The Longest periods of service as First & Second Counselor in the First Presidency
In calculating the length of service as 1st or 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency, the service could be as just 1st Counselor or 2nd Counselor, or as combined time as 1st and 2nd Counselor. The service could be as a counselor to just one President of the Church or with more than one President.
Counselor Total length of service Position Church President(s)
J Reuben Clark, Jr 28 years 05 months First and Second Counselor H J Grant, G A Smith, D O McKay
Thomas S Monson 22 years 03 months First and Second Counselor E T Benson, H W Hunter, G Hinckley
Daniel H Wells 20 years 08 months Second Counselor Brigham Young
Heber C Kimball 20 years 06 months First Counselor Brigham Young
Anthon H Lund 19 years 04 months First and Second Counselor Joseph F Smith, Heber J Grant
Joseph F Smith 19 years 03 months First and Second Counselor J Taylor, W Woodruff, L Snow
Nathan Eldon Tanner 19 years 01 month First and Second Counselor D McKay, J Smith, H Lee, S Kimball
George Q Cannon 18 years 09 months First and Second Counselor J Taylor, W Woodruff, L Snow
David O McKay 16 years 06 months Second Counselor Heber J Grant, George A Smith
Anthony W Ivins 13 years 07 months First and Second Counselor Heber J Grant
Gordon B Hinckley 12 years 03 months First and Second Counselor S W Kimball, E T Benson, H W Hunter
Additional Note: President Gordon B. Hinckley served as an Additional Counselor to President Kimball for 01 yr 05 mo. Including this additional time, President Hinckley served 13 yr 08 mo as a counselor in the First Presidency. Also, President Henry B. Eyring began his service as a counselor in the First Presidency on October 6, 2007. As of October 2023, he has served as First or Second Counselor in the First Presidency for 16 years.
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