Comments on: Monson’s Age Considered

By: izzy

izzy — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:16:48 +0000

Using conditional life expectancies for males in Utah, I calculated the expected number of years remaining for all of the current apostles to come up with some sort of an educated guess on who the next several prophets might be based on age and seniority.

Here are the results:

Monson (obviously)
Oaks (and/or Hales)
Holland (and/or Uchtdorf)
Bednar

As long as Bednar lives to be about 80-85, he’s pretty much a lock. He’s 12 years younger than any of the others. Oaks and Hales are the same age, as are Holland and Uchtdorf. If Monson lives unexpectedly long (longer than about 12 more years), Oaks and Hales will probably not be around.

This is just for fun.

By: Bored in Vernal

Bored in Vernal — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:22:30 +0000

m&m, this release has since been edited.

By: m&m

m&m — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:55:01 +0000

Did anyone else notice that the news release on Succession in the Presidency on lds.org says that the “new president chooses two counselors from among the Quorum of the Twelve”?

I read through it and found nothing that said that. It says this:

“If a motion to reorganize the First Presidency is passed, the Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects the new president of the Church. The new president chooses two counselors and the three of them become the new First Presidency. Throughout the history of the Church, the longest-serving apostle has always become the president of the Church when the First Presidency has been reorganized.”

FWIW.

By: nita

nita — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:26:29 +0000

speculating is fun on who might be our next leader in the First Presidency, etc. But definitely we need to remember to increase the efforts to pray for them and their families, especially for their health issues that all might be well-managed.

I don’t mean that to sound judgemental. I don’t pray enough for our leaders. We should pray for them to enjoy the best of health and that they will avoid secondary complications,etc from their conditions.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:43:21 +0000

Has anyone taken into account the value of meaningful work? I bet that one pretty prosaic reason that these men live longer is simply the fact that they are engaged daily in activities that stretch their mental capacities, force them to meet new people, see new things and assimilate information and experiences that their peers have shut out. Not to mention that all this “work” has profound and deep meaning to them. Regardless of their pre-apostolic professional success I bet that this work is significantly more rewarding. If I get to have a “retirement” like President Hinkley’s-bring on old age. If I get to languish in an Arizona golf village for twenty years, I think I would prefer to exit earlier than later.

By: J. Nelson-Seawright

J. Nelson-Seawright — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:09:57 +0000

Clark, Pres. Packer’s health is evidently very poor indeed. There are more specific rumors, but also if you’ve seen him, he’s visibly aged in the last two years or so.

Can I note that my least-favorite aspect of our chosen succession system is the way it leads us all, me included I guess, to develop this sort of interest in the life expectancy of old men we don’t know?

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:41:20 +0000

When Elder Eyring was called to be Pres. Hinckley’s second counselor, I wondered if that precluded all those with more seniority than him becoming a counselor in the first presidency. Now, J. Reuben Clark had been George Albert Smith’s first counselor while David O. McKay was second counselor, and later Clark became McKay’s second counselor with Stephen L. Richards as first counselor. So, yes, anything could happen. Practically speaking in 2008 though, I wonder if Eyring’s call means the the next counselor will be either Uchtdorf or Bednar.

By: Dr. H

Dr. H — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:24:34 +0000

Diabetes takes 10 years off of one’s life expectancy. Though Monson is 80 years old,
as a diabetic he’s more like 90 years old. He’s had several close calls in the past with his diabetes.

By: Dr. B.

Dr. B. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:35:38 +0000

I think you haven’t factored in that President Monson has diabetes. I noticed that was listed for President Hinckley as a contributing factor. I also think Elder Ballard has a shot since he has the Canada Toronto relationship of both men serving there and his extensive public relations experience. He is also very close to President Monson. It would be good to see him in that role moving up higher than his two grandfathers. No one can tell who will be in but I bet he gets an interview. I remember when ETB called his counselor he interviewed three apostles before making his selection.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:59:38 +0000

although i think it likely that TSM will choose HBE again as a counselor, he could have 2 different ones. like BKP, to give experience to the potential next leader, and then another. hope they call a hispanic apostle!