Brigham Young Brigham Young Leads the Leads the ChurchChurch

““Lesson 38: Brigham Young Lesson 38: Brigham Young Leads the Church,” Leads the Church,” Primary Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, Church History, (1997),21(1997),21

Doctor Doctor Teacher Teacher Police officer Police officer Firefighter Firefighter Ticket taker Ticket taker

Authority to give prescriptions Authority to give prescriptions for medicine for medicine

Authority to give grades on Authority to give grades on your report card your report card

Authority to stop criminals Authority to stop criminals Authority to use firefighting Authority to use firefighting

equipment equipment Authority to let you into a Authority to let you into a

movie, concert, or sports event movie, concert, or sports event

match each occupation with the proper authority.match each occupation with the proper authority.

Why is it important that a Why is it important that a

person have the proper person have the proper authority before authority before performing certain tasks? performing certain tasks?

In this lesson you will In this lesson you will learn how the Saints learn how the Saints knew who had the knew who had the authority to lead the authority to lead the Church after the death of Church after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. the Prophet Joseph Smith.

After Joseph Smith was After Joseph Smith was murdered, the Saints in murdered, the Saints in Nauvoo were very sad and Nauvoo were very sad and worried. worried.

The Prophet and the Patriarch The Prophet and the Patriarch (Hyrum Smith) were dead, (Hyrum Smith) were dead, and most of the members of and most of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were away on Apostles were away on

missions.missions.

Joseph Smith had written to Joseph Smith had written to the Apostles in June 1844 the Apostles in June 1844 and asked them to come and asked them to come back to Nauvoo, but the back to Nauvoo, but the Apostles did not receive Apostles did not receive these letters until after the these letters until after the

Prophet had been killed.Prophet had been killed.

The Apostles all came back to The Apostles all came back to Nauvoo as soon as they Nauvoo as soon as they heard of the Prophet’s death. heard of the Prophet’s death.

The Nauvoo City Council The Nauvoo City Council instructed the Saints to “be instructed the Saints to “be peaceable, quiet citizens, peaceable, quiet citizens, doing the works of doing the works of righteousness” until the righteousness” until the Apostles returned and gave Apostles returned and gave them further directions them further directions ((History History

of the Church,of the Church, 7:152). 7:152). William W. Phelps, a city William W. Phelps, a city

councilman who was also councilman who was also Church publisher and the Church publisher and the Prophet’s scribe, helped Prophet’s scribe, helped keep the city calm.keep the city calm.

Sidney Rigdon, who had been Sidney Rigdon, who had been First Counselor to Joseph First Counselor to Joseph Smith in the First Smith in the First Presidency of the Church, Presidency of the Church, had become displeased with had become displeased with the Church and had moved the Church and had moved to Pennsylvania against the to Pennsylvania against the

wishes of the Lordwishes of the Lord (see (see

D&C 124:108–110).).

However, when he heard However, when he heard about the death of the about the death of the Prophet, Sidney returned to Prophet, Sidney returned to Nauvoo. Nauvoo.

He felt that because he had He felt that because he had been in the First Presidency, been in the First Presidency, it was his right to be the it was his right to be the next leader of the Church. next leader of the Church.

Before all the Apostles returned to Nauvoo, Sidney was Before all the Apostles returned to Nauvoo, Sidney was able to convince some people that he should lead the able to convince some people that he should lead the Church. Church.

When all the members of the Quorum of the Twelve When all the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were back in Nauvoo, they met with Sidney, Apostles were back in Nauvoo, they met with Sidney, who told them why he should be leader of the Church. who told them why he should be leader of the Church.

Brigham Young, who was then President of the Quorum of the Brigham Young, who was then President of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared that he wanted to find out what the Lord Twelve, declared that he wanted to find out what the Lord wanted them to do. wanted them to do.

He said: He said: ““I do not care who leads the church, … but one thing I must I do not care who leads the church, … but one thing I must

know, and that is what God says about it. know, and that is what God says about it. I have the keys and the means of obtaining the mind of God on I have the keys and the means of obtaining the mind of God on

the subject. …  the subject. …  ““Joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and powers Joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and powers

belonging to the Apostleship which he himself held before he belonging to the Apostleship which he himself held before he was taken away, and no man or set of men can get between was taken away, and no man or set of men can get between Joseph and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come”Joseph and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come” ((History of the Church,History of the Church, 7:230). 7:230).

At a meeting of the Church on At a meeting of the Church on 8 August 1844, Sidney 8 August 1844, Sidney Rigdon gave an hour-and-a-Rigdon gave an hour-and-a-half-long speech on why he half-long speech on why he should be the leader of the should be the leader of the Church. Church.

