Who's Your Favorite Church President And Why?

[JVW]

My favorite church president is Brigham Young. I'm amazed at everything he accomplished with the Saints and how loud and self-confident he comes across in his texts. Whether he was right or wrong, if he believed something then people knew it. I feel like if more people were like Brigham the world would be a better, less two-faced, more industrious place. And this was still in the good old days when prophets performed miracles and stuff, so I bet there's a lot of interesting stories I could find if I spent more time digging through church history.

As a bonus, my favorite apostle ever was Elder Richard G. Scott. He came across as very humble and thoughtful, devoted to his family and his late wife (never remarried as is common for apostles to do), and was apparently very smart as a retired nuclear physicist.

I'd love to hear from all of you, regardless of your current beliefs about LDS church presidents. There's some members on the board that I'm really curious what their response would be to this question so I hope many of you will participate so that I don't have to start PMing people.

[InCognitus]

First:  Jesus, then probably Peter after that.

But you probably mean this dispensation, so.....

Joseph Smith first, and then probably President Nelson.  President Nelson really connected with me and was the right person to be the prophet in the time period he was president.

But I also agree with your thoughts about Brigham Young.  I also know he was the right person to be prophet in the time period he was president.  But really, weren't they all?

[JVW]

1 hour ago, InCognitus said:

First:  Jesus, then probably Peter after that.

But you probably mean this dispensation, so.....

Joseph Smith first, and then probably President Nelson.  President Nelson really connected with me and was the right person to be the prophet in the time period he was president.

But I also agree with your thoughts about Brigham Young.  I also know he was the right person to be prophet in the time period he was president.  But really, weren't they all?

You got me. I meant since Joseph Smith, sorry!

What was it about President Nelson that you liked so much? Was he your first prophet? My first prophet was Monson and I really have a soft spot for him. I've found that many people's favorite prophet was whoever was in charge when they joined the church.

President Nelson is a special prophet to me because he pulled some crap that didn't sit right with me and was actually a catalyst for me asking God about him. And God responded. I don't know that I'll ever care to ask God about whether a prophet is His prophet or not, so Nelson may be the only prophet that I ever receive confirmation from God about. It was a very special experience.

[Tacenda]

Pres Hinckley, although I had to warm up to him gradually. 

[Calm]

29 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

Pres Hinckley, although I had to warm up to him gradually. 

Pres Hinckley as well, though didn’t have to warm up to him.  He came across to me as gentle, informed, articulate, actually engaging with people rather than just preaching at them.  He was comfortable in front of a mic or audience which helps me relax and enjoy the conversation (even though one person is speaking out loud, it’s still a conversation to me with my inner commentary).  He gave me a sense of security, which I always appreciate.

He felt grandfatherly to me (based on my two grandfathers which may not be the typical grandfather vibe for others).

Edited December 9, 2025 by Calm

[MustardSeed]

President Hunter. 

[JVW]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

President Hunter. 

That's interesting. Why is that? He was before my time but wasn't he president for less than a year?

[manol]

Joseph Smith. 

He brought forth some imo life-changing teachings.  Whether everything he did was "right" I don't know; and whether he actually said or did everything attributed to him, I don't know. 

In my opinion the description "prophet, seer, and revelator" applies to him.  Warts and all, if need be.

Imo there has not been another President of the LDS Church like him.  Maybe there hasn't needed to be. 

Edited December 10, 2025 by manol

[BlueDreams]

I honestly don't think I have one. Not even a scripture based one. 

Funny enough, If I have spiritual witnesses for the apostles or prophets in their callings.... it's been for the ones that I end up struggling appreciating the most. 

 

With luv,

BD 

[bluebell]

It’s probably Hinckley. He was the prophet as I was growing up and becoming an adult, and I really loved his sense of humor.

[JVW]

13 hours ago, manol said:

Joseph Smith. 

He brought forth some imo life-changing teachings.  Whether everything he did was "right" I don't know; and whether he actually said or did everything attributed to him, I don't know. 

In my opinion the description "prophet, seer, and revelator" applies to him.  Warts and all, if need be.

Imo there has not been another President of the LDS Church like him.  Maybe there hasn't needed to be. 

