I just got through watching the press conference on BYU-TV, and when President Uchtdorf walked out to sit beside President Monson as the second counselor, the first thing that went through my mind was, “wow, this is really a good thing for the international growth of the Church.” President Uchtdorf is, I believe, the first non-North American-born member of the first presidency in the modern era (John Taylor was born in England before he moved to Canada). President Uchtdorf took pains to point out twice during the press conference that the Kingdom of God knows no national boundaries, and he certainly did not adopt the mantle of “foreign-born Church leader.” But that was the first thing I thought nonetheless. The other thing I thought is that it makes sense to name counselors who are somewhat younger, and President Uchtdorf is 67, considerably younger than President Monson.
I couldn’t spot anything controversial during the press conference. I found myself thinking that we will be talking about President Monson for many years to come as our prophet and I wondered what would be the signature characteristics of his time as the prophet. President Hinckley was known for his love of public relations and his temple building. What will President Monson be known for?
His folksy stories that begin with “When I was a boy…”, of course. 🙂
Of course, those stories could begin “When I was a boy bishop . . . ”
I would not have guessed that President Eyring is 74. I hope that the newly constituted First Presidency can match the vigor and energy of President Hinckley, God rest his soul.
bishop is my age–36. That is way to young to be bishop! Monson was 36
when he received his call to the apostleship!! Amazing.
Here is a man who has been prepared for the call he now holds.
American-born member of the first presidency in the modern era (John
Taylor was born in England before he moved to Canada).”
Acually, Uchtdorf is NOT the first non-North American-born member of the First Presidency in the modern era.
Anthon H. Lund served in the First Presidency as a counselor to both
Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant from 1901 to 1921. Lund was born in
Denmark.
Charles W. Penrose served in the First Presidency as a counselor to
both Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant from 1911 to 1925. He was born
in England.
his posterity still is. In his first conference talk as an apostle he
said “Our children and grandchildren live in Germany and are building
the kingdom of God in our homeland.�
“I couldn’t spot anything controversial during the press conference.”
I thought the reference to Pres. Hinckley still working on behalf of the church beyond the veil was pretty radical.
It is interesting, really, because if Pres. Monson were to call Pres. Eyring to continue as a counselor, it made sense he would be called to serve as the 1st counselor (due to experience in the first presidency). With Pres Eyring as a 1st counselor, wouldn’t it make sense that the second counselor be lower in seniority in the 12 than Pres. Eyring? That left you with Bednar, Uchtdorf, and that new guy (whose last name begins with C, but the rest of which eludes me momentarily).
conference.”
I thought the reference to Pres. Hinckley still working on behalf of
the church beyond the veil was pretty radical. —–
Pres. Eyring to continue as a counselor, it made sense he would be
called to serve as the 1st counselor (due to experience in the first
presidency). With Pres Eyring as a 1st counselor, wouldn’t it make
sense that the second counselor be lower in seniority in the 12 than
Pres. Eyring? That left you with Bednar, Uchtdorf, and that new guy
(whose last name begins with C, but the rest of which eludes me
momentarily). —–
in seniority than President Eyring he would have been called as First
Counselor. I doubt that after 4 months President Eyring would have felt
himself “deserving” of a promotion to 1st counselor. It is not typical
for someone to be released from the First presidency once called but it
isn’t without precedent. The decision was President Monson’s to be
sustained by the Quorum of the Twelve.
#8.”That left you with Bednar, Uchtdorf, and that new guy (whose last name begins with C, but the rest of which eludes me momentarily).”
That would be Quentin Cook, my former bishop in the SF Bay Area. (Not to be confused with “the other Quentin Cook” aka Fatboy Slim.)
last name begins with C, but the rest of which eludes me momentarily).”
That would be Quentin Cook, my former bishop in the SF Bay Area. (Not
to be confused with “the other Quentin Cook” aka Fatboy Slim.) —–
The counselors in the First Presidency follow no specific pattern, so
all of your assumptions are pure speculation. For example, when N.
Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney were counselors to Harold B. Lee and
Spencer W. Kimball, President Tanner was actually lower in seniority
than President Romney. Even President Hinckley, when he was called as a
third counselor to President Kimball, was higher in seniority than
President Tanner.
Also, when Ezra Taft Benson was called as the president of the Church,
he did not call President Romney back to the First Presidency, even
though President Romney had YEARS of experience.
The only thing we can be totally sure on, is that the most senior
apostle becomes the next president, as President Packer said at
President Hinckley’s funeral. All other assumptions regarding the First
Presidency are strictly guesses.
Romney, although higher in seniority, was SECOND counselor to President
Lee and President Kimball, and President Tanner (lower in seniority)
was FIRST counselor. The counselors’ positions in the First Presidency
are not relevant to their positions in the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.