Stokes Sounds Off: October 2019 General Conference Predictions Results: Part One—Speaking Order & Changes in General Church Leadership Results

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Wednesday, October 16, 2019

October 2019 General Conference Predictions Results: Part One—Speaking Order & Changes in General Church Leadership Results

Hello again, everyone! With a bit of a breather now between the last major announcements and whatever may be coming down the pike (for which I may provide additional observations at a later time), I finally had a chance tonight to calculate the results of my October 2019 General Conference predictions. This post will be the first of two in a mini-series that will serve to present those results. In view of the fact that President Nelson has surprised us with 4 General Conferences which, in comparison to the status-quo General Conferences that have held to more specific patterns, have been completely non-traditional, I have continued to allow myself a small margin of error.

The first part of these predictions and the associated results follows below. In order to not disturb the flow of that information, I will end here as I always do: That does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

October 2019 General Conference Predictions (Text in brackets denote differences)1
Sess.
Conducting
Speaker
SAM
President Henry B. Eyring
President Russell M. Nelson [Did not speak]


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

[Elder Terence M. Vinson]
Douglas D. Holmes 

[Stephen W. Owen]
Elder Gerrit W. Gong 

[Elder D. Todd Christofferson]
Elder Ruben V. Alliaud 

[Michelle D. Craig]
Elder Scott D. Whiting 


Elder Dale G. Renlund


President Dallin H. Oaks
SAA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)

[Elder David A. Bednar]
Elder Quentin L. Cook

[Elder Ruben V. Alliaud]
Elder Terence M. Vinson

[President Russell M. Nelson]
[Elder Quentin L. Cook]
Elder Ronald A. Rasband

[Mark L. Pace]
[Elder L. Todd Budge]
Elder Jorge M. Alvarado

[Elder Jorge M. Alvarado]
Elder Walter F. Gonzalez
[Elder Ronald A. Rasband]
Elder David A. Bednar
GW
Joy D. Jones
Jean B. Bingham [Reyna I. Aburto]


Lisa L. Harkness


Bonnie H. Cordon


President Henry B. Eyring


President Dallin H. Oaks


President Russell M. Nelson
SUM
President Henry B. Eyring
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf [Elder Gerrit W. Gong]


Cristina B. Franco

[Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf]
Elder Ulisses Soares

[Elder Walter F. Gonzalez]
Elder Gary E. Stevenson

[Elder Gary E. Stevenson]
Bishop Gerald Causse


President Russell M. Nelson
SUA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring

[Elder Hans T. Boom]
Mark L. Pace 


President M. Russell Ballard 

[Elder Peter M. Johnson]
Elder D. Todd Christofferson 

[Elder Ulisses Soares]
Elder David S. Baxter

[Elder Neil L. Andersen]
Elder Hans T. Boom 

[No one]
Elder Neil L. Andersen


President Russell M. Nelson



Predictions for Changes in Church Leadership
General Authority Seventies: Elders Wilford W. Andersen, Kim B. Clark, Lawrence E. Corbridge, Claudio R. M. Costa, Bradley D. Foster, O. Vincent Haleck, Donald L. Hallstrom, Steven E. Snow, and Larry Y. Wilson released and granted emeritus status2; Elder Steven E. Snow released and Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. sustained as Church Historian and Recorder; Elder Kim B. Clark released and Elder Paul V. Johnson sustained as Commissioner of Church Education3
Result: The 9 General Authority Seventies named were released and granted emeritus status. No sustaining vote was called for the announced changes in Church Historian and Recorder and Commissioner of Church Education. Instead, it appears that the First Presidency has determined that an official announcement in lieu of a sustaining vote for these positions is sufficient.
Area Seventies: The following area seventies may be released for the following reasons:
Called as mission presidents: Aley K. Auna, Walter Chatora, J. Kevin Ence, Jose L. Isaguierre,  Bryan R. Larsen, George Kenneth Lee, W. Jean-Pierre Lono, Khumbulani Mdletshe, Hoi Seng Leonard Woo
Called as temple president: Milan F. Kunz; Yutaka Onda; ’Aisake K. Tukuafu; Juan A. Urra
Longest-tenured4: Ruben Acosta, Frederick O. Akinbo, Omar A. Alvarez, Grant C. Bennett, Wilson B. Calderon, Hernando Camargo, M.T. Ben Davis, Robert J. Dudfield, E. Xavier Espinoza, Meliula M. Fata, Sam M. Galvez, Claude R. Gamiette, John A. Koranteng, Jose E. Maravilla, Joaquim J. Moreira, Adeyinka J. Ojediran, Gennady A. Podvodov, Abraham E. Quero, Francisco J. Ruiz de Mendoza, Gordon H. Smith, Raul S. Villanueva, and Kevin J. Worthen5
Result: Around 48 area seventies were released, with 5 or 6 new ones sustained.

Notes
1Although General Conferences throughout the last 2 decades or so have conformed to general patterns as far as the speaking order is concerned, the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration have each been exceptions to what has been the general rule. With that in mind, I am utilizing some elements of more typical General Conferences but have made allowances for some exceptions that make sense given what has occurred in that respect during the last 3 General Conferences. I also continue to allow myself a small margin of error until I can determine how and to what extent new patterns have been established and followed.
2In recent years, the Church has released General Authority Seventies when they reach the age of 70. With the first 9 Brethren listed above all having been born in 1949, it is more likely than not that they will all be released. 
3On April 10, 2019, the First Presidency announced these changes to the Church Historian and Recorder and the Commissioner of Church Education. Since both assignments are sustained positions, these changes should be presented for a formal sustaining during this General Conference. 
4While the length of service for area seventies have varied according to inspiration from the prophet, the following list includes those area seventies who have served for the last 5 years or longer (which includes those called before October 2014 who have not yet been released). 
5Regarding Elder Worthen, since he currently serves as President of BYU-Provo, he might not be released until his assignment as such concludes, or until he may subsequently be called as a General Authority Seventy.released until his assignment as such concludes, or until he may subsequently be called as a General Authority Seventy.

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