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BLAKE - I have heard before that Hyrum Smith received all of the keys, power, and authority that Joseph Smith received. I had heard that
he was termed a co-prophet and that he had to be there in order for the restoration to be completed. (In the mouth of two or three witness
shall every word be established.) I also know that Oliver Cowdery received this same calling. Could you please explain exactly what the
calling of assistant president is, and why the church does not have one now.
JOEL - Oliver Cowdery was with the Prophet when the priesthood and keys necessary for the full restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the
dispensation of the fulness of times were conferred. (D. & C. 13; 27:12; 110:11-16.) He held the keys jointly with the Prophet. At the formal
organization of the Church the Prophet was sustained as the first elder and Oliver Cowdery as the second elder (D. & C. 20:2-3). Then as the
Church grew, and when the full organization was revealed, Oliver Cowdery was made the Assistant (or Associate) President of the Church.
As the Assistant President, Oliver ranked second in authority to the Prophet. He even stood ahead of the Counselors in the First Presidency and
ahead of the Council of the Twelve. In explaining the nature of the office of Assistant President, the Prophet said:
"The office of Assistant President is to assist in presiding over the whole Church, and to officiate in the absence of the President, according
to his rank and appointment viz.: President Cowdery, first; President [Sidney] Rigdon, second; and President [Frederick G.] Williams, third, as
they were generally called. The office of this priesthood is also to act as spokesman, taking Aaron for an example. The virtue of the above
priesthood is to hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven or of the Church militant."
(Manuscript History of the Church, Book A, Chap. 1; Essentials in Church History, pp. 179-180.)
Thus if the Prophet had died, Oliver Cowdery would have been the President of the Church.
After Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated from the church, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch was chosen by revelation to succeed to the position of
Assistant President and to stand as a joint witness with the Prophet of the truth of the restoration. (D&C 124:91-96). When these two joint
Presidents of the Church sealed their testimonies with their blood at Carthage, the full operation of the keys of the kingdom rested with the
Twelve, and Brigham Young, the senior apostle became the ranking officer of the Church.
Brigham Young Said, "If Hyrum had lived, he would not have stood between Joseph and the Twelve but he would have stood for Joseph. Did Joseph
ordain any man to take his place? He did. Who was it? It was Hyrum, but Hyrum fell a martyr before Joseph did." (D&C 124:91-96; T&S 5 (October 15, 1844): 683)
As you mentioned in your question, the scriptures tell us that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matt 18:
16). Joseph and Hyrum Smith stand at the head of this dispensation, jointly holding the keys, as the two necessary witnesses fulfilling the law of witnesses in regards to the restoration of the church to the earth. Since the gospel was fully restord during their time and the two
witnesses had left a binding testimony, sealing their testimony with their blood, it was no longer necessary to continue the office of
Assistant President. Accordingly the office is not found in the Church today.
(Info from Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 210-222, Bruce R. McConkie and "Church in the Twentieth Century", Cowan)
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