| Joseph Smith and his counselors, or assistant
presidents. David Whitmer and his assistant presidents. |
| February 17, 1834 |
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| President of the church = president of the high council |
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The president of the church, who is also the president of
the [high] Council, is appointed by the voice
of the Saviour and acknowledged in his administration by the voice of the
Church … He is assisted by two
other presidents, appointed in the same manner. |
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¶ Minutes
of February 17, 1834 (revised)
¶ D&C 102:9 |
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| February 19, 1834 |
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| Assistant presidents |
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At a meeting called to ratify "the
constitution" of the high council, Joseph blesses Sidney Rigdon and
Frederick G. Williams as "the two assistant
presidents." Theoretically they could have been assistant presidents
of the high council. |
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Minutes
of February 19, 1834 |
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| July 3, 1834 |
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| First president of high council and assistants |
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The High Priests of Zion assembled for the purpose of organizing
a general Council of High Priests … Proceeded to make choice of the President. It was agreed
that David Whitmer should be the first
President and to be assisted by William W. Phelps and John
Whitmer. |
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Minutes
of July 3, 1834 |
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| July 7, 1834 |
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| President of high council and assistants |
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Joseph ordains "the three Presidents, David
Whitmer as President and William W. Phelps & John
Whitmer assistants and their twelve Counsillors." |
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¶ Minutes
of July 7, 1834 |
| President of the Church in Zion |
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Proposed by W. W. Phelps that br. David
Whitmer the President
of the Church in Zion should go to Kirtland as being
one of the three witnesses and assist in promoting the cause of Christ. |
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¶ Minutes
of July 7, 1834 |
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| November 1834 |
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| Sidney one of the presidents of the church |
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… they are from the pen of our worthy brother and
friend, S. RIGDON, one of the Presidents of the church of the Latter Day
Saints. |
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Oliver Cowdery to W. W. Phelps, n.d., MA
1, no.2 (Nov. 1834): 26. |
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| December 1834 |
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| Joseph one of the presidents of the church |
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You will recollect that I informed you, in my letter published
in … [the first issue] that this history would necessarily embrace
the life and character of our estemed friend and brother, J. Smith Jr.
one of the presidents of the church … |
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Oliver Cowdery to W. W. Phelps, n.d., MA
1, no.2 (Dec. 1834): 42. |
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| September 26, 1835 |
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| Council of the Presidency (6) |
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The Council of the Presidency of the Church
of the Latter Day Saints, consisting of Joseph Smith Junr., Sidney
Rigdon,
David Whitmer, W.
W. Phelps, John
Whitmer, Hyrum Smith & Oliver Cowdery met … |
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Minutes of September
26, 1835 |
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| September 28, 1835 |
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| Joseph, Sidney, Frederick presidents of
the church |
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Joseph Smith, Sen. was ordained a president and patriarch,
under the hands of his son Joseph, myself, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick
G. Williams, presidents of the church. |
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Transcript of Oliver Cowdery introduction
to the Joseph Smith Sr. Patriarchal Blessing Book, 1:9 in Prince papers,
Marriott Library, qtd. and dated in Origins, 46. |
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| January 30, 1836 |
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| Presidency of the church |
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… a conference of the Presidency of the
church of the Latter Day Saints … |
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Minutes of January
30, 1836 (Kirtland) |
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Alvah Beaman, president of the elders, is required to "give
to the Presidents of the Church, a list …" |
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March 27, 1836
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President J. Smith jr. then rose, and after a few preliminary
remarks, presented the several Presidents of the church, then present,
to the several quorums respectively, and then to the church as being equal
with himself, acknowledging them to be Prophets and Seers. |
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MA 2, no.6
(Mar. 1836): 277. |
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| May 1837 |
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| Local heads regulate all concerns |
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Minutes of a meeting attended by all local leaders and "two
of the Apostles" refers to "the heads of the Church or in other
words, that those who have been annointed and set apart to regulate the
preaching in the County of Caldwell, and the regions roundabout and all
other matters that concerns the management of the said Church." |
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¶ Minutes
of May 1837 (Far West) |
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| September 3, 1837 |
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| Seven first presidents |
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S Rigdon then presented Joseph Smith Jr to … uphold
him, as the Prest. of the whole Church |
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Joseph Smith letter. See ¶ Minutes
of September 3, 1837 (Kirtland) |
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Prest Smith then presented S. Rigdon & F. G. Williams
for his counselors, the three constituting three first Prest of the Church. … |
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| Includes assistant counselors |
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Prest. Smith then introdused O. Cowdery, J. Smith Sen.—Hyrum
Smith & John Smith for assistant Councilors. These last four together
with the three fi<r>st are to be concidred the heads of the Church,
Carried unanymously. |
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| John Smith a president |
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… John Smith having been chosen one of the Presidents
of the church … |
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¶ Minutes
of September 3, 1837 (Kirtland) |
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| November 7, 1837 |
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| First president
of whole church |
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Thomas B. Marsh nominates
Joseph Smith to be "the first President
of the whole Church, to preside over the same." |
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Minutes
of November 7, 1837 |
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| January 20, 1838 |
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| Discuss the three
presidents of Zion and Oliver Cowdery |
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[Brethren discuss activities of]
the Presidents in this place viz David Whitmer W.
W. Phelps John Whitmer and Oliver
Cowdery and we being grieved at their doings after {varie} various discussions
appointed a committee to visit them and enquire into their feelings and
determinations. |
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Minutes of January
20, 1838 |
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| April 13, 1838 |
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| David one of the presidents |
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You sir with a majority of this
Church have decided that certain Councils were legal by which it is said
I have been deprived of my office as one of the Presidents of this Church
I have thought and still think they were not agreeable to the revelations
of God … |
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David Whitmer to John Murdock, ¶ Minutes
of April 13, 1838 |
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| April 13, 1838 |
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| The Presidents office |
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… he did not acquiece in the proceedings
of the High Council and Church in cutting off W.
W. Phelps & John Whitmer from
the Presidents office. |
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¶ Minutes
of April 14, 1838 |
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| January 15, 1841 |
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| First Presidency (3) |
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A Proclamation of the First Presidency of the
Church to the Saints
Scattered Abroad is signed Joseph Smith / Sidney Rigdon / Hyrum Smith / "Presidents
of the Church." |
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HC 2:273. |
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Presidents of the High Priesthood
New York Offices
Ohio Offices
Doctrine and Practices
|