In a shocking turn of events, W. Wallace Smith decides to retire rather than remain prophet-president until death. He nominates his son, Wallace Bunnell Anthony Smith, as successor.
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Graceland College Book of Knowledge
Sweeping changes have been made in core beliefs and how the church teaches theology to the children. Naturally, this revelation mentions literally none of that.
God wants the Saints to build a temple, which is problematic since RLDS doesn't own the land where temple should be built. Can they resurrect and old agreement that would allow them to slide right into that plot of land?
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God is so great that his words require clarification in not only a supplemental revelation, but also for months and months in the official church newspaper.
Oh snap, it's a revelation so groundbreaking that god had to make this a two-parter! What's a surplus? Are the bishops the bad guys? Will the temple be used for... anything? No idea!
Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History
Ruby Irene Jones, total badass
The Statement on Objections rocks the church to its core, so naturally the revelation regarding personnel changes is what's in the D&C.
The church shifts its focus from cultural anecdata from the past to hard truths for the future. Cracks in the church foundation begin to appear.
The Conference of Restored Elders
Pres. W. Wallace Smith flexes his prophetic muscles by doing a ton of staffing changes. On the surface, nothing is changing. In reality, he's setting up the church to do things like include non-white members in their leadership.
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The splinter group that broke off circa 2005
It's the end of an era as President Israel "Dutch" Smith passes away in a car crash. President W. Wallace Smith is named successor, which makes sense since he's essentially been acting president for a solid six years.
Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory
Prophet-President Israel "Dutch" Smith starts making tours of the Pacific and Europe to meet the members of his church. Or, from another perspective, he uses the church as an excuse to travel, get fancy gadgets installed on his car, and watch baseball. It's all a matter of perspective.
Israel "Dutch" Smith spends his first years of his presidency at his wife's bedside, with breaks to write correspondence and delegate decisions to F. Henry Edwards, his nephew-in-law.
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The post-WWII era ushers in an era of economic growth for the church, and a grumpy Fred M., a prophet who failed to write down his succession plan. Israel "Dutch" Smith becomes prophet-president, soon thereafter giving his first revelation.
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The revelation is just another staffing change from Fred M. The reality is that nobody likes him and his closest confidantes are quitting. Somehow, despite a lifetime of being treated as Lesser, little brother Israel A. Smith steps in to start the process in becoming the next prophet-president.
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Gentle Monarch: The Presidency of Israel A. Smith
Bonus Episode - Russell M. Nelson tells us the November policy was motivated by love. He's wrong.
Fred. M's vision of a literal, physical Zion slips even further from his grasp. Church membership is falling, money is tighter than tight, and WWII is just around the corner.
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Fred M. has gained complete control of the Church, for both good and bad. Great strides are made in the quest for a physical Zion on earth! And he completely misses how overspent the coffers are, and then a Great Depression wipes out what little resources were left.
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Brother McGuire stages a coup, sort of, with the help of immense amounts of bureaucracy. Fred M. is temporarily ousted from The Saints Herald, only to regain power at the expense of his younger brother, Israel.
Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory
General Conference Resolutions
There's so much controversy that we just don't have anything harmonious, except a tiny little background clause in membership transfer that we'll care about in 1925. Right now it's 1922-1924, and Fred M's leadership is tanking the church. Membership? Money? Happiness? It's bad news bears. Let's yell about it at general conference!!
Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory
Fred M becomes the prophet, and immediately things go awry. He micromanages, he gives his wife biological specimens, he throws down during general conference. It's the first of six controversies!!!!
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NPR article about surgery on a boat
An era comes to a close as the son of the prophet passes away of old age. Let's recap his life and read his final revelation. Suspicious that his final words from God sound a lot like everything Fred M. wants, eh?
Lyman Wight's recollection of Joseph Smith Jr passing the torch to his son
Prophet Emeritus Joseph Smith III suddenly sounds an awful lot like his son, Fred M. It's shocking how much the divine will of god aligns with the mortal will of Fred M. This does not bode well.
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"The Apostolic Office", by Paul Hanson
R. C. Evans is ousted from the presidency and he is NOT happy about it. He's replaced with "just another Smith".
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Pretender to the Throne: R. C. Evans and the Problem of Presidential Succession
Fred M.'s influence grows ever stronger. The church is (slowly and thoughtfully) on the move from rural everywhere to Independence, MO. Saints are advised to migrate only after they've secured a job and housing, and to integrate kindly with their neighbors.
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The church is in transition from the founders to the next generation. Fred M is named the successor to JS 3.0, money isn't enough for all the things, and are children or old people more important? Discuss.
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Joseph Smith III has a vision. Happily, it streamlines responsibilities within the church and nominates people to leadership positions. It's official canon... but not everyone believed so at the time.
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List of the Presiding Patriarchs
It's 1901, and the differences between RLDS and LDS are big enough to warrant a full-on comparison. What does the two factions believe? How does the afterlife work? Which is the One True Church?
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