The podcast delves into the complexities of apostolic seniority within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It explores how historical events shaped the criteria for leadership succession, examining simultaneous ordinations and the impact of excommunication. Key figures like Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt are discussed against the backdrop of early church turmoil and conflicts. The narrative also highlights shifts from age-based to ordination-date criteria for seniority, revealing intricate dynamics and personal struggles within church leadership.
The determination of apostolic seniority has evolved from age considerations to a strict focus on ordination dates over church history.
Complex scenarios, such as simultaneous ordinations and apostolic departures, have historically complicated the understanding of seniority within the Quorum of Twelve.
The Apostolic Interregnum, initially lasting three years, has been refined to approximately two weeks to ensure smoother leadership transitions and governance.
Deep dives
Understanding Seniority in the Apostleship
Seniority among the apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is determined primarily by the order in which they were ordained. Initially, age played a crucial role in establishing seniority, but as time progressed, the criterion shifted toward ordination dates. In a significant instance from the 1940s, apostles Ezra Taft Benson and Spencer W. Kimball were both ordained at the same time, raising questions about determining seniority between them. This ongoing evolution of seniority criteria has important implications, particularly regarding church leadership succession.
Historical Variations and Their Impact
Throughout church history, various scenarios introduced complexities in determining seniority among apostles. For example, the original Quorum of the Twelve consisted of individuals chosen simultaneously, leading to debates over who should be considered the senior apostle if elected on the same day. Additionally, issues arose when certain apostles left the church or were excommunicated, calling into question how these events affected their seniority status. These historical variations not only shaped the apostles' ranks but also influenced who ultimately became the church's president.
The Role of the Apostolic Interregnum
The Apostolic Interregnum was a critical period that took place after the death of church leaders, during which the surviving apostles led the church. Originally spanning three years after Joseph Smith's death, this timeframe has since shortened to about two weeks in modern practice. Over time, church leaders, including Brigham Young, established guidelines to ensure a smoother leadership transition and maintain stability within the church. This interregnum highlighted the necessity of clearly defined succession protocols to minimize confusion and ensure effective governance.
The Influence of Individual Apostles' Actions
The decisions and personal circumstances of individual apostles have historically influenced the seniority structure within the Quorum of Twelve. Notable figures, such as Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, experienced lapses in their church service that complicated their ranking. Their eventual reacceptance into church leadership prompted questions about their seniority compared to others who remained consistent in their service. The resolution of these cases underscored the church's need for clear guidelines regarding the continuous service and reinstatement of church leaders.
Evolution of Compliance and Acceptance
The understanding of how to determine seniority and authority within the Quorum has evolved over time, especially in response to the unique challenges posed by specific apostles. The paradigm shifted from simple age consideration to favoring those with continuous service and formal ordinations within the Twelve. Following Brigham Young's presidency, church leaders, particularly under Lorenzo Snow, verified that only apostles who served in the Quorum of the Twelve held precedence in seniority. This established a new norm, where joining the Quorum became the critical factor in determining rank among apostles.
Who is next in line to become the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Today this is not a difficult question. It is well understood that whoever is the next most senior apostle to the current Church president will be the next president, should he live long enough. The singular issue is seniority. It all boils down to seniority. So, what determines seniority among the apostles? Again, today there is a ready answer to this question. But it was not always so.
In fact, in this episode of Church History Matters, we walk through the winding path of how criteria for seniority in the apostleship has changed significantly from Joseph Smith’s day to our own. And we’ll talk about how Church presidents have responded to difficult seniority questions, such as, If two men are ordained apostles on the same day, who is the senior apostle? And, if a man is ordained an apostle but never becomes a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, how is his seniority determined? Or say two men were ordained apostles, the one sometime before the other, but then the man ordained second becomes a member of the Quorum of the Twelve ahead of the man ordained before him. Which of the two men has seniority over the other? Or how, if at all, is a man’s seniority affected if he is an apostle who leaves the Church or is excommunicated for a time, but is then reinstated back into the Quorum of the Twelve?
While these may seem like very technical questions, they have come from real-life circumstances. And the decisions made about each scenario have determined, more than once, who has become president of the Church.
