Photo Copyright © 2018 mci
Something to pass
along – I’ve numerous non-member friends who receive my daily messages – and
they’ve great questions about the passing of President Monson and what happens
next. Below some of my responses:
Over the history of
the various dispensations of the Church there’s always only been one called as
Prophet – but they too need help – therefore they call two (sometimes very
rare) they can call a 3rd as counselors – thus the 1st
Presidency is the Prophet and his 2 councilors – then there’s still the Quorum
of the 12 Apostles – which as of today is down the 11 – until a new member is
called. Want some more confusion? – The 2nd Councilor in the new 1st
Presidency is also the next senior Apostle – which means he’s also the
President of the Quorum of 12. Therefore – the 3rd Senior Apostle –
President Nelson – President Oaks (also President of the Quorum of 12) and then
the 3rd Senior Apostle is M. Russell Ballard who’s now the Acting
President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Smile – simple stuff – there are
many who can’t figure it out. But the Lord’s Church is a Church of Order
(common sense).
Having
allowed me to have some clarity of thought to share with others – just think of
the Apostles as 1-15 - #1 living is always the President of the Church! All of
the 2-15 have the same keys of authority but not activated. I’m sure Pence has
a little black bag (but not activated). #2 living is always the President of
the Quorum of 12. This is because when #1 dies – he becomes the acting
President of the Church. Here’s not a good example but might suffice – if #1-7
were killed in a terror attack – then #8 automatically becomes the acting
President of the Church. There are other organizations – which next in line is
the 1st Presidency of the Seventy (of which there are 7). If this
were to occur - #8-15 would meet and prayerfully inquire of the Lord for those
who should now fill the empty seats in the Quorum of the 12 (first) then
reorganizing the 1st Presidency.
Here
are the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12:
President Russell M. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president and
prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 14, 2018 in the upper
room of the Salt Lake Temple. Prior to his service as head of the Church,
President Nelson served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from
July 15, 2015, until his call as the Church’s leader. He has served as a member
of the that quorum since April 7, 1984. An internationally renowned
surgeon and medical researcher, Dr. Nelson received his B.A. and M.D. degrees
from the University of Utah (1945, 47). Honorary scholastic societies include
Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He served his residency in surgery at
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at the University of Minnesota,
where he was awarded his Ph.D. Degree in 1954. He also received honorary
degrees of Doctor of Science from Brigham Young University in 1970, Doctor of
Medical Science from Utah State University in 1989, and Doctor of Humane
Letters from Snow College in 1994.
His
professional work included the positions of research professor of surgery and
director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and
chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Author
of numerous publications and chapters in medical textbooks,
President Nelson lectured and visited professionally throughout the United
States and in many other nations prior to his call as a General Authority. A host of awards and honors have
come to him, including the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah; the
Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association; a citation for
International Service from the American Heart Association; and the Golden Plate
Award, presented by the American Academy of Achievement. He has been awarded
honorary professorships from three universities in the People’s Republic of
China.
Dr.
Nelson has served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director
of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on
Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association, and president of the
Utah State Medical Association.
He is
listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in
Religion.
President
Nelson has held numerous positions of responsibility in the Church. He served
as stake president of the Bonneville Stake from 1964 to June, 1971, when he was
called as general president of the Sunday School. Prior to his call to the Quorum
of the Twelve, he was serving as a Regional Representative assigned to the
Kearns Utah Region. He had previously served as Regional Representative
for Brigham Young University.
Born
September 9, 1924, President Nelson is the son of Marion C. and Edna
Anderson Nelson. He and his wife, the former Dantzel White, have ten children.
Sister Nelson passed away in February 2005. In April 2006, he married Wendy L.
Watson.
1st Councilor President Eyring
previously served as first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from April 1985
to September 1992 and as Church commissioner of education from September 1980
to April 1985 and also September 1992 to January 2005.
President
Eyring was president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, from 1971 to 1977. He
was on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
from 1962 to 1971.
He
holds a B.S. degree in physics from the University of Utah and master of
business administration and doctor of business administration degrees from
Harvard University.
Born in
Princeton, New Jersey, 31 May 1933, he has served the Church as a regional
representative, a member of the general Sunday School board and a bishop.
President
Eyring is married to the former Kathleen Johnson, and they are the parents of
four sons and two daughters.
It’s important for us each to remember that those called to the
Quorum of the 12 – need be holding no other leadership position in the
Church. President Nelson when called was one of the world’s leading heart
surgeons – here are the other members:
President
M. Russell Ballard has served as a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since
October 6, 1985, traveling throughout the earth to instruct Church members and
direct day-to-day affairs of the worldwide Church. On January 14, 2018, he was
sustained and set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles.
He was
born in Salt Lake City, Utah on 8 October 1928 to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith
Ballard. He attended the University of Utah.
As a
young man, he served a mission to England for the Church where he was a
counselor in the mission presidency. He has also served as a bishop twice.
In
1974, he was called as president of the Canada Toronto Mission, where he was
serving when called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in
April of 1976. As a member of the Seventy, he supervised and trained leaders in
his assigned geographic regions. He later served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from February 1980 to
October 1985, overseeing the Church’s Quorums of the Seventy. Much of his
ministry has been focused on missionary work.
