On the anniversary of Joseph Smith-s murder, the Quorum of Twelve prays for God's vengeance on those who shed the prophet's blood. Six months later this formal prayer (sometimes called an "oath") of vengeance would become part of the endowment ceremony. This same day Lucy Mack Smith relates three visions that revealed to her that William Smith was already church president by virtue of his patriarchal office. Brigham Young, however, writes to Wilford Woodruff : "Since his [William Smith's] return to Nauvoo... he seems to think he ought to be President of the Church, and since he was ordained a Patriarch to the whole church he has endeavored to get up an influence among the saints to persuade them that the office of Patriarch necessarily makes him president .... He seems determined to cause us trouble, but our prayers continually ascend to our heavenly father to overrule William and save him if possible." Four months later William is dropped from the Council of the Twelve and t
hen excommunicated. After relocating in Utah Brigham Young has Lucy Mack Smith's biography of Joseph Smith rewritten to eliminate its favorable description of William Smith.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
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