Patrick Kearon called to Quorum of the 12 vacancy

[kllindley]

5 hours ago, JAHS said:

Normally done at conference but not always. President Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder Neal A. Maxwell and Elder Holland were called at a time other than conference, but then of course they were sustained at conference following the call

Those exceptions were well before my time, so thanks for the additional information. 

[JAHS]

Elder Kearn tells how he feels about becoming the newest Apostle.

 

[LoudmouthMormon]

6 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said:

I loved his April 22 talk on overcoming abuse. 

Yes.   His very clear, direct, unambiguous statements about the topic are always welcome.  

 

[Calm]

2 hours ago, JAHS said:

Elder Kearn tells how he feels about becoming the newest Apostle.

 

I love that he took even this opportunity to help and comfort others.  Brimming over with compassion and gentleness…

[DoubtYourDoubts]

This isn't a criticism. Is there a descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr in the quorum still? Thanks friends.

[webbles]

41 minutes ago, DoubtYourDoubts said:

This isn't a criticism. Is there a descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr in the quorum still? Thanks friends.

I don't believe so.  This isn't the first time, though, that the quorum didn't have someone descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr.  I believe when Joseph Fielding Smith died in 1972, there was no descendant until M. Russell Ballard was called in 1985.  And then there's the gap between Joseph Smith's death in 1844 and Joseph F. Smith's calling in 1866 (when he was ordained as an apostle) or 1877 (when he joined the quorum).

[Stormin' Mormon]

15 minutes ago, webbles said:

I don't believe so.  This isn't the first time, though, that the quorum didn't have someone descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr.  I believe when Joseph Fielding Smith died in 1972, there was no descendant until M. Russell Ballard was called in 1985.  And then there's the gap between Joseph Smith's death in 1844 and Joseph F. Smith's calling in 1866 (when he was ordained as an apostle) or 1877 (when he joined the quorum).

But between the death of Joseph Smith the calling of Joseph F. Smith, the Quorum did include George A. Smith, who was a descendant of Joseph Smith Sr's brother, John Smith. So half credit for that time period? 

[MiserereNobis]

1 hour ago, DoubtYourDoubts said:

This isn't a criticism. Is there a descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr in the quorum still? Thanks friends.

Is there some reason that there should be? Even if it’s no longer taught?

( @JLHPROF, can you shed light on this from your traditional understanding?)

Edited December 10, 2023 by MiserereNobis

[blackstrap]

Patriarchal lineage ??

[Kenngo1969]

On 12/8/2023 at 11:46 AM, Rain said:

I loved when he gave This talk - refuge from the storm

And yet your screen name is ... Well, never mind!   (I had to do it! )

(Always do I try to remember that, "Into every life, a little Rain must fall.")

And this is one of my favorite Primary songs:

 

[Kenngo1969]

On 12/8/2023 at 11:46 AM, Rain said:

I loved when he gave This talk - refuge from the storm

And yet your screen name is ... Well, never mind!   (I had to do it! )

(Always do I try to remember that, "Into every life, a little Rain must fall.")

And this is one of my favorite Primary songs:

 

[Kenngo1969]

Duplicate.

Edited December 11, 2023 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

Triplicate!  The software was being "wonky"!  Sorry!

Edited December 11, 2023 by Kenngo1969

[Calm]

5 hours ago, webbles said:

I don't believe so.  This isn't the first time, though, that the quorum didn't have someone descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr.  I believe when Joseph Fielding Smith died in 1972, there was no descendant until M. Russell Ballard was called in 1985.  And then there's the gap between Joseph Smith's death in 1844 and Joseph F. Smith's calling in 1866 (when he was ordained as an apostle) or 1877 (when he joined the quorum).

Joseph Fielding was a descendant of Hyrum.  

