Apostle and Presiding Patriarch
William Smith
1811–1894
1 topic · 2 dated events
Their part in each topic
The Succession Crisis of 1844
Apostle and Presiding Patriarch
The last surviving brother of Joseph and Hyrum. Ordained Presiding Patriarch in May 1845, he spent that summer arguing that the office carried the right to lead and that 'little Joseph' was the rightful heir, published a pamphlet in October 1845 attacking Brigham Young, and was cut off. He then attached himself to Strang, later to Lyman Wight, and his teaching of lineal priesthood fed directly into the Reorganization.
In the timeline
2 events across 1 topics, chronological. Only events this person was actually part of — present at, responsible for, or the subject of — not every event where the name comes up.
William Smith ordained Presiding Patriarch, then breaks
The Twelve ordained William Smith Presiding Patriarch. He spent the summer arguing that the office carried a right to lead, wrote to the Times and Seasons emphasizing that he was the only surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr., and in October published a pamphlet charging that Brigham Young privately conceded 'little Joseph' was the rightful heir but thought it imprudent to say so. He was cut off, and later allied with Strang and then with Lyman Wight.
The Voree plates
Four of Strang's followers, digging where he directed under a tree at Voree, Wisconsin, unearthed three small brass plates covered with an alphabetical and pictorial record. Strang translated them within days and published them with witness statements. Martin Harris, three Whitmers, Hiram Page, William Smith and Lucy Mack Smith all followed Strang for a time.
Appears alongside
People who share the most dated events with William Smith.
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