How closely are the leaders of the LDS church inter-related?

[Guest]

What is the extent of nepotism within the highest levels of the LDS church?

I had to change the question to match the better answer.

Is there an article somewhere about it?

I'm not lacking in a sense of humor, I have seen the trying to be gay and paranormal missionary stories.

[_Dr. Shades]

Your best bet is to get your hands on a copy of The Mormon Heirarchy: Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn. There is an appendix in there that shows how all of the general authorities as of 1997, and their wives, are related to each other.

[_MCB]

Thanks. That will be a great help.

[_moksha]

Your best bet is to get your hands on a copy of The Mormon Heirarchy: Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn. There is an appendix in there that shows how all of the general authorities as of 1997, and their wives, are related to each other.

I've read that Elders Uchtdorf and Bednar break the mold for this family reunion thing, although I seem to remember Elder Bednar's wife to supposedly be one of the in-laws.

Hope that is relative to this discussion.

[_Drifting]

How does the current Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles measure up? 100% of them are related in some way to current or former general authorities of the LDS Church. In the top 2 leading quorums – consisting of 15 men (The First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles), five of these men are directly related to each other. Four are related to each other by marriage. Four are directly related to former LDS Presidents. Five are directly related to former apostles. Two are married to wives who are direct descendants of former presidents. Five are married to wives who are directly related to former apostles. Seven are married to wives who are relatives of current general authorities or of their wives. The only apostle who has no blood ties to any other general authority is Apostle Richard G. Scott. But, true to form, his wife is related to several current general authorities and even descends from a former LDS apostle.

The answer, then, to the question, 'how does one get to be the prophet of the LDS Church?' seems to be by having the right family ties, coupled with longevity. When the LDS Church leaders state that "Families Are Forever", they are apparently including the family of apostles and prophets who have run the Mormon Church since the beginning. Those with no family ties to any LDS leaders – former or current - need not apply for the job.

Addendum: On 2 October 2004, President Gordon B. Hinckley presented Dieter F. Uchtdorf and David A. Bednar to the LDS Church as new apostles following the deaths of David Haight and Neil Maxwell earlier in the year. I have been unable to ascertain any extended family ties to current or past LDS General Authorities for either of these men or their wives. On 6 October 2007, Quentin L. Cook was presented as a new apostle after the death of James Faust. Elder Cook and his wife both have multiple ties to current and past General Authorities, including former President Spencer W. Kimball, former Apostle Heber C. Kimball, and former Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter.

[_hatersinmyward]

According to the Prophet Brigham Young all of the GAs are descended from Jesus Christ, Hence Huntsman as well as Romney are related to God. Read the Book "Holy Blood Holy Grail"

I'm not sure if the book has anything written in regards to Brigham's Proclamation of the Moon People.

[_MCB]

Yeah, I have come across that in searching on the subject. I found those statements in the JoD, too. Evidently, the ability to accept all of Mormonism is seen as evidence of descent from Jesus and his apostles. I just read Ehat's thesis, and evidently descent from Joseph Smith did not work out because of Joseph Smith's early death and Emma's attitude problem. So they moved on to something more general, including having received all the ordinances.

I have not yet decided how deep I want to get into that. It is definitely relevant, given my concern with their attitude towards those who have been cursed into non-existence. It is all about genealogy.