074 Two Contenders: Sidney Rigdon vs. Brigham Young & The Twelve
Jul 30, 2024
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Sidney Rigdon, a former confidante and first counselor to Joseph Smith, discusses the fierce leadership battle that erupted after the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He highlights the tensions between himself and Brigham Young, who emerged as a strong leader amid a chaotic succession process. Rigdon reveals how his influence waned due to accusations and a deepening rift with Smith. The conversation culminates in the pivotal vote that determined the church's direction, showcasing the complexities of their intertwined legacies during a defining moment in history.
Sidney Rigdon's initial close relationship with Joseph Smith deteriorated due to perceived instability and a damaging incident, raising questions about his leadership suitability.
Brigham Young, through his effective crisis management and unifying leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve, gained critical support as a trusted successor post-Joseph Smith's death.
The church's democratic voting process on August 8, 1844, highlighted the competing claims of authority and the need for direction amid a leadership crisis.
Deep dives
The Contenders for Church Leadership
Following the deaths of Joseph and Hiram Smith in August 1844, two primary figures emerged as contenders for leadership of the Church: Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young. Rigdon had served as Joseph Smith’s confidant and counselor but lost trust over time due to his instability, which culminated in an incident in 1843 involving a failed kidnapping attempt. By contrast, Young, who led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, had gained confidence and credibility, particularly through his leadership during difficult times, including the church's exodus out of Missouri. As the church faced a leadership vacuum, members were left debating these two paths for succession.
Sidney Rigdon's Claims and Background
Sidney Rigdon claimed succession on the basis of being the first counselor in the First Presidency, a position that naturally seemed to afford him leadership rights when the president was deceased. Rigdon was known for his charismatic oratory skills and had been an important figure in the church since its early days, including playing a pivotal role in the Kirtland Temple dedication. However, his mental stability began to decline following severe trauma from violent mob actions directed at him. The fracturing of his relationship with Joseph Smith, punctuated by public disputes over his actions, called into question his suitability as a leader.
Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve
Brigham Young's ascendance to leadership was bolstered by his demonstrated ability to guide the church through crises, notably coordinating the mass exodus from Missouri and fostering unity within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Young was a trusted leader who had been endowed and involved in significant church ordinances, which he conducted alongside Joseph Smith during crucial temple preparations. He carried the confidence of many church members, particularly those who were converted under the leadership of the Twelve during missionary efforts in England. This deep sense of legitimacy was further supplemented by claims that Joseph Smith had conferred keys of leadership upon the Twelve, positioning them as rightful successors to the presidency.
Ambiguities and Alternative Claims
The podcast discusses various succession theories that emerged post-Joseph Smith's death, including special appointments and claims by individuals like James Strang and Lyman White. These claims often drew on ambiguous statements made by Smith, which left room for various interpretations regarding leadership continuity. For instance, Rigdon's proposal suggested that the First Presidency should continue under his guidance, while others noted that specific scripture provided for the Quorum of the Twelve as equal in authority to the First Presidency when necessary. These differing interpretations revealed the complex landscape of authority and governance that arose during the succession crisis.
Voting and Church Dynamics
As the church faced division and uncertainty over leadership, members were ultimately invited to vote on who to follow, highlighting the democratic elements within early church governance. This meeting, held on August 8, 1844, became a pivotal moment as church members deliberated between Rigdon and Young. The dynamics of this vote revealed not only the conflicting claims of authority but also the underlying sentiments among church members regarding stability and direction following the chaos of recent events. With both leaders presenting their cases, the outcome of this vote would define the future of the church and its governance.
In August 1844, there were two major contenders to assume leadership of the church following the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. On the one hand was Sidney Rigdon, a gifted man who had been at Joseph Smith’s side as his confidante since 1830. Sidney initially proved quite effective as Joseph’s scribe and mission companion, and later as his first counselor. Over time, however, Joseph lost confidence in Sidney’s stability and, therefore, his ability to serve effectively as his counselor. Things came to a head in 1843 when, at a Church conference, Joseph officially sought to vote Sidney out of the First Presidency for his suspected role in a kidnapping attempt against Joseph to get him back to Missouri. And although they appear to have reconciled to some degree prior to Joseph’s death, the question remained: did Joseph intend for Sidney to preside over the Church following his death?
On the other hand there was Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve apostles. It seemed that at the same time Sidney’s star was falling, that of Brigham Young and the Twelve was rising. As time passed, their leadership only proved more and more vital and trustworthy. From leading the frantic exodus out of Missouri to Quincy, Illinois while Joseph was in Liberty Jail, to leading crucial missions to England where thousands of converts were brought into the Church, the Twelve, under Brigham Young’s leadership, were proving to be not only reliable but critical to the success and growth of the Church. And following his death, multiple members of the Twelve attested to a private meeting Joseph held with them that previous Spring wherein he officially commissioned and empowered them to lead the Church should his enemies kill him.
In this episode of Church History Matters, we explore all of this in detail and set the stage for the watershed Church meeting held on August 8 1844 where Church members get to vote on who they will follow.
