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?