Brigham Young wanted David Smith to lead the Church

[Guest]

Brigham Young denied he was a Prophet, twice, in General Conference. He also denied, twice, he was the legal and rightful successor to Joseph Smith. He declared, again in General Conference, that David Smith was the rightful heir to his father. David Smith was the second-born of Joseph and Emma.

David Smith was the Patriarch of the RLDS Church, until he joined the Church of Zion which taught reincarnation. Joseph Smith III heard of this, then ordered David Smith to return to Missouri, and when JSIII could not pursuad David to give up reincarnation and the Church of Zion, he had David committed.

Church literature and films speak of Brigham Young being Joseph's chosen successor. PURE LIES! Never happened. The LDS Church has declared "false" many of Brigham's doctrines. How can the successors of a non-successor and a non-prophet be "prophets" and the "successors" of Joseph Smith?

[_Joseph Antley]

Brigham Young denied he was a Prophet, twice, in General Conference. He also denied, twice, he was the legal and rightful successor to Joseph Smith. He declared, again in General Conference, that David Smith was the rightful heir to his father. David Smith was the second-born of Joseph and Emma.

Might as well produce the quotes!

[_daheshism]

"I do not profess to be a Prophet. I never call myself so." (JD 5:177)

"A person was mentioned today who did not believe that Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, Revelator. I wish to ask every member of this whole community, if they ever heard him profess to be a Prophet, Seer, Revelator as Joseph Smith was?" (JD 6:320)

"The brethren testify that brother Brigham is brother Joseph's legal successor. You never heard me say so! I do not think anything about being Joseph's successor. That is nothing that concerns me." (JD 8:69)

[_Joseph Antley]

I was thinking more about the alleged remarks regarding David Smith, since I'm not familiar with those.

[_Joseph Antley]

Bump.

[_Blixa]

Thanks, Young Antley. I, too am interested to see the evidence.

[_Joseph Antley]

Bump.

[_jon]

Is absence of evidence now evidence of absence?

I suspect the quotes from David Smith will pitch up around the same time as Nephite remains are discovered in South America...

[_Joseph Antley]

Bump.

[_daheshism]

Brigham Young in October 1860:

"Let me say here that I know more about that family [Emma Smith and her children] than any man living, and Joseph Smith [III] that now lives in Illinois, will never lead this people, the Latter-day Saints, but there was a son born on November 18, 1844, and Joseph told me that David would lead the Church, and others can testify to this." (Edward Tullidge, Joseph the Prophet, pp.652-3)

From the RLDS "True Latter Day Saints Herald":

"Brigham and his men in power, are preaching against young Joseph and the New Organization [RLDS Church], and say Joseph is not the man, but Davis the man to lead the Church." (True Latter Day Saint's Herald, Vol. 2, No. 4, June 1861)

explains Valeen Tippetts Avery,

. . . in May 1861. The newly founded RLDS True Latter Day Saints' Herald reported Brigham Young had commented that David would someday lead the Utah church. The Herald, under Joseph [III]'s editorial control, reported the remarks with a sense of mild irritation that the Utahns could be so oblivious to David's real loyalties. While Brigham Young showed no hesitation in bringing up the subject of David's leading the Utah church, David was too far removed by youth and geography to pose a threat to his presidency. Brigham believed that one of Joseph Smith Jr.'s sons would be a visionary leader, and he was certain Joseph III had chosen the wrong church. As for David, who had no attraction to Utah and did not yet share Joseph's zeal for building any Mormon church, a professional life as an artist seemed far more attractive. [From Mission to Madness, p. 49]

Joseph Smith III by Revelation appointed David Smith his first counselor while David was in Utah in 1874. David Smith returned, but said he was the leader of the Church of Zion (a small church of former Mormons who now believed in spirtualism and reincarnation in Utah), and that reincarnation was true, and that Joseph Smith their father was killed because he sinned in polygamy, and that Emma (their mother) had lied to them when she denied their father was a polygamist. Joseph Smith III then had David Smith committed to an insane asylum, which he stayed in for the rest of his life.