The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
On May 31, a modest birthday party in the Church Administration Building made history in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In that setting, President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, observed his 90th birthday.
At the same time the Church observed a First Presidency, already the most elderly in its history, continue to serve with each of its three members 90 years of age or older, with President Russell M. Nelson, age 98, and President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, age 90, welcoming President Eyring as he joined them in their 10th decades of life.
Read more about this milestone here. See a comparison of the First Presidency’s length of tenure to others in Church history here.
In spite of their age, the breathtaking activity and dazzling impact this First Presidency is having on the Church is already the stuff from which legends are made. The membership of the Church from Seattle to Santiago and Jacksonville to Johannesburg are rejoicing with everything from new or renovated temple buildings to an enhanced and elevated temple experience.
In addition, this First Presidency has overseen the revamping of Church curriculum, expanded the Church’s outreach to those not of our faith, and pioneered an emphasis on and developed the resources for a home-centered, Church-supported religious orientation for its members. And the list goes on and on.
Nevertheless, when the significance of the First Presidency’s responsibilities is considered and the demand on their health in fulfilling them is weighed, occasionally a questioning comment can be heard here or there about the vitality needed for such service. “Wouldn’t it be better to have younger men carrying that load?” we can hear in the conversation of some. “Wouldn’t younger men be more responsive to the times?” a few others may say.
On April 7, 1996, a broad television audience in the United States had the chance to consider just such questions when iconic television journalist Mike Wallace bluntly put this issue to then-President Gordon B. Hinckley. On a segment of the popular investigative television program “60 Minutes,” Mr. Wallace said, “There are those who say: ‘This is a gerontocracy. This is a Church run by old men.’“
President Hinckley, then 86 years old, replied with the rapid response of a spunky 30-year-old. “Isn’t it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head, a man of judgment who isn’t blown about by every wind of doctrine,” he said, leaving both interrogator and responder in laughter when the only thing left to say after that was that at least the leader should not be “dotty.”
While we all have concern for the impact their many, relentless and far-flung duties have on their health, and knowing that youthfulness usually brings energy and vitality to any task it undertakes, nevertheless, this First Presidency of three men in their 90s brings certain qualities to their callings that to some degree are as irreplaceable as they are unprecedented. I am one of a mere handful who has the privilege of observing these men at work all day every day in a variety of responsibilities. Let me suggest just a few things I have learned about the leadership of elderly men, especially these elderly men:
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
MaryannJune 7, 2023
I have full confidence in our First Presidency. My testimony that they are God's chosen servants to guide and counsel me brings me incredible peace. No matter what is occurring in the world, I can look to them for direction. WONDERFUL!