We believe that Joseph III was his father’s successor because of the testimonies of Joseph III, his mother Emma, and the many firsthand accounts to his being set apart and designated by Joseph Jr. on at least four separate occasions to be his successor.

For an excellent article written by Richard and Pamela Price surrounding these events, click on this link:

https://restorationbookstore.org/pages/joseph-smiths-successor

 

In addition to these powerful testimonies dealing with Young Joseph being set apart to be his father’s successor, we have many other supporting testimonies to confirm his calling.

 

Here is one of the many testimonies of the Lord directing Joseph III:

 

[As a result of Joseph’s investigation of the different factions, basing it on their teachings or beliefs, he had determined not join any of them.]

“Their elimination from consideration, as I sought earnestly to determine where to cast my religious lot, served to direct my attention and interest more pointedly to the little band known as … the ‘Reorganization’ as it was usually called.  To ‘make assurance doubly sure.  I made the whole matter a specific study and subject of prayer, laying it before the Almighty in the plain question:

 

“ ‘To which body of believers shall I unite myself?’ ”

 

“When the answer came I could make no mistake, for clearly and specifically I was directly told to unite myself to the Reorganization.”

—Joseph Smith III and the Restoration, p. 155

 

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING

OF

JOSEPH SMITH, III

GIVEN BY

JOSEPH SMITH, SR.

 

“… You shall have power to carry out all that your father left undone when you become of age. …”

 

Recorded by Lucy Mack Smith:

Before his death Joseph Senior gave a “dying blessing” upon his sons.  Part of the blessing given to Joseph Jr. was “Joseph my son, you are called to a high and holy calling.  You are even called to do the work of the Lord.  Hold out faithful and you shall be blessed, and your children after you. …”

—Joseph Smith and his Progenitors, by Lucy Mack Smith, p. 338

Note:

In reading through the blessings given to his sons, Joseph and William received a promise not only for themselves but also for their children.  Neither of these families went to Utah but both were identified with the Reorganized Church.

The blessings recorded for Hyrum and Samuel, who were themselves faithful men received no promise for their children.  Their families afterward went with the exodus to Utah.

 

A Blessing to Joseph Jr’s seed

D&C 124 (LDS)

57) For this anointing have I put upon his [Joseph Smith Jr.’s] head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him.

58) And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph:  In thee and in thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed.

 

Revelations were received by Jason W. Briggs and Zenas H. Gurley, who were both elders in the days of Joseph the martyr, that Young Joseph would come forth to be the successor of his father.  Part of the revelation received by Briggs states:

 

“Therefore, let the elders whom I have ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph, or by the hand of those ordained by him, resist not this authority, nor faint in the discharge of duty, which is to preach my gospel as revealed in the record of the Jews, and the Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and cry repentance and remission of sins through obedience to the gospel, and I will sustain them, and give them my Spirit; and in mine own due time will I call upon the seed of Joseph Smith, and will bring one forth, and he shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside over the high priesthood of my church; and then shall the quorums assemble, and the pure in heart shall gather, and Zion shall be reinhabited, as I said unto my servant Joseph Smith; after many days shall all these things be accomplished, saith the Spirit.” —RLDS Church History, Vol. 3, p. 201

 

And Gurley was told:

“The successor of Joseph Smith is Joseph Smith, the son of Joseph Smith the Prophet.  It is his right by lineage, saith the Lord your God.” —RLDS Church History, Vol. 3, p. 208

 

One will also notice the term “lineage” in the above statement.  We believe that the prophets of Jesus Christ’s Church in the latter days must be of the Smith line, the seed of Joseph Smith Jr., therefore Joseph Smith III was the legitimate and legal successor to his father.  In the “olden” days fathers blessed their sons, passing on the blessings of God to them. (Gen 49:1–2; 2 Nephi 2:1–6; LDS 2 Nephi 3:1–4)  We believe this was the passing of authority and blessings of the progenitors to their posterity.  (RLDS) D&C 83:2e–f, states, “Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham and was blessed of him, which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchisedec; who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah; and from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; and from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother; who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man;” (LDS D&C 84:13–15)

 

The Lineage of Priesthood as it is recorded in scripture has immense bearing on the order and authority of priesthood.  Priesthood was passed down and preserved through the right of lineage being father to son.

