Stephen M. Veazey, the 8th prophet and president of Community of Christ, announced a date for his retirement and subsequently has been placed on an extended medical leave of absence. The church has been engaged in a worldwide discernment process to determine who will be called as his successor. For the John Whitmer Historical Association’s “Wallace B. Smith Lecture,” in April of 2023, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place traced the historical background of the “prophetic monarchy” in the Latter Day Saint movement, considered the present state of affairs, and called for future reforms. Hamer looks at the 1844 succession crisis following the death of church founder, Joseph Smith Jr., through the lens of monarchy, arguing that Brigham Young and Joseph Smith III can best be understood as a “usurper” and a “pretender,” respectively, to the prophetic throne. In this November lecture, Hamer will update his analysis in light of changes to the succession process announced due to President Veazey’s medical leave and also after the death of Prophet Emeritus Wallace B. Smith. The lecture will be livestreamed free to the public with donations for the John Whitmer Historical Association welcome.