Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch [Hardcover]

Irene Bates (Author), E Gary Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

The hereditary office of Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first occupied by the father of the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, had long seemed the focal point of a struggle for authority between those appointed and those born to leadership positions. In "Lost Legacy", now in paperback, Irene Bates and E. Gary Smith argue that the office's 1979 demise was inevitable. Chronicling the history of the office beginning with its creation in 1833, the authors illuminate the tensions between the leadership circle of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, headed by Brigham Young, and the potential rival power center of the Patriarch. Asserting that the struggle was related to conflict between the Smith family and the rest of the leadership, the book makes the case that the real source of dissonance between the patriarchs and other church leaders was the impossibility of melding familial authority (the Patriarch) with official authority (the structured leadership of the church). This title is the winner of the Mormon History Association Best Book Award.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating and well-documented study of the schizophrenic legacy of leadership that Smith left to his followers when he was assassinated in 1844." -- The Historian "Lost Legacy is an excellent addition to the recent studies of priesthood and leading quorums of Mormonism... It considers the implications of the office of the Presiding Patriarch and its demise clearly and concisely, and treats the subject with the honesty and respect it deserves. The book is a must for those who would understand the inner workings of Mormonism." -- Church History

Product Details

• Hardcover: 258 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press; Third Edition , First Printing edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252021630
• ISBN-13: 978-0252021633
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,794,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatment of the LDS Patriarchal office., May 14, 1998

By 

Elizaabeth Smith: [e-mail] (Tustin, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch (Hardcover)

The Authors of Lost Legacy accomplish two feats: First, it tells the fascinating story of the men--lineal descendants of Hyrum Smith--who have held this office, and the interactions between those Smiths and the other leaders of the LDS Church. Second, it uses that story to illustrate the Weberian concept of institutional evolution within a religious organizational context. One comes away with an empathy for both sides of this awkward relationship--familial Patriarchs "born" to the position, and devoted Church leaders who moved up the ladder of the Church's "office" hierarchy. The office was created in 1833 and eliminated in 1979. However, the last Patriarch to the Church, Eldred G. Smith, continues fully to give Patriarchal blessings. In other words, when he was placed on "emeritus," the office was retured, de facto, and the Patriarch continues to this day to function. It resolved the sticky problem of succession. This book won the Mormon History Association's "Best Book" award in 1996. The book treats its subject and its subjects with candor yet with fairness and restraint.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done, September 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch (Hardcover)

I greatly enjoyed the book, and its treatment of the subject. Done with tact and fairness, while yet being open and honest. Interesting perspective provided by the son of the last church patriarch.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, July 3, 2000

By 

David Dye (Mt. Pleasant, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch (Hardcover)

I found the history to be very well presented. I was a little lost with the economic theory that was presented by Max Weber (?), but found the conclusions to be refreshingly honest, though sad.