Intervals between the death of a Church president
and the reorganization of the First Presidency
1st Presidency New Interval between
Prophet Death date Reorganization Prophet 1st Presidencies
Joseph Smith 27 Jun 1844 05 Dec 1847 Brigham Young 3 yr 5 mo 08 dy
Brigham Young 29 Aug 1877 08 Oct 1880 John Taylor 3 yr 1 mo 10 dy
John Taylor 25 Jul 1887 09 Apr 1889 Wilford Woodruff 1 yr 8 mo 14 dy
Wilford Woodruff 02 Sep 1898 13 Sep 1898 Lorenzo Snow 11 days
Lorenzo Snow 10 Oct 1901 17 Oct 1901 Joseph F Smith 07 days
Joseph F Smith 19 Nov 1918 23 Nov 1918 Heber J Grant 04 days
Heber J Grant 14 May 1945 21 May 1945 George Albert Smith 07 days
George A Smith 04 Apr 1951 09 Apr 1951 David O McKay 05 days
David O McKay 18 Jan 1970 23 Jan 1970 Joseph Fielding Smith 05 days
Joseph F Smith 02 Jul 1972 07 Jul 1972 Harold B Lee 05 days
Harold B Lee 26 Dec 1973 30 Dec 1973 Spencer W Kimball 04 days
Spencer W Kimball 05 Nov 1985 10 Nov 1985 Ezra Taft Benson 05 days
Ezra Taft Benson 30 May 1994 04 Jun 1984 Howard W Hunter 05 days
Howard W Hunter 03 Mar 1995 12 Mar 1995 Gordon B Hinckley 09 days
Gordon B Hinckley 27 Jan 2008 03 Feb 2008 Thomas S Monson 07 days
(Note: Before his death, President Wilford Woodruff
instructed Lorenzo Snow and others of the presiding brethren that after his
death the First Presidency should be reorganized as soon as possible. He said
to Lorenzo Snow in 1892, "... and when I go I want you, Brother Snow, not
to delay but organize the First Presidency". Elder Francis M. Lyman stated
that President Woodruff reiterated that sentiment several times to the Council
of Twelve. Succession in the Church,
by Durham and Heath, pages 103-105. )
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