Second post of the new year: The latest Apostolic Statistics

For my second post of 2017 (which, though I didn't know it until now, is actually my first), I thought I would share the latest apostolic statistics. This post will serve as an update on President Nelson's tenure length as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where President Monson stands among the other prophets of the restoration in terms of age and tenure length, and what the latest apotolic age statistics are. With that introduction, let's dive right in!

This week, as I mentioned last Sunday, President Nelson jumped two slots in terms of his tenure length. He passed President Spencer W. Kimball and the second and shortest tenure for Brigham Young Jr. He is now the 21st longest serving President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Church history, having served as of today for a period spanning 1 year, 5 months, and 29 days. He will become the 20th longest serving Quorum President in just four months and four days from now. However, for the last 2-3 years, we have been advised that President Monson is feeling the effects of advanced age. While he still summons up enough strength to speak twice every general conference, in 2016, each conference saw him speak for a combined total of quite a bit less than 20 minutes. It is anyone's guess, therefore, as to how much longer President Monson may be with us. Even though President Nelson is now 92, being a little less than three years older than President Monson, he seems to be a lot more healthy. I therefore think it very likely that President Nelson will outlive President Monson to become the 17th President of the Church, even if his tenure as such is only a few years. I also have every confidence that President Nelson will live to become the oldest living apostle in Church history. He will achieve that milestone on Monday August 8, 2022. Stay tuned for additional updates on all of that.

In the meantime, let's talk for a moment or two about President Monson's current standing in terms of tenure length and age among the 15 other Church Presidents that have gone before. As of today, President Monson has served as Church President for 8 years, 10 months, and 29 days. He currently stands as the 9th longest serving Church President. If he lives long enough, he will assume the 8th longest serving spot later this year, on Friday June 30. In doing so, he will pass Wilford Woodruff.

In terms of age, he now stands as the 7th oldest prophet. He is 89 years, 4 months, and 11 days old. He will become the 6th oldest prophet on Friday March 30 next year (2018. I am still trying to get used to the idea that we have now entered 2017.), taking the spot currently held by Spencer W. Kimball.

In terms of the age statistics for the 15 currently serving apostles, nothing has changed in terms of who is closest to those average ages. However, within the seven days that have passed since I last posted on this subject, the averages have gone up slightly. The average age of the members of the First Presidency is 83.03 years, while the average age of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is 74.58 years, and the average age of the 15 apostles as a group is 76.27 years.

Well, I hope that this was an informative post for my second one for 2017. I have been keeping track of this information for several years, and I have found only a select few seem to have a genuine appreciation for and interest in such things. I have gradually built up the amount of information I am tracking of this sort, and I always appreciate hearing from those who share my interest in tracking such data.

Thanks so much for your readership, interest, and support. I couldn't do this blog without it. Stay tuned for more information as it become available. I will be particularly intrigued to find out about how the Europe East Area Presidency has been reorganized in light of Elder Porter's death, and there are temple developments about which I am waiting to hear. Additionally, Matthew Martinich has reported on his blog that any new missions, along with the assignments for those mission presidents who will start serving next year, will be announced very early this year. Also, we can't forget that a big temple-related development will be announced shortly: the site announcement and imminent groundbreaking date for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple. And who knows how many other developments might be announced within the short period of the first few months of 2017? You can depend on finding the latest information on all of these developments as soon as I can write about them on this blog after that information comes to light.

Thanks for your continued readership, comments, and expressions of support. I appreciate you all very much. Until next time, may the Lord be with you all.