First Presidency ( LDS church ) - wikipedia First Presidency ( LDS church ) This article is about First Presidency of the LDS Church. For information about the First Presidency in the wider Latter Day Saint movement, see First Presidency. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Dallin H. Oaks First Counselor Russell M. Nelson President of the Church Henry B. Eyring Second Counselor The First Presidency, also called the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church or simply the Presidency ), is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( LDS Church ). It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of Russell M. Nelson and his two counselors : Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring. Contents 1 Membership 1.1 Title of members 1.2 Removal 2 Duties 3 Members of the First Presidency who were not apostles 4 Counselors in the First Presidency not retained upon reorganization 5 Secretary to the First Presidency 5.1 List of secretaries 6 See also 7 References Membership The First Presidency is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. Historically, and as mandated by church scripture, the First Presidency has been composed of the president and two counselors, but circumstances have occasionally required additional counselors ( for example, David O. McKay had five during the final years of his presidency, and at one point, Brigham Young had eight ). Counselors must be high priests and are usually chosen from among the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, but there have been a number of exceptions of members of the church 's Presiding Bishopric or the church at large being called to be counselors. Any high priest of the church is eligible to be called as a counselor in the First Presidency. There have also been a few cases of counselors being ordained to the priesthood office of apostle and becoming members of the Quorum of the Twelve after they had already been set apart as counselors in the First Presidency, such as J. Reuben Clark ). There have been other cases where counselors have been ordained to the office of apostle but not set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, such as Alvin R. Dyer. Other counselors in the First Presidency were never ordained to the office of apostle, such as Charles W. Nibley and John R. Winder. Whether or not a counselor is an apostle, all members of the First Presidency are sustained by the church as prophets, seers, and revelators. Counselors are formally designated as `` First Counselor in the First Presidency '' and `` Second Counselor in the First Presidency, '' based on when they were selected by the president. Additional counselors have been designated in different ways, including `` Third Counselor in the First Presidency '' ( such as Hugh B. Brown ), `` Assistant Counselor to the President '' ( such as John Willard Young ), and simply `` Counselor in the First Presidency '' ( such as Thorpe B. Isaacson ). Counselors serve in the First Presidency until their own deaths, until the death of the church president who called them, or until they are released by the church president. The death of a church president dissolves the First Presidency, and leaves the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the senior leader of the church. The death or release of a counselor does not dissolve the First Presidency. Often, the surviving counselors of the late president will be called as counselors in the new First Presidency, and a notably - infirm counselor may revert to his place among the Twelve Apostles, with a healthier man called as counselor in his place. On the death or release of a first counselor, the second counselor usually succeeds, and a new second counselor is named. Although that is fairly common, there are no hard and fast rules about such practices, and each president is free to choose the counselors he prefers. Title of members Like the church president and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, counselors in the First Presidency are appropriately referred to by the title `` President ''. Removal A member could be removed by the current president at any time or if disciplined by the Common Council of the Church, although both are rare and removal for discipline has not happened since early days of the church. Duties Main article : President of the Church ( LDS Church ) The First Presidency is the highest ranking priesthood quorum of the church. The counselors assist the church president and work closely with him in guiding the entire church and carrying out the duties of the president of the church. The First Presidency has the theoretical authority to make the final decision on nearly all issues that might affect the church or its operations, but in practice, the First Presidency has delegated much of its decision - making power to members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, and local leaders of the church. Nevertheless, the First Presidency has retained its overarching decision - making power in a number of significant areas and may, at any time, choose to overrule the decisions of a lesser