This Branch of the Church The Early Development of Local Administration in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Part 2, The Church in Flux, 1846–1851

Authors

Brandon Plewe

Keywords

church administration, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young

Abstract

A primary concern of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the spiritual and physical welfare of its members, and local congregations have always been the primary mechanism for that ministry. However, the structure and leadership of local administrative organizations has changed significantly over the history of the Church, most significantly under its first two presidents, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. During these years, the terms and structures that are familiar to us—wards, presidents, bishops, stakes, and so on—emerged, but so did many practices that did not survive the 1877 Priesthood Reorganization.

Recommended Citation

Plewe, Brandon (2025) "This Branch of the Church The Early Development of Local Administration in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Part 2, The Church in Flux, 1846–1851," BYU Studies: Vol. 64: Iss. 2, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol64/iss2/11