Russell M. Nelson, a 93-year-old heart surgeon who has served as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 33 years, was publicly named the next leader of the Mormon church on Tuesday after the death of its previous president.
Historically, confusion over the Mormon succession was gradually ironed out as first church founder Joseph Smith and then his successor Brigham Young died in 1844 and 1877, respectively. Since the end of the 19th century, there has been no question that the church is governed by a president and his two counselors in tandem with a Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All are men, and they serve for life. When an apostle dies, a replacement is selected by the president. When a president dies, the senior apostle succeeds him and selects new counselors, nearly always from the quorum. It is a tidy system, and generally ensures that whatever disruption the church experiences at the death of a president is stylistic rather than political.
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