APOSTLES -- Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve Quizzes

QUESTION: Which apostle has served the longest as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles? Which apostle has served the shortest in that position?
ANSWER: Orson Hyde served the longest period of time as President of the Quorum of Twelve, serving 27 years and 3 months in that position. David O. McKay served the shortest period of time in that position, serving only 6 months.

QUESTION: Two of our previous Presidents of the Church had sons serve as Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve. Can you name these fathers and their sons?
ANSWER: The two Presidents of the Church that had sons serve as Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve are Brigham Young and Joseph F. Smith. The sons who served in that capacity were Brigham Young, Jr. (1901 to 1903) and Joseph Fielding Smith (1951 to 1970).

QUESTION: Who was the most recent apostle that passed away while serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles?
ANSWER: The most recent apostle that passed away while serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve was Elder Marion G. Romney. Elder Romney passed away of May 20, 1988, having served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve for 2 years and 6 months.

QUESTION: In this dispensation, 24 apostles have served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. How many of those 24 died while serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve?
ANSWER: Six of the 24 apostles who served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve died while serving in that capacity. The six were Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Jr, Francis M. Lyman, Rudger Clawson, George F. Richards, and Marion G. Romney.

QUESTION:  In recent church history, we had an instance where the President of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve were both serving in the Quorum of the Twelve (the President of the Quorum of the Twelve was not serving in the First Presidency). Can you identify this unusual situation and the apostles involved?
ANSWER: When President Kimball died on November 5, 1985, Elder Marion G. Romney was released from the First Presidency and resumed his position in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the senior member. Elder Howard W. Hunter was the 2nd most senior member of the Quorum. Our new prophet, President Benson, chose Elders Hinckley and Monson to serve as his counselors in the First Presidency. Due to Elder Romney's advanced age and health problems, it would have been difficult for him to function as President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Hunter was thus called to serve as Acting President of the Quorum, assisting Elder Romney in his role as President of the Quorum. They were both set-apart to their respective positions on November 10, 1985. They held these positions until Elder Romney's death on May 20, 1988, at which time Elder Hunter became President of the Quorum of Twelve.

QUESTION: Only once in the history of the Church has an apostle been set apart as the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve twice. Can you name this apostle and the circumstances surrounding his two settings-apart?
ANSWER: The apostle is Elder Boyd K. Packer. He was first set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve on June 5, 1994 when President Hunter called Elders Hinckley and Monson to be his counselors in the First Presidency. Elders Hinckley and Monson were both senior to Elder Packer in the Quorum of the 12, but since they were both serving in the First Presidency, Elder Packer was set apart as Acting President of the Quorum (President Hinckley at that time served as President of the Quorum of Twelve as well as First Counselor in the First Presidency). Elder Packer was again set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve on March 12, 1995, upon the death of President Hunter. President Hinckley chose Elder Monson, the senior member of the Quorum, to serve as his First Counselor in the First Presidency. Thus, Elder Packer, the next most senior member of the Quorum, was again set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve (Elder Monson served as President of the Quorum of Twelve and as First Counselor in the First Presidency).

QUESTION:  A former President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.  Can you name him?

ANSWER:  Thomas B. Marsh is buried in Ogden.  He was the first apostle to hold the position of President of the Quorum of the Twelve.  He fell into apostasy in the year 1838.  He swore out an affidavit that accused the prophet Joseph of inciting violence and rebellion.  Orson Hyde, another member of the Twelve, was also in a state of apostasy and signed the affidavit as a witness to its truthfulness.  Both these men were excommunicated and dropped from the Quorum.  Elder Marsh, after many years of misery and failure, returned to the faith and was rebaptized in Florence, Nebraska in July of 1857.  He then came west to Salt Lake City, and President Brigham Young invited Elder Marsh to speak to a General Conference of the saints.  He humbly confessed his wrongdoing and error.  He lived the rest of his life in Salt Lake City, and was buried in Ogden at the request of some friends.

 

 

Click here to return to the start of this quiz page
Click here to return to the Quiz menu
Click here to return to the Main Menu page