The sustaining of Church leaders occurs in what is known as a “solemn assembly.” A solemn assembly is a sacred gathering of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a specific spiritual purpose, including the dedication of a temple or the sustaining of a new First Presidency and other divinely appointed Church leaders before the Lord.

Solemn assemblies have many historical precedents. To ancient Israel, the Lord called for a day of fasting and spiritual cleansing, and a day of assembling for special instruction and the receipt of ordinances. Solemn assemblies were held in conjunction with feast days, such as the Feast of the Tabernacles and the Passover ( Deut. 16: 8; Lev. 23: 33-36) and, specifically, at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 5: 2-3).

The practice of holding solemn assemblies was restored in our day, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord re-instituted this particular order of gathering for His sacred purposes. Many assemblies have convened since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored to the earth. In addition to those held in connection with temple dedications and changes in the First Presidency, others are organized to instruct and enable Church members in their responsibilities, or to sustain a particular law or proclamation issued by the Church authorities. Solemn assemblies are often attended with greater manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit, as the Saints purify their lives and come to the meetings offering prepared hearts and minds.

During the first weekend of April, 2008, a solemn assembly session of General Conference will afford each member to signify by the raise of their right hand, their sustaining vote of the 16th First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Additional References:

D&C 88:117
117 Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you.

D&C 95:7
7 And for this cause I gave unto you a commandment that you should call your solemn assembly, that your fastings and your mourning might come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, which is by interpretation, the creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.

D&C 108:4
4 Wait patiently until the solemn assembly shall be called of my servants, then you shall be remembered with the first of mine elders, and receive right by ordination with the rest of mine elders whom I have chosen.

President Monson, in response to a reporter’s question about his immediate feelings about his call, indicated that he went to his knees as his new responsibilities as Prophet began to distill on him, asking the Lord to go before him, to be on his right hand, on his left, and for angels to go before him.

President Monson spoke of his newly-called counselors as “tireless and innovative workers, completely dedicated to the Lord.” He indicated that there would be no abrupt changes in direction for the Church; he added that “although procedures and programs may be adjusted from time to time, the doctrines remain constant.” He spoke of our focus as a people on following the Savior, who always went about doing good.

President Eyring shared his feelings of humility and honor in responding to the call to serve as First Counselor in the new First Presidency. Elder Uchtdorf described his sentiments as a result of his call to serve as Second Counselor: In a couplet, he responded: I’m “joyfully overwhelmed,” acknowledging that the call had come from God. Witnessing of President Monson’s capacities, Elder Uchtdorf remarked, “I’ve seen him focusing on the one and bridging continents.” Both counselors pledged their support of President Monson, and shared their desire to further the work of the Lord on the earth.

LDS Newsroom Coverage

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are mourning the death of their president, Gordon B. Hinckley, while their top leadership begins to assemble to name his successor-which will almost certainly be Thomas S. Monson, 80. Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the church . . .

Of the anticipated change, she writes:

The transition to the new prophet is likely to be smooth. Monson has served for the last 43 years in the top tiers of church leadership and is deeply respected. . . . In Monson’s service as an apostle and counselor, he has served in roles that span the breadth of church life, including missionary work, welfare services, genealogy, education, and leadership training.

Describing the procedure for calling a new prophet, Newsweek reports:

Compared with the process of picking a pope, choosing a new Mormon prophet is fairly routine. . . .

After President Hinckley’s funeral, the 14 apostles will meet on the fourth floor of the Salt Lake temple in the room where they regularly conduct church business. The vote to make Monson the next prophet has to be unanimous. Then President Monson will sit in a chair and the remaining 13 apostles will stand in a circle and put their hands on his head. Boyd K. Packer, the next senior leader, will say a prayer “setting him apart” and blessing him in his new role. . . .

While it’s true, as the article purports, that compared with papal coronation, our outward display is simple; it’s spectacular to contemplate that the voice of the Lord directs the process through which a new Prophet of His is called to lead the Church and influence the world.

To those unfamiliar with the nuances of our faith, that divine intervention may be overlooked in its quietude. It may seem that a unanimous sustaining vote is a kind gesture of approval of someone called to be the next leader. A unanimous vote, in the case of the call of a new Prophet, is actually the result of a process that has taken place, rather than the means through which the Prophet is selected.

Through deliberation and prayer, each member of the Quorum of the Twelve receives revelation as to who the next Prophet will be. Once received, each raises their hand in recognition that they personally know of the divinity of the call, and will sustain the new Prophet.

Their vote is not the means of working into an office someone merely nominated, but rather an affirmation of their revelatory receipt of the Lord’s will. The distinction is important. It marks the very miracle of the Order of Succession, or change in mantle, of one Prophet to another.

In that sense, while it’s not as pomp-filled as coronation ceremonies, as Soukup rightly states, it is, in fact, divine and unique in the calling of Church leadership in the world.

Newsweek article on Thomas S. Monson