In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations. Smith established the inaugural First Presidency in 1832, and the body continued to exist until Smith's death in 1844. Some time later, First Presidencies were reorganized by Brigham Young (for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Sidney Rigdon for the Rigdonites (now The Church of Jesus Christ) and by Joseph Smith III (for the Community of Christ). The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... A Latter Day Saint is an adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement, a group of denominations tracing their heritage to the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... For other uses, see Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (disambiguation). ... Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793–14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Rigdonite is a name given to members of the Latter Day Saint movement who accept Sidney Rigdon as the successor in the church presidency to movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Church of Jesus Christs historic chapel in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. ... Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ...

The First Presidency in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main article: First Presidency (LDS Church)

George W. Bush (right) meets with the First Presidency in August 2006. Seated clockwise are: Gordon B. Hinckley, President; Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor (obscured); and the late James E. Faust, Second Counselor.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First Presidency is the presiding or governing authority of the church. It usually consists of the President of the Church and two counselors, although up to eight counselors have on occasion been included in the presidency at the same time. The counselors assist the church president and work closely with him in guiding the entire church. Like the church president and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, counselors in the First Presidency are referred to by the title "President"; thus, the current First Presidency are referred to as President Gordon B. Hinckley, President Thomas S. Monson, and recently deceased President James E. Faust, leaving a temporary open position. All members of the First Presidency are sustained by the membership of the church as prophets, seers, and revelators. Thomas S. Monson, Gordon B. Hinckley, and James E. Faust, the recent members of the First Presidency of the LDS Church. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since March 12, 1995. ... Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (born August 21, 1927) holds two of the most senior positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... James E. Faust James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the Church for 35 years. ... For other uses, see Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (disambiguation). ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... President Thomas S. Monson Acting President Boyd K. Packer President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since March 12, 1995. ... Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (born August 21, 1927) holds two of the most senior positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... James E. Faust James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the Church for 35 years. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, common consent is a principle established by the movements founder Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. ...

Any worthy high priest within the church may serve as a counselor in the First Presidency, though most of its members have been chosen from among the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Charles W. Nibley, for example, was a counselor to Heber J. Grant without ever being ordained to the priesthood office of Apostle. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a high priest is a member of the priesthood (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who holds the same priesthood authority as that of an Elder, but who is ordained to the office of a high priest. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... Charles Wilson Nibley (February 5, 1849—December 11, 1931) was the fifth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the Churchs First Presidency from 1925 until his death. ... Heber Jeddy Grant (November 22, 1856 – May 14, 1945) was the seventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism). ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the ideal article standard. ...

In the case of an infirm president, his counselors may be called upon to perform more of his duties. If needed, any number of additional counselors may be called to assist them, though the president of the church still remains the only person on the earth authorized to use all priesthood keys. In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances (sacraments), and the apostolic power to perform miracles. ...

Counselors serve in the First Presidency until their own deaths, until the death of the church president who called them, or until they are released by the church president. The death of a church president dissolves the First Presidency, and leaves the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the senior leader of the church. The death or release of a counselor does not dissolve the First Presidency. President Thomas S. Monson Acting President Boyd K. Packer President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

Often, the surviving counselors of the late president will be called as counselors in the new First Presidency, but a notably infirm counselor may revert to his place among the Twelve Apostles with a healthier man called as counselor in his place. On the death or release of a first counselor, the second counselor usually succeeds and a new second counselor is named. Although this is a fairly common occurrence, there are no hard and fast rules about such practices and each president is free to choose the counselors he prefers.

The First Presidency which included Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust served from 12 March 1995 until 10 August 2007 (the date on which James E. Faust passed away), and was the longest consecutive First Presidency (no change in president or counselors) in the history of the church. Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since March 12, 1995. ... Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (born August 21, 1927) holds two of the most senior positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... James E. Faust James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the Church for 35 years. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... James E. Faust James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the Church for 35 years. ...