Brigham Young then gave a Brigham Young then gave a short talk, and while he short talk, and while he spoke a miracle occurred. spoke a miracle occurred.

To the people in the audience, To the people in the audience, Brigham Young suddenly Brigham Young suddenly looked and sounded like looked and sounded like Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith.

Zina Huntington said of this Zina Huntington said of this experience: “President Young was experience: “President Young was speaking. speaking.

It was the voice of Joseph Smith—not It was the voice of Joseph Smith—not that of Brigham Young. His very that of Brigham Young. His very person was changed. … I closed my person was changed. … I closed my eyes. eyes.

I could have exclaimed, I know that is I could have exclaimed, I know that is Joseph Smith’s voice! Joseph Smith’s voice!

Yet I knew he had gone.” Yet I knew he had gone.” George Q. Cannon said, “It was the George Q. Cannon said, “It was the

voice of Joseph himself; … it voice of Joseph himself; … it seemed in the eyes of the people as seemed in the eyes of the people as though it was the very person of though it was the very person of Joseph which stood before them.” Joseph which stood before them.”

Wilford Woodruff declared, “If I had Wilford Woodruff declared, “If I had not seen him with my own eyes, not seen him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have there is no one that could have convinced me that it was not Joseph convinced me that it was not Joseph Smith speaking”Smith speaking” (quoted in (quoted in Church History in the Church History in the

Fulness of Times,Fulness of Times, p. 292). p. 292).

Cornelius and Permelia Lott, Cornelius and Permelia Lott, who ran Joseph Smith’s who ran Joseph Smith’s farm just outside Nauvoo farm just outside Nauvoo and who had seen the and who had seen the Prophet frequently, attended Prophet frequently, attended the meeting with their the meeting with their children. children.

When Brigham Young got up When Brigham Young got up to speak, eleven-year-old to speak, eleven-year-old Alzina Lott thought he was Alzina Lott thought he was Joseph Smith, and she Joseph Smith, and she turned to her mother, turned to her mother, Permelia, and said, “Mama, Permelia, and said, “Mama, I thought the Prophet was I thought the Prophet was dead.” dead.”

Her mother answered, “He is[,] Her mother answered, “He is[,] Alzina, and this is the way Alzina, and this is the way our Heavenly Father has our Heavenly Father has told us who is to be our next told us who is to be our next leader and Prophet”leader and Prophet” (quoted in (quoted in Descendants of Cornelius Peter Lott,Descendants of Cornelius Peter Lott, pp. 10– pp. 10–11). 11).

That afternoon the members of the That afternoon the members of the Church held another meeting. Church held another meeting.

Brigham Young said at the meeting, “If Brigham Young said at the meeting, “If the people want President Rigdon to the people want President Rigdon to lead them they may have him; but I lead them they may have him; but I say unto you that the Quorum of the say unto you that the Quorum of the Twelve have the keys of the Twelve have the keys of the kingdom of God in all the world” kingdom of God in all the world” ((History of the Church,History of the Church, 7:233). 7:233).

These keys, or rights to use the These keys, or rights to use the authority of the priesthood, were authority of the priesthood, were given to each member of the given to each member of the Quorum of the Twelve by Joseph Quorum of the Twelve by Joseph Smith before he died. Smith before he died.

The members of the Church voted The members of the Church voted unanimously to sustain the Twelve unanimously to sustain the Twelve Apostles as their leaders. Apostles as their leaders.

Sidney Rigdon was not Sidney Rigdon was not willing to admit that the willing to admit that the Twelve Apostles had greater Twelve Apostles had greater authority than he had, and authority than he had, and he continued to try to obtain he continued to try to obtain leadership over the Church leadership over the Church until he was until he was excommunicated in excommunicated in September 1844. September 1844.

He organized his own He organized his own church, but it lasted only a church, but it lasted only a few years. few years.

Through the miracle of the Through the miracle of the transformation of Brigham transformation of Brigham Young, the Saints learned Young, the Saints learned that after the Prophet died, that after the Prophet died, the power and authority to the power and authority to lead the Church were held lead the Church were held by the Quorum of the by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Twelve Apostles.

Three and a half years later Three and a half years later Brigham Young, the senior Brigham Young, the senior Apostle and President of the Apostle and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was set apart as Apostles, was set apart as the new President of the the new President of the Church. Church.

Today when the prophet Today when the prophet dies, the Quorum of the dies, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles leads Twelve Apostles leads the Church. the Church.

