(Originally published 27 July 2013.)
This is Scripture Roundtable 37 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #33, “President Brigham Young Leads the Saints,” focusing on D&C 107, bringing in various insights to help us better understand the scriptures. These roundtables will generally follow the 2013 Gospel Doctrine schedule of scriptures, a few weeks ahead of time.
Here are some links to resources mentioned in the roundtable discussion:
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D. Michael Quinn, “The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844,” BYU Studies 16/2 (Winter 1976), 187–233.
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Ronald K. Esplin, “Joseph, Brigham and the Twelve: A Succession of Continuity,” BYU Studies 21/3 (Summer 1981), 301–41.
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BYU Studies Staff, “The Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Passes to Brother Brigham: A Collective Spiritual Witness,” BYU Studies 36/4 (1996–97), 125–204; reprinted in Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations, 1820–1844, John W. Welch, ed. (Provo, Utah: BYU Press, 2005), 373–477.
- Wilford Woodruff audio recording, bearing testimony of Joseph Smith and the bestowal of the keys of authority to the Quorum of the Twelve; Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Steven C. Harper, “‘This Is My Testimony, Spoken by Myself into a Talking Machine’: Wilford Woodruff’s 1897 Statement in Stereo,” BYU Studies 45:2, 2006, 112-116.
Some interesting highlights from this roundtable discussion include:
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The succession crisis.
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Other contenders for the presidency.
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Visions of those who heard Brigham speak in August 1844.
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The trek west.
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Brigham sustained as President of the Church in late 1847.
Panelists for this roundtable include Ben McGuire, Bryce Haymond, Daniel Peterson, and Mike Parker.
This roundtable is also available as an audio podcast, and will be included in the podcast feed. You can listen by pressing the play button or download the podcast below:
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My understanding is we have about 70 poorly written copies of Joseph Smith’s speeches, but we have over 800 well copied discourses from Brigham Young and he walked and talked and was directly taught by Joseph Smith not only living, but also from the dead. I have pasted one experience of Joseph coming to Brigham from the dead concerning obtaining the spirit as the number one thing he and the saints must do as follows:
I, Brigham Young, had a dream.
I dreamed that I saw Joseph sitting in a room, in the South West corner, near a bright window.
He sat in a chair, with his feet, both on the lower round.
I took him by the hand and kissed him on both cheeks, and wanted to know, why we could not be together, as we once was.
He said that it was all right, that we should not be together yet. We must be separated for a season.
I said it was hard to be separated from him.
He said, it was all right and putting his feet down on the floor.
Now all you who know, how he looks, when he used to give council, know all
about, how he looked then
Joseph said; do you be sure and tell the people one thing.
Do you be sure and tell the brethren that it is all important for them to keep the spirit of the Lord, To keep the quiet spirit of Jesus, and he explained how the spirit of the Lord reflected on the spirit of man and set him to pondering on any subject, and also explained how to know the spirit of the Lord from the spirit of the enemy.
He said the mind of man must be open to receive all spirits, in order to be prepared, to receive the spirit of the Lord; otherwise it might be barred so as not to receive the spirit of the Lord, which always brings peace and makes one happy and takes away every other spirit. When the small still voice speaks always receive it, and if the people will do these things, when they come up to the Father, all will be as in the beginning, and every person stand as at the first.
I saw how we were organized before we took tabernacles and every man will be restored to that which he had then, and all will be satisfied. After this I turned away & saw Joseph was in the edge of the light; He said I must go back.
I want you all to remember my dream for I it is a vision of God and was revealed through the spirit of Joseph.
What about the giving of the keys to the twelve? I am surprised that Andrew F. Ehat’s master thesis, “Introduction of the temple ordinances and the question of the succession of 1844” was not mentioned. Ehat makes a compelling case that special temple keys rested with certain individuals in the quorum. Although It was a time of confusion, certain individuals had received more than others. BY was one of those who had received all the ordinances that a man could received in life.