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Choosing A New Apostle


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Posted

I want someone who is humble and knows the gospel, I don't want to hear doctrinal mumbo jumbo when they speak in Conference

Posted

Not sure how "common" (as in menial) the professions or vocations of the apostles were. Fishermen could be regarded as "business owners"; didn't they own their fishing businesses?

 

To recap:

 

Seth wrote: "I won't deny the possibility that 'Joe the Plumber' could be called into the Twelve without ever having served in any Church leadership calling.  But I don't think it is very likely."

 

JLHPROF responded: "Why? Christ called the most common of men as apostles..."

 

I was responding to the issue of whether "Joe the Plumber" was likely to be called to the Twelve, given that no tradesmen or laborers have been called to the Twelve during my lifetime. I wasn't making a comparison between the modern Twelve and the Twelve in Jesus' day. I agree with you that several of Jesus' disciples could be considered business owners. Peter and Andrew and James and John, at least, were not peasants. They owned their own boats and nets and employed others, if I recall correctly.

Posted (edited)

Any demand or suggestion that the quorum needs to reflect the demographic makeup of the Church membership smacks of tokenism and ark-steadying. As JLHPROF so eloquently expressed it:

How horribly awful to thnk an international church, and one that proudly proclaims that fact, have a leadership that may reflect that slightly more than it does now.

Ark steadying indeed.

Edited by Teancum
Posted

if they call someone from "the Deadliest Catch" I will eat my socks

I know a crab fisherman who would be an ideal choice IMO.

Posted

I want someone who is humble and knows the gospel, I don't want to hear doctrinal mumbo jumbo when they speak in Conference

 

When was the last time we heard doctrinal mumbo jumbo?  Most discourses are at the most basic levels, first principles oriented, and entirely non-speculative.

Posted

How horribly awful to thnk an international church, and one that proudly proclaims that fact, have a leadership that may reflect that slightly more than it does now.

Ark steadying indeed.

 

Well then get praying that God chooses someone international, because God chooses the Apostle, we don't.

Posted

Well then get praying that God chooses someone international, because God chooses the Apostle, we don't.

I've been praying that God calls the man He wants in the position. I couldn't care less what He looks like or where He is from.

Posted

I've been praying that God calls the man He wants in the position. I couldn't care less what He looks like or where He is from.

 

I agree, but making our wants and needs known to the Lord through prayer is a commandment.

If we truly feel that a more international apostle would be a blessing to the Church I don't seen any wrong in praying about it.

Think of all the things that might never have happened if we hadn't asked.

Posted

I agree, but making our wants and needs known to the Lord through prayer is a commandment.

If we truly feel that a more international apostle would be a blessing to the Church I don't seen any wrong in praying about it.

Think of all the things that might never have happened if we hadn't asked.

Does prayer have really any efficacy if God already knows who the apostle should be?

Posted

No more inappropriate than people declaring on their own authority that it's time someone of color be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

 

I would be just as happy as anyone if that happened. But tokenism has no place in the Kingdom of God.

:clapping:

Posted

Given that more than 1/2 of members reside outside of the United States I would hardly label a non-US Apostle as "token."  Scott's comment is odd given that US Mormons are now a MINORITY in the Church.

I don't recall him saying anything about minorities.

 

Do you think race should figure into the decision?

Posted

It's harder to get to know people who aren't like you, though. 

Why is that? I don't have a problem getting to know people different than me. I can sail into any port in the world and make good friends in one day and they become life long friends.

Posted (edited)

Why?

Christ called the most common of men as apostles - fishermen, tax collectors, etc.

 

Of course.  But during Jesus' earthly ministry He didn't have need of men capable of managing a large multi-national organization with its many assets.

 

But even if we exclude the temporal aspects of being a modern member of the Twelve, consider Spencer W. Kimball.  Or even David Bednar.  Both relatively young men when called.  Yet both had significant church leadership experience prior to their call.

Edited by sethpayne
Posted

I'll only point out that it's not always an existing General Authority. Elders Bednar, Oaks and Nelson are examples.

 

And selections are often made from former presidents of Church universities; examples are Elders Oaks, Holland, Eyring and Bednar.

Is Kim Clark next? ;)  (Sorry; couldn't resist!)

Posted (edited)

Do you think race should figure into the decision?

 

Not explicitly, no.  In fact, I don't think there should be any explicit "criteria" other than that outlined in the New Testament.

 

I think that the Bretheren will take the necessary time in prayer and consultation to call the man who should be called.  But a part of that process -- I believe -- will involve consideration of of *many* factors.  I'm sure many things may cross their minds, but I wouldn't expect anything less than a spiritual confirmation as the ultimate deciding factor.  Having said that, I don't think this would be an unreasonable question to consider:

 

"Would a native Spanish-speaking Apostle aid the Church in better accomplishing its mission among a large portion of the Saints?"

Edited by sethpayne
Posted (edited)

If it was just down to worthiness, half of the Q12 would be Hispanic members with no leadership experience. 

Wow that's pretty racist.

And in this context leadership I experience is part of "worthiness".

 

I have worked with wonderful spiritual brethren who cannot even run a meeting and they are not effective leaders.   Sorry- that's the real world

 

It takes people skills, speaking skills, the ability to read and write effectively, a knowledge of scripture and an understanding of church organization to run even a ward.

 

You have to know what tasks go to the Elders Q and which to the HP Group, the difference between Cub Scouts and primary, and what the young women's personal progress program is.

 

I short you need leadership experience.

Edited by mfbukowski
Posted

When was the last time we heard doctrinal mumbo jumbo?  Most discourses are at the most basic levels, first principles oriented, and entirely non-speculative.

 

Was Christ born on April 6? yay or nay? I can think of a few more examples BUT suffice it say the Church doesn't want or need a trendsetter

Posted (edited)

To recap:

 

Seth wrote: "I won't deny the possibility that 'Joe the Plumber' could be called into the Twelve without ever having served in any Church leadership calling.  But I don't think it is very likely."

 

JLHPROF responded: "Why? Christ called the most common of men as apostles..."

 

I was responding to the issue of whether "Joe the Plumber" was likely to be called to the Twelve, given that no tradesmen or laborers have been called to the Twelve during my lifetime. I wasn't making a comparison between the modern Twelve and the Twelve in Jesus' day. I agree with you that several of Jesus' disciples could be considered business owners. Peter and Andrew and James and John, at least, were not peasants. They owned their own boats and nets and employed others, if I recall correctly.

No need to recap. I'm following the conversation well enough.

And I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm challenging the notion that Christ's apostles were from the lower socioeconomic strata or that apostles typically are or need to be.

Edited by Scott Lloyd
Posted

Why is that? I don't have a problem getting to know people different than me. I can sail into any port in the world and make good friends in one day and they become life long friends.

Too often we just make assumptions that because someone looks like us, they are like us and reality is very different but we never find out because we already 'know'.

Posted

Is Kim Clark next? ;)  (Sorry; couldn't resist!)

Except that he was just called to the Seventy. ;)

I'm hoping for someone outside of North America. Central/South America would make sense, Tonga or Africa would be cool. Russia could be interesting, since I understand there is some pretty heavy anti-Mormon rabble rousing over there.

Our last bishop is our local "Most Likely to Become a GA", but I assume he'll at least be a mission or stake president first.

Posted

I didn't say anything about God one way or another so I'm not sure why you brought it up.

 

The "token" comment is odd because a non-US apostle would be representative of the majority of Church membership.  Thus, not a "token."

The only problem with that is that the apostles aren't here to represent the membership. They are there to represent the Lord to the membership.

 

A somewhat important distinction, I suspect.

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