Whitmer, then Cowdery, then… to Take Smith’s Place – oh never mind…
Far West Record, July 7, 1834, pg 73; “After all this was done the afore mentioned High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons & members convenanted with uplifted hands to heaven that they would uphold Brother David Whitmer as President, head and leader in Zion (in the absence of br. Joseph Smith jr.) & John Whitmer & W.W. Phelps as assistant Presidents and Counsillors also convenanted to uphold him and one another at the throne of grace.”
This prophecy was given by Smith during a High Council Meeting held at the home of Lyman Wight on July 7, 1834. Also History of the Church 2:125-126.
The ordination was short lived. Smith ordained Oliver Cowdery to take his place if he died on December 5, 1834. From the website of www.olivercowedery.com it says;
“5 Dec (Fri)
Joseph Smith ordained Oliver Cowdery to be the “Assistant President of the High and Holy Priesthood in the Church of the Latter Day Saints.” Oliver Cowdery was authorized “to assist in presiding over the whole church, and to officiate in the absence of the president, according to his rank and appointment” (Dean C. Jessee, Papers of Joseph Smith, 2:36; “Manuscript History of the Church,” Book A1, p. 11, LDS Archives).” http://olivercowdery.com/hurlbut/HChron4.htm
Both these prophecies are obviously false as both Cowdery and Whitmer were excommunicated in the Far West fiasco of 1838.
Also see http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/m/341205.phtml and http://user.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg4.htm
Ordinations are not prophecies. Both men fell from their calling through transgression.
Just speaking of the ordinations, nothing is contradictory to them. Tehy speak to seniority. In Zion David Witmer was to act as president while the actual president was not there. However, this authority was only in regards to the stake at Zion. In other words, he could not go to Kirtland and assume leadership, as his authority did not extend beyond Zion.
Oliver Cowdry was ordained to be the second Elder of the church, a kind of Vice President. He had the authority of leadership everywhere, except when Joseph Smith was present.
This is much like the organization today. A bishop presides over his ward. If he visits another ward his authority does not go with him. A stake president presides over the stake, and thus in any ward of the stake he visits he becomes the presiding authority over the bishop. However, even he has no authority in another stake.
The general Authorities and called general because they have the authority to preside at any meeting they attend, unless a general authority of higher calling is present.
So, this only illustrates how well organized the church is really is.