church quorum or authority. In the case of an infirm president, his counselors may be called upon to perform more of the duties of the First Presidency that would normally be performed by the president. If they are needed, any number of additional counselors may be called to assist them, but the president of the church remains the only person on the earth authorized to use all priesthood keys. All members of the First Presidency are sustained by the membership of the church as prophets, seers, and revelators and given the keys of the kingdom when they are ordained as an apostle. All members of the First Presidency are also members of the church 's Council on the Disposition of the Tithes, which determines how the tithing funds of the church are spent. Members of the First Presidency who were not Apostles There is no requirement that counselors in the First Presidency be apostles of the church. The following men served as a counselor in the First Presidency during the years indicated and were never ordained to the priesthood office of apostle. For example, J. Reuben Clark was not an apostle when he became second counselor in the First Presidency on April 6, 1933, but a year and a half later, he was ordained as an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles for one day, on October 11, 1934. Sidney Rigdon ( 1832 -- 44 ) Jesse Gause ( 1832 -- 33 ) Frederick G. Williams ( 1833 -- 37 ) John Smith ( 1837 -- 44 ) Joseph Smith Sr. ( 1837 -- 40 ) William Law ( 1841 -- 44 ) John C. Bennett ( 1841 -- 42 ) John R. Winder ( 1901 -- 10 ) Charles W. Nibley ( 1925 -- 31 ) Thorpe B. Isaacson ( 1965 -- 70 ) Counselors in the First Presidency not retained upon reorganization John Smith, Assistant Counselor to Joseph Smith, not retained as a counselor by Brigham Young Amasa M. Lyman, Assistant Counselor to Joseph Smith, not retained as a counselor by Brigham Young John Willard Young, First Counselor to Brigham Young, not retained as a counselor by John Taylor Daniel H. Wells, Second Counselor to Brigham Young, not retained as a counselor by John Taylor Brigham Young Jr., Lorenzo Snow, and Albert Carrington, Assistant Counselors to Brigham Young, not retained as counselors by John Taylor Rudger Clawson, called as Second Counselor to Lorenzo Snow, not retained as a counselor by Joseph F. Smith Hugh B. Brown, First Counselor to David O. McKay, not retained as a counselor by Joseph Fielding Smith Thorpe B. Isaacson and Alvin R. Dyer, Counselors to David O. McKay, not retained as counselors by Joseph Fielding Smith Marion G. Romney, First Counselor to Spencer W. Kimball, not retained as a counselor by Ezra Taft Benson Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor to Thomas S. Monson, not retained as a counselor by Russell M. Nelson Secretary to the First Presidency The church employs a secretary to assist the First Presidency in its administrative duties. The position is paid employment position and the incumbent is not a member of the First Presidency or a general authority of the church. However, it is common for letters from the office of the First Presidency to private individuals to bear the signature of the secretary, as opposed to members of the First Presidency. The First Presidency also employs assistant secretaries and press secretaries. When David O. McKay became President of the Church in 1951, he continued with his longtime personal secretary, Clare Middlemiss, and moved the existing secretary, Joseph Anderson, into the newly - created First Presidency 's office. D. Arthur Haycock also served as personal secretary to several church presidents in the 20th century. List of secretaries George W. Robinson ( 1838 -- 40 ) George Reynolds ( 1865 -- 1909 ) George F. Gibbs ( 1909 -- 22 ) Joseph Anderson ( 1922 -- 70 ) Francis M. Gibbons ( 1970 -- 86 ) F. Michael Watson ( 1986 -- 2008 ) Brook P. Hales ( 2008 -- ) See also Book : Priesthood ( LDS Church ) LDS Church portal Book of Mormon portal Chronology of the First Presidency ( LDS Church ) Council of the Church References Wikimedia Commons has media related to First Presidency. ^ Jump up to : Doctrine and Covenants 107 : 22. Jump up ^ Doctrine and Covenants 107 : 36 Jump up ^ Mormon Channel ( 2018 - 01 - 13 ), A Message from President Russell M. Nelson, retrieved 2018 - 01 - 16 Jump up ^ Prince, Gregory A. ; William Robert Wright ( 2005 ). David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. University of Utah Press. p. 407. