Jeffrey Holland Was Right After All: The Church Gets Hundreds Of New Wards And Stakes

[Shulem]

Would anyone care to explain how and when a set number was determined in order to constitute stakes? The first stake in the Church was organized in Kirtland in 1834 with Joseph Smith as President of that stake but was dissolved 4 years later. The second stake was organized in Clay County Missouri in 1834 and presided over by President David Whitmer and later moved to Far West. Interestingly enough, a stake was organized in Adam-ondi-Ahman in 1838 and completed failed that year due to difficult circumstances and confusion involving the Mormon war. Then, in 1839 the central stake was established in Nauvoo and the rest is history.

So, can anyone tell us how Smith first established the numbering for stakes? The numbers for priesthood quorums are given in the D&C and are revelation. I wonder if the number pertaining to what constitutes a stake follows suit? Also, I wonder what prophecies regarding the formation of the failed Adam-ondi-Ahman stake can be explained to show how the church is one big false prophecy to include the non-existent Missouri temple that was never built in Jackson County.

Anyone know?

[Shulem]

More smaller units means that more people get to hold prestigious and/or demanding callings. That might just break people, but it might be the goal to retain more active people by giving them recognition and responsibility.

Apparently, Joseph Smith by revelation had that in mind and was willing to start small in order to enlarge the size of a stake. No stake could be organized except under direct approval of Joseph Smith:

No stake shall be appointed except by the first presidency and this Presidency be acknowleged by the voice of the same, otherwise it shall not be counted as a stake of Zion, And again except it be dedicated by this Presidency it cannot be acknowleged as a stake of Zion, For unto this end, have I appointed them, in laying the foundation of and establishing my Kingdom.

How low was Smith willing to go? Pretty low:

During the October 1839 general church conference in Nauvoo, William Draper informed Joseph Smith about the growth of church membership in Pike County, Illinois. Joseph Smith encouraged Draper to continue his preaching efforts there, indicating that when the membership reached one hundred, Joseph Smith would authorize the creation of a stake.

[Failed Prophecy]

As usual, Everybody Wang Chung can't read or tell the truth. This is a worldwide standardization of ward and stake requirements. The requirements are now lower for US/Canada, but higher for international units. It's possible that this forces a slowdown of overseas unit creation, along with an increase in domestic unit creation. It's yet to be seen what this does for total number of units. It may just forestall domestic unit closures.

I'm out and I'd be fine if the LDS church shut its doors tomorrow, but get it right and stop the lame sensationalism.

[Shulem]

How low was Smith willing to go? Pretty low:

During the October 1839 general church conference in Nauvoo, William Draper informed Joseph Smith about the growth of church membership in Pike County, Illinois. Joseph Smith encouraged Draper to continue his preaching efforts there, indicating that when the membership reached one hundred, Joseph Smith would authorize the creation of a stake.

Sexy Joseph loved women and numbers and more especially when men did what they were told when his lips uttered divine commands. Joseph Smith was a narcist. He claimed that Christ was speaking through him, but I think the observant critic can see that 100 is a red flag in showing how the mind of man was laying down a challenge in which to reap vain rewards.

Does anyone else see it or is it just me?

Hi Joe!

Shulem knows.

[Shulem]

100 baptisms!

[Shulem]

Behold, the man who gets me 100 baptisms will have a stake organized in his honor.

Amen.