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Mormons Look to Next Prophet

Posted Jan 29, 08 12:55 PM CST in Arts & Living,  US 

(Newser) – The death of longtime president-prophet Gordon Hinckley left the Mormon church with a void but not a leadership gap, Newsweek reports. The most senior leader and all-but-certain successor is Thomas Monson. The 80-year-old's selection, which must be unanimous, would all but guarantee a smooth transition for a thriving church undergoing some growing pains.

Monson's promotion will open up a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve, the church's governing body, for which he in turn will choose a new member. Despite the church's increasingly international flavor, the members of the quorum are all white; some hope Monson will choose a Hispanic or black successor.
Source: Newsweek

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Mormon church president Gordon B. Hinckley looks at the empty chair where James Faust once sat, top, with first counselor Thomas S. Monson, left, during the 177th semiannual general conference of The...   (Associated Press)
In this Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 picture, Thomas Monson, the First Counselor of the Mormon church, laughs while waiting for the start of the 177th semi-annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ...   (Associated Press)
Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is helped by Michael Watson, right, to walk to his seat as he arrives for the church's semi-annual general conference...   (Associated Press)
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Mormon • Mormonism • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • missionaries • Gordon Hinckley • Thomas Monson


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