October 15, 2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a major leadership change on Tuesday, naming President Dallin H. Oaks as the church’s 18th president during a live broadcast from Temple Square.
President Oaks, 93, succeeds the late President Russell M. Nelson, who led the church from 2018 until his passing on Sept. 27 at age 101.
Joining President Oaks in the First Presidency — the highest governing body of the 17.2 million-member global church — are President Henry B. Eyring, 92, and President D. Todd Christofferson, 80, who will serve as his counselors.
Meanwhile, President Jeffrey R. Holland, 84, was named the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“I accept with humility the responsibility that God has placed upon me,” President Oaks said. “I commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I have been called. The Lord speaks to the apostles of His church, and we seek to follow His direction.”
A Smooth Transition of Faith and Leadership
The reorganization marks the fourth time President Eyring has served in the First Presidency, offering his support for the church’s new prophet.
“I know that President Oaks leads this church by divine inspiration,” Eyring said. “I have seen the power of God upon him, just as in the days of old.”
For President Christofferson, this is his first time serving in the First Presidency. An attorney by training, he was first called as an apostle in 2008.
“This is not what I expected when I woke up this morning,” he said with a smile. “But I’m deeply honored by this sacred calling. I recognize that I’m not called to be honored but to serve.”
President Holland, a longtime apostle and respected speaker, praised the leadership transition as “unanimous and deeply moving.”
“We love President Oaks and sustain him fully,” Holland said. “We’ve witnessed the Lord’s confirmation that this is His will.”
Honoring President Nelson’s Legacy
President Oaks paid tribute to President Russell M. Nelson, describing him as “a magnificent prophet of the Lord.”
“There is much to be done,” Oaks said. “We pray for all, we seek to serve all, and we invoke the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon all who follow Him. We are all children of Heavenly Parents, called to serve one another in this restored Church of Jesus Christ.”
The announcement was broadcast worldwide on the church’s website and social media channels. In a break from past tradition, no press conference followed the broadcast.
About President Dallin H. Oaks
Born in Provo, Utah, on August 12, 1932, Dallin H. Oaks has devoted his life to both faith and public service.
- Education: Graduated from Brigham Young University in 1954 and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1957.
- Career: Served as president of BYU (1971–1980), during which he helped establish the J. Reuben Clark Law School.
- Judicial Service: Appointed a Utah Supreme Court justice in 1980, resigning four years later to accept his calling as an apostle.
He married June Dixon Oaks in 1952, with whom he had six children. After her passing in 1998, he married Kristen M. McMain in 2000 in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they have 29 grandchildren and more than 60 great-grandchildren.
Throughout his ministry, President Oaks has been known for his defense of religious freedom, his deep commitment to education, and his strong advocacy for faith-based civic values.
In 2013, he received the Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty for his “courage in the defense of religious freedom.”
A Legacy of Service and Faith
From hosting President Gerald Ford during his time as BYU president to meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009, President Oaks has built bridges between faith and public life throughout his career.
Now, as the church’s 18th president, he steps into a new chapter of leadership — one focused on unity, service, and unwavering faith.
“We do not have the answers to all the world’s problems,” Oaks said. “But we do know that we are called to love, serve, and lift one another as disciples of Jesus Christ.”
