What is meant by “chosen by the body” in the selection of the First Presidency?

Question

Dear Gramps,

D&C 107:22 says that the First Presidency of the Church should be “chosen by the body”. Does this refer to the general membership of the church, or how are we to interpret this verse? It seems these brethren are chosen by God, and we as members have no input on the matter. So how are we to interpret this? Thanks for your time and effort on this wonderful web site. I try to read it every day.

Robert

Answer

Robert,

The “body” mentioned within, Doctrine and Covenants 107:22, refers and is interpreted as the entire body of the Quorum of the Twelve as shared by President Harold B. Lee:

“All members of the First Presidency and the Twelve are regularly sustained as ‘prophets, seers, and revelators,’ as you have done today. This means that any one of the apostles, so chosen and ordained, could preside over the Church if he were ‘chosen by the body [which has been interpreted to mean, the entire Quorum of the Twelve], appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church,’ to quote from a revelation on this subject, on one condition, and that being that he was the senior member, or the president, of that body.” (See D&C 107:22.)” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1970, p. 123.)

Gramps