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Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints
The highest-ranking governing body in The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints is the First Presidency, consisting of the
president and his two counselors, or advisers. This three-man body
supervises the work of the entire Church in all matters of policy,
organization and administration.
The second-highest presiding body in
Church government is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They serve
under the direction of the First Presidency and have heavy administrative
responsibilities to oversee the orderly progress and development
of the Church throughout the world. The First Presidency and Twelve
Apostles are regarded by Latter-day Saints as prophets who receive
divine revelation and inspiration to guide the Church.
The appointment of a new president
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints happens in an
orderly way that — remarkably in today’s world —
avoids any trace of internal lobbying for position or rank. Viewed
by members as a divinely revealed process, it is devoid of electioneering
whether behind the scenes or in public.
Moreover, it is not only the structure
of Church organization that governs this process. There is also
a deeply ingrained tradition in the Church that personal aspiration
for leadership at any level is inappropriate. Instead, the emphasis
is on personal worthiness and a humble willingness to serve when
invited.
When the president of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passes away, the following events
take place:
1. The First Presidency is automatically
dissolved.
2. The two counselors in the First
Presidency revert to their places of seniority in the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by the date on which
a person was ordained to the Twelve, not by age.
3. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
now numbering 14 and headed by the senior apostle, assumes Church
leadership.
4. The senior apostle presides at a
meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve to consider two alternative
propositions:
i. Should the First Presidency be reorganized at this time?
ii. Should the Church continue to function with the Quorum of the
Twelve presiding?
5. After discussion, a formal motion
is made and accepted by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
6. If a motion to reorganize the First
Presidency is passed, the Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects
the new president of the Church. The new president chooses two counselors
from among the Quorum of the Twelve and the three of them become
the new First Presidency. Throughout the history of the Church,
the longest-serving apostle has always become the president of the
Church when the First Presidency has been reorganized.
7. Following the reorganization of
the First Presidency, the apostle who has served the second longest
is sustained as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. The only
exception is when the second-longest-serving apostle has also been
called into the First Presidency as a counselor, in which case the
third-longest-serving apostle becomes acting president of the Twelve.
8. The president of the Quorum of the
Twelve, along with the rest of the apostles, sets apart the new
president of the Church through a formal laying on of hands.
Since the Church was formally organized
on 6 April 1830, there have been 15 presidents, including President
Gordon B. Hinckley.
Provided by and used
with permission from The Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints Copyright 2007 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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