David Smith

Note: This is the second in a two-part series about solemn assemblies to sustain a President of the Church. The first part addressed current procedures and the principles of solemn assemblies and sustaining Church Presidents.

Since October 1880 when John Taylor was first sustained as the President of the Church, a solemn assembly is held “for the body of the Church to express the voice of the Church in a first sustaining vote for a new President of the Church.”¹J. Reuben Clark Jr., Conference Report, October 1945, 3. Although the exact procedures have varied over time, the fundamentals have remain unchanged.

Joseph Smith and Brigham Young

Joseph Smith introduced the special pattern of voting that is now followed in our solemn assemblies. During the dedicatory services of the Kirtland Temple on March 27, 1836, Sidney Rigdon: [Read more…] about Procedural Developments in the Solemn Assembly

By David W. Smith

Note: This is the first in a two-part series about solemn assemblies to sustain Presidents of the Church. Part 2 is here.

With the passing of President Russell M. Nelson in September 2025, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will soon have the special privilege to participate in a solemn assembly to sustain a new Church president. Because this sustaining is a bit different than the normal sustaining process, it may be helpful to review the procedure and principles of the solemn assembly and sustaining Church leaders. [Read more…] about The Solemn Assembly