When the current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints dies, the senior apostle in the Church’s governing quorums becomes the presiding officer of the Church.

Upon the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1844, the principles for the succession process were established. Since there was no clear procedure providing for answers as to how to solve this issue, Brigham Young, who was then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presented the proposition that the Twelve, should be sustained as authorized leaders in the absence of Joseph Smith. During his presidency, Joseph Smith carefully tutored the Twelve in all aspects of the Church leadership. Revelation affirmed that the Twelve Apostles were equal. In D & C 107:22-24 it states,

“Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church. The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.”

Although the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were given equal authority and power, when the First Presidency was intact and functioning, they possess the necessary jurisdiction to govern the Church, not the Twelve. The death of a president disorganizes the presidency, and bestows upon the Quorum of the Twelve the required authorization to exercise the keys they already possess to assume full responsibility for governing the Church, which at that time includes the reorganization of the First Presidency. Brigham Young also reminded the Saints in 1844 of Joseph Smith’s “last charge to the Twelve,” stipulating that in the event something happened to him, the Twelve were responsible for carrying on the work he had begun (Esplin, pp. 319-20).

Sidney Rigdon presented an alternative view for this situation. He argued that the death of Joseph Smith did not disorganize the Church or the presidency, and that the first counselor should be sustained as “guardian” over the Church. Before the Prophet’s death, Sidney Rigdon was his first counselor. This ran directly counter to the Twelve’s position that the death of the president automatically dissolves the First Presidency, leaving the counselors without authority over the Church.

The only two practical alternatives at this time were the proposals given by Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon. On August 8, 1844 after several private meetings, thousands of Church members gathered near the Nauvoo Temple to decide whether Sidney Rigdon would be sustained as the new Prophet of the Church, or if they would choose the alternative option presented by Brigham Young. Rigdon, who was an eloquent speaker, took the stand first to present his position. Brigham Young then followed and presented the his proposal. The result was overwhelming in support recognizing the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the authorized leaders of the Church, specifically with the keys to act as the First Presidency and with the power to reorganize the First Presidency. Many Latter-day Saints claimed that the deciding factor of their vote was when Brigham young spoke on August 8, his voice and his appearance bore a striking resemblance to Joseph Smith’s. Wilford Woodruff, one who was present, later said that if “I had not seen him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have convinced me that it was not Joseph Smith” (Deseret News, Mar. 15, 1892; cf. JD 15:81).

Over the next three years, the Church was governed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with Brigham Young as president of the quorum. When the First Presidency was reorganized in December 1847, shortly after the pioneer journey to the Rocky Mountains, Brigham Young was offically named President of the Church.

Since that time there have been other times over short periods when the Quorum of the Twelve governed the Church before a new First Presidency was established. When Brigham Young died in 1877, the Quorum of the Twelve didn’t officially reorganize the First Presidency until 1880 with John Taylor as President. When President Taylor died in 1887, Wilford Woodruff, who was president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, directed the Church on the basis of that position until 1889. Several years later, he informed the President of the Twelve Apostles, Lorenzo Snow, that it was the will of the Lord that the Quorum of the Twelve should no longer delay the organization of the First Presidency upon the death of the prophet. Eleven days after the death of Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow was named President of the Church. Since that time the reorganization of the presidency has been quickly decided upon without delay.

The Twelve Apostles are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. Due to this fact there is no apparent reason that they should select someone other than the senior apostle to guide and lead the Church, unless they are directed otherwise through revelation. Established principles have two requirements as to choosing the next president of the Church. The first is that a revelation directing any other course of action must come through the senior apostle in the presiding quorum and approved unanimously by the members of the quorum. The second is that the senior apostle in the presiding quorum, must immediately preside over the Church following the death of the president.

The existing succession process does not violate the principle that was given as a direct commandment to Joseph Smith, that those who lead the Church are specifically called of God to fill those positions. If succession were to be decided by an election, it would then be in violation of that commandment given by God. When a new president of the Church is called, the name is presented to the body of the Church for its sustaining approval. This action is in no wise an election, nor does it affect the legitimacy of the president’s divine commission. The vote is merely an expression by members of the Church that they recognize the legitimacy of the calling. To sustain the president of the Church, is a commitment that no assistance that can aid his success will be withheld and also that no barriers that may hinder his efforts to do what is best will be erected.