429. How A New Apostle is Chosen, and Seniority in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

How a new Apostle is chosen. Great ideas for a Family Home Evening.. We will be getting a new apostle in the near future -- possibly not until the October Conference...

I just subscribed to ldsdaily.com. It will be interesting to see what they send. This was today's entry, and suitable for a Family Home Evening Lesson. It was suggested the opening song be: "We Thank They Oh God For a Prophet".
If you want to check out the site, it posts a video of how Jesus called His apostles.

I'm printing it just as it was there, with the suggestions for Family Home Evening. But it is interesting to read, about how a new apostle is chosen. Also I have posted the Seniority of the Apostles, to see where they fit in.
Read aloud: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies of the Church, called to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. They have a specific mission to go into all the world and help people learn about Christ. All of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve hold all the keys of the Priesthood; however, they are only used by an Apostle when instructed by the Prophet. Just as Jesus called Twelve Apostles, He calls Twelve Apostles today and they are set apart by the power of the Priesthood, just as Christ set apart His Apostles in the video. Apostles serve for life.

Recently, an Apostle passed away. His name was L. Tom Perry and he served faithfully in the Church for many years. We will miss him greatly! With his death, there is now a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve. This means a new Apostle needs to be called. The process of calling a new Apostle is dictated by the Lord. Here is the basic process:

The current members of the Twelve pray and fast for a name to submit. Generally, they are asked to submit three names on a slip of paper. All of the information is given to the First Presidency. The Prophet, while taking these inspired suggestions into account, ultimately goes to the Lord for direction in calling a new Apostle.
After a name is presented, the new Apostle is announced in General Conference. Sometimes, if the Lord feels it is necessary, the name of the person called may be announced before Conference. During Conference, the general membership of the Church sustains the new Apostle.
The new Apostle is ordained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve by the laying on of hands.
The new Apostle takes his place in the line of seniority. The seniority in the Quorum ultimately determines who will be the next Prophet should President Monson pass away.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY —

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 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. When the second-longest-serving apostle has also been called into the First Presidency as a counselor, 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 16 presidents, including President Thomas S. Monson.
Current ordained apostles, listed by seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostle Date ordained Apostle Replaced whom in the Apostleship
Thomas S Monson 10 Oct 1963 Henry D Moyle
Boyd K Packer 09 Apr 1970 David O McKay
L Tom Perry 06 Apr 1974 Harold B Lee
Russell M Nelson 12 Apr 1984 LeGrand Richards
Dallin H Oaks 03 May 1984 Mark E Peterson
M Russell Ballard 10 Oct 1985 Bruce R McConkie
Richard G Scott 06 Oct 1988 Marion G Romney
Robert D Hales 07 Apr 1994 Marvin J Ashton
Jeffrey R Holland 23 Jun 1994 Ezra Taft Benson
Henry B Eyring 06 Apr 1995 Howard W Hunter
Dieter F Uchtdorf 02 Oct 2004 Neal A Maxwell
David A Bednar 02 Oct 2004 David B Haight
Quentin L Cook 06 Oct 2007 James E Faust
D Todd Christofferson 05 Apr 2008 Gordon B Hinckley
Neil L Andersen 04 Apr 2009 Joseph B Wirthlin

First Presidency

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Ask: Which Apostle who has touched your life or a talk you can remember from an Apostle that had an impact on you? If you could meet an Apostle, what would you want to say to them? How can we support the leadership of the Church?

We revere all of them as Prophets, Seers, and
Revelators!

Search This Blog

Thoughts and stories, by Pal