Thomas S. Monson New Mormon Prophet Speaks at LDS General Conference.

President Monson, being called as The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints - was really no surprise to members of The Mormon Church.

Latter-Day-Saints from all over the world, marvel how this is done - always - the Lord' way, and is done so each and every time a new prophet of God is called.

As a member of the LDS Church, I, with multitudes of other Latter-Day-Saints - truly rejoice, as the work of the Church of Jesus Christ, here upon the earth moves forward with the Spirit of God, who is Jesus Christ, at its head; which is made evident in our hearts, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

LDS members around the globe are anxiously looking forward to the first weekend of April. This is when members of the Mormon Church gather, for the bi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. This will be the first conference held, since President Thomas S. Monson was called and sustained as the new LDS Church world leader and Living Prophet.

Previous to Thomas S. Monson being called as President of the Mormon Church, he had held the position as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. His being called to now serve as the leader of the Church, has now left a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This vacancy is expected to be filled during this LDS General Conference.

The calling of living prophets is considered to be a sacred process. Members of the LDS Church, wait for this announcement which they believe comes directly from the Lord, through His prophets today...

Reports from these proceedings are made available following the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

In a historic solemn assembly of the entire body of members of the LDS Church, the newly organized First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints was sustained. This was done in a particular order within the Mormon Church. This is considered a sacred privilege of membership within the LDS Church. It is a visual witness which LDS members participate in, to sustain those who have been called to lead and guide them, as called by God.

D. Todd Christofferson was called and sustained today as the newest member of The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles. A vacancy was left when the First Presidency was organized just recently.

Here is a short biography from LDS Deseret Morning News...

He has served in various positions of leadership in the church, as a former regional representative, stake president, stake president's counselor and bishop. As executive director of the Family and Church History Department, Elder Christofferson was involved in the high-profile negotiations to block the names of Holocaust victims from submission for temple work. In 2001, with Elder Christofferson at the helm, the church compiled and released a new database to aid African American family history research called the Freedman Bank Records.

Before serving the church in a full-time capacity, Elder Christofferson worked as a lawyer. He was an associate general counsel of NationsBank Corp. (now Bank of America) in Charlotte. N.C., and practiced law in Washington D.C., Tennessee and North Carolina. He started his law career as a young clerk for Judge John J. Sirica during the Watergate hearings.

He received his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and juris doctorate from Duke University.

Born and bred in Utah, Elder Christofferson is married to Katherine Jacob Christofferson. They have five children.

For complete proceedings of the 178th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, you can go the official website of the Church and proceed to the LDS Newsroom....

The General Conference of the LDS Church is greatly anticipated by the entire membership of the Church. It is a time of great instruction and unification of the body of the church.

For me personally, today is another great day where I am once again - renewed in my testimony that this is the work of God today here upon the earth. I invite those interested in knowing more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Mormonism to please visit the official websites of the Church which I have provided... as well as read my other articles.

In a press conference held following the morning session of General Conference, we were first privileged to hear briefly from his lovely wife.

Elder Christofferson then addressed the media expressing some of his initial feelings in being called as an Apostle of the Lord and the newest member of The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles.

He related the account of the Savior and calling His Apostles... feed my sheep.

In reference to a question regarding the young college members of the Church... he referred to his attendance earlier in his life at BYU. He mentioned the unique opportunity that was given him through this attendance and encouraged youth to take full advantage of these opportunities.

He was asked how he shared this information of his call with his family. He remarked that he only shared this information with one. We would assume this to be his sweet wife. But related his experience of being called to the office of Thomas S. Monson and how personal, private and special to him that this call came through him, of the Lord....

Elder Christofferson was asked about his family growing up and how this experience prepared him for his service in the Church. Growing up in central New Jersey, he shared that he was the only member of the Church in his school. This forced him to need to know about the beliefs that he was raised with. In the Book of Mormon, he related the story of Alma... the waters of Mormon are like New Jersey to Elder Christofferson, as this is the place where he came to know the Lord in developing his testimony.

He was asked what he felt that he had special to offer as a servant. He humbly said he did not know... but did have a unique job during his early law career, back in 1972. This was the Watergate trial period. It was a very unique way to start a legal career and a judge told him that he hoped he appreciated this experience. He stated that it gave him an added and good faith in the government. He witnessed many doing good things to maintain the integrity of the system.

He feels it is a blessing to associate with good people of all faith, doing good in the world.

Elder Wirthlin spoke about having compassion, during conference... Elder Christofferson was asked about a small group of individuals who desire to place a religious monument in public... he was asked for a comment on this issue..

He did not know the specifics of the issue and stated with humor that the Supreme Court had not asked his oppinion. But did comment that he felt that there is room for diversity... but does not comment on these types of proceedings.

