Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

In general, the position of Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is only filled when the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is called as a counselor in the First Presidency of the church. In such instances, the man who holds this calling is the most senior apostle who is not serving in the First Presidency. Additionally, a person may be called as the Acting President of the Quorum when the actual President of the Quorum is unable to perform his duties due to ill health or other incapacitation.

The formal calling of Acting President of the Quorum has been held six times by five men: Rudger Clawson, Joseph Fielding Smith, Spencer W. Kimball, Howard W. Hunter, and Boyd K. Packer. Additionally, two earlier apostles—Orson Hyde and Brigham Young, Jr.—have acted as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles when they were not the second-most senior apostle in the church, and therefore may be said to have played the role of an Acting President of the Quorum before this specific title was created by the church.

Duties

As the Acting President of the Quorum, the person with this calling performs all of the duties that would normally be performed by the President of the Quorum. Primarily, these duties consist of presiding at and conducting the weekly meetings of the Quorum in the Salt Lake Temple; making decisions about the particular assignments to be made to the members of the Quorum; and acting as a liaison in coordinating the work of the Quorum with the First Presidency, the Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric.

When adherents refer to the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, his name is usually prefaced by the honorific title "President".

Five formal Acting Presidents in six terms

Acting President President Dates Reason Acting President was needed Reason tenure ended
Rudger Clawson Anthon H. Lund 23 November 1918 – 17 March 1921 Lund, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Heber J. Grant Death of Lund
Joseph Fielding Smith David O. McKay 8 August 1950 – 4 April 1951 Quorum President George F. Richards died, and new Quorum President McKay was a counselor in the First Presidency to George Albert Smith Death of George Albert Smith and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in McKay returning to the Quorum
Spencer W. Kimball Harold B. Lee 23 January 1970 – 2 July 1972 Lee, the President of the Quorum, was asked to be a counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph Fielding Smith Death of Joseph Fielding Smith and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Lee returning to the Quorum
Howard W. Hunter Marion G. Romney 10 November 1985 – 20 May 1988 Romney, the Quorum President, was incapacitated due to ill health. Hunter is the only Acting President to serve while the actual President was still a member of the Quorum Death of Romney
Boyd K. Packer Gordon B. Hinckley 5 June 1994 – 3 March 1995 Hinckley, the Quorum President, was serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church president Howard W. Hunter. Thomas S. Monson, who was next in seniority after Hinckley, was also serving as a counselor in the First Presidency. Death of Hunter and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Hinckley returning to the Quorum.
Thomas S. Monson 12 March 1995 – 27 January 2008 Monson, the Quorum President, was serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church presidency Gordon B. Hinckley. Packer is the only person to serve two separated terms as Acting President. Death of Hinckley and dissolution of the First Presidency, which resulted in Monson returning to the Quorum.

Two "Acting Presidents" of the Quorum prior to the creation of the formal title

Bust photo of Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde
Bust photo of Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr.
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