Hyrum Smith Series by Denver Snuffer

Hyrum Smith Hyrum Smith would eventually replace Joseph Smith as the prophet of the church. However, in 1829 he was given a revelation through his younger brother, Joseph. This was given before the Book of Mormon was published, before a church was organized, and while the work of the new Dispensation was in its very first stages. The content, however, is important. Not just for Hyrum, but for all of us. Just like others, Hyrum was reminded of what it took to be called to the work: whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. (D&C 11: 4, see 3 also.) It wasnt an extensive application and approval process, but it was based on the willingness to do what God wanted that created the call of God to the laborer. Without ordination, or setting apart, the relationship was between the individual and God. It is an interesting series of revelations at the beginning of the work which uniformly leave Gods calling to the individual, based on their desire. (See, e.g., D&C 4: 3; D&C 12: 4; among others.) The first stage, however, was limited to crying repentance. Hyrum was to say nothing but repentance unto this generation. (D&C 11: 9.) The potential for Hyrum doing more later was certain, provided he would follow the Lords counsel. (D&C 11: 10.) Hyrum was instructed on how to know he was proceeding in the right way: put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good--yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. (D&C 11: 12.) Then, despite his desire and the call, Hyrum was told to temporarily stand down. The Lord instructs him: Behold, I command you that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called. Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine. (D&C 11: 15-16.) The Lord told Hyrum essentially to stand down and not do anything, even if he were called to the work. There was more needed before he could be of use to the Lord. He needed to accomplish one work: Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength. (D&C 11: 20.) Then, one of the great voices of the Restoration was told: Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and they shall your tongue be loosed. (D&C 11: 21.) Hyrum needed to study. He needed to fill himself with information before he began his work. Hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation,

and then shall all things be added thereto. (D&C 11: 22.) Hyrum had homework to do. He needed to study things. Hyrum would become the church prophet and Patriarch. He would be co-president and cotestator with his younger brother, Joseph. Joseph had several other brothers, but it was Hyrum who followed the formula given him by the Lord. It was Hyrum who qualified himself to the work by his diligence and heed. Hyrum was the designated successor to Joseph as the head of the church. But Hyrum fell first, and he and his younger brother died martyrs. Hyrum Smith, Part 2 In order to have a meaningful discussion about Hyrum, it is necessary to provide background information that may seem strange to most modern Latter-day Saints. We have a much different story today than the story told in the beginning. To communicate across the barrier of mistaken and incomplete understanding, there are some ideas that seem strange that are required as background to begin to explain why Hyrum was so significant. Hyrum was given the calling of Priesthood and Patriarch in a revelation in January, 1841. (D&C 124: 91.) That seems a curious statement to us, since everyone is presumed to have held the priesthood as soon as they were elders in the church. In the beginning, however, it was not understood the same way it is now. The offices of elder, like other offices, (priests, deacons, teachers) were offices in the church. (D&C 20: 38.) They were not coincidental to having priesthood. They were offices... in the church of Christ. (This was the original name of the church.) These offices were elected, approved by common consent, and then filled by those elected. After Section 107, the two things (church office and priesthood) were conflated to mean the same thing. The office belongs to the church, and whether there is priesthood present or not, the right to preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, lay on hands for the Holy Ghost, bless and pass the sacrament, are all things which the Lord commissioned the church to perform. This is also why, at the time Joseph and Oliver received only the Aaronic Priesthood, (JS-H 1: 69) they began to call one another the First and Second elder of the church. (JS-H 1: 72.) This is also why Joseph and Oliver received the Holy Ghost when baptized (JS-H 1: 73) even though the angel said the priesthood given did not have the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. (JS-H 1: 70.) They had the right to baptize, they were called the First and Second elders of the church, but they did not have the power of laying on hands for the Holy Ghost. This is not inconsistent, but it is different from what we now overlay onto the idea of priesthood. Today we are more confused than ever even when we think ourselves in possession of the truth. In any event, when the January 1841 revelation came, Hyrum had already proven valiant. The time arrived when the Lord wanted Hyrum to be ordained to Priesthood and Patriarch so that he might hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people. (D&C 124: 93.) This same revelation appointed another prophet, and a seer, and a revelator

