This is a historic period in the church. You would have to go back to the April 1906 General Conference for the last time there were three new apostles called to the Quorum of the Twelve. During that time, apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley had resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve due to their unwillingness to support the Church’s abolition of plural marriage, and Marriner W. Merrill had passed away. The three called to replace them were George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, and a 32 year-old future Church president, David O. McKay.
The photo collage above was made shortly after the 1906 reorganization–the last General Conference when three apostles were called.
The question that remains to be seen is whether or not the church will fill all three vacancies this conference or only call two this conference and fill the last vacancy created by the passing of Elder Scott next conference.
For those who are not familiar with the process of calling an Apostle of God, “Apostles are chosen through inspiration by the president of the church,” and “sustained by the general membership of the church, and ordained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”
If you would like to read more about “Calling an Apostle of God” you can read more here on LDS.org
Thanks to Mike Winder for helping point out this fact.
To learn more about John W. Taylor click here.
To learn more about Matthias Cowley, click here.