None of Joseph’s children came west, some joined the RLS church eventually, Joseph the III became their prophet/president.  Emma’s later influence and opinion of Brigham Young and his public statements about her as well as the practice of plural marriage and their disagreement over Joseph’s estate probably had the most to do with why his children didn’t join.  I would not be inclined to join a faith whose leaders called my mother a devil or one of the “damnest liars on earth” and showed by the. little actual sympathy for the hardships and sacrifices she had made and was making for her husband’s work and their children.

https://issuu.com/utah10/docs/uhq_volume48_1980_number1/s/131376#:~:text=Emma is naturally a very,only be a righteous woman.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Calm

[Calm]

4 hours ago, MiserereNobis said:

Is there some reason that there should be? Even if it’s no longer taught?

( @JLHPROF, can you shed light on this from your traditional understanding?)

There were contrary positions on who should be Joseph’s successor when he died.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_crisis_(Latter_Day_Saints)

There are claims that Joseph ordained his son, Joseph III, to the calling.  (One of Mark Hofmann’s forgeries dealt with that.). Those who believed it should be Joseph’s son eventually formed the RLDS church (now Community of Christ).  They had a descendant of Joseph as their prophet till 1996.   The last had three daughters. I don’t know if they weren’t interested or if the Church wasn’t ready yet for a female prophet (their first female apostle was ordained in 2005).  They have changed a lot in the last couple of decades; there is an ongoing schism between the more traditional congregations and the main one from what I understand.  We had a more traditional RLDS member on the board quite some time ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prophet-Presidents_of_the_Community_of_Christ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Twelve_Apostles_(Community_of_Christ)

There is one calling in the LDS faith that was understood to be inherited, that of Presiding Patriarch of the Church, but that was Hyrum’s calling before he died, inherited as oldest son from Joseph Sr.  Other of Smith relatives served in the calling over time, but it was a good example of why church callings should not be inherited.

https://ldsminds.com/presiding-patriarchs/#:~:text=Formerly%2C the call of Presiding,succession from father to son.

The calling of Bishop could be seen as potentially inherited, but the line is Levite and exactly how that would work is unknown to me, though maybe someone else has come across doctrinal explanations of it.

Quote

No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of bAaron.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/107.13?lang=eng#p13

Edited December 10, 2023 by Calm

[Tacenda]

What a fantastic pick, proud of those that had a hand in it. And for the UK especially important since there are many that are falling away, and now that he's in maybe it will help those that are having doubts. What a great man, and maybe the church announced it earlier than conference because the church needs to have some good news. I listened to Insideout (podcast) with Jim Bennett and he mention having Elder Kearon in his ward a couple of times and how Elder Kearon visited Jim's daughter that was in a skiing accident and is paralyzed from the waist down, in the hospital and how he stayed close to the Bennett family and spoke of a few stories of him and about his talks and how it will really help members from where he's from. I'm learning all of this from the podcast. I don't recall any talks or wasn't paying attention. He may become a favorite like Elder Uchtdorf one day. 

 

[Stargazer]

On 12/8/2023 at 7:13 PM, SkyRock said:

He spoke at our stake conference within the last few years.   He was really good.   I am not overly surprised.

Ours, too. His talks were very memorable.

My wife is particularly pleased about his call, because her mum was Sister Kearon's visiting teacher long time ago in the Bristol stake. Wendy says that her mother was not given to praising people, but did speak highly of the Kearons.

[Stargazer]

17 hours ago, Calm said:

The calling of Bishop could be seen as potentially inherited, but the line is Levite and exactly how that would work is unknown to me, though maybe someone else has come across doctrinal explanations of it.

It's not Levite, but the priestly class of Levites, descendants of Aaron, like John the Baptist and his father Zacherias. The scripture you quoted goes on to say that such a man could serve without counselors. But the man would still have to be called to the office, he could not just assume it, and he could not pass it to his son. 

The church doesn't have policy on the matter, so far as I'm aware. To my knowledge no descendant of Aaron has ever been called to be a bishop. And given that the revelation was received so long ago, it may well have pertained to the office of presiding bishop, not ward bishops.