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87480 - 822 - 3. Retrieved 2009 - 07 - 17. Priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Aaronic priesthood offices Deacon Teacher Priest Bishop Melchizedek priesthood offices Elder Seventy High priest Patriarch Apostle Priesthood quorums and bodies Quorum First Presidency Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Quorums of the Seventy Presiding Bishopric Council on the Disposition of the Tithes Common Council of the Church Council of the Church High council Stake and ward council meetings Disciplinary council Priesthood callings President of the Church President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Prophet, seer, and revelator General authority Presiding Bishop Temple president Mission president Stake president Church Historian and Recorder High councilor Bishop Branch president Defunct priesthood callings and bodies Assistant President of the Church Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Council of Fifty Regional representative of the Twelve Presiding Patriarch Patriarch emeritus Book LDS Church portal The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints History Joseph Smith death succession crisis Anthon Transcript Incorporation First Vision Brigham Young Handcart companies Mormon Battalion Name of the church Pioneers 1890 Manifesto Good Neighbor policy Statistical membership Mormonism and violence Historic sites Sacred texts Bible : King James Version, Joseph Smith Translation Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price Book of Moses Book of Abraham Joseph Smith -- Matthew Joseph Smith -- History Articles of Faith Beliefs and practices Apostolic succession Apostasy and restoration Calling Family Home Evening Fast Sunday For the Strength of Youth God in Mormonism Ministering Marriage Celestial Ordinances Plan of Salvation Priesthood Revelation Sexuality `` The Family : A Proclamation to the World '' Word of Wisdom Culture and worship Brigham Young University LDS cinema ( Films ) Cultural depictions Deseret Book Deseret Industries Especially for Youth General Conference Hymns Book LDS Humanitarian Services Missionary service Mormons Mormon Channel Mormon music Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pageants Sunday School Temples Worship services Sacrament Organization Church Educational System FamilySearch Finances Primary Relief Society Young Men Young Women Leadership President List Russell M. Nelson First Presidency Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Presiding Bishop Quorums of the Seventy Criticism Anti-Mormonism Blacks and the church Book of Mormon Archeology Genetics Historical authenticity Linguistics Origin Homosexuals and the church Mountain Meadows massacre MormonLeaks Polygamy Salamander letter September Six Other related articles Bloggernacle FairMormon Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies I 'm a Mormon Mormon fundamentalism Mormon studies Mormonism and Christianity Mormonism and women Books LDS Church small LDS Church big Standard works Book of Mormon Joseph Smith Pearl of Great Price Mormon Texts Temples Ordinances Presidents History Culture Criticism LDS Church portal WikiProject First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Russell M. Nelson ( President ) Dallin H. Oaks ( First Counselor ) Henry B. Eyring ( Second Counselor ) Members of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Presidents of the Church J. Smith Jr. ( 1830 -- 44 ) B. Young Sr. ( 1847 -- 77 ) Taylor ( 1880 -- 87 ) Woodruff ( 1889 -- 98 ) Snow ( 1898 -- 1901 ) J.F. Smith Sr. ( 1901 -- 18 ) Grant ( 1918 -- 45 ) G.A. Smith ( 1945 -- 51 ) McKay ( 1951 -- 70 ) J.F. Smith Jr. ( 1970 -- 72 ) Lee ( 1972 -- 73 ) Kimball ( 1973 -- 85 ) Benson ( 1985 -- 94 ) Hunter ( 1994 -- 95 ) Hinckley ( 1995 -- 2008 ) Monson ( 2008 -- 18 ) Nelson ( 2018 -- ) First Counselors Gause ( 1832 ) Rigdon ( 1832 -- 44 ) Kimball ( 1847 -- 68 ) G.A. Smith ( 1868 -- 75 ) J.W. Young ( 1876 -- 77 ) Cannon ( 1880 -- 1901 ) J.F. Smith Sr. ( 1901 ) Winder ( 1901 -- 10 ) Lund ( 1910 -- 21 ) Penrose ( 1921 -- 25 ) Ivins ( 1925 -- 34 ) Clark ( 1934 -- 51 ; 1959 -- 61 ) S.L. Richards ( 1951 -- 59 ) Moyle ( 1961 -- 63 ) Brown ( 1963 -- 70 ) Lee ( 1970 -- 72 ) Tanner ( 1972 -- 82 ) Romney ( 1982 -- 85 ) Hinckley ( 1985 -- 95 ) Monson ( 1995 -- 2008 ) Eyring ( 2008 -- 2018 ) Oaks ( 2018 -- ) Second Counselors Rigdon ( 1832 ) Williams ( 1833 -- 37 ) H. Smith ( 1837 -- 41 ) Law ( 1841 -- 44 ) W. Richards ( 1847 -- 54 ) Grant ( 1854 -- 56 ) Wells ( 1857 -- 77 ) J.F. Smith Sr. ( 1880 -- 1901 ) Clawson ( 1901 ) Lund ( 1901 -- 10 ) J.H. Smith ( 1910 -- 11 ) Penrose ( 1911 -- 21 ) Ivins ( 1921 -- 25 ) Nibley ( 1925 -- 31 ) Clark ( 1933 -- 34 ) McKay ( 1934 -- 51 ) Clark ( 1951 -- 59 ) Moyle ( 1959 -- 61 ) Brown ( 1961 -- 63 ) Tanner ( 1963 -- 72 ) Romney ( 1972 -- 82 ) Hinckley ( 1982 -- 85 ) Monson ( 1985 -- 95 ) Faust ( 1995 -- 2007 ) Eyring ( 2007 -- 08 ) Uchtdorf ( 2008 -- 18 ) Eyring ( 2018 -- ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)&oldid=833017982 '' Categories : Leadership positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Members of the First Presidency ( LDS Church ) Presidents of the Church ( LDS Church ) Prophets in Mormonism Organizational subdivisions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints Religious organizations established in 1832 First Presidency ( LDS Church ) Hidden categories : Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Esperanto Français Italiano Suomi Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 29 March 2018, at 06 : 45. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who is the first presidency of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints
Answer: consists of Russell M. Nelson and his two counselors: Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring