Following President Hinckley won't be difficult "because he blazed the trail. I worked with him for 44 years. ... I knew he was the Lord's prophet."

He said church leaders "desire to cultivate a spirit of love, kindness and understanding," seeking "always to follow the Savior, who went about doing good."

"I testify that this work in which we're engaged is the Lord's work," President Monson said. "I've felt His sustaining influence."

Latter-day Saints had expected to see President Monson named as the next president, following a pattern of succession in the church that has been established and developed throughout its history and through doctrinal pronouncements in LDS scripture.

At age 80, he is one of the youngest men to become church president in the past quarter century. President Hinckley was 84, and Presidents Howard W. Hunter and Ezra Taft Benson were 86. President Spencer W. Kimball became president Dec. 30, 1973, at the age of 78.

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