The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is Dead... Wait, President?

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Gordon B. Hinckley, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Is Dead at 97

The president of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, died
Sunday, a church spokesman said. He was 97.

Mr. Hinckley was the 15th president of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(This was an email alert from the New York Times)

They have a President? WTF?

I mean, I know they must have a leader, but why call him "President"? They need to work on giving their leaders cool names if they want to become a religion in my book.

[SezMe]

Grand Poh-Bah was already taken.

[bobhope2112]

From wikipedia, so who knows if it's right:
Several other titles have been associated with this office, including First Elder of the church, Presiding High Priest, President of the High Priesthood, Trustee-in-Trust for the church, Prophet, Seer, Revelator, Translator, and Ruler (in Israel). The movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., the first president of the church, was known by all of these titles in his lifetime (although not necessarily with consistency).
Revelator sounds pretty bitchin', but that's probably just because I'm a Son House fan.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

(This was an email alert from the New York Times)

They have a President? WTF?

I mean, I know they must have a leader, but why call him "President"? They need to work on giving their leaders cool names if they want to become a religion in my book.

Just saw the same thing on Google News. The exact same thought went through my head. :worried: :D

[joobz]

So my List of things I associate Presidents with is now:
The United States of America
The Hair club for men
The church of Jesus Christ of LDS.

[Empress]

He's president because the church is a democracy and everybody votes the member into office. Of course, there's the slight problem that when I was a kid, I was taught that it was always improper to vote "no". :rolleyes:

[Dogmeat]

He's president because the church is a democracy and everybody votes the member into office. Of course, there's the slight problem that when I was a kid, I was taught that it was always improper to vote "no". :rolleyes:

Wait wait wait wait wait!

The vote wasn't between multiple candidates, but rather everyone just votes "yes" or "no"? You can't choose who you want?

[Empress]

Wait wait wait wait wait!

The vote wasn't between multiple candidates, but rather everyone just votes "yes" or "no"? You can't choose who you want?

Nope. Because the person was chosen by god, so naturally he was the right one for the position. (Or she, if it was a lowly position like working in the nursery. *snort*) But that didn't stop it from being a democracy. Oh no. :rolleyes:

I remember once asking what happened if someone got voted down, and it was explained that it was improper to vote "no". I later saw someone vote "no" on a local position and being shocked, because it seemed like terrible manners to me. :cool:

[This Guy]

So..he gets what? His own planet to rule or something now, right?

Plus virgins I hope! No fun ruling your own planet without virgins!

[rcronk]

The top two governing quorums in the LDS church are: 1. The First Presidency - consisting of three members (the President and two counselors), and 2. The Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Beneath these quorums are seven quorums of seventy. All of this is for organizational purposes and matches the church organization described in the Bible at the time of Christ. I think the title "president" is more of an organizational title than a religious title. The religious title would be "prophet".

From my understanding being a member of the LDS church, the "voting" mentioned above is actually called "sustaining" which is where each person indicates that they will sustain (help, follow, accept delegated responsibilities...) the leaders being called (from the president down to any calling in the church) rather than it being a democratic vote. If there are people who are opposed to the person receiving the calling for serious reasons, the leaders will talk to those who are opposed to see why they oppose. If it's something substantively wrong, then the calling can be revisited.

No virgins - sorry.

[Supercharts]

So if Romney's campaign falls apart then he still could run for President (Prophet). That Mitt - always has a back up plan!

[rcronk]

FYI - Generally the person who has been a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of Twelve Apostles the longest ends up being the next prophet/president. This means Mitt would have to be called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and then outlive everyone else for several decades to become prophet/president. No voting, campaigning, or running involved.

I know you're all just making jokes, but I decided to explain how it actually works for anyone who might be interested in learning more about a group they don't know much about.

[Furcifer]

I know you're all just making jokes, but I decided to explain how it actually works for anyone who might be interested in learning more about a group they don't know much about.


Thanks. That being said, isn't this just the disgruntled group of Mormon's that didn't get the magic spectacles? I seem to remember they ran recruitment commercials on TV in Detroit when I was a kid.

[rcronk]

Thanks. That being said, isn't this just the disgruntled group of Mormon's that didn't get the magic spectacles? I seem to remember they ran recruitment commercials on TV in Detroit when I was a kid.

I'm not sure I follow you. I haven't heard of any disgruntled group of Mormons who didn't (or did) get magic spectacles - whatever those are. Please elaborate.

President Hinckley is the president/prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is the original church that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. There are some dwindling offshoots from this main church but members of these offshoots are excommunicated from the main group. The LDS church currently has about 13 million members - about half of those are in the United States. The offshoots (if that's what you're talking about) are very small groups who decided to do things differently - perhaps some could be disgruntled, but I'll wait for your explanation.

[XBoxWarrior]

I'm not sure I follow you. I haven't heard of any disgruntled group of Mormons who didn't (or did) get magic spectacles - whatever those are. Please elaborate.