 

D&C 84:3a (LDS D&C 86:8) Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers, for ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God:

 

D&C 104:18 (LDS D&C 107:40) The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.  This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner:”

 

In this manner Priesthood Authority has descended from Heaven and been carried to the latter days. (see also D&C sec. 83:2c–f, 68:2g) (LDS D&C 84:7–15, 68:21)

 

The latter day Prophet expounded on the redemption of Zion and “her” right by lineage to the authority of priesthood.

“ ‘What is meant by the command in Isaiah, fifty-second chapter, first verse, which saith, “Put on thy strength, O Zion”?  And what people had Isaiah reference to?’  “He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she (Zion) has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost” (CH Vol. 2, pp. 138–139).

 

So, we see that the right of lineage is more than just a priesthood office handed father to son.  Lineage is the right to act for God in His purpose. When the law of lineage is not honored the right to act for God ceases.

 

At the death of the Prophet, many men tried to claim authority to be Prophet/President of the church, but they did not have the proper authority through lineage:

 

-Brigham Young led many of the Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah to begin what is now known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-James J. Strang traveled to Beaver Island, Michigan and had himself declared King by his followers.

-Sidney Rigdon, an early associate of Joseph Smith’s, called his group the Church of Christ.

-William Bickerton began The Church of Jesus Christ (or Church of Christ, Bickertonites) after a brief association with Rigdon and, later, followers of Brigham Young.

-Another important leader was Grandville Hedrick who began The Church of Christ, Temple Lot.

(Divergent Paths of the Restoration, pp. 31, 37, 40–41, 76 and 89)

 

Through all of this we can see that the Law of Lineage is in opposition to the pattern used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as stated by Joseph F. Smith, that succession is “Merely a custom.  There is no law in relation to it” (Proceedings Before the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the United States Senate in the Matter of the Protests against the Right of Hon. Reed Smoot …, 1906, Volume 1, pp. 93, 368).

 

Joseph Smith III fulfilled the law of lineage:

This Blessing of Joseph Smith Jr. the Prophet, by his father, belongs to his posterity according to the Law of Lineage.

“My father Joseph then laid his hands upon my head and said, ‘Joseph, I lay my hands upon thy head and pronounce the blessings of thy progenitors upon thee, that thou mayest hold the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, until the coming of the Lord: Amen.’ ” (CH vol 1, p. 433; Times & Seasons, Vol 6, pp. 994–995)

 

Joseph Smith III comes to the reorganization as the proper lineal descendent and stated at the conference in April 1860, “I came not here of myself, but by the influence of the Spirit.  For some time past I have received manifestations pointing to the position which I am about to assume.”  He was then chosen by the voice of the people as “Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the successor of his father;” and was ordained President of the High Priesthood of the Church. (RLDS Church History, vol. 3, pp. 247–251).

 

And in a lawful court of the United States Joseph Smith III states his right by lineage, blessing and setting apart to be the authoritative successor to his father Joseph Smith Jr. as president, prophet and seer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

“About my selection by my father to be his successor in office, I remember of being called in his office, or into a room adjoining his office, and receiving the laying on of hands, and a prophetic blessing or setting apart, whatever it may be called.  I remember that, and also remember that just before his departure for Carthage, with a number of others, I was called into a room in the Mansion House, and there again received the laying on of hands, and the blessing.  I was also present at a meeting in the grove near the temple, and I remember my father laying his hands on my head, and saying to the people that this was his successor, or was to be his successor.” (Testimony of Joseph Smith III – The Temple Lot Case, p. 40–41)

 

Additionally, Joseph Smith III was the only succession claimant to fulfill the procedural ordinances outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants, specifically, D&C 17:17 (LDS D&C 20:67) which states, “Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), bishop, high councilor, and high priest, is to be ordained by the direction of a high council, or General Conference.”

 

On April 6, 1860, in Amboy, Illinois, Joseph Smith III was ordained as President of the High Priesthood through the laying on of hands of high priesthood leaders during a general conference of the Saints.  Thus we see, Joseph Smith III’s call to president of the church came by “prophecy, and by laying on of hands” by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.