History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

198
BRIGHAM YOUNG SUCCEEDS JOSEPH.
foretold his own death ;
but notwithstanding the rev-
elation, Brigham was sent as a missionary to the
eastern states, and at Peterborough, New Hampshire,
received news of the tragedy at Carthage jail.
When Governor Ford and bis militia were preparing
to march on Nauvoo for the purpose of forestalling
civil war, the only course open to the prophet
and his followers was a removal from Illinois. In 1842
an expedition had been planned to explore the country
toward or beyond the Rocky Mountains; but
when Joseph Smith put himself forward as a candidate
for the presidency of the United States, all
other matters were for the time forgotten. Brigham
claimed that had he been present the assassination
would never have occurred; he would not have permitted
the prophet's departure for Carthage : rather
would he have sent him to the mountains under a
guard of elders. But Brigham had no reason to
complain of the dispensation of providence which was
now to bring his clear, strong judgment and resolute
will to the front.
Prominent among the aspirants for the presidency
of the church was Sidney Rigdon, one of the first and
ablest to espouse the cause, and not altogether without
grounds for his pretensions. He had performed much
labor, had encountered many trials, and had received
scanty honors, being at present nothing more than
preacher, and professor of history, belles-lettres, and
oratory. By revelation of January 19, 1841, he had
been offered the position of counsellor to the prophet/ 3
13 Doctrine and Covenants, 406. In this same revelation the officers of
the priesthood were likewise named: Hyrum Smith, patriarch; Joseph Smith,
presiding elder over the whole church, also translator, revelator, seer, and
prophet, with Sidney Rigdon and William Law as councillors, the' three to
constitute a quorum and first presidency. Brigham Young, president over
the twelve travelling council, who were Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt,
Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford
Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith, and some one to be appointed
in place of David Patten; a high council, Samuel Bent, H. G. Sherwood,
George W. Harris, Charles C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David
Dort, Dunbar Wilson, Aaron Johuson, David Fuliner, Alpheus Cutler, Will