I agree with you. I wish the LDS prophets acted more like prophets. It's like we got a Moses, a bright flash in the pan, and then everything just fizzled out. It's one of my complaints about the current church, it feels more like being part of a corporation than it does like a Biblical or BoM-type Israelite church, at least outside of the temple.

[MustardSeed]

I 

19 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

President Hunter. 

All I can say is that the heart has a mind of its own. I’m not sure why I was so drawn to him. Maybe it’s because he was the prophet during the most important phase of my life.

Also, I was there when Cody Judy did that thing at the Marriott center- 

[Senator]

13 minutes ago, JVW said:

I agree with you. I wish the LDS prophets acted more like prophets. It's like we got a Moses, a bright flash in the pan, and then everything just fizzled out. It's one of my complaints about the current church, it feels more like being part of a corporation than it does like a Biblical or BoM-type Israelite church, at least outside of the temple.

I get where you're coming from.  When the description of "prophet, seer and revelator" is used, my mind is immediately drawn to Joseph Smith.  For me, it actually makes answering the temple recommend question a bit less straight forward.  I understand the concept, and I can certainly sustain them in the capacity to be such, and for the need of a "head" of the church, but I am uncertain as to what the nature of their divine connection is.

[blackstrap]

Pres. David O. McKay ... because he was MY president !

[BlueDreams]

1 hour ago, JVW said:

I agree with you. I wish the LDS prophets acted more like prophets. It's like we got a Moses, a bright flash in the pan, and then everything just fizzled out. It's one of my complaints about the current church, it feels more like being part of a corporation than it does like a Biblical or BoM-type Israelite church, at least outside of the temple.

No offense. But when I see this idea I think people have a simplified vision of what a prophet is. Let's take the BoM. There's actually not that many big prophets. You've got, Lehi, nephi, Jacob, jarom, enos in the early years. Of those, I'd debate that only Lehi and Nephi meet a Moses sort of level. Jacob corrected some stuff and quoted scriptures. Enos prayed for a lot of people and encouraged (fruitless) missionary work to the lananites. Jarom recorded some history and handed it on to his son. Then you have a HUGE gap of time where at most the book gives tiny blurbs from prophets (?) till you get abinadi and the Alma's. After them, the biggest prophets are probably Samuel and nephi/Lehi, Mormon/moroni. That's most of them in roughly 1000 years. It wasn't that there weren't prophets. It's just that their job was largely maintenance rather than some form of transition/transformative labor. and that's boring...so it barely gets mentioned. Most prophets simply aren't Moses level cool. Periods of massive transition IMHO need to be short if one wants to have sustainable growth in the long term. 

 

I think this may be part of why I don't have a fave prophet. To me the work is just another calling, no more or less important than the work I have or that you have. The stewardship may be more generalized....but it's a calling to help continue the work and community. What's been my favorites aren't individuals but the people who figured out a Zion society in one way or another. Of those few groups, the anti-nephi-lehites are my favorites. 

 

With luv, 

BD 

[InCognitus]

19 hours ago, JVW said:

What was it about President Nelson that you liked so much?

I'm sure the fact that he is the most recent prophet in my memory has something to do with it.

But in addition, his background as a heart surgeon and in medical science made his approach to his role as an apostle and a prophet rather unique.  It's like how Elder Uchtdorf brings flying analogies into his talks, but with President Nelson his medical experience provided a much more practical application to topics about our mortal experience on earth, our view of death, and the miracles of the human body.  That experience was also important during the COVID 19 epidemic.  I like that we had a scientist as a prophet, and the melding of those two roles was awesome. 

His experience as a doctor also came through in how he cared for others and treated them with love and respect, and how he communicated with others.  There was an early talk from him where he said something that I can't find at the moment, but in a more recent talk (in October 2018) he said basically the same thing, which was, "Through the years, whenever I have been asked why I chose to become a medical doctor, my answer has always been the same: 'Because I could not choose to be a mother.'"  That attitude came through in his personality and approach to his role as an apostle and prophet.

In addition, President Nelson focused on the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil, and his June 3, 2018 Worldwide Youth Devotional was awesome.  I had a calling working with the deacons in 2018 and I watched that devotional live, and it was powerful.  There are various reasons I believe President Nelson's focus on the gathering of Israel was important at this period of time (reasons that I won't go into on this board).  But that is also part of why I was drawn to his messages and approach.  He seemed to be preparing us for the second coming of the Savior all the time.

