by Michael Taylor

Michael contributes a weekly column to LDSWorld-Gems with interesting information about the General Authorities.

Of the fifteen brethren who have served as President of the Church in this dispensation, six have served as a counselor in the First Presidency before serving as President of the Church. Of these six, only two have served as BOTH 1st and 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency before serving as President. Can you name these two brethren?

The two brethren who served as both 1st and 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency before serving as President of the Church are Elders Joseph F. Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley. President Smith served as 2nd Counselor to Presidents John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow, and as 1st Counselor to President Lorenzo Snow. President Hinckley served as 2nd Counselor to President Spencer W. Kimball and as 1st Counselor to Presidents Ezra Taft Benson and Howard W. Hunter.