Following the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as “the Mormons”), a new president and counselors have been announced.
Thomas S. Monson, who had been serving as the first counselor to President Hinckley at the time of his passing, succeeds him as president of the Church. As his counselors in the First Presidency, he has named President Henry B. Eyring as first counselor and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf as second counselor. President Eyring had been serving as the second counselor to President Hinckley at the time of his passing. President Uchtdorf has been serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The First Presidency is the highest body of leadership in the Church. It is comprised of a prophet, who serves as the president. Counselors are also called to serve with him, to advise him and help carry out the work of the Church. Usually the president of the Church has two counselors, although the First Presidency may occasionally function with only one counselor. This was the case when President James E. Faust passed away in August of 2007. He had been serving as the second counselor to President Hinckley. President Henry B. Eyring was sustained to the position during the general conference of the Church held at the beginning of October 2007.
There may also be additional counselors to the president of the Church called if needed. One example of this came in 1981 under President Spencer W. Kimball. Presidents N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney were serving as his counselors, but with their age and failing health a third counselor was called to help them – a relatively young apostle by the name of Gordon B. Hinckley.
With the change in leadership, Elder Boyd K. Packer has become the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve and will serve as president of that quorum. Previous to President Hinckley’s passing, he was serving as the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve. President Monson was actually the senior member of the Twelve, and so was president of the quorum, but his duties in the First Presidency necessitated that Elder Packer act as president.
It is important to remember that although the Church has a change in leadership, Christ stands at the head of the Church. The men who lead it for a time bring their own unique talents, experiences, and personalities, but it is Christ who stands at the head and they seek only to serve Him and do His will.
Each of these men called today has proven to be faithful to the Lord and have served Him well. How grateful I am that we have a living prophet on the earth today, and that prophetic leadership does not end simply with the passing of one prophet. I look forward to learning and serving more at the feet of these great men.
For more information on the new First Presidency, including some photos, visit the Newsroom at www.lds.org.