The senior Apostle (the The senior Apostle (the man who has been an man who has been an Apostle the longest) is Apostle the longest) is then set apart as the new then set apart as the new President of the Church. President of the Church.

In 1842 Joseph Smith had In 1842 Joseph Smith had told the Saints, “Some of told the Saints, “Some of you will live to go and assist you will live to go and assist in making settlements and in making settlements and build cities and see the build cities and see the Saints become a mighty Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains” Rocky Mountains” ((History of the History of the

Church,Church, 5:85). 5:85). The Saints began making The Saints began making

plans to move west in the plans to move west in the spring of 1844, and the spring of 1844, and the Twelve Apostles continued Twelve Apostles continued this planning as soon as they this planning as soon as they were sustained as the were sustained as the presiding authority of the presiding authority of the Church.Church.

They planned for the Saints to leave in April 1846, which They planned for the Saints to leave in April 1846, which would give them time to finish building the Nauvoo Temple would give them time to finish building the Nauvoo Temple and provide endowments and sealings for the members and provide endowments and sealings for the members before they left. before they left.

However, Brigham Young and eight other Apostles were However, Brigham Young and eight other Apostles were accused of a false charge of counterfeiting, and some Saints accused of a false charge of counterfeiting, and some Saints heard a false rumor that federal troops would not allow them heard a false rumor that federal troops would not allow them to move west but planned to kill them instead.to move west but planned to kill them instead.

These incidents made the Saints anxious to leave Illinois as These incidents made the Saints anxious to leave Illinois as

soon as possible.soon as possible.

The first groups left Nauvoo The first groups left Nauvoo in early February 1846, and in early February 1846, and the Apostles themselves left the Apostles themselves left in mid-February. in mid-February.

Church leaders had planned Church leaders had planned to have other groups leave to have other groups leave during the late winter and during the late winter and spring, but many of the spring, but many of the Saints did not want to Saints did not want to remain in Nauvoo after the remain in Nauvoo after the Apostles had left, so they Apostles had left, so they started out before they started out before they should have and before they should have and before they were properly prepared. were properly prepared.

Members of the Church who did not leave with the first Members of the Church who did not leave with the first groups tried to sell their property in Nauvoo so they could groups tried to sell their property in Nauvoo so they could buy supplies to move west. buy supplies to move west.

People from the surrounding areas came to Nauvoo to buy People from the surrounding areas came to Nauvoo to buy property at very low prices. property at very low prices.

One woman was offered ten dollars for her house and One woman was offered ten dollars for her house and twenty acres of land. twenty acres of land.

She felt this price was too low, but the buyer knew she She felt this price was too low, but the buyer knew she was eager to leave, so he would not pay any more money.was eager to leave, so he would not pay any more money.

Many of the Saints Many of the Saints traded their land and traded their land and furniture for horses, furniture for horses, wagons, and cattle, wagons, and cattle, traveling up to a traveling up to a hundred miles from hundred miles from Nauvoo to find cattle to Nauvoo to find cattle to buy. buy.

All the houses in Nauvoo were used as workshops for building All the houses in Nauvoo were used as workshops for building wagons. wagons.

Supplies needed for a family of five in the first group to leave Supplies needed for a family of five in the first group to leave included one strong wagon, two or three yoke of oxen, a thousand included one strong wagon, two or three yoke of oxen, a thousand pounds of flour, a musket or rifle for each man, twenty-five pounds pounds of flour, a musket or rifle for each man, twenty-five pounds of salt, twenty pounds of soap, and four or five fishhooks and lines. of salt, twenty pounds of soap, and four or five fishhooks and lines.

Many families contained more than five people and thus needed Many families contained more than five people and thus needed

even more supplies.even more supplies.

The first part of the journey The first part of the journey to the Salt Lake Valley was to the Salt Lake Valley was very difficult for the first very difficult for the first groups of pioneers. groups of pioneers.

It took them 131 days to It took them 131 days to travel 300 miles across travel 300 miles across Iowa. Iowa.

A year later another group A year later another group of pioneers took only 111 of pioneers took only 111 days to travel the 1050 days to travel the 1050 miles from Iowa all the way miles from Iowa all the way to the Great Salt Lake to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Valley.

Some members of the Some members of the Church stayed in Nauvoo Church stayed in Nauvoo through the summer. through the summer.

Some of these people Some of these people wanted to harvest crops and wanted to harvest crops and try to sell their property; try to sell their property; others were immigrants others were immigrants recently arrived from the recently arrived from the East who were too late to East who were too late to join the earlier companies of join the earlier companies of pioneers. pioneers.

