Final Farewell: President Jeffrey R. Holland Laid to Rest in St. George

Pallbearers carry the casket of President Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to its final resting place in St. George, Utah, on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

ST. GEORGE, UTAH — In a poignant conclusion to a week of mourning, the remains of President Jeffrey R. Holland were returned to his roots. On January 1, 2026, a somber but celebratory atmosphere filled the streets of St. George as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was laid to rest in the city cemetery.

The interment followed a large-scale funeral service held the previous day in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. While the Salt Lake services focused on his global impact as a "witness to the world," the St. George interment was a homecoming for a man who never forgot where he came from.

A hearse carrying the casket of President Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, drives past the historic St. George Utah Temple ahead of interment service in St. George, Utah, on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

A City Honors a Native Son

The funeral procession was a physical journey through President Holland’s biography. Hundreds of residents braved the winter rain, lining Tabernacle Street to pay their respects. The route intentionally passed several landmarks that served as the backdrop for his formative years and his later service, including:

The St. George Utah Temple: Recently rededicated by President Holland himself, this building stood as a sentinel as the procession passed.

Utah Tech University: The procession passed the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons, a building named in honor of his contributions to education and his deep ties to the university.

His Childhood Home: A reminder of the humble beginnings from which he rose to become a world-renowned religious leader.

One of the most moving sights of the day was the gathering of roughly 250 missionaries from the Utah St. George Mission. Clad in their Sunday best and standing in the rain, they sang "Amazing Grace." Mission President Nels Thorderson remarked that the missionaries were eager to show their respect for a leader who was widely considered a "missionary’s Apostle."

President Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly removes his hat during the interment service for President Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in St. George, Utah, on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Apostolic Witnesses and Family Tributes

The graveside service was attended by the highest levels of Church leadership. President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring led the delegation, joined by several members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Anderson, Gary E. Stevenson, and Patrick Kearon.

The service, however, remained deeply personal. The Holland family took the lead in honoring their patriarch:

Mary Alice H. McCann, daughter, delivers remarks at the interment service for President Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in St. George, Utah, on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

David F. Holland, his son, conducted the service.

• Mary Alice McCann, his daughter, provided remarks that touched on her father’s "ancestral grit" and his lifetime of "unswerving commitment to serve the Lord."

• Elder Matthew S. Holland, his son and a General Authority Seventy, offered the dedicatory prayer.

A Legacy of Jeffrey R. Holland Left in the Red Dirt

A Legacy Left in the Red Dirt

President Holland, who passed away on December 27 at the age of 85, was laid to rest alongside his wife, Patricia Terry Holland. Her passing in July 2023 was a significant moment in the President's final years, and many attendees noted the sweetness of their reunion.

Local residents, like Brent Lee of St. George, felt a personal connection to the proceedings. "It’s the least we can do to honor him," Lee said. "I think it gives us an emotional connection to him and his family."

For others, like Jay Manning, who traveled from Sandia Park, New Mexico, the day was about honoring a "legend." Manning noted that the principles President Holland taught—of hope, mental health awareness, and the core tenets of the gospel—had fundamentally shaped his own life and his service as a local Bishop.

Moving Forward

With the interment complete, the Church marks the end of an era. President Holland’s voice, known for its vibrance, intellectual rigor, and compassion, will now be preserved in the vast library of his writings and recorded discourses. As the rain fell on the St. George City Cemetery, the community said goodbye not just to a Church leader, but to a neighbor, a friend, and a boy from the red hills who went out to change the world.