APOSTLES -- Lengths of Service Quizzes

QUESTION: Only twice in Church history has an apostle passed away while still serving as the junior (or least senior) member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Can you name these two unique occurrences?
ANSWER: The two apostles who passed away while still the junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve are Abraham H. Cannon and Alonzo H. Hinckley. Elder Cannon, the son of Elder George Q. Cannon, was ordained an apostle on October 7, 1889 and passed away on July 19, 1896 (age 37). For some time prior to his death he suffered with severe headaches. While returning from a business trip to California, he became seriously ill. He underwent operations for ear troubles, and "general inflammation" set in, resulting in his death. Alonzo Hinckley, President Gordon B. Hinckley's uncle, was ordained an apostle on October 11, 1934 and he died on December 22, 1936 (age 66).

 

Question:  What is the longest period of time that has elapsed without a change being made in either the Quorum of the First Presidency OR the Quorum of the Twelve?

Answer: The longest period of time that has elapsed without a change in the First Presidency OR the Quorum of the Twelve is 9 years and 3 months.  Elder Henry B. Eyring was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on April 6, 1995, and no changes occurred in either quorum until Elder Neal A. Maxwell passed away on July 21, 2004. President Gordon B. Hinckley was president of the Church during these years. The second longest time period was six years and six months, from October 7, 1889 to April 6, 1896.  Three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve were filled on October 7, 1889 with the ordinations of Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon.  The next change occurred on April 6, 1896 when Moses Thatcher was released from the Quorum of the Twelve.  (If you correctly answered this quiz, you must either be the Church Historian or one of the Three Nephites.)

 

Question: Can you name the apostle in this dispensation who served the longest as an apostle without serving as President of the Church?

Answer:  Franklin Dewey Richards.  Elder Richards was born on April 2, 1821 at Richmond, Massachusetts.  He was ordained an apostle on February 12, 1849 and served faithfully as an apostle until his death on December 9, 1899.  He thus served as an apostle for 50 years and 10 months, without serving as the President of the Church. 

 

Question: Can you name the three apostles in this dispensation who have had the longest tenure as apostles?

Answer: President David O. McKay served as an apostle for 63 years and 9 months (from April 1906 to January 1971), President Heber J. Grant served as an apostle for 62 years and 7 months (from October 1882 to May 1945), and President Joseph Fielding Smith served as an apostle for 62 years and 3 months (from April 1910 to July 1972).  These are the only three apostles who served for 60 years or longer as apostles.  Five other apostles served over 50 years as apostles (Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Franklin D. Richards, and Ezra Taft Benson).

 

Question:  Which apostle in this dispensation served the shortest length of time in the Quorum of the Twelve (2 years 2 months)?

Answer:  The apostle who served only 2 years and 2 months in the Quorum of the Twelve was Elder Alonzo Arza Hinckley.  He was ordained an apostle on October 11, 1934 by President Heber J. Grant at age 64, and he passed away on December 22, 1936.

 

Question:  Which apostle in this dispensation served the longest length of time in the Quorum of the Twelve?

Answer:  The apostle that served the longest in the Quorum of the Twelve was Elder Joseph Fielding Smith.  He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve for 59 years and 10 months (April 7, 1910 to January 23, 1970).  He then served as President of the Church for 2 years and 5 months.

 

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