President Hinckley is the president/prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is the original church that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. There are some dwindling offshoots from this main church but members of these offshoots are excommunicated from the main group. The LDS church currently has about 13 million members - about half of those are in the United States. The offshoots (if that's what you're talking about) are very small groups who decided to do things differently - perhaps some could be disgruntled, but I'll wait for your explanation.

Aha, a Mormon in the House.......

What ever became of the head of the prophet "Joseph Smith"? was it taken to Utah? or just ditched in the Valley of Ephram?

and that name "Hinkley"? wasn't he the dude that shot at the president "Raygun"?

Fireside Anyone?

[rcronk]

Aha, a Mormon in the House.......

What ever became of the head of the prophet "Joseph Smith"? was it taken to Utah? or just ditched in the Valley of Ephram?

and that name "Hinkley"? wasn't he the dude that shot at the president "Raygun"?

Fireside Anyone?

You can find your answers about Joseph's burial at the Smith homestead here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.#Interment).

Gordon B. Hinckley is the person this thread is about. The man who shot President Reagan is John Hinckley, Jr.

[Furcifer]

I'm not sure I follow you. I haven't heard of any disgruntled group of Mormons who didn't (or did) get magic spectacles - whatever those are. Please elaborate.

President Hinckley is the president/prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is the original church that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. There are some dwindling offshoots from this main church but members of these offshoots are excommunicated from the main group. The LDS church currently has about 13 million members - about half of those are in the United States. The offshoots (if that's what you're talking about) are very small groups who decided to do things differently - perhaps some could be disgruntled, but I'll wait for your explanation.

Oh I was looking for some clarification on the actual origins of the LDS. I thought they were split from the Mormons, when somebodies vision did not exactly jive with another guys vision in regards to who would be the president. Thus there was some sort of double vision incident, which, I assume, could be corrected by using the magic spectacles? Some kids came to my door one time and tried to tell me the story but I had a hard time understanding them, and they were kinda freaking me out. Nice kids but they just kinda looked at you like you weren't there.

[rcronk]

Hmm. I've never heard about this. I think it's a misunderstanding. I am very familiar with people having misunderstandings about the church. The official and full name of the church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." Two common nicknames for that same church are "The Mormons" or "The LDS Church". LDS stands for "Latter-Day Saint," and "Mormon" comes from "The Book of Mormon." Mormon is the name of one of the prophets in the Book of Mormon - he compiled the most important records of his people into one book and that's why the book carries his name.

You could check out www.mormon.org (http://www.mormon.org) to find out more about the history and beliefs of the Mormon church.

[Tanstaafl]

I agree, this doesn't sound like anything I have ever heard about the LDS church.

Methinks something was seriously lost in translation somewhere along the line.

Maybe the magic spectacles was a reference to a device Joseph Smith used for translation? Wasn't there some sort of aid used? It's been too long since I read about the very early LDS church.

[Empress]

I agree, this doesn't sound like anything I have ever heard about the LDS church.

Methinks something was seriously lost in translation somewhere along the line.

Maybe the magic spectacles was a reference to a device Joseph Smith used for translation? Wasn't there some sort of aid used? It's been too long since I read about the very early LDS church.

Yes, I'm pretty sure he was referring to the Urim and Thummim. They're mentioned in the Bible, and the Mormons believe Joseph Smith used them to translate the plates. There's also a seer stone.

As rcronk mentioned, the LDS church is the orginal Mormon church. After Smith was killed there was a split. Most followed Brigham Young, but some, including Smith's wife Emma, broke and started the Reorganized LDS church. They're called the Community of Christ now.

[Furcifer]

Yes, I'm pretty sure he was referring to the Urim and Thummim. They're mentioned in the Bible, and the Mormons believe Joseph Smith used them to translate the plates. There's also a seer stone.

As rcronk mentioned, the LDS church is the orginal Mormon church. After Smith was killed there was a split. Most followed Brigham Young, but some, including Smith's wife Emma, broke and started the Reorganized LDS church. They're called the Community of Christ now.

Ok this sounds a little along the lines of what I was told. Or overheard. I forget, it was long ago and I never really pieced it all back together again. Then recently I saw a spoof on South Park and nearly pee'd myself. It all sounds very "fantastical" if you ask me. Being raised Catholic mind you, I am aware of some other "fantastical" religious claims as well. The origins of religions fascinates me, but to a point, then I doze off.

[rcronk]

Ok this sounds a little along the lines of what I was told. Or overheard. I forget, it was long ago and I never really pieced it all back together again. Then recently I saw a spoof on South Park and nearly pee'd myself. It all sounds very "fantastical" if you ask me. Being raised Catholic mind you, I am aware of some other "fantastical" religious claims as well. The origins of religions fascinates me, but to a point, then I doze off.

I agree with it sounding fantastical, however, dismissing it on that basis alone would be an argument from personal incredulity, which is fallacious.

[Darth Rotor]

The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is Dead... Wait, President?
He can't very well be the Pope, can he?

DR