Feb

4

This morning around 11 am during a news conference in the Church Office Building the new First Presidency of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) was announced.

It was not surprise for most members of the Church to know that Thomas S. Monson was called to be the new president of  Church.  President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January.

The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.

President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled later.

The only real surprise, initially at least, was the announcement of the calling of another junior apostle to the First Presidency, Elder Uchtdorf. However, considering the international growth of the Mormon Church, this choice makes a lot of sense. We, members of the Mormon Church, know that this choice came from the Lord and that it was not a “political decision” but an inspired decision. However, the Lord knows what it does and we can naturally try to find a reasonable explanation for His choices.

President Uchtdorf said that his wife encouraged him by remembering him that more than half of the members of the Church in our time speak with a non-English accent.  I can understand President Uchtdorf’s concern. I am nervous because I need to teach a college class with my non-English accent, I can imagine him in his new position how nervous may be at times for not speaking with a perfect accent. However, I know he will do great!

I can’t avoid noticing how different is the pattern of choosing a new prophet when compared to the political process to choose a new president of the US (or almost any other nation on the earth). No accusations, debates, even fights, or promises of changing radically the course of the organization, but a reminder that the Lord is the One who really direct the Church and that one President will simply continue moving forward the Church as his predecessors did.

Jan

31

After the death of our dear Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, many people wonder what will happen next. What happens when a Mormon Prophet dies? Who’s in charge? Who will be the next prophet?

When a Mormon prophet dies, the priesthood keys and authority held by the First Presidency—the highest presiding council of the Church—rest within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second highest presiding council of the Church. The remaining counselors in the First Presidency resume their positions, in seniority, within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which becomes the governing body of the Church until the new First Presidency is called and sustained.

After funeral services are held in honor of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will meet in a sacred meeting, in the Salt Lake Temple to reorganize the First Presidency, in the manner prescribed by the Lord.

So, who will becomes the next Prophet?

In the sacred meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles the new President of the Church is called and unanimously sustained. This process takes place prayerfully, through divine revelation. The newly chosen Prophet is selected from the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. To this point in the history of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, the prophetic call has been issued to the senior member of the Twelve, though this may be excepted through divine revelation.

If tradition holds, and it is highly probable, President Thomas S. Monson will be the next President of the Church. Once the Prophet is called and set apart as the President of the Church, he similarly calls his two counselors, who are ordained and set apart to their respective callings.

Who is Thomas S. Monson?

Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley since 1995, is the senior member and presiding officer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He also served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency during the presidencies of Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson.

For more information visit ThomasMonson

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