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whom do you think will be chosen to replace Pres. Faust? |
I just read an article in the Salt Lake Tribune who speculates who will be the Apostle that will replace Pres. Faust. If the article is accurate, my first choice is the correct one.
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Now it begins. In Mormon living rooms, church foyers, at family reunions and on Mormon blogs, LDS Church members already are speculating about who will become the next counselor to LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley following the Aug. 10 death of his second counselor, James E. Faust. After all, it's been 19 years since the last counselor in the First Presidency died, and Mormons love to speculate. Faithful Mormons believe the choice will be inspired by God. It won't be based on tradition or seniority or favoritism. It's not a vote or a popularity contest. It won't be announced on some predictable schedule. "The decision rests with President Hinckley," LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said Wednesday. "He will decide who it will be and when it will happen." But that hasn't stopped the talk among Latter-day Saints, who are all ardent hierarchy watchers. It's human nature. There is only one rule for choosing a member of the First Presidency: no women. Other than that, the choice is wide open, but tends toward men who already have proved their worth. It's a lifetime position, after all, so Mormon presidents are not willing to take many risks. Most, but not all counselors were drawn from the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, a group of men whose place in the seniority is determined by the day they were appointed an apostle. Within the Quorum, the possibilities are intriguing. Some believe Hinckley will replace Faust with another longtime colleague, Elder L. Tom Perry, the No. 2 man in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, who has been an LDS general authority since 1972. Perry was a Boston business executive and recently spent two years in Germany, building up the church there. But he turned 85 this month. Others predict Hinckley, who enjoys surprises and clearly knows the benefit of having younger men in the mix, might pick Apostle M. Russell Ballard (No. 5). Ballard is 79. A popular choice would be Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland (No. 9), former president of Brigham Young University who spent two years in Chile, learning how to manage rapid growth and the cultural challenges facing South American Mormons. Holland is 66 and was chosen to speak at Faust's funeral. Choosing Russell M. Nelson (No. 3) would guarantee that Hinckley would always have a doctor nearby. Nelson was a heart surgeon before becoming an apostle. If Hinckley were really bold, he would grab Apostle David Bednar, the youngest man in the Quorum at 55. What Bednar, former president of BYU-Idaho, lacks in experience, he could make up in enthusiasm and good health. |
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After all, it's been 19 years since the last counselor in the First Presidency died, and Mormons love to speculate. |
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But that hasn't stopped the talk among Latter-day Saints, who are all ardent hierarchy watchers. It's human nature. |
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There is only one rule for choosing a member of the First Presidency: no women. |
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Choosing Russell M. Nelson (No. 3) would guarantee that Hinckley would always have a doctor nearby. Nelson was a heart surgeon before becoming an apostle. |
Tortdog, the article on the Salt Lake Tribune is supposed to be humorous, not meant to be taken literally.
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I must not be a very good Mormon. I am not curious at all as to whom the next counselor will be. (And I'm pretty sure whom the next prophet might be!) I don't see that it matters, much. |