
At present the Prophet Joseph's boys lay apparently in a state of slumber, everything seems to be perfectly calm with them, but by and by God will wake them up, and they will roar like the thunders of Mount Sinai. There is much work to be done: God is not asleep, and He will wake up our children and they will bear off this kingdom to the nations of the earth, and will bear testimony to the truth of this work, and of the integrity and true character of Joseph, and Hyrum, and Brigham, of Heber, and Jedediah, and the Twelve, and of thousands of others.

Fall 1859

Joseph Smith III received a revelation that he should continue his father's work

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

RLDS History of the Church, Vol. 3, Chap. 12, page 263
During the year 1859 the question of my connection with my father's work was finally determined. I became satisfied that it was my duty. The queries heretofore referred to were one by one being settled; until the final one, where and with whom should my life-labor lie? was the only one left. This was determined by a similar manifestation to others that I had received to this effect: 'The Saints reorganizing at Zarahemla and other places, is the only organized portion of the church accepted by me. I have given them my Spirit, and will continue to do so while they remain humble and faithful.

June 3, 1860

Brigham Young denies that he is the successor of the Church. He stated that Joseph Smith's sons were to be received as successors ("Amen! We are ready to receive you.")

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, page 69, June 3, 1860
What of Joseph Smith's family? What of his boys? I have prayed from the beginning for sister Emma and for the whole family. There is not a man in this Church that has entertained better feelings towards them. Joseph said to me, “God will take care of my children when I am taken.” They are in the hands of God, and when they make their appearance before this people, full of his power, there are none but what will say—"Amen! We are ready to receive you." The brethren testify that brother Brigham is brother Joseph's legal successor. You never heard me say so. I say that I am a good hand to keep the dogs and wolves out of the flock. I do not care a groat who rises up. I do not think anything about being Joseph's successor. That is nothing that concerns me.

Octover, 1861

Brigham Young changed the ordering of Apostles from the age of the Apostle defined by Joseph Smith, Jr. to the length of time as an Apostle based on ordination date

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

John Willard Young, Brigham Young, and the Development of Presidential Succession in the LDS Church, page 118
History of Brigham Young, MSS, October 1861, p. 437, LDS Church Archives, MS CR 100 102
President Young directed the clerk, J. T. Long, to place Brother Taylor's name above Brother Woodruff's as Elder Taylor was ordained four or five months before Elder Woodruff. .. .President Young said the calling was made in accordance with the date of ordination.

April 25, 1863

The Millennial Star changed the "minutes" of the Special Meeting of Aug. 8, 1844 (as reported in the Times and Seasons) from sustaining their calling as "special witnesses of the name of Christ" (LDS D&C 107:23, RLDS D&C 104:11c) to "sole controllers" of the church in direct contradiction to the vote of the church in 1844 who did not want "a guardian, a prophet, a spokesman"

The "minutes" were also changed to now deny LDS D&C Section 102 which states, "in case he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them"

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Millennial Star, Vol. 25, No. 17, page 638, April 25, 1863
I will ask you as Quorums, Do you want brother Rigdon to stand forward as your leader, your guide, your spokesman. President Rigdon wants me to bring up the other question first, and that is, Does the Church want, and is it their only desire to sustain the Twelve as the First Presidency of this people?

Here are the Apostles, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants—they are written on the tablet of my heart. If the Church want the Twelve to stand as the head, the First Presidency of the Church, and at the head of this kingdom in all the world, stand next to Joseph, walk up into their calling, and hold the keys of this kingdom, every man, every woman, every Quorum is now put in order, and you are now the sole controllers of it.

All that are in favor of this, in all the congregation of the Saints, manifest it by holding up the right hand. (There was a universal vote.) If there are any of the contrary mind, every man and every woman who does not want the Twelve to preside, lift up your hands in like manner. (No hands up.) This supersedes the other question, and trying it by Quorums.

