Essentials in Church History / A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"

by Joseph Fielding Smith

Most of the apostles were in the Eastern States on missions at the time of the martyrdom. Only two were at Nauvoo, and one of them seriously wounded. As soon as Sidney Rigdon heard of the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, he hastened to Nauvoo, where he arrived Saturday, August 3, 1844. Elders Parley P. Pratt and George A. Smith had arrived a few days before. The apostles invited Sidney Rigdon to meet with them the following morning, at eight o’clock at the home of John Taylor, where they might discuss the affairs of the Church, which Sidney Rigdon promised to do. Instead of doing so he met with William Marks and a few others, and endeavored to lay plans for the appointment of a trustee-in-trust and a “guardian” for the Church, before others of the apostles could arrive. At ten o’clock a public meeting was held and Sidney Rigdon preached declaring that a “guardian” must be appointed, “to build up the Church unto Joseph,” and stating that he, Sidney, was the identical man spoken of by the ancient prophets to do the work they had spoken of in prophecy. Another meeting was held in the afternoon, at which Elder William Marks, president of the Nauvoo Stake, announced that there would be a special meeting of the Church on Thursday, August 8th, “for the purpose of choosing a guardian.” Sidney Rigdon had requested that the meeting be held on the 6th, but William Marks announced it for the 8th, which was providential, for President Brigham Young and most of the other apostles arrived in Nauvoo on the evening of the 6th. The next morning the apostles held a council meeting at the home of Elder Taylor. At four o’clock the apostles met with the high council of Nauvoo and the high priests. Sidney Rigdon was invited to express his views. He spoke at some length, relating a vision he claimed to have had, and stating that there could be no successor to Joseph Smith, but that the Church must be built up to him. He, Sidney, had been called to be a spokesman to Joseph Smith, and he proposed to be a guardian to the Church, if the people would receive him.

President Young’s Remarks

President Brigham Young said he did not care who presided over the Church, but one thing he would have to know and that was what the Lord said about it. “Joseph conferred upon our heads,” he said, “all the keys and powers belonging to the apostleship which he himself held before he 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. How often has Joseph said to the twelve: ‘I have laid the foundation and you must build thereon, for upon your shoulders the kingdom rests.’”

The Special Meeting of Thursday, the 8th of August

Thursday, August 8, 1844, the special meeting called by William Marks in behalf of Sidney Rigdon was held at 10 o’clock. Sidney Rigdon, from a position in a wagon in front of the stand in the grove, addressed the vast assembly for about one hour and a half. He presented himself to them as a “guardian” for the Church, that it might be built up unto Joseph Smith. The longer he talked, the more the people were convinced that he was without the inspiration of the Lord, and they left the meeting feeling that his was not the voice of the true shepherd.

Transfiguration of Brigham Young

At the close of the morning meeting, President Brigham Young, made a few remarks and announced that there would be another meeting at 2 o’clock. At the appointed time a great multitude of Saints assembled. The various quorums of the Priesthood were arranged in order before the stand, and after the opening exercises President Brigham Young addressed the congregation. He spoke with great power and the people were convinced that the authority and power of presidency was with the apostles. When he first arose to speak the people were greatly astonished, for President Young stood transfigured before them and they beheld the Prophet Joseph Smith and heard his voice as naturally as ever they did when he was living. It was a manifestation to the Saints that they might recognize the correct authority. Following his remarks in the afternoon, Amasa M. Lyman, William W. Phelps and Parley P. Pratt each spoke endorsing the remarks of President Young.

The Apostles are Sustained

After the other brethren had spoken President Young arose and was about to put the question to the assembly whether or not they wanted Sidney Rigdon for a leader and to be a “guardian” for the Church, but at the request of Elder Rigdon the question of supporting the apostles as the presiding quorum of the Church was presented first by President Young as follows:

“I will ask you as quorums: Do you want Brother Rigdon to stand forward as your leader, your guide, your spokesman? President Rigdon wants me to bring up the other question first, and that is: Does the Church want, and is it their only desire to sustain the twelve as the First Presidency of this people?

“Here are the apostles, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants—they are written on the tablet of my heart. 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.”