Prior
to his call as a full-time Church leader, President Ballard had interests in
the automotive, real estate and investment businesses. He has served on many
Church and civic committees and boards.
He
married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple on 28 August 1951. They are the
parents of two sons and five daughters.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was ordained a member
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints on 23 June 1994. At the time of this call, Elder Holland was
serving as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, to which he had been
called on 1 April 1989.
From
1980 until his call as a general authority in 1989, Jeffrey R. Holland served
as the ninth president of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is a
former Church commissioner of education and dean of the College of Religious
Education at BYU.
A
student leader and varsity athlete at Dixie High School and Dixie College in
his native St. George, Utah, he received his bachelor and master degrees in
English and religious education, respectively, from Brigham Young University.
He obtained master and doctor of philosophy degrees in American studies from
Yale University.
Elder
Holland was active in professional educational activity prior to his call to
full-time Church service. He served as president of the American Association of
Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAPICU), on the board of
the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and
as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Presidents
Commission. For his work in improving understanding between Christians and Jews
he was awarded the Torch of Liberty award by the Anti-Defamation League of
B'Nai B'rith. He has served on the governing boards of a number of civic and
business related corporations and has received the Distinguished Eagle Scout
award from the Boy Scouts of America. He is the author of eight books, one of
which he co-authored with his wife, Patricia.
Elder
Holland was born 3 December 1940 to Frank D. and Alice Bentley Holland. In
1963, he married Patricia Terry. They are the parents of three children.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf was called as second
counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints on February 3, 2008. He served in that position until January 2018. He
was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church on
October 2, 2004. He has served as a General Authority since April 1994.
Elder
Uchtdorf was born on November 6, 1940 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, to Karl
Albert and Hildegard Opelt Uchtdorf. His family became members of the Church in
1947 in Zwickau, Germany. They fled to Frankfurt/Main in 1952 where he received
an education in engineering. He joined the German Air Force in, 1959 and served
for six years as a fighter pilot.
In 1965, Elder Uchtdorf began working for Lufthansa German
Airlines as a pilot. From 1970 until 1996 he flew as captain of the B737,
Airbus, DC10, and B747. While also working as training and check captain, he
received several management responsibilities. These positions included Section
Chief Pilot B737, head of Lufthansa pilot school in Arizona, head of all
cockpit crews, and finally Senior Vice President Flight Operations and
Lufthansa Chief Pilot. He was also chairman of the Flight Operations Committee
of the International Air Transport Association.
Dieter
Uchtdorf and Harriet Reich married in 1962. They have two children, six
grandchildren and one great-grandchild. With his call as an Apostle, the
Uchtdorfs left their homeland and now live permanently in the United States.
Dieter
and Harriet Uchtdorf enjoy outdoor activities, cherish the arts, and are
happiest when spending time with their family.
(he was the pilot of plane hijacked and not only saved the plane
and all of the passengers)
David
A. Bednar was ordained and set apart as a member of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 October
2004. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Bednar served as an
area seventy, area authority seventy, regional representative, twice as a stake
president and as a bishop.
Elder
Bednar was born on 15 June 1952 in Oakland, California. He served as a
full-time missionary in southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young
University, where he received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. He
also received a doctoral degree in organizational behavior from Purdue
University.
After
completing his education, Elder Bednar was a professor of business management
at Texas Tech University and at the University of Arkansas. He then served as
the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (formerly Ricks College) from
1997 to 2004.
Elder
Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in the Salt Lake Temple on 20 March 1975, and
they are the parents of three sons.
Elder Quentin L. Cook was sustained as a member of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints on 6 October 2007. Called as a general authority in April 1996, he
served in the Second Quorum, the First Quorum, and the Presidency of the
Seventy.
As a
Seventy, he served in the area presidency in the Philippines, as president of
the Pacific Islands and the North America Northwest Areas, and as executive
director of the Missionary Department.
At the
time of his call to be a general authority of the Church, he was vice chairman
of Sutter Health System. Previously, he was president and chief executive
officer of a California healthcare system. Prior to that, he was a business
lawyer and managing partner of a San Francisco Bay Area law firm. He has been a
board member of several profit and not-for-profit corporations.
He has
served the Church as a bishop, stake president and counselor in the San
Francisco California Stake, and regional representative and area authority in
the North America West Area. As a young man, he was a missionary in the British
Mission.
He is a
native of Logan, Utah, received a bachelor’s degree in political science from
Utah State University, and a doctor of jurisprudence from Stanford University.
He
married Mary Gaddie on 30 November 1962. They are the parents of three
children.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson was
called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints on 5 April 2008. At the time of his call, he was serving in
the Presidency of the Seventy.
During
his tenure in the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Christofferson had
supervisory responsibility for the North America West, Northwest and Southeast
Areas of the Church. He also served as executive director of the Family and
Church History Department. Earlier, he was president of the Mexico South Area
of the Church, residing in Mexico City.
