Likely future LDS Church Presidents and possible influences on church policies.

[Long Live Wayne Howard]

I could be wrong in where I insert Eyring and Uchdorf, but here is the line of ascension:

Thomas S. Monson (83)
Boyd K. Packer (86)
L. Tom Perry (88)
Russel M. Nelson (86)
Dallin H. Oaks (76)
M. Russell Ballard (82)
Richard G. Scott (81)
Robert D. Hales (78)
Henry B. Eyring (75)
Jeffrey R. Holland (69)
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (70)
David A. Bednar (58)
Quentin L. Cook (70)
D. Todd Christofferson (65)
Neil L. Andersen (59)

Likely future Presidents seem to be:
Dallin H. Oaks - Former BYU President, lawyer, judge. Educational background in accounting and law.
Jeffrey R. Holland - Former BYU President, Church Education System Commissioner. Educational background in English and American Studies.
David A. Bednar - Former BYU-Idaho President, Church Education System. Educational background in communications and organizational behavior.

The trend that sticks out is that apostles who have a background in physical sciences or math don't get ordained apostles until they are quite old, while those who have a background in church education or social sciences get ordained at a much younger age. This is understandable since a surgeon or nuclear physicist would need to dedicate his 20's and 30's to a profession and would not be able to move up the ranks in church leadership as fast.

How much does this affect church policies and direction?

[TripletDaddy]

This would explain why I cannot order a periodic table of elements through Deseret Book.

[SuperGabers]

Elder Uchy is 70??? No way.

[old_gregg]

Elder Uchy is 70??? No way.

Only in the sense that Dominican baseball players are 18

[Sullyute]

The trend that sticks out is that apostles who have a background in physical sciences or math don't get ordained apostles until they are quite old, while those who have a background in church education or social sciences get ordained at a much younger age. This is understandable since a surgeon or nuclear physicist would need to dedicate his 20's and 30's to a profession and would not be able to move up the ranks in church leadership as fast.

So what does that say for all the laywers in church leadership? Man those guys are lazy.

[Jacob]

According to my patriarch, I am a likely future member of the quorum. This will greatly affect church policies and direction.

[clackamascoug]

Elder Uchy is 70??? No way.

Uctdorf wouldn't be afraid to tap into his feminine side - if he had one.

[Long Live Wayne Howard]

So what does that say for all the laywers in church leadership? Man those guys are lazy.

Not lazy, they'd just rather dedicate their career to arguing rather than something constructive and beneficial.

[jay santos]

I doubt Holland outlives some of the guys above him even though he's younger. I bet Uctdorf will be prophet someday. That is cool.

[NorthwestUteFan]

RE: 'Handsome Pilot' Uchtdorf

I agree, it would be nice to have a non-American at the helm.

For that matter, I would have loved to have seen Helvicio Martins in there (first black member of the Seventy, was from Brasil, was in the MTC with me - very impressive guy and inspiration story). Unfortunately he passed away in 2005.

There are MANY hundreds of thousands of Brasilian church members (approaching a million) who are of African descent. I believe it would be especially healing/strengthening to see some of them move up into the higher leadership ranks.

I also completely believe one of my mission companions, who was from the hills of Georgia, who stated that a very large portion of the church members in his region would leave the church if a black man was called to be prophet.

(for that matter, there were members in Thatcher, Arizona who quit going to church when Spencer Kimball was called to the First Presidency because they remembered him as a wild kid, so maybe take that with a grain of salt.)

p.s. I hate to admit it, but I hope Monson outlives Packer. I didn't realize they were so close in age.

[KillerDog]

I'm surprised at how young Elder Oaks is. I think it is clear he is being groomed for the presidency of the Church. He is asked to deal with many difficult topics and does so very well. He is very visible in G.C. every 6 months. He has fantastic ability to speak to non-member populations and is used in that capacity.

I think he physically struggled after June's death but he seems to be back on the right track health wise now.

[TripletDaddy]

How is an apostle "groomed" for the presidency of the Church? The only way to become the President is for everyone in front of you to die. Oaks hasn't even been asked to serve in the First Presidency yet.

The reasons you state seem to apply to all the Apostles.

[RC Vikings]

Bednar could have a long run at the top. I think you can say it won't be a kinder gentler era.

[Indy Coug]

Will we see a kinder, gentler God over the next 25 to 50 years?

[Commando]

Bednar could have a long run at the top. I think you can say it won't be a kinder gentler era.

That will be the crackdown to whip the Church's ass into shape before the 2nd Coming.