SALT LAKE CITY — Over the weekend, millions of Mormons around the world will raise their right hand and pledge support to the church's new top leader, President Russell M. Nelson, a man who members see as a prophet, seer and revelator and president of the global church.

The practice of raising one's right hand as a sustaining symbol is not uncommon for church members during the twice-annual general conference. Congregations in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also have their members raise their hands to signify their support for or opposition to those who are formally called to serve in any capacity in the church.

Saturday's conference support of leaders will be a little bit different, though.

As the first churchwide conference under President Nelson's leadership, the church will conduct a solemn assembly to allow its members to sustain, or support, the new leadership.

What is a solemn assembly?

"A solemn assembly is a sacred meeting held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most often at a general conference after a new Church president begins his service," according to Mormon Newsroom.

Beginning with the church’s First Presidency, then the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, then the Quorum of Seventy, and so on, each group will be given a chance to show support or opposition, followed by a sustaining of church leadership by members around the world — both in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and at home via television, radio and internet broadcasts.

In 2008, the church held a solemn assembly when Thomas S. Monson was formally introduced as president of the church. Traditionally, a member of the First Presidency is asked to conduct the meeting of the assembly and presents the names for a sustaining vote.

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At the beginning of the solemn assembly, then-President Dieter Uchtdorf, at the time second counselor in the church's First Presidency, explained, "This is an occasion of great significance." He remarked that on October 10, 1880, members of the church sustained President John Taylor to succeed Brigham Young in a solemn assembly. Since that time, members have held formal solemn assemblies to "express the voice of the church" each time there is a new church president.

"This common law of consent has been invoked, and the church will move forward on its prescribed course," then-Elder Nelson said in 2008.

Mormon Newsroom further describes the LDS practice of common consent.

"These meetings are held, in part, to follow the teaching that 'all things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith,'" the Mormon Newsroom explanation says, citing a scripture in the LDS cannon called the Doctrine and Covenants.

"Common consent in the church is an agreement among the members and leaders of a congregation, local or worldwide, regarding proposed assignments given to people within that congregation. Individuals choose to accept an assignment, and fellow members then have the chance to show support for that decision."

When does the church select solemn assemblies?

The church's founder, Joseph Smith, held a solemn assembly on March 27, 1836, in Kirtland, Ohio, according to an entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. During this assembly, "the saints sustained Joseph and other church leaders in their callings, Joseph offered the dedicatory prayer for the new temple and church leaders instructed each other and bore testimony, which led to a rich outpouring of the Spirit of God," the encyclopedia says.

Solemn assemblies have also been held throughout the history of the church for other occasions, such as the dedication of the church’s first-ever temple in Kirtland. The meeting derives from several Biblical accounts, including the dedication of King Solomon's temple in ancient Israel.

"By sustaining the president, members of the church signify their willingness to heed his counsel, as the Lord admonished the (members) in Joseph Smith’s time," wrote Robert J. Norman, the church’s institute director in Tucson, Arizona, in the church's Ensign magazine in December 1998.

During Saturday's assembly, President Oaks will be formally announced as the church’s president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Oaks, who is also the first counselor in the First Presidency, will see Elder M. Russell Ballard serve as acting president of the Quorum. Two new members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles are also expected to be announced this weekend.

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