He was asked about the growth outside of the United States, and that many were expecting a more diverse person called to the Twelve. He directed the conversation to the diversity that is found within the Seventies that are called. He also inferred that we do not direct the Lord in how he organizes His Church...

In regards to his calling, it is an international calling, with most being members of the Church.... he was asked if he had given thought to a message to give as he goes out. Elder Christofferson made clear that he personally has no agenda, but to do the work of the Lord. He commented briefly on his previous service throughout the world, and his hope to continue to strengthen and feed the sheep.

His banking was brought up, as well as the economy and food storage counsel to members of the Church.. what is his counsel. He said be prudent , be wise, use a budget, get ready... we are much happier when we do not have the pressure of too much debt, etc...

He was asked about having a good supportive wife... It seemed that he was quite humbled by this question. He shared of his experience when being called as a general authority. It was told to him, that when they met his wife, they felt that she should be the wife of a general authority... he smiled. He commented on the wisdom of his companion and the nearly 40 years of marriage.

I enjoy the new pattern of having these press conferences given, that we might all meet those who have been called to serve in leadership positions for the General Church.

It was also announced that a similar press conference will be held tomorrow following the morning session, where we will meet the new Young Women's Presidency, which was newly called.

It is the hallmark, of individual membership in the Mormon Church - to have our own personal testimonies of this work and that it it true, and that this witness can only come through the power of the Holy Ghost; and not of anything man does or says.

In other words, although Thomas S. Monson was announced today as the Living Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints; until I ask God, to confirm that this action; truly is of Him, by the Power of the Holy Ghost - I do not accept it as truth...

I personally asked, and I rejoice this DAY - as do multitudes of my brothers and sisters of the LDS Church, in that the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, has been powerfully witnessed to us; that this call of Thomas S. Monson IS the will of God in this latter day, to serve Him. I am confident that Thomas S. Monson is called as His Living Prophet, here upon the earth today.

Jesus Christ, called twelve, when upon the earth, as the pattern by which His Church upon the earth would be administered. He gave Peter and the Twelve, the keys to administer His Gospel and commanded them to go out into ALL the world and proclaim His Gospel!

As Jesus Christ Himself, was rejected, so were His Apostles... the consequences of which, were Apostasy. This was foreknown by all the holy prophets of God; and that a refreshing of times in the Last Day, would be necessary to prepare the world for His Second Coming.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints - is that refreshing that was prophesied of and look forward to, by all prophets, in all previous times...

As members of the Mormon Church, we stand unified, in our personal and very individual testimonies -- that Jesus Christ Himself; stands at the head of this Church. He has placed prophets and apostles, who have been given, by Him - the authority to administer The Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, to the children of God, throughout the world.

We understand, fully - that the testimony which is claimed, by each one of the members of the LDS Church, is bold. What we do not ask, is for you, to take our word for it and believe us. THIS - is not our responsibility to give to anyone to know or believe what we claim.

The power and growth of this worldwide Church, does not come from trained missionaries, or members, etc... but only comes through the Power of the Holy Ghost, when moved upon individuals - one by one. Those who desire to know of themselves, IF The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints is true - have been given, of God, a promise unlike any other promise given, anywhere in the world.

Which is... that 'when' they receive the Book of Mormon - read it with the intent to know it is true; and personally ASK God that they might know for themselves... They are promised that the Holy Ghost will manifest to them, that the Book of Mormon is true; it is another true testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The testimony given by the Power of the Holy Ghost - to the individual who sincerely wants to know of themselves - is more powerful that any physical witness of fact, that man can be given. Once an individual has been given this witness - they are inclined to accept that living prophet, whom God has chosen to bring this record forth to the world.

Joseph Smith Jr. is that prophet of God, whom He did choose to reestablish His Church, upon the earth today; and through it - administer all things in His Name for the salvation of his children.

As Latter-Day-Saints... We have a testimony that the keys of authority given to Joseph Smith to organize the LDS Church in 1830; have passed in the proper succession that we witness here today... in the call of His Living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson - Now President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

Read for yourself of the greatest event that has transpired since the Birth, Death and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Chirst...

• THE VISION

We rejoice with confidence of His Spirit, that these proceedings are of Him, whose work this is, upon the earth for the salvation of man. We thrill to be privileged recipients by His Spirit, that gives us the testimony that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer --

And to know, with a surety -- that this Kingdom, will continue to roll forth - as the Stone cut out of the Mountain - without hands --

but, by The HAND of the Lord Himself!

He Stands At The Head Of His Church... and organizes its progress through modern-day revelation - today - is my personal testimony.

tDMg

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