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Riffing off the “big hairy list”… who do you think the most influential people are in church history who never became President of the church? I’m not including non-members or people before the Restoration.
Some of these people have affected its direction as much if not more than certain official presidents.
Here are my picks:
* M Russell Ballard
* Martin Harris
* Bruce R. McConkie.
* Boyd K. Packer
* Legrand Richards
* Eliza Snow
* James Talmage
* Widtsoe
Roy wrote:
B.H. RobertsTruman Madsen
Hugh Nibley
I find it hard to estimate Nibley’s influence. Is it only within certain circles or the whole church? However, his apologetics have indirectly influenced the perception of the BOM among those who have never heard of him. That is a clear point in favor of him being on this list.
In recent times, Boyd K. Packer was frequently quoted by many people, and I wonder if some awaited his rule over the church. I suspect he had more long term influence than Howard W. Hunter for example.
Neal A. Maxwell Chieko Okazaki
I have learned a lot from both of them (though Bro. Maxwell tends to be more black/white in thinking then I like a times).
I hope to be able to say Dieter Uchtdorf someday, unless of course he does become president (which is not impossible). Emma Smith. If she had handled polygamy differently (in support of or in opposition to) we might have a very different church.
Roadrunner wrote:
If she had handled polygamy differently (in support of or in opposition to) we might have a very different church.
From what I recall, she was VERY opposed. And that very different church is the Community of Christ.
Hyrum Smith In practical, genealogical terms, this is his church, not Joseph’s. That is far too easy to forget.
(much like the Book of Mormon is Jacob’s record more than Nephi’s)
I’ve always liked Oliver Cowdery and he did have a great deal of influence as Joseph’s friend and confidant. Were he to have stayed with the church I think it would have evolved differently, although I question whether he might have stayed with the Missouri church when the others moved west. I suppose that depends on other things – like if BY become president or not. Roadrunner wrote:
Emma Smith.If she had handled polygamy differently (in support of or in opposition to) we might have a very different church.
Yes I think she did have a big influence on the church, though she ended up in the RLDS. I put Eliza Snow as my female choice (and let’s be honest, there aren’t many), because we still sing her hymns.
It’s said by some that complaints about spittoons by her led to the Word of Wisdom.
SamBee wrote:Yes I think she did have a big influence on the church, though she ended up in the RLDS. I put Eliza Snow as my female choice (and let’s be honest, there aren’t many), because we still sing her hymns.
I hope you’re not including “In Our Lovely Deseret” in that list. Good gravy, that’s a bad hymn. Her other stuff is good though.
It’s a shame there aren’t many other influential women.
The only one that comes to mind is Cheiko Okazaki.
DarkJedi wrote:
I’ve always liked Oliver Cowdery and he did have a great deal of influence as Joseph’s friend and confidant. Were he to have stayed with the church I think it would have evolved differently, although I question whether he might have stayed with the Missouri church when the others moved west. I suppose that depends on other things – like if BY become president or not.
I always liked Oliver Cowdery. I think if he, Orson Hyde, or even Thomas Marsh were allowed to become president (over BY), the Church would’ve really prospered. I feel like those men genuinely loved Joseph Smith, but at the same time were willing to put their foot down when things got out of hand.
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