SUSTAINING: “It is proposed that we sustain Thomas Spencer Monson as prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Henry Bennion Eyring as First Counselor in the First Presidency; and Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf as Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Those in favor may manifest it. Those opposed, if any, may manifest it. [audible “no” from at least one person in the audience] The vote has been noted.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference, April 2016. [source]
NOTE: The photo in this image was taken from the church’s video, as found in the source above, at the moment of the vote of opposition.
COMMENTARY: I’ve heard from a fair number of Mormons that this demonstration of opposition is uncalled for and insensitive, and the people who do this should be ashamed of themselves. I point out that Elder Uchtdorf asked people who opposed to manifest it, and I politely suggest that if he didn’t want opposition to be manifest, perhaps he shouldn’t have asked for it. They usually respond by saying that the way to manifest it is by silently raising a hand. I suppose they think Elder Uchtdorf is the reigning world champion at Where’s Waldo. I’ve been inside the conference center. It’s huge. It seats over 20,000 people. I have also raised my hand in a classroom of 20 students and not been noticed by the teacher. I promise you that saying “no” loudly enough to be heard is the most respectful way to be sure that your vote in opposition is noted in the environment in which the vote is conducted. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