Most of these immigrants Most of these immigrants had used all their money had used all their money just to reach Nauvoo. just to reach Nauvoo.

In September 1846 about In September 1846 about eight hundred anti-Mormon eight hundred anti-Mormon men with six cannons began men with six cannons began to attack the people left in to attack the people left in Nauvoo. Nauvoo.

After a few days of fighting, After a few days of fighting, the anti-Mormons forced the the anti-Mormons forced the Saints to leave Nauvoo. Saints to leave Nauvoo.

Five men and their families Five men and their families were allowed to stay to try were allowed to stay to try to sell the Church members’ to sell the Church members’ property. property.

The rest left at once without The rest left at once without any extra clothing or any extra clothing or supplies. supplies.

Most of these people Most of these people crossed the Mississippi crossed the Mississippi River and formed camps on River and formed camps on the Iowa side. the Iowa side.

Some of the people were too Some of the people were too sick to travel, and many sick to travel, and many were too poor to buy the were too poor to buy the necessary supplies to move necessary supplies to move on. on.

Most had only blankets or Most had only blankets or branches for shelter and branches for shelter and only corn to eat.only corn to eat.

One day a miracle occurred. One day a miracle occurred. Thousands of small birds Thousands of small birds

called quail flew into the called quail flew into the camps. camps.

The quail were everywhere. The quail were everywhere. Even though the people in Even though the people in

the camps were weak from the camps were weak from hunger and illness, they hunger and illness, they easily caught many quail. easily caught many quail.

The quail were delicious to The quail were delicious to eat, and they provided eat, and they provided much-needed food for the much-needed food for the starving Saints. starving Saints.

When Brigham Young When Brigham Young heard about the Saints in heard about the Saints in these camps, he sent people these camps, he sent people with wagons and supplies to with wagons and supplies to bring the people in the bring the people in the camps to other camps camps to other camps throughout Iowa where throughout Iowa where most of the other Saints most of the other Saints

were staying for the winter.were staying for the winter.

Who held the keys of the Who held the keys of the priesthood and the authority priesthood and the authority to lead the Church after the to lead the Church after the death of Joseph Smith? death of Joseph Smith? (D&C 112:30–32; 124:128.) (D&C 112:30–32; 124:128.)

Who holds the keys after the Who holds the keys after the death of the President of the death of the President of the Church today?Church today?

Who will become the new Who will become the new President of the Church President of the Church when the living prophet when the living prophet dies? dies?

Why can’t a man appoint Why can’t a man appoint himself leader of the himself leader of the Church, as Sidney Rigdon Church, as Sidney Rigdon wanted to do? wanted to do?

How did the Lord let the How did the Lord let the people of Nauvoo know people of Nauvoo know who was to lead the Church who was to lead the Church after Joseph Smith was after Joseph Smith was martyred? martyred?

How can you know today How can you know today that the living prophet has that the living prophet has been chosen by the Lord? been chosen by the Lord?

How does it make you feel How does it make you feel to know that the Lord to know that the Lord knows who the next prophet knows who the next prophet will be? will be?

• • What are the duties of What are the duties of the Apostles? (D&C the Apostles? (D&C 107:23, 33, 35; 112:21; 107:23, 33, 35; 112:21; 124:128.) 124:128.)

How do the Apostles How do the Apostles today carry out these today carry out these duties? duties?

Why did the Saints need to leave Why did the Saints need to leave Nauvoo? Nauvoo?

What did they take with them when What did they take with them when they left for the West? they left for the West?

What would you want to take if you What would you want to take if you were going on a similar journey were going on a similar journey today? today?

Many of the Saints had to sell their Many of the Saints had to sell their land and property very cheaply or land and property very cheaply or simply leave it behind. They could simply leave it behind. They could not take much with them when they not take much with them when they left Nauvoo. left Nauvoo.

How do you think the Saints felt How do you think the Saints felt about making these sacrifices to go about making these sacrifices to go west? west?

What would you be willing to What would you be willing to sacrifice for the gospel and the sacrifice for the gospel and the Church? Church?

How did the quail help How did the quail help the Saints camped by the Saints camped by the river? the river?

Why were the quail so Why were the quail so easy to catch? easy to catch?

How has Heavenly How has Heavenly Father helped you when Father helped you when you needed help? you needed help?

Study pictures and info cards of the current First Study pictures and info cards of the current First Presidency and Twelve Apostles Presidency and Twelve Apostles (from sugardoodle.net).(from sugardoodle.net).

