Council of the 1st Presidency

[Anonymous]

As I was again listening to Oaks talk about priesthood/keys from the last priesthood session he spoke of the governing leadership of the church.

He stated the First Presidency, the Council of the First Presidency, and the Twelve Apostles make up the governing councils of the church.

While I’m comfortable with the First Presidency, I’m not familiar with the “Council of the First Presidency” and I don’t recall having heard that before.

Is anyone aware of who else is involved in the Council of the 1st Presidency besides the 3 called and sustained Brethren?

[Anonymous]

Here’s the text from the talk as it appears on lds.org:

Quote:

The First Presidency and the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, who preside over the Church…

I could be wrong but I see two entities in the list, not three.

The First Presidency

and

the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve

Meaning “the Council of the First Presidency” is just another way of saying “First Presidency” and he’s just rephrasing to avoid repetition because he needs to mention the FP again in lumping it in with the Q12.

[Anonymous]

nibbler wrote:

Here’s the text from the talk as it appears on lds.org:

Quote:

The First Presidency and the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, who preside over the Church…

I could be wrong but I see two entities in the list, not three.

The First Presidency

and

the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve

Meaning “the Council of the First Presidency” is just another way of saying “First Presidency” and he’s just rephrasing to avoid repetition because he needs to mention the FP again in lumping it in with the Q12.

I read it similarly, Nibbler. It is my understanding that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve meet together weekly, aka sitting in council. It is in this council that all major issues facing the church are discussed and all decisions regarding the church are finalized. I do believe the FP does sit in council itself also, as does the Q12.

[Anonymous]

To me, it’s not much different from the Stake High Council. It’s a forgone conclusion that the Stake High Council has not only the 12 High Councilors, but also the Stake Presidency at its head.

So, the Stake High Council is a mirror image of the Council of the 1st Presidency. We aren’t exposed to the Council of the 1st Presidency very much, so the idea seems foreign to us in name, but I see it as the same concept as the Stake High Council.

[Anonymous]

Thank you.

Since I was listening to it, it sounded like 3 separate things. An assumed comma in the wrong place was my problem.

[Anonymous]

SilentDawning wrote:

To me, it’s not much different from the Stake High Council. It’s a forgone conclusion that the Stake High Council has not only the 12 High Councilors, but also the Stake Presidency at its head.

So, the Stake High Council is a mirror image of the Council of the 1st Presidency. We aren’t exposed to the Council of the 1st Presidency very much, so the idea seems foreign to us in name, but I see it as the same concept as the Stake High Council.

I see this, too, SD. When I was called to the high council that’s exactly the way the SP explained it. As a side note, high council meetings are not officially called high council meetings – they’re stake PEC meetings. I think the similarity where high councils sit in council with the stake presidency and approve their actions is very much like the council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

[Anonymous]

Umm, I don’t know, I wonder… When Gordon B. Hinckley became the 3rd councilor in the first Presidency – I wonder if before the official call was he participating in the first presidency meetings – which would then make it a council, because not everyone at the time was a “councilor”. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Sitting in council doesn’t really relate to counselors. Note there is a difference in the words “counselor” as in a bishop’s counselor, and “councilor” as in high councilor. Either way sitting in council has much more to do with an exchange of ideas than with counseling. Many Native American nations sat in council as part of their governance. When done properly, ward and stake councils are free exchanges of ideas and thoughts without limitation and/or judgment, and include each and every person on the council. Invited guests may also sit in council.

I believe there is a council of the First Presidency (what we would probably call a presidency meeting), and a Council of the Twelve (a meeting of the quorum) and a council of the First Presidency and the Twelve (the two meeting together).

[Anonymous]

I was taught that in theory the Q12 is equal in authority to the 1st Presidency. Therefore if the 1st Presidency is for whatever reason not operating (travel, age, illness) that the church still has a governing body with the Q12. In practice they are in constant communication with one another and they make decisions together, unanimously.

Names of the councils don’t overly concern me, I just always believed in effect they make decisions together.

I’ve also been taught in theory that the quorums of the 70 together have the same authority as the Q12 and the First Presidency. I think in practice that is not true – either that or I’m mistaken.

[Anonymous]

Roadrunner wrote:

I was taught that in theory the Q12 is equal in authority to the 1st Presidency. Therefore if the 1st Presidency is for whatever reason not operating (travel, age, illness) that the church still has a governing body with the Q12. In practice they are in constant communication with one another and they make decisions together, unanimously.

Names of the councils don’t overly concern me, I just always believed in effect they make decisions together.

I’ve also been taught in theory that the quorums of the 70 together have the same authority as the Q12 and the First Presidency. I think in practice that is not true – either that or I’m mistaken.

I agree with this and it is my understanding as well. That’s partly why we sustain them all as prophets, seers, and revelators.

I think the Quorums of the Seventy thing is in the D&C, but in practice I agree that they really are not equal nor do they work as closely together.

[Author]

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