Joseph Fielding Smith’s book isn't a novel, but it reads with the tension of one. At its heart, it's the story of a crisis. When Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was murdered, he didn't leave a clear, universally accepted plan for who should lead next. This vacuum created a storm of claims, counter-claims, and broken fellowship.

The Story

The book focuses on one major path that emerged from that chaos: the 'Reorganized' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ), which formed years later under the leadership of Joseph Smith Jr.'s son, Joseph Smith III. Smith argues against this group's legitimacy. He lays out his church's perspective that authority passed directly to Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who led the majority of members west to Utah. The entire book is Smith's detailed case for why his tradition holds the true line of succession, treating the Reorganization as a later development that broke from that original, authorized path.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this fascinating isn't just the historical detail, but the raw perspective. Smith isn't a neutral observer; he's a devout apostle of the Utah-based church, writing with a clear mission to defend its position. Reading it, you feel the weight of history and conviction on every page. You get inside the mindset of a believer for whom this question isn't academic—it's essential to faith itself. It challenges you to understand how deeply identity is tied to lineage and authority in religious communities. While it presents one side of the argument fiercely, that very passion helps you feel the human stakes involved. These weren't abstract theological debates; they were decisions that shattered communities and redirected thousands of lives.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for history buffs interested in American religion, for anyone curious about the Latter-day Saint tradition beyond the basics, or for readers who enjoy seeing history written from a deeply committed, insider point of view. It’s not an easy, balanced introduction—it's a primary source, a piece of the argument itself. Come to it ready to think critically, read between the lines, and understand a pivotal moment from the perspective of one who lived it. You'll walk away with a much richer, more complex picture of how a modern religious movement grappled with its most painful moment.