GENERAL AUTHORITIES — Presiding Bishops Quizzes
QUESTION: Of the brethren who have served as Presiding Bishop of the Church in this dispensation, how many have passed away while serving as the Presiding Bishop?
ANSWER: Only three of our Presiding Bishops have passed away while still serving as the Presiding Bishop. Those three are the first three Presiding Bishops — Edward Partridge, Newel K. Whitney, and Edward Hunter. All of the others were either released prior to their deaths or sustained to other callings.
QUESTION: Can you identify the following Presiding Bishop? He was the son of an apostle who served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, the grandson of an apostle who also served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and he chose as his counselors in the Presiding Bishopric two brethren who were both fathers of future apostles! Can you name this illustrious Presiding Bishop?
ANSWER: The Presiding Bishop was Elder LeGrand Richards. His father was Elder George F. Richards, who was ordained as an apostle on April 9, 1906 and as President of the Quorum of 12 on May 21, 1945. LeGrand Richards’ grandfather was Franklin D. Richards, who was ordained as an apostle on February 12, 1849 and as President of the Quorum of 12 on September 13, 1898. Elder LeGrand Richards chose as his counselors in the Presiding Bishopric Marvin O. Ashton and Joseph L. Wirthlin. Marvin O. Ashton was the father of Elder Marvin J. Ashton (ordained an apostle in 1971) and Joseph L. Wirthlin was the father of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (ordained an apostle in 1986).
QUESTION: How many of our Presiding Bishops of the Church in this dispensation have subsequently served as apostles in the Quorum of the Twelve?
ANSWER: Four of the brethren that have served as Presiding Bishop have subsequently been ordained apostles. These three brethren are Sylvester Q. Cannon, LeGrand Richards, Robert D. Hales, and Gary E. Stevenson.
QUESTION: Can you name the two brethren who served the longest and the shortest periods of time as Presiding Bishop of the Church?
ANSWER: Edward Hunter served as Presiding Bishop from April 7, 1851 to October 16, 1883, a period of 32 years and 6 months. Elder
Merrill J. Bateman served as Presiding Bishop for only 1 year and 9 months, serving from April 2, 1994 to December 27, 1995.
QUESTION: The father of one of our recent apostles served as the 8th Presiding Bishop of the Church. Can you name both the father and the son?
ANSWER: Joseph Leopold Wirthlin was sustained as the Presiding Bishop of the Church on April 6, 1952. He served for over 9 years as the Presiding Bishop. He is the father of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin who recently served in the Quorum of the Twelve.
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