Presidential tenure and succession Comparison of the Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

joseph smith iii, successor joseph smith prophet-president of community of christ

both community of christ , lds church headed president of church, position created , held joseph smith. in lds church, succession presidency has been based on apostolic seniority. in community of christ, president has power appoint successor; if outgoing president not appoint successor, council of twelve apostles nominates successor.

after smith, next 3 presidents of community of christ served president of church until deaths. in 1978, w. wallace smith broke tradition , retired presidency, designated himself president emeritus , , appointed wallace b. smith successor. wallace b. smith , chosen successor—mcmurray—also retired position. in lds church, every president of church has served until death , none have selected successor prior death.

the first 5 successors joseph smith in presidency of community of christ direct descendants of smith. mcmurray first president of church not member of smith family. while never formally accepting principle of lineal succession, denomination teaches smith had designated son, joseph smith iii, successor. in 1996, appointment of mcmurray retiring president wallace b. smith justification used schismatic groups abandoned community of christ. schism led creation of remnant church of jesus christ of latter day saints. president of remnant church, frederick niels larsen, maternal great-great-grandson of joseph smith.

the lds church determines presidential successor principles of apostolic seniority combined inspiration god. when church president dies, member of quorum of twelve apostles has been apostle longest—the president of quorum of twelve apostles—becomes new president of church. prior making succession official, apostles individually , collectively pray divine guidance , confirmation of proposed action.

while area marked traditional difference between 2 denominations, 2004–05 succession crisis prompted council of twelve apostles of community of christ utilize inspiration-seeking procedure similar adopted apostles of lds church. when mcmurray stepped down president in 2004, chose not name successor, previous retirees position had done. in 2005, stephen m. veazey—who president of twelve, not senior member—was selected successor council of twelve.