The
appointment of a new president of the LDS Church happens in an orderly way
that — remarkably in today’s world — avoids any trace of internal lobbying for
position or rank. Viewed by members as a divinely revealed process, it is
devoid of electioneering whether behind the scenes or in public. Moreover, it is not only the structure of Church organization
that governs this process. There is also a deeply ingrained tradition in the
Church that personal aspiration for leadership at any level is
inappropriate.
When the president of the Church passes away, the following
events take place:
1. The First Presidency is automatically dissolved.
2. The two counselors in the First Presidency revert to their
places of seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is
determined by the date on which a person was ordained to the Twelve, not by
age.
3. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, now numbering 14 and headed
by the senior apostle, assumes Church leadership.
4. The senior apostle presides at a meeting of the Quorum of the
Twelve to consider two alternative propositions:
i. Should the First Presidency be reorganized
at this time?
ii. Should the Church continue to function
with the Quorum of the Twelve presiding?
5. After discussion, a formal motion is made and accepted by the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
6. If a motion to reorganize the First Presidency is passed, the
Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects the new president of the Church. The
new president chooses two counselors and the three of them become the new First
Presidency. Throughout the history of the Church, the longest-serving apostle
has always become the president of the Church when the First Presidency has
been reorganized.
7. Following the reorganization of the First Presidency, the
apostle who has served the second longest is sustained as the president of the
Quorum of the Twelve. When the second-longest-serving apostle has also been
called into the First Presidency as a counselor, the third-longest-serving
apostle becomes acting president of the Twelve.
8. The president of the Quorum of the Twelve, along with the
rest of the apostles, sets apart* the new president of the Church through
a formal laying on of hands.
Since the Church was formally organized on 6 April 1830, there
have been 16 presidents, including President Thomas S. Monson.
-vs- Succession in the AUB...
Relax, we have the priesthood!
 |
The article above is taken from www.mormonnewsroom.org. Pictures and commentary added by blogger
|
1 comment:
Really Joe? You couldn't even try at real honesty.
While it's true some members have disagreements and differences of understanding in correct priesthood succession procedures in the AUB, it is just as well defined as in the LDS Church. Seniority unless the Lord directs otherwise, just as in the Church.
The difference with the Church is that the Church believes the revelation to violate the seniority tradition would come to the Quorum of the 12, whereas in the AUB seniority is only bypassed through revelation to the head before his death. This presents an obvious flaw in the Church methodology.
As you quoted from the Church:
- Throughout the history of the Church, the longest-serving apostle has always become the president of the Church when the First Presidency has been reorganized.
- If a motion to reorganize the First Presidency is passed, the Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects the new president of the Church.
The AUB is the same, except the Council don't choose the successor, the Lord does through his mouthpiece.
Good thing hardly anybody reads this blog.
Post a Comment