A Prophet's Voice

Though we were deeply saddened as a Church by the passing of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, from "this frail existence," the work of the Lord moves forward, "boldy, nobly, and independent," as Joseph Smith said. At a press conference last week, we learned that the senior Apostle, Russell M. Nelson, had been set apart as the 17th president of the Church in these latter days. For counselors, he had chosen Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring.

I know that President Nelson is a prophet of God. As he spoke, I could feel the mantle of his calling already on his shoulders. And I look forward to sustaining him and his counselors formally during this April's solemn assembly at general conference.

To my LDS friends who are saddened to see Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf no longer a counselor in this new First Presidency, now back in his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as well as Pres. Eyring now serving as second counselor where he had once served as first counselor, I say: This is not any sort of "demotion" in any sense of the word. We will still hear from and be taught by both frequently, and they aren't going anywhere.

There is precedent for this type of change when a new prophet has been called. Pres. J. Reuben Clark Jr., for example, had served for many years as first counselor to both Presidents Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith during the 1930s and 1940s when President David O. McKay, who became prophet in 1951, called Pres. Clark to instead be his second counselor and another Apostle (Stephen L Richards, who had higher seniority) as his first counselor. Shortly thereafter, Pres. Clark remarked in general conference: "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines." A similar reorganization in 1970 with the calling of Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith moved Pres. Hugh B. Brown from the First Presidency back into his place in the Quorum of the Twelve.

Though Pres. Nelson is at the helm here on Earth, I know that the Lord is in charge of His church, and His work goes forth. What an exciting time to be alive! We have so very many reasons to be grateful.