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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 17 January 2018

Mormon church appoints 93-year-old ex-surgeon as president

By BRADY McCOMBS ber of the Quorum after he
Associated Press served as one of Monson’s
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The counselors.
Mormon church appointed Eyring was also a counselor
a 93-year-old former heart for Monson, while this marks
surgeon Tuesday as its new the first time Oaks will serve
president, following a long- as a counselor to a church
standing succession plan president. Oaks is the next-
that aims to keep the faith longest tenured member
on course with a minimum of the Quorum, making him
of upheaval. next-in-line to become the
Russell M. Nelson’s remarks next president.
about LGBT issues and the Born in Salt Lake City in
role of women in the faith 1924, Nelson converted to
to reporters after he was of- Mormonism at the age of
ficially chosen to become 16. He was a doctor by 22.
the 17th president of The He served a two-year Army
Church of Jesus Christ of medical tour of duty dur-
Latter-day Saints reaffirmed ing the Korean War before
an expectation that he will resuming a medical career
make few changes as he that included being direc-
upholds traditional church President Russell M. Nelson, center, as his counselors Dallin H. Oaks, left and Henry B. Eyring, speak tor of thoracic surgery resi-
teachings. during a news conference announcing his new leadership in the wake of the death of President dency at the University of
Speaking about his ap- Thomas S. Monson Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Utah.
proach to LGBT issues, Nel- (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Nelson takes the top posi-
son said he understands ership body. Nelson called slovakia and is a natural- son was anointed during tion amid increased scru-
there are “challenges with doing so a “balance.” ized U.S. citizen. a private meeting of the in tiny of church teaching in
the commandments of Nelson succeeds Thomas Nelson said the “Lord is the Salt Lake City temple, the internet age, which has
God, challenges to be wor- S. Monson, who died Jan. 2 in charge” of picking top per church tradition that made more information on
thy.” after leading the religion for church leaders and ac- makes the longest-tenured doctrine available. Under
“God loves his children and nearly a decade. Church knowledged that its highest member of the Quorum Monson, leaders released
we love them and there’s presidents serve until they leadership councils are not the new president. a series of essays explaining
a place for everyone,” Nel- die. a “representative assem- Nelson’s selection of Oaks, some controversial areas of
son said. “Regardless of his Nelson is now considered a bly.” 85, and Henry B. Eyring, 84, Mormon history, including
challenges.” “prophet, seer and revela- “We’ll live to see the day as his counselors means early polygamous practic-
The church at times has ex- tor” by Mormons. He is sec- when there will be other Uchtdorf, 77, goes back to es and a past ban on black
pressed empathy and told ond-oldest man to assume flavors in the mix, but we the being a regular mem- men in the lay clergy.q
members to be welcoming leadership of the 16-million respond because we’ve
to LGBT people while also member LDS church. been called by the lord,”
strictly defending opposi- He will share responsibil- Nelson said.
tion to same-sex marriage ity for the faith’s religious Nelson did not mention
and all homosexual rela- and business interests with changing any roles for
tionships. his two top counselors and women, but said that “we
Dallin H. Oaks, one of two members of the Quorum. need their voices, we need
men Nelson chose to be The church faces some their input and we love
his counselors, added that pressure to diversify leader- their participation.”
leaders have the responsi- ship to add women, non- That echoed sentiments he
bility to teach love but also whites and people from made during a October
God’s commandments. countries outside the Unit- 2015 speech that came
“We’ve got the love of the ed States. All the Quorum during a period of intense
Lord and the law of the members are white and discussion about the role of
Lord,” said Oaks, a mem- were born in the U.S., ex- women.
ber of church’s Quorum of cept for Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Tuesday’s announcement
the Twelve Apostles lead- who was born in Czecho- came two days after Nel-