[Footnote A: Mill. Star, Vol. XXV,. p. 264.]
Elder Young was then about to put the question to the assembled quorums as to whether they wanted Elder Rigdon for a leader, when, at the request of the latter, the question on supporting the Twelve as the presiding quorum in the church was first put in the following manner:
"Do the Church want and is it their only desire to sustain the Twelve as the First Presidency of this people? . . . . . If the Church want the Twelve to stand as the head, the First Presidency of the Church, and at the head of this kingdom in all the world, stand next to Joseph, walk up into their calling, and hold the keys of this kingdom—every man, every woman, every quorum is now put in order, and you are now the sole controllers of it—all that are in favor of this in all the congregation of the Saints, manifest it by holding up the right hand. (There was a universal vote.) If there are any of the contrary mind—every man and every woman who does not want the Twelve to preside, lift up your hands in like manner. (No hands up.) This supersedes the other question,[A] and trying it by quorums."[B]
[Footnote A: That is, whether the church wanted to have Sidney Rigdon for a "guardian" or leader.]
[Footnote B: The quorums had been arranged to vote separately and in their order, but when Elder Young put the question on accepting the Twelve to preside over the church, the question was put to all the quorums and the whole congregation at once. And since the vote to sustain the Twelve was unanimous, there was no need of putting the question on the acceptance of Sidney Rigdon either to the quorums or the people.—The facts in the text are quoted from the history of the prophet Joseph, Mill. Star, Vol. XXV., p. 264.]
This disposed of Sidney Rigdon. He had full opportunity to present his case before the church. The saints had full opportunity and liberty to vote for him had they wanted him for their leader; but they rejected him and sustained the Twelve.
I have been careful to deal with this case of Sidney Rigdon's in so great detail, for the reason that it exhibits in operation a very important principle, viz., that of "common consent" or the "voice of the people" in electing their leaders. I use the word "elect" advisedly, for though the manner of electing the officers of the church is by indirect means—by popular acceptance—the elective principle is nevertheless operative, since men proposed for office cannot act unless the people vote to sustain them.[A] The law of the church in this matter is:
[Footnote A: The elective principle is not only carried out by direct means, it may be carried on by indirect means—it is just as much a fact under the form of popular acceptance as of popular choice.—Cuizot.]
No person is to be ordained to any office in this Church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that Church.[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. and Cov., sec. xx, 65.]