Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Encyclopedia
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood
calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In general, the position of Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is only filled when the President
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is called as a counselor in the First Presidency
of the church. In such instances, the man who holds this calling is the most senior apostle who is not serving in the First Presidency. Additionally, a person may be called as the Acting President of the Quorum when the actual President of the Quorum is unable to perform his duties due to ill health or incapacitation.
The formal calling of Acting President of the Quorum has been held six times by five men: Rudger Clawson
, Joseph Fielding Smith
, Spencer W. Kimball
, Howard W. Hunter
and Boyd K. Packer
. Additionally, two earlier apostles — Orson Hyde
and Brigham Young, Jr.
— have acted as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
when they were not the second-most senior apostle in the church, and therefore may be said to have played the role of an Acting President of the Quorum before this specific title was created by the church. To date, every former Acting President of the Quorum has eventually gone on to serve as the President of the Quorum.
. Primarily, these duties consist of presiding at and conducting the weekly meetings of the Quorum in the Salt Lake Temple
; making decisions about the particular assignments to be made to the members of the Quorum; and acting as a liaison in coordinating the work of the Quorum with the First Presidency, the Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric
.
When adherents refer to the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, his name is usually prefaced by the honorific
title "President"
.
Priesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In general, the position of Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is only filled when the President
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is called as a counselor in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the church. In such instances, the man who holds this calling is the most senior apostle who is not serving in the First Presidency. Additionally, a person may be called as the Acting President of the Quorum when the actual President of the Quorum is unable to perform his duties due to ill health or incapacitation.
The formal calling of Acting President of the Quorum has been held six times by five men: Rudger Clawson
Rudger Clawson
Rudger Judd Clawson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 until his death in 1943...
, Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
, Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
, Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter
Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
and Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer
Boyd Kenneth Packer is an American educator and religious leader, and the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of...
. Additionally, two earlier apostles — Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
and Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr. served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1899 until his death. His tenure was interrupted for one week in 1901 when Joseph F...
— have acted as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
when they were not the second-most senior apostle in the church, and therefore may be said to have played the role of an Acting President of the Quorum before this specific title was created by the church. To date, every former Acting President of the Quorum has eventually gone on to serve as the President of the Quorum.
Duties
As the Acting President of the Quorum, the person with this calling performs all of the duties that would normally be performed by the President of the QuorumPresident of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
. Primarily, these duties consist of presiding at and conducting the weekly meetings of the Quorum in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
; making decisions about the particular assignments to be made to the members of the Quorum; and acting as a liaison in coordinating the work of the Quorum with the First Presidency, the Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
.
When adherents refer to the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, his name is usually prefaced by the honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
title "President"
President (LDS Church honorific)
President is an honorific title in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is given to certain men who hold priesthood leadership positions.- General leaders :...
.
Five formal Acting Presidents in six terms
| Acting President | President | Dates | Reason Acting President was needed | Reason tenure ended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rudger Clawson Rudger Clawson Rudger Judd Clawson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 until his death in 1943... |
Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
23 November 1918 – 17 March 1921 |
Lund, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... |
Death of Lund |
| Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church... |
David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... |
8 August 1950 – 4 April 1951 |
Quorum President George F. Richards George F. Richards George Franklin Richards was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 9, 1906 until his death... died, and new Quorum President McKay was a counselor in the First Presidency to George Albert Smith George Albert Smith George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
Death of George Albert Smith and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in McKay returning to the Quorum |
| Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... |
Harold B. Lee Harold B. Lee Harold Bingham Lee was eleventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 1972 until his death.- Early life :... |
23 January 1970 – 2 July 1972 |
Lee, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church... |
Death of Joseph Fielding Smith and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Lee returning to the Quorum |
| Howard W. Hunter Howard W. Hunter Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church... |
Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
10 November 1985 – 20 May 1988 |
Romney, the Quorum President, was incapacitated due to ill health. Hunter is the only Acting President to serve while the actual President was still a member of the Quorum | Death of Romney |
| Boyd K. Packer Boyd K. Packer Boyd Kenneth Packer is an American educator and religious leader, and the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of... |
Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... |
5 June 1994 – 3 March 1995 |
Hinckley, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Howard W. Hunter Howard W. Hunter Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church... |
Death of Hunter and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Hinckley returning to the Quorum |
| Boyd K. Packer Boyd K. Packer Boyd Kenneth Packer is an American educator and religious leader, and the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of... |
Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... |
12 March 1995 – 27 January 2008 |
Monson, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church Presidency Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... . Packer is the only Acting President to serve two separated terms as Acting President. |
Death of Hinckley and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Monson returning to the Quorum |
Two "Acting Presidents" of the Quorum prior to the creation of the formal title
- Orson HydeOrson HydeOrson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
(27 December 1847—22 June 1868) : When senior Apostle Brigham YoungBrigham YoungBrigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
was made President of the Church on 27 December 1847, the next senior Apostle, Heber C. KimballHeber C. KimballHeber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
, was asked by Young to be one of the counselors in the First PresidencyFirst PresidencyIn the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. This left Orson HydeOrson HydeOrson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
as the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve. According to current practices of the Church, Kimball should have been called as President of the Quorum and Hyde as Acting President. However, this procedure was not followed, and Hyde was simply called as President of the Quorum. This created a historical anomaly whereby Hyde served as the President of the Quorum (not Acting President) while being the third most senior Apostl until Kimball's death on 22 June 1868.
- Brigham Young, Jr.Brigham Young, Jr.Brigham Young, Jr. served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1899 until his death. His tenure was interrupted for one week in 1901 when Joseph F...
(9 December 1899—10 October 1901) : When Lorenzo SnowLorenzo SnowLorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...
became President of the Church, the next senior Apostles, George Q. CannonGeorge Q. CannonGeorge Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
and Joseph F. SmithJoseph F. SmithJoseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, were asked by Snow to be counselors in the First PresidencyFirst PresidencyIn the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. This left Brigham Young, Jr.Brigham Young, Jr.Brigham Young, Jr. served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1899 until his death. His tenure was interrupted for one week in 1901 when Joseph F...
—who was the third most senior Apostle of the Church, but the fourth most senior member of the Quorum—as the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Rather than making Cannon the President of the Quorum, as would be the procedure today, Snow simply asked Young to serve as the President of the Quorum. When Cannon died in April 1901, Young continued to serve as President of the Quorum, despite the fact that Joseph F. SmithJoseph F. SmithJoseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
was the second most senior Apostle of the Church. When Snow died later that same year, Smith became President of the Church and Young continued on as President of the Quorum until his own death in 1903.