May 7, 1874

The Apostles were listed according to their date of entry into the Quorum.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Deseret News, May 13, 1874, Column 1
The Adjourned Forty-fourth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened this morning in the New Tabernacle, at 10 o'clock, on this the 7th day of May, 1874...Of the Twelve Apostles. Orson Pratt, Sen., John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Jr., Albert Carrington.

April 10, 1875

Wilford Woodruff explains the change Brigham Young made in reckoning the Apostle seniority to be continuous Quorum service rather than total service.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Wilford Woodruff, Vol. 7, page 143, April 10, 1875
[Note: Due to the document size, I recommend downloading this document as a PDF and going to absolute page 2395] G. Q. Cannon Presented the Authorities and when He Came to the Twelve John Taylor & Wilford Woodruff was put before Orson Hyde, & Orson Pratt, upon this principle. John Taylor was Ordained to the Apostleship Some days before I was & O. Hyde & O. Pratt had both been out of the Church and had returned to the Church & been ordained into the Quorum of the Twelve apostle Since Brother Taylor & W. Woodruff had been Ordained so we both stood ahead of them in the Quorum.

April 14, 1875

Shows the change in the Apostle "seniority" from the 1874 Annual Conference as explained in Wilford Woodruff's journal entry for April 10, 1875

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Deseret News, April 14, 1875, page 168, column 2
The authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were presented to the Conference By Elder Geo. Q. Cannon, all of whom were unanimously sustained by the uplifted hand of over ten thousand Saints present as follows—
John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Sen., Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young, Jr., Joseph F. Smith and Albert Carrington, members of the Quorum of the Twelve.

1919

John W. Rushton summarizes the procedure described in the D&C for succession that the LDS did not follow

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Latter Day Saints Question of Identity, page. 2
From 1830 to June 27th, 1844-, there was but one church, having one faith, one ritual, and one organization. On the above date, Joseph Smith was assassinated and the church disrupted. From this time the church, divided into several factions, was victimized by the antagonisms of the would-be leaders. Brigham Young, the chief aspirant, at this time was the president of the Twelve Apostles and he had a large following, though ultimately only a small percentage of the original church accepted his leadership.

This confusion should not have occurred, because the accepted law of the church as contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants (43:2; 99:6; also Utah Edition 43:2-7; 102:9) is very explicit in providing for the selection of a new president of the church. Briefly stated, the law is as follows: The incumbent by revelation appoints or sets apart his successor, and the church has the constitutional right to approve or reject the appointment by vote. In accord with this constitutional law, Joseph Smith publicly set apart his son (also named Joseph) to succeed him. Therefore, when death overtook Joseph Smith, the church at that time had its duty clearly defined.

Currently Posted on the LDS Newsroom

John W. Rushton summarizes the procedure described in the D&C for succession that the LDS did not follow. This procedure is not consistent with LDS D&C 102 / RLDS D&C 99 where the Presidency is chosen by revelation and the President and Councilors can only be removed by revelation

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
When the president of the Church passes away, the following events take place:
1. The First Presidency is automatically dissolved.
2. The two counselors in the First Presidency revert to their places of seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by the date on which a person was ordained to the Twelve, not by age.

Latter Day Saints - What do they Truly Believe (about Leadership Succession)?

Leadership Succession

LDS Summary:

RLDS Summary:

Scripture Comparison:

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Scripture Comparison:

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Scripture Comparison:

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Scripture Comparison:

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Scripture Comparison:

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

May 2, 1835

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

June 27, 1844

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

August 8, 1844

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

August 15, 1844

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Oct 15, 1844

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

October 6, 1845

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

October 29, 1845

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

June 29, 1856

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Fall 1859

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

June 3, 1860

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Octover, 1861

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

April 25, 1863

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

May 7, 1874

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

April 10, 1875

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

April 14, 1875

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

1919

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Currently Posted on the LDS Newsroom

LDS

RLDS / Restoration