Salt Lake City — On 14 October 2025, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Dallin H. Oaks as the 18th President and Prophet, following the death of Russell M. Nelson on 27 September 2025. The announcement was made during a live broadcast from Salt Lake City, Utah.
The 93-year-old former Utah Supreme Court justice and president of Brigham Young University will now lead a Church with over 17 million members in 188 countries. President Oaks appointed Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson as his First and Second Counselors in the First Presidency, and confirmed Jeffrey R. Holland as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Leadership succession in the Latter-day Saint Church follows a defined spiritual and administrative process. Upon the prophet’s death, the First Presidency dissolves and leadership temporarily passes to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, headed by the longest-serving Apostle. After prayer and unanimous confirmation, that Apostle becomes the new President.
“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,” said President Oaks. He expressed gratitude to his counselors and the Apostles for their commitment.
President Henry B. Eyring, 92, served under Presidents Nelson, Monson, and Hinckley and has a long academic career, including at Stanford University and as president of Ricks College. “Preparation is occurring,” he said, “and President Oaks is the perfect one to do the things the Lord will want done.”
President D. Todd Christofferson, 80, a former general counsel for NationsBank, emphasized the spiritual nature of the call: “I recognize that I’m not called to be honored, but called to serve… It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church.”
President Jeffrey R. Holland, 84, who led Brigham Young University in the 1980s, described the moment as “a very moving experience to see that mantle come fully and completely on President Oaks.”
In his concluding remarks, President Oaks highlighted the inclusive vision of the Church’s global ministry: “Our ministry is a ministry of all the children of God on the face of the earth. We pray for all. We seek to serve all.” He added that while not all answers to the world’s problems are revealed, “we are all children of heavenly parents, and we are called to serve all of the children of God.”
Under President Nelson, the Church accelerated international growth, humanitarian relief, and interfaith outreach. Observers expect President Oaks to continue this approach, strengthening the Church’s relations with governments and faith communities worldwide.
The Church operates in Europe through hundreds of congregations, including stakes in Germany, the UK, France, Spain, and Italy, and maintains representation at European institutions through its office in Brussels. In 2022, the Church reported nearly 520,000 members across Europe.
The Latter-day Saint model of succession—stable, procedural, and consensus-based—has often been noted by scholars as a key factor in the Church’s organizational continuity. “Each transition reaffirms institutional resilience and unity,” says Patrick Mason, a historian of Mormonism. “This ensures that leadership changes do not disrupt the faith’s global operations.”
For members worldwide, the appointment of President Oaks marks both the continuation of a familiar leadership pattern and the start of a new chapter guided by one of the Church’s most seasoned Apostles.
More information and official statements are available on the Church Newsroom and via the Church’s official website.
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