Cutting the Wild Ram from the Flock

While Zodiac grew in prominence, and Colonel Wight in stature, among the Texans, Brigham Young forged a consensus among the leadership to reorganize the First Presidency, with himself as Joseph Smith Jr.’s successor. This process placed the Wightite flock beyond the fold of Utah Mormonism. Elder Orson Hyde,¹ on 7 October 1860, remembered that it was during February 1848 that “the Twelve” gathered and “the voice of God” proclaimed that Young should lead His church. Anecdotally, the apostle said many people “came running together where we were, and asked us what was the matter. They said that their houses shook,