170 years ago today - Sep 20, 1853

"Uncle John" Smith, Presiding Patriarch, confers upon his son, apostle George A. Smith, "all the keys of the Patriarchal Priesthood that ever was sealed upon any man on the earth." He also says in the blessing, "all the inhabitants of the earth shall know that the Lord did choose the Smith family to build up Zion & did by them lay the foundation of this Church which shall never be overthrown neither shall the name of the Smith family be blotted out under Heaven." Despite Presiding Patriarch's dying request in 1854 that his son be his successor, Brigham Young instead chooses oldest son of Martyred Hyrum Smith.