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Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is sustained by Church members as a "prophet, seer and revelator" for the Church and is God's representative on the Earth. Members of the Church also believe that his counsel is for all people, not solely Latter-day Saints. The president of the church is typically the senior Apostle and holds all Priesthood keys neccessary for salvation and exaltation that have been revealed to man.

According the the Doctrine and Covenants, which contain most Church policies, the President, also referred to as "The Prophet" is the only man who can receive revelation for the entire Church, change or clarify doctrine, and will never be allowed to lead the Saints astray. Church teachings state that God will "remove" any man who stands at the head of the Church who intends on leading the Church or its members astray. As such, his words when spoken as the President of the Church are infallible.

The Prophet is typically assisted by two or three counselors (who hold the office of Apostle or High Priest, who aid in his duties. This group is called the First Presidency.

When a President of the Church dies the First Presidency is dissolved and the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who is the senior Apostle, becomes the de facto president of the Church (as the Quorum of the Twelve is the leading body of the Church when the First Presidency is not operative) and will re-organize the First Presidency with new counselors as soon as possible.

Presidents of the Church

  1. Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844), served 1830-1844 (14 years). Born December 23, 1805; died June 27, 1844. Ordained President of the Church on April 6, 1830.
  2. Brigham Young (1801-1877), served 1847-1877 (33 years). Born June 1, 1801; died August 29, 1877. Ordained President of the Church on December 27, 1847.
  3. John Taylor (1808-1887), served 1880-1887 (10 years). Born November 1, 1808; died July 25, 1887. Ordained President of the Church on October 10, 1880.
  4. Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898), served 1889-1898 (9 years). Born March 1, 1807; died September 2, 1898. Ordained President of the Church on April 7, 1889.
  5. Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901), served 1898-1901 (3 years). Born April 3, 1814; died October 10, 1901. Ordained President of the Church on September 13, 1898.
  6. Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918), served 1901-1918 (17 years). Born November 13, 1838; died November 19, 1918. Ordained President of the Church on October 17, 1901.
  7. Heber J. Grant (1856-1945), served 1918-1945 (27 years). Born November 22, 1856; died May 14, 1945. Ordained President of the Church on November 23, 1918.
  8. George Albert Smith (1870-1951), served 1945-1951 (6 years). Born April 4, 1870; died April 4, 1951. Ordained President of the Church on May 21, 1945.
  9. David O. Mckay (1873-1970), served 1951-1970 (19 years). Born September 8, 1873; died January 18, 1970. Ordained President of the Church on April 9, 1951.
  10. Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972), served 1970-1972 (2 years). Born July 19, 1876; died July 2, 1972. Ordained President of the Church on January 23, 1970.
  11. Harold B. Lee (1899-1973), served 1972-1973 (1 year). Born March 28, 1899; died December 26, 1973. Ordained President of the Church on July 7, 1972.
  12. Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985), served 1973-1985 (12 years). Born March 28, 1895; died November 5, 1985. Ordained President of the Church on December 30, 1973.
  13. Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994), served 1985-1994 (8 years). Born August 4, 1899; died May 30, 1994. Ordained President of the Church on November 10, 1985.
  14. Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995), served 1994-1995 (1 year). Born November 14, 1907; died March 3, 1995. Ordained President of the Church on June 5, 1994.
  15. Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-), served from 1995 - present (8 years as of 2003). Born June 23, 1910. Ordained President of the Church on March 12, 1995.