Prior
to his call to serve as a full-time general authority of the Church, Elder
Christofferson was associate general counsel of NationsBank Corporation (now
Bank of America) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Previously, he was senior vice
president and general counsel for Commerce Union Bank of Tennessee in
Nashville, where he was also active in community affairs and interfaith
organizations. From 1975 to 1980, Elder Christofferson practiced law in
Washington, D.C., after serving as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge John J.
Sirica (1972-74).
Born in
Pleasant Grove, Utah, he graduated from high school in New Jersey, earned his
bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, where he was an Edwin S.
Hinckley Scholar, and earned his law degree from Duke University.
Among
other callings, he has served the Church as a regional representative, stake
president and bishop. As a young man, he served as a missionary in Argentina.
Elder
Christofferson and his wife, Katherine Jacob Christofferson, are parents of
five children.
Elder Neil Linden Andersen was named an apostle of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 4 April 2009.
Elder
Andersen was serving as the senior member of the Presidency of the Seventy
prior to his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve. He was named a member of the
First Quorum of the Seventy in April 1993, at age 41. He previously led the
work of the Church in southern Brazil and, again as a member of an area
presidency, oversaw the Church in western Europe. He has also assisted in
supervising the work of the Church in Mexico and Central America. In addition,
he supervised Church audiovisual production, including the filming of The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd and
managed construction of the broadcast facilities in the Conference Center as
the executive director of the Church Audiovisual Department. He speaks French,
Portuguese and Spanish in addition to his native English.
Prior
to his call as a general authority, Elder Andersen served as a mission
president in the France Bordeaux Mission and as president of the Tampa Florida
Stake.
Elder
Andersen was born in Logan, Utah, and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, on a dairy
farm where he remembers doing "typical Idaho farm work, from morning to
night.” In high school, he excelled in student government, serving as governor
of Idaho Boys State.
He
graduated from Brigham Young University, where he was a Hinckley Scholar, and
earned a masters of business administration from Harvard University. After
completing his education, he settled in Tampa, Florida, where his business
interests included advertising, real estate development and health care.
Elder
Andersen and his wife, Kathy Williams Andersen, are the parents of four children.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband was called to the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. He had been serving as a
member of the Presidency of the Seventy since 2005 and was serving as the
senior president of the Presidency of the Seventy when called to the Twelve.
Elder Rasband was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 1 April 2000. He has served as a
counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency, president of the Utah Salt
Lake City Area, executive director of the Temple Department; and has supervised
the North America West, Northwest, and three Utah areas as a member of the
Presidency of the Seventy.
Elder Rasband attended the University of Utah. In 1995, Utah Valley University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Business and Commerce. In 1976 he joined Huntsman Container Company as sales representative, and in 1987, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Chemical Corporation.
Elder Rasband attended the University of Utah. In 1995, Utah Valley University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Business and Commerce. In 1976 he joined Huntsman Container Company as sales representative, and in 1987, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Chemical Corporation.
When he
left Huntsman Chemical Corporation in 1996 to serve as a mission president in
New York, he was also serving as a member of the Board of Directors.
Elder
Rasband has held numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in
the Eastern States Mission (1970-1972), Temple Square missionary guide, bishop,
and member of the Church’s Sesquicentennial Committee. He presided over the New
York, New York North Mission from 1996 to 1999.
Elder
Rasband was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1951. He married Melanie Twitchell
in 1973. They are the parents of five children and have 24 grandchildren.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson, 56, was named to the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. He was serving as the
presiding bishop of the Church at the time of his call to the Twelve, a
position which he has held since April 2012. He was called to the First Quorum
of the Seventy in 2008 and served as president of the Asia North Area. His
previous Church service includes full-time missionary in the Japan Fukuoka
Mission, high councilor, bishop, stake president’s counselor, president of the
Japan Nagoya Mission and ward Sunday School teacher.
He
received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Utah
State University. He cofounded Icon Health & Fitness, Inc., where he served
as president and chief operating officer until 2008. He was involved in civic
activities and served on boards and advisory councils.
Elder
Stevenson was raised in Cache Valley, Utah. He is married to Lesa Jean Higley,
and they are the parents of four sons.
Elder Dale G. Renlund was named to the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. He was serving as a member of the First
Quorum of the Seventy at the time of his call, to which he was called on April
4, 2009. He previously served as president of the Africa Southeast Area.
After
receiving B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah, Elder Renlund
received further medical and research training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He
was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah and the Medical Director
of the Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals (UTAH) Cardiac Transplant
Program.
Elder
Renlund has served in numerous church callings including full-time missionary
in Sweden, stake president, bishop, and Area Seventy.
Elder
Renlund was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November 1952. He married Ruth
Lybbert in 1977. They are the parents of one daughter.
“Order in All Things”
cji
1/17/18
From the dawn of
creation
traversing into our
day
order in all things
done
ways of the Father
and Son
could be said for
clarity
order and
organization
common sense and
reason
eternal and thus
forever
unchanging in all
things
implicate in God’s
Law
from the dawn of
creation!
Copyright © 2018 – cji
No comments:
Post a Comment