The First Presidency in the Community of Christ

Main article: First Presidency (Community of Christ)

The First Presidency is the highest leadership or priesthood quorum of the Community of Christ church (which shares a common historical foundation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Normally the First Presidency consists of the Prophet-President of the church and two counselors. The First Presidency of the Community of Christ is the churchs highest-ranking priesthood quorum. ... In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ...

In 1860 with the reorganization of the First Presidency, Joseph Smith III became the second Prophet-President of this church and also President of a new First Presidency. William Marks became Smith's First Counselor. 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The First Presidency of the Community of Christ differs from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where the church president is always the senior-most member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (of which there are usually 14 following the death of the Prophet). In the Community of Christ, by contrast, each new church president has generally been "designated" as the successor by the preceding church president. The Counselors in the First Presidency are then chosen by the church president and are occasionally, but not required, to be former or current members of the Council of Twelve Apostles. In addition, the death of the Prophet-President does not dissolve the First Presidency, which continues on as the church's executive council in the persons of the remaining two presidents until a Prophet-President is called. The two members who were counselors to the prophet-president, cease to be counselors during this time. Upon ordination of the Prophet-President, the former first presidency is dissolved, and upon ordination of the two he/she calls to be his/her councilors and presidents of the church it is reorganized. Members of the First Presidency are not generally considered to be members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or holding the priesthood office of apostle, regardless of previous calling. The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... In Mormonism, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy in many Latter Day Saint denominations, members of which are considered to be Apostles, and special...

Prior to 1996, all prophet-presidents were descendants of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr.. This pattern was broken by Wallace B. Smith, who designated W. Grant McMurray church president. McMurray, in turn, resigned the church presidency in 2004 without designating a successor. A joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles announced in March 2005 the name of Stephen M. Veazey as Prophet-President designate. Veazey had been serving as president of the Council of Twelve. Delegates elected to a special World Conference of the church approved Veazey and he was ordained as the 8th president of the High Priesthood, Prophet, and President of the Church on June 3, 2005. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Wallace B. Smith (born 1929) was Prophet and President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ), from 1978–1996. ... W. Grant McMurray, (born 1945), Prophet and President of the Community of Christ 1996–2004. ... Stephen M. Veazey (born May 3, 1957) is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ headquartered in Independence, Missouri which has no affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ... In Mormonism, General Conferences are church-wide meetings of individual Latter Day Saint denominations. ... is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

One June 4, 2005 with the ordinations of Ken Robinson and David Schaal as presidents of the church and counselors to the president, the First Presidency was reorganized. The following individuals are named Ken Robinson: Ken Robinson (Canadian politician) (1927-1991) Ken Robinson (politician) (born 1942) Sir Ken Robinson (British author) (born 1950) Kenneth Robinson (1911-1996) British politician Kenny Robinson (1969-1999) American baseball player Kenny Robinson (comedian) Canadian actor and stand-up comic Category: ...

On March 27, 2007 President Robinson retired from his position in the First Presidency and Becky Savage was ordained into the First Presidency. She is the first female to sit on the First Presidency.

Current members of the First Presidency:

• President Stephen M. Veazey
• President Becky L. Savage (Counselor to the president)
• President David D. Schaal (Counselor to the president)

Stephen M. Veazey (born May 3, 1957) is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ headquartered in Independence, Missouri which has no affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ...

The First Presidency in the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

A First Presidency also leads the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which was formed primarily out of discontent with changes in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Church President is Frederick Niels Larsen, a direct descendant of Joseph Smith Jr., as the church feels strongly about the lineal succession. The First and Second Counselors to the president are Robert Ostrander and Lane Harold respectively. The headquarters of the Remnant Church as seen Community of Christs temple. ... Frederick Niels Larsen (born 15 January 1932) is the President/Prophet of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Daguerreotype which some experts believe to be an original 1843 photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Lineal succession was a doctrine, largely abandoned in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, whereby certain key church positions are held by right of inheritance. ...

See also

• President of the Church (Latter Day Saints)
• Priesthood (Latter-day Saint)