President of the Church

This article is about the position of President of the Church in the wider Latter Day Saint movement. For information about this position specific to the LDS Church, see President of the Church (LDS Church).

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. It was the office held by Joseph Smith, founder of the movement, and the office assumed by many of Smith's claimed successors, such as Brigham Young, Joseph Smith III, Sidney Rigdon, and James Strang. Several other titles have been associated with this office, including First Elder of the church,[1] Presiding High Priest,[2] President of the High Priesthood,[2] Trustee-in-Trust for the church,[3] Prophet,[4] Seer,[4] Revelator,[4] and Translator.[4] Joseph Smith was known by all of these titles in his lifetime (although not necessarily with consistency).

Smith died in 1844 without having indisputably established who was to be his successor. Therefore, his death was followed by a succession crisis in which various groups followed leaders with succession claims. Years later, the office of President was reorganized in many of the resulting Latter Day Saint denominations, the largest of which are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite). Some smaller denominations, such as the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), reject the office as an unscriptural creation.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference firstelder was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Doctrine and Covenents 107:65-66 (LDS Church edition).
  3. ^ History of the Church 4:517.
  4. ^ a b c d Doctrine and Covenents 107:91-92 (LDS Church edition).
  5. ^ William A. Sheldon, "A Synopsis of Church of Christ Beliefs as compared to other Latter Day Saint churches" (Church of Christ, n.d.).