Deseret News | President Monson top octogenarian

Reader comments
President Monson top octogenarian

Page:
1
2
Next >

texas_tyrant8 | 7:18 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Higher than Hefner on the list. Got to be some poetic justice there. Now, if only this meant anything....

Have You Read It??? | 7:18 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

If you take the time to actually read the Slate article, it is not very complimentary. Not sure that I would be bragging about it on Deseret News.

Anonymous | 7:40 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Did this straw poll come out of Provo by any chance?

Comments continue below

LACEY & L WRIGHT | 7:54 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

THIS IS FANTASTIC GOOD FOR THOMAS S MONSON AND THE WONDERFUL MORMONS!!!!!

rightascension | 7:54 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Monson ahead of

John Paul Stevens

Daniel Inouye

Barbara Walters,

Noam Chomsky,

Peter G. Peterson,

Si Newhouse Jr.

Mary Higgins Clark,

I truly do not get it. Given its secular point of view, this seems like some sort of insult.

Ryan Tennison | 8:08 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

This was meant to be an insult. I can't believe the DNEWS published this story. I don't get the editors of this paper. Reform is needed. The people of slatedotcom are laughing right now. How gullible can the Desert News be to pick up this story.

D-News didn't edit very well | 8:27 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

With D-News pointing out the mistakes that Slate made, it looks like they failed to edit their own article properly.

Its Maya Angelou....not May Angelou....That's a pretty big name to make a mistake on.

To have you read it... | 8:29 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

I DID in fact read it. No offense, really, but I don't see anything that is so unfriendly about it...? Please be specific.

Slate | 8:37 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Slate founder has stated negative opinions of the Mormon church... this ranking is most definitely NOT meant as a compliment, and is probably more of a call to action against the church and its "power" than anything else.

TYPO! | 9:09 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

It should be Maya Angelou, you guys have May Angelou. Add the 'a' please!

MoJules | 9:11 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Well, I will take it for the positive, I know that for me the to octogenarian in my world is President Monson. He is a wonderful man as a person and also a wonderful Prophet. I hope that he will be here for quite a while.

Anonymous | 9:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

What a slight. I can't believe this is published and reprinted. I don't think deseret news understands the conation of this 'award.' Poor choice in even publishing, it just allows more people to mock the church.

re: Have You Read It? | 9:48 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Uh, yes. It basically doesn't say anything more than what the Des News reported. Nothing un-complimentary that I could see.

The Prophet | 9:51 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

should be ranked number one. Now we all just need to listen to what he says and we, the nation and the world will be okay.

Enos | 9:55 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

"is regarded by the world's more than 13 million Mormons as a prophet of God 'in the same way they view Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and the apostles in the day of Jesus Christ."

HALELUJA!!!!! We thank God for a Prophet!!!

And for those naysayers let's not forget that most of God's Prophet's were not always popular in their days either.

Mossback George | 10:11 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Congratulations, President Monson. I have to make you #3 after my parents who are #1 and #2 for the most influential octogenarians in my life. But otherwise you'd run away with it! Long and healthy life to you, sir.

Larry Richman | 10:14 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

I'm sure President Thomas S. Monson would wince at being called the #1 most "powerful" octogenarian in America, but it's a nice tribute to a man who millions look to as their spiritual guide!

NonLDS | 12:01 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Read the article on Slate. It is demeaning to a man who is considered a Prophet. Note in the first paragraph the reference to very, very very old people. Then the making fun of the term "Prophet".." enjoy it while you can Monson".
I am not LDS but I still find the article offensive to Pres. Monson and I think the writers at Slate were being facetious about all the "nominees". Just read a few of the others. If LDS members find it flattering, ok. But I really feel Pres. Monson deserves more respect and I am not even Mormon!

Paperboy | 1:20 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I guess this is what you might call a double entendre.

Kyle from AZ | 2:19 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Who really cares? I mean seriously get a life people.

wonderful- | 5:59 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I love President Monson. I am so thankful for him.
And I am glad for the leaders and family members at the Sinclair business. They have helped many good people.

KLD | 6:25 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

People...you need to wake up. If you're LDS, this is a positive. (If you're not, you probably don't care.) It's a little tongue in cheek humor, but it's meant to be neither flattering or nor critical. It's an observation of an 80+ year old man who has got a lot of influence...like lots of other people on the list. Some people pay publicists big bucks to get this kind of name recognition. Remember...there's no such thing as bad publicity. I wouldn't be surprised if the church's contract public affairs company worked to get him recognized.

A question | 7:30 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I am not LDS. I have lived here since Pres Ezra T Benson.
How come all LDS presidents are selected at such an advanced age? None lives longer than a few years, and one would think they would select a younger man so his presidency develops some momentum.