[JVW]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

I 

All I can say is that the heart has a mind of its own. I’m not sure why I was so drawn to him. Maybe it’s because he was the prophet during the most important phase of my life.

Also, I was there when Cody Judy did that thing at the Marriott center- 

I'm not familiar with Cody Judy.

[JVW]

16 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

No offense. But when I see this idea I think people have a simplified vision of what a prophet is. Let's take the BoM. There's actually not that many big prophets. You've got, Lehi, nephi, Jacob, jarom, enos in the early years. Of those, I'd debate that only Lehi and Nephi meet a Moses sort of level. Jacob corrected some stuff and quoted scriptures. Enos prayed for a lot of people and encouraged (fruitless) missionary work to the lananites. Jarom recorded some history and handed it on to his son. Then you have a HUGE gap of time where at most the book gives tiny blurbs from prophets (?) till you get abinadi and the Alma's. After them, the biggest prophets are probably Samuel and nephi/Lehi, Mormon/moroni. That's most of them in roughly 1000 years. It wasn't that there weren't prophets. It's just that their job was largely maintenance rather than some form of transition/transformative labor. and that's boring...so it barely gets mentioned. Most prophets simply aren't Moses level cool. Periods of massive transition IMHO need to be short if one wants to have sustainable growth in the long term. 

 

I think this may be part of why I don't have a fave prophet. To me the work is just another calling, no more or less important than the work I have or that you have. The stewardship may be more generalized....but it's a calling to help continue the work and community. What's been my favorites aren't individuals but the people who figured out a Zion society in one way or another. Of those few groups, the anti-nephi-lehites are my favorites. 

 

With luv, 

BD 

No offense taken. I see your point. I understand that prophets and apostles have an administrative role. But isn't a prophets role primarily to cry repentance to the Israel and to the world? During times of peace and righteousness there isn't a lot of repentance that needs to be cried. But we are certainly not living in that time. I know there is a lot that members aren't privy to about how the brethren are travelling throughout the world trying to gather Israel, but you would think that, by now, the prophet or the Apostles would have started to receive death threats, or been on the news in various different countries doing interviews telling people to repent (like how President Nelson was published in TIME magazine, though he didn't cry repentance, just gave good advice. I'm not even sure that he mentioned Jesus in the article!).

I'm not looking for fire raining down from the sky, but I am looking for some effort to communicate with the world and to boldly declare the need to repent and turn to Jesus Christ. Not soft, corporate speak bi-annual conferences that only members watch. Am I making any sense?

[JVW]

15 minutes ago, InCognitus said:

I'm sure the fact that he is the most recent prophet in my memory has something to do with it.

But in addition, his background as a heart surgeon and in medical science made his approach to his role as an apostle and a prophet rather unique.  It's like how Elder Uchtdorf brings flying analogies into his talks, but with President Nelson his medical experience provided a much more practical application to topics about our mortal experience on earth, our view of death, and the miracles of the human body.  That experience was also important during the COVID 19 epidemic.  I like that we had a scientist as a prophet, and the melding of those two roles was awesome. 

His experience as a doctor also came through in how he cared for others and treated them with love and respect, and how he communicated with others.  There was an early talk from him where he said something that I can't find at the moment, but in a more recent talk (in October 2018) he said basically the same thing, which was, "Through the years, whenever I have been asked why I chose to become a medical doctor, my answer has always been the same: 'Because I could not choose to be a mother.'"  That attitude came through in his personality and approach to his role as an apostle and prophet.

In addition, President Nelson focused on the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil, and his June 3, 2018 Worldwide Youth Devotional was awesome.  I had a calling working with the deacons in 2018 and I watched that devotional live, and it was powerful.  There are various reasons I believe President Nelson's focus on the gathering of Israel was important at this period of time (reasons that I won't go into on this board).  But that is also part of why I was drawn to his messages and approach.  He seemed to be preparing us for the second coming of the Savior all the time.

His focus on the Second Coming was tremendous. It was really interesting last conference that there wasn't a single mention of the Second Coming by anyone. It honestly got me wondering if there is a difference between being the president of the church "prophet" and being an apostle. My curiosity won't be sated until next conference, because if I am right, and "the prophet" is a unique mantle, then President Oaks will be hammering down on Second Coming stuff next conference like what Nelson did. I am starting to think that there may be a lot of communication from God that only the prophet is privy to. You could see the fire in Nelson's eyes. You know he saw things that the apostles didn't. I thought he was going to live to be 120, dude had more vitality than I do at 40.

