Following the death two weeks ago of
97-year-old Gordon B. Hinckley, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (more commonly known as the LDS or Mormon Church), the Church
had to elect a new president, someone who would guide the Church as an
administrator and as a prophet.
Many people initially were reminded of the
recent election of a new pope in the Catholic Church, following the death of
Pope John Paul II in 2005. Certainly, Gordon B. Hinckley and John Paul II
occupied similar positions in their respective churches. Both led flocks that
spanned the globe, and members of each church saw their respective leader as
God's spokesman on earth. However, the prolonged uncertainty that preceded the
election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pope was completely absent
from the aftermath of President Hinckley's death.
The highest levels of leadership in the
LDS Church are called the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles. The First Presidency consists of three men: the president of the LDS
Church and two counselors. The president serves until he dies; then the First
Presidency is automatically dissolved and the two counselors are absorbed into
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which then has 14 members). This group of 14
men governs the Church until a new president is chosen by unanimous vote in a
process that Mormons believe is divinely guided.
By tradition, the man who has served in
the Quorum of the Twelve the longest is selected as the new president. For this
reason, Mormons and non-Mormons alike knew years ago that, barring some
unforeseen circumstance, Thomas S. Monson would be the next president of the
LDS Church.
Nevertheless, until it was made official
on Monday, both the LDS Church and lay Mormons used language that made it clear
that Monson's election was not a done deal -- since Mormons believe that God
selects the president of the Church, they wanted to leave open the possibility
that God might call someone else to that office. While the utter predictability
of this process might make it seem more mechanical than divinely guided to
non-Mormons, the LDS Church pointed out in an official press release that the
process "happens in an orderly way that -- remarkably in today's world --
avoids any trace of internal lobbying for position or rank. It is devoid of
electioneering whether behind the scenes or in public."
In contrast, the conclave that resulted
in the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as pope brought together Roman
Catholic officials from around the globe. Many of these men had never met each
other, and, although it took place behind closed doors, campaigning was
virtually required for the group to come to a decision.
Monson, the 16th president, prophet, and
seer of the LDS Church, will have enormous shoes to fill. Hinckley was
president for about 13 years, but his service to the Church spanned several
decades. After serving as a missionary, he worked in the Church's newly-created
Public Affairs office, and helped both to standardize Church materials such as
Sunday School curricula and to improve the Church's public image.
As president, Hinckley continued this
effort, taking the Church from the margins to the mainstream in American
society. He also presided over a rapidly internationalizing Church. At his
death, the LDS Church claimed more than 13 million members worldwide, more than
half of whom lived outside the United States. In part to make the rituals of
the LDS Church more accessible to members in other countries, Hinckley
initiated an ambitious temple-building plan that more than doubled the number
of LDS temples worldwide. By building smaller, less expensive temples under Hinckley's
direction, the Church made temple rituals such as sealings (the rituals that
Mormons believe bind families together for eternity) available to more of its
members.
What will a Monson presidency mean for the
Church? While Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's election as pope heralded a shift
toward a more conservative Roman Catholic Church, President Monson probably
will continue to lead the LDS Church on the course that his predecessor
charted.
Given Monson's extensive business
experience, including work with the Deseret News, we can expect continued
attention to the Church's public image. Monson has also been active in the
internationalization of the Church, particularly in the former East Germany and
the former Soviet Union. We are likely to see the Church under his leadership
continue its efforts to evangelize around the world, perhaps with a greater
emphasis in areas such as Eastern Europe and regions that have previously been
closed to LDS missionaries.