Just wondering.

Colette

To Collette | 8:09 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The LDS belief is that the prophet is chosen by God, and serves as long as God deems it necessary.

The previous president of the LDS Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, served in that capacity for about 13 years...certainly long enough to develop "momentum." He began his service as president of the LDS Church in his 80's. The belief is that God will sustain whoever the person is for as long as God wants that person to be in that position.

Perhaps God perceives that wisdom comes with advanced age?

to Collette | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The man in charge has been given experience to lead and guide him, as he follows the Lord. That helps him not get off track. His many years of experience lets him khon what is right and wrong. Just because someone gets old does not mean they should be set aside. His mind is very keen and his heart is as big as an elephant, in his caring for people. He does not have room to make mistakes. The people he affects are many and the experiences he has had make it that less likely that he will do something to hurt the church or the people in it. He has learned to serve the Lord through faithful discipline.

Answer to A Question | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Colette:
You are not the first to ask the question. Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" in an interview with President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, "There are those who say, 'This is a gerontocracy, this is a church run by old men'", to which President Hinckley responded, "Isn't it wonderful? To have a man of maturity at the head, a man of judgment, who isn't blown about by every wind of doctrine?"
I think that is a good answer to the question. I believe the Prophet is called of God, and whether he serves as Prophet for 9 months or 20 years, he will lead as the Lord directs him.

Sincerely,

Rob

JJN | 8:29 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Re: A question | 7:30 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Good question. When the prophet dies, his succesor will be the most senior Apostle on the earth (i.e. the one who has been an Apostle the longest). It is essentially an 'automatic selection.' This has been the practice since Brigham Young was named the prophet after the death of Joseph Smith. Many members believe that it essentially allows the Lord to pick who the next prophet will be and eliminates any potential for in-fighting or competition, although I doubt any of these men truly seek that responsibility/burden.

JJN | 8:41 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Several have said that this article in Slate was tongue-in-cheek or some type of negative publicity for the Church. I simply don't see it. Possibly it is because his involvement in opposition to Prop 8 is highlighted; however, numerous surveys have shown that the majority of Americans support the protection of traditional marriage so I don't see this has being 'negative press', per se. I suppose if you had a negative opinion of the man beforehand, it might affect your reasoning abilities, but there is nothing negative about this designation.

To Collette | 8:48 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

In general I think the older brethren of the Church have experienced more in their life. They have had more trials and faith promoting experiences. They have become more in tune with the Spirit of the Lord and are more capable of directing his work without caving to worldly pressures.

RE: Collette | 8:54 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The important thing to remember is that the only person that can become President of the Church is the longest serving member of the 12 Apostles. So, Neal A Anderson, at age 58, who has just been called, is set in line to become the President if he out lives everyone else. Not all members of the 12 Apostles become the Prophet nor should they.

In our religion we believe that this is how God chooses who will be Prophet. Many miss understand this process. Comments like "you say you believe in continuing revelation yet there is never a question as to who will be the next President." And that is true, but the revelation comes when a new Apostle is called. Some may live long enough to become the Prophet and some will get called home after a life of service. It is up to the Lord who will serve as President.

Reality | 9:34 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Slate is one of the biggest anti-mormon publications on the face of the earth. It was not being complementary by naming our prophet on the list.

I Have a Dream............ | 9:35 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

When will the make-up of the Church leadership start reflecting the diverse membership?

Anonymous | 9:42 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

"President Thomas S. Monson now leads Slate.com's annual list of the nation's most powerful octogenarians."

What is that saying about absolute power?

Noted | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

RE: I Have a Dream...

Diverse?! Meaning what?... I don't think you quite understand the leadership that is in place within the LDS hierarchy. I see where you could concentrate solely on the Presidency and the Apostleship of the LDS church. But the leadership expands out to the Quorum of the Seventy, The Presiding Bishopric, Stake Presidents, Bishops, Elders Quorum Presidents, Home Teachers, and Patriarchs(Fathers aka dad). With 13 million Latter-Day Saints world wide the leadership is within its ranks. Diverse, you bet the LDS leadership has its diversity and it spans across the globe.

Cats | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

To: I have a dream.....There are currently general authorities of ALL races. However, the Lord calls these men and whomever He chooses will serve regardless of race or political correctness.

Anonymous | 11:10 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

REALLY?
"When will the leaders become followers?"
REALLY? Are you serious?

Anonymous | 11:23 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

What is this--some sort of beauty contest. So many lists and so many comparisons it is likely everyone will eventually get a few minutes of fame or infamy. Oh my goodness, let's get real.

