First Presidency

In an 1831 revelation, Joseph Smith was given the title of President of the High Priesthood to preside over the whole Church (see Doctrine and Covenants 107). Joseph was subsequently sustained as President of the High Priesthood at a Church conference held on January 25, 1832. In March 1832, Joseph appointed two counselors—Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon—to the presidency. Others were called as counselors throughout Joseph’s lifetime as well, but Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith stood in authority above any counselors as assistant presidents (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:94–95). Eventually, by 1835, the term “first presidency” was occasionally used to describe this group.

The First Presidency today is the governing body of the Church. Authority rests with the President of the Church, with his counselors assisting him in his duties and responsibilities, which extend over every person and all matters of the Church.

Online Resources

First Presidency Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the First Presidency. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each member of the First Presidency, as well as links to talks and articles found in Church magazines.

“First Presidency,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism contains information about the Church and its history, beliefs, doctrine, and procedures. It is not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but most of the sources used for writing its volumes were. This entry discusses the development and responsibilities of the First Presidency. The online version of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism is hosted by Brigham Young University.

“First Presidency,” The Joseph Smith Papers

Hosted by the Joseph Smith Papers, this site contains a list and a brief description of documents relating to the First Presidency.

The Journal of George Q. Cannon

George Q. Cannon was an Apostle from 1860 to 1901. During that time, he served in the First Presidency as a counselor to four Church Presidents: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. This online resource has journals spanning from 1849 to 1901 and is hosted by the Church Historian’s Press.

“President of the Church,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

This entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism identifies the Presidents of the Church until 1991 and discusses the responsibilities and tenure of each Church President; it also discusses the doctrinal basis for why a prophet must preside over the Church.

Presidents of the Church: Student Manual

This manual, a textbook for the Church’s university-level Religion 345 course, discusses the presidencies of all the Presidents of the Church from Joseph Smith to the recent past (2013) in detail. In addition to information about the Presidents of the Church, the manual also explains Church organization and governance.

Ensign Articles

Richard Lloyd Anderson, “The First Presidency of the Early Church: Their Lives and Epistles,” Ensign, Aug. 1988, 16–21

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Quorum of the First Presidency,” Ensign, Dec. 2005, 46–50

Church History Library Online Resources (Available digitally through the Church History Catalog)

Brigham Young office files, 1832–1878 (CR 1234 1)

Documents relating to Young’s ecclesiastical and governmental activities. The time period reflects years in which he was President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1844–1847) and President of the Church (1847–1877). Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (John Taylor) correspondence, 1877–1887 (CR 1 180)

Letters and telegrams received during John Taylor’s tenure as Church president. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (Wilford Woodruff) general correspondence, 1887–1898 (CR 1 171)

Collection of documents addressed or forwarded to President Wilford Woodruff and his counselors in the First Presidency. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (Lorenzo Snow) general correspondence, 1898–1901 (CR 1 170)

General correspondence addressed or forwarded to Church President Lorenzo Snow and his counselors in the First Presidency. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Physical Resources Available at the Church History Library

Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1833–1964 (M251.211 F527m v. 1-6 1965-1975)

These six volumes contain official statements and circular letters of the First Presidency from 1833 to 1964. Available in the public area of the library.

Settling the Valley, Proclaiming the Gospel: The General Epistles of the Mormon First Presidency, edited by Reid L. Neilson and Nathan N. Waite (M273.4 S495 2017)

Contains the first 14 “general epistles” written by Brigham Young and his counselors in the First Presidency.

Counselors to the Prophets, compiled by Michael Winder (M270 C855w 2008)

Each chapter of this volume is a biographical sketch of some of the counselors who have served in the First Presidency. Available in the public area of the library.

Reed C. Durham, Jr. and Steven H. Heath, Succession in the Church (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1970) (M251.1 D961s 1970)

Covers the history of past succession to the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Available at the Church History Library.

Presidents of the Church, edited by Leonard J. Arrington (M270 P9335 1986)

A collection of biographical essays on the Presidents of the Church up to 1986, which were written by several authors and edited by Leonard Arrington. Available at the Church History Library.