unto [the Lords] church. (D&C 124: 94.) This was the word of the Lord establishing this status and entitling Hyrum to claim this position. He was then to act in concert also with my servant Joseph as co-president of the church. (D&C 124: 95.) Joseph had restored to him all things and could ask and the Lord would make all things known unto him (D&C 132: 45). Hyrum was likewise able to ask and receive answers from the Lord. (D&C 124: 95.) Because of this ordination by the word of the Lord, Hyrum was given the power to seal: Whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (D&C 124: 93.) These rights made him co-equal with Joseph, though Hyrum always acted only in concert with Joseph. He was meek, like Moses (Numbers 12: 3) and like Nephi, son of Helaman (Helaman 10: 5). They could be trusted by the Lord because they would do what the Lord wanted, not what they wanted. (See also Alma 14: 10-11.) This is the kind of man Hyrum was. He was trusted by the Lord, and chose to die with his brother. Had he lived, He would have been Josephs successor. Brigham Young said this during the debates over who should succeed Joseph as the president: Did Joseph Smith ordain any man to take his place? He did. Who was it? It was Hyrum... (Times & Seasons, October 15, 1844, Vol. 5, p. 683.) This is an interesting fact because Hyrum was not a member of the Quorum of the Twelve at the time he was killed. However, even Brigham Young, who won the initial debate having argued that the twelve should lead, and then ultimately won an election in December 1847 to become the president of the church, acknowledged it was Hyrums right to succeed Joseph. With Hyrum gone, and without any clear direction to follow, the church elected first the twelve, and then Brigham Young. Brigham Young was never ordained to be church president. He was elected. The initial offices of Elder, Priest, Teacher, Deacon were elected positions. Brigham Young viewed the office of church president as similarly elected. He explained how he thought this should operate. Anyone could lead the church. All that was required was an election, then the prayers of the members. Here is the system: Take any man in this kingdom, and if the people say that they will make him a President, or a Bishop, or elect him to fill any other office, and the faith of the people is concentrated to receive light through that officer or pipe laid by the power of the Priesthood from the throne of God, you might as well try to move the heavens as to receive anything wrong through that conductor. No matter whom you elect for an officer, if your faith is concentrated in him through whom to receive the things which he is appointed to administer in, light will come to you. Let a presiding officer or a Bishop turn away from righteousness, and the Lord Almighty would give him the lock-jaw, if he could not stop his mouth in any other way, or send a fit of numb palsy on him, so that he could not act, as sure as the people over whom he presided were right, that they might not be led

astray. (Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Vol. 3, p. 1379, November 29, 1857; the talk can also found at JD Vol. 6 beginning on p. 93.) In this system, the power of being elected coupled with the members prayers were enough to always insure the answers you got through that leader were exactly perfect. This was in the early days when church leaders were elected to office. Church authorities may offer names, but the congregation, stake, or church members elected them to office. With Hyrums death, we lost something of great value. If he had outlived Joseph, he would have been the unchallenged church president. His succession would have set the pattern for later church presidents. They each would have chosen their own successors before they died. (See D&C 43: 2-5.) By the time Brigham Young established the twelve as the seat of power, the pattern was set. Instead of the replacement being chosen by the sitting president through revelation, the senior apostle was presumed to be the next in line. Todays legal structure using the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the succession is automatic. The corporations sole member is the longest tenured apostle. This is in place because Hyrum did not outlive Joseph. So we are all affected by the loss of Josephs brother. Hyrum Smith, Part 3 In November 1842, Hyrum Smith wrote the following letter to the church. I reprint it in whole, without comment. Joseph was irritated because the church did not seem to realize Hyrum was entitled to lead the church. William Claytons Journal records on July 16, 1843 that Joseph said the following: Hyrum held the office of prophet to the church by birthright... the Saints must regard Hyrum for he has authority. The letter (reproduced below) probably should have been included in the D&C. It tells a great deal about the kind of leader Hyrum Smith would have made had he survived Josephs death: To our well beloved brother Parley P. Pratt, and to the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England, and scattered abroad throughout all Europe, and to the Saints Greeting: Whereas, in times past persons have been permitted to gather with the Saints at Nauvoo, in North Americasuch as husbands leaving their wives and children behind; also, such as wives leaving their husbands, and such as husbands leaving their wives who have no children, and some because their companions are unbelievers. All this kind of proceedings we consider to be erroneous and for want of proper information. And the same should be taught to all the Saints, and not suffer families to be broken up on any account whatever if it be possible to avoid it. Suffer no man to leave his wife because she is an unbeliever. These things are an evil and must be forbidden by the authorities of the church or they will come under condemnation; for the gathering is not in hast nor by flight, but to prepare all things before you, and you know not but

the unbeliever may be converted and the Lord heal him; but let the believers exercise faith in God, and the unbelieving husband shall be sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife by the believing husband, and families are preserved and saved from a great evil which we have seen verified before our eyes. Behold this is a wicked generation, full of lyings, and deceit, and craftiness; and the children of the wicked are wiser than the children of light; that is, they are more crafty; and it seems that it has been the case in all ages of the world. And the man who leaves his wife and travels to a foreign nation, has his mind overpowered with darkness, and Satan deceived him and flatters him with the graces of the harlot, and before he is aware he is disgraced forever; and greater is the danger for the woman that leaves her husband. The evils resulting from such proceedings are of such a nature as to oblige us to cut them off from the church. And we also forbid that a woman leave her husband because he is an unbeliever. We also forbid that a man shall leave his wife because she is an unbeliever. If he be a bad man (i.e., the believer) there is a law to remedy that evil. And if the law divorce them, then they are at liberty; otherwise they are bound as long as they two shall live, and it is not our prerogative to go beyond this; if we do it, it will be at the expense of our reputation. These things we have written in plainness and we desire that they should be publicly known, and request this to be published in the STAR. May the Lord bestow his blessings upon all the Saints richly, and hasten the gathering, and bring about the fullness of the everlasting covenant are the prayers of your brethren. Written by Hyrum Smith, patriarch.