Stokes Sounds Off: 09/22/17

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Friday, September 22, 2017

Revised Speaking Order and Changes in General Church Leadership Predictions for this next General Conference

Hello, everyone! When I posted my revised temple site predictions a few days ago, I thought that I had also posted my revised predictions for the speaking order and for changes in General Church Leadership, but it turns out that I had not done so. Here they are. Again, with the knowledge that President Monson will not be speaking during or even be attending General Conference, I have felt that the easiest and most likely possibility is that a General Authority Seventy will take the time in the Priesthood Session that would have been taken by President Monson (which means the other talks might be shorter) and that if Elder Hales does not speak at all or only speaks briefly in the Sunday Afternoon Session, the extra time in that session would be taken by President Nelson, who would give a second talk.

That is just based on what has been done previously. Obviously, the Church has several options, and it could very well be that President Monson has given entirely different directions for how that is to be handled. I will be just as glad if I am wrong on this as I will be if I find these changes are justified. For now, here are those revised changes. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. I will be back tomorrow (if not before then) with my report on what happened during the General Women's Session. In the meantime, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all you do.

October 2017 General Conference Predictions

PRELIMINARY NOTE: With the May 23 announcement that President Monson would no longer be attending meetings or participating in the day-to-day governance of the Church as a result of difficulties incident to his age, I was unsure for quite a while what that might mean in terms of whether or not he would attend and be able to speak in any other General Conferences. I found out in the late night hours of September 19 that, unless his condition improves, he will not be attending, nor will he be speaking at the remainder of the General Conferences that may be held until the Lord calls him home. I am not ruling out a miracle by any means, but that did mean that I needed to find a way in these predictions to fill up the time he would have taken if he had been able to speak. I determined the best way to do that would be to rearrange some speakers, and to have the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Russell M. Nelson, give a second address at some point during the remainder of the conference. Whatever actually happens during this General Conference will, of course, set the precedent that will be followed for however much longer President Monson lives.

Speaking Order (Text in brackets indicated what actually happened.)
Session
Conducting
Speaker
General Women’s
Joy D. Jones
Christina B. Franco


Sharon Eubank


Bonnie L. Oscarson


President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saturday Morning
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Bishop W. Christopher Waddell


Jean B. Bingham


Elder David A. Bednar


Elder Massimo De Feo


Elder O. Vincent Haleck


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Saturday Afternoon
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Henry B. Eyring
(Sustaining of Church Officers)


President Russell M. Nelson


Elder Dale G. Renlund


Elder Larry Y. Wilson


Elder Joni L. Koch


Elder Ian S. Ardern


Elder Quentin L. Cook


Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Saturday Priesthood
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Elder D. Todd Christofferson


Elder Patrick Kearon


Elder Brian K. Taylor


President Henry B. Eyring
Sunday Morning
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Henry B. Eyring


Elder Robert D. Hales


Elder Juan A. Uceda


Neill F. Marriott


Elder Gary E. Stevenson


Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella


President Russell M. Nelson
Sunday Afternoon
President Henry B. Eyring
Elder Neil L. Andersen


Tad R. Callister


Elder David F. Evans


Elder M. Russell Ballard


Elder Taniela B. Wakolo


Elder Jose L. Alonso


Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Changes in General Church Leadership
Presidency of the Seventy: Elders Donald L. Hallstrom and Richard J. Maynes released from the presidency, Elders Juan A. Uceda and Patrick Kearon sustained.
NOTE: These changes, announced on May 3, became effective on August 1. For that reason, they will likely be ratified by sustaining vote. However, because there has also been a time or two when such changes have not been so ratified, I would not be surprised if this is not noted. Until further notice, I have felt it would be wiser to include the information.
RESULT:
General Authority Seventies: Elders Stanley G. Ellis, Larry R. Lawrence, and W. Craig Zwick released as General Authority Seventies and granted emeritus status.
NOTE: Elder Ellis turned 70 in January this year, just as Elder Zwick did in June, and Elder Lawrence did in August, so it would make sense if these men were released and granted emeritus status.
RESULT:
Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings.
NOTE: It has been customary for most changes in area seventies to take place in April, when President Uchtdorf leads out in the sustaining vote, and for only a few to take place in October, when President Eyring leads out in the sustaining. Since we are talking about an October General Conference, it would make sense if only a few changes happened this go-round.
RESULT: