Mormonism and church leadership/Succession

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Succession among Church leadership

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• Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
• 1844 Succession to Joseph Smith

Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Introduction to Question

Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other interested parties have wondered what the standards for presidential succession are in the Church and how they were set up under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. These standards are important to document as the perceived legitimacy of the Church as God's "only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" (Doctrine & Covenants 1:30) can be threatened by offshoot sects of Mormonism or other Mormon Gnostics if the standards are misunderstood.

1844 Succession to Joseph Smith

Jump to Subtopic:

• Who were possible successors to Joseph Smith?
• What happened on August 8, 1844?
• How do we know the Quorum of the Twelve were the divinely appointed successors?
• Which groups dissented from leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve?
• Where can I learn more about the 1844 succession?