Brigham Young, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, assumed control of the church's headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois.

And finally, Briggs said the Lord assured him "that which ye received as my celestial law," (i.e., plural marriage), "is not of me, but is the doctrine of Baalam."

Like these German scholars, Briggs believed that scripture was contextually understood and that revelation was never a final process, but progressively revealed over time.

Briggs also attacked the idea of the pre-existence of souls, then a cherished doctrine; he also questioned whether the church should again attempt a gathered community due to the disastrous results in Joseph Smith's lifetime.

In addition, Briggs sparred with Smith over who should be allowed to print their views in the RLDS periodical, the True Latter Day Saints' Herald.