Point out the senior Apostle (the man who has been an Point out the senior Apostle (the man who has been an Apostle the longest, after the President of the Church). Apostle the longest, after the President of the Church).

This man is the current President of the Quorum of the This man is the current President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Twelve Apostles.

The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles becomes the next President of the Church when the current becomes the next President of the Church when the current prophet dies. prophet dies.

Enrichment activity #1

This is something that Elder Packer This is something that Elder Packer taught us at the April 2009 taught us at the April 2009 conference:conference:

Your generation is filled with Your generation is filled with uncertainties. A life of fun and uncertainties. A life of fun and games and expensive toys has come games and expensive toys has come to an abrupt end. We move from a to an abrupt end. We move from a generation of ease and generation of ease and entertainment to a generation of entertainment to a generation of hard work and responsibility. We do hard work and responsibility. We do not know how long that will last.not know how long that will last.

… … It will not hurt you to want It will not hurt you to want something and not have it. There is something and not have it. There is a maturing and disciplining that will a maturing and disciplining that will be good for you. It will ensure that be good for you. It will ensure that you can have a happy life and raise you can have a happy life and raise a happy family. a happy family.

Here is a piece of paper and a pencil. Here is a piece of paper and a pencil. Write down things you would take Write down things you would take

with you if you had to leave your with you if you had to leave your homes and travel a long distance in a homes and travel a long distance in a wagon or handcart. Share and wagon or handcart. Share and discuss.discuss.

The dimensions of a wagon or The dimensions of a wagon or handcart were approximately 58 handcart were approximately 58 inches [147 cm] long and 45 inches inches [147 cm] long and 45 inches [114 cm] wide. [114 cm] wide.

Look at your lists again and Look at your lists again and determine how many of the items on determine how many of the items on the list would fit and how many the list would fit and how many would have to be left behind. Share would have to be left behind. Share and Discuss. and Discuss.

Extension Activity #2

Please sit in a circle and we’ll play the Please sit in a circle and we’ll play the following memory game: following memory game:

________ say, “I’m going to the Rocky ________ say, “I’m going to the Rocky Mountains and I am going to take ________,” Mountains and I am going to take ________,” filling in the blank with an object of your filling in the blank with an object of your choice. choice.

The next child says the same sentence but The next child says the same sentence but must repeat what each previous child has said must repeat what each previous child has said before adding his or her own item to the list. before adding his or her own item to the list.

Extension Activity #3

     5 We believe that a man must be called of 5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. thereof.

Extension Activity #4

We Thank Thee, O God, for a ProphetWe Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophetTo guide us in these latter days.To guide us in these latter days.We thank thee for sending the gospelWe thank thee for sending the gospelTo lighten our minds with its rays.To lighten our minds with its rays.We thank thee for every blessingWe thank thee for every blessingBestowed by thy bounteous hand.Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.We feel it a pleasure to serve theeWe feel it a pleasure to serve theeAnd love to obey thy command.And love to obey thy command.

Extension Activity #5 Text:Text: William Fowler, 1830–1865 William Fowler, 1830–1865Music:Music: Caroline Sheridan Norton, 1808–ca. 1877 Caroline Sheridan Norton, 1808–ca. 1877

Words and music

Brigham Young was chosen by the Lord to lead the Church Brigham Young was chosen by the Lord to lead the Church after Joseph Smith’s death and that the living prophet has been after Joseph Smith’s death and that the living prophet has been chosen by the Lord to lead the Church today. chosen by the Lord to lead the Church today.

I’m grateful that the Savior has organized his church so that I’m grateful that the Savior has organized his church so that the right man is always chosen as the next prophet. the right man is always chosen as the next prophet.

I’m thankful for the Twelve Apostles and their role as special I’m thankful for the Twelve Apostles and their role as special witnesses of Jesus Christ. witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Each day, as I drive to work and then again when I’m driving Each day, as I drive to work and then again when I’m driving home, I listen to the conference CDs. I always feel encouraged home, I listen to the conference CDs. I always feel encouraged to live as Christ would have me live. I always feel a spirit of to live as Christ would have me live. I always feel a spirit of peace as I listen to the voices of the prophet and the apostles.peace as I listen to the voices of the prophet and the apostles.

Pictures are clipart or are taken from scripture stories for children---Church History.Pictures are clipart or are taken from scripture stories for children---Church History. Sidney Rigdon/Brigham Young comparison chart from http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/index.php?Sidney Rigdon/Brigham Young comparison chart from http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/index.php?

option=com_content&task=view&id=3003&Itemid=5option=com_content&task=view&id=3003&Itemid=5