After Edward Partridge was called to be a bishop there were others who were called to be bishops. Did the Lord call Bishop Partridge to be a presiding bishop?

D. Michael Quinn

Senior historical associate in the Church Historical Department

The answer might seem obvious to students of Church history, who would immediately reply that yes, Edward Partridge was the first presiding bishop of the Church. Church histories have indicated that he became presiding bishop in 1831 and served until his death in 1840. According to these accounts, Newell K. Whitney then became the presiding bishop.

However, the documents relating the history and development of the Church indicate that Edward Partridge was not actually the presiding bishop of the Church. In fact, the office of presiding bishop of the Church was not established until 1847. As the last presiding quorum of the Church to develop, the office of presiding bishop was preceded by the regional office of general bishops of the Church.

The office of general bishop of the Church began as a result of ten dual centers of the early Church at Kirtland, Ohio, and Independence, Missouri. In 1831, each had a congregation numbering more than 1,000.

Organization of the Church in Ohio and Missouri eventually entrenched the two-capital concept. Edward Partridge was appointed bishop of the Church February 4, 1831 (D&C 41:9), and later that year moved to Missouri to preside over the Saints in that area. On December 31, 1831, Newell K. Whitney was ordained bishop to preside in Kirtland. In 1834, the two capitals of the Church were organized further under a presidency and high council in each area.

There is no evidence that either bishop had any authority over the other. When they attended joint meetings of the leaders from both areas, the two men were simply listed as the Bishop of Zion and the Bishop of Kirtland, or were listed jointly as bishops of the Church.

After the troubled time in Missouri, the Saints moved to Illinois, where the office of bishop was greatly expanded. Bishops were called for each of the Nauvoo wards and for the surrounding stakes. When Bishop Partridge died, there were nine bishops in the Church.

A revelation to Joseph Smith on January 19, 1841, appointed George Miller to “the office of a bishopric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge. …” (D&C 124:21.) This seemed to continue the pattern of several bishops, with two general bishops to serve as directed.

In addition to continuing the role of the general bishops, the revelation later provided for a presiding bishop of the Church: “And again, I say unto you, I give unto you Vinson Knight, Samuel H. Smith and Shadrach Roundy, if he will receive it, to preside over the bishopric. …” (D&C 124:141.)

Vinson Knight, then, must be regarded as the first presiding bishop in this dispensation. He was so regarded by the Church historian Orson Pratt and by President John Taylor. However, Bishop Knight did not serve as a presiding bishop as we now understand the office, but as a third general bishop of the Church.

Following the death of Bishop Knight and the departure of the Saints from Nauvoo, Newell K. Whitney was sustained as presiding bishop. Beginning in 1847 he began to function as a presiding bishop, supervising the other bishops and the temporal affairs of the Church. He served without counselors, but with Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball aiding him in an advisory capacity.

Each presiding bishop who has succeeded Bishop Whitney has called counselors and the presiding bishopric has continued to function as it does today.

Edward Partridge