Symposium deals with the institution of the Church
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PROVO, UTAH
Though people, places and events are often thought of as comprising the history of the Church, much of that history is found within its institutional and administrative structure: the priesthood quorums, leadership councils, auxiliary organizations and written guidelines by which its work has been accomplished.
That aspect of history was explored in "A Firm Foundation: A Symposium on the Organization and Administration of the LDS Church" at BYU Feb. 26. Organized by the Religious Studies Center at the university, the symposium is an annual affair. This year, some three dozen scholars in five concurrent sessions explored various aspects of the topic, with Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, emeritus General Authority, delivering the closing keynote address, "Prophets, Parables and Poetry."
Richard Lyman Bushman, noted scholar and author on the Prophet Joseph Smith and emeritus professor of history at Columbia University in New York, delivered the opening presentation on "Joseph Smith and the Routinization of Charisma," which is defined in a theological sense as a divinely directed gift, grace or talent, such as prophecy.
"How can we account for the success of this lay-led Church, which seems to run against all expectations?" Brother Bushman asked. He said that it's genius can be largely explained in the fact that the expectation of divine revelation has been built into the very administrative structure and offices of the Church, an expectation attributable to the Prophet himself.
"Latter-day Saints know in their bones that only leadership based on righteousness and spirituality will work," Brother Bushman said, every new office holder knows it, and that, in itself, provides a check on the abuse of power within the Church.
Other presentations dealt with the development of the leading councils of the Church.
John W. Welch, BYU law professor and Book of Mormon scholar, gave a presentation on "The Book of Mormon: The Keystone of Our Church Organization and Administration." He distributed a four-page, single-space handout citing numerous references in that volume of scripture supporting latter-day Church practices pertaining to the name of the Church, the administrative organization, the doctrine of Christ, baptism, priesthood ordinances, temples and temple worship, missionary work, welfare principles, Church discipline, creating Church units, and other matters.
Mark L. Staker, museum curator and historic site developer with the Church History Department, spoke on "The Development of the Office of Church President and a First Presidency." Brother Staker noted that "during the period of expansion in Church growth, from the restoration of the priesthood until the office of the First Presidency was defined by name, there was an increasing expansion in the authority to govern," though Joseph Smith initially retained the sole office of Church president. Later, he had counselors who each held the title "president" and who became an equal holder of priesthood keys. "These men soon became known as the First Presidency, a governing body that shared authority."
Still other presenters covered facets of the history of the auxiliary organizations in the Church.
For example, Matthew O. Richardson, second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency and professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU, recounted the development of Sunday School in the Church, tracing its roots from the Sunday Schools that were part of Protestant worship in England beginning in 1780, and showing how Richard Ballantyne, who organized the first LDS Sunday School, was influenced by the British tradition.
Selected papers presented at the symposium will be published later, said David J. Whittaker, a co-organizer of the symposium.
Meanwhile, summaries of some of the symposium presentations will be included in conjunction with the on-line version of this article at www.ldschurchnews.com
