Apostles with the longest tenure of service
in the First Presidency

 

                                            

                                        Length of service

                       Apostle          in the Presidency       Positions held in the 1st Presidency

 

                   Joseph F Smith      47 years 07 months        Counselor to 1st Presidency             

                                                                 2nd Counselor three times             

                                                                 1st Counselor                      

                                                                 President of the Church           

                                                                           

                   David O McKay       35 years 03 months        2nd Counselor twice

                                                                 President of the Church

 

                   Brigham Young       29 years 08 months        President of the Church

 

                   J Reuben Clark      28 years 06 months        2nd Counselor twice

                                                                 1st Counselor three times

 

                   Gordon B Hinckley   26 years 06 months        Counselor to the President

                                                                 2nd Counselor

                                                                 1st Counselor twice

                                                                 President of the Church

 

                   Heber J Grant       26 years 05 months        President of the Church

 

                   George Q Cannon     23 years 02 months        Counselor to the President

                                                                 Assistant Counselor to the President

                                                                 1st Counselor three times

 

                   Daniel H Wells      20 years 07 months        2nd Counselor

 

                   Heber C Kimball     20 years 06 months        1st Counselor

 

                   Anthon H Lund       19 years 04 months        2nd Counselor

                                                                 1st Counselor twice

 

                   N Eldon Tanner      19 years 02 months        2nd Counselor twice

                                                                 1st Counselor twice

 

 

Other interesting facts:
1. President Thomas S Monson has served in the First Presidency since November 10, 1985.  Thus, on November 10, 2007 he will have completed 22 years of

    service in the First Presidency.

2. As noted above, J Reuben Clark holds the distinction of having served the longest in the First Presidency without serving as President of the Church.
3. Elder Rudger Clawson holds the distinction of having served the shortest length of time in the First Presidency. Remarkably, he only served for four days. He was

    sustained as 2nd Counselor to President Lorenzo Snow on October 6, 1901, but President Snow passed away four days later, on October 10, 1901. The First

    Presidency was dissolved at that time and President Joseph F Smith, the next President of the Church, did not choose Elder Clawson to serve in the First

    Presidency.

 

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