ETA: Confirmed that it pertains to the presiding bishop. The heading to DC 68 says this of verses 13–24, "The firstborn among the sons of Aaron may serve as the Presiding Bishop (that is, hold the keys of presidency as a bishop) under the direction of the First Presidency;"

Edited December 11, 2023 by Stargazer

[SkyRock]

18 hours ago, Stargazer said:

It's not Levite, but the priestly class of Levites, descendants of Aaron, like John the Baptist and his father Zacherias. The scripture you quoted goes on to say that such a man could serve without counselors. But the man would still have to be called to the office, he could not just assume it, and he could not pass it to his son. 

The church doesn't have policy on the matter, so far as I'm aware. To my knowledge no descendant of Aaron has ever been called to be a bishop. And given that the revelation was received so long ago, it may well have pertained to the office of presiding bishop, not ward bishops.

ETA: Confirmed that it pertains to the presiding bishop. The heading to DC 68 says this of verses 13–24, "The firstborn among the sons of Aaron may serve as the Presiding Bishop (that is, hold the keys of presidency as a bishop) under the direction of the First Presidency;"

When I was a youth, my dad, who was stake president, informed me that a bishop in the stake had in his patriarchal blessing that he was a descendant of Aaron.  

[MiserereNobis]

8 hours ago, SkyRock said:

When I was a youth, my dad, who was stake president, informed me that a bishop in the stake had in his patriarchal blessing that he was a descendant of Aaron.  

Could the blessing have been wrong?

[JAHS]

1 hour ago, MiserereNobis said:

9 hours ago, SkyRock said:

When I was a youth, my dad, who was stake president, informed me that a bishop in the stake had in his patriarchal blessing that he was a descendant of Aaron.  

Could the blessing have been wrong?

Doesn't have to be wrong. I am sure Aaron had many descendants. 

[Doctrine 612]

See below 

Edited December 12, 2023 by Doctrine 612
Submitted before done

[Doctrine 612]

On 12/8/2023 at 4:42 PM, Stormin' Mormon said:

Two weeks ago, I made some predictions to some close friends about who the next Apostle would be.  I used three criteria: foreign born, at least 10 years as a GA, and under the age of 65. Based on those criteria, I predicted that the next Apostle would be one of three individuals. Elder Kearon was on my short list.

Every time this happens my wife and I speculate who will be next.

she had me beat 3-2 but I guessed this one right.

how?

I looked at the presidents of the seventy and said this one looks handsome.

 

my wife said they have called ugly men before.

I said “not anymore it’s about image.”

[halconero]

4 hours ago, JAHS said:

Doesn't have to be wrong. I am sure Aaron had many descendants. 

Kohanim (Sons of Aaron) specifically and Levites generally comprise about 8-10% of the Jewish population worldwide, so yes, very common. There is also a generally accepted, albeit still debated "Y-chromosomal Aaron" among plenty of claimants, linking to a unique common ancestor distinct from the general population of ethnic Jewish people.

Kohen still have unique priestly duties in synagogal rites, with probably the most well-known being the Priestly Blessing popularized as the Vulcan salute by Leonard Nimoy.

You've also most certainly heard a Kohen sing on the radio or on other media.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/levites/

[Stargazer]

On 12/11/2023 at 7:32 PM, SkyRock said:

When I was a youth, my dad, who was stake president, informed me that a bishop in the stake had in his patriarchal blessing that he was a descendant of Aaron.  

Wouldn't surprise me. 

Chances are not too tiny that we're all descended from Aaron. And everyone else who survived to have children in the ancient past, whose lineages did not die out. Some researchers have concluded that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of all humans lived possibly as recently as 2,000 years ago. But the chances that a given person has the DNA of any particular individual is extremely small, since after only 32 generations (possibly less than 700 years) the contribution of a single ancestor would be on the order of 2x10−32, a number proportional to less than a single basepair within the human genome.

But in my opinion, within European populations the likelihood that a given line of descent includes someone in the priestly class seems quite reasonably high, since folks in the Jewish line of descent tended to keep it within the tribe, thus preserving the lineage for the inevitable outcrosses. And then there is the likely case that there were descendants of Aaron among the lost tribes. So within the Israelite diaspora there are bound to be a considerable number of such descendants.