After the death of Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the Mormon Church, Brigham Young unloosed his feelings:
“I feel as though I wanted the privilege to weep and mourn for thirty days at least, then rise up, shake myself, and tell the people what the Lord wants of them; although my heart is too full of mourning to launch forth into business transactions and the organization of the church, I feel compelled this day to step forth in the discharge of those duties God has placed upon me.” (History of the Church, 7:232)
Upon hearing of the death of the current Mormon Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, millions of Mormons around the world felt the same way. They want to mourn, but also realize that the work goes on. For the past thirteen years Hinckley has been the president, prophet, seer, and revelator for the world-wide church. To have such a vibrant leader gone means that his loss will be noticed and felt.
Even President George W. Bush had kind words to say:
“Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our friend, Gordon B. Hinckley. While serving for over seven decades in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader. He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation. As President of his church, he traveled to more than 60 countries to spread a message of love and optimism to the millions of people around the world who shared his faith.”
“A Mayflower descendent and the grandson of Mormon pioneers, Gordon was a deeply patriotic man. His leadership and service strengthened the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young University, the Boy Scouts of America, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In 2004, I was honored to present him with the Medal of Freedom, our Nation’s highest civil award, in recognition of his lifelong public service.”
“Laura and I will miss Gordon’s friendship and wisdom. Our thoughts and prayers are with his five children and the rest of the Hinckley family.” (Statement January 28, 2008)
With this vacancy in the Mormon Church’s number-one potion, how do Mormons go about choosing a new prophet? Is it like this all-too tedious presidential campaign, with speeches, spin, and smooth promises? Or is it like the confirmation process for a Supreme Court Justice, with a velvet-gloved interrogation? Or is it like the selection of a new pope, with confidential meetings, and the anticipated white cloud of smoke at the Vatican?
The answer is simple: seniority of tenure among the apostles. The precedent and protocols of this process began in 1844, after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. To be sure, his violent death was unexpected to many people, even though Joseph Smith knew it was coming. In the weeks and months prior to his death, Smith called the Quorum of Twelve Apostles (the second highest governing body) and gave them a top-to-bottom review of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the order and organization of the church, and a recapitulation of the ordinances and ceremonies.
Here is what the Quorum of Twelve said of those meetings:
“We, the [Twelve], … were present at a council in the latter part of the month of March last [1844], held in the City of Nauvoo. …”
“In this council, Joseph Smith seemed somewhat depressed in spirit, and took the liberty to open his heart to us … : ‘Brethren, the Lord bids me hasten the work in which we are engaged. … Some important scene is near to take place. It may be that my enemies will kill me. And in case they should, and the keys and power which rest on me not be imparted to you, they will be lost from the earth. But if I can only succeed in placing them upon your heads, then let me fall a victim to murderous hands if God will suffer it, and I can go with all pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that my work is done, and the foundation laid on which the kingdom of God is to be reared in this dispensation of the fulness of times.”
“‘Upon the shoulders of the Twelve must the responsibility of leading this church henceforth rest until you shall appoint others to succeed you. Your enemies cannot kill you all at once, and should any of you be killed, you can lay your hands upon others and fill up your quorum. Thus can this power and these keys be perpetuated in the earth.’ …”
“Never shall we forget his feelings or his words on this occasion. After he had thus spoken, he continued to walk the floor, saying: ‘Since I have rolled the burden off from my shoulders, I feel as light as a cork. I feel that I am free. I thank my God for this deliverance.’ ” (“Chapter 46: The Martyrdom: The Prophet Seals His Testimony with His Blood,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 529–40)
When the sad day of martyrdom came, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was in place to assume the burden of leading the church, with Brigham Young in charge. And that is how things work in the church today.
When President Hinckley passed on, the First Presidency (the supreme governing council of the church) was dissolved, and the members of that council returned to their file within the quorum. The Twelve Apostles, in turn, functions on this seniority of tenure, with the member with the longest time within the quorum serving as president of that quorum.
That man is Thomas S. Monson. He is the Brigham Young of our day.
After President Hinckley’s funeral, President Thomas S. Monson will reorganize the First Presidency. This follows the pattern set by Brigham Young after the death of Joseph Smith.
And behind this constitutional process is the invisible hand of God. The mechanics are the vehicle for the work of God. The Fifth Article of the Mormon Faith says:
“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” (Article of Faith 5)
God guides the earth, the fall of the sparrows, the hair on our heads, and who will lead His church. President Thomas S. Monson, and whoever he calls as his counselors, will also have to meet with the approval of both the Lord and the members of the Mormon Church in General Conference.
I love this process. We all understand the importance of seniority, since seniority implies experience. This process eliminates personalities, campaigning, faction, politics—all the thing that we detest in this election year—and leaves us with an orderly system when a man with decades of experience moves smoothly into place. Order is maintained, and the church keeps its quiet dignity.
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