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LDS Church to announce President Gordon B. Hinckley successor

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Correcting you... | 7:19 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

No one is suggesting that Pres. Monson will be the next president BECAUSE he was 1st counselor in the first presidency. It is BECAUSE he is and was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve and has been since President Hinckley became president of the church. Elder Packer made it clear in the funeral who would be the next president of the church. The pattern is clear.

Virginia Hatch | 7:26 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

To clear up confusion; Monson was named as president of the 12, and Packer acting President years ago. The Senior apostle is always to be the next prophet, so the Lord lined up his prophet by calling Monson as the President, many conferences ago. President Hinkley planned his own funeral and specified who would speak. The line-up of speakers is NOT a fore-shadow of what is to come.

deibu | 7:36 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

To correct me if I am wrong:

To clarify.....The next president of the church will be the 'most senior apostle'. This apostle is the ACTUAL president of the quorum of the twelve apostles. However, under the previous configuration, the ACTUAL president of the twelve was President Monson. Because he was called into the First Presidency, President Packer (the 2nd most senior apostle) was ACTING president of the twelve.

President Monson will be prophet and president of the church. Let us not speculate about the rest; rather, as Brigham Young stated: 'we should all wait until [we] have the mind of Christ upon it.' Waiting and then acting upon the Lord's mind [will] , not speculation and favoritism, is what leads to a true state of Zion.

Comments continue below

Tammi Velasquez | 7:41 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Dear "Correct me if I'm wrong but... " The order of succession is for the senior apostle to be the next prophet, not necessarily the 1st Counselor in the First Presidency. President Monson just happens to be both...1st Counselor in the previous First Presidency AND the senior apostle. That is how we know he will be the next prophet.

DE-Michigan | 7:53 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Another point of clarification...President Hinckly wanted each of the quorums respresented during his funeral. Hence, Presidents Monson and Eyring represented the previous First Presidency, Elder Packer, the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Tingey, The Quorum of the Seventy (he is senior president) and Bishop Burton the Presideng Bishopric.

jellybean | 8:19 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Within hours of President Hinckley's passing, the church gave a news release entitled "Succession in the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." It is an excellent article that eliminates the need to speculate. It can still be found by going to the church website and clicking on LDS Newsroom.

It saddens me, all this speculation. It does no honor to President Hinckley, the prophetic and apostolic callings, or ultimately our Savior who is very much in charge.

Why are you bickering? | 8:20 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

This is the Lord's decision. Its HIS Church and he will put the proper person in as his voice and director of HIS Church.

Just because we get a new prophet this day, doesn't mean the Gospel changes or the running of the Lord's Church.

End the discussion and be thankful that we do have a living prophet is chosen to lead his children. It doesn't matter who the person is or even their counsel... as long as they are doing what Heavenly Father commands.

Cheryl Thomas, Hamilton, IL | 8:21 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

This is what I got from Elder Packer's talk. The next Prophet is the oldest Apostle(not in age but by date). This would be President Monson. But as everyone has been saying only the Lord knows. We will support whomever it is. I live 12 miles from Nauvoo so I had the privilage to see President Hinckley several times. He was a wonderful man and I loved him very much. He really was a giant among men. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us with our new prophet.

CI | 8:47 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

I have no speculative comments. I'm just so grateful to have had President Hinckley as a prophet for my youth and early 20's. I am also grateful that the Lord's church is a church of order, and today will demonstrate that with three woderful men chosen by God to be in the 1st Presidency. The work goes on-

Wonder | 9:02 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

I look at all that was accomplished while Pres. Hinkley was the prophet and I have to wonder, "Was it because of President Hinkley or because that was what the Lord wanted at that time?" Perhaps, I think, that was what the Lord wanted and Gordon B. Hinkley was the man he wanted to do it. Now, perhaps the Lord has some more things to get done that he needs Thomas Monson to do. We were amazed at what happened during President Hinkley's time; I wonder what great things the Lord has for latter-day saints and the world in the coming few years? It should be exciting.

anonymous | 9:30 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

who said that there will need to be a new apostle? counselors to the president of the church can be those who aren't apostles.

Carolina LDS | 10:08 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Correct me if I'm wrong -

Who the next prophet will be has nothing to do with the first counsellor in the First Presidency. I don't think people have said the President Monson will be the next prophet because he is first counsellor, but because President Monson is the senior apostle. That's why we believe he will be the next prophet. You're correct, the senior apostle might not be in the First Presidency.

John Lambert | 10:09 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

To the most recent anonymous comment,
The most recent example would be with J. Reuben Clarke. However he was given standing in the 12 since he filled the vacancy caused by Elder Ivins' death (the last New Jersey born member of the First Presidency before Elder Eyring, but that is neither here nor there). So a new first presidency member would almost centrainly be given seniority in the 12 even if he did not yet have such.

Thanks for correcting me... | 10:17 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Many of you did correct me but some of you did it with such pride. You made me feel really dumb.

When proving a point to someone, you should prove it without saying "You are wrong." That is horrible people skills. You should also do it without telling them they have wasted their time doing the research they put into it. How cynical can you be? I thought I had a point, was proven wrong but some of you didn't have to spit on me after proving me wrong. You have great knowledge skills but work on your people skills.

Not so fast | 10:33 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Alvin R. Dyer was a counselor to D. O. McKay but never a member of the Twelve either befoer or after his call to the 1st Pres. After DOM passed, he was sustained as an assitant to the Twelve and later to the Quorum of 70 and held the priesthood office of apostle, but had no ranking seniority in the 12.

Anonymous | 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

It's not true that "We already now it is president Monson just don't know who his counselors will be. Probably president Eyring. Other counselor anyones guess." We can be almost certain that it will be President Monson but a correct understanding of the doctrines of the Church make it clear the method the Lord uses to choose another President is a tradition and not doctrine. Any other person can be chosen to be President. This is unlikely to happen but we should be prepared in case it does.

For those who are suggesting that President Packer will be 2nd Counselor. This is probably not going to happen. If President Monson is chosen as the new President then Packer will become the President of the Quorum of the Twelve and as such he will either remain in the Quorum or be called as 1st Counselor while Eyring will remain as 2nd Counselor. More likely President Eyring will be chosen as First Counselor and another Apostle will be chosen as Second Counselor.

Clearification: | 10:41 a.m. Feb. 4, 2008

The doctrine is clear. The President of the quorum of the 12 will be sustained the President of the Church. The apostles will meet in the temple, sustain and set the new president of the church apart. There is however one exception, the President of the Quorum of the 12 has the right to receive for Church right now. He could receive a revelation that the prophet should be someone else than himself. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught this. However, it has never happened and is unlikely to occur. In addition it should be noted that members of the first presidency do not necessarily have to be called from the quorum of 12 apostles. This has occurred on a few occasions in the past.

Shiz | 5:13 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008

The doctrine is clear. Since Heavenly Father doesn't actually call anyone to be prophet, the precedence has been set up for the longest tenure apostle to become the next president. That way, when HF never comes knocking, the church isn't standing around with its hands in its pockets.

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