Dallin H. Oaks Named 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Announcement of new first presidency 

Dallin Harris Oaks has been announced as the 18th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, during a live broadcast originating from Salt Lake City, Utah, confirming that President Oaks had been sustained and set apart earlier that day.

In the Church, the selection of a new prophet follows a specific, divinely inspired process. When a prophet passes away, the First Presidency dissolves, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles assumes leadership. This quorum, led by the longest-serving Apostle, then proceeds to confirm the new prophet through revelation and priesthood authority.

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President Dallin H. Oaks Succeeds President Nelson

President Dallin Harris Oaks, at the age of 93, assumes his new role, succeeding President Russell M. Nelson, who passed away on September 27, 2025.

In accepting the leadership of the global faith, which has more than 17 million members, President Oaks stated, "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 has now organized the Church's highest governing body, the First Presidency. He called President Henry B. Eyring (92) and President D. Todd Christofferson (80) to serve alongside him as First and Second Counselors, respectively. Additionally, Jeffrey R. Holland (84) will serve as the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“I’m grateful to President Eyring and to President Christofferson for accepting their responsibilities, and I’m grateful to the Quorum of the Twelve, whom I esteem and love also as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, for their commitment to follow the Lord’s will through his duly appointed servants.”

President Dallin H. Oaks

President Dallin H. Oaks has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since May 1984. He was president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980, and a justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 until his resignation in 1984 to accept his calling to the apostleship.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor

President Henry B. Eyring served as a counselor to President Russell M. Nelson from 2018 to 2025, to President Thomas S. Monson from 2008 to 2018, and to President Gordon B. Hinckley from 2007 to 2008. He was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 1, 1995. Prior to full-time Church service, President Eyring was president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, from 1971 to 1977. He was on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University from 1962 to 1971.

“I’m grateful for the trust, and grateful for the people whose faith I know will sustain us in this great work of the Restoration and the final preparation of the Lord’s Church for His coming,” President Eyring said. “I bear you my testimony that preparation is occurring and that President Oaks is the perfect one to do the things that I know the Lord will want done.”

New First Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints 

Background and Service of President D. Todd Christofferson

President D. Todd Christofferson, who now serves as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, brings a wealth of experience to the Church's highest governing body.

He was initially called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 5, 2008, having previously served in the Presidency of the Seventy.

Before dedicating himself to full-time Church service, President Christofferson had a notable legal career. He served as associate general counsel of NationsBank Corporation (now Bank of America) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to that, he was the senior vice president and general counsel for Commerce Union Bank of Tennessee in Nashville, where he was also actively involved in community and interfaith organizations. He also practiced law in Washington, D.C., from 1975 to 1980.

Pledging Service

In accepting his new calling, President Christofferson expressed his commitment to service:

“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 Christofferson said. “It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church. I know that. I bear witness of it. I’m more sure of it every day. I know Him. I honor Him. I pledge my life and discipleship to Him.”

Church President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces the new First Presidency in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

New Role for President Jeffrey R. Holland and Concluding Remarks

President Jeffrey R. Holland has been named the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He previously served as the Acting President of the Quorum of the twelve Apostles from November 15, 2023, until September 27, 2025.

President Holland was sustained as an Apostle on June 23, 1994. Before his call as a General Authority in 1989, he was the ninth president of Brigham Young University and has maintained an active role in professional education throughout his career.

Speaking on behalf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presidency of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, and the General Officers of the Church, President Holland affirmed their support for the new prophet:

“We love [President Oaks]. We have known him. We’ve watched him be prepared and have had the confirmation that that is the Lord’s will this day,” said President Holland. “And that has been a unanimous and a very, very moving experience to see that mantle come fully and completely on President Oaks. We stand ready to serve him out to the newest convert and the most recently called missionary.”

President Oaks Focuses on Global Ministry

Concluding Tuesday’s announcement, President Oaks emphasized the worldwide nature of the Church's work and ministry:

“Our ministry is a ministry of all the children of God on the face of the earth,” President Oaks stated. “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 acknowledged that the Church may not have all the answers to the world's issues, but stressed a core message of unity and service.

“We do not have the answers to all the world’s problems. They have 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.”