Re: I Have A Dream...part 1 | 11:44 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

My father wrote what I'm about to write around 1993-1995. "....A General Authority of the Church is ordained a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. We have in the Church several General Authorities in the Church who are at the pinnacle of leadership, who we members revere as prophets. One is Helvecio Martins, a black man, who is in the First Quorum of the Seventy. Another is Han In Sang, a General Authority from Korea, Angel Abrea, a Latin American who also is in the First Quorum of the Seventy. How about Yoshihiko Kichuchi, a Japanese General Authority born and raised in Japan. Also, we have Adney Komata\su, from Japan, who is in the First Quorum of the Seventy. Lino Alvarez, Eduardo Ayala, Claudio Costa, Julio Davila, Austo Lim, (Filipino), George Rojas, Sam Shimabukukro (Japanese), Kwok Yuel Tai who is Chinese from Hong Kong, Horacio Tenorio who is from Mexico. Not one man listed above is white. If we are racist, why are these men General Authorities?

Re: I Have a Dream part 2 | 11:49 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Back when the Church was first restored, Slavery was in full force. People considered that Black People were nothing more than animals, and not human. Joseph Smith ran for the Presidency of the United States, but was killed before the elections. His platform said: “The Black Man should be free, and the Federal Government should provide the funds to buy farms for the Black People. They should be given full citizenship with the right to education and voting privileges. For those slaves who more recently had been torn from their homes in Africa, moneys should be given them by the Government of the United States to return them to their homelands, and slavery should be forever abolished. Remember that he was saying this from 1830 through 1844 which was thirty years before the Civil War. This is the reason the Church was torn to pieces in the early years. Not because of religious beliefs, but rather by people who hated abolitionists. The South hated the Church.

Re: I Have A Dream part 4 | 12:03 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Remember, that people hate Blacks even to this day. A Black man has to watch himself in the South even now.
The Prophet Joseph Smith and the Church was the first entity to ever stand up for the Black man in this dispensation. Call us Racist? After so much persecution, the Church decided to quiet down on the subject or be destroyed. Joseph Smith had ordained two Black Men to the Priesthood as Seventies and they retained their Priesthood for life. Joseph Smith explained that the Lord would make the Black people wait to hold the Priesthood, but that one day Black people would be permitted to have all the blessings of the Priesthood and Heaven. That finally happened in 1978, when the Priesthood was given to all people regardless of Race. To have made black people Ministers and Priesthood holders back in the early days of the Church would have meant certain destruction of the Lord’s tiny Church. (Don’t forget, the Church was destroyed by the Romans back in the days of Jesus)...."

Remember God won't force any to heaven. The actions of corrupt slave holders will witness against them and make judgements just.

Denice

AZTexas | 12:28 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Since Pres. Monson was not even on the list last year, and is number one this year tells me that Slate magazine never heard of him until the Prop 8 frenzy.

To me, the implicit message is that they want to focus negative attention on the LDS Church, especially given their readership.

In MO | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

It's good, obviously. Skeptics blind themselves from truth because of their fear and mistrust. President Monson isn't concerned about what the world thinks but what God thinks. No manner of insults or compliments will ever change who he really is.

Anonymous | 12:37 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

For a prophet to be in his 80's is young compared to prophets like Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, etc. They lived to like 900 years.

vaase | 1:17 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

tyrant 8

The difference between these two men,simply put, is that of light and darkness. you decide

shawilli | 1:20 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I don't put much stock in polls, and I have a feeling that President Monson would agree, knowing his humility and modesty.

teachable | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Anonymous | 11:10 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009
REALLY?
"When will the leaders become followers?"
REALLY? Are you serious?

President Benson, while being president of the church remarked that he always looked forward to be taught by his home teacher which was a father and his 14 year old son. I am a convert to the Mormon faith and one thing that amazes me is how humble and teachable people of leadership are i.e. when a stake president or bishop once released, can be out there teaching primary kids. My priest from my former church will never accept such practices because he will view it as being demoted.

O2bRich | 1:31 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

To Colette; One other thing to remember here is that it is not the current prophet or president that is building momentum. They are just following the instructions they receive from God. The one that has the momentum going is God. By bringing mature individuals to the position God knows he has someone who is tried and tested, someone He knows will act according to God’s will, not his own.

Jim | 1:47 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

He is a Great Man. Who cares what the Skeptics think.

Spencer W. Morgan | 5:06 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

If I didn't know better (and I don't) I'd say this story was just an excuse for the DesNews to write an article which puts President Monson in the company of some very notorious gadianton conspirators like Bush and Kissinger.

emsk | 9:57 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I'm sure of a couple of things. One...whatever Slate meant by this poll, the church will have even more attention. And as people investigate it, they will find President Monson to be a real prophet.
Secondly...there were always be people who think negative and people who prefer to think positive.

Page:
1
2
Next >

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.