[Calm]

41 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

Most prophets simply aren't Moses level cool. Periods of massive transition IMHO need to be short if one wants to have sustainable growth in the long term. 

People and cultures need time to adjust to change, to digest and make the new fit like skin just as the old once did.  That can happen quickly with individuals, but changing communities takes much longer.

[Rain]

I'm not one to have favorites overall.  My husband is my favorite person.  Green is my favorite color, except that it is not when I think about how I like green as a supporting color rather than as the color I like as my favorite.  Mostly, I just like green plants to complete what an indoor or outdoor space looks like.  That's it, all the favorites I have.

It's kind of weird thinking about my favorite prophet as someone who has lost my faith, since I don't believe they are prophets, so how can one be my favorite?  And there are things they have said that once might have been encouraging to me, but now are quite painful.  Can a prophet be your favorite if you don't believe in his position as prophet and feel pain from things he has said?  So I have to think of it more as "what is something you liked about a Mormon church president?"

I loved how President Monson encouraged people to serve others by example and word. I didn't connect with him at all with most of his talks because of his way of speaking and use of poetry, but I loved that he so often shared to help others.

I like how President Nelson used his profession to guide people not only spiritually, but mentally and physically.  

I liked how McKay and Hinckley were known for their love for their wives.  

Edited December 11, 2025 by Rain

[Calm]

7 hours ago, JVW said:

like how President Nelson was published in TIME magazine, though he didn't cry repentance, just gave good advice. I'm not even sure that he mentioned Jesus in the article!

Don’t forget in the end it’s Time that decides what to print and if it’s not acceptable, they won’t.

But how is teaching Christ’s commandment of love and respect not mentioning Jesus and what was most important to him or not calling people to repent in a time where disrespect is all around us? 

Quote

My faith teaches me that over two millennia ago, Jesus Christ preached these same laws of happiness: to love God and to love our neighbor. After 101 years, I can say that these are not abstract theological ideas—they are practical wisdom. They are what have sustained me through loss and triumph, uncertainty, peace, war, and healing. If we embrace these eternal truths—honoring our own worth, treating others with dignity, and nurturing our families—our lives, and our world, will be steadier and more joyful.

https://time.com/7315003/russell-nelson-dignity-respect/

Edited December 11, 2025 by Calm

[JVW]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

I'm not one to have favorites overall.  My husband is my favorite person.  Green is my favorite color, except that it is not when I think about how I like green as a supporting color rather than as the color I like as my favorite.  Mostly, I just like green plants to complete what an indoor or outdoor space looks like.  

It's kind of weird thinking about my favorite prophet as someone who has lost my faith, since I don't believe they are prophets, so how can one be my favorite?  And there are things they have said that once might have been encouraging to me, but now are quite painful.  Can a prophet be your favorite if you don't believe in his position as prophet and feel pain from things he has said?  So I have to think of it more as "what is something you liked about a Mormon church president?"

I loved how President Monson encouraged people to serve others by example and word. I didn't connect with him at all with most of his talks because of his way of speaking and use of poetry, but I loved that he so often shared to help others.

I like how President Nelson used his profession to guide people not only spiritually, but mentally and physically.  

I liked how McKay and Hinckley were known for their love for their wives.  

Thanks for your good faith effort to participate here. I loved reading your thoughts on the topic.

[JVW]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Don’t forget in the end it’s Time that decides what to print and if it’s not acceptable, they won’t.

But how is teaching Christ’s commandment of love and respect not mentioning Jesus and what was most important to him or not calling people in a time to repent where disrespect is all around us not calling people to repentance?

https://time.com/7315003/russell-nelson-dignity-respect/

My memory was rusty. Thanks for the correction.

[JLHPROF]

Joseph Smith without a doubt - but then I consider him in a different category to his successors.  If for no other reason than he is one of the 7 dispensation heads, our own Moses, Noah, Enoch.

Of the remaining I've always liked John Taylor - he was born in England, moved to Canada, then to Utah, just like me.

And for various reasons I've always enjoyed Presidents Young, McKay, Benson, and Hunter.