10/14/2025
During a heartfelt live broadcast from Temple Square on Tuesday, President Dallin H. Oaks was warmly introduced as the new leader of our worldwide faith. Alongside him, President Henry B. Eyring, 92, and President D. Todd Christofferson, 80, were joyfully announced as counselors in the First Presidency, which is the highest governing body in our church.
We are also pleased to share that President Jeffrey R. Holland, 84, has been announced as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
"I accept with humility the responsibility that God has placed upon me and commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I've been called," President Oaks, 93, said in brief remarks after the announcement. "I testify that the Lord speaks to the apostles of his church and through the apostles of his church according to the organization that has been revealed to us in these latter days."
This marks the fourth time President Eyring has proudly served in the First Presidency, and during the broadcast, he expressed his deep love and wholehearted support for President Oaks.
"I know that he is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by inspiration," President Eyring said. "I have seen the power of God come upon him and it's been a reassuring thing to me to know that just as in the days of old when Peter and others would lead the church, that the people would be able to recognize that that was the Lord's servant to lead his church."
It’s a special milestone for President Christofferson, serving in the First Presidency for the first time. An attorney by profession, he was first called as an apostle in 2008.
"I confess that this is not what I expected when I woke up this morning, but I am deeply honored by this calling and trust that it carries," President Christofferson said. "At the same time, I recognize that I'm not called to be honored but called to serve, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve at the side of President Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring."
President Holland also warmly voiced his support for President Oaks as he begins his inspiring leadership of our church.
"We love him. We have known him," President Holland said. "We've watched him be prepared and have had the confirmation that that is the Lord's will this day, and that has been a unanimous and a very, very moving experience to see that mantle come fully and completely on President Oaks."
This joyful announcement comes just over two weeks after the passing of President Russell M.. Nelson, who lovingly led our church since 2018. President Nelson peacefully passed away at his Salt Lake City home on September 27 at the age of 101.
Since then, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has been guiding our church with heartfelt dedication. This period is notably the longest since the late 1800s between the passing of a prophet and the reorganization of the First Presidency, and it reflects the unity and faith of our church community.
"We pray for all. We seek to serve all and we invoke the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon all who seek to serve him, to do so in worthiness and commitment and optimism," he said. "We do not have the answers to all of the world's problems. They've not been revealed. But what we do know is that we are all children of heavenly parents and that we are called to serve all of the children of God in this wonderful, restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
President Oaks said that the late president as a "magnificent prophet of the Lord" and added that "there is much to be done" for Christ's ministry on Earth.
President Oaks has had an extraordinary journey full of leadership, pioneering spirit, and dedication! Since January 14, 2018, he has served as the first counselor in the First Presidency alongside President Nelson, standing at the very forefront of the church’s leadership. As the senior apostle, he was primed to lead the church into new horizons.
Born in Provo on August 12, 1932, President Oaks is a proud father of six children and a beloved figure in his family and community. His first wife, June Dixon Oaks, was a trailblazer—earning a graduate degree from Columbia University, heading adult education for the Provo School District, and breaking barriers as Provo’s first female city council member in 1955. After her passing in 1998, he remarried Kristen M. McMain in the sacred setting of the Salt Lake Temple in 2000. He is also a proud grandfather to 29 grandchildren and over 60 great-grandchildren!
President Oaks’s passion for education runs deep—an inspiring legacy from his mother, who championed learning and civic service. He graduated from BYU in 1954 and from the University of Chicago Law School in 1957, embarking on an exciting career as a lawyer and law professor in Chicago.
His leadership expanded when he became president of BYU from 1971 to 1980, overseeing the founding of the prestigious J. Reuben Clark Law School. In 1980, he reached a new pinnacle, serving as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court—an incredible achievement—before accepting his divine calling as an apostle in 1984 at the young age of 51. He was the youngest quorum member since 1970, following Elder Boyd K. Packer’s call at 45. President Oaks’s story is a shining example of service, wisdom, and pioneering spirit—truly inspiring and extraordinary!
"I've enjoyed my work in the legal profession. It's been a delight. I have never anticipated that I would do anything outside it," Elder Oaks told the church-produced Ensign magazine at the time of his appointment. "But just as service in the church is never sought, it is not turned down. … Many years ago, Thomas Jefferson coined the metaphor, 'The wall between church and state.' I have heard the summons from the other side of the wall. I'm busy making the transition from one side of the wall to the other."
Discover the remarkable life of President Oaks, a true leader whose influence spans business, education, and charity! He's authored influential books and articles on religious and legal topics, earning him prestigious accolades like the 2013 Canterbury Medal for his bravery in defending religious liberty. With extensive legal expertise, he passionately champions religious freedom, often speaking out on the U.S. Constitution and key legal cases. As an apostle, he's engaged with top government officials worldwide, hosting former President Gerald Ford at BYU and personally presenting family historical data to President Barack Obama during a historic visit to the Oval Office alongside President Thomas S. Monson. His story is one of dedication, influence, and unwavering commitment to faith and freedom.
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